Author: Bloomin' Uterus

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Gold star

Friday, the 20th! Where’s the month going?

Every week I look back and lament at how little blogging I have been doing. But have to remind myself that life has been crazy-busy, and it’s okay. When I have time, I will.

So that little self-appreciating, “it’s okay” mentality spurred today’s Feel Good quote:

“At the end of the day, remind yourself that you did the best you could today, and that is good enough.”
― Lori Deschene

Whatever it is you may be judging yourself for today, judge yourself a little less. It’s okay. You did the best you could. And you (we) can always try again. This is our lives; not a competition. Embrace your abilities (and disabilities) and know that today was good enough.

Happy holidays, my loves.

~Lisa

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Woman sitting on pedestal looking out at the ocean

Happy Friday!

Today’s quote cannot be said enough! Please read it, read it again, and read it one more time.

“Respect, Love, and Value yourself. Always remember to be good to yourself by taking care of yourself. Make yourself a priority and know that it’s okay. Don’t feel guilty for loving yourself, first! You’re just as important as anybody else.”
― Stephanie Lahart

You ALWAYS need to value yourself, take care of yourself, feel free to say “no” to an event if you’re not feeling well, and honor your body. Inside and out.

Much love to you!

Lisa

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Stairs

It’s FRIDAY!

It’s DECEMBER! What?!? ALREADY?

Today’s quote is brought to you by Erin…a good friend of mine who’s been there for me during my Journey.

“Don’t let the entire staircase overwhelm you. Just focus on that first step. One step at a time…”

Literally, take it one step at a time, one day at a time, one small victory at a time, or one battle at a time. And know that you’re never alone. We can grace these stairs together.

Love, Lisa

Today is my one-year resectionversary!

| Bloomin' Uterus

One year ago today, I had my bowel resection surgery to remove to visible lesions of Endometriosis off of my small intestine. A section of my right intestine, as well as appendix and cecum were also removed. All biopsies came back as Endometriosis, including microscopic Endo on my appendix, and cecum.

I documented my healing process with photos! If you follow my personal page on Facebook, you already knew that. BUT I made a one-year anniversary video of my healing process!

How has my quality of life been since my surgery? Once my body recovered from the trauma of the surgery, it’s been pretty awesome. I mean, I’ve had to make some adjustments to diet, monitor my alcohol intake, stumble along the way.

BUT…I haven’t endured a single painful poop since my surgery! In the past, it’s felt like I poo’d glass and razor blades and barbed wire. The guts felt like they were packed with the sharp objects and just cutting along the interior as I poo’d.

That is long gone. Good riddance. Never come back.

I cannot say it enough: Thank you Dr. Schultzel and Dr. Kurtulus for your expertise, professionalism, and genuine desire to help your patience!

And my words of advice to you? Always track your symptoms. Write them down. Voice them to your doctor. Bring in copies of your pain journal. Find a doctor knowledgeable in Endometriosis and excision. Pursue answers and proper treatment!

Here’s to hoping the rest of my body stays Endo-free, too…

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus

Happy Friday, my lovelies!

May you find inspiration to keep going, and may today’s quote help you get there!

“Being strong doesn’t mean that you never break! Being strong means that even if you break into a million pieces, you still have the courage to pick those pieces up, put them back together, and keep going on.”

― Manprit Kaur

We can keep going. And we will. Together.

Love, Lisa

Blogs I updated this week

Endometriosis & the eyes: added an August 2019 study of a 41-year-old woman with Endometriosis on the outside of her eyelid!

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Message in a bottle
“Message in a Bottle Sea” by Antonios Ntoumas

Happy Friday! The end of the week (another one?!)! I hope that you’re all able to have a wonderful and fulfilling weekend.

My husband and I have been attending twice-a-week yoga classes through a local community college, and it’s been great. This past Tuesday, we did our first guided meditation in the class: find yourself in your favorite natural setting. Of course, I was in the mountains, propped on a log sitting in front of a campfire at dusk. Then our instructor threw in a body of water nearby, so I walked toward a lake. Laying on the shores was a bottle with a message inside. I popped open the bottle, pulled out the message, and unfurled it.

It was a message to me, from me.

And it was four words, written in incredible, beautiful calligraphy (which I don’t do, by the way):

“Everything will be okay.”

I took a moment to soak that in, then opened my eyes in the darkened classroom and just let the words wash over me. Everything: finances, my Endo, the colon polyp biopsy, next year’s possible surgery. Everything. Everything will be okay.

It was weird: crying silently in a blackened room with six other people laying down nearby on their respective yoga mats, oblivious to what was going on in my head. I can’t even explain the relief that flooded over my being. I wiped my tears, took a few deep breaths, and closed my eyes.

And that mantra has been something I’ve now whispered to myself every day since.

May it work it’s way into your thoughts today, too.

Much love, Lisa.

My First Colonoscopy

| Bloomin' Uterus

If you’re in the Southern California area and need a colonscopy, may I recommend The Endoscopy Center in Encinitas with Dr. Seeger? Everyone there was incredible and super friendly! What I was afraid would be a painful experience wasn’t painful at all. And it was sooo easy. Truly the hardest thing is drinkin’ the bowel prep and enduring a few hours on the toilet.

Why did I need a colonoscopy at 40 years old? My colo-rectal surgeon sprung it on me: one is needed a year after a bowel resection; just to make sure everything is okay inside.

Okay, on with the findings: a small polyp was discovered inside my sigmoid colon and removed for biopsy. The rest of my guts looked great! Wanna see?

Continue reading →

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus

The week is over! And what a week it’s been!

All I can say today for your inspirational quote of the week, “Be brave.”

Whatever it is you’re dealing with…just be brave. You can do this. Put one foot in front of the other and trudge forward. And remember, it’s brave to even ask for help.

If you ever need anything, please reach out.

PS – we all need a wee bit of a bravery reminder, eh? Even myself. ❤