Things I wish I’d known about endometriosis
I was diagnosed with endometriosis over twenty years ago now, but there are definitely things I wish I’d know earlier on in my endometriosis journey that might have helped me get to the place I am today quicker.
As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month, I wanted to share some of them with you.
Do let me know if any of them were an issue for you too.
- Debilitating period pain is not normal
Getting some cramps or discomfort during your period and be normal. But getting debilitating pain that impacts on your day to day life or that painkillers don’t resolve is not normal. The problem is that if your periods have always been like that, it becomes your normal and you don’t know any other way. That was certainly what happened to me and it was only when I was at university that my housemates kept telling me it wasn’t normal to feel like that every month and encouraged me to go to the GP.
2. You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis to get support
When I was waiting for my laporoscopy I was already starting to think about trying some alternative therapies to manage my symptoms. But I delayed doing it as I felt I needed a diagnosis and to know what I was dealing with before getting support. Of course it helps to know for sure if it is endometriosis or adenomyosis, but you don’t need a diagnosis before getting nutritional therapy support. We can start putting support in place based on your symptoms, and what’s currently in your diet before you have a formal diagnosis.
3. The longer you’ve had the symptoms the longer it takes to get them back in balance
This links to my previous point – it really is better to start getting support in place as soon as your symptoms become a regular problem. It is then much quicker and easier to get things back into a better balance. The longer the symptoms have progressed, the more time in can take to get things to a more manageable level. That’s not to say, that you can’t improve your symptoms, it’s just that it will take more time.
4. Be wary of practitioners who tell you they can ‘heal’ your endometriosis or get rid of your symptoms in a month
It can be a minefield when you start looking for support for your managing endometriosis and you will find plenty of people claiming they can heal or cure your endometriosis – I still get them sending me messages on social media! I wish it was true, but sadly you can’t cure endometriosis. But you can manage the symptoms better, get to a better place than you are feeling now and learn some tools to help you manage the condition long-term.
5. You need to find ways of managing the condition long term
A one month intensive diet or programme is not going to manage your endometriosis long term. Yes it can help you get the foundations in place, and you might start to notice improvements to your symptoms, but this is a chronic condition and you need to have strategies to manage it long-term. My approach with one to one clients is to give you the strategies and foundations to manage the condition, but do this in a way that feels manageable so that you can keep it going long term.
6. It can be helpful to have a team around you to manage endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complex condition and so having a range of different professionals giving you support can be helpful in to manage the condition from a range of different angles. As well as getting emotional support from family or friends, support with diet and supplements, you may also benefit from support from your GP or consultant, a pelvic floor physio, a pain management clinic or other alternative practitioners.
If you would like someone on your team who gets endometriosis and can help you get the right diet and supplements in place to manage the condition long term, book in for a free chat to find out more about how I can help.