Her name was Alexis

A woman named Alexis reached out to me the other day. She wanted to learn about lifestyle changes she could make that would improve her hormonal balance. I looked through her chart and found this woman has endometriosis too. I was taken aback. She too was in her 30’s .  Although this woman and I are two very different people, those details connected us. Have you ever felt like you were expected to help someone with a problem you were personally struggling with? I’m thinking, “Girl, I’m trying to get myself together. We’re in the same boat!”

Over the past couple of months I have been doing my own research on nutrition and lifestyle interventions that can help with endometriosis and trialing them on myself. I’m my own guinea pig. So yes, I have something to offer this woman, but I’m still figuring things out in a lot of ways. Receiving this message from her made me reflect on God and how he creates these opportunities of growth and stretching for us.

I don’t see a woman with my name and having the same condition as me as a coincidence. I just can’t. But I do feel encouraged to continue to learn more about what is going on with me, and what I can do about it. Not just for me, but also for her and every other woman struggling.

I took a look at her chart a little more and see she was scheduled to have a hysterectomy. My stomach dropped. That could have been me! But it shouldn’t be. Removing the uterus is rarely the solution for endometriosis because the tissue that needs to be targeted is outside of the uterus. Thankfully, she requested it to be postponed. Now, I’m no doctor nor a specialist in endometriosis but based on my research, there’s a better way.

This is the facility where I was routed to see my gynecologist so it just makes me wonder what approach they will take with me. I’m anxious for my appointment. Also, I know I will certainly ask to be referred to the woman I originally asked to see if things don’t feel right. Send me and my endo sister, Alexis, light.