PERSONAL STORY: JENNIFER LEWIS

I was 15 and naпve when I first felt the unrelenting pain my period brought forth. I was ill prepared for what would later change my live forever, leading me to over thirty doctors and having more than 17 surgeries. Little did I know a disease had started to flourish inside of me and that upon diagnosis at eighteen, one word, Endometriosis, would forever become the bane of my existence.

I am now 31 years old and, looking back at my trail of pain and surgeries, I strive to find meaning. As tears cascade down my face, I take comfort that my loving family, including my husband of four years, has always been there to support me. I also take comfort in my faith. For it has provided strength and affirmation when I could find none. There have been many times I have needed both.

It was 6 months after my Radical Hysterectomy in August of 1996 when I began to feel pain. I knew that all -too-familiar pain. I was crestfallen to think that the endo could return after such a short time. As I was on synthetic estrogen I was concerned about that feeding latent or microscopic endometrial growths. No one would listen to me and if they did, I was told I was foolish and could, in NO WAY, have endo as I had just had a hysterectomy. I did not have the inner strength that I so needed to turn against the medical profession, including my doctor. When I was brought in for surgery later that month due to an emergency bowel obstruction, there it was. All over my bowel and abdominal wall were spots of endometriosis. I had been vindicated in my pain, but that was not enough. My body was scarred, riddled with adhesions and new endo. By the way, this was the first time I had ever heard of adhesions, too, after 8 surgeries. I was angry and I wanted accountability where there was none. What could I do? Where could I channel all of this anger and desire to help others not go through all the physiological and psychological pain I had? So I wrote. Hence, Endometriosis, One Women's Journey was born.

I decided to write a book on Endometriosis when I realized how misinformed I was. There I was, a patient trusting her doctor to tell her everything about this disease. That is where I went wrong and that is what I wanted women everywhere to learn. You have to be your own patient advocate when dealing with your health. You have to be an active participant in finding and deciphering information. You need to work alongside your doctor and form a mutually rewarding doctor/patient relationship. In doing so, you can work together towards smaller, more attainable goals and find your health in the hands of someone you respect and trust, your own.

Writing Endometriosis, One Woman's Journey, helped me to understand my disease both in myself and in others. Now after 17 surgeries I am writing my second book and find myself invigorated. They say that writing is cathartic. Indeed it is. My outlook on my daily pain grows positive and I finally feel good about who and what I was as opposed to feeling like my life had passed me by. Writing my book brought out the very best in me and for that I am forever grateful.

Jennifer Lewis

"Endometriosis, One Woman's Journey" is available for a discount and autographed by the author through Jennifer Lewis's website, JenniferLewis.com. You can also find it at amazon.com or through any major book store online or offline.