Endometriosis Awareness Month - March 2018

My name is Kristen Doyle and I suffer from Endometriosis.

I am volunteer for QENDO, Endometriosis Association Queensland. We raise awareness, funds for research, support and most importantly, work to educate the community of the chronic, incurable disease called Endometriosis. We have been working at this for the last 30 years and supported thousands of Australian women throughout their Endometriosis journey.

1 in 10 women have Endo, including the women in your life.

Some women can have very severe pain, while others may not experience pain at all! Everyone's endometriosis experience is different.

Endometriosis is a condition in which the mucous membrane lining the interior of the uterus (the endometrium) is found in other parts of the body. With each menstrual cycle as the lining is shed, tissue which is outside the uterus also bleeds. This bleeding causes inflammation and from this; scar tissue, cysts and adhesions are formed. Scar tissue increases in size with subsequent menstrual cycles and can in time cover other organs and tissue with adhesions. This can then cause the immobilisation of organs, fusing of organs (eg: the uterus to the bowel) and damage to the fallopian tubes.

For me....I had unexplainable pain for as long as I can remember. I had been poked and prodded by just about every specialist. I had never ending tests- blood tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasounds (who knew there were so many kinds?!)...the list goes on. After approximately 5 years of thorough investigation a laparoscopy was one of my last options. During my first laproscopic surgery in April 2016 it was discovered that I indeed had Endometriosis and my stomach and the wall of my uterus were attached via an adhesion. This was ablated successfully for the time. I have had 2 surgeries since. I now have also been diagnosed with (what I like to refer to as the ugly step sister to endometriosis) Adenomyosis. My journey continues.

Throughout March, my goal is to raise awareness of this horrible disease while raising money towards QENDO. Please help me help women like me know we are not alone.