Day 1 & 2 of awareness month

I am 1 in 10 women #1in10 #176millionwomen

March 01st 2018 is the start of #endometriosisawarenessmonth and the #theendophotochallenge2018 to raise awareness.

I am 1 in 10 women who have this invisible disease. I am also 1 out of 176 million globally. I've been living with my diagnosis since age 18 but my symptoms started right around 11 years old.

My Mum had it too as did all of her Sister's and my Maternal Grandmother. Nearly all had hysterectomies based on Doctors advice back then that it would "cure" them.
I have Stage IV Endometriosis, which means it has spread beyond my womb and sticks to other organs, in my case my bowel, bladder and ovaries.

It effects every aspect of my daily life. Just because I look fine doesn't mean that I am.
Spread love, hope and support please. 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛 I also have Adenomyosis which is Endo that grows in the muscular walls of the womb. The only way to rid my body of this is a hysterectomy.
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 However a hysterectomy is NOT a cure for Endometriosis. Neither is PREGNANCY.

THERE IS NO CURE!
#endochallenge #endoaware #endolife #awareness #1in10 #176millionwomen #marchisendoawarenessmonth #notjustabadperiod #EducateYourself #spreadawareness #infertility #ovulation #stageivendo #chronicillness #invisibleillness #endopain #endosymptoms #supporteachother #dontbeignorant #askmeaboutmyendo






Day 2 of #theendophotochallenge2018

#1in10 #theendophotochallenge2018 👆 Barely touches on how Endometriosis affects my daily life.
Most of the time I am restricted to my house because of the daily pain. The pain meds make me drowsy and sleeping when I can, as I'm a chronic insomniac, is the only way to escape the pain for a short while.

Endo is not just confined to the womb. It can and does grow outside, sticking to other organs like the appendix, gallbladder, bowels, bladder and sometimes the lungs.

It can cause Infertility which can be and is heartbreaking. It forces you to cancel plans because there is no predicting the flares and honestly I've lost count of the friends I've lost along the way due to my condition. Even certain members of my family never understood what I was going through. One actually thought that I was getting more attention when I was diagnosed and got jealous. It can destroy relationships. There is no end to the suffering.
The illness has been compared by my specialist in August 2017 to Cancer. Others have compared the pain to labour. We need more understanding about our invisible condition. If you said that you had Cancer you'd get more help and support than when you tell people you have Endo and that comes from a lack of knowledge.
We need to shout and scream so young girls can be diagnosed as quickly as possible. We need science to find a treatment that works without throwing us into a false menopause or raising our blood pressure, giving us searing migraines, leg cramps, weight gain, mood swings, black outs etc.

Please educate yourself and if you suspect your daughter, Sister cousin, girlfriend partner or wife may have it get to your G.P and get the ball rolling.

Ladies, keeping a diary of your cycles proves very useful when going for your consultations.

There are apps out now that make it a lot easier to track your period, mark down how many days, how long or short your cycle is and how bad your pain levels are etc. You'll find them for free in your app store. Android or IPhone.
Spread awareness, hope and support those who need it. 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.

memegenerator.net

Sleep is overrated right? I did manage to drift off around 3:00 a.m but then woke up just after 4:15 a.m and could not sleep. I had a pillow under my legs as they kept cramping all night. My calves are literally so sore when I'm moving. Even having then elevated my ankles hurt and then the spasms shoot straight up  my calves. Then there's the thigh pain. Literally, a lot of people don't realise the other aches and pains that get triggered when you're having a flare up. My shoulders feel like I have a bag of potatoes strapped to my bag, especially between the shoulder blades. Tender breasts, not to mention a lovely heat rash under them which I'm currently staving off with  Zinc Oxide.

To keep with my promise I made this year below you'll find three photo's of me over the course of this morning. Honestly, I've had a little cry because the pain has just floored me. My back, pelvic area, ovaries, abdomen, just everything is so sore. I'm hoping that this all just means that my body is still regulating itself as I am off treatment at the moment.

Feeling completely overwhelmed 8:00 a.m

Meltdown over. 

Exhausted and fed up 9:15 a.m

Please, I just need a little break 10:43a.m

OK, I had to take a break there. Using my breathing techniques after I had a little outburst. Sometimes, although I try to stay positive in my mind my situation just drowns me so releasing that energy and letting it go rather than bottling it up is the best way I've found to deal when this happens. It's not a regular occurance because I do tend to let things build in my head (which I'm working on) but dealing with it, just recognizing the emotions I feel is a much healthier way of coping.

So I am once again partially horizontal, attempting to study but honestly can't concentrate. Irritated and frustrated but I am reminded time and time again that it's only temporary. Just like a storm this too shall pass.
Meanwhile, I will read, try to nap and hope I feel a bit better later on. Looking forward to seeing my Mum this evening. The weather is looking good enough for a BBQ and of course the World Cup final is on. Mum is up for Germany, Rodney Argentina so that in itself will be entertaining for me.

Summery blue toenails. Cramped and swollen legs elevated now.

My wonderful boyfriend Rodney is starting his holidays today and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time together. I don't care if it rains.

Wishing you all a lovely, restful Sunday. Love to my endo Sisters and thank you for all of your kind words and support.

XxxX

Even the orchid has an Endo face...

pinterst.com

During the night the pain began. Slowly at first, just a small ache. Nothing to moan about. Gradually, the pain increases. I can feel it right down to my ankles which are now swollen. I elevate my legs for a time before attempting to go about my day. I think I manage pretty well, getting study done, some household chores and I even manage to gett my wall art up before I start feeling that overwhelming tiredness. The fatigue appears as if from nowhere, yet I know it's been building. My legs are sore and my ovaries are beginning to pull. It's time to get my water, pillows and a nice cup of tea. I settle in, as comfortable as I can get and manage to write up an assignment.

ladycarehealth.com (I'll let you know if this works for me)

As I am writing this post I am somewhat horizontal, packed up with pillows and cushions to keep my legs elevated (courtesy of Rodney). Dinner has just been made, which I can't even eat because I'm so bloated and uncomfortable there just isn't any appetite there. A movie "Afterlife" (fairly decent) is about to go on before we watch Brazil -v- Holland (I've a soft spot for the Dutch) play for third place in the World Cup, which of course they win.I have taken painkillers of course but we're all used to our usual merrigoround with Endo. Keeping myself calm and trying to remain relaxed is the key for me here so the pain doesn't take hold.

strikerno9.blogspot.com

Hoping to have a BBQ tomorrow, with my Mum coming over to watch the final game of the World Cup with us (Germany -v- Argentina, Ozil -v- Messi,) I've promised Rodney I'll cheer for Argentina although if Ozil does score I will be quite pleased. Let's hope it's a fair and intersting game.

Being completely restless I decided to watch "Cracks" after falling in love with Eva Green as you do when you watch Penny Dreadful.

thegeekiary.com

I must say she's only continued to get better with each role I've seen her in.Yes, I know I'm not really discussing Endo here but one can only attempt to describe pain so much until it becomes upsetting. I found the following on twitter and just had to share it with you lovely ladies.

(twitter.com)

I will wrap this ramble up with a goodnight to you all as the clock approaches 1:00 a.m. Beyond tired now I will head to bed, sit the pillow under my legs and read my latest JD. Robb until sleep comes. 

Till tomorrow, football and hopefully a less painful day.

XxxX

Hope, strength and an Endoplation

Many of you are trying to conceive, some of you may have already so congratulations. For the rest who wonder if we'll ever experience that particular joy my advice is to keep your chin up. Almost every other day I see women on my support groups announcing their pregnancies and continuing to support and wish the rest of us luck. There is one thing we can all hold onto through our difficult times whether or not your aim is to become pregnant. There still remains;

The bonds we have created because of and in a way despite this illness are incredibly strong. Most of us will never meet face to face but we outline the most intimate details of our lives. Why? Because it's not giving out, complaining or moaning. Simply swapping information with someone who is going through or has gone through what you may be experiencing at that particular point in their life. However, sometimes explaining to people can be a right pain. How do you make others understand?


Whilst browsing through my usual support group pages I came across this photo and thought I'd share it on with you all. It gives a really good explanation of Endo or Endoplation if you will, what we go through and comes very close I think to describing how it feels. Please, take a moment to read it, share with your partner or familial support. Maybe even that friend who doesn't quite "get it". I believe this is a very powerful statement and by educating people we can hope to not only create awareness but perhaps even to help some other women get diagnosed. Who knows?

Ours is a battle. A constant, uphill struggle. Yet many of the women I have met with this illness are among the strongest I know. We can cope with a lot more than we give ourselves credit for and while the emotional pain of infertility can't be overlooked we strive to fight on.

Love to my Endo Sister's as always,

XxxX