Padma Lakshmi spent every month applying hot water bottles, heating pads or small strips of cloth soaked in castor oil to ease her pain.
Finally, at age 36, she was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis — a painful condition that occurs when tissue similar to the uterus grows outside the uterus.
“I had five different procedures. And I was very, very So lucky to have my daughter – He was basically a miracle because … I was told I couldn’t have children, the 53-year-old “Test the Nation” creator told The Post.
“I had one of my fallopian tubes removed and part of my left ovary removed by the time all was said and done,” she added. “And I was really sad, as you can imagine. But on the other hand, once I got to the other side of the pain, I saw what life was like for normal women – and it was a game changer.”
Dr. Tamer Sikan, a NYC board-certified ophthalmologist and laparoscopic surgeon, identified Lakshmi’s endometriosis and treated it by carefully removing the tissue. Both laid the foundation together Endo Founda nonprofit that raises awareness and funds research. Endometriosiswhich affects 10% of American women ages 15-44.
EndoFound is celebrating its 15th anniversary and is honoring 25-year-old Bindi Irwin at its annual event on Friday at Gotham Hall. Blossom Ball.
Arun revealed her endometriosis battle last year, Undergoing surgery at the Seckin Endometriosis Center at Lenox Hill Hospital.
“Bandi went out to Arun and said, ‘Doctors removed 37 wounds. from my side. Everyone told me ABCD, which didn’t work. No one believes me. I had this procedure. I feel different, and it’s been a year – my life has changed.’ It’s very impactful,” Sikan told The Post.
No one knows for sure what causes endometriosis – but it is known to cause painful menstrual cramps, pelvic and lower back pain, pain during sex, heavy menstrual bleeding and Causes infertility.
Experts say. that 25% to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30% to 50% of patients with endometriosis are infertile.
Lakshmi said that when she arrived in Sekon, her endometriosis was “everywhere”.
“I had 19 biopsies, 17 of which came back positive for endometriosis. My kidneys were in stents,” she shared. Was in bed from until February.”
Fortunately, she was able to give birth to Krishna in 2010 at the age of 39.
Lakshmi doesn’t want to “expect the worst” for her daughter when it comes to endometriosis, but she says the 14-year-old “knows the symptoms by heart.”
“We know that if someone’s mom or sister has endo, they are. [up to 50% more] She’s likely to get it,” Lakshmi explained. “We’ll just have to see if she goes through puberty.”
Lakshmi and Seikan, meanwhile, hope to bring more attention to the plight of endometriosis.
Doctors need to be better educated on how to identify complex disease, and the quality of treatment, which is surgery, needs to improve, Sekin said.
“I think in the next 15 years, if we can really increase early diagnosis, early awareness, and timely management, that’s the key thing,” Sikan said.
He added: “Certainly this disease is not cancer, but it is no less than cancer because it basically involves the entire reproductive life of women, affecting their quality of life, their fertility, Their relationship involves everything you can imagine.”
For her part, Lakshmi hopes to develop non-hormonal endometriosis drugs. Dichloroacetate, which is used to treat lactic acidosis, Has shown promise.
Reflecting on 15 years of EndoFound, Seikan and Lakshmi highlight this. 2019 passage of New York law To ensure that age-appropriate menstrual health and endometriosis materials are available in schools. The organization is pushing to expand the law to eight additional states.
“We would really like to see it become a national law that any public school … offers education about this disease because early treatment is key,” Lakshmi said. “And most women don’t seek treatment for an average of 10 years after suffering.”
EndoFound has also awarded nearly $1.5 million in research grants to more than 30 institutions.
Lakshmi said she was “thrilled” to hear President Biden’s call for Congress to invest $12 billion in new funding for women. Health Research, in his State of the Union address in March.
Lakshmi noted, “I’m hoping that we can triple the funding that our federal government spends on this, because if you think about it, half the population is potentially affected by this disease. is a victim,” notes Lakshmi. “So this is something that is not only a health issue, but an economic issue for the American economy.”
The Blossom Ball is EndoFound’s largest fundraiser of the year. Individual tickets start at $750..
Past honorees include Susan Sarandon and Lena Dunham.
Credit : nypost.com
