A Doctor Who Listened: How Jen Found Relief from Endometriosis

Jen Bailey spent much of her young adult life in intense pain. She struggled to sit through college classes, was forced to cancel plans and didn’t feel like herself. For 11 years, her symptoms were dismissed as “just bad cramps.” Then she found Dr. David Cree, an OB-GYN with Trinity Health Medical Group, who finally told her what no one else had: “This is not in your head.”

The Journey to Diagnosis
Jen was 19 when her symptoms started. “The pain was so bad that I couldn’t stand up straight. I couldn’t function, I couldn’t go to class,” she recalled. She sought help from several doctors, but most brushed off her concerns. “This was the mid-90s, and the general sentiment was that this kind of pain was just normal cramps.”

Her symptoms eased during pregnancy, but the pain returned after her children were born. Her struggle to find effective care and relief continued.

After moving to Muskegon in 2002, Jen met Dr. Cree. “It felt like I finally had a partner in this,” she said. Dr. Cree took her symptoms seriously and diagnosed her with endometriosis, a conditions that occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. This often causes severe pain and sometimes leads to infertility.

“Many women have lived with pain for so long, it’s become their normal,” Dr. Cree said. “My job is to help them see that it doesn’t have to be.”

Steps Toward Relief
Working closely with Dr. Cree, Jen underwent hormone therapy and laparoscopic surgery to remove endometrial tissue. Later, she began receiving injections to induce medical menopause, which provided relief, although it came with side effects.

When Jen was 39, they agreed it was time for a hysterectomy with ovary removal. “I never tell someone what they should do,” Dr. Cree said. “We talk through the options and make the decision together when they’re ready. Jen was ready.”

He performed the procedure using robotic-assisted surgery, which offers smaller incisions and a faster recovery. “I was up and walking the halls within a few hours,” Jen shares. “I felt really good.”

Life Without Pain
More than a decade later, Jen is living pain-free and remains deeply grateful to Dr. Cree. “Endometriosis can feel invisible,” she said. “Dr. Cree was the first physician to tell me that this isn’t weakness; this is a real clinical condition and there are ways to improve it.”

For Dr. Cree, helping patients like Jen find relief inspires his work: “The most rewarding thing in the world is to hear a patient say, ‘You made my life better.’”

After helping Jen reclaim her health years ago, Dr. Cree is now preparing to deliver her second grandchild. It’s a full circle moment that reflects the power of trusted, lifelong care.

Jen and Dr. Cree both offer similar advice to people in pain: trust yourself, ask questions and don’t give up. “There’s hope,” Dr. Cree said. “You don’t have to suffer. Find someone who will listen - and keep looking until you do.”

Ready for Relief?

If you’re living with endometriosis, our supportive, caring women’s health experts here to help. Learn more about minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment and make an appointment with a specialist at 

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