I have often wondered why don't we know much about endometriosis? Almost every person I have met has not heard about this disease and imagine this is when one in ten women of reproductive age suffer from it. Isn’t it absolutely baffling?
Well, I agree our hiding or negligence about our periods' pain is a reason because it is considered very normal in every household. But what I consider a more significant reason for endometriosis awareness being poorly low in India is the inability of even the most senior doctors to diagnose it. Forget diagnosis even referring about it.
Take my case for instance. I had unbearable periods' pain for as long as I can remember but a couple of years after childbirth it became killing. A general physician after treating me for UTI but the pain still not subsiding referred me to a gynecologist who straight away put me on a hormone tablet Norgest but didn’t put a diagnosis. It was early 2011 and then we could not check things on Google in a rampant manner like today. This lead to an increase in a crazy amount of weight and I traveled back to another renowned gynaecologist who was my doctor during pregnancy. She replaced Norgest with OCPs.
We shifted base and I continued the OCPs to keep my pain at bay losing all my fertile years. In Pune, I consulted not one, but two but three top doctors who never even mentioned endometriosis and I kept wondering if there is something wrong with my head or am I just cooking the pain up as suggested by some of the doctors. Weirdly they all said conceiving a second kid will ease my symptoms but for that, I have to give up the oral contraceptive pills and then the pain would be killing me again. I lost almost a decade caught up in this vicious trap until a very senior doctor Dr. Neelima Agarwal within 15 minutes of meeting me told me that I have acute endometriosis. I could not believe it and so wished I had met her earlier. She was my motherly figure in Pune sent by God himself.
But does not that mean every patient needs a God connection to land a good doctor in India?
By God’s grace, things are improving in our country. Ever since I started Endometriosis Awareness and Support Group India I hear from at least one woman per day who has either been diagnosed with endometriosis or has the symptoms and needs guidance on the subject matter and while I did not get any help myself I am all out for you all to help as much as I can. Ramping up. endometriosis awareness in India is vital and I will do my bit until my last breath.
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You too can become an #ENDOCHAMPION and help us spread awareness about this whole body inflammation by sharing our posts and connecting with anyone in need. Trust me together we can make a big difference because this disease and its ignorance can be really harsh and as a patient, I myself have contemplated suicide several times and would like to save many others from the agony. You can join the support group by clicking here: Endometriosis Awareness and Support Group India.
If not anything else just by letting them share their pain with us, we can soothe them. I will be grateful for any support from you on this. You can read my EndoJourney here:
A Tribute to an Endometriosis Warrior on a Mission
During April, I will pen several eye-opening posts about this disease. Kindly keep sharing them so that more and more people become aware of the available solutions for this otherwise nontreatable condition.
You can read the previous posts of this series below:
A: An earnest endeavor: Launch of Endometriosis Awareness and Support Group India
B: Be Alert: What is endometriosis and important FAQs on it
C: Can Endometriosis be cured? Comparison of Allopathy Vs Homeopathy Vs Ayurveda Treatments Available
D: Detailed Diagnosis of Endometriosis in India
E: Endometriosis treatment cost in India
F: Fertility Issues Due to Endometriosis in India
G: Good news is Ayurveda treats endometriosis completely
H: Hysterectomy as a Treatment for Endometriosis
I: Involvement of a Family Member in an Endometriosis Patient’s Life is Vital
J: Joint Pain In Endometriosis
K: Knowledge of the Do’s and Don’ts of endometriosis
L: List of Home Remedies in Endometriosis
M: Menopause helps in relieving Endometriosis- Truth or Myth?
N: Note that every endometriosis patient is at risk for Adenomyosis
O: One must be aware of the Side Effects of Endometriosis Medication
P: Power to defeat the disease lies in our subconscious
Q: Quickly evaluating if Stress is the Cause or the Result of Endometriosis
R: Researches on Endometriosis
S: Sleep Disruption and Fatigue in Endometriosis
T: Tried and Tested Endometriosis Management Plan
U: Ultimate Endometriosis Management Plan continued
V: Very important is Happiness in an Endometriosis patient’s life
W: Weight gain and Endometriosis
X: Xtra Points that an endometriosis patient must bear in mind
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