Caroline, United States
I have struggled with excruciating pain from this disease since I can remember. I've dealt with the crippling pain, vomiting, fatigue, sleepless nights, depression, cold sweats, hot flashes... etc. The pain can be so unbearable that you almost pass out... and sometimes you do. I don't feel like I've had quality of life. I can't make plans! I never know when I'll have a flare up. I never know when I'll have uterus contractions so bad that I'm paralyzed by the pain. I've had to leave jobs because I could no longer force myself to work through the pain. I've had doctors upon doctors misdiagnose me. I just had my second surgery in a year and still don't feel complete relief from the pain. I can't have a child because of this horrible disease. It's taken so much joy from me. It's not only affected me though. It has affected my husband's life, my mother's life, my grandma's life, nieces and nephews. It can ruin intimacy. My mother has had to miss work for my surgeries, leave work to take me to the hospital. My nieces and nephews don't always have an aunt that can run around with them. The pain is horrific. This is a chronic disease! This disease is debilitating and it's taking the quality of life from so many.