Angie Kent opens up about ongoing Endometriosis fight: 'Debilitating battle'

Endometriosis, a word you have probably seen around the place quite a bit lately but potentially know nothing about it. You may know someone who has it, but not really know what it means. Or, you are consumed by it daily.

Whether you have it, or you think you may have it, or you know someone who has it… it’s here and it ain’t goin’ anywhere. Legitimately, that’s the problem, it is not going anywhere. As much as we want it out of our bodies for good, Endometriosis can not be cured. It can be treated, treatment aims to ease symptoms and assist with them not consuming your entire life.

This is why we need to take Endometriosis seriously. VERY SERIOUSLY.

'Debilitating whole body disease'

Endometriosis Australia states that 1 in 9 women in Australia have Endometriosis! It is a common disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb, grows outside the womb in other parts of the body. Endometriosis typically affects the reproductive organs, however the idea that Endo is confined to the reproductive organs is in fact false.

It can be a whole body disease! And so many people do not know this. Endometriosis can be found in your bowel (This is where mine was found after my second laparoscopy), bladder, it has also been found in muscle joints, lungs and even in your brain! This is something that should not be ignored.

Just because Endometriosis is common in people with wombs does not mean it should be treated like a common cold where you can just sleep it off and take heaps of herbs or teas. Or simply just ‘get on with it’. This is an ongoing battle so many of us face. A debilitating battle that can ruin peoples lives.

It is so important for me to stress that that NO two sufferers will experience the exact same symptoms or respond to treatment that same. Please, as much as it is so magical that there are so many groups that you can sign up to and be apart of that offer ample amounts of support and advice, I can not stress enough how important it is to have a team of professionals to help you navigate your diagnosis.

Happy Valentines day to me

I recently had my third laparoscopy on Valentines day this year. Happy Valentines day to me. Nothing screams romance more than having your surgeon stick objects up and into your body parts and yank things out. To be honest, I would not have wanted to celebrate it any other way. That is some solid self love right there.

During this complicated laparoscopy I also had the following done - including use of las hysteroscopy, with endometrial biopsy, performed in a cystoscopy and urethroscopy with an ultrasound, in conjunction with a surgi pudendal nerve block along with a dose of botox in my pelvis for my nerve damage.

I was also diagnosed with Interstitial cystitis. Which I am currently having ongoing weekly treatment for. I was also informed that I have Endometriosis evil cousin Adenomyosis.

My Ovaries were so enlarged with Polycystic Ovaries that my surgeon got in there and was able to drill those. Scarring was found on the left side of my pelvis. Which I then later found out during my follow up appointment with my surgeon, that other than the scar tissue, my endometriosis had not come back since my 2020 laparoscopy.

My bowel was absolutely riddled with endometriosis and scare tissue from my first ever laparoscopy where I was butchered, to put it bluntly.

I've been lucky this time

This is another huge message I want to stress to my womb warriors - it is so important to have a surgeon who completely understands Endometriosis and is a specialist in the removal / diagnosis of anything that goes on in your reproduction organs. Or it can cause major damage in the long run for you. Not just physically but emotionally and mentally too.

This is such a sacred area that holds so much pain and trauma.

Having a stranger alone perform these procedures in such a delicate area is enough for any person to have to process, so make sure this stranger (surgeon) that you will end up getting to know quite well overtime, knows exactly what they are doing and can point you in the right direction for future healing as Endometriosis is an ongoing battle.

Just because my Endometriosis had not grown back this time, that doesn’t mean it wont. I had a pain management plan in line and worked almost full time with my naturopath to keep me afloat.

Which is a a luxury in itself I understand I am extremely grateful I can now afford to do this after all the years prior, having no clue or money to get anything I so desperately needed done in order to heal and be on this path I am now on. Finally.

As we know, natural remedies and allied appointments do add up massively. Nonetheless these extra expenses have been so beneficial for me getting onto the right path of healing after all these years.

I know it is not fair, but us womb warriors will more often than not have to make sacrifices in other areas of our life if it means we can afford the additional care we need to live pain free!! Somedays are harder than others of course, and you are only human and you will slip up. Remember, our healing with this invisible illnesses is a marathon not a sprint and you are not alone.

Don't suffer in silence

If I can pass on anything from my experiences or offer one piece of advice that I want you to takeaway from this it would have to be…. Go get yourself checked out! SERIOUSLY BAD PERIOD PAIN IS NOT ALWAYS NORMAL!

And no one should tell you otherwise. You know your body better than anyone else. If you feel you are not getting the answers you deserve or you aren’t being heard… go elsewhere. You’re not going to go back to a rubbish hair dresser over and over are you? Treat is the same way you look at your specialist / GP’s / practitioners. If they aren’t listening to you, or giving you answers that make no sense to YOUR body…. move on to the next one. There are people out there who do listen. I promise. I am living proof of that.

Endometriosis is grieving who you were before, and anxious about what the future may hold with such a debilitating illness.

I am hoping by being my own health advocate I can also be that for others, and to let people know they no longer have to suffer in silence or forever feel they are being medically gaslit.

Endometriosis awareness has improved. We still however have a very long way to go before we are treated as equals in the healthcare system. For something so common, why are we often neglected and sent home? Overlooked? I for one won’t let us suffer in silence or be medically gaslit any longer.

People with Endometriosis are fighting a battle with their body, Healthcare System, and people who don’t hold space for it due to lack of education for the female anatomy as a whole. This needs to change.

This space that is often so neglected was your first home after all. Don’t you think it at least deserves to be understood and supported? We deserve better. Just because those who aren’t suffering can’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. You are amongst a community of warriors and you should be treated as such!

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.