Being broken to be re-built

I was explaining pregnancy to a lovely late 20's lady this weekend, which, after a few glasses of champers turned into a long regaling horror story much to her wide-eyed terror.

I concluded that motherhood, and adjusting to it, is like military training. You are completely and utterly broken in every way - physically, mentally, emotionally, hormonally, sleeplessly - and from there you can rebuild in your new life as a mum.

Endo awareness video

This is the lovely video made by Alyssa Pinto, which I posted about last week featuring the faces of endo (myself included).

Please share it, re-tweet, and pass on.

And, most importantly, if you live in pain - don't feel alone.

DD
x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngTHgzQQGO8

Pain, acceptance and winning

 

So, today I am in a lot of pain.

A slightly ill-fated trip to Cambridge:  trying to find shoes for my bridesmaid dress + busy shops + humid Autumn + pain + tired Mini Divas = me stumbling around shops trying to not cry/hit people/cry/faint/cry.

A moment with Bangs

[caption id="attachment_1567" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Mumma Run with some one the Team at Nike"][/caption]

As you know, I am an honoured member of Team Bangs on the Run 2, and readers will have been tracking my progress here on Dexterous Diva.

Team Bangs on the Run is the brainchild of blogger extraordinare,  prolific Tweeter and all round slice of awesomeness that is Bangs and a Bun, also known to some by her real name Muirrean, but to us girls on Team Bangs as Mumma Run. 

Asking for help; a learning curve

 

One of the hardest lessons I have been learning over the last few years is that asking for help is ok.

In fact, it's not only ok, it's often necessary, a relief to the person being asked, and down right easier all round.

#endowarriors: The faces of endometriosis video project

 

This week on Twitter I stumbled across a project by Alyssa Pinto, a fellow endo sister who is curating a project to raise awareness of our disease.

Endometriosis: 10 reasons to go running

Endometriosis is crippling. Pain management is important, and  I know ladies, exercise can be THE LAST thing on your mind when the pain strikes.

But, as an endo warrior who is on a journey with my running and training for a half marathon, here is why I think you should give it a go:

1. Exercise gives you back control; one day you may be in bed on painkillers but the next you are out there doing 9 miles and winning.

The Twin thing

I am a mum of twins, the gorgeous Mini Divas Eva and Mia.

I have written before about my postnatal depression, breastfeeding and the like, but never yet about The Twin Thing.

Painkillers, addiction and endo

Pain management is one of the main factors in which Western medicine manages endometriosis. Where pain cannot be eradicated it is "managed", and a cocktail of pharmaceuticals issued to numb the nerves and make life liveable.

Disrobing part 2

You may remember my Disrobing Dysmorphia post back in May.

No?

For anyone prone to feel queasy you have been warned, but the post is here.

So. It's now August. I am by no means Kate Moss in stature but I am on the way to being fitter and healthier. I now weigh 10 stone 8, so a few pounds lighter but my body is changing shape and I am learning all the time about food nutrition and fitness.

Team Bangs at Nike with Charlotte Purdue

On Monday I had the pleasure of meeting up with my Team Bangs ladies (with a few absent friends who weren't able to make it!) at Nike Town in London.

Nike were wonderful hosts to us, and arranged for us ladies to meet and interview elite runner Charlotte Purdue.

Why running is brilliant and what I've learned about plans

 

Running is changing my life in so many ways; is helping my depression no end, it is helping my battle against endometriosis and it is giving me a new positivity and focus in my life alongside the girls.

Running is utterly brilliant. What I am learning about the way that I am approaching my training for this half marathon I realise can be applied to so many other areas in life. My schedule for training the Half  is broken down into weeks, into days, into various speeds, length of sessions and rest days.

My running essentials

 

As I get more used to this running lark and progress from being an utter beginner to slightly less of a beginner, these are the things I find essential:

NHS, private ethics and me

 

So, my lovely readers, where do you stand with the ethics of private healthcare versus our good old NHS?

Do you have an opinion? Ever thought about it? Me neither, until recently.

My interview on Sherryl's World on Bang FM

For anyone who missed it, here is the link to my interview last week on Bang FM with the wonderful Sherryl Blu talking about endometriosis.

Thanks to Sherryl for the airtime and for fabulous Team Bangs on the Run crew member Cass for the opportunity.

 

Jo Gifford drops into Sherryl's World to discuss Endometriosis - Mon 25th July 2011 by Sherrylsworld on Mixcloud

Cosmo blog awards- nominate me!

Dear lovely readers,

I would be honoured and delighted if you could help me spread the word of endo and it's effect on life by nominating me in the Cosmo 2011 blog awards.

Endo - playing the waiting game

I read with interest this week some findings of a survey conducted by Endometriosis UK on their news page.

The survey found that:

 On average it takes over 7.5 years to diagnose endometriosis

 Women wait nearly 2 years before visiting their GP about their symptoms

 GPs then took on average 4 years to refer the patient to a specialist

 It then takes a further 1 year 9 months to get a formal diagnosis

 Over 50% of participants waited more than 6 years for a diagnosis

 Less than 20% of those who responded received a diagnosis within two years

 One third of respondents waited at least 10 years, and 15% waited for over 15 years, to be diagnosed.

One third waited TEN YEARS.

I had 8 years from initial pain to diagnosis and that was incredibly hard. Not knowing what causes pain or what could be causing it meant I had no idea that endo could be a potential condition and therefore no power to insist on further investigations.

This is why I am so adamant about spreading awareness of endometriosis and it's symptoms so that women don't have to suffer so long without a diagnosis and a pain management plan.

So, symptoms:

• Painful, heavy, or irregular periods
• Pain during or after sex
• Infertility
• Problems on opening bowels
• Fatigue

These are the main bad boys. I would also add in ovarian pain, white hot shooting and burning pains, exhaustion, and abdomen bloating.

Don't sit for 10 years in silence girls, you know your body and if it feels wrong make sure you get seen.

DD

x