I Had Fluid in My Abdomen Thanks to a Ruptured Cyst

I’ve experienced painful cramps since the beginning.

At just 14 years old, my doctor suggested I go on birth control because I was missing multiple days of school. My cramps were so bad that I couldn’t get out of bed… I could barely make it to the bathroom without crying.

During my college years (and even a few years after I graduated), I thought I had finally gained control over my symptoms. Until I almost fell out at work, that is. My cramps were so bad that I felt sick to my stomach and I couldn’t stand. I felt like I was going to pass out, so my co-workers escorted me to the first aid room where I could sit down for a few minutes.

Despite their efforts to comfort me, I only felt worse.

I asked a co-worker to drive me home so I could rest, but I just felt worse and worse. The same co-worker came to my house after her shift and drove me to the ER.

A few hours later, I found myself in a hospital bed curled up in the fetal position. I had an X-ray, an ultrasound, and an MRI, only to be told that I had fluid in my abdomen thanks to a ruptured cyst. Obviously, I was referred to a specialist.

When I went to see the specialist, she told me I most likely had Endometriosis, but that I would need a laparoscopy to be sure.

In 2010, I had my first laparoscopy. At 21, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Endometriosis.

My doctor told me it was the worst case of Endometriosis she’s seen in her career; she had to cut through multiple adhesions just to see my uterus. After the surgery, I started Lupron – it was horrible and it didn’t give me any relief if anything it made my symptoms worse. Following my Lupron hell, my doctor prescribed yet another unhelpful drug called Visanne.

In 2013, I underwent my second surgery.

I decided to bite the bullet and have a hysterectomy. Even so, the hysterectomy only gave me six-to-eight months of relief and then I was put on a double dose of Visanne.

But I’d had enough and I decided to take my health in my own hands. I removed some of my medications and replaced them with cannabis. I decided to join Martial arts in order to regain my strength and to lose some of the weight that I gained from all of the medications.

Changing my diet also helped me in my wellness journey. It’s helped minimize my pain and has maximized my quality of life. Even so, I still struggle with flare-ups and the unfortunate long-term side effects from medications like Lupron every day.