Calling ‘Endo Warriors’

Bligh Park resident Sacha Street was just 17 when she learned that she had endometriosis, though she had been living with the symptoms since she was 13.

“I remember it being quite painful to begin with and as time went on, the pain had only gotten worse,” Ms Street said.

“I was just shy of my 18th when I went in for my first laparoscopy - where they put a scope through a few spots in your abdomen - to see what was going on in my reproductive system.

“I was.originally diagnosed with early Stage 1 endo, still quite a shock at age 17, but at least I had an answer for my pain.”

Ms Street recently underwent a second laparoscopy which yielded an updated diagnosis.

“I was diagnosed with Stage 2 endo in multiple spots and preliminary adenomyosis.

“I also have suspected polycystic ovaries.

“I am still trying to come to terms with how this has all unfolded in such a short period of time - pardon the pun.”

Adenomyosis is a similar condition to endo, but it ses the tissue growing on the inside of the uterus wall in a spot called the myometrium.

Ms Street said endometriosis had affected every aspect of her life and was an overwhelmingly misunderstood condition.

“If I told you that it’s as common as asthma or diabetes you’d be right for shaking your head in disbelief thinking, “how come I know nothing about this?”, she said.

“I also felt this way after my original diagnosis.”

Ms Street said she was keen to advocate for sufferers who often don’t know what condition they have.

“Raising money is so important because money creates funding for research, which in turn provides more answers to care providers so they can provide the right kind of treatment for endometriosis,” she said.

“It also helps us, the endo warriors, try to understand the why.

“The why behind feeling so misunderstood and disbelieved.

“They why behind the disease we still know so little about.”

One in 9 Australian women will be affected by endometriosis in their lifetime.

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman will host an afternoon tea on Saturday, March 26 to raise awareness of, and funds for research into this painful condition.

“It’s about time we stopped the taboo and misunderstandings about this common disease, and having young and older women share their stories, makes others less afraid to ask for help,” Ms Templeman said.

“Endometriosis is common, but symptoms are variable, and that means it takes 6.5 years on average for a diagnosis to be made.

“The disease sees tissue similar to the lining of the womb growing outside it in other parts of the body.

“While it most often affects the reproductive organs, it’s also frequently found in the bowel and bladder and has also been found in muscle, joints, the lungs and brain.

“Unfortunately, for many women, it causes pelvic pain that completely puts life on hold for around or during their period, and can impact on fertility.”

Ms Templeman said that aside from the massive impact it has on lives, the disease costs our society $9.7 billion annually.

“According to Endiometriosis Australia, two-thirds of those costs are attributed to a loss in productivity, with the rest - about $2.5 billion - being direct healthcare costs,” she said.

The afternoon tea will be held at Tiningi Hall from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. Register for the event at https://www.susantempleman.com.au/have-your-say/register-to-attend-endo-high-tea/.

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• Health & Wellness