The Agony is the Beat: Scaling the Pain

Endo agony may leave you feeling broken and empty, though the world around you is the same.

       It is pain that most affects endometriosis-copers. It is pain that is most often the first sign there is something wrong. It is pain most women groan and bear, because they think that's just how a period is supposed to be.
       There was an ad many years ago that asked: "Does your period feel like an exclamation mark?" I've heard Endo-copers say, "Double exclamation marks. At times, like, three."
       The statement seems an inherent leaning toward categorising levels of pain. We're women, right, and even the most free-spirited among us like to know where things stand. Even the painful stuff of life.
       It helped me being able to put a label on whatever pain I was feeling. It helps a lot of women. It's taking charge of a bad situation, rather than only enduring its victimisation.

       | This sense of "take charge" puts you on a path to being proactive about pain

      The Mankoski Pain Scale will help you measure and record your varying levels of endo agonies, toward the aim of dealing with each effectively.
       A nice big calendar helps. Or a dated diary. That way you get to look back and eventually define trends in pain behaviour. 
       I was able to note that the times I was hospitalised for endo flare-ups were around my birthday or my BBF's: May and August. I'll tell you more about that one day. But it helped put me on guard to take special care to avoid endo-triggers around those periods (pun acknowledged).
       Please do some research into suggested therapies, and I promise to do in-depth write-ups on each as time passes.

Mankoski Pain Scale: Zero to Ten

  • 0:  Free from pain. Bask.
  • 1:  Slightly annoying, occasional pangs of pain. Need no medication. Try keeping active and using relaxation therapy.
  • 2:  Stronger twinges are more annoying. Still can bear without medication. Try massage therapy with heat balm or essential oil blend; and/or hot water bottle.
  • 3:  Distractingly annoying. Though you'd rather not, moving helps. Mild painkillers ease. Or try herbal teas like chamomile and white willow.
  • 4:  Painful, but involvement in activities help you ignore/withstand. Mild painkillers help for a shorter time. Keep exploring above therapies, leaning toward those you like best.
  • 5:  Pain cannot be ignored for more than an hour or less. Mild painkillers help still, but only for a short while. Walking and other low-impact activities may be difficult, but assist.
  • 6:  Cannot ignore pain at all, though can still function at work and socially. Switch to stronger painkillers to help for longer periods. Always eat before, and take calcium and vitamin B supplements with the meal.    
  • 7:  Pain makes it hard to concentrate and interferes with your sleep. Can function with effort. Stronger painkillers partially helpful. Vary supportive therapies alongside.
  • 8:  Severe physical limitations from agonising pain. Dizziness, nausea, depression. Strong painkillers called for, but take with a stomach pill like Romisec, or peppermint tea. Rest. Use support therapies.
  • 9:  Pain has debilitated you. Speech may be impeded even. Crying out, moaning, feverish. Delirium can become a factor. Try same counteractions as above.
  • 10:  Almost a blessing by this point: you pass out from the pain.

Equipped with this, why stop there? Adopt the boy scout motto: "Be prepared" and have everything you might need at every level of pain ready, handy and up to par.

In beauty may you walk


Photo by Jhaye-Q
Next post: Q&A your OB-GYN

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