The Endo Photo Challenge 2018: Days 11-15

Welcome back to our walk-through recap of my social media posts for The Endo Photo Challenge 2018. Today, we look at days 11-15!

Day 11: Endo Myths

#Pregnancy, #Medication, #Surgery and #Hysterectomy DO NOT "CURE" #Endometriosis. There is NO CURE for endometriosis, but you can greatly reduce your chance of recurrence by having the disease completely excised (with margins) by an endometriosis excision specialist.

‪

___________________________________________________________________

Day 12: Other Illnesses?

I’m lucky...I don’t have it half as bad as some #endowarriors. I no longer have #PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) because they’ve both been removed. I no longer take medication for my #hyperthyroid #Graves disease or my #depression. I manage both of them and my #eczema holistically with #nutrition and #essentialoils. I will live with abdominal #neuropathy and #scartissue pain for the rest of my life which is tolerable. I start #pelvicfloor #physicaltherapy in a few weeks which will hopefully help my PFD symptoms.

___________________________________________________________________

Day 13: Pajamas

My world begins and ends with comfy #pajama bottoms. Seriously...they are my #LifeBlood. If I could live in them 24/7, I would. Early on in our relationship, my husband, Jim, dubbed me “The PJ Kid” because I have unprecedented skills in the "getting into pajamas within 1 minute of walking in the door from work" arena. When you deal with chronic abdominal pain from #endometriosis, comfort is key. Thankfully, waistbands rarely bother my condition.

For obvious reasons, photos of me in pajamas are few and far between - mostly, they happen on Christmas morning - but here are a few. Yes...I am #kayaking in my pajamas. I told you I would live in them if I could and I was serious!

These are some of my favorite pajamas of all time.
Top L: Currently wearing
Top Center: Kayaking in PJs - August 2017
Top R: A set from AVON that I used to love, but that eventually fell off me from my weight loss so I had to get rid of them.
Bottom L: Christmas 2004
Bottom Center: One of my current favorites (also the ones I'm wearing in the kayak)
Bottom R: Christmas 2013 - Still one of my favorite pajama bottoms even though they are 3 sizes too big now. Thank God for drawstrings!!!

___________________________________________________________________

Day 14: Positive Side to Endo

It's the little things that happen in those common every day moments, the ones you would completely miss if you were feeling good and breezing through life...the ones that I miss now when I am working, working, working. The trade off is the paycheck. The #positive side to my struggle with this disease is that I have been home...A LOT...with my daughters as they've grown up. There have been makeovers, pampering and playtime that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been ill and tethered to a heating pad at home. Because I haven't always been able to work full-time like I do now, I have had the opportunity to #homeschool each of my children at different times. I taught Elizabeth Zell and Emily to read. Being out of work with endo, Christina, Elizabeth & I started a jewelry making business and enjoyed endless hours of beading. Eventually, Liz and I started Paparazzi by Bethany & Liz because I was only working part-time. We found a way to bring in some extra income (while having fun together) that was flexible around my endometriosis. And the #snuggles...oh my word, there have been SO MANY snuggles. Those may be even more of my #LifeBlood than the #pajamas from yesterday. The snuggles are #FuelForMyHeart. I might not have ever slowed down enough to truly appreciate them if not for my #chronicillness.

___________________________________________________________________

Day 15: What Endo Has Taught You

Having #endo has taught me that #SelfAdvocacy is essential. I know my body better than anyone else. I need to speak up for myself and #advocate for what I need because no one else is going to do it for me. If I hadn't kept persisting... knowing that something was wrong... I would still be back at square one as a #pharmaceutical guinea pig! I kept talking until someone listened. I continually educated myself on my condition. I didn't give up even though it was hard and I felt like lying down in defeat many, many times along this twisted endo journey.

___________________________________________________________________

Want to see them all?  Follow me on social media at:

Facebook:

facebook.com/painintherearendo

facebook.com/theendoalliance

Twitter:

@zellbeing

@theendoalliance

Instagram:

@zellbeing

@theendoalliance