Things to never say to chronically ill woman

• "Oh, I know someone who had that."

• "You should talk to __________, she had a problem down there"

• "How'd you get that?"

• "That's in your head"

• "You're to young to be sick"

• "You're to young to be in that much pain"

• "You shouldn't be in that much pain"

• "You need to change you diet"

• "If your attitude was different"

• "Maybe you should lose some weight"

• "You take to much medicine"

• "But, you don't look sick"

• "Are you feeling better yet?"

• "You should work out more"

• "You need something else to do"

• "Have you lost/gained weight?"

• "It's not that bad"

• "Everyone has bad days"

• "You need to get out more"

• "You still don't feel well?"

• "You can't have children?"

• "If you got pregnant, you'd be fine."

• "Suck it up."

• "I get bad cramps, and I'm fine."

• "If you preoccupied yourself, you wouldn't be in so much pain."

• "Be lucky you don't have cancer"

• "Were you abused?"

• "Having children isn't all it's cracked up to be."

• "You need to pray."

• "You just want attention."

• "I think I have that too."

• "If you didn't think about it so much."

• "Are you still sick?"

• "I thought that surgery helped?"

• "You just use that as an excuse."

• "That's no excuse."

Thank the heavens, my search had ended....

       My search has finally ended.   Long and behold their is a dairy and soy free cheese.  That actually melts!  The brand is Daiya.  Check out their website, to see which of your local stores have it.  I was intially skeptical about it.  I tried rice milk cheese in the past.  Needless to say it didn't melt properly.  The toast of a grilled cheesed would be burned, by the time rice milk cheese melts.  Nonetheless I was pleasantly surprisedwith the new brand.  Daiya.   It smells tastes, and melts just like real cheese!  Satisfying my long over due tastes buds..  I have been waitng years for this!

    This search was important to me.  Dairy causes extremly unpleasant symtoms.  Especially with regards to some women with endometriosis.  Especially me.  Dairy is somehing I will never eat again.  The side effects aren't just a little heartburn.  I can feel my body rejecting it.  Not only in our stomach, but the pain reaches the vagina and rectum.  I often talk about it with others.   I won't even eat it if I took lactose intolderant medicine.  I'm not brave enought to.  The side effects without it were bad enough.  Plus most digestive medication can only aid so much.
 
      However, when I did eat dairy.  It was terirble.  It contributed to bad mentrual cycles.  It doesn't actually help my bones.  My joints feel better now that I don't eat it.  Because my body couldn'y absorb calcium in that form.  Almoind milk by silk is my preference for an alternative.  It tastes really good.  And has twice the calcium as regular milk.  Even calcium supplements break my skin out and cause my stomach to hurt.  Not to mention digestive issues.  Which dairy milk cheese doesn't help with any of them.  Especially acid refulx.  I was taking to many digestive medications.

      Being conscious of what I put into my body has made me resepect it.  Most blessings are disguies.  Things that were neccessary to learn.  With endo,  some of us have an allergy to dairy.  Some worse than others.  You know your body best.  I payed attention and took note of my reactions.  Even my doctors did.  It's been both challenging and exciting in my search for sustinence.  I am so much happier now that I have found foods that I enjoy.  That are vegan, dairy and soy free allergy friendly.  Discovering Daiya cheese is proably the best thing I've found on my journey.

     The pictures are of the mac n cheese made witht the shredded cheddar.  I had to make an infamous grilled cheese.  Made with local bakery Breadsmith wheat bread.  They both were extremly delicious.  My whole family enjoyed the mac 'n' cheese.  I ate two personal sized portions.  In one setting.  It was so good!  I am eager to discover more foods to enjoy!

Any suggestions for dairy and soy free cheese?

Hey Ladies.  Today I am reaching out.  Has any of my #endosisters found any cheese substitutes?  I've found a few.  Although I haven't tried to make my own yet.  I miss cheese dearly.  I'm not brave enough to eat it.  Even with the lactose pills.  I'm not really interested in dairy.  The thought of the side effects repulses me.  Please comment if you have any sugeestions for me.

Favorite Dairy and soy free ice cream

So Delicious makes incredibly delicious dairy and soy free ice cream.  The ice cream itself is made from coconut milk.  No white sugar either.  They have a huge variety for all allergies.  Check them out!

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is my favorite quick go to breakfast.  Made with cinnamon, apples, and flax seed.  It is delicious!  This will turn anyone into an oatmeal lover!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of Quaker oatmeal (any brand is fine.  I prefer to make quick oats.  Just a time preference)
• 2 teaspoons of Cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of Salt (I always use sea salt of Himalayan)
• 1 tbsp of flax seed
• 1 small apple or Berries
• 1 cup of water
• small pot
• 1/2 tablespoon of honey or agave to sweeten

Directions:

1. Fill pot with 1 cup of water.  Bring to a rapid boil.
2. Once water is boiling, pour in oats.
3. Pour in 2 tsp of salt.  It is crucial, and will emliminate the need for butter.  However, you can use butter in place of salt. 
4. Cut up the amount of apples you like.  I usually use a whole small granny smith apple.
5. Let cook for about five minutes.  Or until it has reached the consistency that you like.
6. Pour in a bowl.  Mix in sweetener.  Place fruit on top.  And enjoy!

Update

          Hello to all of my followers.  Thank you all so much for reading my blog!  I still have many details about my jounrey that I am going to share with you.  Also, many more recipes, remedies, tips, and resources!  Thank you so much for the twitter and facebook follows/ adds.  I will create a new page to go along with the website.  I also will add you all from the new page.  The website is still under construction.  I have to raise more money for a better site for our online support group.  A temporary one will be up soon! I appreciate you all so much.  Please continue to share this blog.  Endometriosis awareness needs to be raised!  Thank you all so much for the support!  Happy Holidays!!

Nutrition and Food Allergies

Watching what you consume can significantly decrease some endometriosis symptoms.  I became aware of these signs after my diagnosis surgery.  I searched for many ways to alleviate pain, gas, heart burn, constipation and diahrreaha.  I stopped eating beef and pork years before I had any surgeries. Avoiding certain food can help with:

• Inflammation
• Bloating
• Gas
• Balance hormones
• Manage weight
• Reduce toxins

 After my diagnosis, I also cut out the following foods:

• Fried foods (I indulge every blue moon.  Since this causes the least amount of pain.  I also cook my french fries in the oven)
• Red meat, pork
• Starch
• Sugar
• White flour
• Dairy
• Soy
• All processed food (no fast food)
• Dark soda (except sprite, gingerale)
• Eggs

Below is a list of foods that are good to eat:

• Legumes, almonds, cashews, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, etc
• Almond milk to replace dairy and soy milk
• Seafood  (high in fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation)
• Fruits
• Vegetables (eat both lightly steamed and raw daily.  I enjoy making a veggie smoothie.  Where I combine most of my daily servings.  About 3-5 different types veggies)
• 1 gallon of water daily
• Brown, black or wild rice
• Oatmeal
• Oat flour, rice flour, almond meal
• Raw honey, agave

       Not comsuming beef and pork can improve digestion.  Also fried foods, to much starch.  Eating this way will ease digestive aches.  Also, you don't have to worry about calories or fiber.  Fiber is in most fruits and veggies.  Everything that we are supposed to eat.  You will be regular if you get nutrients and hydration.  Iron is also in dark green leafy veggies.  There is no cure for endometriosis.  However, you can improve your quality of life, by comsuming what your body needs.

        Your body will also become sensitive to eating bad foods.  Over time it will not allow you to comsume unhealthy foods.  Also, watching what you eat means there aren't many places who cater to no meat, no dairy, and no soy allergies lifestyles.  My family memebrs are witnesses.   I do not consume fastfood.  There are only a handful of resturants who can cater to these food allergies.  Many worry about what are they going to eat.  I have replaced many foods with alternatives.  Made my own versions of my favorite recipes.   The only meat I currently eat is seafood.  However, I will still upload recipes for people that do.  Which I will post for you to enjoy!