Studying at high school but learning about endometriosis

My name is Mia* and I was diagnosed with endometriosis the summer before my final year of high school, supposedly one of the best years of schooling. With formals, school camps, intercols, and just the general excitement that comes along with being a year 12 student, having a chronic illness isn’t ideal. 

Studying with endo was a pain. Literally and figuratively. But what was more frustrating was missing out on school. At crucial points of the year, having to miss days of school due to cramps felt overwhelming, as a day out of school left you a chapter behind in maths or a concept behind in chemistry. I was very lucky at my school because I had understanding teachers who would be lenient with due dates and were understanding of my condition. But it remained frustrating to try and prove to everyone how good a student I could be while being riddled with pain.  The pain would come on without any warning due to abnormal fibrous growths in my uterine cavity. 

Before getting diagnosed may have been worse for me as a student than post diagnosis. Heavy bleeding gave me anxiety when I was at school. Constantly needing to go to the bathroom in fear of bleeding through my uniform and needing to go home halfway through the day when the pain became too much wasn’t a foreign concept for me, but I didn’t realise that it was a foreign concept for others. Yes, it was brought up with my friends, but I just thought they were ‘lucky’ to have mild symptoms each month. I learnt with time that it isn’t normal to be in that much pain and with the help of my mum we got to the bottom of it. 

To say I don’t still struggle with endo would be false, and as many of you know these symptoms don’t simply disappear with the removal of endometriosis, but rather surgery helps in the management of the disease. This is something I have got the hang of more when transitioning into university where the demand is very different to that of high school. 

To those studying now, do not be afraid of what’s happening to you. If you need to go home, do so. If you need to bring in a heat bag, make sure it’s the perfect temperature. Make yourself as comfortable in your study environment as possible so you can get the best out of your education. 
 

*Name changed to deidentify author