Kala, a 20-year-old from Sydney, has been battling endometriosis since she was just 13. It all started one early morning when she passed out from the intense pain, waking up on the bathroom floor.
Ever since then, she's never experienced what a "normal" period feels like. Instead, hers are so debilitating that she's made countless trips to the hospital. Doctors usually prescribe her strong medication like Edone, which she finds incredibly harsh and would rather avoid.
But it's not just the pain that's been tough to deal with; it's also the conflicting advice from doctors. Some tell her to just take time off work, others say it's just part of being a woman, and some even suggest that eventually having a baby might help. She also had to explain over and over again that hormonal contraception only makes things worse for her. She's tried different pills and even had an IUD, but they just caused more problems like cystic acne and ovarian cysts, one of which burst while she was driving.
Dealing with endometriosis has taken a toll on Kala's mental health too. She's struggled with depression, made worse by treatments that were supposed to help.
Her final year of high school was especially tough. She relied on anti-inflammatory drugs, but they messed up her stomach. She missed so much school that her attendance was only 50%, and she lost a staggering 20 kilograms because of her poor health.
Finally, after waiting for what felt like forever, Kala had surgery in February 2023 to remove the endometriosis. But the recovery wasn't what she expected. Doctors said she'd be fine in a few days, but she couldn't even walk properly a week later. And worst of all, the surgery didn't make any difference to her symptoms.
With CHARLI's launch, Kala believes that this groundbreaking app will become a helpful tool for young girls experiencing painful periods, also an opportunity to raise awareness about endometriosis. 🩵
"Being told at 13 to prepare for not being able to have children has been profoundly scarring and at the root of my endo trauma. I also know a lot of girls have been told the same and would like them to know they're not alone in that trauma!", Kala said.
As an app designed with women for women, we are asking for your feedback and input to improve CHARLI for the upcoming revolutions. Share your thoughts now! 🙌 (link in bio)
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