A support group for a medical condition that causes painful menstrual cycles says the first step is better communication.
Cairista MacIsaac, the founder and organizer of The Guysborough and Area Endometriosis Support Group, said some women are told that the pain is in their head.
This causes them to have to constantly fight for care or to have their symptoms and pain minimized.
MacIsaac shared with our newsroom that the group is a nice way to finally connect with other people who understand what they are going through.
“We don’t have a cure at the moment, so if we can at least build connections within community, with our own bodies, with others that are experiencing similar conditions, I think that generates conversation and awareness,” shared MacIsaac.
“And through that, it ultimately helps get more people educated and that in turn helps create a bigger push for more change around endometriosis care, research, and education.”
Symptoms
According to the Endometriosis Network Canada, the condition is known to affect at least 10 per cent of the population assigned female of birth.
MacIsaac said symptoms include painful menstrual cycles, pain outside of your cycle, bowel related issues, nerve pain, back issues, fatigue and low energy.
This condition makes some women unable to work, like herself, or for girls to miss school.
She said diagnosis and treatment can take up to six years, after seeing specialists and having excision surgery. To speed up her own waiting process, MacIsaac said she fundraised to cover her own surgery out of county.
“I think we a lot of times are left out of the conversations about our own health and if we want a path forward for endometriosis care, we need to start listening to the patients who are experiencing this condition firsthand because a lot of the problems that arise from our experience is not being listened to,” she explained.
The support group meets every third Saturday of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., usually at the Cast Away Cafe.
“Sometimes it could be hard to talk to your parents and talk to your friends about these types of issues, so when you have a support group of people that are going through similar things, it makes those conversations a lot easier to have,” expressed MacIsaac.
NDP helps push for change
To help push for action on women’s health, the official opposition invited MacIsaac and three other women to share their stories at Province House in Halifax, Monday.
The women spoke not only of battles with endometriosis but breast cancer as well.
According to the NDP, more than 15,000 women are waiting for routine care.
Leader Claudia Chender says the women she’s talked to aren’t surprised, but they are angry. On average, it’s expected these women will be waiting 3 years just to see a doctor.
Fundraise/Support
MacIsaac is currently fundraising for the IWK endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain program and encourages anyone who would like to help endometriosis patients in the province to contribute.
You can join their Healing with Endo 902 group on Facebook if you’d like to join for support, education, fundraising and events.
-with files from Natalie Chiasson
