Shauna Fuller Clarke continues the endometriosis fight
AS AN advocate for awareness, detection, treatment and change, Shauna Fuller Clarke was honoured to receive the Flair Distinguished Award last year for leading the charge in endometriosis with B.A.S.E Foundation. But in the midst of that celebration stood a woman who was facing her own personal struggles with the disease. She would then go on to have surgery in the following weeks.
“It was such a great feeling to be awarded. I felt validated because it showed a positive impact and gave us the momentum to continue.
Even though I have done all of this work for the foundation i n terms of raising awareness, having seminars, partnering with doctors to help educate students, nurses and the wider public, some people forget that I also have stage four endometriosis,” the founder and executive director of B.A.S.E Foundation told Lifestyle.
Doing her best to support the movement, all while suffering through this debilitating disease, her condition worsened over the years. And, although she is a private person, Fuller Clarke found it necessary to shed some light on the life-changing journey that has led her to where she is now.
Almost a decade ago, the advocate found herself at a crossroads. With no signs of endometriosis as a teenager—which is when it typically presents itself—Fuller Clarke had one abnormality to go by: bloating.
“At the age of 21, I started to notice that I would be so severely bloated that I looked like I was six months pregnant ,” she explained. It was so bad that her airport chronicles would include being pulled aside by officials to check if it was safe for her to fly. So, she did what any other adult in her situation would do: she visited gynaecologists. However, she was told that the bloating was simply a symptom of her menstrual cycle. Yet, this diagnosis didn’t sit well with her or her loved ones, as her belly seemed too large for mere discomfort.
In addition to the bloating, she began experiencing chronic pain the day before and the first day of her period. Upon her return to the doctor, she was once again told that it was normal. But it wasn’t until she was 28 years old that things started to take a drastic turn of getting winded after the most mundane of activities, like walking from one area of her apartment to another.
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She was later diagnosed with thoracic endometriosis, which affects her lungs. And there were also several deposits in her pelvic area. After receiving treatment, she took the fight a step further by spearheading the B.A.S.E Foundation. Already she has created an inclusive atmosphere that raises awareness and garners support of the worthy cause.
Seeing much success, her attempt to compartmentalise her life failed when she realised that once again, she needed surgery.
“At the end of December 2022, I started bleeding from my navel. A lot of people have never experienced that; they don’t know that it could happen. The deposits were behind my navel, so during my period, I bled from my navel for about three days,” she revealed, noting that this was her last straw to have the conversation with her doctor.
Focusing on her own health, she went ahead and got treatment in May of last year, “The surgery was very long. I was most anxious this time around because I am older now and there are other health challenges at play. Usually, a surgery is two hours long for endometriosis. Mine took five to six hours because I have a severe case. So it was a little scary going in. But it went well.”
The surgery, according to Fuller Clarke, involved separating organs and cleaning t hem up because everything would stick together. When the procedure had reached t he sixth hour, her husband grew nervous of the outcome but her doctor reassured him that she was fine.
The recovery period, she says, was slower than expected and she gave herself grace during this process, since she had no choice but to rely on others. “What persons don’t realise is that you don’t just go into surgery and come out okay. You have to build your strength up again in order to be able to walk, or in my case, to be able to breathe better.”
With plans to broaden the scope and reach others affected by the disease, as well as knocking on even more corporate doors for support, her hope is that throughout the month of March, others will continue to show their support for endometriosis awareness by wearing yellow.