Every time I check my email and my inbox in Teentalk, I am always asked about the illness, endometriosis. Three days ago, my friend even called me and asked about it and the effects to my health. As you all know, it was April last year that I found out that I have this kind of disease. I also blogged about it for so many times under the category Personal Health.

I am blogging this again because I would like to share with you the signs and symptoms of this disease since my readers are mostly girls. According to endometriosis.org, the following are the symptoms:
Pain may be felt:

• before/during/after menstruation

• during ovulation

• in the bowel during menstruation

• when passing urine

• during or after sexual intercourse

• in the lower back region

Other symptoms may include:

• diarrhoea or constipation (in particular in connection with menstruation)

• abdominal bloating (again, in connection with menstruation)

• heavy or irregular bleeding

• fatigue

Endometriosis is something like worse than a common dysmenorrhea. Its definition is a painful dysmenorrhea. I first felt the painful dysmenorrhea when I was in high school. If you can see in my report card, I have at least one absence every month. This is because I can not stand up when I have my period. I also vomit from time to time. That’s the reason why I am thin/slim. This is also my problem when I reached college especially that it’s hard to miss a subject/duty in my course.

I was first treated with contraceptive pills to help my menstrual cycle to be regular. I have a tremendous irregular menstrual cycle. We all know that the normal menstrual cycle is 28 to 32 days. Mine reaches 50-60 days. I have a hormonal imbalance so the pills helped my menstrual cycle to be normal. But since cysts were formed in my ovaries due to the endometriosis, I have to shift to a GnRH agonist which is injected monthly. That’s worth P8,000 as I have mentioned in my entry about it.

Since the cysts were so stubborn, my OB-Gyne recommended a surgical treatment and that is what I have undergone three weeks ago.

This afternoon, I’ll be going to my OB-Gyne again for my last shot of GnRH agonist. Hopefully, the endometrial tissues that clinged to my bladder, intestine and sigmoid colon will subside.

So if you have a painful dysmenorrhea, I suggest that you seek an OB-Gyne. Don’t be scared. Girls think that the OB-Gyne’s would do something with their private organ and that’s the reason why they don’t want to go for a check-up. That’s totally wrong. If you’re still a virgin, do not worry. They would just palpate your abdomen and check if it is painful for you. If they would advise you to undergo an ultrasound, it would be transrectal ultrasound. It’s a bit uncomfortable. It’s like you have this urge to poo once the instrument is inserted in your ass. But I am telling you, prevention is better than cure. Don’t let yourself reach the stage where I am in right now.

I blogged this because I don’t want you girls to undergo what I have gone thru. So please, help yourself.

Good luck and God bless!

If you have more questions, just fill up the form in my sidebar. ;)

1. ishy wrote:
   March 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

   waaa. natatakot tuloy ako. yung first set ng symptoms lagi kong nararamdaman yan. ever since I started. hahay.

2. Eka*Mika wrote:
   March 29th, 2008 at 10:20 am

   I’m scared. But at the same time thankful for the information that you’ve given to us. I’m a nursing student too but we haven’t tackled that issue yet. I’ll try to get myself checked one day just to make sure.

   Off topic:
   nursecissism.com! Congrats po. ;) Changed the link already.

3. lovedub wrote:
   March 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

   Very educational love! :) i hope you can help those who are into this kind of situation / illness. I’m so proud of you! ILY!

4. meanmine wrote:
   March 30th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

   waaah. nakaktakot. buti na lang wala akong ganyan. :)

5. rich wrote:
   March 31st, 2008 at 4:51 am

   omg… scary naman yan… hala! ako din irregular period ko… pero di naman present yung ibang symptoms…

   ano yung tinake mo na pills para maging regular yung period mo? safe ba yun? kasi may mga pills na may side effect di ba?

6. Xyla wrote:
   March 31st, 2008 at 11:14 am

   Ishy: pacheck up ka na if you have time or try to observe your menstruation. Try to excercise din. :)

   Eka Mika: Di rin namin natackle yan eh kaya when I found out about my dx, I searched for it right away. Thank you. Will link you asap. =D

   Love: thank you. ilyt. hehe

   Hasmin: You’re lucky!

   Didi: Yup. may mga s/e talaga ang mga pills. Don’t try to take it without doctor’s prescription. Diane 35 yun akin.