Kayle's Endometriosis Treatments
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At the age of 16, I began experiencing symptoms of Endometriosis but had no further knowledge of the disease to know that the pain I was experiencing was not normal. As the years went on, the pain increased and became a more common occurrence. I battled with doctors around my hometown to find a solution. They claimed that I was experiencing nothing more than IBS, instructing me to take an insane number of Tums and to take Advil.
During college, I finally reached a team of doctors that were able to give me a diagnosis. I was told that the flare-ups (or time window of pain) that I have been experiencing were equivalent, sometimes exceeding, labor pains because my body thinks that it is going into labor, a symptom of Endometriosis. Along with the pain, the nerve endings in my uterus send waves to my brain as if I am in active labor, bringing on panic attacks. They immediately scheduled a laparoscopic procedure to confirm the diagnosis and remove any Endometriosis lesions. During this surgery, they confirmed that my ovaries were covered with Endometriosis tissue and did what they could to remove the lesions. After this procedure, my doctors did everything in their power to give me pain relief but nothing seemed to work for me. I underwent months of physical therapy and hormone treatments that caused me to lose my hair in chunks, something that had always been a huge part of who I was. For flare-ups, I was given muscle relaxers to take at home and told to take it easy during those times. The pain often broke through the muscle relaxers, leaving me without relief.
At the end of last year, my battle with Endometriosis worsened, leading to an emergency hospitalization. My team of doctors concluded that my Endometriosis has progressed to the point of no return and my case was among the worst that they have dealt with. They immediately referred me to pain psychology as well because I had been experiencing PTSD symptoms. I was also informed that I can no longer carry children and it’s no longer a matter of if, but when I will need a hysterectomy. Additionally, I was informed that my insurance would not cover egg retrieval, so I will never have children of my own. My doctors went on to explain to me that there has not been much research on Endometriosis and treatment options for those who suffer from the disease, leaving me in a pretty tough position. I have tried every single treatment option available, so we had to create a plan that could help me return to normal life with no other known resources. The biggest issue in my case was the level of pelvic floor damage from the Endometriosis and even after a hysterectomy, the scar tissue will remain in my pelvic floor and continue to cause pain for the rest of my life. For the past few months, I have had to medically induce menopause and begin rounds of pelvic floor injections, but have still not found any relief for the pain. My doctors are scrambling to find a solution, especially when the treatments are not a one size fit all solution. Most days I am bedridden, except for a few days when I can walk around very slowly for an hour or so. The combination of my level of pain and the stage of the disease combined make it very difficult for me to eat normally, forcing me to turn to protein shakes to get my daily nutrients.
With that being said, I am currently undergoing treatments to try to relieve my daily pain from Endometriosis. My insurance has denied my treatments and has left me with no other option than to pay out of pocket. Each set of treatments will cost $1300 and if they work, I will need them every 4 to 6 months. Following my hospitalization I was let go from my job, given my condition did not allow me to continue, but I do plan to begin work again as soon as I am able. I am currently only raising money to fund my first round and would appreciate any help at all.
Organizer
Kayle Teague
Organizer
Durham, NC