Regarding Endometriosis & going into Nursing

Traum-a-Rama · Feb 25, 2010

Hi, I wanted to respond to your post because I've been in your shoes and I've been able to pursue my dreams...I have one more semester of nursing school to complete. I've had severe endometriosis for years and years (I'm 35 now and just found out I have to have an abdominal hysterectomy because I also have huge fibroids that caused me to hemorrhage over the weekend) but I've pushed through that and then some. In fact, after a long rehabilitation (I have some other autoimmune stuff that causes severe fatigue, nonrestorative sleep or insomnia and constant muscle/joint pain) and learning to accept my chronic illnesses that lead me to nursing in the first place. And, because of all the hospital visits and surgeries, etc. I feel like I can empathize with patients...I've been there and know their insecurity, fear, pain, sadness, and loss.

Nursing school has probably been more challenging for me because I have to push through daily pain and my days off are spent in physicial therapy. I'm also a single mom. But, all these things make my success and that eventual R.N. license all the more precious. It's what keeps me going.

But, on to the endo...there are so many treatments now to help with cycle pain. After several laparoscopies and two rounds of depo-lupron, my doctor put me on the Pill not only to put off a recurrence, but to prevent the monthly pain. I took them continously (skipping the last 7 pills) so that I wouldn't have a period...no period, no endo growth, no pain. Once in awhile you have to let yourself have a period, but I did this for years and years. Just wondering if your gyn has pursued this angle with you...it is an tried-and-true method to treating endo and preventing/postponing recurrence.

Since you might want to take it slowly and see if you can do it (and I'm sure you can, but you have to get to believing in yourself on your own!) I think pursuing an LPN and then taking the LPN to RN bridge (acceleration) is a good idea. However, keep in mind that working and going to school is very difficult, too (but lots of us do it) and maybe an ADN (associate's degree) or a diploma (hospital based program) might be your best bet. Nursing school is demanding and difficult to begin with, but I'm hoping that my story will inspire you to pursue your dream... for those of us who have to sacrifice and push through personal struggles, it is all that more worthwhile!

As for working, a lot of places have mostly 12 hour rotations, which means a 3-day work week and your days (or nights) will not be set in stone. This flexibility can work in your favor, though, if you know you may need a few days in a row around that time and are willing to work three days in a row to get them. I kinda doubt they'd be sympathetic concerning a new grad's schedule since we're low on the totem pole...but if you can finish nursing school, you will have already learned how to push through the pain (psychological and physical..lol) Nursing students do not have a say about their clinical days or hours.

It IS possible if you believe in yourself and have that drive...Good luck!

lil pixi · Feb 26, 2010

Thank you so much for your response. It is greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through currently as well. It is such a battle with pain & fear, this condition.

As far as my treatments go, I have been on both Lupron shots & a few different oral contraceptives in the past.

Unfortunately, all hormones have had the same terrible effects on me. Just every bad side effect you can think of.

I have heard of all the newer & better ones, but then there's my emotional struggle with the issue of contraceptives to add to the notion I could just keep having those same side effects too.

For someone who's always wanted a big family & at least 3 children their whole life, infertility is without a doubt, my greatest fear. I fear what I've heard about some women having difficulties trying to conceive after coming off of them (anyone else heard that?), and I just hate the whole battle. This fear of masking my fertility with hormone treatment, on top of not getting any younger. Currently 27, btw.

Still young, I know, but not so much with this condition & my particular desires in life I feel. Watching everyone around having children, freaking out to myself. Maybe having not yet tried the newer ones is my bit of stubbornness, but it's a real fear & too strong an opposing feeling in me. Yet, I also know & have heard how it can help so much like you say. What a see-saw battle it's been with the hormones, with most attempts at treatment failing.

I'm in the midst of finding a new, hopefully very sympathetic doctor, to discuss where the heck to go from here and to see what condition I'm currently in compared to the last visits.

So frustrating, esp. when you possess so much drive & vigor.

I do feel a lot of empathy with patients from all I've been through and have seen & helped other loved one's through. Though we suffer for it, it's a great quality to have in pursuing & practicing aiding others.

Do you think an ADN program is less demanding than an LPN program? I only ask due to your suggestion. I wanted to start with LPN because I figured commitment in baby steps might be best for me under these conditions.

It is good to know about the work flexibility, and I am glad to have such consistent cycles.

I may live in pain, but I have such great strength to pull through so much.

And you definitely have inspired me with your response. Congrats to you for pushing on & getting so far. :)

Thank you again, and I will be thinking of your wellness in this struggle. :redpinkhe

RNROSER2011 · Feb 26, 2010

I have a similar condition and I was worried about whether or not I'd have excessive absences. Add to that a daughter who has asthma and gets every cold virus known to medical science. Im more than halfway through getting my ADN. I think the schools like to scare you up front because they've seen the slacker students who skip class every time they have a case of the cocktail flu (a hangover). There's no doubt that attendance and focus on your tasks at hand is important, but my advice is go for it. I find that being in school, especially at clinicals functions as a distraction tool and actually helps me not to notice my pain so much.

Think about getting an ADN. You can go into so many more types of nursing jobs, and the feedback I get from the seasoned professionals is the pay and conditions are often better.

As an anecdotal side note on fertility, I was told after a lap that my ovaries were so scarred that it was "probably impossible" for me to get pregnant. I used birth control BUT nature had something else in mind. My daughter is 5 yrs old, and boy is she something else! I thank God every day for her. Don't give up on what you want. The only way you'll know if its possible is to try. Good luck. :heartbeat

Urban_Durga · Mar 16, 2010

I have dealt with severe Endometriosis since I was 12 or 13. I have had horrible pain with my periods all my menstruating life, and it has gotten increasingly worse as I've gotten older (I'm 27 now). Last year was the worst yet, and at one point, I was bleeding EVERY day for three months straight, and then at least a couple days a week, with pain, for many months outside of that. I tried several treatments that didn't work, and my doctor was urging me toward surgery. I'm also very familiar with having to take lots of time off of work due to pain and excessive bleeding.

I found several websites promoting an Endometriosis Diet. It's tough and restrictive, but I have been on it for two months, and just finished up a 4-day period with virtually no pain (the first like it since I started menstruating. Usually the pain is so severe that I frequently throw up, at least the first day, and the bleeding lasts from 7-12 days). Within two weeks of changing what I was eating, I stopped experiencing awful pain and inflammation outside of my period. Though it is extremely challenging to adhere strictly to the diet, I would highly recommend trying it out if you've pursued multiple treatment options that have not yielded results and relief.

You can find information about the nutritional plan online by Googling "Endometriosis Diet". There are also several good books/cookbooks available through Amazon.com. And just as a note, there's not any special food you have to buy, or anything. Pretty much all the information you need can be found online for free, unless you want more extensive recipe options and such, which can, of course, be found in various books.

All my most heartfelt wishes for relief from your symptoms. No matter what it is, I hope you're able to find a solution soon...it's a horrible condition to have to live with. :redbeathe

Cheeko16 · Jun 8, 2015

I have sever endometriosis and I am trying to get in the nursing program. I have excellent grades and help anyone I can. I am 31 years old and have two children. I am so very afraid that once I get into the program, my endo will ruin what I have worked so hard for. One week out of the month I am vomiting, in sever pain that usually takes me to the ER and emotionally wrecked. The flare ups have shortened since I had the Skyla IUD put in but still so much pain. I want to be an ER nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner. I have been considering a partial hysterectomy but have been told that I would need a full. I am terrified. I really don't want the full hysterectomy as it would put me straight into menopause. Hormone therapy? Trading one problem for another? At the same time, I feel like I can no longer handle the excruciating pain that I am in every month. I'm just at a loss and don't know what to do.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jun 12, 2015

I've suffered from endo and pcos since my teens. I'm 39 now. I was told to hurry up and have kids at 22, otherwise, I would never have any. I was sick for 2 weeks out of the month. I was deathly afraid I wouldn't be able to walk down the aisle at my wedding. My gyno at the time drugged me up big time just so I could walk down the aisle. I was miserable.

I kept searching and found a good ob/gyn who could help me. I got pregnant at 29 without the use of fertility drugs. I tried a second time and couldn't get pregnant even with them. Over the years I have had 6 surgeries for endo. I actually found out I was pregnant when I was hooked up for yet another surgery. It's a great story.

my endo went into a sort of remission after my son was born. I can't do any hormonal therapies as I have a history of blood clots. I can feel it starting to come back. I get nervous because my on told me my next surgery will be a hysterectomy. Even though I'm 39, the finality of it just scares me, so for right now, I just muddle through.

There are days where I just want to stay home and curl up in a ball. I know that during the height of my endo, I could have never of done nursing school. I called off a lot at the time. I got terrible migraines from it. Right now about 6-8 hours before I get my period, I get a bad migraine. Last month it lasted 5 days until I finally went and got a toradol shot. I've sat in pharmacology with intense migraines. One time, I just had to come home. Talk to your ob and explain what is going on. Both of my doctors know I am in nursing school and they try to help when I need it. They both support me in this so they know I can't miss so when something comes up, they treat it to get me up and going as soon as possible.

I probably will have that hysterectomy next year as I don't want to deal with this when I have a job. You don't ever want to be calling off all the time.

MNnurse17 · Jun 18, 2015

Having suffered from endometriosis since my teens, I feel your pain. I am in my early twenties, and I just graduated nursing school and got my RN license. I think that if someone really feels that nursing is what they were meant to do, they should do it. I don't want anyone to regret giving up on their dreams because of this condition. I also worry about infertility-that is my greatest fear since I have always wanted to be a mom. However, you will never know if you can have children until you try. It is different for everyone. Try to stay positive. I know that for me, personally, I feel comfort in knowing that if I cannot have children naturally, I will still be a mother through adoption. Maybe you would find comfort in this option as well. I wish you the best.