BOOK REVIEW: Living with Endometriosis by Samantha Bowick

Recently I've been reading a lot of books about endometriosis (more book reviews coming soon) to better inform and educate myself about the disease I live with every day. I think it is so important for us to do our own research about this disease because unfortunately there isn't a lot of information out there and we can't always trust everything our doctors say. Living with Endometriosis: The Complete Guide to Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment Options by Samantha Bowick is different from any other endometriosis book I have read because Bowick isn't a doctor, she is a real woman who suffers from endometriosis, and I think that makes her more qualified to share her life with endo than any doctor. 

Reading about endometriosis from a sufferer's perspective is so different than reading a book by doctors. The books I have read written by doctors feel impersonal and like they are just stating one fact after another. Bowick makes sure her audience knows she is not a doctor and reiterates multiple times that just because a treatment worked or didn't work for her, that doesn't mean everyone will have the same experience, which I believe is something doctors lack when writing about this disease.

Bowick begins her book by telling her endometriosis story to ensure the endo sufferers reading her book do not feel like they are alone. After she tells her story, she has nine more chapters: Endometriosis Explained, Surgical Treatment Options, Non-Surgical Treatment Options, Alternative Medicine Options, How to Find the Right Doctor, Lifestyle Changes, Related Illnesses, How Endometriosis Affects Those Around Us, and Awareness. I could easily tell that each chapter was thoroughly researched and they were all extremely informative. A little touch the Bowick added that made the book so much for personal for me was sharing her experiences with everything she talked about. This is one of the aspects that makes her book more informative than a doctors book because doctors cannot contribute those real-life experiences like Bowick can. 

If you are an endometriosis sufferer or have a loved one who is, I 100% recommend this book! It is the perfect mixture of informative and personal that makes an endo sufferer, like me, feel not so alone and that there are many things I can do for myself to make my quality of life the best it can be. If you read this book, you will see that Bowick's endo journey was anything but easy and she still persevered and used her knowledge to help other women like her, so thank you, Samantha!  

SHARING YOUR ENDO STORIES: Part 2 Ellie

“Hi I'm Ellie, I'm 24. I was 12 years old when I started my period and 13 years old when I started on the pill. For me starting the pill was because my periods made me pass out in pain. So to start the pill was such a relief. Yet regardless of the pill, my story didn't end. Unfortunately, due to other health conditions, my concerns for my abdominal pain was never in the limelight. As a result, it was only at age 21 where I learned about endometriosis. Despite all my symptoms. Fast forward and I still have a journey to go down with endometriosis. Though the relief to know what it is, is amazing! I'm no longer on the pill. However, that has meant a year of bleeding - For example, I have spent the last 2 months with only 3 days where I wasn't bleeding (and heavily). I even ended up in A&E as a result. Due to everything I have been through and are going through. I find it immensely important to spread the word. Endometriosis is 1 in 10. Yet in the medical world, it still falls through the cracks. But I will fight until our voices for endometriosis are heard and the help we need is found!” -Chronic Illness Blogger 

Instagram: @lloydielife

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Chronic Illness Blogger!

SHARING YOUR ENDO STORIES: Part 3 Hannah

“Hi, I’m Hannah and I’m 20 years old! When I was 11 years old I got my first period. I was so excited to tell my mom that I was “finally was a woman”, not knowing what was coming next. All throughout middle school I was handling everything fine and had no issues. When I began high-school I started to have the worst pain of my life when my periods would come. I would stay home from school curled up in bed crying with my heating pad on the highest setting. Sometimes I would become physically ill and vomit, while also almost passing out. I did not start birth control until the summer before my freshman year of college, therefore battling endometriosis on its own for 4 years. My doctors always told me it was “bad periods that I needed to learn to power through.” I just knew this wasn’t right.  Once I started on the pill things were okay, but I was still held back from living a normal life. Next, we tried the implant Nexplanon. This was a big fail. I ended up having my period for 4 months straight, terrible! I had that removed. Finally a year ago in May, I was referred to a surgeon. I had my referral and a week later he was ready for surgery. Of course, endometriosis was found. An IUD was put in place and I was started on Orilissa, putting me into medically induced menopause. I am currently in the best place I have been in years. I no longer have chronic pain every day and I am able to do everything I enjoy without worrying if I will need to go home and relax from all the pain. Of course, I always have concerns about my future and starting a family, but one day at a time I feel stronger and better than ever. If you or anyone you know is struggling please do not hesitate to reach out! I am always willing to talk! I am currently in nursing school while forever battling endometriosis, so I have some extra knowledge and would be delighted to help anyone in any way I can!” - Hannah

Instagram: @hannah.cassidyy

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Hannah! Your future patients are so lucky to have your special knowledge of Endometriosis! 

SHARING YOUR ENDO STORIES: Part 1 Amrita

“From the time I got my period at the age of 12, everything was normal. I’d have regular periods with hardly any pain or discomfort but life was normal. In June of 2011 at the age of 19, I started experiencing extremely irregular, heavy periods. Over the next few months, they became even more irregular. I experienced sometimes 3 weeks of continuous bleeding and excruciating pain followed by a few days of relief and then it would begin all over again. After the 3rd time in less than a month, I approached my mom who is a nurse, and told her what was happening to me. She suggested we go to my family doctor. From there began 7 years of frequent visits to the doctor with the same complaints- excessive bleeding and debilitating pain. Countless ultrasounds and scans later, not a single thing showed up beside a few cysts here and there. She tried multiple different forms of birth control in an effort to stop the bleeding and give my body a chance to rest. With all the different changes also came many side effects. Dizziness, fatigue, fainting spells, nausea, hair loss..you name it. 7 years of speculations later, we decided to get a second opinion in the fall of 2017 when my illness was getting to an all-time low. I spent countless days calling out of work and laying in bed. After 3 months off of work and multiple ER trips with the same result, “everything looks good. Maybe just a rupture” MRI, CT, and ultrasound scans. My new doctor suggested a laparoscopy. In March of 2018, I had my first laparoscopy where they found endometriosis as well as a deviated septum. I had about a year of relief before things started going downhill again at the beginning of this year. Two trips to the ER later only more excruciating pain than ever before. I was prescribed Orissa but after doing my research have since stopped. I’ve now been bedridden for weeks at a time between Feb and present-day and awaiting my second laparoscopic procedure. I currently have lost muscle strength in both of my legs from being bedridden and am struggling to live even simple quarantine life with severe bleeding, back, and muscle pain. Life has and will never be the same before endometriosis took over and affected my ability to do the most mundane tasks. don’t stop asking questions and demanding answers. Only you know how you feel.” - Amrita 

Instagram: @ritzvn

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Amrita! You are so inspiring to the Endo community! Please feel free to reach out to me on my Instagram (@endoisnottheendblog) if you want to share YOUR Endo story on my platform! 

HOW TO HELP: Full List of BLM Resources (SHARE!)

This week I decided to take a break from the endo content because there are more important things going on. I have seen a lot of different links and other content across all social media on how to help the Black Lives Matter movement and I thought it would be nice to have them all in one place. This is a world issue and it takes people from all backgrounds fighting for the common goal to make a difference. I strongly encourage you to share this post and do what you can to help the BLM movement. If you don't have the ability to give money, there are so many other ways to help! There are many things we all can do and if we all choose things off this list, we can start to make a difference.

ALL BLM RESOURCES: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/?fbclid=IwAR0Sw4sPWpxDI3tORdHjznp_mLD5kJivrZVnXcPo70bVbd-PH3Vb_FjYPR0

CAMPAIGN ZERO: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/?fbclid=IwAR0u57xhD7nN0c4MIIVadqbDVx_ouQL0qvQNMrKYLsj0T_5Sd8_g1AvTH-g

SCAFFOLDED ANTI-RACIST RESOURCES: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR3y0s7vXEjsX0MNjXs_q4cGR_wk7tGHFsfY7kt6uUAE2-UU89JtAw2dB-k

NATIONAL RESOURCES LIST: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CjZMORRVuv-I-qo4B0YfmOTqIOa3GUS207t5iuLZmyA/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR2R_7rstuCBml_kRn_wu0jfR-IZaENUngAJb77Y298Sxm1urxo8litO5uQ

DONATIONS:

ALCU: https://www.aclu.org/?fbclid=IwAR0Qt_m4TInwjQmlhAhz49AC4LuwHzHyF2ahl3n7Sw1HC1Xq-ZRW4LH3Er4

RECLAIM THE BLOCK: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2?fbclid=IwAR0HlslX9-mhz47ZxtE6z2I1-L6_bm2dDxV8SptntbI1yha2xV0EpsDMw1I

RUN WITH MAUD (AHMAUD ARBERY): https://www.runwithmaud.com

JUSTICE FOR BREONNA: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor?fbclid=IwAR28k8mUryon4PWg3-I77G9IuNlI-aTnS_Kq_sEqdNgmF6ocYvMgw6tAuEY

THE BAIL PROJECT: https://bailproject.org/?fbclid=IwAR0geSABqyKGMaLzBxMF3VZUlHZxQ5JnLLroUnTh_fbSfjcMlkF-Hh2HaUI

CAMPAIGN ZERO: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/?fbclid=IwAR0B4LSaT_iUvyla09kepeXWBT0eKAIfnE_yCZX3LY9TnTrbhs-ubU2dgG4#vision

PROTESTS: If you are interested in protesting, you can easily search protests near you on social media or the internet.

BOSTON ACTIVIST CALENDAR: https://www.facebook.com/ActivistCalendar/?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBCxavm9SAy_dLY7pPYnpwwndUZVIKZUW-WHLF12pxWmjr2OSRevZsqtSY82uGZyuoOnpHxg3w7FYPq&fref=mentions

SIGNING PETITIONS:

JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22414602_en-US%3Av7&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial

JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22077589_en-US%3Av4&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial

JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD ARBERY: https://www.change.org/p/liberty-county-distric-attorney-justice-for-ahmaud-arbery?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_21863962_en-GB%3Av1&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial

HANDS UP ACT: https://www.change.org/p/us-senate-hands-up-act?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_14077526_en-US%3Av2&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial

EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN ON RACISM THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM: https://www.change.org/p/board-of-education-educating-our-children-to-understanding-racism?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22511331_en-US%3Av8&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial

CHARGE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS WITH MURDER: https://www.change.org/p/change-org-the-minneapolis-police-officers-to-be-charged-for-murder-after-killing-innocent-black-man?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22409600_en-US%3Av3&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial

RENAME GEORGE S. BENSON AUDITORIUM: https://www.change.org/p/harding-university-rename-the-george-s-benson-auditorium?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22567074_en-US%3Av7&recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&pt=AVBldGl0aW9uAKJYWAEAAAAAXtk%2Fz99S2iUzMGFhOGNlMw%3D%3D

CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGAL CONDEMNATION OF POLICE BRUTALITY: https://www.change.org/p/congress-the-senate-police-brutality?recruiter=1055411747&recruited_by_id=dffbe860-6980-11ea-8949-dfbf4a525933&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&pt=AVBldGl0aW9uAPLyVwEAAAAAXtlANasRxuhlOGZhNjdhNQ%3D%3D

READING LIST TO EDUCATE OURSELVES:

• Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh (https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf)
• Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (READ ANY AND ALL JAMES BALDWIN!!!!)
• Citizen by Claudia Rankine
• Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
• Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo 
• Road Map for Revolutionaries by Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin, and Jamia Wilson 
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
• Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 
• Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde
• Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
• They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, And A New Era In America’s Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir
• Book by Asha Bandele and Patrisse Cullors
• Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi
• This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race by Jesmyn Ward
• White Rage by Carol Anderson
• Conversations in Black: On Politics, Power and Leadership by Ed Gordon 
• An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz 
• Chokehold: Policing Black Men by Paul Butler 
• What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays by Damon Young
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Tatum
• I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
• Whistling Vivaldi by Claude Steel
• White Awake by Daniel Hill

WATCH LIST TO EDUCATE OURSELVES:

• When They See Us - Netflix
• 13th - Netflix (I had to watch this for my sociology class and highly recommend it!)
• See You Yesterday - Netflix
• American Son - Netflix
• Dear White People - Netflix
• If Beale Street Could Talk - Hulu
• The Hate U Give - Hulu
• Little Fire Everywhere - Hulu
• Just Mercy - Amazon Prime (Streaming for free thru June)
• Black Power Mixtape
• Clemency
• Fruitvale Station
• I Am Not Your Negro - Kanopy & Prime Video
• Selma
• Green Book
• Hidden Figures
• Lee Daniels: The Butler
• Mudbound
• Fences
• The Color Purple
• 12 Years a Slave
• 42
• Blackkklansmen
• Moonlight (HAPPY PRIDE MONTH Y'ALL)
• The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (HAPPY PRIDE MONTH Y'ALL) 
• Us
• Get Out

TUNE IN LIST TO EDUCATE OURSELVES:

• 1619 - NYT, Spotify
• About Race - https://www.showaboutrace.com/
• Seeing White - Spotify
• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast - Spotify
• Code Switch - Spotify, NPR
• The Diversity Gap - Spotify
• Intersectionality Matters - Spotify
• Pod for the Cause - Spotify, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
• Pod Save The People - Spotify

ORGANIZATIONS TO FOLLOW AND BLACK VOICES TO TUNE INTO: 

NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/?fbclid=IwAR1BxC_7u-BhZwGivJ5awS8vUrzdPoCDE5btuYllfa0rPGcPAKMVg5UmBHU

THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS: https://civilrights.org/?fbclid=IwAR1j1mtO4cL6jSFiHbThv2J9c6lK82TH9UdjtAQxH4KtpsUFRfOpPIfz4CU

COLOR OF CHANGE: https://colorofchange.org/?fbclid=IwAR14dvivsvE0kcUupeGwczedaU7hjZlkZvYHPjehAp8I2CBFMGK3JqMFoxQ

EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: https://eji.org/?fbclid=IwAR1btNd_1J_fM-j7RK1zzZe4xwdEiSvBRtH0QcTQrYpJyoC8SWUO72-fudM

UNITED WE DREAM: https://unitedwedream.org/?fbclid=IwAR0HwyrDafgH2GgmRCMf6X5O4d7ONzxhDiirSamMjb6btNkeTP9lLiaRJ9Y

SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: https://www.instagram.com/showingupforracialjustice/?hl=en&fbclid=IwAR2h20rK-C7CTKVhx7Y8Y2mALpfO8i2enlgmRhFNWiz3aAxl84bQFCsaQho

VOICES:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CA6uC66gF_q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&fbclid=IwAR2HLTj2odgBw5sp3HaOAmVoVpHj01NU-wHkgcVeS65MSAdPtRcGO9kq_W4

https://www.bet.com/news/national/2020/03/12/future-40-kenidra-woods-menta-health-warrior.html?fbclid=IwAR1CtI_nNftum_ESdqTkFtaCWPlFGz1QYfI5TmW0cS9IZClg2dticF-0D2E

MAKING PHONE CALLS/TEXTING/SENDING EMAILS:

TEXT:

• FLOYD to 55-156
• JUSTICE to 668366
• ENOUGH to 55156

CALL:

• Leave a message for Louisville Mayor and demand Justice for Breonna Taylor - (502)574-2003
• This link provides step-by-step information on how to contact your local government to discuss racial justice in your area and to help you express to your Reps what you want to see and what legislation they should be pushing for and introducing: https://www.vice.com/…/basic-guide-to-finding-and-calling-y… 

EMAIL: 

• Email your local superintendent and principals to see what sort of racial justice curriculum is in place in your local school and have a conversation about how that can change to be more inclusive and helpful.

There are so many ways to help the Black Lives Matter movement and it is up to all of us to do our part to create a safe, just, and compasstionate country. DON'T WAIT, DO YOUR PART TODAY!!

What I’ve Been Watching

I’m the type of person that needs a lot of alone time to relax and unwind and I like to do that by watching TV shows. It helps me escape from reality for a little bit and  have time to relax during this stressful time. Today I thought I’d tell you all the shows I’ve been watching during quarantine and maybe help you if you need any suggestions!

• One Tree Hill (Hulu): I started watching this show while still at college then finished it after being sent home. It’s a great coming of age, teenage drama if you like those! 
• The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Hulu): I always remember seeing commercials for this when I was younger, but I wasn’t old enough to watch it. It’s another great coming of age drama featuring a young Shailene Woodley.  
• Veep (Hulu, HBO): This show is a hilarious comedy featuring the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the Vice President of the United States. This is a great show if you like politics (like me) and want a really good laugh (it is a little raunchy though)!
• Big Little Lies (Hulu, HBO): At the beginning of quarantine my mom ordered the Big Little Lies book and loved it so she recommended it to me. I’m working on reading the book right now, but I’m pretty far into it so we started watching the first few episodes of the show. This show has a rockstar cast of amazing A-List actresses that are perfect in their roles!
• The Wonder Years (Hulu): My family was looking for an old sitcom to watch since all of the current TV shows were we watching had to stop filming. My parents watched this show when they were younger and loved it and now my siblings and I love it too! This show proves to be a great choice for all ages to enjoy! 
• Seinfeld (Hulu): My parents and I started watching this after my little brother goes to bed and it’s a great comedy! My parents watched this show when it was on TV, but I love that I get to watch it for the first time with them. 
• How I Met Your Mother (Hulu): I’ve already watched this show many times, but it never fails to make me laugh and lift my spirits! 
• Grey’s Anatomy (Netflix): Last but not least, the show I’ve been most obsessed with during quarantine. My mom has been watching Grey’s for years and I’ve seen a lot of the of the more recent episodes, but I recently got a Netflix account and this was the first show I wanted to watch. I started watching Grey’s last Thursday and I’m already half way through season four, so you could say I’m obsessed and I 100% recommend! 

Good Things About Quarantining with Endometriosis

This may be an unpopular opinion, but quarantining with Endometriosis is not that bad. Having a chronic disease makes you miss out on a lot of things because you never know when you're going to have a bad day. To lift spirits during this hard time, I put together a list of positives to focus on rather than negatives when it comes to having a chronic illness during a global pandemic:

• You get to work or do school from home!
• Many people with Endo have to miss work or school because they are in too much pain, but now it's a lot easier since we don't have to leave our houses.
• You can take a break whenever you want!
• I'm not sure about those who are working from home, but as a college student doing school at home, I can pretty much take a break whenever I need it which is really nice.
• You get to wear whatever you want!
• Having Endo, I hate wearing restricting pants like jeans or work pants, but even if you're on camera, no one can see you're wearing pajamas on the bottom!
• You don't have to feel bad about not making/canceling plans with people!
• I always feel terrible when I can't do things with my friends, but no one is supposed to be doing anything right now so I don't have to worry about it!
• You can do your work laying in bed!
• I don't know about the rest of you, but I have done a lot of homework in bed recently (which isn't necessarily the best thing) but it is definitely nice when sitting in the same position all day causes you a lot of pain.
• You don't have to feel pressure to have your hair and face all done up every day!
• I don't know about you, but I have barely worn makeup at all during this time at home and my skin loves it!
• You don't have to feel bad for taking time for yourself!
• For me, I always feel bad when I take time for myself to relax and destress, but I know that is something my body needs dealing with a chronic illness, so this is a great time to focus on yourself, whatever that entails. 

I know it's hard to not focus on the negatives and hardships during this time, but maybe this was meant to happen so everyone can slow done and appreciate the little things in life and take care of themselves.