I am so excited to announce the first entry into The Endo Project! Our first story features Elizabeth and her wild journey with Endometriosis. She was incredibly inspiring to work with and her story will leave you both extremely frustrated and sad at our system but will also show you how resilient and strong she is.

Let’s get started!

“We aren’t lazy. We aren’t being dramatic. This is real. Just because we don’t look sick on the outside, doesn’t mean we aren’t going through hell on the inside.”

“I remember clear as day my first period at the age of 13. I remember experiencing so much pain and blood loss that I was convinced I was dying. Every month was hell. So many days missed from school because I couldn’t get out of bed due to the pain. Yet apparently this was normal and I’m just a “drama queen.”

I’ve always been a motivated person so to be called lazy because the pain and fatigue some days is too much really hurts. I kept thinking to myself, this cant be normal. I’m very lucky to have my mother, who sadly also suffered, needing an emergency hysterectomy at the age of 29. She was my biggest advocate, but sadly it was never enough to be heard. At the age of 21 I was in my 3rd year of nursing school, and the excruciating pain and fatigue became a daily thing. I went to emerge 6 times because I couldn’t function only to be told each time that it’s all in my head because all my tests came back normal. They tried to tell me I needed a psychologist. I was bed bound, unable to move, passing out from the pain when a very smart resident came into see me. He asked if I had heard of endometriosis and that he thinks I might be suffering with it. 2 weeks later I was in for surgery. Waking up from surgery, I remember breaking down in tears when they told me I have endometriosis. See, I wasn’t going crazy I thought to myself, I knew this wasn’t normal. Even after surgeries and hormonal treatments I wish I could say it’s been smooth sailing.

A year after my diagnosis I went through a really dark period turning to food and alcohol to numb the pain of my father’s death. I became unhealthy, obese, and my endometriosis symptoms kept getting worse until I was bed bound again, unable to move, needing my second surgery. Doctors kept telling me I needed to get healthy but food and alcohol was the only way I knew how to cope. I had found the sports of powerlifting and strongman, and very quickly I was told that I was built for the sports and that I had great potential. I truly believe powerlifting saved my life. The further I got into it, the light bulb went off in that if I wanted to be the strongest I could possibly be, that everything matters including your lifestyle. The motivation for me to be the best athlete I could be managed to get me sober and healthy. After getting sober and cleaning up my diet, I noticed that my endometriosis symptoms were much more manageable. Not as crippling, but still present. Things were great for a couple of years, until the pain became unbearable again. This time, being the healthiest I had ever been, I was crippled over in pain, unable to lift and get my training in.

It was recommended for me to get an IUD put in because it was something that we hadn’t tried yet. I felt very lucky and blessed that the IUD really seemed to give me my life back. Pain, bleeding, fatigue, all the symptoms were still present but I could manage them. A year later I got it removed in attempt to conceive. Little did I know the turmoil it would cause. Each month, my symptoms seemed to be getting worse. The pain was becoming a daily struggle again, and I started getting recurring UTIs every month that lined up with my cycle. It got to the point that anytime I went to the bathroom I was in excruciating pain. Eventually, it got to the point where I couldn’t go to the bathroom at all. I would pass out from the pain when I would try. This then became a serious medical emergency where I was hospitalized for almost a month. Yes, endometriosis can grow around your organs and affect the functioning of them .

This lead to my 3rd surgery, which was this past November. I also have an IUD back in. I now only have a couple days each month that I’m in pain. I am now working towards my powerlifting comeback where I hope to become one of the greatest Canadian powerlifters of all time. I know that with no cure, this will be something that I will be struggling with forever. I’m just grateful for the periods of time where the symptoms are managed well enough to live a normal life. It’s hard for people to understand what we go through and how serious it can be.

I never wish this pain and suffering upon anyone.. ever… but I just wish people could understand the degree that it impacts our lives. That the pain can literally be crippling. That the chronic fatigue makes it hard to show up every single day. We aren’t lazy. We aren’t being dramatic. This is real. Just because we don’t look sick on the outside, doesn’t mean we aren’t going through hell on the inside. I also wish people and health care professionals would take women’s health more seriously. Endometriosis can grow around your organs and cause serious health problems. I almost lost my life during my hospitalization.

Also, I wish people knew that everyone’s experience with endometriosis is totally different. Some people have endometriosis really bad and show barely any symptoms. Others have just a little bit of it and it causes havoc. It truly breaks my heart how many women aren’t being heard, and how long it takes to be taken seriously. We shouldn’t have to be bed bound with the inability to function before being heard.

If you think you may have endometriosis, please don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Keep going back to doctors and the hospitals and don’t give up fighting for yourself. They have to listen eventually. Know that you aren’t alone. That your pain and symptoms are real. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not. These symptoms are not normal. Join online support groups/ communities. Your fellow endo sisters are all giving you a big hug. Keep fighting.”

Thank you Elizabeth!

If you or anyone you know may be interested in participating, I am collecting stories and experiences from as many people as possible. If you are able to get to Kingston, Ontario for the photoshoot aspect as well, I’d love to have you here! Click HERE for more information on the project or CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.