PERSONAL STORY: ERICA BEEDE

I have had problems with my period ever since the age of 14. I have never been regular. I began the pill at this age to stop the inconsistent, 6 week straight, flow. All the physicians I saw regarded my pain and gushing/unpredictable menstrual cycle as hormones. The pill served only as temporary help. By the age of 17, I had used 5 different brands of the Pill because eventually, my body would adjust to the hormone level, and the pain would come again.

Also at this time, I started having what I call "Flash Floods". I would literally have my period in a matter of a minute. Look out, nothing within jumping range was safe from my body "relieving" itself. Again, physicians told me this was a normal hormone imbalance.

At the age of 20, I began dealing with severe swelling and back pain. My biggest clothes didn't fit, and some days I could hardly walk because of all the pressure on my spinal nerve endings. I would bloat up 2 full sizes in water weight in one day and lose it just as easily with the use of diuretics. Again, I went to a specialist and was told that it was nothing. Possible colitis, but there was no possible was I had endometriosis. My pain was in my head. I should try prozac. Funny, huh?!

I didn't think so at the time! Please know, my mother had a hysterectomy at the age of 23 due to many of the same problems I was having. Four different specialist's insisted that endo was not, I repeat, was not, hereditary. Bolognese!

I finally went to a OB-Gyn who took my concerns seriously, read the journal of pain & medications I used, and told me endo was quite a possibility. I had a laparoscopy 2 months later. His exact terminology was, "It looks like a bomb went off inside your body. You have severe endometriosis. Please tell me you have a boyfriend, I really would like to see you pregnant in the next year or two. I suspect you will need a full hysterectomy by the age of 24". Great news for a college senior who has just gotten out of an abusive 2 and 1/2 year relationship! I was petrified. But at least someone had finally taken my health issues seriously. At least, now I knew what I was facing! Knowing is soooo much better than not knowing!

So, now knowing what the battle actually was, treatment began. He burned off lots of lesions and scar tissue during the laprascopy. Then came Lupron. Then came continuous birth control and no periods (yeah!). I like this alot! Then the pain started again. At 22 I did my second round of Lupron, and again, did the continuous birthcontrol pill. It has been quite a journey!

I am now 25, still single, and still dreading each appointmentt. The continuous birth control therapy has worked great for the past year and a half. I have only had 2 periods in this time. Healthy, who knows? Pain free, for sure! I only know that I feel better now that I did then with only occasional pain.

Erica Beede

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