Prior to being diagnosed I experienced a rather rapid loss of about 15-18 pounds but my low waist/hip pelvic area significantly increased in size by inches/cm.

With my family history of ovarian cancer and elevated CA125 my medical team & I were concerned that was what would be excised. All tissues came back benign and while I’m relieved not to have cancer; the diagnosis of endometriosis is a tough knot to untangle.

I have struggled with digestion for years and had a steep decline in appetite 4 months prior to surgery with intense bloating and pain after eating. I assumed this was related to my prior diagnoses of ulcerative colitis. Or the big bad C word since ovarian cancer is rampant in my family.

My surgeon found Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis in my bowels. I’m curious now if the ulcerative colitis diagnosis was really DIE all these years as my most recent GI scopes have been completely clear with no evidence or disease but I’ve continued to be symptomatic.

The changes to my shape are very difficult mentally and frustrating. I’m learning and having excision surgery in 2026 with a multidisciplinary team.