Focus On Your Finals, Not Your Pain

This week is the week that all high school students dread; finals week.  The one thing that is worse than finals, is having Endo pain during finals.  This year I was very lucky to not have pain during finals (so far), but all week I can't help thinking about what I felt last year during this week.  Last year I had to face finals when I had the absolute worst pain.  I would get so distracted and couldn't even think.  This year, I am so thankful that it wasn't a repeat of last year.  This year I have been able to focus on the actual exam and not how much pain I was in.  Studying has been a lot easier and I am not as freaked out as I was last year.  So, here are some tips for finals with Endo pain:

1. Try not to get too stressed out.  Just breathe and relax.
2. Go slow, just study for one class at a time.
3. When taking the exam, read the directions carefully. 
4. Study with friends so they can help distract you.
5. Make study guides.
6. Create a study binder for all your classes so you have all your study information in one place.
7. Ask your teachers for as much help as they can give you.
8. Remember, it's not the end of the world, just try your best!

New Year, Less Pain...Hopefully

Another year has come and gone and there is still no cure for Endo.  This could be discouraging, but for me, I know there will be one very soon.  2016 was a year of many ups and downs for me and my Endo.  Instead of focusing on the negative things about my Endo this year, I decided to make a list of all the positive things that happened with my Endo this year.

1. I went to Boston Children's Hospital and got to talk with my world renowned doctor to discuss the pain I was having.
2. The doctor I spoke to said he would say I almost definitely had Endo.
3. I got my first laparoscopic surgery to diagnose and temporarily destroy my Endometriosis.
4. I was almost completely pain free for a couple of months.
5. I have only had a couple of big flair ups since February when I got my surgery.
6. I am now able to have fun and not be miserable all the time.
7. I am able to participate in fun family activities that I was not able to before.
8. I do not have to text my parents everyday saying I need to come home from school.
9. I can say "yes" to a lot more activities with my friends. 
10. I have had an amazing support system of friends and family to help me through this difficult journey.

It is a new year which means a fresh start for all of us.  Leave the pain and the struggling in 2016, this year is going to be way better for all of you!  I am positive that this year people will know more about Endometriosis and researchers will be even closer to finding a cure for all of us.  Do not give up because this year WILL be better! Always remember, Endo is NOT the end!

GET THE SURGERY!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are having a happy and healthy holiday season.  In my last post I said I would give more information about the Endometriosis Laparoscopic surgery.  Getting this surgery is the only way to officially diagnose Endometriosis. I got the surgery almost a year ago now at Boston Children's Hospital.  Before the surgery, I was in so much pain everyday, now after the surgery, I only have a few days a month where I am in a lot of pain.  It is an easy surgery.  It is same day surgery, so you can go home a couple hours after it is done.  The doctors make two small 5 millimeter incisions.  One inside the bellybutton and the other just below the abdomen. The incisions leave a small scar, but nothing extremely noticeable.  The recovery only takes about three to four days, maybe longer depending on the person.  The second day I was in a lot of pain from the doctors probing the inside of my stomach.  Also when they do this surgery, the doctors pump your stomach with gas in order to see inside more clearly.  For females, in order for the gas to release, it has to travel up through your body and is released through the shoulders.  I would not say this part is painful, but it is definitely uncomfortable. Overall, the surgery helped my pain so much!  I one hundred percent would recommend getting it. The doctors were able to find a lot of Endo, then they were able to get rid of it.  Just remember, this surgery is not a cure, but it is the closest to a cure so far.  If you have anymore questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and remember, Endo is NOT the end!!

Frequently Asked Questions About Endo

Q: Why have I never heard about Endometriosis?

A: Endometriosis is a disease that effects 10% of women, but no one seems to talk about it. The truth is, there is not a lot of information about this disease but researchers are working, as you are reading this, to find an answer.

Q: How much does it hurt?

A: There is no way to describe the pain we are in everyday.  There is no way for anyone to understand what we go through and that is why people need to start talking about it more.

Q: Is there a cure for Endometriosis?
A: At the present time, there is no cure for Endo but there are long term treatments such as the birth control pill.  This pill does not take away the pain, but it regulates it so it is not as bad as it could be.

Q: Can't you just get out of your bed?

A: The truth is, some days I cannot and that is just the reality of having Endo. Some days are worse than others and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

Q: Will it get better?

A: Although I want to say yes to this question, I can't.  It probably will not get better and that is just something I have to live with.

Q: Why does it look like you are fine?

A: Endometriosis is an "invisible" disease meaning women who have it tend not to show how they are really feeling on the inside.

Q: How can I learn more about Endometriosis?

A: I have useful links down below that you can click on to read.

Q: How do you handle the pain?
A: It is really hard most of the time, but I try my best to do everything I can.  The thing that helps me the most is lying down and using my heating pad. If you have Endo, a heating pad is an essential item.

Q: What are the symptoms of Endometriosis?
A: The main symptom of Endo is pelvic pain, typically during a woman's menstrual cycle. There are other symptoms as well such as headaches, fatigue, body aches, etc.

Q: Would you recommend the Laparoscopic surgery? 

A: I would 100% recommend the surgery. Although it does not cure Endo, it helps immensely. It is an easy same day surgery and a short recovery. So if you have Endo and have not gotten this surgery, I would definitely research it.  I will be making a post about it soon so  I can share more information about it.

Ladies, Don't Let Endo Ruin Your Holiday Season

So, the holidays are coming up as you all know, this can be some of the hardest times to have Endo. Everyone is suppose to be happy and joyous but how are you supposed to do that if you have pain all the time? At least for me, my pain always comes at the absolute worst times and I just have to push through. During the holidays is one of  those times. I remember last year during the holidays, before I was diagnosed, I had a miserable time. My family celebrates Christmas and it is my favorite time of the year! Listening to Christmas music, driving around looking at lights, going ice skating, going shopping for gifts, ecetera are things I love to do. This season only comes one time a year and when you're in pain, you just feel like it's ruined. But don't worry ladies, even if you're in pain, you can still have fun during the holiday season. Here are some tips: don't go overboard with the sweets. The sugar can cause inflammation which might cause you're Endo to start hurting. Wear comfortable clothing so there's nothing pressing up against your stomach causing it to hurt. Finally, distract yourself by having fun with your family and friends. Don't ruin your holiday season by thinking you cannot leave the house. I hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday season! Thank you for reading and remember, Endo is NOT the end!

Relationships With Endo

Relationships with Endo are so hard. I have ruined several relationships because of my Endo. The worst part is, it isn't even the person, it is the chronic disease that makes you want to stay in bed all day.  It does not matter if it is a friendship or a romantic relationship, they can both be ruined because of Endo.  Like I said in my last post, women with Endo do not want to burden other people with their pain.  I know personally, whenever I see my friends and family, I always have a smile on my face even though I might not feel like smiling on the inside. Both friendships and romantic relationships take work, and with Endo, a lot of the time we do not have enough energy to even leave the house. What I have learned over the past year and a half is that, with Endo you realize what relationships are most important to you.  Since we have a lot less energy then the normal person, we are not going to waste our time on relationships that are not going anywhere.  I know I am only a teenager and haven't experienced a lot of relationships, but I have experienced enough to know that if you want to keep a relationship alive with Endo that it takes extra week.  If that person or people mean that much to you, then you will make it a priority to get out of bed and see them that day. It is also important to tell the people you are close to about your Endo so they know you are not just blowing them off. I know more than anyone that they most likely will not understand, but at least they know.  I very strongly encourage you to talk to the people close to you and not make the same mistakes I did.  Thank you for reading, stayed tuned for my next post, and remember, Endo is NOT the end!

Girl, Take Off That Mask!

How do you tell if someone has Endo by just looking at them? The answer to that question is you most likely can’t.  Women who suffer from Endo “put on a mask” so we don’t burden the people around us with our pain.  Also, not a lot of people are informed about this awful disease so how are they supposed to know how we are feeling.  I want to be able to take off that mask whenever it is possible.  I have friends and family that care about me and care how I feel.  Bottling up your emotions just makes everything worse.  Take it from me who has done it for so long.  I can go to school one day in so much pain, but my friends will never know because I have that mask on showing that I am fine.  If you show your emotions, the people that are close to you will want to help and do as much as they can to make you feel better.  I challenge all the Endo sufferers reading this to find that one person you know you can always count on to talk to.  It is so important to take off that mask.  You aren’t hurting anyone but yourself with that mask still on. So please, I encourage everyone suffering from Endo to take of that mask, including myself, and show people our emotions.  Thank you for reading and remember, Endo is not the end!