On the occasion of the month dedicated to awareness and knowledge endometriosis Giorgia Soleri, the influencer model and girlfriend of Damiano dei Maneschina, is back to talk (via social media) about this quiet, painful illness she defines as “invisible” because she’s still (too much) underrated. But endometriosis is “…silent, never happened in my case. He screamed the way I wanted to scream, ”he writes in an Instagram post, where he shows postoperative wounds.
“A year ago, on March 21, I received my diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis. Five months later, on August 20, I found myself under the knife, hoping to finally start a life away from pain. I’m lucky (this is not always the case), surgery has greatly reduced the painful symptoms associated with endometriosis, but there is still no definitive cure to date, the diagnostic delay continues to be 7-10 years, even if it affects (this is estimated to be down) one out of ten women at birth. We can’t change the past, but maybe we can try to build a different future for those who today he’s cursed in pain with no name and no legitimacy”, he concludes.
As Georgia Soleri writes in her post endometriosis is a disease what affects the world 1 in 10 womenbut also the median time to reach its diagnosis is about 8 years.. A sad contradiction, given that we are talking about 8 long years spent in endure terrible pain and discomfort not to be heard. A problem that affects 3 million women in Italy, who have to cope not only with pain, but also with very heavy and sudden discharge.
What is endometriosis
L’endometriosis it is a condition in which endometrial tissue (tissue that is normally found inside the uterus) develops outside the uterus (in the abdomen, ovaries, etc.). There are several theories as to why this happens, but none of them can explain why the cells are outside the uterus. The most common explanation is the Sampson Theory, or retrograde menstruation theory, which suggests that some cells move in the opposite direction during menstruation. According to this theory, the cells do not exit through the vagina, but instead make their way into the fallopian tubes and may reach the ovaries, abdomen, or other organs. Living with endometriosis can be very challengingwhether asymptomatic or painful.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis sufferers?
The symptoms are far from specific, and in many cases women suffer in silence. The time required to make an accurate diagnosis and the process of treating this disease is long and complicated. intimaintimate health brand, on the one hand re-proposes an information campaign “Expectation”, the “provocative” video you will find on YouTube featuring 8 year old girls talking about 8 years of experience of many women, on the other hand, it wants to show how perception this disease from who is directly involved and who should advise. Two points of viewwhat from Roberta39 years old, from the 3rd mother of a child, who does not forget the efforts (and even more so 10 years of going from one doctor to another) to get a diagnosis and then an operation, well, to a gynecologist Manuela Farriswhich by pathology and condition, which, despite the disability, is still underestimated.
What are the implications of a diagnosis of endometriosis?
Roberta. “Finding the disease was a cold shower. If, on the one hand, after so many years of research and continuous change of doctors, this was certainly a relief, then on the other hand, I experienced it as a death sentence. Symptoms severe pain during menstruation and ovulation with pain that on a scale of 1 to 10 was between 8 and 9. Everything was accompanied nausea, vomiting, fever, leg pain, chronic fatiguelike I was running a marathon every day. Furthermore, severe pain during intercourse, bowel problems, mood swings. And since that wasn’t enough difficulty urinating”.
Dr. Manuela Farris. “Living with endometriosis can be very difficult, whether asymptomatic or painful. The symptoms are far from specific and cases women who suffer in silence because without an accurate diagnosis there are many of them. Some of them have mild symptoms, others are more severe with implications for fertility. But the level of pain is not always synonymous with the severity of endometriosis.”
What does it mean to treat endometriosis?
R. “After I was diagnosed with endometriosis, I was prescribed progestogen pills to try to keep the nausea and pain in check, as well as some supplements. While it was possible, thanks to therapy and periodic checks for 6 months, I tried my best to avoid intervention.”
MF “Unfortunately, the causes of endometriosis are not yet known. Pain during menstruation is the main symptom, which can also be present after and during intercourse. In the case of painful or heavy periods, it is always a good idea to consult a gynecologist. Then ultrasound will confirm or rule out the presence of pathology. Endometriosis can have a huge impact on quality of life: this is a condition that can be treated, but it should be considered a chronic disease. Also good to have symptom diary because it can be difficult to distinguish endometriosis from other diseases. In any case, before considering surgery, an MRI should be done.”
What does it mean to face intervention?
R. “Before the operation, I was explained all the steps, any complications and risks, such as bowel resection and the possibility of a possible stoma, which, fortunately for me, turned into a rectal shave. The postoperative period was relatively easy: after the removal of the drainage, walking improved, and everything began to go down. I don’t remember it being particularly painful, fortunately my surgery went without complications.”
MF “The operation is reserved for special cases and should only be performed when necessary. The ovary is a very sensitive organ, improper operation can lead to premature menopause from iatrogenic damage. The discomfort of chronic therapy should never be underestimated. We can no longer say that suffering woman: inpain is a symptom and should always be treated as such. We have to stop thinking that if our mothers or grandmothers had menstrual pains, we should endure it too, maybe after one or more days in bed. Possible treatments include drugs such as birth control pills, a levonorgestrel intrauterine system (IUD), and specific progestogens to treat endometriosis. Surgery should be reserved exclusively for specific cases. There is no better therapy than another: both birth control pills and other treatments help control pain. The choice largely depends on the needs and life plans of the woman. For example, a combination of different types of treatment may be required, with special precautions for those who want to become a mother and are experiencing difficulties.
Why is it so difficult to talk about endometriosis?
A. “When a friend tells me that she has certain symptoms, I always advise her trust a truly competent doctor. I know that finding the right people is not easy, and I encourage you to look for them. specialized center. It is important to understand that it is not normal to be unable to get out of bed during your period. If this happens, then there is a problem and we need to investigate. Do not listen to those who say that this is a “head” problem, because it is not. We must learn to be heard”.
D. F. “When a woman is in pain, she should always see a doctor. The issue speaks to women’s pain: whether it’s endometriosis, simple menstrual pain, or a headache, it seems like women always have to suffer. This is not true. The pain is not normal, it can and should be treated”.
Source: Elle