5 Things Only Those With Endometriosis Will Understand

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An estimated 200 million women worldwide have Endometriosis. I am one of those women. I was diagnosed a year ago and it has affected me in my daily life in more ways than I can count. It’s not something I have openly talked about. In fact, most people have no clue that I have it. I figured it was time to share so that others can know that they are not alone. It’s something we should talk about to increase awareness, and sometimes, it’s just nice to talk to someone who is going through the same thing as you; someone who really understands what it’s like. Sure, it’s nice to have someone to vent to about it, but if they haven’t been through it, there is no way for them to truly understand the impact it can have on your life.

I had surgery last May to cauterize the places on my ovaries to “remove” the endometriosis. There is no cure for Endo. You can get treatments and try to find ways to reduce the pain, but it never truly goes away. Three months after my surgery, it all came back. The pain, the misery, everything. For a week, I didn’t even process it. I just ignored it. At the end of that week, I broke. I kept asking, “Why? Why me?” Like most of us do when something bad happens to us. You can’t always control your life and what happens to you. For those things that are beyond your control, you just have to stay positive and keep moving forward in the best way that you know how.

Endometriosis affects you not just physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well. There are so many things I could say, but here are the 5 things only those with Endometriosis can relate to:

1. Bloating.

Oh the never-ending bloating. “No, I’m not pregnant. I’m just really bloated right now, but thanks for that.” Seriously, I hate the feeling. Bloating is one of the many side effects of Endo and let’s be honest, it’s not exactly flattering and it makes you feel yucky. Just all around blah. Which leads me to the next thing…

2. Leggings.

Can I get an Amen sister?! I have come to LOVE leggings. If you would have asked me if I had any leggings a couples of years ago, I would have laughed. I thought I didn’t like them. Turns out, I had been missing out. What is life without a pair, or two, or ten?! Being a stay at home Mom, I have come to be a little obsessed with them. Add in the endometriosis and they are a must! I love to throw a pair on, especially on my worst days, and take on the day as best as I can. Even if it is from the couch curled up in pain. They are so comfy and I just can’t live without them now. Leggings from LulaRoe, leggings from Walmart, leggings from Amazon….it doesn’t matter. But seriously, give me all the Lularoe!

3. Emotions.

My poor, poor husband. So many uncontrollable emotions. Crying. Irritability. Sadness. More crying. Getting upset for no reason. Did I mention crying? I know for me personally, I have gotten much more emotional since having Endo. Not only are you in pain, but you are anxious and fearful. Will this cause infertility? Will the pain ever go away? You are stuck with this awful disease for life. Your body also experiences hormonal imbalance, especially with different treatments. It affects you emotionally and physically. Thankfully, mine are starting to balance out more now, but when the pain starts, I can’t control my feelings. Don’t even get me started on when someone brings up how much they hate their period and how miserable they are (and they have no feminine problems other than that). You just want to scream. Umm…try having one with Endometriosis. You will surely die.

4. Heat.

I cannot go without my trusty heat pad! We quickly became best friends after I was first diagnosed. I was trying anything and everything to alleviate the pain. Then I tried the heat pad. I have one filled with rice that I can just throw in the microwave and it lays across my stomach to cover everything. Total life saver. It doesn’t get rid of the pain completely, but it dulls it enough so that I can go to sleep or at least get comfortable for a little bit. I’ll take what I can get. And let’s not forget a nice, hot bath to soak in! I’m not much of a bath person (I prefer showers over baths) , but If I’m hurting bad enough, I’m all for it.

5. Pain.

As women, we all know periods are no fun, but it’s also not normal for them to cause you to be completely miserable. I’m talking about put you down on the couch for days with your trusty heat pad, lounging in your Lularoe like you own no other clothes, binge watching Netflix, don’t talk to me or I’ll snap your head off, miserable. The pain is so bad for me sometimes that it causes me to have an upset stomach, terrible cramps, nausea, and even horrific back pain. I start to feel sick and become useless for the day. Even with a hysterectomy, most women will still experience pain. Overall, the pain is awful. There’s really no other way to put it. I don’t have any enemies, but if I did, I wouldn’t wish this pain on them.

There are so many things that come along with having Endometriosis; things that are beyond our control. We can however, control how we respond to these things. All we can do is remain positive, move forward, and encourage each other to stay strong. As women, we do so much and our bodies go through so many changes. Add Endo to the mix, and it’s a whole new level of changes. Changes to our bodies, our emotions, and our mentality. It’s up to us to keep going and to not let it bring us down.

Find someone you trust who you can open up to about your concerns, whether it be a family member, your spouse, a friend, or even your Doctor. If you know in your gut that something is not right with your body, seek medical help and ask questions. If it were not for me listening to my body and following my gut instincts, I would have never went to the Doctor and found out that this was the problem. Some women don’t find out that they have Endometriosis for years, if ever. Thankfully, my Doctor ruled out other things, saw the signs, and took action to catch it early. At least now, we can find ways to try and treat it and reduce the pain since I have to live with it. I used to think it was normal for periods to be extremely miserable and for me to be in the pain that I was. It’s not normal at all. It never hurts to get checked out.

What’s one thing that you have found that helps you cope with having Endo? I would love to know any tips you may have to help!

***Disclaimer: These are my own personal experiences. If you are having symptoms or have concerns about your own health, please consult with your own Physician.***

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