Ever since middle school, I’d had horrible pain with my period, pain that wasn’t just cramps! I told my doctor about it, but he had no idea what it could be. I didn’t know what else to do, so I just pushed through it.
But as the years went on and I became an adult, it was even harder to ignore. Some nights I would lie in bed crying, kept awake from the pain. It hurt so terribly! One night, the pain actually got so bad that I went to the emergency room.
It was there that the doctors performed a laparoscopic surgery and discovered that I had endometriosis. When they told me, the first thing I did was cry. I felt so lost. I didn’t understand what endometriosis was. I didn’t know what it would mean for me. What would my life look like now? How would I handle it all?
But, over time, I learned more about endometriosis. And the more I learned, the more comfortable I began to feel about it. I’m still in pain, but the more I know about it, the more I can proactively take steps to manage it. And the more I understand how it affects my body, the more in control I feel.
This story was submitted by a real woman and reflects her personal experience. It does not reflect AbbVie’s thoughts, opinions, or beliefs. Before making any changes to your treatment or lifestyle, consult with a physician.