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Allyson’s Story

“If anyone else is out there suffering, they should come get looked at. It can’t hurt to get looked at. It can’t hurt to voice what you are feeling. Don’t be ashamed of what you are feeling and don’t be ashamed of your body. The staff at the Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain Center are there to help you.”

Please note: Since this patient story was originally published, Dr. McGuirk has retired from CCRM Fertility of Delaware and the Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain Center has closed. CCRM Fertility still effectively treats patients with endometriosis by helping to manage pain and overcome endo-related infertility. Learn more about endometriosis treatment at CCRM here.

24-year-old Allyson, had always struggled with her periods and bowels. But for most of her life, people dismissed Allyson’s pain as no big deal. As a kid, she remembers people having a difficult time empathizing with her, often saying “Suck it up, you’re fine. No big deal, I had bad periods when I was a kid, maybe if you eat better you’ll feel better.” Allyson was frustrated. No one was listening to her and her pelvic pain just continued to worsen. Eventually it couldn’t be ignored.

Looking back on her life during high school, Allyson recalls always having to go to the bathroom. “I could never just go out and have a good time with friends because I was always looking for the nearest bathroom and though they were all understanding, it was still embarrassing. Try having a boyfriend when all you can think about is where the closest bathroom is.” Between her pelvic pain and constant need to go to the restroom, she had difficulty maintaining a social life.

By her junior year in high school, Allyson’s painful menstrual cycles and bowel problems had become so severe, she often had to call her dad to have her dismissed.

“I could never just go out and have a good time with friends because I was always looking for the nearest bathroom.”

– Allyson M.

A Diagnosis

When her mother took her to see a specialist in young women’s health in Boston, her doctor strongly suspected a case of endometriosis and suggested a laparoscopy. “What does that mean?” Allyson thought. “Oh my gosh, I have to have surgery.” Deciding to move forward, she had the laparoscopic procedure, which confirmed her doctor’s suspicions. Allyson was diagnosed with stage II endometriosis. Her doctor removed the tissue and she was able to return to school after only two days.

She started taking birth control to help with her symptoms, which she says helped at the time.

Her Symptoms Returned

After a stressful year of her father commuting from Boston to Delaware for work, Allyson’s family decided to move to the First State. And while she loved her new home, her bowel symptoms returned worse than ever. Making matters more difficult, this time Allyson didn’t have the support system she built in Boston.

She says, “I am very open with my parents and told them I am not okay. I am always sick and they suggested, ‘Stop drinking coffee, no cream, no more dairy’ and even when I would cut back on those things, it didn’t help me at all.” Not only had her bowel symptoms returned, but her pelvic pain did as well.

Allyson found RAD after looking up centers for her unique condition online. Her vaginal pain was unbearable and frequently had her in tears. “For me, it wasn’t the cramps that were bad. It was the actual vaginal pain during my menstrual cycle that was bad,” she explains.

“I am very open with my parents and told them I am not okay. I am always sick and they suggested, ‘Stop drinking coffee, no cream, no more dairy’ and even when I would cut back on those things, it didn’t help me at all.”

– Allyson M.

A Second Laparoscopy

After meeting with the team, it was clear that she needed to have another laparoscopy. However, this time, the findings were different.

Allyson says after the surgery, “Fortunately, there was little endo scarring that was removed. However, my bladder was attached to my bowels and the doctors determined that it had to be moved.” Not only was the surgery more invasive, the recovery was much more difficult. When a laparoscopic surgery is done, doctors pump gas in your stomach in order to see everything clearly. Allyson said, “the recovery from the gas alone was the worst part, the only way to get rid of it was to get up and move, which only intensified the pain.”

Weeks went by and Allyson took hormone treatment following the procedure to treat and manage the symptoms of endometriosis. For a few months, Allyson received injections every three weeks, but eventually she noticed some negative side effects. She decided to stop her treatment and went back on birth control. The two parted ways.

Allyson stressed that her decision was made because of the medication and says she really loved the staff at the clinic. “They have been great. I’ve always had my questions answered, and there has always been a solution or something for me to try.”

“They have been great. I’ve always had my questions answered, and there has always been a solution or something for me to try.”

– Allyson M.

New Symptoms Arise

After a couple of years, Allyson developed a chronic yeast infection that doctors couldn’t seem to cure. “So fast forward two years and I’ve tried so many different creams and medicine but nothing would take this itch away. This is no way for me to live,” she says. In addition, she was having the same bowel problems again.

Allyson states, “I hated myself. I hated what I saw in the mirror, I hated the way my body betrayed me and most of all I hated that no one had an answer for me.” She was losing confidence in her body as she put on nearly 40 pounds. Her constant yeast infections caused insecurities and serious problems with her dating life. “Who wants to date someone who has a constant itch?” Allyson said. “Though it is a completely normal thing to get and women have yeast infections all the time, I was so ashamed and thought no man would ever want me because of it.”

Recognizing the toll that the struggles were having on her daughter, Allyson’s mom suggested she revisit RAD, as they might have ideas or suggestions that could help end the cycle and get Allyson back on track.

Revisiting RAD

Following a two-year hiatus, Allyson made a return visit and was shocked to hear her possible diagnosis: Type II diabetes. However, it all made sense. She says, “We went through all the symptoms I was having – the yeast infections, the constant sickness and the bloat. I would get nauseous almost every night and would have a hypoglycemic reaction every so often.”

Allyson had blood tests completed to find out her insulin, glucose, and hormone levels. Her tests came back revealing a silent blood sugar problem known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance increases the risk of Type II diabetes.

After asking her care team what she could do, Allyson cut out dairy, gluten, soy, and sugar, did the keto diet and intermittent fasting. Allyson changed her life and started new medications to help with endometriosis pain.

A Better Life

Five months later and Allyson is experiencing a better life in so many different ways. She is on a successful treatment plan to manage her endometriosis and the lifestyle recommendations have helped with her weight loss, bloating and energy levels. Allyson is now living a pain-free life and finally has the ability to maintain a normal social life! She notes that her work performance has also has seen a significant improvement.

After losing 30 pounds, Allyson says she looks and feels great and credits her team for this. “RAD has helped me in ways other doctors couldn’t. I don’t know what else to say other than thank you. If anyone else is out there suffering, they should come get looked at. It can’t hurt to get looked at. It does not hurt to voice what you are feeling.”

Allyson stresses the importance of knowing that other symptoms arise because of endometriosis. “I never thought in a million years I would gain 40 pounds in such a short time. I never thought that because I have endometriosis, I would become a Type II diabetic. People hear the word “endometriosis” and think it strictly means bad periods and not being able to have kids. That is so false and I can not stress that enough. Don’t be ashamed of what you are feeling and don’t ever be ashamed of your body, fight for yourself always. The staff at the Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain Center are there to help you.”

“Look at me. I left Dr. McGuirk and had to come back. She has helped me in ways other doctors couldn’t. I don’t know what else to say other than thank you. If anyone else is out there suffering, they should come get looked at. It can’t hurt to get looked at. It does not hurt to voice what you are feeling.”

– Allyson M.