Sick tell their wandering to diagnosis, lack of listening professionals, their expectations during the European Week of struggle. While one in ten women is affected in France, the government launched a strategy devoted to this disease.
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“This is not a women’s issue. This is a societal problem.” These words, spoken by President of the Republic on 11 January at the launch of a national strategy against the endometriosis, were moved to tears Carolina Seibel, 46. “This is a recognition of our illness, our disability, what we live every day. This is not only in our head.”
Caroline Seibel is reached this gynecological disease still little known, yet which affects about 10% of women of childbearing age. It takes an average of seven years to his diagnosis is made. She had to wait more than twenty years. The disease has caused irreversible damage. To mark the European Week for fight against endometriosis, and while the ARS launch in turn dies care devoted to its care, she agreed to tell his newspaper, as well as Salome Saidi Cindy Chloe or Claire that they have requested anonymity.
The days, weeks and months of Caroline are punctuated by the disease. Five to eight times a day, it must use a catheter to urinate. “The Monday and Friday, I see the physiotherapist who takes care of my legs. On Thursday, I see one that deals with the rehabilitation of the muscles of my rectum that I can not control, and once every two weeks, I see Lawrence, my energy company, “she list. A rhythm that will likely keep for life to relieve his chronic pain
On Monday morning, the mother of an only son of 18 has no form. The weekend was demanding. “I slept very badly. I’m constipated for two days. The stomach pain radiating into my right leg, she says. I’m already six Spasfon this morning.” The Francilienne has not the courage swallowing his twelve daily laxatives. The long list of her medications spreads duplex on the order.
Pain “in the head”
So far, she felt invisible as sick. Diagnosed at 40, she saw yet show its first symptoms with her first period, to 13 years: menstrual pain, recurrent constipation … But the taboo around the rules blackberry in silence. Once young woman, she also suffers during his sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). Gynecologists she consults him repeat: “Nothing wrong!”, “Take anti-inflammatory!” The years pass, the pain remains, until they become unsustainable. “I could not sit, walk. I had horrible pain in the right leg, stomach aches crisis so intense that I was on the verge of losing consciousness,” she says.
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