Tips to Managing Endometriosis Flare-UpsIf you have endometriosis, you may get a worsening of pain or other symptoms from time to time. Inflammation and hormonal fluctuations are likely to blame for these flare-ups. But...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Vitamin D and Immunity: Is My Supplement Why I Get Sick Less Often?I used to catch a cold at the drop of a hat. If someone near me sneezed, chances were that I'd show symptoms within a day. But I haven't had...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Tips for Getting an Endometriosis DiagnosisIf you start the clock after my first visit with a gynecologist, it took about seven years for me to get my endometriosis diagnosis. While the word "journey" gets overused these...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Rectal Pain and Endometriosis: Here’s What Eased My SymptomsMy bowel movements usually don't hurt on the way to my rectum. It's the pain after I poop that can be an issue. Sorry for these graphic details, but these cramps feel...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
All the Health Professionals Who Treat My Endometriosis SymptomsDoctors usually lump endometriosis in with other reproductive disorders. But endo is an inflammatory condition affecting much more than my pelvis. That's why I take a multidisciplinary approach to my...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
When Should I Worry About a Change in Endometriosis Symptoms?Editor's Note: Please see a health professional if you are worried about any changes or new symptoms you may be experiencing. The other day I felt tired, bloated, and crampy...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Besides an OB/GYN, what kinds of doctors have helped you the most with your symptoms?Endometriosis can cause body-wide symptoms, but there’s no single doctor who can treat all of these issues. People with endo often end up seeing many specialists to find relief. An...Reactions0reactionsComments4 repliesComorbiditiesSymptomsTips & Advice
How I Deal With DisappointmentIt’s time for me to find a new OB/GYN. I haven’t seen one regularly in more than a decade. That may seem unusual for someone with a chronic reproductive condition...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
5 Ways I Manage Pre-Period ConstipationI’m very familiar with the Bristol stool scale. That’s a chart you might have seen in your doctor’s office, at least if you go to a gastroenterologist (GI) as much...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Do you have eczema flares before your period? Many people with endometriosis have allergies, eczema, and unexplained itching. These symptoms can flare around ovulation or before a period. Do you get eczema flares or worse itching at certain...Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesComorbiditiesCopingSymptoms
Endometriosis Symptoms When I Was a TeenagerThe Office on Women’s Health says endometriosis affects 11% of U.S. women, or people with periods, between the ages of 15 and 44. They say endo is most common among...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Top 5 Endometriosis Tips for the Newly DiagnosedA friend in her late 30s recently had surgery for an ovarian cyst. It turned out to be an endometrioma. Her doctor diagnosed her with stage 4 endometriosis. She'd heard...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What is Post-Menstrual Syndrome?My husband knows that I sometimes get pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, also known as PMDD. We both look forward to day 4 or 5 after my period starts when I usually...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
I Had Excision Surgery for Endometriosis a Year Ago. What Has Changed?I've had three endometriosis surgeries in the past 15 years. I had my first surgery with an excision specialist a little more than a year ago. My surgeon cut out...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Chronic Illness"What if you never get better?" That's one of the first questions my behavioral health counselor asked me last year. Specifically, she meant: what if your endometriosis pain and digestion...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My New Medication for Period PainEditors Note: Always talk to your doctor if you have any questions about making a change in your medications. I've never been able to have a medication-free period. Well, not...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How I Manage Mental Health with EndometriosisEndometriosis is a chronic condition without a cure. Excision treatment with an endometriosis specialist has been a big help for me. But surgery wasn't a panacea. I still have terrible period...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Pain Doesn't Need Proof“Congratulations! You’re not crazy.” That’s what my excision specialist told me on the phone after my last surgery. He’d gotten the pathology results back, and one of the eight “suspicious”...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Zucchini BreadThere are all types of squash in my garden. I've got some zucchini (the popular green one), pattypan (a small yellow cute one), and eight-ball (a round squash that's green...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Could I Have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?Editor's note: If you think you have EDS, please consult your doctor. Earlier this year, another endo warrior suggested I may have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). She'd read some of my...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
