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This is an endometriosis blog and so much more!!! The focus here is on coping with various types of chronic illnesses & pain.
Here is just a sampling of the other conditions covered: fibromyalgia, infertility, interstitial cystitis, multiple chemical sensitivity, IBS, vulvodynia, environmental issues, etc.
Please join us here for support and information. Thanks for stopping by to check out my blog!
Endochick recently commented on one of my blog posts and I decided her comments would make a good post. After all, one can never get too much healing. I wrote January 7, 2009 with one of my many posts about Tori Amos, my favorite musician, and why Tori's music is healing for me.
Endochick uses music as a tool for healing just as I do. Endochick commented back (to my Tori post above) with a couple of her favorites for healing. Both were Beethoven pieces.
I decided to honor Endochick by posting 'Karajan - Beethoven Symphony No. 5 - Parts 1 and 2' here. After all, you never can get too much healing!
What's that? You don't have time to enjoy these classic clips? Sure you do. Click play and work on laundry. Go ahead. You don't even have to look at the screen. You can go fold and fluff while appreciating this soothing music. Try it.
There are two clips below. I looked at various clips on YouTube and decided to go with a pair from 1966. Yes, thet are in black and white. After looking through several options, I decided these clips sounded the closest to the music I heard that fantastic summer night a couple of years back. (You'll have to see my comment back to Endochick in the same post just listed for more details about that night at the symphony to know what I'm talking about)...
Karajan Conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Part 1 (Movements 1 and 2). Very old and rare film, no longer in print, recorded in 1966. (Posted on YouTube by "magic5227"). See MusOpen!
INTERMISSION:
Okay. You may take a break to go switch loads now. Don't worry. The second clip will be here when you get back.
"Karajan Conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Part 2 (Movements 3 and 4). Very old and rare film, no longer in print, recorded in 1966". (Posted on YouTube by "magic5227". See MusOpen!
Music is healing. Whatever type of music it is that makes YOU feel better, turn it on! You'll be glad you did!
Related link (see Endochick's remarks on Beethoven in the comments section of this post):
It has been about a month since my last Tori Amos post. More importantly, I need a mental health break and regular readers here know that means I need to hear Tori Amos' music!
All of the turmoil lately (see previous post) regarding victimizing endometriosis patients has me very upset!
Tori Amos herself has endometriosis.
When I get upset, I reach for Tori Amos' music! It heals me.
In honor of the winter season we are in, I went searching for a video clip of Tori Amos singing the song "Winter".
Boy, did I find a great one!! This song is 17 years old. You can find it on the Little Earthquakes CD. It's a soothing song and a real treasure for calming down!
-- Tori Amos (musician, singer, songwriter, pianist)
Click here to see the lyrics for this beautiful song, courtesy of Sing365.com
I thought that following a mental health break of Tori's music & lyrics about winter and a much more serious link to the RAINN organization that I would wrap up today's post with a quote.
After yesterday's pretty somber (but important) article about toxins, I decided today is one of those days to lighten things up a bit! Many of us have heard phrases to the effect of, "you can't always control what happens to you but you can control how you choose to react to it".
(Picture credits go to http://everythingtori.com/go/galleries/)
I've written before about one of my favorite musicians, Tori Amos, who happens to have endometriosis. I decided to quote her here today because the way I interpret her lyrics (see below) is essentially that everything can be falling apart around you, you can be anxious and upset about it all, but in the end... you CAN get through it with your inner strength.
You CAN get through amazingly hard times and adversity simply by relying on yourself. That, to me, is a very simply worded yet very powerful statement.
"Well I found the secret to life... I found the secret to life... I'm okay when everything is not okay... I said I found the secret to life... Found the secret to life... I'm okay when everything is not okay... Is not okay..."
-- Tori Amos (musician, singer, songwriter, pianist)
No matter what adversity you experience, if you look for the silver lining, the positive, and the purpose in everything... you can get through more than you probably think you can.
As simple as Tori's words are, they are loaded for me because the notion that one can "be OK when everything is not OK", to me, means that one can learn, grow, thrive, be productive, and move on even when difficult circumstances make things seem overwhelming.
(Picture credits go to http://everythingtori.com/go/galleries/)
No matter how challenging or overwhelming things get, I think it's important to be grateful for what we do have and to simply appreciate the resources available to us, the information we have access to, and the loved ones who support us. In the end, though, we can always rely on ourselves and our inner strength to get through the rough patches and come out the other end OK.
Besides, this post gives me an excuse to post a picture of when I met Tori Amos backstage... Yes, that's me with Tori! In my hands are my autographed picture of Tori and my friend's camera before we switched places so that I could get a picture of her with Tori. :)
(Picture credits for this shot go to my friend who attended the concert with me!)
Tori Amos is an amazing, strong woman. Her strength gives me strength when facing the challenges of my illnesses.
For a sample of Tori's music, listen to "Almost Rosey" (on the playlist.com music player in this blog's sidebar).
As I've previously written things that reference Tori Amos, here are some related links:
I thought it was time to lighten things up a bit. Sometimes taking a break from information-gathering, doctor appointments, and stress can help us cope better with endometriosis & other chronic illnesses.
I'd like to start by sharing a gorgeous photo I found awhile back:
Photo used with permission from Mimbrava - www.Flickr.com
This red rose photo ties together nicely with a post I've been wanting to write for awhile now. As many of you are already aware from what I have written previously I am a huge fan of Tori Amos, the musician.
It just so happens Tori has endometriosis. So I'm using that as my excuse to write a post featuring some lyrics from her song: 'Almost Rosey' (from the American Doll Posse CD).
Before I get into any lyrics or my interpretation of them and what they do to inspire me and to give me strength during the especially tough times, I just want to lay the foundation for WHY I'm writing about this here on the blog... (other than my love of Tori Amos' music).
Over 7 years of facilitating a local endometriosis support group, I have noticed that MANY of our support group members share a common thread. For some it has to do with upbringing. For some it's a personal philosophy. For others, it's the only way they know how to cope with this challenging illness.
The common thread I've noticed for most endometriosis patients is that they often:
Put others first before themselves
Forget to practice self-care on a frequent enough basis to maintain their health (or progress to a greater state of wellness)
Often they "run themselves totally ragged"
Let me be clear that I don't sit in judgment of anyone (!!) and I know how very difficult it is to balance home/personal life, work life (for those still well enough to pursue a career outside the home or those who manage to work from home), social life/obligations, chronic illness(es) and the many other commitments that take up our precious time nowadays. There never seem to be enough hours in the day!
An endometriosis patient may be:
employed in the traditional workforce
disabled
unemployed
a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM)
a work-at-home-mom (WAHM)... [I know -- all moms work at home. By WAHM, I'm referring to women who work in the home via telecommuting, running their own businesses, etc...]
I have observed that ALL women nowadays (that I know) are feeling the pressure of many demands on their time and this typically just becomes much *more* challenging for the chronically ill.
OK... back to some of the music that gets me through some of my roughest days! I should point out that the music that works for me may not be most effective for you for coping with illness, stress and/or anxiety. The important thing is that most of us have SOME sort of music we find relaxing, inspirational, supportive, or even cheerful. Sometimes the lyrics really strike us and provide extra comfort. Sometimes it's the melody, the beat, or maybe an outstanding vocalist. Many times it's all of the above.
OK. It's time for me to list the lyrics for "Almost Rosey" and explain what they mean to me personally. They may certainly mean different things to different people but I'll talk about how the lyrics strike me. Obviously this is just one interpretation.
*Let me give just a bit more background on why I'm including lyrics for this particular song.*
Many women I know (from my local endometriosis support group, healthy friends & relatives, former co-workers, blogger friends, etc.), myself included, have times when they really push their limits physically, mentally, or both! Self-care is key. A support network of some kind is key.
You may have heard phrases like "grin and bear it" or "put on your happy face" or "be strong/don't let 'them' know they've gotten to you".
While there are certainly times in life when we all need to do things we don't want to do, to even do things we're concerned may cause injury or exacerbation of existing illnesses, and to do things that are simply necessary for basic functioning... there are definitely other times when it's in our best interest (and/or that of our loved ones... whether they know it or not!) NOT to push too hard and NOT to overwork! Knowing when to back off and when to push ahead is a tricky balancing act. Taking pains NOT to overdo can prevent suffering & sometimes even permanentpain afterwards, etc.)
Many women have a REALLY tough time slowing down, pacing themselves, and saving precious energy for the things that REALLY matter!
OK. Here's where this song is one of my favorites to play when I need a pick-me-up.
Here is a video clip of an amazing live rendition of this beautiful song:
Below are the lyrics to "Almost Rosey". I have bolded portions I find particularly helpful to me for insights into how people (women and men) sometimes "put on a happy mask", isolate themselves from support when they need it most, etc. My comments are in italics.
I should note that simply reading the lyrics off the page may sound anything but "rosey" or cheerful. However, knowing Tori's body of work for over 15 years, reading between the lines of the lyrics, knowing she is about as far from a "phony" or "fake" person as can be, and hearing the beautiful melody and soothing sound of the music on this song softens it immensely. Tori is a complex person and her lyrics can be deceiving. For example, her talk of putting rose colored glasses on to cope with things is NOT, in my opinion, implying that one should stick his/her head in the sand!! Quite the opposite... Tori bravely faces things head on! My comments on the lyrics will be in italics next to the lyrics I've bolded in the song...
+++
» 'Almost Rosey' Lyrics
[This Section features Lyrics of the Song 'Almost Rosey' from the Album American Doll Posse]:
Just a minute of your time Yes I've been known to delude myself So let me put those rose colored glasses to the test (I believe this is her way of saying let's cope with these problems rather than avoiding them).
Now is this real enough for you 'cause blondes here don't jump out of cakes If that never impressed you much Come board this lunatic express
Just why do they say Have a nice day anyway We both know they wouldn't mind If I just curled up and died Let's not give that one a try (I think this section is Tori's way of observing how fake people can be when they exchange pleasantries they don't mean, when they act insincerely, and when they generally disregard -too often - others' well-being).
Chin up put on a pair of these roseys Raise those blinds Chin up a happy mask was never Your best disguise Chin up put on a pair of these roseys In no time you will feel almost fine (I believe Tori is offering coping skills to either herself or someone else. She seems to be trying to fight the urge to isolate and "close the blinds". She recognizes that stuffing emotions and putting on a "happy mask' is not healthy. She wants things to start looking up and believes things WILL get better).
Almost rosey
Now some girls here will huddle with No not footballers that are rich But will confide in small white sticks He bats as The Virginian Slim
Then I tried once to comply With an authority that would Subsidize my wild side But at this altar was sacrificed
Yes you can laugh a femme fatale In a bride's dress now married to The effortlessness of the cracks That lie now in between the facts (Here again I believe Tori is speaking out against dishonesty in any form... including being phony/fake or insincere).
Now about when violet died The cause still unidentified She thought her love would be enough But you can't seduce seduction
Her tentacles of endless want Reach through my corridors And tempt me to taste of her power I sober with the witching hour
And when I hear of one more bomb Yes we have all been robbed of song And nightingales who throw their arms up When is enough enough? (To me this passage is pro-peace, for saving the Earth from irreparable harm caused by war and environmental issues. Obviously birds don't have arms but I think the point is clear that she's concerned about the condition the Earth is in and wants very much to improve it).
--- [ Almost Rosey Lyrics @ http://www.toriamoslyrics.org/ ]
(Picture credits go to http://everythingtori.com/go/galleries/)
I promise you there is a connection between Tori Amos and me but you’ll have to be a little patient to find out what it is. :) So please keep reading…
I’ve decided you’ve probably heard enough “emergency room” talk in my last post (I know I have!) and you may be ready for a more uplifting/fun post! Hopefully this will fit the bill. Here goes!
Let me start by saying one reason writing this post is FUN for me is that Tori Amos’ music has gotten me through some very difficult and challenging times in my life… including lifting my spirits when my endometriosis was displaying particularly fierce symptoms.
Believe it or not, a big factor in how I stayed away from the emergency room trip this weekend was by playing Tori Amos CDs (!) while I was doing deep breathing exercises, meditating, lying very still, etc. I was able to lower my blood pressure, in part, because I find Tori’s music so therapeutic!
So I’m writing about my all-time favorite musical artist: Tori Amos. I once read she had been voted by Rolling Stone magazine as the # 5 Live Performer of All Time!! Yet -- you very, very rarely hear her on the radio. In fact, many of you have never heard of her. (She doesn’t worry about chart sales; her passion is the music, the sound, the lyrics… She does not let others dictate to her. She follows her own path). She is a very successful singer-songwriter, producer, recording artist, pianist, live performer… with a rabid “cult following”. She is NOT a “cookie cutter” recording artist. She is unique.
She has sold 12+ million records worldwide as of 2005, as per Wikipedia which was quoting the following press release for the autobiography Tori Amos co-wrote with Ann Powers: http://everythingtori.com/go/book/.
OK, I’ve kept you in suspense long enough. I have to tie Tori together with this blog so that you won’t wonder why I’m writing about Tori Amos on my endo blog, right?
I read Tori’s autobiography several years ago (see below):
“Tori Amos Piece by Piece. A Portrait of the Artist: Her thoughts. Her Conversations”, I was stunned to discover from her book that Tori Amos has endometriosis!
Now you may be wondering why that’s a big deal, right? It’s not like endometriosis is exactly uncommon. Well, it's just that I have seen or heard SO many print, Internet, and TV interviews of Tori (basically anything I heard about that was Tori-related… I tuned in for!) and I had never known that she has endometriosis until I read this book. So I was just amazed at this piece of information. Tori mentioned endometriosis just in passing in the book. (In it, she did discuss her difficult experiences with multiple miscarriages). I believe she had three of them. (She was diagnosed with a protein deficiency that her miscarriages were attributed to).
She also co-founded RAINN ranked in America’s 100 Best Charities by Worth Magazine in 1994, as per this Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAINN. Also here is Tori’s RAINN Public Service Announcement:
Yes, I really met Tori Amos! Look (below) at the pictures that were taken with my camera.
My friend took this shot of me with Tori Amos minutes before the concert:
Yes. I was this close to Tori Amos! :) I took this shot:
I’ve seen Tori live 4 times. The last time I saw her, my friend and I had special tickets. Ironically, my friend who went to that "special ticket" concert with me (the night we actually MET Tori) ALSO has endometriosis.
We had 3rd row seats (!!!) and we got to meet Tori before the concert, get a photo taken with her, get an autograph, listen to part of the sound check before the show, etc. It was one of those nights you never forget. :)
I find Tori completely musically brilliant, fascinating, complex, brilliantly intelligent, courageous, strong, outspoken, not afraid of what people think, controversial, a person who follows her instincts, and finally just a sensitive, caring, sincere person who tries to do her part to make the world a better place. As I said, I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting her in person at a concert because my friend and I had special tickets that were equivalent to “backstage passes”.
My passion for Tori Amos’ music all started when I got my hands on “Little Earthquakes” in 1992. That CD was all it took for me to be hooked for life.
Per her Wikipedia entry (see link above), here are some of the awards she has been nominated for:
Grammy Awards
1995 — Best Alternative Music Album (for Under The Pink, nomination). 1997 — Best Alternative Music Album (for Boys For Pele, nomination). 1999 — Best Alternative Music Album (for From the Choirgirl Hotel, nomination). 1999 — Female Rock Vocal Performance (for "Raspberry Swirl", nomination). 2000 — Best Alternative Music Album (for To Venus and Back, nomination). 2000 — Female Rock Vocal Performance (for "Bliss", nomination). 2002 — Best Alternative Music Album (for Strange Little Girls, nomination). 2002 — Female Rock Vocal Performance (for "Strange Little Girl", nomination). 2004 — Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Packaging (for Scarlet's Walk, nomination).
So one of my connections to Tori Amos (the one that motivated me to write this article) is that we both have endometriosis. However, I also feel connected to Tori because I love her music so much! It has lifted me up, kept me sane, and given me hope. I feel connected to her because she gives me strength and hope! Her music calms me down when little else can. I feel connected to her in many ways. I believe she has a very special gift.
This article was posted by Jeanne via "Jeanne's Endo Blog" at www.endendoat.blogspot.com.
I'm 44 years old & my endometriosis symptoms began at 13; I was finally diagnosed at 23. In addition to endo, I have multiple other chronic illnesses. My doctors believe many of these are related to my endo. This blog is to reach out to endo patients, other chronically ill patients, & their loved ones.
The typical diagnosis occurs 9.9 years after the onset of symptoms! I have heard many women’s stories: of not being believed by their medical professionals; women who have had their symptoms marginalized or dismissed; women who go from doctor to doctor searching for someone who will truly understand, take them seriously, & help them get relief/manage their symptoms. There are many wonderful health care professionals out there who treat endo patients. Unfortunately, finding them can be challenging.
Due to high volumes of email, I am no longer able to list my personal email account. Please post your comments/questions directly on my blog. Thank you!!
