#Day7 #Endometriosis #photochallenge2015 @endohappy
The worst thing about #endometriosis, is not about the @pain, you can learn to survive the Pain, the #worst thing is letting those close to me down at the last moment.
This is the one thing I can’t learn to survive is disappointing those closet to me.
#Day7 #endometriosis #photochallenge2015
#Friends, no matter what #endometriosis throws at me these guys are always there to support me
#Endometriosis #photochallenge2015 @fitchickwithendo
Day 3 – EVERYDAY I wake up , put on that smile to hide the true face of Endometriosis, hiding I am broken and out of order. Everyday I hold on to #hope, hold on for the pain to end
#Endometriosis #photochallenge2015 @endohappy
It took 24years to be diagnosed with #endometriosis. Over the years my periods got worse, the pain got more and more intense, lasting longer and longer. In 2010 GP and hospital visits were getting more frequent, every time I was eating I was being sick. It took an emergency visit to hospital and my partner demanding that action was taken as he had enough of the medical profession fobbing me off. In June 2011 I had emergency surgery after a week in hospital, I had a midline incision due a large cyst wrapped around my left ovary which had also entwined into my bowel. I lost my left ovary along with removal of Endometriosis. I was diagnosed with Stage4 endometriosis
#Day2, #endometriosisawarenessmonth
#Happy. What makes me happy is the quality time spent with my partner and my furbaby, Sonny. These 2 are with me through thick and thin, and time with them both is precious to me. Having #endometriosis has made me so much stronger that no matter what I will alway #fightlikeagirl @fitchickwithendo #photochallenge2015
#Day2 #Endometriosis #photochallenge2015. I first started to show signs of Endometriosis at the early age of 11 years old. The pain was not as severe in the early days, during my monthly cycle it was painful but my God my periods were so heavy that I remember my mum buying me Bridget Jones style underwear with a plastic lining to support wear a extra extra large and think sanitary towel as I could not and still cannot use a tampon as its too painful. I can honestly say school during these moments were horrid that I would do anything to take time out of school. @endohappy #endometriosisawarenessmonth #2015
Here is the 2nd photo challenge for endometriosis awareness month 2015. This challenge has been setup by #Endohappy on all social media sites. Day 1 is ‘Introductions’, so let me introduce myself, my name is Andrea and I am 39 years old. I live in Birmingham UK, born and bred in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, UK.
Its that time of the year it’s March and time to promote awareness about Endometriosis. Here is the first of 2 photo challenges on social media for Endometriosis.
This photo challenge has been organised by #fitchickwithendo on Instagram. Day 1 is Endometriosis, so here is my photo that represents endometriosis. I am that 1 in 10 women out of 176 million women worldwide living with this silent, invisible disease.
I have been quiet since surgery nearly 7 weeks ago, this is due to recovery and settling back into work. Since surgery I can honestly say it has not been as successful as I had hoped, but there is always a silver lining to everything, so they say.
So what is my silver lining, well there is quite a lot if I really take time to sit back and think about it all. My main silver lining is ME. This is not me being selfish or self centred. This is me being on honest as no one else can make the impact or fight the fight from the inside but me.
<So from today it's a new day, rise above endometriosis, rise above the pain and associated symptoms and rise to setting my own challenges and goals.
Yes the road will be full of hurdles, but there is no hurdle that I can't overcome.
Here is to me and to all fellow endosisters, embrace endometriosis is part of you, it is part of your me up. Don’t see endometriosis as a burden see it as being unique. Fight the good fight, embrace the good days, accept the bad days, all in all remember life is a battle, it is never without its hurdles. Just breathe and live life.
Endometriosis impacts significantly on women and their life in such a negative way, from the pain it causes and the additional issues such as fertility issues and fatigue to name very few. During flare ups and difficult days it is easy to be negative about Endometriosis and rightly so, with the battle we have to supported and taken seriously.
During these times it does feel like a black cloud hanging over our heads.
However they is that famous quote that every black cloud has a silver lining
So here is my silver lining to having endometriosis:
1. Finally I have a diagnosis to what I have been living with and experiencing for 28years.
2. What I was experiencing each month is not in my head, it is real and I have the scars to prove it.
3. I am not weak, my periods are just not bad periods.
4. Endometriosis has made me much stronger and a fighter than I have ever been.
5. Endometriosis has clearly identified the most significant people who are part of my life through the good and bad times.
6. Since diagnosis in 2011, I have revaluated my life for the better and know what is important to me.
7. I appreciate the good days where I can spend quality time with my partner where we make the most of having a pain free day.
8. No matter what hurdle endometriosis throws at me I know I will overcome it in time.
9. When endometriosis knocks me down I always get back up and kick endo’s ass even harder.
10. Endometriosis has opened up my world and connected me to so many amazing women across the world with this disease.
No matter what endometriosis throws at me I will always find a positive each day as Endometriosis will not beat ME!!!!
I am a little behind in my blogging for Endometriosis Awareness Month, where my aim was to blog each day about living with Endometriosis and its impact on living with a silent disease. So today I am going to catch up by writing 2 days into 1.
Its very easy to get wrapped up within myself living with endometriosis, as each day is different as no 1 day is the same. However today I want to talk about the other person who plays the most critical part in my life that without him this journey would be so much more difficult. I truly have not met such a remarkable person in my life like Neil.
Neil and I have been together for 41/2 years and it has been a rollercoster of a journey as it was 2yrs into our relationship that I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis, and it is Neil I have to thank for this, his determination and strength to stand up against the hospital doctors to demand that they do something and refuse them to send me home. For this I could never thank him enough.
Everyday he is my rock, he gives me the strength and support to keep fighting even in my dark days with his compassion and what he calls wit and manly charms. Everyday he does all that he can to make my day easier and always does everything to keep me smiling.
Neil is everything anyone could ask for, nothing is much trouble for him and I have never once heard him moan or whinge that our life together has changed so much. He is so supportive and nothing is too much trouble for him, a prime example is this week, he had just finished his night at work on Thursday, came home got changed and headed off to London for Million Women March for Endometriosis and never once moaned or groaned how tired he was, even though I could see he was exhausted.
Through our journey he has never once shied away from what we go through, he is always positive, trying to keep me positive even when I am close to giving in. My one worry is that because he will do anything for everyone and everybody that he will be taken advantage of which is why I try so hard to do what I can for myself and ask for help when I really am struggling.
Neil, you are an amazing person, you do so much for me, much more than you should and for this I want to say a big thank you but also to share with everyone how great you are, I love you with all my heart and always will.
Letter to Family, Friends & Work Colleagues
I am writing to you to introduce you to someone, someone who has invited itself into my life uninvited, however as it is not going to be leaving me soon I think it is only fair that I introduce you formally.
Its name is Endometriosis and it is invisible to the human eye. I know you can’t see it but Endometriosis is an invisible chronic illness even I can’t see it but I know it is there every single day because I can feel it. I don’t like the fact that it has attached itself to me especially as I never invited it into my life. However it is what it is, it is real and it is here to stay in which I will make the best I can out of a bad situation.
I have been living with it officially for 32 months however this it has been with me since my early teens, just biding its time growing slowly over the years. It has now changed my life where there are things that I may no longer be able to do because of it. All I ask from you all is not to be disappointed in me, I want to do these things, be able to live the way I used to, not being able to do what I used to do frustrates me.
Because of chronic illness I have learned to value the important things in life:
Time with my family
Time with my friends
Time with partner
Time with my work colleagues
When I have good days we make the most of these days and spend quality time together, these are the days that remind us of what life used to be like.
The reason I am introducing you to chronic illness today is because I don’t want any misunderstandings between us or your pity I just want your understanding that I will have both good days and bad days, and at times it will feel that bad days over rule the good days. To my amazing partner, Neil, I love and value our relationship and I know you are there for me through thick and thin. When I have my bad days you take what I throw at you and still sit beside me to get me through it when many would walk away. You are my rock, my strength and the most amazing man I have ever met.
I love and value my family, (mum, dad, big sis and my 2 nieces), our relationships have become stronger because of it, I know that even though we are miles apart when I am struggling and having a difficult time your love and strengths makes me fight harder. You all make me smile with you uniqueness and I am so lucky to have you all in my life.
I value my friendships, (Ben and Caleb) through this period of my life I know which friends I can count on who truly support me through both the good and the bad times, who do not judge me or get upset when I have to cancel at short notice, and for this I thank you for this. You both make me smile, pick me up off the floor and support me no matter what, you both play an vital role in my life and without you in my life there would be a great void.
I value my work colleagues (you all know who you are) who each day give me the strength to fight each day, to give my all at work and support me with no questions ask through the difficult days, in which thank you does not seem enough to repay you for your support. No matter how I am feeling each and every one of you at any one time can make me smile and pick me up of the floor during the difficult days without you knowing.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this and for being there for me.
Endometriosis ~ My Journey 