Hey everyone, Welcome back today we are going to learn about Jessica Felder. This series is meant to educate and help heal. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment. Don’t forget to subscribe.
- Would you like us to use your real name or a fake one?
Real name, please. Jessica Felder.
2. Where are you from?
Victoria, Australia.
3. When were you diagnosed? How old were you?
Diagnosed in April 2020, 28 years old.
4. How long have you had Adenomyosis?
3 months diagnosed. Symptoms since puberty (15 years old)
5. Do you have children? On birth control or any medicine for ando? Or have you had a hysterectomy if so when?
I have 3 children, 6 years old, 3-year-old, and 10 months old. No medication at present but have been on birth control on and off since 15. I can’t take any hormonal pill due to headaches and migraines with aura. I have just been prescribed Endep which is normally prescribed for anxiety and depression with the added benefit of treating neuropathic pain. I haven’t started that because I’m not sure how I feel about that one yet.
6. If you have had a hysterectomy, do you still have symptoms?
No hysterectomy.
7. What are your symptoms?
Since puberty, I’ve had painful ovulation, painful periods that make me feel nauseous, etc. Painful sex. Excessive bleeding for the first 3 days of the period (changing a pad every 2-3 hours for the first 2 days). When I am pregnant and breastfeeding, my symptoms disappear. Only returning after I stop breastfeeding. At times I have random sharp pains in my abdomen, pain down my legs and discomfort when opening my bowels (as though there is a tugging on something when I go if that makes sense lol). I have a suspicion that I also have endo but haven’t seen a gyno that was willing to do a lap. I have an app in September with a new gyno.
8. What do you take for pain, nausea, etc.?
Nurofen or naprogesic for pain. Heat packs on bad days.
9. How long did it take you to be diagnosed?
The first time I saw a gyno I was 20, he said I had a tilted uterus which was causing the painful sex, “have a baby and that should solve that” (now that I’m more educated I should have told him to shove it 🤣) before that, when I was on the pill I would skip my period for months at a time to avoid symptoms. After my first baby, I was 22. I had exploratory surgery where a scope went into my uterus. All they found was “a pocket of blood that was probably causing the pain” and I went back on the pill, skipping periods for months lol.
Before falling pregnant with my 3rd baby in 2019, I had a referral to an endo clinic but didn’t get there before finding out I was pregnant. Since having her and stopping breastfeeding, my symptoms are back, worse than ever, heavy periods, pain to the point of curling up in a ball lol. Pain outside of ovulation and period to has gotten worse. I had an ultrasound in April the day before my period came, which showed the adeno. It was a phone consultation for the results, and she just said, this is what it looks like; this is what it is. A hysterectomy is the only cure, but take these and see if that helps. She put me on a hormonal pill, which gave me headaches every day. Now I have the referral to see the gyno to talk about my options.
10. How has Adenomyosis impacted your personal life?
I don’t enjoy sex because of this, which has a huge impact on my marriage. My husband is understanding but also, at times, takes it personally that I’m not attracted to him. I’ve had days off work because of my period just because of the amount I bleed. I’m a nurse in aged care and sometimes might not get more than one chance to go to the toilet in a shift, so I can’t- I will be changing a pad every 2 hours. It took us 12 months to conceive our first son, who was rough, and I don’t know if it was because of the adeno. In general, my mood is all over the place, and I can relate it to the daily pain I have and just being fed up!
11. What’s craziest/dumbest thing some have said to you?
I said earlier, being told to have a baby to fix my issues. Being fobbed off by doctors etc. Once I went to emergency for pain, I felt like they thought I was a druggie looking for a fix.they made me take 6 movicol in a liter of water, I drank that, shit through the eye of a needle and then discharged myself because they weren’t doing any testing or anything (I knew I wasn’t constipated but drank it anyway). I’m now way more educated and laughing at old me for just going along with whatever lol.
Humble Soul 