BREAKING THE CYCLE: How I Took Control of My Painful Periods
by: Riva Hiranand
Given it happens every month, and has for the past 20 years, you’d think I’d be used to it by now. But I don’t think I can ever get used to the stabbing, searing pains that begin in my abdomen and pelvis and spread throughout my body. The pain that trickles down into my legs, tightens my calf muscles and leaves me in agony, unable to walk or sit without help. For the first few days, I am useless, a sitting duck laying on the couch covered in heat packs; the pain and exhaustion weighing me down.
This is life with endometriosis, a condition I didn’t even know existed until just over 10 years ago. Endometriosis is a painful, debilitating inflammatory condition that affects 1 in 10 women, when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing extreme pain. Endometriosis can only be diagnosed during a laparoscopy. Symptoms of endometriosis can vary which causes a delay in diagnosis; it’s estimated to take between 7-10 years for women to be diagnosed.
My whole life, I felt like no doctor took my period pain seriously. My period lasted nine days and I’d often be in so much pain I had to miss school or work for the first few days; it was concerning enough that I saw a doctor regularly. But I left each doctor feeling hopeless and overwhelmed, being given another type of painkiller that would either knock me out or barely numb the pain enough for me to do basic tasks and being told yet again, that it was “just my period” and all I needed to do was rest and take painkillers. No matter how much I gave detailed explanations of what was happening in my body, all I was given was: “it’s just your period.”
I learned about endometriosis when I woke up in pain one morning, bleeding mid-cycle. I lost so much blood my mom insisted we go to the hospital, where the doctor suggested a cyst may have burst, causing the bleeding – I didn’t even know I had one. The next doctor we saw was surprised no one had mentioned endometriosis to me before, telling me that I had telltale symptoms of the disorder. I had a laparoscopy to confirm the diagnosis, remove the endometrial cells and an ovarian cyst. My gynecologist explained that the cells could still return and I may have to do another surgery to scrape them away. I had a glimmer of hope though, that perhaps my condition would get better, waiting nervously with each period after the surgery to see if anything improved. But nothing changed, and my doctor suggested that I manage my pain with more painkillers and rest.
Endometriosis took control of my life. I was an anxious, nervous wreck before each period, never quite knowing what to expect and what type of pain I’d be in. My period disrupted my life; I missed days of work, canceled social plans, was unable to even stick to an exercise regimen because something as innocuous as a spinning class could leave me in agony. Endometriosis wreaked havoc not only on my body, but also on my mind.
I felt exhausted, depressed, unmotivated, and angry, not just at what was happening to my body, but at the lack of options offered to me. I wasn’t given a roadmap, just medication. I knew medication was necessary – even if all I could do was move from my bed to the couch, not taking them would leave me writhing in pain, unable to walk or even make conversation. But I started to notice the side effects, particularly after I had a bad reaction to medication I’d been taking since I was younger started to cause nausea, bloating, acne, depression and weight gain. I knew that painkillers could not be the only tool I had in my arsenal to battle endometriosis. I started doing more research, joined an endometriosis support group, and looked for additional ways to heal my body and my mind.
Within my Indian community talking about your menstrual health is still a stigma. Your period is private, I’ve been told, talk about it quietly. But here’s why I will never hide pads in my sleeves on the way to the bathroom or whisper about my period again: when we dismiss severe pain as “women’s troubles”, we invalidate it and make it a women-centric issue. When women are shamed into silence, we deny them the ability to seek help, to have access to knowledge, resources and support that could help them. Through speaking up about endometriosis and connecting with other women, I’ve been able to learn more about the options that exist for me, and to create my own roadmap to managing endo.
One of the first things I did was to learn more about the menstrual cycle. So many of us learned basic menstrual health in high school; I was never taught about the phases within our cycle, for example, or about conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and fibroids. It’s never too late to learn!
I started going to acupuncture and cupping specifically to treat endometriosis a few months ago, which has improved my blood color and flow. I take herbs from the TCM clinic I go to which supports my overall health, as well as the other endometriosis symptoms I have. When I am on my period, they use an infrared heat lamp which gives me immense relief.
Food has a major impact on my period. Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, so anything that reduces the inflammation has helped me. Despite eating whatever I wanted on my period before, I noted down what made me bloat, feel nauseous, gassy and unwell and cut it out. I have plenty of cooked greens with ginger, lots of cherries, blueberries and strawberries and strictly avoid caffeine, dairy, carbonated drinks, cold food and alcohol. I also take turmeric supplements to reduce inflammation, an ayurvedic supplement containing 9 herbs and fruit-based digestive aids and enzymes to manage bloating, and shatavari to balance my hormones.
Exercising is the last thing I can even contemplate when I am in intense pain, but it does help me to go on a short walk and to stretch morning and night. I workout according to the phase of my cycle, which has allowed me to tap into the energy levels in my body instead of pushing myself constantly. In addition to that, supporting my mental health is crucial, as is allowing my body to rest, and to prioritize what feels good on my period. I cancel anything stressful, start a new book, write before bed, mix a blend of essential oils or try out a new face mask.
I know none of these things will cure endometriosis or remove the pain, but by creating my own rituals and habits, I am in control and able to understand what my body needs. Endometriosis is awful, but I try to use my period as a signal to slow down, to rest, and to heal.
by: Riva Hiranand
