Celebrating freedom from physical pain

 

When I received the invitation to the Endo Party, I took time to study the invite and understand what sort of a gathering this might be.

 

All smiles at the Endo Party

I spotted the organiser’s logo and name, Dr Sharifah Women’s Clinic, and it became clear as I read the details on the invite which said, “Join the fight against endometriosis. Together we can make a difference in this silent battle.”

 

Several years ago, I had the privilege to meet Dr Sharifah Halimah Jaafar and discovered her passion in empowering women who suffer from endometriosis, a disease linked to the female reproductive system.

 

In my Secondary School days, I witnessed classmates who were affected by heavy and painful periods, some with no alternative but to seek medical attention during their monthly cycle.

 

Dr Sharifah Halimah Jaafar
[Centre] and her team

A Gynecologist since 2003, Dr Sharifah chose to specialize in the field of studying and dealing with endometriosis, and pursue her aspiration to establish a Center of Excellence for Endometriosis.

 

From vast experience with her patients, Dr Sharifah determined to equip herself with techniques in Laparoscopy and Robotic skills to perform minimal invasive surgery.

 

Five years ago, I was delighted to witness the opening of Dr Sharifah’s Women’s Clinic and Laparoscopic Surgery at Gleneagles Medini Hospital.

 

Her practice that went on to earn the prestigious award as the Best Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinic of the Year in Asia Pacific, awarded by Global Healthcare Asia Pacific for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021.

 

A patient sharing her testimony to encourage
others while Dr Sharifah looked on

This invitation to an Endo Party appears to be a timely celebration with patients who have been freed from suffering the effects of endometriosis and I did not hesitate to accept.

 

It was Dr Sharifah who opened my eyes to what Endometriosis was all about. It is a disease where cells in the layer of tissue that normally covers the inside of the uterus, grow outside the uterus.

 

Lesions may be found on ovaries, fallopian tubes, the peritoneum or tissue around the uterus and ovaries, intestines, bladder and diaphragm.

 

Another patient sharing her experience
to encourage fellow patients gathered there

Symptoms include pelvic pain, heavy and painful periods, pain during bowel movement, painful urination, pain during sexual intercourse and infertility.

 

In most cases, women who suffer from endometriosis also suffer social and psychological effects.

 

This is because this disease often occurs in young women at the prime of their lives when they were pursuing their careers or planning to start a family. Burdened by this disease, the lives and future of these young women are simply disrupted.

 

It is unfortunate that this disease if often misunderstood and riddled with myths to the point where the voices of sufferers are largely ignored and neglected because the community has been traditionally programmed to accept menstrual pain as “normal.”

 

Sisters, Ashvin [Left] and Arvin [Right]
with Dr Sharifah at the Endo Party

“There is nothing wrong!” and “After you are married, the pains will disappear,” are common phrases heard by sufferers when others dismiss their pain and normalize their suffering.

 

From young, the sufferers are bound by the disease at every stage of their lives. From mothers or guardians and then teachers as well as colleagues and employers who dismiss their excruciating pains and claim that such pains were just exaggerated.

 

Some traditional families go to the extent of telling the sufferers that the pain was there to “train” them to prepare for childbirth or say that the pain was to “cleanse them from sins.”

 

Dr Sharifah with Roslina Arbak

Because this disease often occurs among women in the workforce, their productivity is affected and when they blame themselves for their weakness, they often fall into depression. Very often, patients are bound by this disease and their suffering multiplies due to late diagnosis.

 

For many women who are living with endometriosis, there was no relieve for them when they suffer period pains. Before this month’s pains are over, they have to face the next menstrual cycle.

 

Most sufferers cannot have a normal sexual relationship. And for those who delayed seeking treatment, by the time they did, their organs may have deteriorated so badly that even surgery cannot salvage the situation and they end up not being able to conceive.

 

These sufferers are desperately seeking solutions to their disease but when they meet doctors and gynecologists who are unsympathetic to their condition, they are further hurt by their churlish attitude.

 

With Dr Sharifah

So when they met Dr Sharifah and had their first consultation with her, it was a refreshing change from what they previously experienced with other medical specialists.

 

Whether they spoke to me in English, Malay or Mandarin, this same sentiment was echoed by each of Dr Sharifah’s patients whom I met at the Endo Party.

 

This party – I soon discovered – was in fact, a farewell gathering that Dr Sharifah hosted with her patients as she was relocating from Johor Bahru to work at her Centre of Excellence for Endometriosis at a hospital in Petaling Jaya.  

 

At the party, patients were invited to share their testimonies about their experience with Dr Sharifah to encourage others who were still undergoing treatments and to thank the spouses (Yes! A few men were present!) for their support and understanding.

 

Some of the patients even declared that they will continue to consult with Dr Sharifah wherever she was based as they felt confident and comfortable with her.

 

So it was a bittersweet time together, to celebrate the patients’ freedom from pain with the help of Dr Sharifah, along with bidding her a fond farewell.

 

This celebration of freedom from physical pain continued over light refreshments and conversations among Dr Sharifah and her patients.

 

Thank you, Dr Sharifah, for helping to free so many patients from physical pain and in giving them a brighter future to live a comfortable and fulfilling life.

 

Our best wishes for every success to Dr Sharifah as she continues her journey to help more women at the Centre of Excellence for Endometriosis.