Marsai Martin(of Grown-Ish fame) opens up about her surgery

[FluffyEyes]

She's only 18 and had to have and ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit removed from her uterus

I got my first period when I was 11.
But my symptoms got really bad when I turned 14. Every month, on the first day of my cycle, I would have excruciating pain and nausea. It affected my work, my social life—everything. I was so sick, I couldn’t leave the house. This usually lasted for a few days.

I always got confused when I’d be out with my friends and they’d share that they were on their periods. It surprised me that they could be out living a normal life at that time. I knew my mom also had painful periods, and she even warned me that I might experience the same thing. So, I just assumed this was how periods were supposed to feel.

In December of 2022, I opened up my Instagram account and went “live” to share a difficult and scary health experience. I had been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst four years earlier, and finally, at 18, I decided to have a surgery to remove it and relieve the pain I was experiencing. At the time, I couldn’t find any information from people who had been going through the same thing.

I was scared after receiving my diagnosis. As a young Black woman, I wanted to hear from women who looked like me that I was going to be okay. Roughly one in 10 women experience ovarian cysts, but they’re usually benign, don’t cause pain, and often go away on their own, per Cedars-Sinai.

Women of color often face even more hurdles when it comes to their reproductive health–whether that’s a maternal mortality rate that is three times higher than white women in the US, or the fact they’re 1.5 times more likely to die from cervical cancer.

Marsai Martin Lived With Horrible Period Pain For Years Before Getting Surgery

"You owe it to yourself to speak up."

www.womenshealthmag.com

 

[FluffyEyes]

At 17, I learned that a grapefruit-sized ovarian cyst was contributing to my painful periods.
But one day, when I was 17, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had extreme cramps and I was so nauseous, I wasn’t able to eat or drink. It felt like I couldn’t move. The slightest sip of water would make me projectile vomit. I had lower back pain, dizziness, migraines, and tender breasts, and on top of that. The pain had been constant from the moment I woke up, and it was so unbearable that I finally went to the ER around 8 p.m.

The doctors said I was dehydrated and gave me fluids. After taking an ultrasound, they told me that I had a very large ovarian cyst that was likely causing the pain.

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms within or on an ovary, often during ovulation. They can also occur if you have hormone problems, endometriosis, or if you’re pregnant, the Mayo Clinic says.

 

[ORDER_66]

 

[levitate]

Damn…

 

[skyrunner1]

Dam that was the little nerdy daughter right? shyt got me feeling


Sucks she had to go thru that, good she was able to overcome it.. blessings

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

 

[Justin Nitsuj]

I remember when my mother had this problem and she was in the hospital for a whole week. They had her in the hospital bed eating nothing but ice chips and they was gonna give her an hysterectomy til I came through and gave her some good ass hospital food to eat and it made her feel better. I love my moms

 

[FluffyEyes]

Dam that was the little nerdy daughter right? shyt got me feeling


Sucks she had to go thru that, good she was able to overcome it.. blessings

I know. She's grown up before our eyes. I'm glad she's bringing some awareness to ovarian cysts, particularly for Black women.

 

[7th Letter Specialist]

I'm just glad she wasn't talking about the other surgery

 

[FluffyEyes]

I remember when my mother had this problem and she was in the hospital for a whole week. They had her in the hospital bed eating nothing but ice chips and they was gonna give her an hysterectomy til I came through and gave her some good ass hospital food to eat and it made her feel better. I love my moms

I hope your mom exhausted all of her options and had a great doctor. A lot of these gynos will throw out hysterectomies as a first resort instead of a last one. I took care of my auntie when she needed a hysterectomy due to excessive bleeding. It was rough for a few days but she bounced back like the baddie she is.

 

[Ozymandeas]

Poor baby

 

[Mike18jj]

Glad she overcame it and I wish her the best of luck for the rest of her career.

 

[thaKEAF]

Glad she’s ok.

 

[skyrunner1]

I know. She's grown up before our eyes. I'm glad she's bringing some awareness to ovarian cysts, particularly for Black women.

Look like she has been able to stay working also, not tryna see anymore of these child actors turn degrading options because of unemployment..

Awareness is always good also, crazy how human mind works and how you connecting with people who went thru what you are going thru gives a sort of comfort

 

[FluffyEyes]

Look like she has been able to stay working also, not tryna see anymore of these child actors turn degrading options because of unemployment..

Awareness is always good also, crazy how human mind works and how you connecting with people who went thru what you are going thru gives a sort of comfort

Absolutely. And it's very helpful because sometimes seeing someone else's experience can push ppl to ask more questions, get 2nd and 3rd opinions or even switch doctors. It's very hard for ppl to feel empowered to ask questions because we're indoctrinated to show deference for the medical establishment and doctors.