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Cuban-American singer/songwriter Karina Nuvo knows what it feels like to be bestowed with a blessing and a curse. The Miami born beauty had just moved to Los Angeles to showcase her booming voice in the hopes of furthering her musical career, when she was sidelined by a seriously painful disease that not only put her career, but her life on hold for six years.

After a long journey, Karina wholeheartedly agreed to share her very personal story in hopes to shed light on this disease, its impact, and the importance of speaking up and seeking answers when it comes to your health…

When I moved to California 14 years ago I was filled with so much hope and excitement to finally pursue my dreams of singing and songwriting. However my body had a different plan. Almost immediately after I moved, I began suffering from a pain in my stomach so excruciating, so debilitating that I was more afraid than confused. It would happen before my period and it was unlike any period pain that I had encountered before. My mother (a pharmaceutical rep) suggested that I see a Gynecologist and ask about a disease called Endometriosis - Endo for short. Sure enough her fears were correct. After a quick outpatient surgery, it showed that I was filled with this Endo.

You see, Endo is when the uterine tissue grows around your entire reproductive system. In my case, my colon and large intestines. It causes a burning pain, like a knife cutting your insides. Another symptom is a sharp pain during intercourse and it can eventually lead to infertility. Sorry I am being so blunt but I want to share with you the truth, and if you are feeling these symptoms, it might be Endo and there is help…

So instead of heading into the studio to record my album, I checked into the hospital for my first of three operations. After my first laparoscopy surgery, I was given a drug called Lupron, which the side affects were a terrible combination of a 25 pound weight gain, hot flashes, depression, and joint pain. Basically I was going through a six month mini-menopause. After not feeling much relief, I went through my second laparoscopy, but I was unfortunately about to realize that my Endo struggles were just getting started.

Six years went by with my condition worsening and my sprits diminishing. The Endo had grown around my large intestine and my colon. Without being too descriptive, I was having severe stomach and digestive issues that kept me from losing weight and I was retaining so much water that I was incredibly bloated and felt exhausted. Those six years were not filled with music and singing and writing and unfortunately I fell into a bit of a depression and began suffering from anxiety. And if you knew me I always have a smile on my face and I truly try and enjoy life to the fullest, so this was a very difficult time for me because I just felt “sick and tired” with no relief or remedies in sight, until I went to an Endo support group (which shockingly only had five women). There I learned of a Dr. Charles March, a well known Endo expert and surgeon who makes it a point to help women who have been misdiagnosed for years. Well, say no more I was in his office and prepped for surgery within a month. Now here is what I want everyone to know: the surgery he performed was a laparotomy (a much more intense surgery that requires opening your abdominal wall and manually cutting the Endo out with a scalpel.) It’s like having a c-section with no baby and much more painful. If I would have had laparotomy surgery in the first place I believe it would have saved me years of pain and suffering and confusion. I learned the hard way that you must ask your doctor for ALL the options and be confident knowing that you are not crazy or alone. I know. I lived it.

So finally after six long years, I started to feel like my old self again, and I really felt like I had a chance at functioning like a normal person. I lost the weight almost immediately and my energy level was great. It’s strange but everything was falling into place including my heart by falling in love with my now husband Bobby. This disease and relationships go hand in hand and you have to have an incredibly patient and supportive person who understands Endo completely or I am sorry to say, and I know this from experience, the relationship will not survive. I am truly blessed that Bobby has been amazing and unconditional towards me in every aspect of my life.

Now I am also happy to say that music has found its way back into my life and hasn’t left since. It’s been a slow and paced reintroduction to the music business because you do have to have your mind, body and soul in sync and feel strong. So, after performing with some amazing artists around the U.S. and writing a number of songs that are on my current CD, Surprise, I became pregnant (when I thought for sure that was going to be a tough one) and now we have a beautiful 2 year old boy.

There is no cure for Endo, and I do still have my issues with my hormones and some pain, but I want to let you know that there are measures you can take to alleviate some of the pain and suffering that I went through, because now there are answers and there is support. You are not alone and I hope my story has made you feel like there is a brighter future ahead.

If you have questions or want more information on Endometriosis, visit endometriosisassn.org.