I remember rolling myself up in a ball on the living room floor. Pain ripped through my abdomen so severe that I thought I was going to die. These were not menstrual cramps. These were hateful, vicious attacks on my body that left me weakened and exhausted. Nothing I did was ever enough to quell the misery. No pill was strong enough, no heating pad soothing enough, no amount of exercise good enough. Every month for one week I was doomed to a shroud of torture.
When I was diagnosed with endometriosis relief washed over me. My attacker had a name. Suddenly I was validated and understood by someone who had the power to help me.
Over the next two years I underwent a series of treatments that did little to vanquish this mighty giant. Nothing we did seemed to slow down his progress. Eventually my doctor, my husband, and I came to the conclusion that I would need to have my reproductive organs removed. This was the best chance I had for living a pain-free life. I had the surgery and immediately went into full blown menopause at 30 years of age.
When I decided to have my hysterectomy I weighed the decision very carefully. I knew a great price would have to be paid, that a significant part of my body would be altered, and that my life would never be the same. I knew I was not going to be cured but I also knew that I had a better chance of living a joyful and productive life if endo was cut off at the source. Through research I learned that endometriosis is a disease that can be compared to a weed-infested garden. The garden is a woman’s reproductive system and “endo” is the weeds. It grows everywhere it is not supposed to, creates endless hours of backbreaking pain and exhaustion, and continues to spread despite even the best weed killers. Even then, there is no guarantee that it will not come back.
There are certain foods that can trigger an onslaught of the disease. Trial and error taught me that eating large amounts of wheat products created significant spikes in pain. When I cut back on the wheat and gluten I noticed the pain would decrease and subside. Why is this? The answer is because wheat has the power to hinder the digestion process in some people. Because endometriosis attaches itself to organs outside the reproductive system, it can wreak havoc on the sufferer.
Like endometriosis, sin works much the same way.
It causes unfathomable pain and suffering, self-medicating does not help remove it, and there is no cure. There are behaviors in one’s life that can trigger a sin attack, leaving the afflicted person crippled in pain and exhaustion. The only remedy is a touch from Jesus Christ. Jesus can give a person afflicted with sin the power to fight back. He can reclaim his life and receive the healing that is freely offered.
Surgery in the form of repentance is all that is required to begin a new life. After a person has repented and accepted Christ, he must maintain a proactive lifestyle to prevent the spread of sin. Avoiding everything that could cause self-destruction is vital. Spending time with God in His word and in the company of other believers will safeguard against potential attacks. If you are suffering as a result of bad choices and sin, please consider turning to Jesus as your healer. He has the power to remove the pain and give you hope and healing.
Sources: Endometriosis: A Key to Healing Through Nutrition by Dian Shepperson Mills & Michael Vernon, Endometriosis For Dummies by Joseph W. Krotec, MD & Sharon Perkins, RN
What a great article! Love the analogy and relying on Jesus for hope and healing, as He is the Great Physician. I received this post on the Endometriosis Research Center’s Facebook page and was disheartened that they put a “warning” label on it as it may offend some readers. I just can’t see anything offensive, even if you are not a Christian. Truth be told, if it was an article from another religion (such as Islam, or the Jewish faith) there would not have been a “warning”. Glad to know there are Christian sisters who have this awful disease and are praying together for a cure and comfort in the meantime:)
Thanks for your encouragement! I suppose I should be surprised that this article came with a warning label. The truth is, the name of Jesus does invoke hostility in some people but I’m ok with that. As long as the gospel message is being heard and received I don’t mind being attached to a warning label. If one person can find hope and comfort, it’s worth it for me.