AMEN to there being little to no support groups.

I was diagnosed with endo in 2010 after suffering from debilitating back / pelvic pain for about 8 months. Doctors kept telling me it was sciatica and that a few chiro sessions would do just the trick. Nope. Combine that with an all-male work environment and the stress of them getting on my case for always being sick... (because males are never sick... *eyeroll*) I started taking heavy pain killers just to get through the days. My parents, who live overseas, suggested I quit my job, put my stuff in storage and come to live with them for a bit until we figured out what the issue was. So I did. Off to Thailand I went. I was leery at the thought of a Thai hospital, but turns out, they're world-class and offer much more than my little Canadian heart could dream of. Within ONE day, I had an MRI that showed the giant mass, which was destroying my left ovary and its adhesions had wrapped themselves around my colon. Initially, surgery was to be a laparoscopy, but due to the whole colon issue and it being a Stage 4 with lots of adhesions, a laparotomy was performed. Luckily they only had to remove half of my damaged left ovary. I can't tell you the relief I had once it was all over! Back to Canada I came.

Fast forward to two years later, almost to the day - another mass, another surgery. Same thing, full incision with the laparotomy. They wouldn't even consider a laparoscopy due to how severe my last mass was. This time, same thing, Stage 4 with dense adhesions. The right ovary and tube were removed completely. Within 6 months, another large mass had grown in the same spot.

Here I sit today, 34 years old, with this 4 year old mass still ticking away like a bomb. It's going to have to come out one day, but my specialists are just trying to buy me time with pills and treatments they think will work. With only a half left ovary remaining, you'd think that it would make the most sense to remove the mass in hopes of salvaging my ability to have children one day. They put me in a false state of menopause for 6 months thinking that would help to reduce the size - it didn't have any impact. The mass keeps growing, slowly. Meanwhile I am constantly drained, tired, cramping, and don't want to leave the house.

Wow.. didn't realize I was rambling on that much.. haha.

HI I'm Brandi and I was told at 23 I had endo, I am now 37. Did Lupron back in the day, and went off it after the second shot. I have been through a number of different birth controls to try and help. I have been lucky to have two boys 10 and 5, with one little Angel. I have had some dark times its rough some days. I am looking to change up my diet and looking at a possible partial hysterectomy.. or to stay on the Depo that I am currently on, its helping a lot more than other but still have some pains... not sure if its the endo or the IBS sometimes. Been feeling really tired lately and I'm really trying to get back into working out. Went to the gym yesterday and was going to try and go this morning but I work tonight and ended up just staying in bed trying to sleep before work. I work 12hr shifts and flip flop days and nights so that doesn't help much either... Hope everyone is having a good week.