Author: Bloomin' Uterus

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Man surrounded by question marks

FRIDAY! We made it!  And it’s the first week of March : Endometriosis Awareness Month!!!

Today’s quote is from a local San Diegan EndoSister, Ella.  She’s been active in raising Endo awareness here, but has also been dealing with lifestyle changes and a plethora of natural treatment options for her ongoing symptoms.  She’s finally beginning to gain a sense of control, and imparted these incredible words of wisdom:

“I had to take it all with a grain of salt. I started realizing if I listened to everybody (my doctor, Dr.oz, Dr.Axe, Dr.Phil), coconut oil this, bone broth that… I’d go crazy…crazier than I was when people looked at me when I told them my menstrual cycle was unbearable.  I started listening to myself, my body, if I do my research and choose for myself what is right for ME, my body started doing its job.”

It is SO important to listen to and honor your body.  And I’m so proud of Ella for reaching a point of understanding her own body and doing what feels right for her.

Here I sit, hoping that you are able to pursue options that feel right to you.

And I apologize for a quiet blog this week – been busy getting ready for our Walk. 🙂  Hopefully can pick up the research and writing soon! I miss it!

The Thermometer Popped!!!!

| Bloomin' Uterus
exploding fundraiser thermometer

My goal was to raise $1,100 for the Endometriosis Foundation of America for our 2017 Walk – bringing the grand total of funds raised to $5,000.  Well, thanks to the incredible donations of friends, family, loved ones, EndoSisters, businesses, and strangers, that goal has been surpassed today! A breakdown of the finances will be provided in April and all monies have been passed to the EFA. 🙂 These included donations to the Gofundme account, t-shirt sales via Teespring, and the fundraisers put on by Element Wellness Center and also the San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  I haven’t even factored in the money I’ve raised this past year using Goodshop!!

Thank you EVERYONE!

You do know I’m never going to stop doing this; right?

❤

Recap: Endo Workshop in San Diego

| Bloomin' Uterus
Two women sitting on a countertop talking to a group of people

Well, it came and it went!  February 23, 2017, was the day that Dr. Mara Killen of San Diego Womens Health and I presented an Endometriosis workshop at the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot for their Exceptional Family Member Program.  (You may remember that Dr. Killen presented on PCOS back in December.)

Our presentation and Q&A session lasted roughly two hours and Dr. Killen gave an excellent talk about Endometriosis, the theories of causation, symptoms, medical treatment options, etc.  I covered the alternative options such as diet, lifestyle change, Eastern medicine, mental health, and physical therapy.  The gals (and one husband) who showed up came with some incredible questions!

I cannot thank the EFMP and its staffmembers enough for granting us such an incredible opportunity to reach out to our community.  And, Dr. Killen, thank you for taking time away from your busy schedule and personal life to offer such valuable information.  I will be forever grateful.

Share Your Story: Heather

| Bloomin' Uterus
Woman standing against an ocean pier wearing a white dress

Heather was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 24 years old.  Now 37, she lives in Florida and has started “Heather’s Hope Endo Strong”, and is also a model advocating for chronic illness.

Heather’s Journey: I‘ve suffered with Endometriosis over half of my life. I’ve had 4 surgeries and all were unsuccessful. I did 2 Lupron injections a few years ago for the Endometriosis in my bowels. After the Lupron treatments my stomach completely stopped emptying and I now have a gastric pacemaker. I’m 1 in 4,000 people in the United States with a gastric pacemaker.

Continue reading →

One Lovely Blog Award

| Bloomin' Uterus
Background is shelves of books and the overlay text reads "One Lovely Blog Award"

I’ve been nominated by fellow EndoWarrior, blogger, and friend, The Endo Zone (maaaan, I’d really like to use her real name, but respecting privacy! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!), for the One Lovely Blog Award! This is a huge honor for me since I’ve loved her blog since we first met.  And she’s always been a huge encouragement to me, not only for my blog, but in my life, for my journey, and supporting my efforts to raise awareness and funds.  You, my dear, are an incredible woman – and thank you for the nomination. ❤  I highly recommend her blog – she’s recently undergone another Endo surgery and I enjoy following her healing progress, as well as uplifting and informative posts.

Continue reading →

Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus
flog kicking back on a tiny couch

Whew. The end of the week! FINALLY!

I’ve been suffering with a head cold since Sunday.  Monday was a work holiday, and I also took Tuesday and Wednesday off to stay in bed and be a sniffling, sneezing, coughing, miserable mess.  Today – today I’m beginning to feel better 🙂

But, my nasty little plight this week inspired today’s Feel Good Quote by Elaina Marie:

“Honoring yourself is not selfish, it’s vital.”

Take the time to honor yourself – whether that be a day of rest, a special sweet snack, an hour of quiet time, a drive to your favorite place – whatever it may be that you’ve neglected for so long.  Take some you time…time for YOU!

❤

And have a wonderful weekend!

Much love, Lisa.

T-Shirt Money Donated to EFA

| Bloomin' Uterus

frontA HUGE thank you to all of you who purchased a Bloomin’ Uterus t-shirt!  We sold 13 shirts and raised $76.67 for the Endometriosis Foundation of America!! Woohoo!

I received my confirmation email this morning that Teespring has already sent the $76.67 to the EFA!

I cannot thank you enough for your support!  Together, we are doing great things and hopefully one day a cure will be found.  In the meantime, remain strong and positive!

Yours,

Lisa

Feel Good Friday!

| Bloomin' Uterus
Analog alarm clock

It’s FRIDAY! Woohooooo!

Today’s quote is one that I found personally affirming as a person with Endometriosis.  I stumbled across it in my research this week and it just struck me as powerful.  The Nezhat doctors wrote in a 2012 article titled “Endometriosis: Ancient Disease, Ancient Treatments“:

“The clock is definitely ticking as we know that millions of women still live lives awash in anguish, just as they did thousands of years ago, and just as they will centuries from now unless we can steer ourselves faster toward the long elusive cure. Four thousand years is long enough; the time has come to end the empire of endometriosis.”

It’s been five years since this quote was published.  And it was referenced in a February 2017 article published in the International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology…which is how I stumbled across it.  And it seemed relevant this week, considering the amount of women who have been sharing their Endo stories with all of us!  We are building an army of Warriors – an army to stand against the “empire of endometriosis!”

One day there will be a cure.  In the meantime, remain positive, hold onto hope, lift each other up, and continue to live your life as best as you are able.

And if you’re interested in some reading, these blogs were updated this week:

Adhesions: What Are They?  Added a study that will be published in the March 2017 edition of Annals of Medicine and Science

Birth Control Pills & Endo.  Added an abstract published in the January 2017 edition of Fertility & Sterility

Chronic Pain Affects Your Brain. Added an abstract published in the January 2017 edition of European Journal of Pain

C-Sections & Endometriosis. Added a 2017 abstract published in the January 2017 edition of Diagnostic Cytopathology

Have a wonderful weekend!

❤ Lisa