Signs & Symptoms of Endometriosis

February 5, 2015December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Many people born with a uterus have Endometriosis and don’t even know it. They may be cis-gender, transgender, non-binary, or others. And there have been rare instances of men developing Endometriosis, too. I sure didn’t know what it was until I received my diagnosis. I’d never even heard of it. Endo-what?

So what are the red flags of Endometriosis? If I only knew about this list prior to my diagnosis, I would have gone to my doctor years ago! I met every single one of these symptoms!! Every. Single. One.

You may have Endometriosis if you have any of the following issues:

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What Causes Endometriosis?

January 28, 2015December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

There are several theories as to what causes Endometriosis, but nobody truly knows the exact cause. It’s all theory, conjecture, guesses – which makes finding an effective treatment and cure so difficult for the medical community. So I figured I’d lay out the most common theories for you, just in case you were curious…like I was:

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Killer Cramps are NOT Normal

January 26, 2015December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

When I was a young girl, I was at an all-female Christian conference with my mother. All of the children were asked to sit in the front row, away from their mothers (I think so the parents could focus without distraction). Anxious to be away from my Mum, I flopped in half in my chair, arms around my waist, dangling my head between my knees so I could at least see my Mum’s shoes a few rows behind me. The woman who was speaking at the conference stopped what she was saying, and (in front of EVERYONE) placed her hand on my head and prayed that God would take away my period cramps…and also from that day forward, that I wouldn’t have any period cramps. Ever. I was devastated!! As a young girl in 6th grade, I hadn’t started my period yet and there were classmates sitting with me. Dev-a-stated. Anyway, needless to say, her prayers were not answered and my cramps were horrible, and I had a time in my life where I thought God was mad at me personally. Or punishing me for my reaction to that woman’s prayers. I’ve since let all of that go, but man, what a mess it made on a child’s psyche.

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Bookmarks, Business Cards, and Buttons!

January 3, 2015December 28, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

I figured since I’d be mailing out books from my Bloomin’ Uterus library, I would need bookmarks to send out, too!

So I went to Vista Print and had some business cards made up! I’m uber excited, but they’ll take a few weeks to get here…

I’m also hoping that my gyno will allow me to leave a small stack with the nurse of the office, that way when women with Endometriosis come into the office, they can maybe slip them a card. I know I was left flabbergasted and bewildered when I left after my diagnosis appointment. Maybe it would bring a little bit of peace to any new EndoSisters.

That’s not even the best part!!

I used Goodshop to log into Vista Print, and they’ll donate 4% of my purchase price to the Endometriosis Foundation of America! *woot* It’s like a double win!! So now I’m even MORE excited!

My uterus is bloomin’!

December 8, 2014December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

For any of you who are new to the page, and THANK YOU for following my musings, I wanted to explain a bit about this whole Bloomin’ Uterus thing. 🙂

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis after surgery this past June. My nurse once described Endometriosis like crab grass…it just lives there and grows and grows and grows, despite how much you cut it out. So I felt disgusting and gross on the inside…until I created the Bloomin’ Uterus! It’s a graphic that helps me feel better about what’s growin’ and goin’ on with my body. It was designed before I learned that the uterus likely doesn’t have anything to do with Endometriosis…But, it’s done. And I love it still.

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Tag Teamin’ Against Endo!

November 25, 2014December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

I cannot believe it!

When I was first diagnosed in June of this year with Endometriosis, I searched for art to make me feel more beautiful. I needed something… And I found “Sinta” on Etsy by GiGiMarie Stationary. After contacting the artist and asking if the painting could be placed onto a journal and explained why, we bonded : GiGi painted “Sinta” after she learned of her own diagnosis with Endometriosis. We all cope in our own ways, eh?

GiGi custom-ordered me a journal with her artwork on it. And her painting also hangs in my living room, a daily reminder that we are still beautiful. And we’ve been friends ever since.

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EndoInvasion : Stages

November 19, 2014December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

Our Uterus : center stage!

So there are four “Stages” of Endometriosis. It’s the doctors way of categorizing the depth of the EndoInvasion in our bodies. It was developed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Diagrams of the various stages can be in an article published in Fertility & Sterility back in 1997.

I didn’t know my Stage level and had to ask my doctor. My Endometriosis was Stage 4, the most severe it can get. Probably because it was brewing inside me undetected for nearly 2 decades. Ugly disease. (Update: As of June 6, 2019, I’ve now had a total of four excision surgeries; each one classified my illness as Stage 4).

The interesting things about Stages: the Stage Level doesn’t necessarily dictate our symptom or pain levels. Someone with Stage 1 can have severe pain, while someone with Stage 4 may not even realize it. Just one more mystery o’Endo.

So what are these Stages? Here ya go:

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Research Outsmarts Endometriosis

November 8, 2014December 31, 2020 | Bloomin' Uterus

For those of you with Endometriosis, The Feinstein Institute was commissioned by the Endometriosis Foundation of America to conduct a study of 200 women each year. It’s time to do something! We (the women!) provide either a blood sample or a saliva sample, as well as answer a few questions, and (optional) provide a sample of our menstrual blood. Some women are even able to provide samples that were biopsied in past surgeries, and can ask for the future surgery biopsied tissues to be handed over as well. Members of your family who do not have Endo may also participate. Again, trying to study all aspects of this disease…including those NOT affected.

The Feinstein Institute will process all of this data and research to help understand Endometriosis on a cellular and genetic level! One day there will be better treatments. Better answers. And a CURE! Steps like these will only lead to the right direction.

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Raising funds for the Endometriosis Foundation of America!

November 5, 2014January 8, 2021 | Bloomin' Uterus

Those of you who are familiar with the Bloomin’ Uterus already know what’s going on…the rest of you? 🙂 I am raising funds and awareness regarding Endometriosis. You can donate to my fundraising efforts (and obtain a Bloomin’ Uterus button!) on my Gofundme page. All the money goes straight to the Endometriosis Foundation of America. The fundraising campaign started and was quickly followed by an idea to make buttons of a design I created after learning I have Endometriosis.

The Bloomin’ Uterus was born! What’s this Bloomin’ Uterus business?!? My nurse once described Endometriosis like crab grass…it just lives there and grows and grows and grows, despite how much you cut it out. So I felt disgusting and gross on the inside…until I created the Bloomin’ Uterus! A fun coping mechanism, and spreading Endometriosis Awareness along the way.

1.5″ buttons

The buttons project been a huge hit! Not only with women who are suffering from Endometriosis, but also among their friends and families. May this become a badge of courage, an honor to wear. It’s been an incredible bonding experience for me and my fellow EndoWarriors. And it has taken my breath away.