Feel Good Fridays

April 3, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Hoarfrost on a leaf. Leavef covered by hoar or snow and ice on a winter day on the garden. Hoarfrost on the leaves on beautiful winter image – close up of frozen tree branch and leaves covered with rime.

Friday snuck up on me today.

I’ve been put on work furlough and have applied for unemployment. It’s still unknown if my May 13th excision surgery will remain on calendar or be postponed. And I’m going a little stir-crazy in the house, unable to leave except for “essential tasks.”

I totally forgot it was Friday until a few minutes ago! Ha!

I have to remind myself daily that finances will be okay, I’ll have my job back once this crisis is over, my husband will come home safe and sound, and by staying home I’m protecting myself and others.

And I’ve picked my sewing projects back up, cleaned the house like a madwoman, bought a treadmill, and am keeping my mind and body occupied.

Still, though, I’m stir-crazy and bored. Perhaps next week I will focus on researching and writing new blog entries!

May today’s quote inspire you to embrace those things we can no longer experience, at least for now:

“Freeze, freeze in the winter, if you really want to appreciate the summer! Walk, walk at the edge of the precipices, if you rightly want to learn the meaning of the safety! Switch the lights off, if you want to see the amazing beauty of the light!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Be well.

Feel Good Fridays

March 27, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

How are you doing through all of this?

Sometimes you go through things that seem huge at the time, like a mysterious glowing cloud devouring your entire community. While they’re happening, they feel like the only thing that matters and you can hardly imagine that there’s a world out there that might have anything else going on. And then the glow cloud moves on. And you move on. And the event is behind you…” ~Welcome to the Night Vale

This too shall pass. Stay safe out there!

Share Your Story: MariaElisa

March 25, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Woman standing in underwear with baby's breath taped along her surgery scars

MariaElisa am was diagnosed with Endometriosis this year at the age of 25 after a 10-year struggle for answers.

MariaElisa’s Journey: I got my first 10cm cyst at age 12, delayed removing it because I was “too young”. Once they decided to do emergency laparoscopy it ruptured and had a torsion which damaged my right ovary and Fallopian tube.

Got my first period at 14, all seemed normal until I turned 16. Severe, heavy painful periods. They started to become more irregular and i was left in debilitating pain on my legs and lower back. Doctor after doctor kept telling me being a girl with these pains isn’t anything to be worried about because my sonograms and paps were “normal” except my enlarged left ovary which I’ve known about for years.

But no obgyn ever realized how painful all these procedures left me on my insides, until one day I came across a few pages of girls who lived near me and I got referred to a specialist who knew what he was talking about and does excision.

He was the first to ever tell me how inflamed and aggravated my pelvis was and saw how painful it was when he did the exam. A month later after 10 long years I had surgery to confirm I wasn’t crazy or seeking attention! I lost a lot of friendships and relationships along the way because I was simply being a “flake” of constantly having pain. I still manage to work two jobs and live a semi normal life and try to distract my pain as best as I can!

My inbox is always open for others who feel alone !

Words of Advice: Never ever give up on searching for answers ! We all know our bodies and when something is wrong!

The Last Word: Advocate until you find accurate answers from well known physicians ! Excision is standard care not ablation! When you’re offered drugs such as orilissa or Lupron please do research to make sure you know every detail and side effects and whether or not it’ll be good for your body!

If you would like to email MariaElisa, please feel free to do so.

I want to send a special Thank You out to MariaElisa for being brave enough to share her personal story, struggle, and victories with us today.

I am so sorry it took me so long to share your post… and I hope you’re doing well!

And if YOU would like to share your story, you can do so. The best part about this disease is the strong network of love and support from our fellow EndoSisters, and our friends and family, too.

Yours, Lisa.

Feel Good Fridays

March 20, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Hi Readers and friends!

I wanted to take a moment to tell you that although times are uncertain and stressful right now, please remember to take care of yourself in all ways possible. And please be kind and courteous to others.

This too shall pass.

Much love. Lisa

Share Your Story: Ashlea

March 17, 2020March 18, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Living in Manchester, Ashlea was 21 when she was diagnosed with Endometriosis. Today she’s 29 years old and shares her Journey with us.

Ashlea’s Journey: I wish there was a cure out there. It effects lives, effects careers, effects relationships…

The awareness needs to be made so other people wouldn’t have to go through what I have at the age of 29.

I have had 10 surgeries, numerous pills & medications injections, I have had a complete hysterectomy at age 25, I was told I would never be able to have children. However, I’m so lucky I got my miracle baby at age 22.

And just recently Feb. of last year I had laparotomy and left salpingo oophprectomy, because the small percent chance after my hysterectomy of the endo coming back was me I got it back I went through all that for nothing.

I am now in early menopause I am age 29 this a horrible illness has took over my life and career. I have to deal with this emotionally and physically all because off endometriosis. Since all these surgeries my bones are all weaker my muscles are weaker I have back problems bone problems, for such a young age this horrible disease as affected my everything I wish everyone had the knowledge and facts of this horrible disease we need this out there it’s effecting to many women I wish there was also a cure that could change life’s before it changes you. happy to share my story and endo journey.

Keep in there, we are strong we can do this! We will all support eachother you need good people around you! And just because this horrible disease can’t be seen doesn’t mean your being mard or hard on yourself we need a cure we need the help

Words of Advice: Keep in there, we are strong we can do this! We will all support eachother you need good people around you! And just because this horrible disease can’t be seen doesn’t mean your being mard or hard on yourself we need a cure we need the help

If you wish to contact Ashlea, you can email her.

I want to send a special Thank You out to Ashlea for being brave enough to share her story!

And if YOU would like to share your story, you can do so by clicking here. The best part about this disease is the strong network of love and support from our fellow EndoSisters, and our friends and family, too.

Yours, Lisa.

Feel Good Fridays

March 13, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Happy Friday! I hope you’re doing well. And if you’re not, I want you to know that you CAN get through this. We’re all here for you.

Today’s quote hit me in The Feels. It’s you. And I. And all of us.

“Heroes didn’t leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn’t wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else’s. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back.”
― Jodi Picoult, Second Glance

To those of you who have personally “unwound my knots” you truly are my heroes. And it’s my pleasure and honor to help others unwind theirs.

Much love to you.

Lisa

Feel Good Fridays

March 6, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Braided river delta with red & green lora at low tide Lower Cook Inlet Kachemak Bay Alaska; NOAA

MARCH! Endometriosis Awareness Month! My Facebook newsfeed has exploded with EndoWarriors posting amazing things every day and I love it!

So, today’s quote IS US!

“Drop upon drop collected will make a river. Rivers upon rivers collected will make a sea.” ~Sa’di (1213-1292)

We are numerous. A mighty force. We stand together. WE FIGHT TOGETHER!

May you have a wonderful weekend! And if you need me, I’m here.

Blogs I updated this week:

Bladder & Endometriosis: Added a January 2020 study from ACTA Scientific Womens Health about a a 46-year-old woman who had complaints of painful, long, and heavy periods. She also had difficulty urinating, peed frequently, felt pain when she peed, and sometimes had blood in her urine. Turns out she had Endometriosis inside her bladder.

C-Sections & Endometriosis: Added an August 2019 study from MOJ Clinical & Medical Case Reports of a 28-year-old woman who had painful swelling beneath her c-section scar. I’ll give you one guess what it ended up being…

Endometriosis & the Bowel: Added a January 2019 study from Paripex of a woman who had a mass of Endometriosis inside of her sigmoid colon…that actually prevented a full colonoscopy from being performed.

Endometriosis & the Lungs: Added a January 2020 study from the Thai Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of a 49-year-old woman with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax. Surgery finally confirmed the presence of Endo lesions in her right lung and her diaphragm, but she had no other evidence of pelvic Endo, nor other symptoms of Endometriosis. Five years after her surgeries, she was still symptom-free.

Pain Journal: February 2020

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

February. Man. What a weird month for pain and symptoms…

Pain started around February 5th and continued nearly the entire month. I also took a staggering amount of Ibuprofen, none of which was related to my Endo symptoms. I did need several Naproxen and two separate halves of Tramadol, thought.

And although I spotted for several days, I technically didn’t have my period. The spotting took place far off of what would have been my normal period. And when I brought it up to my gyno, they didn’t count it as a period, either. You know, the “first day of your last period” question?

At least the pain continued to only be located at lower left, lower right, and mirrored areas of my lower back. We’ll continue to monitor it and see what my surgeon finds in May.

Would you like to see the play-by-play daily journal?

And the super silver lining? I still have zero pain when I poo! I mean, I still need to figure out what I’m doing to upset my guts on the regular poop/diarrhea scale, but…that’s a work in progress. I know cheese is a big culprit, and likely booze. Meh. I’m not over-indulging in either…but I still feel like they’re both big players in my poo-game.