June 4, 2026
We have another instalment into The Endo Project today!
Ryanne was so kind enough to share her story and her experience with Endometriosis. She was also in at the studio as well for her portraits, which was such a lovely time, and I’m very excited to share those with you.
Here we go!
“Not only has Endo impacted my life physically, but also emotionally and mentally. It has changed the way I view healthcare and changed many of the relationships in my life. Some for the better and not always the worst. Being told for so many years that my pain was not valid and in my head it made me question myself and keep my feelings to myself. I have never really talked about how it has changed my life to anyone, really. In doing this it has made me realize I have a lot of unresolved trauma about my Endo journey and the validation after diagnosis.
When I was 9 I got my first period and I had no clue what was happening to my body. Thinking back to my teenage years and the excruciating pain I was in during ovulation and my period, I thought it was normal. My cycle would always start in the middle of the night between 2-3 am. I would awake to such horrible cramps I would sit on the edge of my bed and just rock back and forth with my eyes closed, trying to take my mind off the pain. My MD suggested I go on birth control at a young age to aid in pain and how heavy my period was. Fast forward to my 20’s when the pain was “ only in my head “ and there was nothing that could be done for bad periods.
I finally found a doctor that would listen. I will never forget him: Doctor Richard Thomas. He performed a lap and told my mother “ your daughter is literally on fire inside, I do not know how she lives day to day “. This is where I discovered my Endo was so bad that I had lost my ability to conceive naturally. This man referred me to Dr Bougie where I spent many years under her care.
My flare ups where so bad that I could not urinate without using an in and out catheter. She performed my excision surgery in 2018. Not only did I have stage 4 Endo but it affected my bladder, appendix and my stomach lining had adhered to my bowel. After surgery I decided all I ever wanted was to become a mother. So I chose to try IVF, as a single mother by choice. I would go through 2 rounds of IVF and after many failed attempts became a mother to my beautiful daughter.
After this I had one more embryo to transfer which resulted in a miscarriage. I went back to Dr Bougie who performed a hysterectomy, leaving me one ovary. There had been a pesky cyst that would burst and keep returning all my life. I even had it drained once during an egg retrieval. 750 ml pulled of what looked like Coca Cola. This cyst turned out to be a borderline ovarian tumour. I will never forgot that call from Dr Bougie.
I had to have another surgery ( 2 months post hysterectomy ) to remove my only ovary and test the surrounding areas. Everything turned out benign, thankfully. Since then I have been on HRT and my Endo symptoms have returned. It’s been 3 years since my last surgery and I am afraid it is coming back.
I wish that people knew that just because you have excision surgery you arent “ healed “ or all better now. The muscle and nerve damage is done. You will always have that chronic pain and Endo can also come back after surgery. One day you can feel great and the next day you can’t even fathom getting out of bed. There are good and bad days.
Do not take no for an answer. Advocate for yourself!!
Get a second opinion. You know your body better than anyone else. Keep pushing for someone to listen and take your symptoms seriously.”
Thanks so much Ryanne for sharing your story with us!
Both online submissions and photoshoot openings are still available for this project – if you or anyone you know is open to sharing, I would be so grateful to have you participate!
Find the first submission form over on THE ENDO PROJECT page or email me directly at info@jackiehallphoto.com.
