campbell75

About Me

i'm never quite sure how to answer this question- sometimes it feels like having endo and infertility is the only identity that i have. other times i get overwhelmed by all the surgeries and treatments i've been through and it feels hard to sum it all up. i'll give it a shot though . . . i'm 33, married to my partner of 12 years (the fellow in the picture). we've been together since college, so he's been by mys side for most of my health struggles- i couldn't wish for a more supportive or loving person (he's become an expert in being my medical advocate when i can't be, keeping track of medical history, meds reactions, diagnosis and the like so he can better help me advocate for myself. i was diagnosed with endo at 16, when a baseball size cyst burst in my uterus causing incredible pain and leading to my first laparotomy and 6 months of Lupron (which was worse than the surgery!) followed by being put on the pill- which i remained on until a little over 3 years ago. Another round of Lupron in college and a laproscopy at 23. Just had another laproscopy at the beginning of October. In each surgery have had numerous cysts removed from ovaries and uterus. I have a lot of adhesions- including bowel and bladder. This last time they told me both my fallopian tubes were twisted and adhered to my uterine wall- which they fixed. Although at the time of surgery it appeared both tubes were blocked (through dye test) even though a hysterosalpinogram just a month earlier showed one open. we've been ttc for about 2 years. i always knew it would be tough (cause of the endo) but this is much harder than i could have ever anticipated. i've had 2 very early miscarriages and currently have been having period bleeding and intense pain for 11 days (usually pretty dealable pain and 4-5 days)- no one's sure why. i have a very high pain threshold- i seldom take pain meds and always am off them soon after surgery (i've also had 2 surgeries for a broken humerus and damaged radial nerve) and i played rugby ;-) but the pain of the last few months is a lot to deal with. i like to think i'm pretty healthy. i'm vegetarian, ride my bike and walk a lot, use herbal, acupuncture or holistic medicine whenever possible. currently i apprently have too much "bad" estrogen so i'm on cruciferous supplements and diet. i've been inactive since about july (1st miscarriage and then a series of events that led to surgery) and have gained weight which i am super self-conscious and concerned about. i'm an activist for social change, work for a national non-profit doing policy work to end bullying and harassment in schools. have two lovely pugs and a rescued bad ass street kitty. wonderful friends and family (many of whom are starting their families) but often feel incredibly alone in all of this. have missed another hysterosalpinogram because of bleeding and really, i just want to get on with it and get started with in vitro!

i'm never quite sure how to answer this question- sometimes it feels like having endo and infertility is the only identity that i have. other times i get overwhelmed by all the surgeries and treatments i've been through and it feels hard to sum it all up. i'll give it a shot though . . . i'm 33, married to my partner of 12 years (the fellow in the picture). we've been together since college, so he's been by mys side for most of my health struggles- i couldn't wish for a more supportive or loving