Hi, I'm Olivia

Like most of us, I’ve had a long journey with endometriosis including twists and turns and complications. I was first diagnosed aged 27, through laparoscopy, after experiencing symptoms for years that were dismissed by GPs. I had a second surgery about 5 years later.

I struggled with other interventions – I forgot to take medications, I couldn’t for the life of me track my cycle and plan accordingly, and I’d forget what doctors recommended almost as soon as I walked out the door. Turns out, I was also dealing with undiagnosed ADHD.

I had some relief after both laparoscopies, but steadily the pain grew worse again and combined with the failure of other treatments, I decided to go through with a total hysterectomy in 2019.

Again, I was OK for a little bit but then I started experiencing other symptoms. Queue referral to rheumatologist and eventual diagnosis with fibromyalgia, which in my case, the rheumatologist put down to the repeated surgeries and chronic pain of endo.

But that wasn’t all! Turns out I also still had endo on my bowel, which was able to continue to grow due to the hormone therapy I was prescribed post-hysterectomy. So I had surgery again for that last year.

Now I’m focusing on living as best I can within my energy and pain limitations, making art in my ceramics studio, and advocating for others living with chronic pain and invisible illness.

#invisibleillness #endometriosis #hysterectomyisnotacure #disabledartist #adhd #fibromyalgia #chronicpain