Do I have Endometriosis? The Battle to Find Answers

By Jenny Merrin

A personal journey to the discovery and treatment of endometriosis, as well as a call to healthcare systems around the world to provide more readily available and affordable gynecology for people with a uterus. A proactive approach aiming to significantly reduce the 7-12 year diagnosis timeframe for those suffering from this disease.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jenny Merrin
• Release date: Apr 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637522721

Jenny Merrin

Jenny Merrin is a writer and a doula based out of the Northern Beaches of Australia. While this is her first self-published book, she has written a children's book and peer-reviewed articles for Portland State University for the Environmental Science Department.

Book preview

Do I have endometriosis?

The battle to find answers

Jenny Merrin

Copyright © 2021 by Jenny Merrin.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the email address below.

Jenny Merrin

Sydney, New South Wales

[e-mail]

Do I Have Endometriosis? The Battle to Find Answers

Jenny Merrin. —1st ed.

ISBN 978-163752995-9

CONTENTS

Introduction………………………………………6

Chapter 1      9

Chapter 2      24

Chapter 3      30

Chapter 4      36

Dedication

Mom. You have a light which illuminates all things around you, including dreams hidden in the darkest corners. This is for you.

Disclaimer

This book covers a complex topic that no one, not even the world's leading doctors, have all the answers for. I've done my best to include the most accurate and up-to-date information in this book. I've researched thoroughly and double-checked all my sources to the best of my abilities.

However, I encourage you to do your own research too— because new studies and data come out all the time. As new data rolls out, I will gather it and I look forward to releasing an updated, second edition of this book in the future.

Most of all, trust your own body and what it's telling you— even more than you trust a report that you find on the Internet. I cannot stress this enough.

My primary intention in writing this book is to share my first-hand experiences, share some things that have helped me, and give an honest, human perspective. It is also my call to action. I hope, if nothing else, this book helps you feel less alone, knowing that millions of other women are going through the same thing as you. And that someone is out there fighting for you.

Introduction

How did I find out I had endometriosis? It’s sadly simple considering how long I lived in physical and emotional pain.

I asked my friends in our group chat if sex hurt them.

I'm not special in any way. That is the sad part of this book. I suffered from endometriosis for 15 years, and so does over a quarter of the population.

During those 15 years I was in constant pain, and not a single medical professional sat down with me to look at my medical history in a comprehensive way to help me find out why.

I had:

Constipation

Abdominal bloating

Pain during toileting

Pain during intercourse

Periods so painful that I had to change my career completely

Menstruation so heavy that I had to change my pad or tampon every 1-3 hours

Infertility/Miscarriages

Lower back and leg pain

Cramping in between periods

Incredible fatigue

Not to mention the cost to my mental health and relationships (primarily my enduring and exceptional husband) from these symptoms. I was not coping mentally or physically. Over the years I was presenting these symptoms doctors made me feel like my experience was normal or brushed me off with another test. But my pain was getting worse, and medication wasn’t helping.

Like I said, I'm not special. 1 in every 9 people with a uterus will have endometriosis to some degree and suffer from it at various stages (I believe this number is likely 1 in every 6 or 7 people, due to under-diagnosing). Yet after I was finally ‘diagnosed’ by a close girlfriend, I couldn't stop asking myself ‘Why did