It took until last year for Kat to receive an official endometriosis diagnosis, even though she struggled with it since she was a teenager. "In my teen years, I missed school each month due to how debilitating my periods were and I spoke with my doctor to find medical solutions," she told POPSUGAR. Her doctor prescribed birth control to control her severe pain and heavy bleeding so she wouldn't have to call out of work. "But, the pill really didn't fully help with my periods. I still had significant pain, heavy flow, and blood clots," Kat said. She also couldn't afford to miss work, and was too scared to call out because she was embarrassed to discuss the reason why she'd be missing days. "Instead, I would go to work in pain, and try to take as much medication as I could to make it through the day," she explained.
She's tried every possible remedy, from heat wraps to birth control, supplements, exercise, and nutritional changes. "Lifestyle modifications with my nutrition and fitness also helped with decreasing my nausea and pain slightly," Kat said. "But the only thing that's been successful at reducing my pain and treating my endometriosis has been excision surgery." She had surgery in October of 2019 to remove two large benign cysts on both of her ovaries and excise the endometriosis in her abdominal area. Her symptoms, including bloating and swelling, back and leg pain, nausea, and constipation, have improved. "I also do not have debilitating, painful, heavy periods," she added.
