Endo Journey: Melissa

Hello everyone! I was hoping to find other Endo Women who would like to share their personal Endometriosis journey on my blog, so I was very excited when Melissa agreed to share her story with us! Read on to find out about Melissa's winning battle with Endometriosis:

Melissa shares her Natural Healing Journey with Endometriosis

I remember the first day of my period. I remember it because it was the first day I had heard those famous words, us endo girls are possibly too familiar with: “It is normal to experience pain with your period”.

With period pain being a normal part of womanhood, I also began to accept moodiness, headaches, migraines, nausea and diarrhoea as normal with my period too. I just expected that every woman in the world endured these things and hey, it is what womanhood is all about! Right?

It was only after a long trip away, having my period and a bladder infection at the same time, that I realised that what I was experiencing was far from normal. After a 7hour drive and few toilet stops, my abdominal area swelled up, like I was 3 months pregnant. I was 19years of age and it was the first time, the words Endometriosis entered my mind. I had visited my doctor with few answers and an inner voice told me it was related to my womanly bits! I went to the Gynaecologist and he immediately recognised the symptoms as Endometriosis. My operation was done a week later and they discovered Stage 4 Endometriosis. I really believed that after the operation, they had fixed me. That it would be the end of it all.

A few weeks after having recovered from my operation, I was sitting in my Gynaecologist’s office and he was explaining what Endometriosis was and started presenting me with various options on what I could do to “treat” it. I remember it all being a big fat haze and the words: “there is no cure” and “you have a limited chance of having a child” and “you should try and fall pregnant as soon as you can” were just whirling around in my head.

I eventually tried a nasal spray that would stop the Endometriosis growth by stopping my hormones from producing too much Oestrogen. I had relief from Endometriosis for 6months. I didn’t experience any pain or any problems at all – I didn’t have a period and it was fantastic! I felt so alive and excited that there was a “cure” for Endometriosis!

I received a phone call from the doctors office and they scheduled in an appointment with my Gynaecologist again. He quickly informed me that I couldn’t keep taking the Syndol nasal spray as it would affect my bone density. I was young and naive and just wanted the pain to stay away, so I begged him to let me have it for longer. I remember saying to him, that I didn’t really care about the consequences, that I just wanted to be pain free like I had been the last 6months. He told me that we would explore all the other options out there and find something that would work for me.

I spent the next 10years being a Guinea Pig for every drug, hormone treatment and pain-killer on the market for Endometriosis. I went through another 6 operations and ultimately my Gynaecologist and I never found something that worked for me. All the treatments out there always presented a series of side-effects which my body seemed to react to instantly.

I eventually immigrated to Australia and something changed. The truth is, I couldn’t go for another operation – I had no medical insurance and the waiting time was over a year away. I was stuck. My endometriosis pain was unbearable! I could barely keep my job from all the pain and my stress levels were getting higher and higher with worry. I had to do something!

One of the things that I found really interesting in Australia was just how many Chinese Practitioners were in Australia. They claimed to be able to treat all sorts of conditions and I felt so desperate I decided to give it a try! I vowed to myself that if it didn’t work in the next 6months, that I would fly back to South-Africa and get the operation done there.

I stuck to all the principles of Chinese healing. I changed my diet, cut out lots of bread and pasta’s, ate more fruits and vegetables, walked daily and practiced deep breathing exercises. I took the funny herbs that were given to me each day and followed everything my practitioner had said.

Within 6months, I was completely pain free. I had NO PAIN! It was unbelievable and I really believed that was it! I was cured!

I had no idea what my practitioner had really achieved and just believed they were some miracle herbs and I could go back to “normal” again.

What I didn’t understand is that the body works in balance and alcohol, rich fatty foods and stress all throw out this natural balance.

I went on the contraceptive pill (I had a new man!) and slowly but surely my PMS and all my related symptoms of Endometriosis started to reappear. I had thrown out the natural balance.

Over the next few years, I learnt some valuable lessons. I learnt that my body is sacred, that our bodies need balance to heal and thrive and that everything we add in…matters!

I started my own personal journey with natural healing in June 2010. I changed. I learnt and I have grown so much!

I no longer experience pain or inflammation. I have lost a dress-size in 3months! I have taken up running and my sex life is better than ever!

I share this journey on my blog and how amazing my life has become since following the natural ways. I share everything with you, so you can grow and learn from me!

You can visit my blog at www.cureeendometriosis.com

Hugs,

Melissa

Author of cureendometriosis.com and foodhealingjourney.com

                                           

P.S. Special thanks to Melissa for sharing such an inspiring story! Make sure that you check out Melissa's websites! If you would like to share your story, leave a comment below!

xo Heather