Former TV extraordinaire Janet Mbugua emotionally opens up about her painful struggle with endometriosis for over ten years

Sensational TV personality and power house Janet Mbugua has left people in tears after narrating how she suffered with painful periods for years before getting a remedy.

The former TV presenter said she learnt she had endometriosis back in 2005.

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 #3DaysOfYellow Day 1 - 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. Until today, if I don’t take my medication, I’ll struggle during my period. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (ie. usually between the ages of 15 to 49), which is approximately 176 million women in the world. So, let’s wear yellow and stand with endo warriors like @elsie_odhiambo, @jahmbykoikai, @cirumuriuki and many others. Let’s talk periods and most importantly, let’s talk period pain. Because ladies (and gents), a very painful, prolonged period is NOT normal. #Period. #PeriodConversations #MenstruationMatters #EndometriosisMonth #YellowForEndometriosis
 
A post shared by  Janet Mbugua (@officialjanetmbugua) on Mar 24, 2019 at 9:04pm PDT
 

The beauty shared her dreaded journey via Instagram as she explained how the illness caused prolonged periods that rendered her unable to go to the office.

“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,” she said.

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 #3DaysOfYellow Day 2 - Endometriosis is an incurable but manageable gynecological condition. Symptoms are generally present during the reproductive years. The pain and other symptoms can affect different areas of life, including the ability to work, medical care costs, and difficulty maintaining relationships. Symptoms of endometriosis include: * Severe menstrual cramps * Long-term lower-back and pelvic pain * Periods lasting longer than 7 days * Heavy menstrual bleeding where the pad or tampon needs changing every 1 to 2 hours * Bowel and urinary problems including pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating * Bloody stool or urine * Nausea and vomiting * Fatigue * Pain during intercourse * Spotting or bleeding between periods (Info courtesy of Medical News Today). Any one have these symptoms? Have you seen an OBGYN? Done an ultrasound? How are you managing your symptoms? Please get treatment where you can 🙏🏾 Follow @endofoundke for more. #PeriodConversations #MenstruationMatters #EndometriosisMonth #YellowForEndometriosis
 
A post shared by  Janet Mbugua (@officialjanetmbugua) on Mar 25, 2019 at 9:30pm PDT
 

Since high school, Janet had to endure grueling pains during that time of the month but the disease was brought to light later after she underwent a non-invasive surgery.

“It causes the formation of cavities within the ovary that fill with blood,” she continued. To counter the symptoms of the disease, the beauty was put on birth control and could only stop using the medication when she was trying to get pregnant.

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 #3DaysOfYellow Day 3 - It’s been incredible hearing your stories of surviving #endometriosis. That so many young women experience it is a sad reality, but there’s a lot being done to raise awareness, particularly through @endofoundke. The Endometriosis Foundation of Kenya works to raise awareness and provide meaningful care for girls, women and families in Kenya who suffer as a result of endometriosis. We work to achieve the following objectives: • To raise awareness & improve knowledge of the prevalence and the management of endometriosis in Kenya. • To improve society’s understanding of, and support for women suffering from endometriosis. • To influence Governments’ policy in Kenya on the management of endometriosis. • To help women access affordable treatment options in Kenya. A general lack of awareness of Endometriosis combined with a “normalization” of symptoms results in a significant delay from when a woman first experiences symptoms until she eventually is diagnosed and treated. The Foundation was launched as a platform for women to come together and have real conversations about the disease, medical interventions & natural options for easing the effects of the symptoms. We engage in conversations to raise awareness of the disease through social media as a build up to World Endometriosis Day/Awareness month in March of every year. On Saturday March 30th, 2019 Kenya will be joining the global efforts to raise awareness of this condition at an event dubbed #SpreadTheYellow. The event will run from 10am – 2pm at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Please be there to learn as well as lend your support. In the meantime here’s a few images of #endowarriors and some of you who tagged me in solidarity with women going through endometriosis. #PeriodConversations #MenstruationMatters #EndometriosisMonth #YellowForEndometriosis (Art in my first pic by @jackson_forreal) Edit: tag an #endowarrior here!
 
A post shared by  Janet Mbugua (@officialjanetmbugua) on Mar 26, 2019 at 9:07pm PDT
 

According to her lengthy message, Janet struggles whenever she does not take her medication and the pain is simply indescribable.

“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. Until today, if I do not take my medication, I will struggle during my period,” the beauty penned.

Two more TV hosts have come forward to share their sad, brave and painful journey with the disease and their relentless fight against it.

BBC’s Ciru Muriuki and former The Trend panelist Njambi Koikai have numerously narrated how the disease ravaged their bodies and weakened them whenever they had their monthly periods.

Njambi is currently undergoing treatment in the US and has had to endure countless lifesaving procedures.