Hurt So Good? No, Hurt So ... Period

Endo pain gives new meaning to "Girl on fire." 
THERE IS a scene in an episode of X-Files in which a little girl is hurting people horribly; and her caregiver says to the persons contorted in agony and fear, "She's just a child. She doesn't know what she's doing." One suffering person screams back, "Yes she does!!!"
     Trust me, that's not how it is with your body and endometriosis pain. Your body really doesn't know what it's doing, no matter how often you feel like it has turned on you. It is just along for the ride.

     This doesn't mean, though, that the hurt has its reasons whereof reason knows nothing.

     There is science behind your agony, the medical kind; and you can know it. What's more, after you learn you can do things to help your body help you by not causing you pain.
     Wait. I said a stupid thing. It is not your body causing you pain. It is what the disease endometriosis is doing to your body that's causing you pain. 
     So feel free to attack endo back and blitz it into as near oblivion as you can.

     But first you've got to be bright to put up a good fight.

     Endo pain comes in all shapes and sizes, because there are motley issues producing it.

     Physically, your pain can be caused by:

  • Inflammation: produced by your body to battle anything foreign and harmful, like substances secreted by endometrial implants
  • Formations of scar tissue or adhesions, which are fibrous bands formed by inflammatory processes, that adhere normally separate surfaces and organs to each other, interfering with function and mobility
  • Endometrial growths leaking inflammatory substances
  • Blockage or compression of organs in the abdomen, like the ureters (these carry urine to the bladder from kidneys) or bowel
  • Deep pelvic endometrial nodules are compressed or become inflamed
  • Urinary tract systems invaded by endometrial matter 
  • Gastrointestinal tract system invaded by endometrial matter (Told you it's war)
  • Reduced blood circulation when blood vessels become blocked by cysts
  • Nerve endings are affected by nearness of endometrial implants

     
These, dearhearts, are just the ones I'll mention today. I don't want to overwhelm you; some things need to be taken in small doses. I will describe more in the next post.
     Meanwhile, hug a pillow, a blankie, your best friend or your guy, and think about this: there are women just like you, myself included, who have learned how to put endo in its place. 
     With enough knowledge and fortitude you will, too.

In beauty may you walk

Graphic illustration by Jhaye-Q













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