Is excessive Period pains sign of endometriosis, & what should we do when we experience such pains?

Good morning and welcome back. Yes, my good name is Eliza Kimani, the TV host of the year and we are going on with a discussion that we're going to be having in this house. Karibusana interactive and as the name suggests this is where we interact and have discussions around very very very many topics but yes today's topic is a very good and crucial topic as well it's something that we've seen um online it's something that many people didn't know about but we are here to make sure that you get educated okay yes and I'm not alone as always I never ever sit alone. I am here with Joy. She is a media practitioner and she's going to be engaging with me in the discussion that we're going to be having today. Kar Busana, good morning. >> Good morning. >> Please say hi to my people. >> Hello good people. I am Joy a media practitioner and I'm very glad to be here with you today. >> Okay. Amazing. So yes, we're going to have this discussion and today we're speaking about something that we've seen online. Yeah. And now I know when I mention Natalie um something comes to your mind okay and it's because of the story about something she was unwell and then following up on the storyis and um you're like wow okay so what does that really mean and apparently it is a condition let's get to see what they say p okay Google the meaning of endometriosis. Okay. Endometricsis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can give it can cause very painful periods, pelvic pain, fatigue and for some women fertility challenges. This means that at some point uh so the most important part or the the thing or what made us get to be aware about it is the painful period pains because uh for women most of the times they feel like it's normal to have painful period pains until we see the story of Natalie and everyone is going haywire thinking wi normal kum normal I think I should go get checked. Yeah. But let's get to hear from Joy. Um from your uh perspective, how do you get to understand endometriosis? >> I think um endometriosis underestimated people have not been taking this seriously. Just like you said, it started when Natalie >> came out to say I am sick. I I am going through something because >> way back um I think period paints and the whole thing about women and their produ reproduction in aaku people don't want to talk about since way back it's seen as a taboo >> people don't want to say I'm going I'm having period pains I'm having this so you you suffer in silence um to a point where maybe >> at a it's a place of work when you say I cannot come to work I cannot go to school because I'm having period pains. Yeah. You don't want to be in school. >> So I can I can imagine the pain. It comes with a lot of pain. So I can imagine the pain that someone has to go through. Endometriosis. Maybe you don't even know you going through it because was it even in primary? I think in my primary I was in boarding. So there was this girl I think I think pain but she would hold on to beds like she's just crying and then the m will be like just go to bed. >> So I think >> people should be aware of this of this thing. >> Yeah. Actually like you're saying most of the people don't know about it until this story came about for the longest but no one is talking about it pain cramps has to be painful period period has to come with pain. So like everyone okay like you already prepared for the pain that is about to come but we came to realize that uh kumbbe it's not as normal as people make it look like uh so if someone is feeling pain you need to go get checked and it's better to go get diagnosed mma before it gets to an an extent in a saw saw uh someone's comment on uh the story that was now going on now that at some point that is brought by a lot of misusing the contraceptives which I also think is a myth and people should really um know that that's not the real cause six but she was I think she was a class ahead of me so I don't even think we didn't even have that knowledge it's prim primary. We're just >> And also there's the shame that comes with it. >> So you don't want everyone to know that you're you're having your period. >> Actually, I think generation it's it's nice that people want to come out and social media may help that a lot because back then you couldn't even you know shopping for a sanitary you don't even want people to see. At least I I can even see partners going to shop for these things. >> Actually, that's how it should be. >> It's nice when people talk. I'm having these things. I am going to get my pads. I am having pains. He should even know the brand you use and everything. So like or anything it's a sanitary towel. It's it's something that should be out there. So I think I think and that's why people were not talking about it. And I do think that at some point um endometric because of that like people are hiding about it. Uh you're in pain but so you have to or the pain and so nobody can even take it to the extent of hey this pain is too much let's go see a doctor like it's normal. Do you think that that is one factor that has made endometriosis not really known out there by people? I I think way back way back um it's about society and it started at home. I feel it started at home where your mom let's definitely it was not your dad where um at home your mom used to tell you >> um or used to make this thing look like >> and there or >> you know so it was something you called it >> from stories I've heard um from the from back then primary schools when you've learned about this reproduction bodies were not supposed to see these things >> and you'll find but you don't want it to go out there we don't know because you were you were taught that >> it's a secret it's yours like why should everyone else know about it was actually called um Keep it to yourself. >> Keep it. >> So, it's not even our fault that we >> It's not our fault, guys. >> We built that way. >> Because make this thing public. Why are you telling everyone about it? to a point where I've been so >> you find someone in a supermarket is is getting these um sanitary towels, tampons, shopping basket, you know, I know you can relate everything And I think >> because even now the guys don't also know and that's you're going to get angry at your boyfriend and maybe he's never even seen one. He doesn't even know how it's used. Like I've seen so many clips online a girlfriend or a wife sending the husband the pads with wings. with wings. And so this guy does not know. He doesn't understand. And it's because of what you're saying. We were we used to be told nobody should know about it and all that. So most of the times the sign was she's on her days cuz like all those signs are coming and everything, but that's all they know. But you know um I'm I'm glad squeezy even where they given because there are organizations that go to give out these sanitary pads. Uh they show all the whole class boys and girls inclusive. This is how you tie it. This is how you use it. This is how you're supposed to use it. Because I think that's how it should be. Yeah. And then the boys the boys will see it because there were boys then. So the boys will see it. I think the whole the whole painful thing it's you being a woman this is you being a woman and then something else I used to hear people say uh they would tell you that when that pain is so much >> during your menes then it will not be so much during giving birth that is something I've heard so many times should right now. Embrace the pain. That's that's like embracing what I mean before you like >> believing for something that is in future 20 years from now and you forever affected and that's why it's normal. give birth. Who told you? Like you know the fear that also we've been fed in our minds that the whole process has been painful like who told you like why do we get to believe what other people say and that is why most of the people out there do not know about endometriosis. Yes. And there are ladies that experience this for a whole week. Five days. Five days of pain. Five days. I think maybe 5 days. There are people is pain that endures. captions zanatali when she was going through the surgeries she was in hospital and it was like sala and you know I think this girl is strong and people >> to embrace because she has come out to say what I'm feeling despite the stigma but when she I don't I don't listen to you guys I know what I'm going through and I will put it out there not because I want sympathy not Because I want you to feel sympathy that but I want people to understand this thing is there and it is amongst our girls and it is killing us. Yes. It is killing us inside because you know sometimes it will go for days talk of a month and you're like I don't want to do anything. Yeah. You know, it's the type of pain that will affect you even emotionally, even um in a lower selfesteem. You don't It can affect so many things, >> especially it lows your self-esteem when you're telling someone that you're in pain and they just brush it off. >> You don't even have the I'm in pain. Sometimes I think that's why because I don't know what to do anymore to help you. So, I don't even want to tell you because there's nothing there's nothing you're going to do about it. Sometimes they're not even working and I am still in pain and so you're there feeling periods like I think it the pain the pain does not only come in one direction it comes in so many directions from the you've not even talked about you having a partner who does not even understand what you're going through >> yeah I feel you're pretending probably you know I don't know why but uh the videos we come across online a they portray uh life very differently. So you'll see a video of a lady saying that she's on her periods and the man won't go to work, he won't do anything, but you can show care to this person in very many ways. Yeah. Like you're not supposed to you know but that does not mean that you should now also be very indifferent like everything is as normal and I I am not okay and if I'm telling you I'm not okay then I'm not okay and that should apply to everyone out there. Yeah. I mean I feel at this point Kanzana the person that is nearest to you should be the first person to understand what you're going through because the there is no CC when you to go so far we will be able to understand what you're going through yet your the person who's closest to you will not understand this is pain like any other this is pain like someone who has lost um let's say a limb someone who has an impairment of any this is something that is going on. >> It's real pain. >> It is real pain and I think only a woman can understand this you know cuz I think when you child birth people under underestimate this thing and you know >> as a woman we go through so many things that are normalized uh including this pain. >> Yeah. >> In to affect in so many ways. So for example, I have I have a job. I'm supposed to report like any other person, like a man normally like you say, uh let's say so and yet I am feeling the pain where the partner does not understand what I'm going through. you know let's say for an understanding then just tell us so prove I am going through something then there's um one more thing I think they need to tell us uh there's still uh something that I question how much how does it cost for me to go for screening >> cuz I think that's something we we should know >> and every time in pain every now and then and she she was thinking that this is normal but we here to tell you that it's not normal all that pain you need to go get checked but like you're saying we need to understand um the cost of checking and I think let me let me get to research for us and see probably approximately how much and some of the hospitals that are doing the screening but in the meantime maybe you can tell us about how endometriosis affects women in their daytoday lives. Um, I think it's it's a lot. It's it affects them in so many ways. People might think before the exposure of what is happening. So before before her story came out come to cramps you know like you're even going to hot water bottles medicine um before it came out people did not understand it's pain people did not understand it's um it's something that is not normal you know so you know and also um I think that's That's mainly it people you'll have to miss work sometimes because from Natalie's story it's so painful >> that even walking even moving is a problem. >> We have not even talked about now the the finances because it gets to a point where you have to invest in your health. >> Yeah. >> And this is not something you wished upon yourself. You you're just a girl. You want to just be a girl like a normal girl. But now you are in pain. you have to invest maybe their medicine. >> Yeah. Spending a lot >> a lot of money and looking for a partner because I think this is also something looking for a partner who understands >> you're going through something. Yeah. So, >> and not very many not many understand. That's sad. That's the sad part of it. Not everyone gets to understand. And um I I pray that right now we've gotten to uh to know about that this is real and it's not normal. Let's start changing our mindset. Yes. For men out there who are listening when your girlfriend tells you um an attack chocolate just take it to her. But that's not the last thing you should do. If this pain is too much, make sure that you take them for screening. Like from what I see here, the cost is not as much. It's it it varies from just a a few thousands and um you get to be assessed and you get to be checked. So it's very it's affordable to every person out there. >> Okay. you are able to go get the screening. It is just normal rather than telling yourself it is diagnosing yourself and then you come to get to a point where it's worse. We don't want another story like that one. We don't want another case of the same repeating itself. I think it is something we should as a woman. So like um I think it was a time back she after you know there were there were surgeries there were and then she kept um hopes up that morning you know it's it is it gets to you to a like imagine getting to a point of now giving up like you're in so much pain that the only like feel this is the last >> Yeah. >> And it is it is it is not I I also saw an Ira >> she's also a survivor. I don't know what to say but >> yeah I saw her story akim courage >> yeah that she she has also gone through surgeries also so this this is I'm actually glad that people got to talk about it and it is out there you just go get checked and just to confirm >> just be It's normal until you get to realize it's not normal. Yeah. Like you normalize it until it's too late for you which is very very very very sad and um it's important to take care of ourselves. People get to be at a point of they are not you. They don't know the pain you're feeling. So the level of pain that you're experiencing, the kind of pain that you're having and so you are the one that should test yourself and know if I need to get tested, if I need to go get assessed and checked, am I is normal? Yeah, this pain is in the extreme. But also the fact that you have all that much pain doesn't mean that you have endometes. So before it gets to that or before until then but go get tested if you feel like like periods should not be painful. This is this is a truth that you should start embracing. Periods should not be painful at all. Okay. And at all means at all. So like go get checked before it gets worse without facts. If you use P2s, if you use misconceptions that >> fact before you start talking about these people, bad things so that they get themselves they get themselves into this As much as you're trying to caution people and you don't want them to use all those contraceptives, that's not a good way. Hey guys over and especially in Kenya, everyone looks for something to say. anything that they think can be an idea or can be spelled out. >> Yeah. And everyone wants the most controversial statement like a letter. But at the end of the day, um let's also care about our sisters, our brothers, our mothers, our wives, our colleagues. Just understand them. Yeah. like give them a day off or that week off, you know, but we not saying that you should now take advantage of your workplace every every month. >> That's not what you're saying. But if it gets to a point that you need to get checked and you feel like you're not okay, go ahead and do it because um we don't want us to get to a point where we are seeing a story like Natalie's repeating itself again and again and again and again cuz she's in so much pain and um I say she was okay. Yeah, she was in so much pain and we don't want anyone else going through such kind of a thing again. Um when we think about awareness, what do you think the society should do to ensure that um many people are aware of endometriosis? Like they they've gotten to a point of understanding and knowing uh all about endometriosis. I think uh the society should uh first of all they should be ready to embrace this thing. You know, first we we should stop that. We should don't stigmatize anyone. >> Yeah. >> So, first let's stop that then let's be open to talk about this thing, >> you know. Okay. You know, we want to understand this person, but like you're not even helping your workplace your friends all these people are part of society next you know like So even if you want to inquire so that you can spread the awareness like you know how can I help you? >> Yeah. >> How how what can I tell my young girl at home? So I heard you're suffering from this and this. I heard you're going through this. >> What will you tell me so that I can tell my to look out for. >> Thank you. And um and also men because they're part of the society. Understand understand this this this girl this lady that's trying to tell you I'm in pain and through us talking about it like we are here. People get to understand this and they get to know how to handle someone who's who's going through such a thing because the medication come the treatment taking care of this person like you've said anything you know no it's just being there for them supporting them showing them you don't get sad of this person cuz If if we do not support Natalie, we do not have another Natalie. I'm using Natalie because it's the one case we have >> that we saw. >> Yeah. >> Right now countrywide. So if we do not >> Yeah. She's the only one. >> So someone who loves her, someone who's around her, her surrounding at the nearest shop, just smile for that person like, "Hey, I know you, you know." be excited that she is the survivor and she's >> beat that thing. >> Yeah, I think that's that's what the society should do instead of just I think avoiding the the stigma >> and now um on society as well. How what should they do to ensure that now not just endometriosis but the reproduction health as a whole is no longer a stigma cuz you know now if it's it's in the workplace everyone will look at me like you're being weird what's that why are you talking about it you know so it's still at some point everywhere and like how do we get to to the point of bro this is normal part of life it has taken me back to a woman asking for some tissue you know I want a tissue >> you know to a point and also when you find a man with tissue cuz now they're like you have a man you're like so imagine if if tissue is something out loud >> tissue tissue >> so tissue is something you pick like that tell how it is something like that. So, but I I think in the in the future in generation out there >> let's talk about it >> like and like our parents back so >> I think will change positive that things might change and people might actually be open to talk about it. Kudos if you do that by there for your partner you you get the you know there's so many things that entails the reproduction by there so many including including child birth we've seen men supporting their wives um or their baby mas kudos for that by the way um they have they have come in so many ways for for women and I think in the near future But yeah, they're doing better. >> They're asking what is you can see how true social media is. But I think there's some truth behind every rumor. positivity kido there. You can see them rubbing their tummies. Yeah. Minnie helping them. So, um I think it's to the positive. >> Yeah. And like you're saying, one important thing is to talk about it. Talk talk talk until like I can talk about it anywhere with anyone at any time until normalized. like it's normal. It's it's not a taboo. It's not a big deal. It's not weird, baby girl. You're not weird. You're okay. You're doing well. And um this is you're not sick. It's not a health issue. Like you're very very very okay. And the earlier we talk and normalize this the better because now it we don't want to get back to those days. Very you're in so much pain but you can't even say it because nobody is going to understand. Nobody's going to believe that you are in pain. Nobody is going to actually look at you twice and be like, are you confirmed by the serious? >> Yeah. Issue. >> Mhm. >> Why is it that I'm trying to imagine if Natalie or was not a socialite was not someone who's known >> Yeah. We wouldn't maybe it's just a people don't even take it seriously. They're like they push it out and you can find maybe there was maybe someone who had put it on social media but no one took it seriously like it type of something you're going through. ancestors, >> you know. >> Yeah. >> And something like that. But because someone who we know came out and talked about it, that's why we're talking about it. >> Yeah. >> And I think you should these things are not catered for >> the women. Women Yes. We we understand we we we should be be put normal at a normal level but we are going through things that >> we are going through things >> and now paying for all those services is not easy like test all for the treatment process we should be covered it should be catered for the whole female reproduction >> we are going through things guys true >> we are and >> the government should consider some of these drinks. We're talking pregnancy. We're talking these towels. Mind you, we have women in government that we as a country >> look up to. We >> look up to we have women representatives. >> 47 counties. We still we're still there's someone who's >> not a sanitary part anywhere >> and there still you find some are still so expensive too and this is something you need. >> Yeah true. >> Yeah. as much as people want to petition for um praise. It's as if but well yeah and um it's very sad people say that to me the reusable ones they're not the good off because of also the I see how you're looking at I don't like the whole idea Yeah. So, let's do better. Let's get to help these people, man. Yes. But, um, you need to get to know that, help out. If you can I I love saying if you can help your neighbor with with a sanitary towel, go ahead and do it. I had an ideology. You see how condoms on every washroom? Yes. Government do something. you women reps that have been selected, what are you doing? Do that like in the list. Let's see if there's something that you've done. Every public or something, but it's going to help them. >> Yes. Make sure that you do that. Yes. So, Joy, you can tell us probably where we can find you online. Um, I'm on Instagram. Um, I'm on Facebook as Tanani and Easy and Tik Tok as Tanani as well. Okay. >> And yeah, >> it's it's been a very good discussion. And there's a lot to talk about in regards to this topic. There's so much that we've not even covered, but at least I know we've gotten to educate you and you've understood. First homework, go get screened. It's not expensive. tell them that you want to get screened of endometriosis and um in case you have you're unwell then you can petition and you're going to get help. But the reality is that pain should not be normalized. Do not normalize pain. This is who I am. It is a girl's thing. It is not a girl's thing in pain. Okay. Yes. Yes. Thank you so much for staying tuned here with us on Y in the morning here on Y254 channel. It has been the Y interactive and I know that you've gotten to understand and learn and yes, don't just keep that information to yourself. in regards to helping your ladies, your girlfriends, your wives, your sisters because it is very very important. Okay. Yes. For me, but we still have a lot lined up for you. Tunu is coming back with an amazing discussion. So, make sure that you stay tuned. But for me, my good name is Eliza. You can find me on all my social media platforms at Eliza Kimmani. And for us, you're going to find us on all social media platforms at Y254 channel. Stay with us. Tulu is coming back. Here we are.