In the first week of March, I had a doctor’s appointment to investigate my continued fertility issues. On March 4th my doctor verified that I likely have at least one uterine polyp and endometriosis regrowth, and she thought surgery was the best option. I met with the surgery scheduler and said, “How soon can we get this done?” (It’s been 5 years and 10 months since we began trying to get pregnant… can we say I’M READY??) She squeezed my pre-op appointments into the schedule and signed me up for surgery this month. I told my husband that the best thing to do on March 4th is to MARCH FORTH. As we’ve prayed and pondered our steps toward pregnancy, both my husband and I felt a peace from God and confirmation in our circumstances that this surgery is the right decision for us.

With a (hopefully simple) outpatient operation scheduled for March 17th, I began considering who to tell. Since I have written a book about my infertility journey, and I’m a blogger on the topic, and I even Instagram and Tweet about the subject – should I tell the general public that I’m about to have surgery? Or do I want to keep private matters somewhat private? I mean, not everyone out there blogs about a gynecological surgery!

But I’ve come this far. I’ve told the world so much. Then I discovered that MARCH is Endometriosis Awareness Month!

What is endometriosis, anyway? Three years ago when I began seeing my trusted OB/GYN who specializes in infertility and endometriosis, she suspected that I might have this condition. When I mentioned it to my mom, I learned that it’s in my genes, and then it was confirmed surgically.

Endometriosis is essentially the uterine lining (endometrium) growing outside of the uterus. When the monthly cycle comes, the uterine lining is shed through menstruation, but the stuff that is outside of the uterus has nowhere to go, so it builds up scar tissue. And it’s painful – it’s more than a uterus screaming bloody murder each month. Unfortunately, the primary way to diagnose it and remove it is through surgery. It can certainly cause infertility, although most of what I’ve read says that doctors are not 100% sure how it interferes.

Normally this surgery is not too bad. Nearly three years ago, on a spring day, I went to the hospital early in the morning. Mike and I waited in the pre-op room, where I dressed in a hospital gown and had an IV inserted into my arm. After we prayed together, Mike headed out to the waiting room, and I was sedated and rolled back to surgery. I remember waking up feeling groggy, yucky, and sore throughout my abdomen. (I also developed a great respect for recovery room nurses like my friend Rebekah!) Once I was alert and taking in fluids, my husband drove me home to recover on the couch. The great news is that I was tired of lying around by the following afternoon and felt normal within a week.

The surgery involves several tiny incisions being made into the abdomen. Gas is pumped into the abdomen, inflating the patient like a balloon (hmm, that sounds so disturbing as I type this!), and the doctor is able to insert a camera and instruments to scrape off/remove the endometriosis that has grown throughout the abdominal cavity. This is, unfortunately, one of the best treatments for endometriosis, especially for someone trying to get pregnant. (I am aware that there are natural suggestions such as diet changes, but so far I’ve had a hard time limiting myself to no wheat, no dairy, no sugar, no coffee, no taste, and no fun.)

Removing the polyp(s) is a separate procedure that will be performed that morning – essentially a D&C, where the doctor cleans out the uterus. Doesn’t sound fun, but it’s necessary.

Now that you know some of the practical steps, I want to share where I am emotionally & spiritually. Emotionally – I have a few moments of anxiety, but because I’ve had a similar procedure in the past, I feel comfortable. I have occasional moments of feeling stressed about it, but I believe that this is going to be worth the pain. (Plus, the surgery gives me a nice 4 day weekend off work and time to visit with my family!)