Like your friend, I also have about a twenty minute window to take the painkillers. If I miss my opportunity, I’m screwed, like right now for example. I forgot my next dose and woke up in searing pain.

Oh, and also like your friend, I could have opted to have my womb lasered periodically to control the Endometriosis. But the shit GROWS BACK. So I want whatever it takes to make the disease go away for good, even if it means a hysterectomy. But then, I don’t want a FULL hysterectomy, because then I’d have to go on HRT.
Catch-22.

Going back to the “here take a pill and shut up” rant - I’ve been taking pain medication for twenty years now, and my GI system is a mess as a result. Pain meds eat the stomach and intestines and make for ulcers and perforations. But the pain meds don’t make me psycho like the artificial hormones did. I tried taking birth control pills back in 1991. I was on the lowest dose at the time. I went berzerker with my depression and I swear I was a candidate for needing antipsychotics while on The Pill.

So, all these years I’ve waited to encounter a doctor who would take me seriously and give me the surgery I so desperately need. Thanks to my friend Patricia, who introduced me to Dr. Milkman, my day of justice is finally coming.

If it weren’t for Patricia (who also led a miserable painful existance until her surgery), I’d probably have suffered with my pain up through Menopause, because I had such bad luck with doctors both male and female not taking me seriously.

I swear, my last doctor, who is female, urged me to seek chiropractic help and herbal remedies to ease my menstrual pain. For over ten years it’s been “try Evening Primrose Oil and hot baths.” “take hormones.” “have children.” “try chiropractic.” “try accupuncture.”

I would not have been surprised to hear a doctor tell me “try mesmerism” or “try phrenology” to cure my pain, because all the other suggestions are just as Victorian and outdated in this modern world.

Man I hate doctors. I’m so glad Dr. Milkman isn’t like the other doctors. When I told her my story of all the doctors in the past ten years, she had a tizzy and raised her voice, ranting at the injustice of it all. I could have hugged the woman.

I’m totally indebted to my friend Patricia for her. :)

I will find out in January after my surgery what Doc finds, and if a hysterectomy will be necessary. It depends on how much damage is found. I don’t plan to have children anyway, so whatever it takes to get rid of the pain, I’ll tell her to do it, even if it means having a second surgery.