If you’re a mother of a daughter or if you have a younger sister or niece who has already began her menses, do you talk to her about what’s normal or not regarding menstruation? Do you know if she experiences extremely painful cramps during her periods? It’s good to have these conversations with our young girls, as it could help establish any underlying health conditions there may be.
Today, I share a post by FAITH GICHANGA OSIRO, an endometriosis warrior, who shares her own experiences with painful periods.
“I am an endometriosis warrior. It’s sad that it took me 20 years to get a diagnosis. 20 years of putting up with excruciating pain that I was made to believe was normal -even by doctors.
I believed I was fragile since every other woman around me seemed to be carrying on with life normally. As a result, armed with a stash of pain medication, I pushed myself to attend classes, go to work, attend corporate meetings and social events. All this, even during times when I felt like several knives were stabbing me in my stomach.
Also Watch: Endometriosis and Infertility Link (Dr. Wanjiru Ndegwa)
Then there is the chronic fatigue that made me think maybe I was just lazy because I couldn’t explain it any other way. So I pushed myself more -with a demanding daytime job and night school. This I did for many years.
By the time it was the weekend, I was usually a wreck so I’d lock myself in from Friday until Sunday morning when I would leave for church, before getting right back to hibernation.
No other girl has to suffer in silence. Let us stop telling young girls that pain during periods is normal. Early diagnosis means better chances of getting the correct treatment.
The awareness also allows one to give themselves adequate self care like I do now, with rest being on top of that list. There is hope!”
Also Watch: Period Symptoms you Should Not Ignore
If you know of a woman who also undergoes severe pain during her periods -to the extent that she misses work or doesn’t attend school, then let her know about a support group called Endometriosis Foundation of Kenya, which can be reached on email: endometriosis254@gmail.com or +254770 659689.
Mummy Tales is an organization dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here.
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