Meghan Maloof Berdellans is the associate director of The Endometriosis Coalition. She is a passionate advocate for women’s health and wellness.

When I got my period in 2005, I was in the 7th grade. It arrived with major cramps and heavy bleeding. I assumed that was normal since my mom had the same kind of experience. It wasn’t until I started talking to my friends that I realized it wasn’t like this for everyone. I didn’t hear the word “endometriosis” until 10 years later.

Through my teens, the pain became more frequent, and eventually, it was pretty much 24/7. I started having trouble tolerating some foods. First, it was dairy, but over time, almost anything I ate caused bad bloating and rectal pain.

The pain became more frequent, and eventually it was pretty much 24/7.

Searching for Answers to Menstrual Pain

I went to multiple ob-gyns (obstetrician-gynecologists) over the years, trying to get a diagnosis and some relief. The doctors told me everything was fine and menstrual pain is normal. They suggestedbirth control pillsto regulate my hormones, but that didn’t feel right to me. I tried a gastroenterologist who diagnosed me, inaccurately, withirritable bowel syndrome.

By the time I was a senior in college, my symptoms were intensely disruptive. One day I was in an important, mandatory class, and the pain was so bad I couldn’t make it through. Desperate, I decided to try the birth control pills. I stuck with them for several months, but they weren’t helping, and I had bad side effects.

At 23, I wasstillsearching for answers. I was working in New York City, where I found a seventh ob-gyn. Lo and behold, she had a theory I’d never heard. She suspected endometriosis.

She explained that endometriosis was when tissue similar to uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. It can cause severe inflammation and bleeding.

She couldn’t confirm the diagnosis withoutlaparoscopic surgery, though. That entailed inserting a narrow tube with a small camera through an incision in my abdomen, allowing the surgeon to see inside my body.

Deciding to Get Laparoscopic Surgery for My Endometriosis Pain

I was leery of the surgery, though, and thought I could tough it out. Wrong. Two weeks later, I was rushed to the ER, bleeding heavily and in agony. They gave me fluids and ibuprofen and sent me home.

Out of options, I scheduled the operation. I wondered if the surgeon would find anything or if it was what so many other doctors told me, all in my head.

After the procedure, I was still groggy when my surgeon came over to give me the news. My entire pelvic area, including my bowel, was riddled with endometriosis. The good news was that he had removed all of it.

My reaction? A panic attack so severe they had to give me a sedative. In retrospect, I think it was some kind of emotional release. I’d spent 10 years searching for answers for pain so agonizing I’d quit my job because I couldn’t afford to take any more sick days. Now I had an answer.

Because I had so many endometriosis lesions, my recovery was pretty tough, but it was so worth it. Once I healed, I was, miraculously, pretty much pain-free. That bliss lasted for more than seven years. In 2022 though, I began having symptoms again. It was more than depressing.

I went for an ultrasound and discovered I had twoendometriomas(cystic lesions filled with menstrual blood that occur with endometriosis) on my left ovary, one as big as a lime and the other the size of a grape. I considered another surgery but decided to try a pretty drastic lifestyle change first.

I’m not saying that [my change in diet] cured my endometriosis, but it sure helped the symptoms.

How I Changed My Lifestyle to Deal With Endo

I had read that certain products, including many cleaning products, are “hormonal disrupters,” containing ingredients that mimic sex hormones like estrogen. High estrogen levels are linked to endometriosis, so if you are exposed to estrogen-like ingredients, could that be the problem? I got rid of every chemical-based cleaning product in my home—soaps, detergents, you name it.

I started thinking about my diet. I tried plant-based foods, but they made things worse. For me, and I can only speak to my own experience, the polar opposite worked. I now follow the “ancestral diet,” a meat-dense diet rich in animal protein. And my pain is minimal.

I’m not saying I cured my endometriosis (because I didn’t) but it sure helped the symptoms and, apparently, the actual disease. A follow-up ultrasound revealed that the grape-sized endometrioma had disappeared, and the lime-sized one was a third of its original size. My hormone levels returned to normal, and that’s where I am today. I still have one thing to resolve, however.

My Next Journey: Managing Fertility

People with endometriosiscan have fertility issues, and I’m dealing with that. My wonderful husband, who used to carry me from the couch to my bed when I was in so much pain it was difficult to move, has been with me all the way.

We are a team, looking forward to the future with hope and love. I am optimistic, and no matter what, living without intense pain has been incredible.

My Final Thoughts for You

I would say to anyone reading this: if you have menstrual symptoms that cause you to miss work, school, or social activities—advocate for yourself. Ask your doctor if it could be endometriosis. Ob-gyns are more aware of it these days, but you may still have to push.

If thediagnosis is confirmed, know that help may well be out there. It took a while, but endometriosis no longer rules my world.

As told toNancy LeBrun

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