Author: Bloomin' Uterus

Have you heard of scanxiety?

| Bloomin' Uterus

Scanxiety…?  It’s a term frequently used in the cancer community.  An overwhelming sense of anxiety before a scheduled scan to check if your cancer has come back.  Am I comparing cancer to Endometriosis? No.  I’m simply stealing their well-coined term.

For any of us Endometriosis sufferers who have had any type of relief either from surgery or medicine, there’s always an underlying fear that it will recur at any time.  The doctors tell us there is no cure.  They tell us it will grow back.  There are a few doctors and patients out there who swear that if you remove all of the Endometriosis during an excision surgery, it will not return. But even the best Endo surgeons out there have documented cases of their patients having recurrence of Endo growth.

Perhaps some get lucky and it doesn’t return.  But for many of us, it does.

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Feel Good Friday!

| Bloomin' Uterus
Sneakers in the grass and the words Just Breathe

It’s been a week since my last blog? A week?

Oh man, what a week it’s been…

My weekend was commandeered with an Endo pain flare-up.

My Jeep had a window smashed and a bag stolen.  It will take 2 weeks for a new window to be installed.

Work has been incredibly busy.

I’m studying for a big exam coming up.

Ugh.  And this is the first time I have a moment to even think about the Bloomin’ Uterus blog.  I’ve missed this release.  But, today…today is Feel Good Friday and I couldn’t miss it!

Today’s quote is by Dr. Steve Maraboli, a life coach and motivational speaker:

“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.”

He’s right.  There’s absolutely nothing I can do about getting the window any faster.  There’s nothing I can do that I haven’t already done about the bag, it’s missing contents, or replacing them.  There’s nothing I can do about the attitudes and habits of bad people who feel the need to violate other people’s things.

I can continue to study for my exam.  And I can get through today.

We’ve made it to another Friday. The end of the week.  The beginning of the weekend.  Take a deep breath. And let it all go.

*whew*

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus

Today’s quote is by an unknown person.  A stranger.  An anonymous shadow.

Total self-esteem requires total and unconditional acceptance of yourself. You are a unique and worthy individual, regardless of your mistakes, defeats and failures, despite what others may think, say or feel about you or your behavior. If you truly accept and love yourself, you won’t have a driving need for attention and approval. Self-esteem is a genuine love of self. Stop all adverse value judging of yourself. Stop accepting the adverse value judgments of others. Purge yourself of all condemnation, shame, blame, guilt & remorse.

And it’s meant for you to read. Yes, you.  Let these words sink in.  And begin to embrace you for who you are.  Don’t let the bad thoughts, judgments, and shame drag you down into the muck.  Feel free to be yourself.  And love yourself.

Cataracts? …

| Bloomin' Uterus
Cataract

So today I had my two-year eye exam.  You know: you go in ever two years to have your eyes checked and your eyeglass prescription updated.

About 8 years ago I learned that I have a benign cataract in my left eye, located just to the outside of my pupil.  My doctor back then told me it’s benign, it doesn’t grow, it just sits there a casts a shadow.  However, it’s not visible to me, and it will never affect my eye sight.  She surmised I was born with it : it may be due to my premature birth (I was 3 1/2 months early) and have likely had it my entire life.  Every two years since, I’d been told by the next doctor that I had a benign cataract on my left eye, and that it was just sitting there, doing nothing.

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Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus

So here we are, at another Friday (already?!)!  And you know what that means! A little bit of uplifting, feel goods to get you through your weekend.

Today’s quote is by musician, Criss Jami:

“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.”

This is so very true!  Hang in there, friends!  And know that it is okay to open yourself up to others and let them in…

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Lisa

Life After Lupron

| Bloomin' Uterus
Syringe labeled Lupron Depot

So once or twice a month, our little group of EndoSisters gets together for food, drinks, hugs, laughter, tears, and support.  Tonight was one such meeting.  And they’re always amazing, regardless of how many, or how few, people are able to attend.

One of my fellow EndoWarriors brought up an incredible question this evening, which inspires tonight’s blog:

Why isn’t there more info out there about life AFTER Lupron Depot?  There’s plenty out there about life before and during, but not after.

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Truth, Theory, or Tall Tale?

| Bloomin' Uterus
A doctor wearing goggles and a stethoscope

Any gynecologist can surgically remove Endometriosis.

TallTale

Endometriosis is largely considered a gynecological disease.  So it makes sense that your gynecologist would be the one to suspect it, open you up, remove, and diagnose the disease.  Right?  Wrong.

Although some of us have been lucky enough to have gynecologists who are skilled Endo excision surgeons; many women are not.  Some physicians will never even suspect Endo, or claim it’s “all in your head,” denying any further diagnostic tests or studies.  Some gynecologists simply will not perform a laparoscopic surgery, claiming a continuous regimen of pain pills and injections will suffice to mask the pain.  Others will open you up to confirm the presence of the disease, only to sew you back up and refer you to a “qualified surgeon” for the removal of any Endo and/or adhesions.

Not all doctors are created equal.  And it’s unfortunate.  And not all people with Endo have it in the same spot.

Your gynecologist or excision surgeon may be able to remove Endo from your pelvic area and some of your torso; however, if Endo is found in other locations such as the lung, spine, or brain, you’ll be referred to a surgeon specializing in those areas of the body.  It is not purely a gynecological disease.

It is purely an insane mess.

Feel Good Friday!

| Bloomin' Uterus
A stamp that reads Fragile

We made it to another Friday!! *woohoo*

Today’s Feel Good quote is by British Author, John Brunner:

“I’m myself, not a label.”

I love this!  I’ve always hated labels:

I’m fat. I’m skinny.

I’m a leader.  I’m a follower.

I’m popular. I’m alone.

I’m amazing.  I’m mediocre.

I’m not good enough.  I’m too good for this.

I’m a victim.  I’m a survivor.

I’m strong.  I’m weak.

I am all of these things.  And none of these things.

Words have power.  And labels limit, influence, and affect us.  Let them go.  Let them shed away.

I’m just me.  Plain and simple : me.

If you can embrace and love you for you, and not hang onto labels, you may just okay with who you are.  You are you.  And people love you for you.  And you can love you, too.  Just as you are.

Have a wonderful weekend, and for you American readers : a safe and happy Fourth!

Yours, Lisa

So…this just happened…

| Bloomin' Uterus
download

Two weeks ago a paper was published in the Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica journal.  The first reported case of an Endometrioma in a dog.  A German Shepherd, to be precise.  Now don’t be too surprised; primates have been found to develope endometriosis: gorillas, monkeys, and baboons.  But this is the first time captured in literature that an animal has developed an Endometrioma.  What’s that?  A blood-filled cyst consistent with Endometriosis, sometimes referred to as a Chocolate Cyst.

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