It has moved and gotten a new name. You should be automatically redirected in 6 seconds. If not, please visit http://chronichealing.com and update your bookmarks.
Welcome!
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!
Great news! We are nearing 300 signatures on the endometriosis awareness petition!
Isn't that wonderful?
If you have not yet signed the petition, please take a moment to do so. The more names we get the better. When we approach major media outlets about getting endometriosisfactscovered, we submit this petition along with our letters and emails.
"It is estimated that between 2 percent and 10 percent of American women - or 5.5 million women and girls - of childbearing age have endometriosis.This makes endometriosis more common than AIDS and more common than cancer. Endometriosis is one of the three major causes of female infertility".
Yesterday I began promoting my YouTube channel. I would deeply appreciate if you'd take a few moments to check it out. Once there, you have the option to leave comments on specific videos, rate the videos (1 star is worst, 5 is best), and/or subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Any feedback you can provide (comments or ratings) would be greatly appreciated... and I, of course, would be honored if you decide to subscribe to my channel.
So far, topics covered are endometriosis and acupuncture but eventually I will cover other topics... primarily chronic illness topics.
"Five years, six IVFs, 30 pounds: what infertility is doing to me. Music video by Sarah Motes Ashley and Somebody's Band for the International Infertility Film Festival".
(Video clip posted on YouTube by "sarahmotesashley" on March 28, 2008)
If you are interested in seeing her sing live, there is an option from her website that allows you to submit a request for a particular geographic area if you wish. Sarah Motes Ashley was the winner of a 4th Annual International Infertility Film Festival (IIFF) in 2008.
Just a quick update for endo blog readers! Two threads have been very active with comments...
(1) The YouTube thread: "Monday, June 9, 2008 YouTube Video Clips --- Endo, Infertility, Chronic Pain, Pelvic Pain..."
(2) The followup YouTube thread: Monday, July 14, 2008 Jeanne's Endo Blog: YouTube Video Clips --- Endo, Infertility, Chronic Pain, Pelvic Pain... ***PART TWO***
If you have not viewed the chronic illness YouTube video referenced in these 2 previous posts (6/9/2008 and 7/14/2008), I highly recommend the video! If you read the 2 previous posts mentioned above, you'll see the video and the conversation about it.
It is emotional, touching, and ultimately uplifting. I can't say enough about it. I believe ANY chronically ill patient would just love it AND it's an educational tool for helping healthy people to begin to comprehend chronic illness (not just endometriosis but any chronic illness). It's very special!
By the way, the video clip is called: "Don't Judge- the saga of chronic pain" and was posted on YouTube by "booknhorsefreak" (a/k/a caiquecrazy, the screen name she used here on the endo blog). It's AWESOME!
This article was posted by Jeanne via "Jeanne's Endo Blog" at www.endendoat.blogspot.com.
*** Please read the disclaimer at the top of this blog. ***
As many of you know, interstitial cystitis is one of the illnesses often found in women who have endometriosis. Interstitial cystitis affects both men and women but there have been research studies showing a higher incidence of IC in endometriosis patients than in non-endometriosis patients.
Wow! I found a great interstitial cystitis video clip (on http://youtube.com/watch?v=myjd4UMtCfw) and I decided to include it here. It was posted on YouTube by “YourUpdate” on June 21, 2007.
Here is the description of the clip from www.YouTube.com: The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) educates both patients and healthcare providers to better understand and treat people with IC. Contact The International Cystitis Association (ICA) at for info at: http://www.ichelp.org/
Another source of information on IC is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Disorders and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):
I had had interstitial cystitis for 12 years before finally finding a doctor who properly diagnosed me. My 4th cystoscopy (with hydrodistention) was performed while I was under anesthesia for one of my laparoscopies for endo.
The cystoscopy was done at that time because I still presented with classic IC symptoms despite 3 previous negative cystoscopies prior to my diagnosis by a different doctor. (Ironically my first 3 cystoscopies were done by 2 different urologists and my proper diagnosis was finally made by a pelvic pain specialist).
Anyway, I have a regimen that I follow and it does help. I believe I had IC for the 12 years leading up to my official diagnosis. Whether the appearance of the inside of my bladder lining changed much in those 12 years or whether my pelvic pain specialist was better at properly diagnosing IC than the urologists had been, I may never know. All I know is my IC has responded to IC treatment.
It is crucial to advocate for yourself. Like the interstitial cystitis patient in the video clip, I believe it is crucial for IC patients to “take an active role” AND to “get the correct diagnosis from your doctors”. IC is often misdiagnosed.
HINT: If you do get diagnosed with IC and your doctor prescribes medications to be instilled into the bladder, the pediatric size catheters are a 'must' in my opinion. So if you suspect you have IC and you DO end up getting diagnosed with it, just keep that in the back of your mind. My doctor automatically ordered the pediatric size for me but not all doctors may think to do this.
That reminds me… for anyone who is unaware of this, you can request a smaller sized speculum for Pap smears. Just ask your GYN and you may find pelvic exams are less painful!
Last but NOT LEAST: I found this amazing blog today on chronic illnesses. Actually I found this blog a couple of weeks ago & subscribed to it then --- BUT the IC stuff just jumped out at me today's mailing. There are just TONS of IC links near the bottom part of the (emailed via my subscription) link listed below.
If you even think you might have IC, these links (the last link above) are worthwhile reading (I think) from what I saw when I skimmed through them. (I simply didn’t have time to read through them ALL but there are just LOADS of them)!
Follow your gut and find the medical care you deserve. After all, we ALL deserve a decent quality of life.
Let's skip past "striving to get well" and skip right to "thriving" if at all possible.
Be well!
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!!
