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Living with an invisible illness like endometriosis can mean constantly doubting your symptoms. I was always wondering if I was just being overly sensitive. But I’m not sensitive; once, I broke my arm and didn’t see a doctor for a week because it didn’t hurt that badly. I wasted time doubting myself and spent years feeling very sick and spending money to treat symptoms that were clear signs of endometriosis. Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, and an online resource hub created by a former nurse, I found the information I needed to get back on my feet.

March marks Endometriosis Awareness Month. The illness is brutal, and it affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, according to Endometriosis UK. On average, it takes 7.5 years for women to receive an accurate diagnosis. I hope that more women gain access to the resources they need to get better.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this comic that was featured in the Lily Lines Thursday newsletter suggested that there is only one effective treatment for endometriosis. A number of medical sources suggest that other treatments may be effective as well.