My name is Martin. I am 27 and Michelle’s Hubby! Just over 10 years ago I was at a party having far too much to drink and clapped my eyes on the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. It was a moment that I shall never forget. We talked, laughed and generally had the time of our lives. The night ended and several weeks later we met again. Things progressed, then took several steps back, then progressed again until after several periods of “off and on” we started going out in earnest. We were dogged with the usual crap that happens early on in relationships, but made it through!! As time progressed it became more and more obvious that every month Mickey was in a lot of pain. At first I just thought it was normal, being a typical ignorant male when it came to women’s problems, and for some considerable time things continued as they were without serious investigation, other than occasional visits to the doctor, by Mickey, complaining about the pain.
The story was always the same. Pain killers, painkillers and more painkillers!!
In the last few years, the pains that she was experiencing grew worse and worse until she was practically unable to move for two weeks out of four.
During this time we went to the doctor’s quite frequently saying that something more serious MUST be wrong, as by this time she was passing out during her period. The pain of seeing the person you love to the end of the earth in so much pain, although not as bad as actually having that pain. brought me to tears. They finally “HALF” listened. She went through smear test after smear test, ECG heart monitoring and other such crap with various specialists until finally, last year, after trying for just over a year for Kids, they diagnosed endometriosis.
We had previously read about this disease and at the time it was a devastating thought as it can cripple the chances of having a family. (Funny how your priorities change!!)
Since then it has got worse and worse. Mickey is a gorgeous bubbly person clouded with this dreadful disease.
She has had, after taking various drugs, two “Laparoscopies”, one of which was meant to be a corrective / Laser Lap, but they couldn’t due to the fact that it was too severe. She has stage 4 Endo and it has spread to her lungs and liver.
Is there anyone out there feeling as helpless as I do????? I never used to think so until we found the net. There are so many people out there with this disease it is incredible, and the story is always the same. NO REAL INFORMATION.
I feel there is nothing I can do except keep researching it and supporting Mickey in whatever way I can. Every way you turn there are brick walls, lack of information, and quite frankly people who just don’t give a shit anyway.
Well life goes on, and now that we have been told that we cannot have kids, all I want is for my little baby to be well again whatever it takes. The problem is that no one knows what it does take!!!!!! Well for now it’s just more of the same and to try and make the most of a bad situation.
I’m sure some of you will agree that sometimes it’s hard to hold back the frustration, as trying to be supportive and smiley all the time is sometimes very difficult when working ridiculous hours at work and having a really hard day, to walking in the door at home and switching into happy supportive mode, but somehow the strength is always there, somewhere!! It’s probably the LOVE that does it!!!
The Internet has really opened my eyes to this disease, both in the information that it holds and the INCREDIBLE support that it gives every sufferer alike. You are all a great credit to yourselves, and it’s just a shame we all live so far apart.
I feel for and send my love to every one of you both sufferers and supporters. It’s hard for both sides, on the one hand dealing with the excruciating pain and mental torture, to the supporting of your partner and acting as a barrier between the ignorant, and the absorber of the anger from our partners at this crippling disease.
Take care; keep smiling everyone out there and thanks for taking the time to read this.
Mart.