Facing Endometriosis As An Entrepreneur
Many of you likely already know that it’s Women’s History Month, but I’d like to use my voice to let you know that March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month.
*Endometriosis aka endo is a condition (a chronically painful one I’ll note) that happens when tissue similar to the lining of a uterus grows outside of the uterus. It can cause painful periods, chronic stabbing pelvic, leg, and back pain, pain during sex, irregular bleeding, digestive problems, infertility, fatigue, brain fog — the list goes on.
Endometriosis affects about 200 million people worldwide -yet it still takes the average endo patient about 6 to 10 years to get diagnosed.* (Source: Everyday Health)
It took me three years to get properly diagnosed and find a doctor who takes me seriously enough to advocate for me to be pain-free. Still, managing symptoms while also managing projects has been a physical, mental and emotional rollercoaster. But I’m not writing all of this to complain. I am bringing attention to what is happening to not just me — but to likely 1 of the 10 women you know in your professional circle.
Being a woman in the music industry, followed by the tech industry, and just in the world of entrepreneurship, one learns a great deal about willpower. Learning to balance the hustle culture of the industry — the long days, nights + weekends, constant email refreshing and Slack notifications — it’s an ongoing test of resilience for everyone.
For me, I currently have a full-time position at a growing tech startup, consult for other startups/creative entrepreneurs, lead my national nonprofit organization and dabble in other projects. My time and energy (just as all other entrepreneur’s) are precious and limited — however dealing with endo throughout my entrepreneurial journey has definitely added a layer to the process.
It’s been a learning curve, knowing when to give in to my ambition and when to rest. Knowing when to push through or when to call it a day. Knowing who to tell and how to manage their responses.
I’d like to start a conversation around how we respond when we hear about our colleagues and friends battling endo or any other ‘invisible’ chronic illness.
Don’t treat us differently. You can listen, try to empathize and be respectful without making us feel like you think we’re fragile.
Don’t call us crazy for juggling so many projects and our health at the same time. We’re doing what we can to stay sane and manage our pain.
Don’t idealize us and call us “Superwoman” because while most days we’d like to believe that we are indeed Superwoman and work our days with our heating packs on high and painkillers in rotation,there will likely be a lot of days we won’t feel like that, and that is 100% okay.
And on that note —
I want other people battling these symptoms — the not being able to physically get out of bed, the sudden onset of feeling like you’re being stabbed in the ovaries in the middle of your back to back Zoom calls — KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
A quick PSA to the endo-warriors and invisible illness survivors: Nothing is out of reach.
There is always a way — and that way might not be clear right now, the path is never linear but don’t ever let your pain, fatigue, what seems like endless tests, appointments, and recovery-time, ever stop you from wanting more. Even when it seems impossible.
Let’s make HERstory this March and spread endo-awareness.
If you’d like to learn more about endometriosis or would like to support more research to get endo-patients the treatments they need, and maybe one day, find a cure — https://www.endofound.org is a good place to start.
