Author: Bloomin' Uterus

The Wurn Technique : Improve Infertility and Adhesion Pain?

| Bloomin' Uterus
Logo for Clear Passage Physical Therapy

Have you heard of the Wurn Technique?  I hadn’t until a few weeks ago when I received an email from Clear Passage with links to a recently-published study showing the Wurn Technique can improve infertility issues, as well as reduce Endometriosis pain.  Are they claiming to cure Endometriosis?  Not at all.  But they are claiming their technique may help reduce your pain and may increases your chances of becoming pregnant.  So, curious as I was, I read up on it, asked questions, and now I present this information to you!

Personal Note: I am not endorsing Clear Passage or the claims made in these studies or their webpage.  I am simply pointing you, the curious reader, in a direction you may not have located otherwise.  Always, always, ALWAYS do your own research.  And choose a treatment that feels right for you.  If you have any questions about the Wurn Technique, please reach out to Clear Passage by email or 1 (352) 336-1433.  They will answer your questions and, if you so desire, schedule a phone consultation with one of their therapists (for free) to see if this is a viable treatment option for you.

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Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus
boots that are breaking at the sole

We’ve made it to another Friday!

Today’s quote is by one of my absolute favorite authors when I was in my teens, Bodie Thoene:

“Being brave…is not always being unafraid. Maybe it’s more like doing what you know is right even when you’re too tired. Or scared. It’s going on and doing it anyway…even when you think you can’t take one more step.” (excerpt from The Key to Zion)

A lot of EndoWarriors I know are scheduling surgeries over the next few months, undergoing new MRIs, are meeting new doctors, or undergoing clinical trials. Each of the has a bit of fear in their voices, a bit of hesitation, and all are full of hope.  Today’s quote is for them.

And for anyone going through something where they need to rise above their fear and push forward.  You are incredibly brave.  All of you.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Yours, Lisa

Endometriosis & The Heart

| Bloomin' Uterus
Diagram of human heart

I’ve read bits and pieces here and there that Endometriosis can grow on your heart (or the lining of your heart).  And have heard from a friend that she may have it on her heart.  That’s scary business!

Which got my juices flowin’ to find the documented cases of Endometriosis on the heart, how it was excised (if at all), etc.  Here goes ( PS – there’s not a lot out there…)!

Endometriosis is usually found within the pelvic cavity, but has also been known to travel northward and latching onto the liver and diaphragm.  It has also been found on the membranes surrounding the lungs.  Even rarer, it has been found on the brain, in the lymph nodes, and on the eyes.  But today, we focus on the heart…which is also SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Please, I’ll preface it by saying this is so super duper rare.

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Why I support the Endometriosis Foundation of America

| Bloomin' Uterus
Bloomin' Uterus logo surrounded by question marks

Based on yesterday’s post about the Endometriosis Foundation of America donations, some of you have asked what outreach programs the EFA offers.  What are they doing with the money they collect from donations?  How are they helping raise awareness for Endometriosis?  How are they helping with research?  How are they helping EndoSisters with their disease?

Well, ask and you shall receive!

With their permission, I’ve posted a brief summary of their programs and efforts:

Endometriosis

  • An often painful disease affecting multiple body systems
  • Occurs when tissue similar to the endometrium (lining of the uterus) is found in areas outside of the uterus
  • Approximately 1 out of every 10 people born with a uterus live with endometriosis

The ENdometriosis: Promoting Outreach and Wide Recognition (The ENPOWR) Project

  • The EFA’s school- and community-based education and outreach program, consisting of a 45-minute interactive discussion differentiated for specific audiences
  • Supported by significant grants from the New York State Senate and Department of Health ($650,000 over three years)
  • To date, the ENPOWR Project has made 310 presentations to sites throughout New York City, Long Island, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Westchester, reaching over 7,400 adolescents
  • ENPOWR has a 91% return rate to sites

The ROSE (Research OutSmarts Endometriosis) Study

  • The first project in the United States to solely investigate endometrial tissue to the deepest genetic signature
  • The goal of the ROSE study is to investigate the causes of endometriosis and bring improved diagnostics and treatments for women with the disease
  • The EFA’s sponsorship of ROSE at the Feinstein Institute is one of our crowning achievements, and just the beginning of a long-term partnership in endometriosis research

MIT Center for Gynepathology Research

  • Established in December 2009 by Linda G. Griffith, the School of Engineering Teaching Innovation Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering and director of the Center
  • The country’s first research center in gynepathology
  • The center is currently working on creating a software application/mobile app to raise disease awareness and to gather better symptomatic data from patients, starting with their first doctor’s visit

Annual Medical Conference

  • An annual gathering of medical professionals to address the controversies surrounding endometriosis, improve treatment options, and to establish that the disease must become a research priority
  • For 3 years, the EFA hosted a Nurses Conference, a separate educational event for nursing professionals
  • Beginning in 2015, our Medical Conference will include all allied health professionals
  • Unable to attend (like myself)?  You can watch (for free!) videos of their past conferences.

Annual Patients’ Day

  • A multi-disciplinary collaboration for women and their loved ones to meet each other, share their journeys, and “ask the experts”
  • The Annual Patient’s Day usually falls within the timeframe of their medical conferences.  

Blossom Ball

  • The EFA’s annual gala and sole fundraising event to support efforts to increase disease recognition, provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research. Each year they host the Blossom Ball as the fundraiser.

The Endometriosis Foundation of America is doing a lot for our disease; not only searching for a cure, but educating women, their loved ones, nurses, and doctors alike.  I hope you can see why I choose to support their efforts through my Bloomin’ Uterus fundraising (the walk, the buttons, and the t-shirt sales).  If you would like to support the EFA, you can either do so through my fundraising efforts or directly through the EFA’s webpage.  Don’t want to support the EFA, but do want to support endometriosis research, education, and awareness?  There are so many organizations out there!  Do the research, find the one you feel best about, and give it a go! 🙂  There are no wrongs or rights here; only action.

Truth, Theory, or Tall Tale?

| Bloomin' Uterus

You may say, “I don’t know anybody that has Endometriosis.”

Theory

One in ten people born with a uterus suffer from Endometriosis.  Many suffer in silence because it can be an embarrassing disease, laden thick with affiliations toward periods, menstrual flow, sexuality, and stereotypes.  Chances are that you know someone who has Endometriosis, or know someone who knows someone that has it.  And you know what else? Famous people have Endo : Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Cyndi Lauper, Dolly Parton, Pamela Anderson, and Hillary Clinton are just a few.  There are so many.  And it is suspected that Marilyn Monroe also had Endo.  See?  You know someone who has it.  Might as well learn the signs and symptoms…

Susan Sarandon speaks out about Endometriosis at the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s Blossom Ball, an annual fundraiser

And Whoopi spoke at another EFA Blossom Ball event

I appreciate these women so very much for taking the time out of their busy schedules and speaking out about this disease.

Our Endo Awareness/Support Walk is in Six Months!

| Bloomin' Uterus
2015 Endo Walk group photo
2015 Bloomin’ Uterus Endo Awareness & Support Walk

The Bloomin’ Uterus Endometriosis Awareness & Support Walk is only six months away! Six months!

With that exciting realization, I followed up with the Endometriosis Foundation of America this morning to check on the progress of their 2014 financial audit.  As you are likely aware, any funds I raise for the walk are donated directly to the Endometriosis Foundation of America.  Gofundme, in partnership with Wepay, take their small percentage of each donation for a service fee, but the rest of the funds go to the EFA.  I don’t see one cent.  The same is true for any Bloomin’ Uterus t-shirt sales (these will go live again in late January 2016) – 100% of the profits are directly donated to the EFA.  I, again, do not see one penny.  I wanted to make sure that your (and my) donations actually went toward research, education, and awareness.  Not my pocket.  Not venue fees.  Just exactly where it should be going: education and research.

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Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
two white teddy bears hugging

Happy Friday!!!!

Today’s quote is by American author, Sean Covey (well known for his 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens books):

“You shouldn’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself.  Every so often, everyone needs to give themselves a big ol’ bear hug and treat themselves to some TLC.”

Yes, this goes for you. And you.  AND you.  And you there, hiding in the back.  This one’s for you, too.  And all of your friends.  Spread this one around like wildfire.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Yours,

Lisa

Truth, Theory, or Tall Tale?

| Bloomin' Uterus

Physical therapy may help improve Endometriosis pain, pelvic pain, and adhesion pain?

Theory

There is a lot of claims, research, and studies out there that physical therapy can help improve pain and symptoms associated with Endometriosis and adhesions.  More on this topic will follow in a few weeks on this blog.  But there are many, many, MANY patients and facilities stating that physical therapy has helped with their pain.  Whether it be pelvic floor therapy, the Wurn technique, or other PT, it may be an avenue of treatment you may wish to pursue.  Because it works for some women, but not all women, I’m classifying this as a theory.  And will most certainly be looking more into it in the very near future.

Have a great and pain-free day.

Yours, Lisa

Reader’s Choice : Letrozole & Endometriosis

| Bloomin' Uterus
Bottle of Letrozole
Photo courtesy of JLD

One of my local EndoWarriors has started a new medication to help with her Endometriosis pain and symptoms, based upon the recommendation of her new physician.  It’s Letrozole, which I had never heard of.  And she asked me if I had any info on it…so…now I’m inspired to do some research!

What is Letrozole?

Letrozole is the generic name for Femara, a drug classified as an aromatase inhibitor.  What is aromatase?  It’s an enzyme that is crucial in the creation of estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors have been FDA approved for treating breast cancer in post-menopausal patients.  However, it has piqued the interest of the medical community in controlling Endometriosis symptoms.  It is not yet FDA approved for this treatment, but is used as an off-label, accepted treatment among the medical community. As of today’s research, there are no indications that drug manufacturers are going to seek FDA approval for aromatase inhibitors to treat Endometriosis.

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