Photography and Endometriosis with Stacey Cooper
play on: spotify | apple podcasts
In this episode I am chatting to Stacey from Ivitamay Photography. She joins me to discuss her experience with endometriosis, how it affects her daily life, and how she manages it while running her business.
IT’S ALL IN THE NAME
Based in South East Kent, Stacey named her business after 3 powerful female influences in her life: her grandmothers Ivy and Rita, and her mother’s middle name May. Stacey has been in the photography business for around 7 years while also acting as an associate lecturer and tech support at the University of Kent.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis is the most common disease no one has ever heard of, with around 1 in 10 women suffering from the condition. To make matters worse, it can take an average of 7-10 years for a diagnosis to be made. Initially, Stacey was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome at a young age. She now believes that she was having early symptoms of endometriosis. The only way a proper diagnosis can be made is with laparoscopic surgery, meaning that thanks to the cost and the fact that symptoms can vary person to person, it is often the last option.
TAKING TIME TO LEARN
After experiencing severe pain during intercourse and menstruation, a scan showed a cyst on Stacey’s ovaries. Blood work showed that she could potentially have cancer. During exploratory surgery, doctors discovered that Stacey had endometriosis throughout her womb and that it was Stage 3 or 4. Now, Stacey and her husband are left unsure if they will be able to have children and Stacey is now taking the time to learn about her body, what works for her, and what she can do herself before pursuing more extreme hormonal treatments.