Vlog #2

 

       Hey everyone.  This post pertains to my Vlogs.  In this video, I discuss the procedures I've had.  For those of you who've been reading my blog.   You're already aware of them.  This is just the beginning of my YouTube series.   Thank you all for watching.  Please subscribe and follow.

Vlog #1

Hey everybody.  This is the first of my vlogs.  The previous ones were gone with my old hard drive.  Take a look.  Stay tuned more to come!

Making plans with uninvited endo

     Making friends prior to being diagnosed with endometriosis was proven difficult.  It didn't get any easier post diagnosis.  Countless times I've had to cancel due to extreme pain or discomfort.  Often times leaving people to wonder if my reason was legitimate.  Which often created many misunderstandings.  Or friends thinking that I only made excuses.  That would be assumed or perceived as if I didn't want to be bothered.  That was far from the case.

      Can you imagine having friends who are aware of your condition.  Even after expressing your symptoms to them.  With hopes they would understand.  Then to be continuously asked to do activities that weren't suitable for a person with a chronic pain condition.  To this day, I know some people still can't fathom it.  Let alone most of them who don't have a clue what you are going through.  Are the same people who insist on doing things that make pain worse.  Wreck less driving. With all of my stomach issues.  That is one of the worst things a person can do.  Or going places and not knowing if I could eat the food.

       The list of outings that are uncomfortable for me to do is a lengthy one.  That's not what bothers me.  I accept the limitations I have from my condition.  I respect and love myself more because of it.  I know that there's a lot that I can do.  That list is endless too.  Yet, these individuals wouldn't even be cultured enough to think outside of the box to come up with another activity to do.  I question if I should even suggest mine.  My main concern is how these inconsiderate individuals react to me when I decline offers. 

       I don't mind losing people along the way.  It's usually the people who don't take the time to comprehend.  They also expect a lot of me.  I have empathy.  I'm not sure why other people don't.  It's sad, you have to go through difficult things in order to see who's really there for you.  However,  I wonder if these people could imagine what it's like for me?  Then maybe they wouldn't be so upset.  No need to be angry if you fully understand the circumstances.  I don't even explain. I just cut them loose...

      The negativity is also something I'm allergic to.  Metaphorically speaking.  I have enough going on in my life physically.  Which affects me emotionally.  I know everyone has their own struggles.  Mines just so happens to be my health.  I also,  love listening to people.  Being there for them that way.  Always optimistic.  Yet, when there's no reciprocity.  Plus negativity, it makes my pain a lot worse.  

      And the timing.  Why would you think I want to go to the club?  Or how can I help you move?  I just had back to back surgery a few weeks prior.  Not to mention the pain that comes with the condition on a daily bases.  I'm in pain 5-6 out of 7 days a week.  I surely want to spend my decent times.  Giving my body a well needed break.  

Happy New Year!

Hey everyone!  I want to say thank you all for taking the time out to read my blog.  This is the result of a five year dream come to reality.  Also, my blog is also my public diary.  If you know me you'd know I've kept one since a young child.  This has brought me great joy.  There is a huge online community for women with endometriosis.  #endosister(s) is the term we call one another.  To start the new year off right there will be numerous long overdue updates.  Words cannot completely express my gratitude.  Please subscribe!  Stay tuned...

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.