My name is Jessica and I have been suffering with endometriosis for 14 years.

To describe my pain, I would say, think of standing in the middle of a busy interstate and being hit by an 18 wheeler.

I have tried exercising and the endometriosis diet to alleviate the symptoms, and it has helped tremendously.

I have not been discriminated against because when I realized the devastating affect it has on my life, I took the initiative to develop a business, my own business, one that does not require me to punch a time clock. I also do not allow endometriosis to rule my social life.

I have received great healthcare in the last past 5 years from very caring doctors that have been very sensitive to my needs.

My support system is exceptional, my husband and kids raises awareness everyday and everywhere they go.

Keeping busy and remaining positive have helped me to cope on a daily basis.

The biggest thing for me is raising awareness of the condition and educating as much as possible. I have chosen to take my pain and turn it into a plan, and from that “Women S.P.E.A.K.” was birthed, an organization that focuses on educating and motivating women that suffer with silent conditions. I have also released an anthology that details my struggles with endometriosis and pcos.

I am also proud to say that I have gotten the governor of Georgia to sign the proclamation declaring March to be Endometriosis Awareness month in the State.

For Endometriosis Awareness Month, I have put some questions to my endo sisters, and have invited them to share their journey here with you.

Meet Brandy Nicole:

How long have you been suffering?
I’ve been suffering for 12 years.

What does your pain feel like?
My pain feels like a white hot knife stabbing and twisting inside my pelvis and lower back. I always make the joke that it feels like I have a unicorn bucking around inside my pelvis…silly but you gotta make light of the situation somehow.

What have you tried in order to be pain-free or symptom-free?
At least 10 different birth control methods including various pills, patch, and nuva ring, otc pain relievers such as tylenol, motrin, and aleve, muscle relaxers such as flexeril, stronger rx pain relievers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, stretching, breathing, heating pads, hot epsom salt baths, distraction (reading, movie watching, listening to music), lupron shot, and multiple surgeries.

Have you ever been discriminated against at school, the workplace or the public eye, just for being ill from Endometriosis?
I’ve had employers look down upon me for missing days of work during flares or having surgery. I’ve never been fired, but have come close. Luckily, while taking college courses I’ve had professors who have worked with me and have been understanding.

Do you have access to adequate health care?
I currently have adequate health care, but this is just recent. The past three years I went without insurance and lacked the funds to get proper treatment, therefore my endo definitely got worse.

Do you have an in-person support system (family, partner, friends, etc.)?
My mother is very supportive, but sometimes I don’t want to worry her or overwhelm her so I turn to a close knit group of friends who have been there for me for the past 5 years. I truly appreciate them. I’m lucky, a lot of people don’t have support.

What are your best coping mechanisms?
My best coping mechanism is knowing that I have no other choice but to cope. Life isn’t going to slow down because I have endometriosis, and I don’t have the resources to slow down myself. So when I think I cant do it, somehow I find the strength somewhere to keep going.

Anything else you’d like to say?
I feel its important to add that even though endo can be a strain on personal relationships, its not a reason for your partner to give up on you. If they do, then they arent who you think they are and you are better off with them gone.

My name is Kate. I’m 29 years old. I have struggled with horrific periods since I was 14.

They placed me on birth control at 15 to help regulate my cycle. At 18 I was diagnosed with PCOS and battled with cysts.

If I stop taking birth control my cysts grow large and I gain weight.

I also have horrible cramping that I assumed was “normal.”
They are the types of cramps that place me in bed, strapped to a heating pad, cause me to vomit, and take away all of my energy.

At the age of 25, a doctor performed laparoscopy surgery and diagnosed endometriosis. He also removed a cyst from my left ovary.

The recovery was painful and miserable.

I then was placed on the drug Lupron to stop more endo growth.
For six months I was post-menopausal. No hormone replacement can offset the crazy emotions that drug brings.
It interfered with my sex life, it caused hot flashes and my emotions were raw. However for 6 months I was period and cramp free.

Currently: I am social worker. I work with teens who are abusing drugs and who have been placed in juvenile hall. I am their advocate to place them in rehab. I also speak as their advocate in court. I work as the undocumented teens’ liaison with a pro-Bono lawyer and I also work directly with CPS.

My job is extremely stressful. I don’t have time to be bed-ridden.

I currently have periods every 2 months. I have been on every hormone replacement on the market. I am buying time. I need another surgery.

But, in my last surgery they confirmed that my fertility is affected due to that state of my ovaries and the advanced nature of my endo. The next surgery I have will need to be done to help me conceive. And even then I have less than a 30% chance of conceiving naturally. It is frustrating and discouraging.

I just moved to Los Angeles and am trying to find a new specialist in my insurance plan. There are so many doctors that just look at me and say, “you are a healthy woman who runs marathons. You understand pain. Do you really need pain medication for some cramps?”

My answer: these are not cramps. Cramps do not make you vomit. A period on birth control should not seep through sanitary napkins. Cramps should be manageable with a little bit of Aleve®.

These are not cramps. This is hell.

It is hell no one understands unless you have it as well.

There is no cure.

There is no magic pill.

And conceptualizing that factor is the most painful part.