Lifestyle

10 June 2024

•Endometriosis, sometimes called “endo,” is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus or womb.

We take a look at local and international celebrities who are battling endometriosis and those who have overcome the disease, partially or completely.

Endometriosis, sometimes called “endo,” is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus or womb.

Endometriosis happens when this tissue grows outside of your uterus and on other areas in your body where it doesn’t belong.

Most often, endometriosis is found on the:

Ovaries

Fallopian tubes

Tissues that hold the uterus in place

Outer surface of the uterus

1. Jahmby Koikai

Jahmby battled the disease for more than 20 years.

It had affected her teeth,lungs, among other body organs.

She died on June 4, 2024 after a long struggle with endometriosis.

She had had painful periods since she was 13.

2. Janet Mbugua

Janet opened up on her journey with endometriosis .

Sharing a past photo of herself, she captioned

"This was me in 2015. Ten years earlier, in 2005, I had just undergone a laparoscopy for deep ovarian endometriosis, also known as endometriomas or ovarian cysts.

It causes the formation of cavities within the ovary that fill with blood.

It had been years, literally since high school, of painful, prolonged periods that sometimes rendered me unable to go to class or to the office, especially during the first few days of my cycle.

Finally getting a diagnosis was such a breakthrough and I was put on birth control thereafter and have had to continue using this, except for the times we were trying for a baby."

In conclusion, Janet said

Until today, if I don’t take my medication, I’ll struggle during my period.

4. Whoopi Goldberg

During a past speech, Whoopi said that she was lucky because her doctor was intelligent enough to identify what she was suffering from.

"I was very, very lucky. I had an intelligent doctor who sort of knew what was going on and said well, here take this stuff and he cleared it up. I was very lucky. "She shared

5. Corazon Kwamboka

Corazon opened up about her battle. According to her, she shared her journey so that someone going through the same would be encouraged.

6. Natalie Githinji

The vibrant NRG radio presenter also battles severe endometriosis.

She has on different occasions been hospitalized.

In 2016 is when she discovered she had endometriosisi thanks to painful cramps, and an overwhelming menstrual flow.

She described the pain as unbearable.

“Wueh, three words for my endometriosis journey are hell, disgusting and death. However, I am glad that most of my fans defend me when social media bullies troll me about my weight. If anything, it doesn’t bother me because I’m already dealing with too much.

I wish I had known about it sooner, I would have caught it sooner. I found out seven years later,” Shared Natalie.

7. Silvya Savai alias Senje

In the past, the entertainer has passionately spoken about about the pain and paralysis she gets on the right side of her body every month during her menses after disclosing her setback.

This had caused some of her organs to fail and she had to undergo two surgeries.

"I'm a very bubbly person but I can assure you, I'm sad most of the times, the teachers that comes with endometriosis, the migraine, hemorrhoids, loss of appetite, sleeping is a problem because the body is already uncomfortable....

Mood swings, you name it...It's tiresome, it's hectic and it's painful. It's such a sad situation to be in...God knows how hard I'm fighting to get out of this situation. The weird-looking thing beneath my belly button is a scar from a surgery I had years back. unfortunately, my condition worsened over the years..."

Senje currently has a GoFundMe that has a Sh12 million target.