Sharing My Endometriosis Story In The Missing Piece In Bouncing Back

Morning everyone! I know it's been a while since I posted - I've been for all kinds of hospital tests, results etc lately, but that's for another blog!

Today I want to make the very exciting announcement that I'm an International Best Seller! I can tell you it's brilliant news to wake up to. :) So let's back up a little so I can explain...

A few months ago my mum (who is already a published author) started working on a project called The Missing Piece in Bouncing Back. The idea was to bring together 20-30 authors, all with a story of overcoming life's challenges and 'bouncing back' to happiness - whatever that meant to them! Over the months we met some amazing people with incredible stories and slowly the book came together.

Once we were nearing the deadline and we had over 20 people on board, mum then approached my sister and I and asked if we too would share our stories. I was a bit emosh at the time - thinking that of all the inspiring stories I'd read so far I'd been considered to have come through similar! At first I was hesitant - did I want people to know my story? Did I want to share some deeply personal experiences for all the world to read?

In the end of course I agreed, but there was a lot of thought behind that and I wanted to share those reasons with you today.

Firstly and possibly most importantly, I did it to raise awareness. This blog, our fundraising efforts, the talks I've given; they've all been to raise awareness on varying scales and sizes of platform. The feedback I get from these actions is almost always positive and nothing makes me feel prouder than hearing something I did or said made a difference. I've had people say my information changed the way they managed their condition, others have said it helped them understand what the doctor failed to explain, and possibly my favourite is when a family member gains understanding about endometriosis and a new-found respect for what their relative is going through. Could I really turn down the opportunity to share information with a much wider audience? The answer in the end was no.

My second reason was more about myself and my family, but it really was the lower priority of the two. If you've read many of my previous posts you'll know that my energy and ability to work ebbs and flows sometimes with quite dramatic flair. For quite some time I've been thinking of ways that I can make more passive income and ensure that money is still coming in when I'm not able to work. This book will be my first step in truly passive income and I'm pretty proud of that. The profits will be shared between 24 authors so I'm not expecting mega-bucks here! But once a quarter I will get a little trickle of the profits knowing the work is all done and dusted already (besides maybe the odd promotional post or two of course!). And I've got to say, that feels pretty good. :)

The book was officially launched yesterday and we've all been doing our best to promote it and reach that coveted Best Seller status. There's been a lot of refreshing stats, sharing links and excitedly awaiting results. As of this moment we're currently #98 in our category which means we've made it to Best Seller in one of our categories and there are still 6 hours to go to improve that. But wherever we end up in the ranks, this has all been worth it already.

This book is for you if you've ever been frustrated at the medical system and how they just didn't understand your symptoms. It's for you if you spent far too long in waiting rooms, A&E, surgery, recovering from all of the indignities that come with endometriosis. It's for you if you get blank looks when you tell people you have a chronic pain condition. It's for you if you've struggled to recover after surgery and not known why. It's for you if you're battling the journey of infertility and can't see a way forward. It's for the crying woman on the bus because she's just spotted a happy family together. It's for the young girl being told she'll be in pain the rest of her life and the mature women who were given bad advice and no options before enough was known about the condition.

If you relate to my story in any way at all, this was for you.


If you want to read my story or any of the 23 other incredible stories you can buy a copy of the book by clicking this link (it'll take you to Amazon).

Morning Meditation

My mum has worked in the holistic therapy field for almost 20 years, so you'd think I'm a daily practicer of meditation right? Well... no.

I have meditated and I sometimes quite enjoy the calm that comes after it, but I could never get my head into a daily situation where I set time aside for it. I usually stumble out of bed as late as possible with just enough time to be ready to leave for work. Then once I'm home I have just enough energy left to feed us, spend some low-energy time with Tom and then crawl back to bed. Sound familiar?

Well today my bladder woke me early (about 6.15 to be precise) and I just knew there'd be no going back to sleep. I had a headache already, my back was in knots and it was pretty light in the bedroom. Usually on these days I throw on the laptop and mooch about online until it's time to resume my normal routine, then lament the wasted time.

Today started similarly, but as the laptop was loading my head throbbed even more at the sight of the screen and my back ached painfully. I've seen a lot about meditation and mindfulness helping with pain and anger (something I'm becoming all too familiar with lately - thanks hormones!) so I figured "What's there to lose?"

Which is why when Tom came into the living room this morning he found me cross-legged on the floor quietly. I meditated for about 10 minutes, followed by slowly, gently stretching out my back and shoulders. Nothing fancy at all, just watching my breath and (trying) to gently let go of any thoughts, then some basic cat stretches.

And here I am at just before 7am feeling much calmer, my headache now almost gone (almost...) and my back is easing, if not completely better. Not only that, but I've almost finished writing a blog before my alarm has even gone off!

Thinking of how I felt when I first got up, I can't put this change down to anything but the meditation. So maybe I'll be trying it again very soon!

Recovering With Adult Colouring Books

Recently my sister got an adult colouring book and I was insanely jealous - especially as she had some brilliantly bright colours that brought the pages to life! I also saw this post from Three Little Buhos about them, which just furthered my need to have one in my life. While I was perusing Amazon and deciding which one to go with, my lovely mum bought me one as a treat for some of the work we've been doing together - I love my fam!

I'm not the only one with colouring envy - upon hearing that mine was on its way Tom said he wanted one, so now he has his own too. :)

I've had a number of people respond with skepticism, asking if it really is that relaxing and some have barely hidden their belief that it's a little childish (I know who you are! :p). But I've also had plenty of people asking where I got it and for recommendations so I knew it would make for a good blog!

In Annie's post (Three Little Buhos) she concentrated on how the books aid with managing stress and depression, but I've found them useful for helping with another health issue: recovering from surgery/chronic pain and fatigue.

As some of you will know I recently had my gallbladder out and it's been taking much long than anticipated to recover. Aside from working, I've not had the energy to do much and it can get very boring when your body can't do as much as your mind! Not only has the colouring been relaxing, it's also been perfect entertainment for when I wanted to do something but wasn't feeling up to a lot.

It's cheered me up to be creating something pretty and colourful when I've felt rubbish and I've been showing everyone my pictures with pride - a bit like a 5 year old really, haha!

We have 2 colouring books at the moment, both of which are nature/animal based as they're perfect for bright colours and creativity. Mine is Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom* which is full of exotic animals and patterns. The pictures in this blog are from this book. Tom's is Birds & Butterflies by Alice Chadwick* which is exactly what it says! I've been sneakily colouring in some of the butterflies in there and Tom's been working on a masterpiece of a mother bird with all her chicks.

The books are less than £10 each and offer hundreds of hours of entertainment (the tree took me the best part of an hour alone!) so they're well worth the money in my opinion.

Have you got any colouring books, or other hobbies that are similarly restful and relaxing? Let me know in the comments below - and feel free to share some pictures that you've been working on!

Bruisings & Musings

My life has been a series of ups and downs over the last few weeks and it's led me to a lot of contemplating, musing, thinking and all-round brain exercise... Brace yourselves because this is a long one! (It has a point though, promise!)

Let's start with the ups...

I started a brilliant e-course called Make Over Your Mornings which has helped me to create some brilliant bedtime and morning routines and as a result I'm having a lot more productive days. The flat hasn't been this tidy and well-presented as a result of my help (rather than Tom doing everything or me calling in back up!) since before my endo diagnosis. I've got clear and concise goals that I'm making steady progress on (at least some of them anyway...) and I go to bed feeling satisfied now that the day was well spent.

I'm working 3 days a week with Discover Your Bounce* (more on that in a future blog!) and the other 4 days I'm left to my own devices. Some of that time is spent with Tom, family or friends but more of it is spent with Me, Myself & I. And despite all the giant positive steps I've been taking this year, the last month in particular, I'm still getting stuck with the same blocks and thought processes as always. So I wanted to share some musings and see if others feel stuck by the same things? I think I'm working a way through it all, but it'd be interesting to have your input too.

The downs...

I guess the place to start all of this is my biggest down of recent times - last Saturday. I was up bright and early, got Tom off to work and popped into Tesco on my way home to pick up a few things. I was hosting my mum and a fellow new Discover Your Bounce Licensee for the day for our introduction training - something I'd been excited to start for weeks!

With about 10 minutes to go I was setting up one of our fold-away tables, managed to get my leg caught in the framework and over I went. Crashing into the TV stand, falling between the stand and the freezer and landing on an extension lead. Ouch! I burst into tears, assessed that nothing was broken (thank god!) then dragged myself across the living room to my phone to call for mum (what else would you do in that situation?!).

The most impressive bruise is on my hip/thigh, but there are more on my arm and stomach.

The rest of the story goes much as you'd expect - hurting all over, some simultaneously horrific and impressive bruising, ice packs and a few nights of uncomfortable sleeping. But what I didn't expect was the after-effects of extreme exhaustion, mild depression and a general feeling of being unwell. Sunday I split my time between laying on the sofa and napping in bed as it was all I was good for. I made it as far as work Monday - Wednesday, but the effort was so great that I had to finish early Wednesday and am only just feeling human again.

All of this leads to my musing...

When will my energy return? When will my sense of fun, mischief and general passion for life be back? I lost it somewhere around 2012 when the first symptoms of endo really started kicking in and since then I've had glimpses of it - days or even weeks when I've felt like "I'm back baby!" only to feel exhausted and burnt out just a short time later.

I've also noticed I hold a lot more anger than I used to and I don't have patience for people. I call them idiots, say they're stupid etc. but really I think it's me. I have so little of "Me-ness" to share that I want to conserve it for those who are important to me. Spoon Theory is based around energy-use for people with chronic pain, equating a spoon to a 'bar' of energy. Most of the discussions I've read/had about Spoon Theory talk about physical activities costing spoons but for me I value my 'mental spoons' even more and if people try to waste them I get very annoyed and angry quite quickly.

Not only that, but my natural defensive state has switched from 'reasonable discussion' to 'shout and deflect'. Quite possibly because I'm already too busy beating myself up mentally for all of my own perceived shortcomings to allow anyone else to say something negative about me. Poor Tom has been the main victim in this - even a simple request for a household task to be done can lead to being shouted at if I'm feeling defensive. Not fun for him!

So why do I feel/act like this when I used to be so different?

Part of me argues "You're getting older, this happens to everyone.", "Your body has been through a lot, try to balance everything instead of pushing it.", "Some people just have more energy than others."

The other part of me argues "Bullshit."

I don't accept that my once-energetic body, that was so full of life and laughter and fun, is now just a bit too worn-down to do those things anymore. That if I want a full day of productivity/activities/having a life that I must balance it with a day of feeling crappy and resting. I don't believe it has to be this way - I mean I'm only 24! I just need to find the right routine/diet/exercise/mentality/whatever that is going to unlock the old me.

I'm getting there. I have more "Me" days than "Not Me" days, where I bother making an effort with my appearance, get some good work done, have a laugh with friends and family, but not enough. Why should I ever feel like I'm not myself?

And I think this is the same for a lot of endo sufferers. I've seen a number of posts when people find the right combination of meds and complementary routines saying they feel back to normal or like their old selves. So it can't just be me here, can it? There's obviously a problem that's even less talked about than endometriosis itself - the knock-on effect it has on your personality.

Over to you!

This is where I want to throw it out to you guys - do you feel like you've changed as a person since you started noticing endometriosis symptoms? Not just the side-effects of hormone treatment (those are a whole hell of their own!) but through the whole process - from first noticing the pains all the way through treatment and beyond. I'd love to hear your experiences, either in the comments or privately in an email if you'd prefer; amirosemarshall@gmail.com

p.s wow, did not think the blog would be this long!

Planning A New Diet

Did you miss me? :) Tom and I went on a short break to Leicester to visit his parents and then on to Manchester for a few days just the two of us. It was lovely - we went to Twycross Zoo, Chester Zoo and The Chestnut Centre (an otter and owl sanctuary in the Peak District) - which I loved, but also highlighted my need to get fit like nothing else could!

The otters spotted breakfast on its way!

Despite stopping frequently to rest and taking plenty of food and drink to keep my energy up, I was still left exhausted and in pain on most of the days (a lot of walking was involved even on non-zoo days). I took naps on any afternoon we were home/at the hotel and was going to bed early most nights but I was still left drained by the end of the holiday and desperate for my own bed!

Alongside all of this happening I've noticed more bloating/some weight gain and the tightening of my clothes, so it's time to do something. I also have a friend who recently broke her leg and is looking to lose weight before her wedding later this year, so we've teamed up to keep each other accountable.

I've made a plan that I'm going to try for the next week to see if I can stick to it and I wanted to share it with you in case anyone wants to try it with me. :)

So here goes...

Breakfast: a fruit/veg smoothie. My plan is to buy fruit and veg in bulk at the start of the week the freeze it in portion sizes ready to blend each morning. (side note: I've tried blending then freezing but they just don't taste as nice.) I'm thinking a basic recipe of gluten free porridge oats, almond milk and then a mix of whatever fruits and veg (spinach/kale will be my sneaky iron intake) I have on hand.

Mid-morning snack: Veg sticks, nuts, raisins etc.

Lunch: Soup. Again, planning to make this in batches and freeze in individual portions to make things super easy.

Afternoon snack: Veg sticks, nuts, raisins. On treat days this is when I'll eat the chocolate too (raw dark chocolate of course!)

Dinner: This is the only meal that will be more flexible as I'll have to accommodate Tom here, but I'll still try to keep it healthy and perhaps reduce my portion sizes.

Drinks: I'll be following the rule "don't drink your calories" and sticking to water, except perhaps some fruit juice or squash if I really need something with flavour! I know people advise lemon/lime in water for flavour, but that just doesn't cut it for me.

I'll try to get more exercise in too to keep up any fitness I gained while we were away, but since #EndoFitPlan bombed miserably I'm gonna concentrate on getting the diet right before worrying about that!

Is anyone else trying to get healthy and lose some weight as summer approaches? (I don't believe in yo-yo diets, but I definitely find myself more motivated when the weather is nicer!) Let me know if you want to create a group for support!

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Day Six

Day Six
Another productive day at work, although my headache is hanging in there. I wish my wisdom teeth would just chill for a bit, haha. I've also spent the evening sorting through stuff ready for our trip to Leicester. It's always surprising how much stuff you need when you go away, even if it's not for long! Pretty much everything I wanted to take was in the wash so now every doorway in our flat has clothes drying, haha. Hopefully it all dries in time!

I'm really bloated again today and craving salty/sugary foods. I'm really not that fussy on what it is. Luckily it's quite well balanced with my extra fruit intake so if I can just cut back a bit it won't be a problem.

About the picture
This was taken during the 'chaos' stage of packing. You can see my laptop playing music in the background (playing the Bellas Final from Perfect Pitch I believe - my current obsession!) and the suitcase I decided was too small and put away shortly after. The weather is so changeable at the moment I'm planning lots of layers and options!

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Day Five

Day Five
Today was a good day. Productive at work and my laptop was fixed and ready for pick-up this morning - a day and a half earlier than predicted. :) Also squeezed in time to watch Game of Thrones before work this morning, so today is going well indeed!

I've noticed my stomach seems to be getting bigger at the moment, possibly down to bad diet and my digestion not being as good. We're getting into the habit of a fresh fruit smoothie each day at work so I'm gonna try to combine that with more veg at home and more water to try and ditch this bloat/extra weight!

About the picture
I'm showing off my 5-way plait because I'm proud of it! It was pinned back to keep my hair off my face as I worked but you can't see it properly there. Also the picture is taken from my laptop once more - a celebration of getting it back! :)

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Day Four

Day Four

I missed two days because my laptop died Friday evening and it's now with the computer doctors. It's forced me to actually do things other than be online. Yesterday (apart from my tours of various computer shops) I spent time with Kassi catching up on Game of Thrones, went to mums to show her the embarassing pictures I retrieved from my old computer and went to visit Nan before it was time to pick Tom up. Then in the evening we went to Rachel's house for a game night. Today I had a film day (4 and a bit films!) and it was nice to relax. Back to work tomorrow, which should be interesting without a laptop.. I have mum's iPad for now but it's difficult to get used to!

On the endo front I possibly over indulged in fatty foods today as I'm feeling quite sick. I've also got a bit of stomach ache. Otherwise everything is good - trying to up my fruit and veg intake to see if it has an effect on my energy. :)

About the picture

I look like I have two black eyes but it's just bad lighting and tiredness! I've straightened my hair for a change and I'm enjoying it for now. It's the longest it's ever been and it's getting to the stage where I just throw it in a messy bun for ease!

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Day Three

Day Three
Today was really productive! I had a good morning getting stuff done at work then an afternoon off with Tom. We went to vote (my first time, woohoo!) then spent the afternoon watching films and relaxing. Note: This Is The End - crap film!

My headache persists, I have a theory that it's to do with my wisdom teeth coming through. The pain in my stomach is improving though which is good news. :)

About the picture
Okay so it's not my face... but I have a jumper with an apple on it and this makes me very happy. It's very comfy and cosy too. Yay!

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Day Two

Day Two
Spent the day half asleep - really struggling with energy at the moment - and only remembered to take the picture as I was going to bed, so I thought this one was quite fitting. I had a headache all day that got worse as the day went on, although it eased off after dinner. Still really enjoying being back at work, it's nice to be feeling productive again!

On the endo front I'm feeling disproportionately tired for the sleep I'm getting and that pulling pain in my stomach has continued. Very weird, but hopefully it's just a pulled muscle and will ease over the next few days.

About the picture
The bear in the picture is Egbert - he's actually one of those teddies that has a microwavable pouch in his tummy. I started using him to help with the endo pain when I went to bed, but now he's just a lovable cuddle buddy.

For details of the #ChangingFaceOfEndo project you can read the explanation post here.

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Day One

Day One
I woke up exhausted today despite doing very little yesterday. I went to bed a little later than usual, but was disproportionately tired as a result. Once I got going it was a pretty good day - my first day back working for Discover Your Bounce 3 days a week which I was excited about.

I was pain free until this evening when I must have moved funny because I felt something pull around my belly button incision scar. After that every time I stood up it hurt like something was pulling in my stomach and I had to stand bent slightly forwards. Very weird and I hope it goes by the morning!

About the picture
I'm holding my Thoughts & Dreams notebook, which is quite fitting as I was given it as a present after my first lap that diagnosed endometriosis. I've been using it to keep track of my Life Pyramid (something I'll post about soon) and it's never too far from me at the moment!


For details on the project check out the explanation blog!

#ChangingFaceOfEndo Project

I mentioned in the last blog that I was thinking of doing a new project so today I'd like to explain a little more about the idea. As with many other invisible illnesses, you can't tell someone has endometriosis just by looking at them (unless they're doubled over in agony, ha). This idea has been explored by people with all sorts of illnesses, including the #facesofendo challenge to raise awareness, but I've been thinking of a slightly different (if not original) take on it.

Not only does endo look different on each woman who has it, it also looks different for the same woman depending on the day, her symptoms, where she is in her cycle etc. So I wanted to try the photo-a-day project that many people do, but in a way that helps to raise awareness for endo at the same time. With each picture I'd include thoughts on how I feel in general but also endo-specific stuff so that people can see the different aspects of endo over the course of weeks, months and the year.

I'm anticipating most of the pictures will just be me at the laptop, perhaps with some situational pictures if they seem relevant to the project. I'll be posting picture one in a separate post tonight so you can see what I mean. :)

So what do you think? Would you find this kind of project interesting? Do any fellow endo sisters want to take part? Let me know in the comments below!

ps thanks to Kassi and Nicky Marshall for their help in coming up with the project name/hashtag!

Food Challenge Update

This post is a little overdue since I actually did my food shop on Friday, but it was a busy weekend so I hope you'll forgive me!

The good news is that Part One of the challenge was a success - I managed to make meals each night without doing any extra shopping (besides getting lunches for Tom for work, but we do that every week anyway so I'm not counting it!). Woohoo! There was a bit of luck involved as I wasn't sure one of my batch meals was going to stretch to 4 portions (it looked more like 3 generous portions or 4 measly ones) but in the end it was just an eyes-bigger-than-belly scenario, haha. Isn't it always?

As for Part Two I've made a good start. Instead of getting a weekly shop as usual on Friday I went to Aldi. Their meat is cheaper than Asda and good quality, but it's the only thing we buy there so I don't go often unless it's to stock up in bulk. I ended up spending about £25 on meat and managed to get 4kg of chicken breast (for comparison this much in Asda would be £30 alone), 4 beef burgers, a pack of turkey mince and a pack of pork mince (which we've never tried before). That should last us quite a while! I also did Asda for our usual stuff, but bought extra veg so that I can prepare and freeze it for future meals.

So far I've done a big batch of shredded chicken - half went to that nights' batch meal (a Mexican Casserole style thing that I just have to share at some point!) and the other half I froze for future meals. I also froze enough chicken stock for 2 meals, so I'm feeling pretty smug. On the menu tonight is Chicken Tikka Masala and I'm adding in some veg we don't normally eat so I'll chop and freeze extra at the same time again.

On a semi-related note I've thought of another project to start that I'm hoping might be interesting, so I'm gonna write another blog on that shortly. Stay tuned!

Is anyone else doing any food challenges at the moment? I'd love to hear about them. :) I always feel like Spring is a better time to start resolutions than January - it's right as the weather picks up and everything feels more positive! What do you think?

"One Of Those Days" Becomes A Food Challenge!

The last week hasn't been the best for me. I've had a few productive bursts of activity, but for the most part I've not been up to much more than playing Facebook games. The kind I hate, but find myself unable to stop playing. I've been suffering from pretty bad headaches and really tired. I think I've just reached a stage in my recovery where I need to start doing more, but I'm stuck in a chicken and egg scenario - I've not got anything to do I've been out of action so long!

I start extra work with Discover Your Bounce next month which will help - 3 days a week of getting up and going to work rather than 'working' from the sofa in my pjs. But that doesn't help me this week, where I've got a few small tasks to get done but at my own pace and without a deadline.

Today has been the peak of the problem, but has also unwittingly offered me a solution. I've been out of action most of the day with another headache - this one worse than usual. Just reading, chilling, trying not to make it worse. So it wasn't until I was making dinner and went to put something in the freezer that I realised it was unplugged... and most of the contents were either defrosted or halfway there. Oops! Pretty much everything had to go in the bin, since we can't work out when it must have been unplugged and what state of defrost the items were in.

Here's the kicker - most of the food was on the meal plan for this week, meaning all of our planned meals have to be scrapped and we're still 5 days from our normal shopping day. Bummer, huh?

After being royally p***ed off for a bit, I decided to set myself a little food challenge for the week. I'm not going to go shopping until our next regular shop. All meals will be made from what we have to hand at home (luckily we had a little excess meat in the fridge still waiting to be frozen). The only exception to this will be picking up some fresh veg to accompany meals as we're running low.

I'm also going for a second challenge - to restock the freezer with healthy meal components to reduce the number of takeaways we have (we've been getting lazy lately). This'll be a combination of chopped veg to throw into soups, curries & chillies, some pre-cooked shredded chicken and batch meals of some of our favourite things. It's something I've been meaning to do for a while, so this was a bittersweet kick in the bum for me to get on and do it.

I'll update you to my progress soon, perhaps with some recipes too as I've found some new ones to try! :)

Do you set yourself food challenges? Let me know in the comments!

5 Ways To Make Money From Home With Chronic Pain

Although the pain aspect of my endometriosis is less of an issue in my life now I still struggle with daily energy levels, especially since my most recent op. I can spend the day sitting on the sofa getting minor work tasks done and streaming tv shows and still be ready for bed by 8pm. Even my 'active' days don't come close to a traditional day of work. So like almost every other chronic illness sufferer I've spent quite a lot of time thinking of and trying out ways to make an income from home. I've yet to crack it so that the bills get paid without my main job (or even close for that matter!), but I have the small beginnings of income that lessen the burden on my main job and I wanted to share these ideas so you can try them too. Some of them I've tried myself while others are ideas friends of mine have done. :)

All of these ideas will work for anyone - you don't have to be a chronic pain sufferer! But they are designed to take very little energy, or capitalise on the 'good days' where you can invest some time and effort for future benefit.

1. Etsy

First up, the most well-known way to make money from home. People often think of making craft items as the way to make money on Etsy, but you can sell a lot more than just handmade cards and headbands. You can sell your own prints, screensavers, mobile accessories, wedding supplies... the list is endless! The best way to get inspiration is to head over there and take a browse through existing items.

If you're selling physical items this option will require some energy investment on 'good days' to keep your shop stocked and ship items when they sell, or at least a willing friend who will help out. With digital products it's a little easier as you'll likely be spending time on the computer anyway.

2. Sell Your Graphic Designs

Are you talented on Photoshop or other design software? Ever wanted to see your designs come to life on t-shirts, mugs, tote bags etc? There are websites you can sign up with that will add your designs to any multitude of items to be sold to the public for a cut of the price. There are plenty of options to choose from! Why not check out this article on selling your graphic designs?

This is a great option as if you're interested in designing you probably already have a back catalogue of designs that you can get started with. Plus as mentioned above you'll also likely be spending time online anyway.

3. Amazon Associates

Got a bit of a reputation as the go-to person for tech advice, film suggestions or new books to read? Why not become an Amazon Associate? By signing up as an affiliate you can create your own unique links to products in their store and earn a percentage when someone buys through your link. The great thing is you get commission on everything that person buys within 24 hours of clicking, not just the product you sent them to. Commission rates vary from 5-9% depending on the items you recommend and how much you sell each month and minimum payout is £25.

The great thing about this idea is that you can create unique links in minutes and you get a generic link for the Amazon homepage too. Many of my sales have come from friends and family who have saved my link in place of going directly to the site and do all their usual shopping through that link.

4. Blogging

If you're passionate about a hobby or topic and pretty nifty with words (yes, I said nifty) then you could start your own blog - just like I've done! There are plenty of ways to monetise a blog from advertising (Google AdSense is the most common) to affiliate links and even selling your own e-books and products. Here's a great list of the top ways to make money from blogging. Focus on good quality, interesting content and promoting it in the right places rather than for profit though. Profits are usually a side-effect of having a well-run blog!

Blogging can take energy and creative thinking, so if you find yourself in a writing mood it's best to try and get ahead on the weeks' posts. That way when you're too tired to write you'll have something to post anyway. This is something I'm still trying to work on as you might tell!

5. Game Streaming

This is a new one I've been looking into over the last few weeks and something I'm about to start doing with Tom. Twitch gives gamers the capability of broadcasting their screens and audio/webcam for others to watch them play. There are a number of requirements to monetising these streams such as broadcasting regularly and having a large following, but that shouldn't be seen as a barrier if you're a serious gamer anyway.

The benefit to this idea is that if you're not feeling up to working/chores etc. people will often spend time playing games anyway, so why not make money from something you're already going to do?

All of these options require time and energy to build up - none are overnight money-makers. However with dedication and time they have the ability to completely replace a 9-5 income and they're a lot more flexible and understanding than a boss!

Have you tried any of the above methods for making money from home? Or do you have other methods you use that others could replicate? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!

My Endo Exercise Plan

As I mentioned in a recent blog post, 2 weeks ago I went on a VIP Mastermind Day with Discover Your Bounce. One of my goals that came from the day was to get my body back to health - something I've been neglecting for quite some time now. But I had no idea how I was going to do that, until yesterday.

I've come up with an #EndoFitPlan that I'm trialing for the next 3 weeks (ie the rest of April) to see if I can gain some momentum on exercising again. The premise is very simple - if I exercise for 5 minutes each day, I get a star on the calendar. The idea is that 5 minutes is a very easy goal to reach. I could just walk to the end of my road and back and that'll be a star for the day. But once I get out there I will inevitably end up doing more.

For example yesterday I decided to walk some stuff up to the charity shop & buy veg for dinner (35 minutes) and today once I reached the bridge in the park (my personal 'end point' goal) I kept on going to a quiet part of the river to chill for a bit (20 minutes). So in just two days my 10 minutes has turned into 55 minutes!

"What's the point of the stars?" you might be asking. They're my way of keeping track of what treats I'm owed at the end of each week/month - oh yes, there are treats! I know I should just exercise for the health benefits, but if that were enough motivation I would be doing it already wouldn't I? So here's my treat system for the next 3 weeks:

Weekly
3 stars: A face mask
5 stars: A fruit smoothie
7 stars: A small chocolate bar (hey, I deserve it!)

Monthly
6 stars (2 x a week): 1 hour of uninterrupted reading (I do this anyway, but I usually feel guilty!)
12 stars (4 x a week): A new song for my iPod
18 stars (6 x a week): Upgrade to a big chocolate bar (I'm walking 6 times a week, I really deserve it!)
21 stars (every day!): A new book or album

I've tried to keep the treats small but cumulative, so in theory at the end of each week I get a little 'me time' where I can put on a face mask and enjoy a little snack if I've reached my goals. The last week of the month will be rewarded with monthly instead of weekly treats (although who's to say I won't have a face mask and smoothie anyway!).

If this works I'll probably come up with a different treat system that's more reflective of my habits, or maybe a new one each month depending on what I fancy, but for a trial I think it's a pretty good one. :)

Does anyone else want to join me for this? We could get an online group together to motivate each other and offer support. :) I've chosen walking since I live across the road from a beautiful park with a stream running through, but you could do yoga at home, swimming, or even just jogging on the spot! We don't have to do the same thing. Let me know in the comments or message me on my Facebook Page if you're interested!

Our Endometriosis Interview with The Digestion Detective

On the 26th of March Kassi and I had a lovely chat with Sam from The Digestion Detective all about Endometriosis and our fundraising efforts, specifically #ShaveForEndo. We covered what endometriosis is, some top tips for getting help from your doctor and the basics to starting the endo diet. We also explained what fundraising we've done so far, plans for the future and why we think Endometriosis UK is such a great charity! You can listen to the full interview here:

Moments after Kassi saw her new 'do' for the first time!

Donate to #ShaveForEndo
Find out more about Endometriosis UK

Overcoming Down Days

This week has been particularly tough for me. Recovery from my gallbladder removal hasn't been as fast as I'd like, returning to work has been difficult and exhausting and I've felt very stuck in what to do about it all. Tuesday everything came to head after I had to leave a course early out of sheer exhaustion. It was my first attempt at an all-day activity, which in my eyes should've been easy 4 weeks after surgery and yet that wasn't the case.

Thankfully I'm feeling better now. Thanks to the help from Tom, my mum and a friend who have all done their best to cheer me up but also give practical help and advice, I've got a path forward again and some tactics in place to regain my energy.

Since I've found these ideas so helpful in this last week alone, I wanted to share a few with you guys so that you too could pull through tough times a little easier. :)

Wear Bright Colours

When you're not feeling great it can be tempting to hide away in your oldest, comfiest pjs or big baggy clothes if you have to go out. Instead, put on your brightest top or bling it up with some pretty accessories. The colours will give you an energetic and mood boost each time you catch your reflection. This week I've made sure to pull out my Spring wardrobe and wear my pastel pinks and grass greens, leaving the Winter shades in the drawer!

Get More Sleep

It might sound obvious or easier said than done, but whether it's a nap or an early night you need to let your body rest. Things always feel a lot worse when you're tired, which is exactly why Tuesday was so difficult for me, so the best thing you can do is write off the 'should do's and make time for some extra sleep instead.

Dance Around To Your Favourite Song

You might not feel like you have the energy for dancing at this stage, but even a little wiggle or foot tap while seated will get you started. By picking your favourite song you're reminding yourself of happier times and by dancing you're getting your energy moving and waking up those endorphins. This was how I spent Wednesday morning while getting ready for work and it kept me going much longer than usual!

Talk To The People Who 'Get' You

Pushing through a tough time alone can be torture. You get stuck in your own negative spirals and it can get even harder to pull yourself out of it. Talk to someone (or a couple of someones) who understand you and will appreciate the fact you're not just 'having an off day'. They're the ones who can put things in perspective for you, remind you of why you're great and also take your mind of the problems for a little while. This is where my support group really came through for me this week and I'm very grateful to have them.

Cut Yourself Some Slack

It's not easy to be happy 100% of the time and if you're facing chronic pain or illness that's doubly true. Endometriosis can mess with your hormones (which is why a balanced diet can help so much), wear you out and make you snappy even when you're feeling your best so if you're not firing on all cylinders don't beat yourself up. The best thing you can do is admit you're not at your best right now and look after yourself instead of feeling guilty.

It's not easy to pull out of a tough time (otherwise it wouldn't be called tough!) but that doesn't mean you have to give in to it. Taking small steps over time will turn things around and until things are better at least these tips will give you some bright moments among the hard ones. :)

What are your cheer up tips? What helps you pull out of a funk when things are particularly tiring for you? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

#ShaveForEndo

Last Monday my sister Kassi did an incredibly brave thing: she shaved off all her hair to raise money for Endometriosis UK and awareness for the disease. It was part of a larger goal to raise £1000 for Endometriosis UK this year and she's already made a lot of headway into that goal. She set her target for this event at £100, but reached that well before the event itself and the total currently sits at £284 with a few more donations yet to be received.

The event itself was at a local hotel and around 20 people attended. I started the evening by giving a short talk about what endo is, why we're raising money and also a little about the charity before we got on with the shaving. Being the "guest of honour" as it were, I was the lucky person that got to cut her plait off (which she is donating to a company that makes wigs for chemo patients - double good karma!) and it was a fun task. As a side note, plaits are hard to cut through and take ages!

Once the plait was off we charged £1 for the guests who wanted to cut off a lovely lock - it was a surprisingly popular activity! Then the lovely Kate Kingston set about the tricky task of shaving off the patches of hair that were left and evening Kassi out while everyone else purchased raffle tickets.

There were a few tears when Kassi first saw her newly-shaved head, but since she'd just spent 30 hours travelling back from a wedding in New Zealand I think we can put that down to emotional tiredness! There was also a lot of time spent parading around with the plait and letting people feel her fuzzy head. It sounds very odd, but it was highly entertaining at the time!

The night ended with the raffle, where everyone sat with their fingers crossed hoping to win a bottle of wine or port! I even won a gift voucher to go and see Kate when it's time for my next trim. :)

Overall we raised £64 on the night between the raffle, the hair cutting and generous donations and people have continued to donate over the last week. We're getting so close to £300 now and it'd be great if we could break that milestone! We've even been invited to do a few interviews to continue raising awareness and talk about why it's so important to us. It's really exciting to have the opportunity to reach more people and raise awareness about endo.

If you'd like to donate you can visit our JustGiving page - we really appreciate anything you can spare!

Now I'm off to remind Kassi that she resembles a potato...

Before & After

An Unexpected Break

Wow, has it really been a month since our engagement party and my last post? So much has happened since then! Today I'm here to apologise for my absence and explain...

As I write I'm sitting in baggy clothing surrounded by boxes of medication, plenty of entertainment and moving carefully so I don't pull my now-healing incisions. It sounds dramatic, but really the drama has been the last 4 weeks!

On the Wednesday after our party while working at the local business park I became very unwell and rushed home to be sick. I thought  I'd caught a stomach bug, but it lasted a lot longer than 24 hours. I visited my GP on the Friday as I was still being sick and hadn't kept food down in days. She told me to keep hydrated but little else. By Sunday I was going noticeably yellow - even the whites of my eyes(!) - so I headed to the out of hours GP.

I have to pause here and say I've got huge respect for the NHS 111 service, who were absolutely brilliant in helping me at every stage of this journey.

Following the GP visit was a trip to the hospital for blood tests which showed jaundice. We went back Monday for more tests and by bedtime I was admitted to the surgical ward! It turns out my gallbladder was full of stones and a very unhappy bunny indeed. A week after first being sick I was in surgery to have it removed, followed by gallstone removal from my blocked bile duct the next day.

It sounds like the story would end there, but shortly after being released I developed pretty severe tonsilitis. For 2 short days I was starting to eat again, only to be reduced to a liquid-only diet! Some antibiotics for that and another week later I was starting to recover again... only for one of my incisions to open back up! Some more time spent in A & E and it turns out there's a small infection preventing it from closing. I'm coming to the end of those antibiotics but now I've broken the joint on my baby finger! I've no idea how - I was sleeping - but it's the one I broke when I was 17 so it was probably already weak in some way.

And that concludes my dramatic 4 weeks! My incisions are finally closing, my throat is better and my finger will mend in time. I can now get back to working, blogging and raising more awareness for Endometriosis! And speaking of endo, we held an event on Monday to raise money and awareness. I guess I'll have to do a few catch up blogs to bring you up to speed since this one is long enough already!

Now it's time to head to bed (at 8pm!) for some much needed sleep. Anyone else missing a gallbladder, or had an interesting few weeks? Let me know in the comments!

The Endometriosis Diet: Eggs & Soy

Why cut out eggs & soy?

The simple answer is that both contain oestrogen which can exacerbate endometriosis symptoms, but in the case of soy it also goes a lot deeper than that. Traditional processing methods typically found in Asia result in a fairly 'safe' version of the bean, which if used minimally can be part of a balanced endo diet. However modern processing methods involve high levels of chemicals and strip the bean of almost all nutritious value. Rather than dig into it here, you should head to this article by Endo Resolved which explains exactly why soy is such a bad ingredient for endo sufferers.

As for eggs, the occasional one in a cake recipe is fine, but for the most part eliminating them will help reduce your symptoms. Also take care to stick to organic, free range eggs - commercial hens are given additional hormones and antibiotics to make them grow faster which will be passed on through their eggs.

Effects on Endometriosis

As endometriosis is largely fed by too much oestrogen in the body, reducing your intake of foods that contain oestrogen will at the least prevent symptoms from getting worse. In best case scenarios symptoms can be completely eliminated. By balancing your hormones you can take advantage of a number of benefits, better explained by this article.

Cutting them from your diet

Depending on the type of diet you already follow it may be fairly simple to remove eggs and, with a little care, soy too. This was the case for me as I did little baking at the time and wasn't a huge soy fan either. Even if they are a large part of your daily diet, there are substitutes and alternatives to both.

Egg replacements can be ordered online or found in health food shops. The one I've been using is Orgran No Egg, Gluten Free* and I've found it hugely useful for baking and even making endo-friendly homemade KFC! It doesn't help cakes to rise though, so you may need to add a little extra baking powder when you're baking.

As for soy, while you should limit your intake it is still possible to include some in your diet. Look out for traditionally-brewed soy sauce, which won't contain the excess aluminium and phytic acid that is found in modern processes. I personally use Clearspring Organic Tamari* that's also gluten free (seriously, you'd be surprised how many soy sauces contain wheat!) and I really like it. You can also include traditionally prepared Miso, Tempeh and Tofu, although you'll need to do your own research into those as I haven't tried them yet!

Eating out

This is where is become a little trickier, as to avoid eggs and dairy you often have to choose from the vegan menu but this is often where you'll find the soy products instead. Your best options are to stick to vegetarian, not vegan, where possible and simply ask for no dairy/egg, but this isn't possible. The only real advice I can give in this area is to ask/visit a restaurant before you go there for a meal to see what options are available. In the UK it is now law that anywhere serving food has allergen information for everything on the menu, so it should become a lot easier than it used to be!

Roundup

Avoiding gluten and dairy becomes easy with practice and there are plenty of substitutes out there for them. When it comes to eggs and soy products, it becomes a little harder. You'll find them in places you didn't expect such as soya lecithins in chocolate, or in a free-from products since a lot of vegan substitutes rely on soy instead and egg isn't usually considered an allergen to be removed. However with a little effort and a few replacement ingredients you'll barely notice they're missing. :)

Have you cut out eggs or soy from your diet? How easy did you find it to do?

Birthdays, Parties & Blog Breaks

For those of you who don't know (shame on you), Friday was my birthday! It was also Tom's birthday last week, so we wrote the whole week off as one giant birthday celebration! It was great fun, although it did mean a break from the internet, so sorry for the lack of planned blogs!

On Tuesday (his birthday) I got him a bottle of Cinnamon & Vanilla Jaeger to try as he's been going on about it for months now (we don't buy alcohol very often) and it was a hit, so I was very pleased with myself. I also got myself some Peach Bellini Oddka, which is reeeally nice with vanilla coke as a side note.

Thursday was an exciting day as I went to the casino to pay for our engagement party (4 days to go!) with Kassi (Maid of Honour #1 & Sister). Tom was too poorly to join us - probably from the jaeger! We had a tour of the casino for Kassi's benefit, discussed last minute details and had a free bet on the roulette wheel which we didn't win...

Then we wandered on over to trade in a game for Tom and get him a new one - Dragon Age: Inquisition - which I'm completely hooked on now. Seriously, I've spent about 15 hours on it over 3 days: obsessed. It took us a ridiculously long time to walk back to the car which made Kassi late for picking our cousin up from school, so I tagged along for the ride. My sides physically hurt by the time I got home from laughing so hard. There's nothing quite like time with family who think just like you!

This doesn't do it justice - it's bright red!

Friday was my birthday! I spent 4.5 hours in the salon - way more than the 2.5 I thought I'd be - getting my hair done and was starving by the time I eventually got home. I had just enough time to throw a pretty dress and some make up on before heading out to the Bonzo Lounge - a new place that's just opened up in Keynsham that does endo-friendly meals. I've been waiting to try this place out for weeks now and it was definitely worth it! I had a gluten-free harissa-spiced chicken burger with hummus instead of mayo. Yum! Plus a few too many cocktails, so Saturday didn't start too well for me, haha!

The weekend was spent playing Dragon Age and visiting fam for a good catch up. Plus I went to see 50 Shades of Grey with the girls Sunday night. I wasn't expecting much and really was just going for the girl-time, but it was actually alright. I think it was better to go in with low expectations as I was pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed, haha.

This week I have my uncle's birthday & my mum's, my scan and the engagement party so it's another busy one for me! But I think I prefer busy weeks - I was getting into the habit of a few too many pj days lately!

How about you? Busy busy busy or still hibernating for winter? :)

Diagnosed With Endometriosis: Now What?

The information you get shortly after being diagnosed with endometriosis will vary depending on where you're being treated, the doctor/consultant you speak to and your mental state (I was told shortly after waking from anaesthetic, so I missed a lot of the conversation!). If a specialist carried out your surgery you may receive excellent care and information, but for many they are diagnosed via exploratory surgery performed by a general gyne surgeon. They often have limited knowledge of the specifics of endometriosis and rarely know alternatives to medical treatment. For example when I asked my consultant if there were lifestyle changes I could make to complement treatment I was told a flat no - but further research has shown a wide variety of options!

So what should your first steps be upon receiving a diagnosis?

1. Rest

How you feel after surgery will vary - some people won't need telling twice to rest up and recover as they'll be feeling lethargic and in pain. Others will be experiencing their first hours of life without chronic pain and will consider themselves to be feeling fine. I was in this camp, feeling alert and energetic once the anaesthetic had worn off. If this is you, please rest. Your insides will still be healing even if you feel fine!

2. Research Endometriosis

Even if you received a lot of information about your diagnosis, there is still a lot of information for you to find out there. Your doctor will have advised you of their recommended treatment, but be aware this is not always the best route suited to your situation and beliefs, merely their opinion. You'll meet some doctors who know lots about endometriosis and others who have barely heard of it, so the best way to advocate for your own situation is to become knowledgeable about endo yourself. A brilliant book I read early on was Living Well With Endometriosis: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You That You Need To Know*. It goes through everything you could want to know about endo in great detail - from the history of its discovery, to exactly what endometriosis is, treatment options and research into causes and future treatments. You don't need a medical degree to read it, but it does contain medical terms that you may need to look up.

3. Find support

It's not easy receiving an endometriosis diagnosis, especially if you have chronic pain symptoms or fertility issues. Even if you just don't know what it is, or need to speak to someone who understands, a support group is full of people ready and willing to help. Endometriosis UK offer a number of physical and online support groups you can participate in, a helpline if you need to talk to someone and an online forum for discussion. Facebook has hundreds of support groups set up by women with endometriosis too - some private so friends and family can't see and others open to help raise awareness. Find a place full of people you connect with so that you have support during the harder times and friends for the fun times.

4. Look into complementary options

If you've found this blog you might already be at this stage, which is great! There are a number of options you have that can complement or replace traditional medicine depending on your beliefs and situation. The Endometriosis Diet is a step you can take immediately towards reducing the symptoms of endo and improving your health. A book I recommend frequently is Recipes & Diet Advice For Endometriosis* - it explains everything in detail, provides recommendations for alternative foods and has hundreds of recipes.

Other options include starting a personalised exercise routine designed to ease and stretch your body without worsening your symptoms (yoga and swimming are particularly good at this) and finding alternative therapies that also help with symptoms such as Reflexology and Reiki. You can also look into supplements that assist digestion, hormone balance and pain relief such as turmeric, B vitamins, evening primrose oil etc. Always check with doctors before starting supplements to make sure they don't interfere with medication.

5. Find things you love that aren't hindered by Endometriosis

One realisation I came to not long ago was that I let all my loves and hobbies slip away over the course of my endo journey to date. Between periods of chronic pain, lethargy and trying to keep an income, I had little energy left for some of the  things I used to love doing such as baking (couldn't stand for very long), reading and crafts (both tired me too quickly). If I could go back I would make time for those things as I think they would've helped my mental health and recovery more than I thought they would at the time.

Whether it's a new television series, photography, writing.. there are plenty of hobbies that won't irritate your symptoms. Even ones that do can be adapted to suit - I've found ways of standing longer for baking for example. The real message I want to convey here is don't let endometriosis become who you are, which is possible if you're suffering constant symptoms rather than cyclical ones.

What did you do when you were first diagnosed? Are there other steps you would add to this? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments! :)

*These are Amazon Associate links - I make a small commission on the books if you buy them. I own both of these books, highly recommend them and would never link to a product I didn't fully back myself.

The Endometriosis Diet: Alternatives to Dairy

Why Cut Out dairy?

Dairy is not an easy thing to cut from your diet, but there are a number of reasons that make it worth it. Dairy products have a high-fat content that contains oestrogen - a hormone that endometriosis sufferers often have too much of already. Oestrogen controls a number of processes in the body, but most importantly it controls our reproductive system and an imbalance of the hormone is closely linked to endometriosis. It 'feeds' the endometrial cells.

Series 2 prostaglandins are found in dairy and are known to promote an inflammatory response in the body. I'll devote another blog to these pesky things as they're also found in red meats and aren't easy to summarise!

Dairy can also cause a host of digestive issues such as constipation or difficulty absorbing other nutrients in your food. And finally there are a number of intolerances that are caused or worsened by dairy - not just the obvious lactose intolerance - that can manifest as illnesses such as asthma, eczema and arthritis.

Whether you're feeling the effects of all of these problems or just one, cutting dairy could give you a significant reduction in symptoms.

Cutting Dairy From Your Diet

Initially it can be tricky to get your head around all of the products that contain dairy - even things you wouldn't expect like salt and vinegar crisps! But as you acclimatise to your new diet it becomes second nature and the habits you develop will make it much easier to avoid.

I'd start by replacing your milk with a simple unsweetened nut milk such as almond or hazelnut. The taste is quite creamy and easy to adjust to and nut milk can be used the same as normal cows milk - in hot drinks, on cereal and in baking etc. These are found in the same section as normal milk and are slightly more expensive, but also have a much longer use by date so if you're an infrequent milk drinker you may even end up saving money - we have! :)

Once you've cut milk out, it gets easier to remove or find alternative products like cheese and butter. Sadly I've yet to find an alternative to cheese (vegan cheese contains soy), but I live in hope!

A Note On Yoghurt

Although a dairy product, there are certain types of yoghurt that are actually beneficial for the endometriosis diet. Commercial yoghurts are highly processed, sweetened and full of sugar, whereas the healthy yoghurts tend to be natural 'live' versions that contain bacteria that promote a healthy gut. These yoghurts can be made from animal milks as well as nut milks, however animal milk is still harder to digest and nut yoghurts would be better for you.

Dairy Free Dining

While not as common as gluten free, dairy free menu options are starting to become more popular - especially in new restaurants and smaller chains. They're often found in the vegan section, although don't assume that normal items can't be made dairy free. Often it's as simple as asking for no cheese/cream dip etc. If in doubt ask for the allergen information to go alongside the menu - restaurants now have to have this information by law so it's about to become much easier to dine out than it used to be!

Alternatives To Dairy

As mentioned already it's possible to get nut milks to replace dairy products. You can also get nut butters and yoghurts too. Rice milk is another alternative that you can buy from health stores - I've even seen it in larger Asda stores! Less obvious substitutes are water or fruit juices, depending on the use. For example water is a healthier alternative for hot chocolate and fruit juice can be used as a sweetener in baking.

Butter is fairly simple to replace too - simply use an olive or sunflower oil based spread. These should appear either in the butter section or closeby, depending on the store layout.

As I said, the only alternative I've yet to find is cheese. I've heard that cheeses made from nut milk do exist, but I've yet to find them and I'm pretty sure they'll come with a price tag I won't want to pay!

Roundup

While it's less common to cut dairy from your diet than gluten, in many ways it's easier as there are less products for you to slip up on. I would caution you to check labels, as milk can creep into some products you wouldn't expect it to, but you'll get used to this over time. Removing dairy can have a host of benefits, from clearer skin to less painful cramps and a healthier digestion.

Have you tried a dairy free diet? What alternatives do you use? And if you've found a dairy free cheese substitute (that isn't made from soya) I'd love to know!

Things That Hurt In The Night: Back Pain Edition

As I write this it's currently 4.10am which means it's exactly one hour since I got up and also 6 hours since I went to bed. I'm functioning on a grand total of 5 hours sleep, which is ironic since earlier I was explaining to a friend that I don't function on less than 8 and preferably 9-10.

Sometimes this is all I'm good for...

Lately my back pain has been getting worse. I'm taking the hot water bottle to bed nightly now and even using it through the day. I wake up sore and stiff, like I slept funny, with all kinds of knots even though my sleeping habits haven't changed. Some days I can't even bend forwards without a huge protest from my back and I have to start the day slow, warming into anything that requires retrieving items from the floor or low drawers. The next step to this pain if I don't do something about it (and it's already starting to creep round) is pain in my ribs and chest, like a band where my bra would go if it wasn't too painful to wear.

I know it's the endo because it flares around my cycle and the pain is only eased by a scalding hot water bottle. By the time you can bear to have it on your skin for longer than 10 seconds it's too cool, so you'll often find my back covered in angry red patches.

You have a cure for back pain?

No amount of stretching will ease the pain, although it does give me a brief respite mid-stretch (and some insanely satisfying clicks and cracks) that I reach for ridiculously often even though I know it's only  fleeting. I used to see an osteopath regularly and that did help, but it was costing between £80-160/month and going any less than once a fortnight meant the effects didn't last between sessions. I also tried weekly hot stone massages - the painful remedial kind, not the relaxing ones - but the relief of those only lasted a few days at most and were similarly £100/month. Weekly personal training sessions meant that my back pain eased more long term too, but even those were coming in at £80-100/month and sometimes aggravated the pelvic pain to boot. Conclusion: back pain is expensive!

So I've established that stretching - the kind that comes with exercise and massage - is the key to reducing this pain. But here's where I'm stuck: how do you exercise when you're already in pain? Not just in your back but in your pelvis too? Even walking pulls at the pain in my abdomen and the stretching from yoga on the Wii Fit that I was finding helped my back does little for the other pains.

I'm going swimming with mum tomorrow, so perhaps that will offer me the gentle exercise I need to stretch everything without pulling. That would be a nice hobby to take up again, it's been years (and years and years... almost 15?) since I went regularly.

If that fails I'm just gonna have to live in exercise clothing and jump into exercise the moment I get any reprieve! Or create some kind of hot water bottle outfit on the suggestion of another friend. Either way, I need to find some way to get more quality sleep, because 5 hours is just not enough for a happy Ami!

Do you have pains that aren't typical endo but you know they're related? Or tricks that help with your pain? I'd love to hear your thoughts - I know it's not just me up at odd hours!