At the beginning I realised that I was feeling a bit of discomfort in my pelvis. Like crampy, uncomfortable pain. I am very blessed to have a short, light and regular period and to top it off I never experienced bad cramps, unlike my two sisters and Mum who all experience terribly long, heavy periods with awful cramps. This is why I thought nothing nothing of my mild pain for a while. 

Then it began happening while my boyfriend and I were having sex. It really hurt deep inside my pelvis. Sometimes I would just try and ignore it but then I couldn't handle the pain anymore and would tell him to stop. It was a painful shooting pain deep in my pelvis. I didn't know what to do or how to stop it. It wasn't every single time we did it and it wasn't in a particular position.   It was random and very painful. It would bring me to tears, a mix of pain and frustration. I was also getting frequent UTI's. I was following previous doctors instructions on how to prevent them from occuring yet I was continuing to get them and it was pretty debilitating. That's when I knew that I needed to see a doctor. 

A couple of weeks later and I continued to experience pain. I went back and this time the doctor thought I had appendicitis. I was sent for more blood tests. It came back clear. They told me if my pain was worse go to the emergency. Eventually I did because I was fed up with the pain. I was fed up feeling like I was just a nuisance  and I didn't matter. I waited four and a half hours to see a doctor. When he was me he did nothing. Didn't wait for blood results. Nothing. Just made rude comments about where I lived and my boyfriends red hair colour and told me what I was experiencing was normal and that my body was made to carry a child. Maybe that would be a solution. I was devastated, angry and tired. 

My boyfriend and I agreed that I would go off the pill and give my body a break as I had been on it for two and a bit years and see if that would help. My pain did feel better for a little bit. We decided that we would wait it out and whatever happens happens sort of thing. My only real want and dream in life is to have a family with my boyfriend. We both share this dream together and have discussed with one another countless times throughout 3+ years together.  

I haven't had my period for three months. I went through heartbreaking stages where I thought I was pregnant but all the tests came back negative. Then the pain during sex was becoming more frequent. I was having pain a lot more during the day. I was becoming tired from not sleeping due to the pain and had headaches a lot. The UTI's were still a major issue, sometimes so bad that I could hardly walk. 

I forced my doctor to give me a referral to a gynaecologist. I waited over a month to be given an appointment as my case had to be 'reviewed' by a panel of doctors then it would then be categorised. My pain then started effecting my relationship as my partner didn't want to hurt me. It even got to the stage where sometimes I couldn't kiss him as he didn't want to be excited because then he'd want sex but wouldn't want to actually do it. I could completely understand his position. Yet it didn't mean it didn't hurt any less. 

I gave up on doctors and went and found my own way. I googled and found a gyno in the city. I called up to find out when they could fit me in and they told me I could see him that week. I was stoked. 

I saw him and that was when he diagnosed me. He asked me for family history I told him that both Aunties on my Dad's side and one Aunty on my Mum's side had it. All of them had all lady parts removed. Due to this I had a 1 in 2 chance of having it. I asked him how to get rid of it. That when he told me through surgery but there is no cure for endometriosis. I am supposed to have surgery next year which will hopefully bring back some of my fertility. 

This diagnosis was not just something I have to deal with but my partner as well. He has been been by my side 110% but I know that he is stressing and struggling to adjust to the news as well. 

At the moment we are both just concentrating on staying positive. Taking each day as it comes and focusing on what we can control. 

Reading all your stories has helped me with my unanswered questions and helped me deal with some worries I have. So hopefully this will help others out there who are in the same position. 

Much love 💚💜