Poor Beth. As I call her for an interview on endometriosis, she reminds me that her wedding is in 38 days. As a bridesmaid, I am just as excited.
But a few weeks ago she realized her wedding funds would be cut due to medical costs. Since she is breaking away from her parents, she is breaking away from their insurance. She is now a grown woman with her own insurance policy.
Grown-up changes lead to grown-up problems. The new company won’t cover any endometriosis costs because the condition is “pre-existing.”
Her generic medication will cost her $300 a month, not to mention expensive surgeries that are needed as long as the problem persists.
Needless to say, she’s bitter. I would be, too. Beth said she increased two dress sizes since she began taking these pricey pills.
Nicole realized something was wrong when she began college. She saw two gynecologists and the second recognized the symptoms of endometriosis. The diagnosis was not surprising since it runs in her family.
In the beginning, both Beth and Nicole noticed a heavy period along with persistent and extreme cramp-like pain. At times, Beth can’t get out of bed or walk because, as she described it, “the cramps hurt horribly.” Heating pads, pain medication, Bengay and birth control pills offered no relief.
After surgery, both friends were relieved of most of their pain. Yet, uncertainty about childbearing weighs on their minds. They know that about 30 to 40 percent of women with endometriosis are infertile.
Beth is getting married, and Nicole is off to nursing school. What exactly have these girls grown to live with? Actually, it’s excess tissue.
The American Academy of Family Physicians describes it in layman’s terms as, “endometrial tissue,” usually only inside your uterus, moves through the fallopian tubes and gets on your ovaries, your pelvis, your bladder or other areas. When you have your period, this tissue swells and bleeds, just like the lining of your uterus. This is often painful and scar tissue can form in your pelvic area.
The surgery the girls received is a common treatment. Laparoscopy involves a small cut in the abdomen, inflating the abdomen with a harmless gas, and then passing a viewing instrument into the abdomen to see the growths. To treat the endometriosis, the doctor can then remove the areas without harming the healthy tissue around it. Both women recovered in a few days.
In extreme cases, a more extensive surgery may be needed to remove the uterus, an ovary or the fallopian tubes.
My friends and I believe that many women our age have endometriosis and just don’t know. If you can relate to any of their symptoms, ask your gyno. The earlier you identify the problem, the sooner the pain can be relieved.