The Sunday News
HELLO everyone. Last week I introduced you to endometriosis and its symptoms. In addition to that, this week I will unpack the condition and elaborate on the symptoms. It is important to note that some diseases that end in “sis” usually imply that it is an infection. Endometriosis however, is not. It is a condition. The next question you may ask is what causes it? Why do some women have it and some don’t? There are several hypotheses that seek to explain this but they have never really been proven.
One of the causes is metaplasia. This means that a certain type of tissue changes from one normal type of tissue to another. So in this case a certain type of tissue would turn into an endometrial tissue. Another cause is retrograde menstruation. This theory was suggested by John Sampson in the 1920s. His theory suggested that the menstrual tissue flow can flow backwards through the woman’s fallopian tubes (retrograde flow) and then deposits itself on the pelvic organs or region. This has still not yet been proved to be 100 percent true. Genetics could also play a factor. It has established that first-degree relatives of women with endometriosis are more prone to getting endometriosis. It can possibly be hereditary. The environment has also been questioned as a culprit. Some toxins in the environment are suspected to affect a woman’s hormones and immune system reaction. Furthermore, some women with endometriosis exhibit endometrial fragments that pass through blood vessels or the lymphatic system to other parts of the body. This may answer questions of how endometriosis can be found in the brain, lungs or skin (in rare cases), due to lymphatic or vascular distribution.
I mentioned in last week’s article some of the symptoms like pain in the pelvis, back and even legs, as well as fatigue and abnormal bleeding. Pain however, is the most common symptom. Some women with endometriosis are fortunate enough to not have any pain at all, but most are not that fortunate. Personally I feel a stabbing pain in my right side almost all day, every day. I have lower back pain and sciatic pain as well as really excruciating menstrual cramps. It feels like a hot wire in my pelvis. Other women have declared that it feels like “shooting rectal pain or cutting side pains”. Other women have said that it feels like “sitting on a ball inside of you in between your uterus and bum.” Another writer has even relayed that “having endometriosis is like having tens or hundreds of excruciatingly painful blisters or bee stings covering the inside of your pelvic.”
Endometriosis pain is debilitating. It is extremely difficult to express how painful it is because people equate it to having period pain and expect a woman to just endure it, but for a second, imagine having that type of pain CONSTANTLY!! Some women who have moderate endometriosis may only get these pains during menstruation but for some with severe endometriosis like me, the pain is constant.
A woman has many roles and at times this pain limits her from doing some of the things she needs to do. Women are expected to bear children, cook and clean and in this pain it is extremely difficult. When you don’t do these things you are termed “lazy” or “incompetent” but you really are in so much pain. I find it difficult to carry a simple bucket of water because my back begins to cry. Some house duties like sweeping or mopping also put a strain to my right side and pelvis.
Endometriosis can also cause bloating in the pelvic area so much so that some ladies actually resemble a pregnant woman when they aren’t even pregnant. This also affects how you choose to dress. In my case I find it excruciating to wear jeans or anything with a hard waist band that may put pressure on my abdomen so I resort to lighter fabric, but boy do I miss wearing jeans!!
Some women have such severe pain that they have to use walking aids like crutches or wheelchairs. The pain can be so excruciating that it demobilises a woman. In certain countries some women file for disability because they can’t work due to the condition but still have bills like other women who have no endometriosis. If they can prove that they cannot work due to severe pain they are financially supported by the state.
Another big issue that affects us is abnormal bleeding, spotting and/or extremely heavy periods. You may find it to be a bit graphic but it is the reality. Women living with endometriosis often find themselves wearing pads or using panty liners more than the normal woman. This is because our flows are extremely heavy, so much so that at times we have to double our pads or have to use maternity pads. This is bad because it results in having anaemia (lack of blood). You then get dizzy spells and cannot stand for long as you may faint. Another thing is that bleeding can start at any time.
Most women will get a period once a month yet with endometriosis at any time you can start bleeding. Initially it really used to disturb me because the sight of blood all the time is very disconcerting but it is something I have come to manage.
Having this condition is stressful, exhausting and simply agonising, but despite it all I feel like it has taught me and many other women who have it just how strong we are. Now that you have learned a bit of what we go through, if you know someone with endometriosis or have it yourself, today tell them how proud you are of their strength or tell yourself how amazing you are for being strong and doing what you do despite this adversity.
Next week we shall delve into endometriosis treatments and remedies. Till then, ta!
