#1000Blooms: “I Know My Body” — Megan R.’s Story of Self-Advocacy, Surgery, and Starting a Family
From “Take Birth Control” to “This Is Endo”
For more than a decade, Megan R. was offered the same solution: birth control.
Painful periods that left her home from school as a teen. Bloating that made her appear pregnant every six weeks. Heavy bleeding that disrupted her daily life. Every complaint was met with the same prescription — and no further explanation.
“They never investigated why,” Megan shared. “They just gave me the pill and moved on.”
When she came off birth control in her 30s to try to conceive, the pain came back — worse than ever.
“I couldn’t believe how bad it was. My primary care doctor told me to try Midol or Advil. But I knew something was deeply wrong.”
One night, she turned to Google and found a term that stopped her in her tracks: endobelly.
The symptoms fit her exactly. For the first time, she felt like she had an answer. She brought it to her doctor, feeling empowered.
“I told him, ‘I have endometriosis.’ And he said, ‘No, you don’t. Endometriosis has specific symptoms. You’d know if you had it.’”
But Megan did know. And she was done being dismissed.
Finding the Right Physician
Megan immediately called a friend who loved her OBGYN and asked for a referral. That doctor was Dr. Chandra Spring-Robinson.
“She was the first one who actually listened. I got on her schedule as soon as I could.”
At her visit, Dr. Spring-Robinson suspected what Megan had long believed — and scheduled a robotic excision surgery to investigate further.
What she found was shocking.
“She told me it looked like someone had detonated an endo bomb inside me. My organs were stuck together with spiderweb-like tissue — connected in ways they shouldn’t be.”
Despite the severity, Dr. Spring-Robinson was able to remove the majority of the disease in one surgery.
By that fall, Megan was pregnant.
A Dream Fulfilled
Megan credits Dr. Spring-Robinson with helping her start the family she dreamed of.
“She gave me my son. She even delivered him a year later. I truly believe I wouldn’t have this family without her.”
Although Megan feels symptoms returning now, she no longer faces them alone.
“She told me it might come back, and I can feel that it is. But I feel safe now, knowing I have someone I trust to turn to.”
What She Wants Others to Know
Megan wants every woman in pain to know their voice matters.
“When it comes to medical care, we are too often forced to self-advocate. If you want to feel heard and safe — run, don’t walk, to Dr. Spring-Robinson.”
She also hopes more providers take the time to listen and dig deeper, especially when symptoms are masked by years of hormonal suppression.
“What I had wasn’t just heavy periods. It was a monster growing silently for years. And someone finally took it seriously.”
A Message for Dr. Spring-Robinson
“Thank you for listening. Thank you for your guidance. Thank you for your wisdom. You gave me the family I dreamed of, and you did so with such grace.”
Your pain is valid. Your voice matters. And your path to healing may start with a single step.
If you’ve been told your pain is normal — or that there’s nothing else to try — it’s time for a second opinion from someone who specializes in complex women’s health.
This is one of many stories. Yours could be next.
The #1000Blooms campaign honors the 1,000 women whose lives have been touched by Dr. Spring-Robinson’s surgical care. Each bloom represents a journey — from misdiagnosis to clarity, from pain to healing, from silence to being seen.
If you’ve been a patient and want to share your experience, we welcome your voice. Whether it’s a few words or a full story, your journey can help another woman feel less alone.
