Ha! A few of us gals got together and beat the crap out of a big uterus pinata last weekend. It was GLORIOUS! Incredibly therapeutic! And incredibly messy ❤ Forgive the crappy quality…I Facebook Lived this little stunt and then downloaded it…so it’s kind of degraded 😉
Recently, someone brought it to my attention that they’d heard that heating pads are bad for Endo. Now…I live with my heating pad literally attached to my body almost every first few days of my period. So, I was taken aback by the suggestion as I find the heat soothing. And I vowed to do some research on the theory that heat is bad for Endo…and, as usual, formulate my own opinion and share it with you.
Endometriosis News ran an article in August of 2017 highlighting the opinions of Melissa of EndoEmpowered and Aubree Deimler of Peace with Endo, and both discussed how heat may cause fascia to manipulate (or soften) and harden after it cools down once the heat is removed. Aubree tried the heat elimination process to see how she felt, and felt a difference with her pain. If you’d like to try, please follow her example. Melissa interviewed Chris Toal of Azolla Health, who shared a downloadable brochure on the theories behind heat and fascia. Not only does Toal discourage the use of heating pads, but also the use of hot showers or baths. Aubree directly linked back to Melissa’s article and interview.
What is fascia? It’s a thin, fibrous tissue made up mostly of collagen that covers and supports tissue, such as muscles or organs.
From what I gather, the underlying theory expressed in the views of Endometriosis News, Melissa, and Aubree of why heat is bad for Endometriosis pain is that the heat, for lack of a better term, softens or melts the fascia tissue. Once the heating pad is removed, the fascia rehardens and can make the pain worse. This may cause adhesions to shift, form, and harden. Aubree cites to Ida Rolf‘s theory regarding fascia and displacement with energy/heat/manipulation.
Visualize a brand new, unlit candle. Once lit, the wax begins to melt. Blow out the flame and the wax cools and rehardens, oftentimes in a new shape. Or think of making gelatin: the mixture is liquid while hot and solidifies once it’s in the fridge and cooled off.
The fascia-altering theory is the only argument I have been able to find against using heating pads if you have Endometriosis…so:
Let’s find some proof to all of this…because, like I said, sometimes I live on my heating pad.
Ida’s theory that fascia tissue degrades with manipulation or energy is frowned upon by some. It’s called the thixotropic effect, where the tissues degrade with heat or pressure, then reform upon settling. Paul Ingraham wrote about his opinions in Feb. of 2013 and again Jan. of 2018 on thixotropic effect on PainScience.com and opines that fascia is simply “too tough” to manipulate in such a manner and states that Ms. Rolf found her theory to be “nonsense” as well. Mr. Ingraham cited many studies and professionals to support his opinions. You’re welcome to read both pieces (linked above and in the Resources section below).
But what if it’s not nonsense? According to the Science of Slow Cooking (mmmmm…crock pot food…), collagen begins to break down and liquify into a gelatin at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, I’m no expert on the human body versus a meat-animal, but…how hot do heating pads get?!?
A study published in Safety Brief in 2015 ran a few experiments on heating pad created by Kaz (Model HP-110). After running the heating pad for 120 minutes, it never exceeded 151 degrees Fahrenheit, uncovered.
Sunbeam offers a FAQ on their webpage about the temperature range of their heating pads: the low setting 110 degrees F and the high setting can get up to 160 degrees F.
Sew4Home conducted their own little science experiment with homemade microwaveable heating pads. They compared rice, corn, and flaxseed. After 30 seconds of heating, the rice was 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the corn was 158 degrees, and the flaxseed was 144 degrees. Five minutes later, each had cooled: 136 (rice), 142 (corn), and 142 (flaxseed).
Hot water bottles should never be filled with boiling water (water typically boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit), due to leakage and safety concerns. Many manufacturers of hot water bottles suggest a nice, easy-to-touch temperature; not scalding.
So, I’m not sure that heating pads (electrical, microwaveable, or hot water bottles) will get hot enough to do any liquifying damage to facia. But, then again, I’m no expert. And several webpages promote the use of heating pads (sometimes combined with castor oil packs) to help with adhesion, Endometriosis, pelvic, or lower back pain.
So, then I was curious: why do heating pads make my pain feel better? Once more, I hit the internet. And, once more, ran into a lot of Mr. Paul Ingraham’s writings and voluminous cited resources, along with other webpages.
Heat may be very soothing, it increases blood circulation to the area, it may relax tense muscles, and a 2006 study found that internal heat receptors may actually block pain signals. So, once more, heat may be good for dealing with certain types of pain.
Again, I’m not a scientist and this is just my opinion after bouncing around the internet for several hours doing research and reading. My conclusion?
My heating pads make me feel better…and I will not stop using them. Am I knocking Endometriosis News, Melissa, Aubree, or Chris? Nope. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I value a broad perspective on things. But, for me? I also value the comfort that a good ol’ heating pad delivers.
What about you? My advice? Do whatever makes you feel better. Hot, cold, or neither. It’s your body and you know it better than anyone.
(Updated March 27, 2019)
Earth Clinic (Dec. 2017): Natural Remedies for Abdominal Adhesions
EndoEmpowered (Nov. 2016): Stop Using Hot Water Bottles for Endo Pain
Endometriosis News (August 2017): Should You Use Heat for Endometriosis Pain Relief?
Functional Fascia: Fascia Facts
Healthline: Treating Pain with Heat and Cold
LiveScience: (July 2006) Study: How Heating Pads Relieve Internal Pain
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: definition of fascia
My Health Alberta Ca Network: Adhesions Care Instructions
PainScience.com (Jan. 2018): Does Fascia Matter?
PainScience.com (Aug. 2016): Heat for Pain. When and how to apply heat for therapy…and when not to!
PainScience.com (April 2017): The Great Ice vs. Heat Confusion Debacle
PainScience.com (Feb. 2013): Thixotropy is Nifty, but It’s Not Therapy
Peace with Endo: (Jan. 2017) Why I Stopped Using My Heating Pad for Endometriosis Pain
Safety Brief: (Jan. 2015) On the Safety of Heating Pads
Science of Slow Cooking: The Science of Slow Cooking
Sew4Home (Sept. 2014): Organic Fillers for Warming Pads: We Compare Rice, Corn and Flaxseed
Sunbeam: FAQ – How Hot do the Heating Pads Get?
Taber’s Medical Dictionary: definition of fascia
The Hot Water Bottle Shop: FAQS
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Department of Physics: Q&A Water Temperatures
~ Again, I am a layman. I do not hold any college degrees, nor mastery of knowledge. Please take what I say with a grain of salt. If curious, do your own research 😉 Validate my writings. Or challenge them. And ALWAYS feel free to consult with your physician. Always. Yours ~ Lisa
To anyone who has ordered a Bloomin’ Uterus t-shirt through our Teespring campaign and isn’t happy with the placement and/or quality of the print, please reach out to Teespring’s customer service.
I have attempted to have Teespring correct their screenprinting placement since the logo on the printed shirt is not where it is supposed to be compared to the design I submitted.
Here’s is their response,
“Thank you for keeping us in contact – I’m sorry to hear that there were issues with the orders from your campaign. Please allow me to assist you.
Regarding the order issues with your campaign, for any misprints, we ask that the person who placed the order contacts us with a photo of the order they received stating the issue of the item in the email. This way we can send the photo to our ProductionTeam for their reference, and proceed with the most suitable solution for the customer.
We ask them to directly contact us, as we can only discuss order information with the customer, and make sure that they are taken care of!
Again, I truly apologize for the inconvenience. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.”
If you would like to contact Teespring about replacing your t-shirt with an attempted reprint, you can submit an inquiry on their page.
It is helpful to attach a screenshot of the t-shirt design off of the webpage, a photograph of the t-shirt you received, and any written instructions to fix the problem (i.e., “lower the logo by about six inches.”) Granted, this doesn’t always work…but if you are unsatisfied with the t-shirt after a few attempts, they may offer to refund your money.
If you haven’t purchased a Bloomin’ Uterus t-shirt, tank top, or sweatshirt and would like to, visit our Teespring store
Our good friends at the Endometriosis Family Support Group in Riverside at doing it again! Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at 6:00pm (Pacific Standard Time) they’re offering a free online webinar featuring Jillian Schurr and Jenneh Bock from The Endo Coalition.
If you’d like to log on and attend, please email Megan at Megan@RMCcharity.org. Registration is free but required.
A huge thank you to Megan and the Endometriosis Family Support Group for all that they do! For more information on their organization and when they meet, please click here.
Happy Friday! What a crazy week it’s been for me. *whew*
Yesterday, one of our local SoCal EndoSisters wrote this in our private Facebook group. It was so freakin’ encouraging and uplifting, I asked if I could share here with you today. Obviously, the answer was yes.
“Sometimes, especially when the pain is bad, it is hard for me to remember the things I am thankful for.
I am going to say now, this post is not meant in any way to lessen what we go through, the hardships we manage, but it is one of thanks. Chronic pain, although often debilitating, is not always terminal and doesn’t always mean we are at risk of losing our lives.
Today, I’m thankful that my burden in life is pain and I thank my stars that I don’t have to deal with other chronic issues, where a misstep, or lack of medication, means I could lose my life early. I don’t wish pain on anyone, but I think of those who struggle with healthcare and doctors when their life is on the line, and it makes me thankful I just have to deal with the pain (even though sometimes it makes me feel like I’m dying or makes me wish for it just to end).
I’m thankful I don’t have to worry about conditions that, left unchecked, could mean limb loss (like diabetes), that I don’t have to be confined to a wheelchair as I slowly lose the ability to control my muscles, and even risk not being able to breath on my own down the road. I’m thankful that on good days I can go for a hike, or even just go meet my friends for drinks (even if I am losing the ability to tolerate alcohol without it setting off a flair and I just have water). I’m thankful that I’m not stuck in a hospital bed, confined to a sterile room, even if I’m a frequent flyer. And sometimes I have to remind myself to be thankful when things are bad. Not because others have it worse and I don’t have the right to feel bad, because sometimes it is the only way I can get through what I’m dealing with. It is my coping mechanism. It sometimes is the only way for me to deal with the bad days to get to my wonderful good days, that I don’t take for granted anymore.
This disease can easily crush us mentally, make us lose hope, but on those days where I feel well, or well enough just to do things on my own, I’m thankful. I’m hopeful that someday we will find a solution to our condition, and be given our lives back, or that those much younger than us, will never have to suffer like we do.
And I’m thankful for a community of people like you, even if I’m not often present or involved, and haven’t really met any of you yet. I’m thankful when I see, even through the pain and unfairness, that you all haven’t lost your empathy, your compassion, your supportive natures. It is so great to see people that suffer daily themselves willing to put themselves out there to offer support or love to others dealing with the same thing, strangers we don’t know but are tied to through our shared suffering.
I’m NOT saying that we should ignore what we deal with because “others have it worse”, I’m not saying that at all. What we deal with is real, has huge physical and emotional impacts on our lives, I’m just not ready to give up and roll over and hope I can always find a reason to be thankful, no matter how bad things get. Because what do we have if we don’t have hope? And sometimes that hope is the only thing that can push us past the worst.
I wish you all the best, I wish you strength and pain free days, days where you can still get out and live and appreciate what those days mean. And I wish for all of us that a cure if found and someday we don’t have to worry about young girls finding themselves having to suffer through each day or each period.” ~Ashlie McCormick
May we all hold onto the hope and strength offered in these words.
Love, Lisa
Oh man! I cannot tell you how wonderfully excited I am after this weekend’s walk!
It was the 4th Annual Bloomin’ Uterus Awareness & Support Walk in San Diego and it was our largest one yet! Out of 150 registered walkers, 120 people joined us. It was awesome! Thank you, everyone, who attended!
This year, we raised $1,317.90 for the Endometriosis Foundation of America, totaling $7,065.44 raised since 2014. A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated or purchased t-shirts! We were able to once again surpass our fundraising goal! And due to an incredible donation by my employers, we were able to hand out free Bloomin’ Uterus buttons to everyone! I’m just flabbergasted!
This is my fourth year hosting our walk. When I received my diagnosis, there was nothing in San Diego and I needed something. Absolutely needed it. Does that need ever diminish? I must say: nope. Being able to be around EndoSisters who understand, to be able to hug their friends and family and thank them for their support, and to watch other EndoSisters meet and interact: it’s awesome. And it really drives home that the need to be around people who get it…around people who aren’t judgmental…is critical to our mental well-being. Well, mine at least. And we even met a few people along our route that had Endometriosis and will join us next year!
I’m still floating on Cloud 9.
Prior to the walk, 34 EndoSisters completed a survey about their Endometriosis. This sign was displayed at our check-in desk; a way of affirming that we truly aren’t alone in our fight.
The little pie chart in the center is asking if surgery (whether it be excision, ablation, or hysterectomy) helped with their Endo symptoms and pain. The responses were:
1 – It’s worse than before
1 – No Endo was removed during surgery
5 – Yes
10 – No
17 – It did for a while
And my favorite part? We’ve all been told that Endometriosis developing on the spine is “incredibly rare”…yet three, yes THREE, of the 34 women who answered this survey have a confirmed diagnosis of Endometriosis on their spines. Talk about embracing the fact that you aren’t alone!
You can see all of the photographs and video shared by our attendees here.
This year, seven of us delivered a speech together. There’s video out there of the speech (filmed by the wonderful Alyssa Menard):
If you can’t hear passed our sniffles and snorts and giggles and airplanes flying overhead, our words are below. I wanted to send a loving thank you to those brave women who volunteered to speak with me:
Lisa: Thank you, everyone, for coming today. I cannot express enough how much it means to me…to each of us. Can I have all of my EndoSisters join me over here? Many of us were not taken seriously when we would discuss our pain. It may have been dismissed, we were called fakers or weak, or told that it was all in our heads. We’ve heard “Nothing is wrong” or “Pop an Advil” or my personal favorite, “Periods aren’t that bad. Suck it up.” Words like this, treatment like this, is demeaning to an already crushed soul. I gave up. I figured it was normal. And that I was weak, crazy, or just cursed.
Mirna: Our pain has a name: Endometriosis. We aren’t crazy, we aren’t weak, and we aren’t faking. But even with a diagnosis, sometimes our pain still isn’t taken seriously and we are dismissed or judged by the medical community, employers, coworkers, friends, or even family.
Jessica: We are here today to change that. 1 in 10 women suffer, but here we are walking side by side, a mighty force of Warriors. Warriors with an ultimatum to Endo: we will overcome!! We will not be beat. And we are not alone. We may have days where we are forced down, stuck in bed, or in agony as we go about our day…but we will rise again. And we stand with the help of our Sisters, our family, and our friends.
Kelly: Endo just doesn’t cause physical pain. Sometimes we feel like an incomplete woman, robbed of so many dreams. And some of us can be jealous of those who have children, don’t have to carry a small pharmacy around in their purse, or can live a fulfilling and active life. But this community that we’ve built together personally helps me cope with the physical and mental downers. Someone, maybe even you, has been there to support me when I needed it. And here we are today, lifting each other up. This is what we are all about. We are Sisters. We are family. When you go home, please don’t let this energy that you’re feeling die.
Gloria: Friends and family, please listen when we tell you that we are hurting, or we can’t go do something because of a flare-up; don’t judge or criticize us or think we’re lying. Continue to offer that compassion and support I know you all have within you.
Meghan: And to my EndoSisters, stay strong, be there for one another, and don’t be afraid to self-advocate. Push your physicians to do their research to better understand how best to handle our illness. And if you don’t agree with their opinions or tactics, find another doctor. There are great ones out there.
Melinda: One day there will be a better understanding of this illness; of this enemy we all fight together. But until that day, let us hold our heads high and march on. I am grateful for each of you. We are grateful for you. Thank you.
**
I am so excited and looking forward to next year. If you’re interested in joining us for 2019, stay tuned!
And remember, we are all incredibly strong and powerful. And we can stand up to Endo…Together!
If you would like to read about our prior walks, here’s the information: 2017 Endo Walk at Shelter Island, 2016 Endo Walk at Lake Miramar, and 2015 Endo Walk at Lake Miramar.
An anonymous submission to our Endo Awareness Month giveaway. If you’d like to voice what you’d tell Endo if you had the chance, let us know!
It’s Friday! It’s a beautiful misty Friday. I just love the rain!
Tomorrow is our 4th Endometriosis Awareness & Support Walk, and I’m so excited. Women with Endometriosis are often referred to as “EndoWarriors.” Why? Because we fight this illness like nobody’s business. And today’s quote is inspiring:
“Even in times of trauma, we try to maintain a sense of normality until we no longer can. That, my friends, is called surviving. Not healing. We never become whole again … we are survivors. If you are here today… you are a survivor. But those of us who have made it thru hell and are still standing? We bare a different name: warriors.”
― Lori Goodwin
So, to all my Warriors out there, keep fighting. And when you can no longer stand, reach out – because we will be there to lift you up and carry you as far as we can. And when we fall, another will hoist us up. That is what we do.
Love, Lisa
An anonymous submission to our Endo Awareness Month giveaway. If you’d like to voice what you’d tell Endo if you had the chance, let us know!
Bloomin' Uterus 