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The Emotional Response to a Diagnosis of Endometriosis

The Emotional Response to a Diagnosis of Endometriosis
The Emotional Response to a Diagnosis of Endometriosis

The poor understanding of the cause of endometriosis, prevailing societal misconceptions and a high rate of misdiagnosis means a harrowing experience for those eventually diagnosed with the disease. We know that the emotional response to an endometriosis diagnosis can be quite diverse.

Shock

The delay to diagnosis of endometriosis is roughly 7-10 years. Therefore, there is a high probability that doctors misdiagnosed your condition as some other disease. Many of you have ended up receiving unrelated testing and treatment. Finding out that the cause of your symptoms was actually endometriosis can come as quite a shock.

Talk to your support personnel (i.e. family, partner, friends) and let them know their support is paramount. Try to develop your emotional resilience. You may also consider joining support groups, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and setting personal and professional goals.

Relief

People may have told you that symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain and excessive bleeding are “normal” and that you shouldn’t worry about them. However, nothing can be farther from the truth. Unfortunately, many women live with these symptoms without much support and this delays the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Knowing that the symptoms you experienced all these years were real and that you were not imagining them, can bring an immense sense of relief and validation.

The surgeons at Seckin Endometriosis Center (SEC) are dedicated to getting you back to normalcy. The innumerable positive testimonials we’ve received highlight that our patient-centric empathetic approach together with the very best of advances in laparoscopic excision surgery is the best bet against fighting endometriosis.

Fear of infertility

Many women know that endometriosis can be associated with Infertility. Although this can be a result of the disease, the right surgery and counseling can ensure a woman with endometriosis has her maximum chance for fertility. At SEC, we use specialized techniques to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue, particularly the ovaries.

Unfortunately, some doctors advocate hysterectomy as a way to treat endometriosis. We believe this decision to be entirely up to the patient and we only use hysterectomy as a last resort after full consultation.

If despite the best surgery, conceiving naturally is not possible, there are several assisted reproductive techniques that can help you.

Worry about repeat surgeries

Unfortunately, endometriosis can sometimes recur following surgery. Many surgeons do not fully excise all endometriosis lesions, while others burn or ablate endometriosis lesions. Both techniques can lead to poor outcomes with residual endometriosis or the creation of scar tissue. More importantly, it can lead to persistence or worsening of pain and/or a quicker time to symptom recurrence. This means that you may require more repeat surgeries, which can cause anxiety and reduce your overall quality of life.

The surgeons at Seckin Endometriosis Center can minimize this risk thanks to decades of experience in excising even deep-infiltrating forms of endometriosis using our patented Aqua Blue Contrast (ABC)TM technique that helps visualization of all lesions and fibrotic scars.

Anger

Being diagnosed with endometriosis can provide not just a sense of relief, but can also result in anger for the reasons mentioned above. Try to calm yourself by channeling your thoughts productively. You may consider practicing techniques such as yoga and meditation to help soothe your nerves.

Many women become involved in activities to raise awareness about the disease. This can ensure that others with the disease do not have to go through the same pain. You can find more information about how you could take part on the website of The Endometriosis Foundation of America, co-founded by Dr. Tamer Seckin.

How to tell your workplace

You may worry about how to or if you have to tell your workplace about your diagnosis. You may worry that your colleagues and boss may treat you differently or that you may not have the same opportunities as everyone else.

We have an article about how to talk to your boss about endometriosis that includes information about your rights and obligations.

Have you experienced any of these emotions after your diagnosis? Please share your experience on our post on Facebook or Instagram.

Get a Second Opinion

Our endometriosis specialists are dedicated to providing patients with expert care. Whether you have been diagnosed or are looking to find a doctor, they are ready to help.

Our office is located on 872 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10065.
You may call us at (646) 960-3080 or have your case reviewed by clicking here.