Endochick is a writer, a mother, a wife. She suffers from Stage III endometriosis, Sheehan’s Syndrome, Complicated Basilary Migraines and hypothyroidism. She eats an almost vegetarian diet (save for chicken), and consumes as many organic foods as she can substitute for regular in the grocery store. This is her blog about her ongoing struggle with Endometriosis, and her other chronic illnesses, and how they affect her life and her passion: writing.
Endometriosis: The Silent Life Sentence by Endochick is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
Posted by Babette Gray on March 2, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing such a touching testimonial about EndoFEMM™. My name is Babette Gray, and I am the founder and inventor of the EndoFEMM™ Pad, and was truly moved by your words.
I am also in love with the pad as it has helped me through my 10-year battle with endometriosis and finally help me recover from my hysterectomy using the cold therapy. Unfortunately, I continue to suffer from adhesion pain from the effects of surgery and rely heavily on EndoFEMM™. Without it, I surely would be lost and in great pain.
I would love to add your testimony to my website, especially the five reasons you stated. Please let me know if this is possible as I am continually reaching out to customers on the wonderful benefits of using EndoFEMM™. Every now and then, I have a hesitant buyer who is loyal to the old electrical heating pad or thermal patches and has trouble converting.
Last, but not least, please revisit my website as I will be offering a lightweight, travel-size version of EndoFEMM™ called “Endo-Lite” that’s weights a mere 1 lb. and heats up fast (especially for those days when you’re on the go). Should you decide to try it out, e-mail me directly at support@dabloenterprises.com and I will be more than happy to send you one free-of-charge. This is my way of saying “thank you” for your support to my cause to help women with chronic pelvic pain.
Take care and be well,
Babette Gray, President/Founder
Dablo Enterprises – “Easing Pain Naturally”
Posted by Mitch Thurmer on June 19, 2009 at 8:14 am
Endochick, My wife Deanna fought your mess for years. How do I follow your post. This Blogging stuff still is a little complicated, also I would be honored if you follow mine..
Mitch
Posted by endochick on June 19, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hi Mitch,
You can click on my RSS feed to follow my blog that way – or you can add me to your blogroll or computer’s favorites and just come back here and check often. I try and post rather frequently! Sorry your wife dealt with this “mess” as well. I wish no one else had to go through the pain we go through. It is awful. Do you have a blog? Let me know what it is.
Posted by Endogirltoo on March 6, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Thanks so much for you words, you encourage me today when I didnt know what else to do!
xx
Posted by pantherswin on March 14, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Hi there Endo chick!!! I am Pantherswin.. i am also a mom, Endo sistah, suffering from carpel tunnel, migraines (that I take Topomax for), IBS (seems that the Topomax helps with it), Spinal Stenosis, Depression, and I am new to wordpress..
Posted by Kea on April 4, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I just found your blog. I have endo also. Your title is so accurate it really touched me. I am sorry for your pain (not that it really helps), but your not alone in your pain (as im sure you know no matter what the docs say)
I just wanted to say Thank You for sharing, thats what helps others to know theyre not alone either. They really do need to make more people aware but I think Its so wide spread and they know so little about it that theyre afraid of the reaction that would cause so they hide it and tell women its all in their imagination…. It gets hard suffering in silence while you appear to be healthy because no one believes you. Im gonna work on getting the Endofemm pad, it will be nice to get unattached from this extension cord that follows me everywhere!
Posted by Kea on April 10, 2008 at 9:45 am
I don’t know if I should leave comments here, but I do hope your appointments go well. I am curious to know about how old you are. I am 37. I just wanted to let you know someone cares…
Posted by knowledgetoday on March 24, 2009 at 11:41 am
I love your site. Keep it up !
Posted by Alissa on April 6, 2009 at 2:40 am
Hi, endochick. I stumbled upon your blog when I googled migraine, endometriosis and hypothyroidism. I have all three and feel like there must be some underlying connector that no one knows about. I’m about to have my 3rd lap because despite staying on BC continuously and not getting my period for 4 months, I am still having pain. Well, nice to know I’m not the only one with all these annoying little (yea right) ailments…. take care.
Posted by Sunshine on May 26, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Endochick…
I’ve been going through the many doctors and tests… down to my insurance wondering why I was having so many done and how long were my symptoms… At least since high school and now I’m 23. Still don’t know what’s wrong with me.. Is it Endometriosis?? What is it?? But within the past year, my pain has gotten worse and more frequent and I refuse to not find out what’s wrong. I feel like I have a doctor who is willing to find out what’s wrong with me and not just tell me I’m ovulating! I’ve been having migranes for years.. now they think it’s my “new” allergies. Seeing your blog, I at least know now that it might take some time and trials to realy figure out what’s going on and how to deal with it..
My mother has Lupus and she struggles everyday with the pains. I appreciate you being real and sharing your struggles.. Congrats on accomplishing your goals, and I wish the rest of you women the best of luck.
Posted by endochick on May 27, 2009 at 9:36 am
Perserverence is the key to diagnosis. Never give up. Try mentioning, if you haven’t already, that you suspect endometriosis and would like a laparoscopy to rule it out. If your doctor also suspects it, then they may be willing to perform one. If you have endometriosis, then during the lap it can removed and you can be on your way to have treatment and finally, answers. Good luck and thanks for reading!
Posted by Sew on June 4, 2009 at 11:35 am
Thanks for your great blog! I haven’t done a lot of looking around, so excuse my question if you have written about this already.
I am trying to do some research in what happens after the endo is removed?
I had Stage IV endo that was removed about 8 months ago. The pelvic pain is gone and my periods are a glorius event each month, even though I am TTC. Go figure! I never thought I would be so happy to bleed the way I do now!
The problems I am experiencing are killing my daily life. I don’t know if this has anything to do with endo or “risidual” effects of the disease, or something different.
I am a stay at home wife and have been for the past 5 months. I have ALWAYS felt tired for my age, I am currently 30 but even at 16 I felt tired for my age. At 16 I was put on an anti depressent which did NOTHING for me. Go figure, I wasn’t depressed.
I do have symptoms of depression, but I am not depressed at all. I.guarantee. it. I just do not have the get up and go as I feel like I should have. Most days I am unable to get off the couch becuase it almost hurts to move around, I can’t break away through the fog in my head, exercise exhuasts me, I see things through a haze, I am cold all the time and my feet remain cold. Even in the warm South. I am testing my cortisol right now, but won’t have the results for two weeks. Unfortunatley, I don’t think I will be able to make it one more day living with this much fatigue.
Apparently I have been living this way for many years so two weeks won’t hurt me.
My question is what other disease’s if you know of any could be related to endometriosis? I find a lot of information of what happens while you have endo, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information on what happens after the endo is removed. Your input would be great!
Posted by endochick on June 4, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I would have your thyroid checked, if you haven’t done so already. There are several conditions that have been found to have a co-morbidity with endometriosis. There is a theory existing that endometriosis is possibly an autoimmune disease and if you have one autoimmune disease your chances of having another increase, and then for another increase even more, and so on. Your symptoms also sound like those I’ve heard who suffer with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – the tiredness, the depressed feeling but not being depressed. If I were you, I would get a complete work up.
And now to endometriosis, I’m thrilled you had surgery and you’re feeling relief! That’s great. Keep in mind that endometriosis is a chronic condition and if you are not on some type of hormonal therapy (since you are TTC) the implants will eventually grow back. This may take years to grow back, and especially to get back to Stage IV. Or it could happen in a matter of months. The disease varies person to person. Hopefully you will remain symptom free for a long time.
Posted by Sew on June 4, 2009 at 5:23 pm
My T4 came back slightly elevated when they checked. I think it is 13 and the normal range is under 12. ???? I guess we will have to wait for the cortisol level test to return.
I am aware of the nasty endo conditions! Ugg, what a tradgedy it is! The endo was on my bowel so I also had a double bowel resection, appendectomy, and a few organs adhesed to intestines, bladder, ovary etc…! So the next time, God forbid, I need surgery to remove endo, I think I can handle having “just” a lap any day! hahahaha Crazy!
Thanks for your response!
Posted by endochick on June 4, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Hmmm… a T4 of 13 shouldn’t cause worry. But some endocrinologist’s will treat symptoms not numbers. Mine was 64. But those are the type of numbers you get with autoimmune hypothyroid.
Posted by mockingbird74 on August 10, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Hi there, we follow each other on Twitter and I stopped by to see your blog. I too get migraines, and have stage IV endo. Your blog is very good. Take a peek at mine @ endojourney.wordpress.com.
Posted by CAROLE HEATH on November 2, 2009 at 6:05 am
I would like to say to Endochick and the other ladies who have posted comments on this site that I have empathy with your illness of Endometriosis, I used to suffer with bad monthly periods myself bad pain and fainting through heavy blood loss. And feel a complete lack of energy and have to go to bed quite often, although I was never told I had this condition by my doctor seeing the symptoms on some of the sites about this illness I do wonder. Luckly I don’t get periods anymore glad to say as I am menopausal. But my friend suffered with this contion for years and all types of treatment failed including laser, in the end she had to have a complete womb removal owing to the fact she became so ill through the blood loss each month, she is now a different woman and enjoys live without all the misery of Endometriosis. I send my best wishes to you all and hope your problems with you illness will improve hopefully.