Lyndsy McDonald
My name is Lyndsy, I’m in my 30s and live in Toronto with my adorable cats and supportive partner. I have endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, and I was born with moderate scoliosis. I’ve lived with pain for as long as I can remember—back pain, leg pain, abdominal discomfort—but in recent years, I’ve finally experienced some relief.
I got my first period at 13, and it lasted 11 months. I was an active and creative kid, I fought through it, despite my confusion and pain. When I sought help, I was told it was "all totally normal" or "maybe mild endo" and was instructed to take birth control and OTC painkillers. For over a decade, I was dismissed; dozens of ultrasounds and MRIs were ‘unremarkable.’ In my mid-20s, I pushed harder for answers when I grew tired of being told I had ‘IBS and anxiety.’ That was when I stopped getting periods, lost weight and developed painful ovarian cysts. I had tried everything—medications, natural remedies, exercise, diet changes—but felt worse every day. In 2021, I pushed hard and was finally heard. I lost my job and endured two surgeries: one laparoscopy that diagnosed my stage IV endo (after 15 years of insisting I had it) and was my gateway to a specialist…and another that saved my life after a traumatic late-term miscarriage. It was the hardest year of my life, and it’s why I share my story with others.
Amidst it all, I built a career as a freelance writer, eventually finding clients and working full-time for myself in a pain-friendly environment. In 2023, I experienced another pregnancy loss weeks before my long-awaited surgery with my specialist—but this time, I had a fantastic care team, supportive loved ones, and the possibility that relief was on the horizon. Recovery from my 4-hour excision surgery wasn’t easy, but when I woke up post-op, I noticed immediately that the gnawing and pinching pain was gone; this was the first time I felt optimistic about my future! Soon, I was walking cane-free, working out, taking Improv classes, and reconnecting with myself. Healing isn’t linear, pain can wreak havoc on the body and mind… but I’m here today to emphasize that it does get better. Knowing I had deep infiltrating endo, adenomyosis, and PCOS in the areas where I’d felt pain for roughly 20 years was validating—I always knew, but it took years to find doctors who believed me and had the skills and expertise to help. I’m fortunate to have an amazing PCP, osteopath and endometriosis specialist in my corner now. My journey through loss, grief, pain, neglect, and illness taught me the power of self-advocacy.