Author: Bloomin' Uterus

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus

We made it through another week.  Yes, YOU made it through another week.

Today’s quote is from Dr. Jamie Weisman.  A simple, uplifting quote, especially if you have (or someone you know has) a chronic illness:

“Most people live in fear of some terrible event changing their lives, the death of a loved one or a serious illness. For the chronically ill, this terrible event has already happened, and we have been let in on an amazing secret: You survive. You adapt, and your life changes, but in the end you go on, with whatever compromises you have been forced to make, whatever losses you have been forced to endure. You learn to balance your fears with the simple truth that you must go on living.”

These same words are true for everyone, whether they have a chronic illness or not.  This “amazing secret” can be applied to any circumstance in life that you may be going through.  Pull through.  Speak with friends.  Ask for help.  You will endure.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Yours, Lisa

This Sunday, Nov 15, in British Columbia

| Bloomin' Uterus

Jenni Rempel will be hosting an event to shed some light on invisible illnesses, including her own – Endometriosis.  Funds raised from this event will help pay for her excision surgery.

Are you near the Maple-Ridge area? Know someone who is? Want to go?

“Shining the Spotlight: A Benefit to Illuminate Invisible Illness” will take place at Theatre in the Country (9975 272th St.) this Sunday, Nov. 15 starting at 2 p.m.  This will be an afternoon of entertainment/performances with a silent auction and bake sale. View the Facebook event for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/684114358355419/

More information can be found here: http://www.mrtimes.com/community/344836422.html 

The Endometriosis Foundation of America’s Donor Spotlight

| Bloomin' Uterus
Endometriosis Foundation of America logo

Today I had the honor of being featured in the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s Donor Spotlight!  I have enjoyed our interactions and communications with the EFA so much over this past year.  And being able to raise funds for their efforts.  They’re a huge organization, yet speak to us “little people” with such support and respect it’s incredible.  And now this?  I’m overwhelmed!

We will continue to do great things together.  All of us.

Yours,

Lisa

Happy Blogiversary!

| Bloomin' Uterus
cupcake with a lit candle and the text happy one year blogiversary

One year ago today, I started this little blog.  Just wanted to get my thoughts and feelings out, have a place to post my research and share fundraisers, and am amazed at what it’s blossomed into!

Thank you, Readers, for helping me make this site into a Home.  A place where people can come for help.  For support.  For each other.  And thank you for your Reader’s Choice topics.  Together, we continue to learn more about this disease and understand that we do not face this alone.

If there is every anything you’d like me to write about, please contact me or drop a comment below.  I am here for you.  Just as you are here for me.

Thank you for an incredible year!

Love, Lisa

Truth, Theory, or Tall Tale?

| Bloomin' Uterus
hazard symbol of skull and crossbones on orange background

Environmental toxins may play a role in the development and progression of Endometriosis?

Truth

Do I sound like a dirty hippy?  Maybe.  But there are a lot of theories out there about what may cause or influence Endometriosis.  But scientific studies have been long-published, and are also newly-emerging, that support the evidence that environmental toxins play a role in Endo’s development and progression.

A study published in the 2015 book “Endometriosis A Comprehensive Update” discusses just those factors.  The abstract states, “[h]uman exposure to toxins is often unavoidable, but measures including a detailed history taken by clinicians and lifestyle changes can help detect and limit exposure and assist in the body’s detoxification processes. Growing evidence suggests a possible link between endometriosis and environmental pollutants.”

So I may sound like a dirty hippy, which is okay by me, but the chemicals and toxins that we expose our bodies to may very well play a role in the progression of this disease.  You may want to do a little bit more digging on this subject.

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Jack Nicholson portraying The Joker in Batman the movie

Happy Friday!

I have a lot of little good things happening in life.  Unexpected and sudden happy things.  Which leads to today’s quote, by Research Programmer, Norm Papernick:

“Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.”

I absolutely loved this.  Thanks, Norm, for such a fun-loving and wonderful quote!

Have a great weekend!  And laugh!

Yours, Lisa

UPDATE : Tampons Taboo?

| Bloomin' Uterus
An unwrapped, unused tampon

If you recall, we wrote about tampons and the potential for chemicals and processing which may be harmful to people who use them.  Well, there’s been some recent developments.

Procter & Gamble (they make Tampax) and Kimberly-Clark (they make Kotex) have conceded to public pressure to disclose some ingredients of their feminine hygiene products.  You can read the online ingredients of each here:

Continue reading →

Share Your Story : Amy

| Bloomin' Uterus
A woman at a music concert

Amy was 29 years old when she learned she had Endometriosis.  Now 38 and living in New Jersey, she has turned her personal battle with Endometriosis into a campaign to help others.

Amy’s Journey: My first memory of my cramps was when I was just 14 years old. I was on vacation with my family in Florida at my Grandmother’s house. We were there for a fun family vacation. However, my cramps were so bad that my mother insisted that I do a shot of brandy to warm my insides up. I was only 14! That is how my period started and it has continued to affect my life on a constant basis.

Continue reading →

Share Your Story : Nat

| Bloomin' Uterus
Yellow awareness ribbon with text that reads I'm a Non-binary Endo Warrior

Nat was 22 years old when diagnosed with Endometriosis.  Now 33, Nat wants to share a very important message to the Endo Community, crossing gender barriers and reaching out to an often-neglected group of EndoWarriors.

Nat’s Journey: We need to stop making illness about gender – a.k.a I’m a boi with endo. Under my list of illnesses/disabilities, I mark endometriosis as being one of the most debilitating pain wise. I mean yes I’ve been pretty much out of action this past week thanks to vertigo, but that pales in comparison to the pain of a first full day of menstrual bleeding that chose this morning to kick in and sent me crawling back under the covers. I’ve gone from anti-vertigo meds to the strongest painkillers I have in the flat that aren’t codeine and a heat pack being applied across my tummy in order to just sit up. And believe me when I say that I WISH I lived in America and could go buy a tub of Aleve rather than a tiny pack of NINE of the same effing tablets for £5 (around $8 USD), yes that’s right for NINE of them.

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