Endometriosis can profoundly affect an individual's capacity to work, often resulting in chronic pain, fatigue, and various other symptoms. These challenges may lead to reduced productivity, higher absenteeism, and difficulties with concentration.

Endometriosis is linked to a higher risk of depression and anxiety disorders. It's important to remember that seeking help is not only okay, but also encouraged. Here are some common reasons individuals with endometriosis may choose to seek support:

• Pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis support

• Preparation for treatment, surgery, or hysterectomy

• Navigating the effects on relationships, social life, and career

• Addressing infertility or miscarriage experiences

• Developing effective coping strategies

• Managing changes in sexual intimacy

My name is Lucy, I have just turned 35,  I am planning an epic journey to paddle 3070 km from source to sea on the Yukon river and I have Stage 4 endometriosis! So how did I get here?

Well I grew up in a family that loved adventure, in Far North Queensland on the Atherton Tablelands. We were always outdoors, in the rainforest, out at the reef, climbing mountains and swimming in creeks. I had parents who taught me to give anything a go, saying ‘you don’t know if you can do something until you try’ and trying is the most important thing. So from a young age I was always taught that it was better to try and fail, then not try at all. So that means that I have always tried new things. 

Menopause is a natural biological process, yet it remains a complex and often misunderstood topic. For those with conditions like endometriosis, navigating menopause can be particularly challenging. During the recent Canberra Health Session hosted by QENDO, Dr. Iranthi De Silva shared invaluable insights on menopause and its intersection with endometriosis. This article aims to break down some of the key points from the session, offering an educational resource for those looking to better understand this stage of life.

It can be a difficult thing to reflect on what the journey looks like, and when my Endometriosis story really began.. Most would assume it starts like most typical stories, a start, middle and an end. However my story begins in the middle as I would soon realise there is no ‘end’ to a journey that constantly evolves.

Only a short time ago, January of 2023, I found myself increasingly ill and with a sharp, stabbing pain that felt like I was being cut open with hot razor wire. Given that I had suffered from a lot of intense pain which led me to be bedridden, this was something I had not experienced with this level of pain being a 10 out of 10 the worst pain imaginable. I found myself in the ER, waiting hours to be treated, only to be doubted by doctors that anything was wrong on arrival. They decided before they dose me up and send me home to do a quick internal ultrasound. This is where they discovered I had had a 13cm, tennis ball sized chocolate ovarian cyst rupture. A cyst I had no idea I even had, and a term ‘chocolate’ I had also not understood. Within the next few hours I was rushed into Emergency Laparoscopic surgery to stage off internal infection and do a ‘discovery’ to figure out what else was happening as the only way to figure this out was to operate.