tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15896684446315198872024-03-08T11:48:06.235+00:001 x happypelvis wantedMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-15365022784393120532012-09-04T17:31:00.001+01:002012-09-04T17:31:24.654+01:00Natal Hypnotherapy<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After feeling like all of my power was being handed over in the birth of my son due to having a c-section, I was thinking about how I could regain some of this power. Although I couldn't do to much about my body, I thought there was nothing stopping me and my partner doing some relaxation CDs to be really chilled and happy for the birth.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I have had so much surgery and the c-section will be in a theatre it was feeling like I am going for another procedure or more surgery rather than the birth of my baby. I started looking for relaxation CDs for birth and came across this web site <a href="http://www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/">http://www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk</a> <a href="http://www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/">/</a>. On the website it has great testimonials from people that have used these CDs including lots of midwives that support the use of them.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I mentioned them just after my pregnancy yoga class and a lady waiting to go into the normal yoga class after me said she had used the CD's when she was pregnant and thoroughly recommended them. I also went onto the Netmums forum and put in Natal Hypnotherapy in the search bar and lots of people on there had used them and again recommended them. There was also an interview with Maggie Howell, the founder of Natal Hypnotherapy which was a really interesting read. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had heard from my cousin regarding her experience of Hypno birthing. She has had 4 children, the first two in hospital, the third was a water birth at home and her last was also at home using hypno birthing. She said she really wished she had known about this for the births of all of her children as the last was by far the best experience of the four.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What I was surprised about was a there was a CD for preparing for a c-section. I thought it was only tailored towards giving birth naturally. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I ordered two CD's, relaxation in pregnancy and preparing for a c-section. I have been listening to the relaxing in pregnancy while having a lay down in the afternoon. I completely zone out or fall asleep not sure which and only wake up or become aware when I hear 321 but either way I am feeling relaxed after doing it. Maggie says not to worry if you fall asleep as you will still take in some of the suggestions.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am about to start listening to preparing for a c-section, so I will report back on how I find it.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I have also started working with a Natal Hypnotherapy practitioner, Himalee Rupesinghe, she is also a doula. Weirdly my partner happened to spot her facebook page </i></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AllAboutBirth">http://www.facebook.com/AllAboutBirth</a><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> through a colleague liking the page so he contacted Himalee to see if the workshops being run nearby would be relevant to me. Check out her website for more information and for Natal Hypnotherapy courses </i><a href="http://www.allaboutbirth.co.uk/">http://www.allaboutbirth.co.uk/</a><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As I am having a c-section a lot of what would be discussed would be about giving birth naturally so she suggested that it may be more beneficial if we work one to one for a few sessions. </i></span><br />
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<i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Its strange that we happened to see this page when we did and I believe it was meant to be as another time I wouldn't have thought much about it. Right from the first e-mail Himalee was really friendly and easy to talk to. During our first session together we spoke at length for ages and I could of continued talking to her.</i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As this is already a lengthy blog post I will continue about my experience in a couple of days time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I would love to hear from you if you have any thoughts or experiences on this</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lily Lou x</i></span><br />
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<br />Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-48841075310073793652012-07-30T10:13:00.003+01:002012-07-30T10:13:40.283+01:00Sorry for the lack of contact - Update<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Today I am 29 weeks pregnant and things are going well. My pelvic pain is down from a 100% to 10%!!!!!!! This as you can imagine is amazing. It has had a huge impact on my life and my brain, I am out of the awful cycle of periods that I was stuck in. Which means I have been able to plan and put things in the diary, we even went to Portugal for two weeks holiday. Whoop whoop!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My vulva pain is still there at the moment so for me pregnancy hasn't really changed this although the skin around my clitoris hasn't cracked for a while :-)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have been absent for a while as I am treating the time while I am pregnant as my healing time so I have been keeping a low profile including not reading the support groups that I am normally very active on. I am giving my body time to allow my central nervous system to calm down.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>At 14 weeks pregnant I started pregnancy yoga, which I love. I found it really tough to start with as I hadn't done any exercise for years and even though this is gentle, I had lost a huge amount of strength from being ill over a long period of time. Yoga really helps me with breathing and connecting to my body and baby. I cannot speak highly enough of the yoga teacher, Muriel, check out her website. <a href="http://www.mumuyoga.com/">http://www.mumuyoga.com/</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have continued to work with Lorraine, pelvic pain coach, I blogged about her back in March <a href="http://www.radiantlifedesign.com/">http://www.radiantlifedesign.com/</a>. I have found working with her very enlightening, I am much more positive and happy in life now and see things differently. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>One of the most beneficial things that I have done with her is to question some of the beliefs I held. I will give you an example, I used to say to myself, nobody understands what its like to live like this. But Lorraine questioned this with me and I realised that the people who also live in this daily pain do understand what it is like to live like this. When I used to think people didn't understand, it used to make me feel isolated, lonely and very sorry for myself. When I then realised it wasn't true and people do understand, I felt differently, I felt understood and not so lonely and sorry for myself. This was a very enlightening moment for me and I have had many since then.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have had my 20 weeks and another 28 weeks scan and everything is good with the baby. It never ceases to amaze me that after so much surgery, pain and trauma that my body could go on to get pregnant and then grow a healthy baby. He seems strong if his kicks are anything to go by. The second trimester, I had more energy and stopped feeling sick so that was really lovely. Many friends have commented on my general demeanour as seeming different and lighter which was great to hear.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The third trimester, I am more tired and uncomfortable and finding it hard to sleep, along with heartburn, leg and back ache. But compared to the pain I was used to before this, these symptoms don't really bother me to much. I am just feeling really happy and lucky to be carrying this baby and can't wait to meet him.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Obviously with only 10 weeks left to go, I am thinking more about the c-section and going back into hospital but I am working with all of my doctors to gain the best outcome and looking at other ways to help myself. I have been reading and have bought some cd's on Natal birthing so will update you on how I find them.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I hope that everybody is as well as possible and as always would love your feedback and to hear your experiences.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lily Lou x</i></span><br />
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<br />Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-73082838165480616302012-05-01T18:04:00.001+01:002012-05-01T18:04:19.498+01:00Update on pregnancy news and pain<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I am still suffering pain in my tummy and vulva. The pain in my tummy I think is from scar tissue after so much surgery. I am disappointed that my vulva is still sore, maybe even sorer than usual! I was hoping pregnancy hormones would help with that pain. Maybe things will change in the next few months.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I need to go back to icing my vulva twice a day to try and take the inflammation out of it and using the trainers. I stopped when I found out I was pregnant. I was worried about miscarrying and as I was suffering a lot of internal pain I didn't want to add to it by using the trainers.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When I start my period I normally get a really terrible pain from my left hip running down the front of my leg to my knee, on top of pain in and around pelvis, up bum and vagina. Since I have been pregnant I have had the pain from my left hip and leg which as you can imagine made me paranoid I would start bleeding but I haven't. What is this pain? Is it a nerve? I have had it a few times recently without a bleed.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have had two other worrying times with pain. One evening I had really bad pain on my left hand side of my pelvis. When I had a scan at 7 weeks, there was a small cyst there. I was worried that maybe it was getting bigger, popping or something. The pain went away after 2 hours.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I was also really concerned when I had pain on my right hand side of my pelvis. It felt like a really painful pulling of something. It kept me awake all night. It didn't matter what position I was in I couldn't make it go away. The next day it was gone.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I'm going to see my Obs consultant to have a chat next week as I am so used to sitting through pain, I want to know now that I am pregnant what I shouldn't sit through and when I would need help. I'm not sure they will have the answers. It would be much easier if I could see through my belly and see what was going on. Then I wouldn't worry so much.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The other huge worry I have at the moment is the bleed after c-section. I didn't have any idea you bled after this time until somebody told me "its the mother of all periods!" Obviously this is really worrying me as I am normally taking hard core pain killers and in bed laying still with lots of heat at this time and its horrible. How would I look after a newborn as well? I wonder will this be as bad pain as a normal period for an Endometriosis sufferer? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Did anybody's period or vulva pain get better after pregnancy?</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Although I am suffering pain, I am enjoying being pregnant and not having periods. I am not stuck in bed or at home on a regular basis as I have been for many years. Only the odd day. I even went food shopping today as I had the car. You may not think too much of this but for me its been years since I have been able to do this! I have left the shopping for my other half to carry up the stairs but I am still really chuffed I was able to go.</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first three months of pregnancy were tough going from my normal symptoms then straight into nausea, extreme tiredness and dizzyness etc.. but now that has mostly gone. I feel better and have more energy in the day. I still crash out early at night but that's ok. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am thinking of some things I may want to do over the next couple of months while I can until I am heavy and waddling around like a duck. </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">As always I would love to hear from you and your experiences</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Lily lou x</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-75051369349371031392012-04-07T17:06:00.000+01:002012-04-07T17:06:16.065+01:00I have some great news to share<br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m pregnant! I’m really happy about this news but still
feel in shock. After going through so many problems with my pelvis, I didn't think that I stood too much chance of becoming pregnant. Especially
as when I had tests in December they said I was not ovulating.
Then I fell pregnant.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel a little nervous sharing this news too, as I know the journey
is not the same for everyone so I wanted to let you know that I was thinking of
you. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just because I am pregnant, not all my pain has vanished. I
am still getting pain in my pelvis and up my vagina. My bowel doesn’t behave normally
at the best of times but since I have been pregnant I feel like it has gone on
strike! So now the nausea is relieving,
I am trying to eat lots of fruit and drinking water and many fluids. My scar from my bowel re-section is becoming
sensitive again. The obstetrician I saw said this was probably due to my uterus
starting to move upwards.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am happy to not be
having periods at the moment!! Long may that last.. Maybe I should think about
breast feeding until they are 12 to keep them at bay! Only joking. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are going to be able to plan a little holiday this year
due to no periods. We haven’t been able to do this for years. So that’s really exciting!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am now 12 weeks pregnant, we didn’t want to tell anybody
until after the scan. I have been very nervous, I’m used to pain but every time
I was in lots of pain I would panic that maybe something bad was happening. I
also found going from my normal Endo symptoms straight to the first three
months of pregnancy symptoms really tough. I found the nausea really over whelming
and incapacitating. I have been incapacitated on and off for years so don’t
have too much patience with it. I felt like I couldn’t complain about any of
this though as I was in a lucky position to be pregnant in the first place.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was also really nervous about the two scans I had. I had
my first one at Royal Surrey in the early pregnancy unit, at seven weeks. The
lovely Jules looked after us on that day. The early scan was to check it wasn't an ectopic pregnancy, I had to have a trans vaginal scan as it was so early.
The few days following were really painful, I suppose that must be due to scar
tissue, the pain worried me hugely. I also had a small cyst on my left ovary.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second scan I had was on Thursday, it was the 12 week
scan. It went well. The lovely Wendy was there this time to great us. We got pictures of the scan to take home and I am still
staring at them regularly, I still can’t believe there is actually a baby in
there!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been concerned about my level of fitness and coping
with the pregnancy. Maria (Pelvic pain physio) gave me some exercises to do to
try and improve my strength. Since my last surgery and also not returning to
work, I have lost a lot of everyday fitness. I have been unable to do them so far but I’m
hoping to be able to start next week. I have put my name down for antenatal yoga
so hopefully this will help too.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My vulva is still sore and I have had some pain coming from
the muscles at the left side of my vulva going through to my buttock muscles. A
little better news though, Maria said the right side muscles have started to
bulk up a little more which is great news. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am really hoping that my central nervous system will get a chance to calm down without having periods. Fingers crossed.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll keep you updated. As always I’d love to hear from you</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lily Lou x</span></i></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-68361284531779976612012-03-26T11:56:00.002+01:002012-03-26T11:56:57.706+01:00The Mind Body Connection<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Something I am finding really useful at the moment is working with a life, health and wellness coach. Her name is Lorraine Faehndrich, she is based in New York and I do my coaching once a week over Skype with her. Her website is www.radiantlifedesign.com</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;">To understand more about this work I was asked to read a book written by mindbo</span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;">dy pioneer, Dr John E Sarno </span></i><i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0446675156/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0446675156">The
Mind/Body Prescription</a></span></i><i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;"><img alt="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=1xhappypelviw-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0446675156" border="0" height="1" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\kim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="1" /></span></i></span><i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span> Dr Sarno has conducted research and clinical practice relating to musculoskeletal pain. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although Dr Sarno in this book is talking about the back for the most part, this is also relevant to other parts of the body. I think when we hear the words psychosomatic we assume it is in your head but Dr Sarno points out that your head maybe causing you physical symptoms. I think you have to have an open mind but if like me you have been suffering for a long time with nothing helping the pain, then like me you may think what have I got to lose? </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I figured what's the worst that could happen if I worked on some stuck emotions from the past, perhaps I would have a clearer and happier head and the best case scenario would be it could help the pain.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through out our sessions, it was pointed out to me that I had become disconnected from my body at some stage and my head had taken over. This is so true I am so headstrong, its even been at the detriment of my body. I am learning to listen to my body now.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When my head is spinning with worries or I'm being hard on myself, I have learn't some tools to take time out to breathe properly and just be with my body. This really helps me calm down my brain. </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I understandably have been at war with my body as it has caused me so much pain and stopped my enjoying so much that life has to offer over many years and I have had to fight to keep going. I thought accepting what was happening was giving in to it but I now see that it is actually a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Lorraine has helped me to accept what's happening now and embrace where I am. Your body cannot heal until you stop being at war with it. I am kinder to myself now. We are strange as we would not treat anybody else like we sometimes do our selves.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All very interesting. I would love to hear your views as always. I'll keep you posted</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lily Lou x</span></span></i></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-20522470514571883362012-03-11T08:23:00.001+00:002012-03-11T08:23:37.860+00:00The decision to try for a pregnancy when in so much pain<br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in
December I had a negative comment about trying to conceive whilst being in pain and
I thought it would be good to post my thoughts and feelings on this subject. As
it certainly hasn't been an easy decision to make. Having Endometriosis and
having lost my job, does this give me any less right to try for a family? I don’t
think so, it’s just been really unfortunate circumstances.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought
long and hard for a period of time before trying to conceive. As I am in such a
cycle of pain and my endometriosis has got to a point where my work stopped my
contract. I did wonder if this decision was the right thing to do. But is
making no decision doing anything? It certainly won’t change my current
situation and a hysterectomy is not an answer to this in a definitive way. You
could go all through that and still suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s a
whole book written about Fear the fear and do it anyway. Just because I’m scared should this stop me
from trying? If I don’t try then I feel I would look back and regret it and I personally
would prefer to try and know it just didn’t work out than not too try at all. But
it still leaves me then wondering and worrying about if I then did fall
pregnant and go back to being in that much pain how will I cope with that much
pain and a baby. There is no guarantee and in all honesty, no one knows. You
just have to base your decision on the facts you know at that time and what you
want out of life. It is scary for me as I have no family nearby to help out.
But I do have an amazing partner, although he is holding down a full time job
so wouldn’t always be around.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other
people have managed it. In my case being pregnant may be the one thing to stop
my periods for a while as I can no longer take hormones as they do the opposite
for me and make me bleed. Maybe being pregnant will give my nerves a chance to
calm down which in the long run will help the pain. I would like to speak to
some ladies that have had a bowel re-section and then gone onto have children
and see how they are doing. It would be great to hear some positive feedback
and also if they still have some pain, how they cope with that and children.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any thoughts, as always I'd love to hear</span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lily Lou x</span></i></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-56445176233606904252012-03-05T10:45:00.001+00:002012-03-05T10:45:20.871+00:00Endometriosis Awareness Week<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This week is National Endometriosis Awareness Week! </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It starts today, Monday 5th March until Sunday 11th March 2012. We really need to raise awareness of this debilitating condition. This year Endometriosis UK are focussing on teenagers, this is due to the sheer volumes of us that started experiencing symptoms in our teens and were left undiagnosed and so untreated until much later in life. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Endometriosis Uk are using this week to launch their 'Is this Normal? campaign aimed at teenagers and young women, often left feeling alone, isolated and in extreme pain. They have a new blog which talks about periods. Please pass this onto anybody you feel this might help. </i></span><a href="http://aboutmyperiods.wordpress.com/" style="text-align: -webkit-center;">http://aboutmyperiods.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>One of the easiest ways to for us as women to raise awareness is to talk to those around you. Does everybody in your group of family and friends know what Endometriosis is? Would you feel happy asking them. I really want the next generation not to go through what I have gone through so we need to try and educate them to what is normal and what is not.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Endometriosis UK website </i></span><a href="http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/">http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>As always I'd love to hear from you</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Take Care and lets spread the word</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lily lou x</i></span>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-69932562775679863922012-02-13T21:22:00.001+00:002012-02-14T16:53:47.449+00:00Bowel resection surgery<br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
replying to somebody on a forum board with questions regarding my experience of
a bowel resection, I thought it might be useful to write a post on this
subject.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had my
bowel resection in April 2010. It was the third operation where it was query
bowel re-section, until you are on the table, often that call can only be made
there. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My surgeon (Mr
Kent from The Royal Surrey Hospital) always says if it was him having the
surgery he would want somebody doing these types of operations that does them regularly.
Ask how many people they perform this operation on and ask how many they have
had to give a temporary or a permanent stoma too afterwards. The more skilled
the surgeons the less likely that you will end up with a stoma.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to
shop for yoga pants before the surgery but none were that loose fitting. I have
had a problem with pressure on my tummy for some years. I did find one pair
from Sweaty Betty but didn’t end up buying them as they were around £50. Instead
I went to JoJo Mama Bebe and bought some
maternity pyjama bottoms. Really loose fitting and really comfortable for £25. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made sure
I did my legs with my epilator so they would stay hair free for a few weeks
afterwards. Make sure you take off nail vanish too, they normally tell you this in
the paperwork.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">List of items I took in<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nightshirts<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toothbrush
and toothpaste<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Face wash
and flannel<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moisturiser<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ipod<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phone and
charger<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Magazine<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vaseline if
bowel prepping. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dry spray
shampoo (I only use Batiste, the others in my opinion are not so good)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hair band
to hide hair, hair bands to put hair up or plait etc.. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brush or comb.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pants,
socks<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sanitary
towels<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Before Surgery</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><b> when still at home</b> - Using Vaseline was the best tip I ever got
when bowel prepping. As some of you will know it makes you poo loads and it
gets a bit sore after a while around the anus. Popping on a bit of Vaseline stopped
this soreness from happening, which was really good. I made soups and froze them in one size
portions to eat afterwards. My favourite being pea and mint and Carrot and coriander.
They are so easy to make and the mint is good for the tummy/bowel after you
come out of hospital. Also if possible try and increase your fitness before, I
wasn’t able to do this really and had lost lots of fitness over the last few
years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">In hospital</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> – The nurses gave me heated gel pack at night
to put on my back as I was sore there and they really helped. Mint cordial and mint
tea bags are a great thing to have, will help wind and ease the discomfort of
the air used in surgery. Afterwards I didn’t eat too much as I didn’t fancy it
so I ate mash potato, custard style pots (dairy-free </span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alpro Soya Vanilla Dessert</span><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">) Jelly, and nourishment
drinks. Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep your stools soft.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Afterwards</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> – After laying on a uncomfortable hot water my
partner suggested we buy <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002Q5MHGC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002Q5MHGC">Dreamland Thermo Therapy Heat Pad</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=1xhappypelviw-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B002Q5MHGC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, it was much better as it is
completely flat. I found that putting my feet up on a raised surface about two
yellow pages high helped when going to the toilet, it makes it easier to poo. Again make sure you drink plenty to keep
stools soft and easier to pass. The other thing I was told was to go for walks
as this stimulates the bowel to work, sometimes when you’ve had bowel surgery
the bowel tends to get into a bit of a strop afterwards and can be a bit sluggish.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be kind to
yourself. Don’t beat yourself up. You’ve been through a lot. I cried afterwards
at silly things, I think it was the anaesthetic. I used forums like the Endometriosis Uk to
speak to others that have had this type of surgery for support. I found that
incredibly useful as there wasn’t much information out there when I googled it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had lots
of wind, like never before! Walking seemed to help move it. Even if you are
slow walking this should still help. I had lots of strange bowel movements afterwards but this
normally settles down after a while. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a
bowel resection via laparoscopy so had 3
small holes and one cut below my bikini line about 3 inches long which they
took the bowel out of. And they used tools via my vagina as I also had a small
part of the back of my vaginal wall removed due to the Endometriosis. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">My scar
faded really quickly afterwards when I started using castor oils packs. I
didn’t start that for a few months after the surgery though. I was using them
for help with adhesions, check out this link. </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/holistic_health/data/thcast1.html">http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/holistic_health/data/thcast1.html</a>.</span><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"> I used a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002Z85JEW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002Z85JEW">Organic Ivory Flannel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=1xhappypelviw-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B002Z85JEW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004RG5VMA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004RG5VMA">250ml Organic Castor Oil - 100% Pure Cold Pressed</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=1xhappypelviw-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B004RG5VMA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to make sure it was only good stuff on my tummy. When I
looked at my biggest scar one day it had faded to a thin white line!</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that
some of these tips help. They certainly helped me. If anybody has any others
they would like to share, please do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lily Lou x</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-91418662591630661622012-02-02T16:19:00.002+00:002012-02-02T16:19:54.329+00:00Pain Team at University College London Hospital<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">I was
referred in January 2011 to the Pelvic Pain clinic at University College London
Hospital and I finally got my appointment in December 2011 to see Natasha
Curran. It was a long wait but so worth it!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Natasha
started the consultation asking what my expectations were. Obviously I would
like a magical cure but know that is not realistic so I opted for less pain. I
found her to be really empathic and really willing to listen to me. At one point
she looked me directly in the eye and said “sorry that I couldn't work at the
moment”. I was quiet choked by this. It is a big thing for me and the first
time a doctor has said that and understood the impact of this. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">At the
moment due to trying to conceive, they are limited to what our options are. I have
been offered a Pundenural Nerve block to try and help with some of the pain I experience from the Vulva, up the bum and clitoris, although
she doesn’t think this is the answer. Although I have a needle phobia I am
going to go for it. I would normally prefer to be sedated for the procedure but
Natasha doesn’t sedate her patients as she likes to be given feedback by the
patient during the procedure. She stimulates the nerve first with a small
electric current. She has instilled faith in me so I am going to go for it. I
am currently on her cancellation list as I can’t plan due to my irregular cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">The other
thing that she thought would be useful to me would be to attend the pain management
programme called LINK. During my initial assessment with Rebecca McLoughlin (Pain
physiotherapist) we realised I would not be able to attend a weekly programme
due to my cycle so I will be working one to one with Rebecca. I had my first
appointment with her on Monday. Rebecca doesn't work in a hand on capacity, she
will help me look at various things in life that I have problems with due to
pain. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">The first
thing we are looking at, is sitting. I have problems with sitting due to
Vulvodynia and Vestibulodynia anyway and after my last operation this has been
impacted more by pain from up my bum and the Piriformis. It just feels like I’m
sat on bone and nerves. (Maria has told me that you lose muscle bulk in these
areas when in pain that’s why I feel like I am sitting on my bones and nerves.
If the pain goes, then these muscles should bulk back out again). I carry a
cushion in a bag to sit on, to help with this. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I do tend
to just sit through pain. It seems I’m sitting for too long on my sofa in one position
without getting up so I have now set a timer for every 15 minutes to make sure
when possible I get up. There is nothing we can do during a period, we just
have to work around that. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I need to
work out how long I can sit on other less comfortable chairs and keep a record of this. Then
make sure I get up and don’t just sit through the pain and suffer more later. Hopefully we are hoping to build my tolerance up to sitting . I
am really excited by this work, I know it’s only been a few days but already my
Pirifomis hasn’t kicked off this week so far which is amazing! Long may this
last. (Fingers crossed).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Anyway, the
pain team up at UCLH in my opinion are well worth a visit. They really
understand pain better than anybody I have seen so far. I’ll keep you updated.
Has anybody else seen them? <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Lily Lou x</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-13490685229756118642012-01-28T12:53:00.000+00:002012-01-28T12:55:38.073+00:00Living with invisible illnesses<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I left my
house yesterday to be greeted by a neighbour “You’re looking well enough!” I’m sure he meant no harm but it is so
frustrating living with illnesses that are invisible. There’s a huge difference between looking and
feeling well. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How does he
know how I feel? That my vulva is sore, that my left side woke me early. Yes, I
have pink cheeks, doesn’t mean that I’m not in pain and struggling!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Struggling
just to wear normal clothes for example. When I’m at home I wear maternity
bottoms. I have two drawers worth of pants, plain white pants which the elastic
is quiet baggy and then the other drawer full of pants that have two cuts in
the elastic so that they don’t put any pressure on my tummy. Depending on the
level of pain in my tummy will depend on which ones I am wearing. For the last
3-4 years when out of the house I have been wearing high waisted leggings with
no elastic in the top as my tummy pain doesn’t tolerate anything else. With
them I wear loose fitting dresses, again for the same reason. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>But I look
well! Being sick has completely taken over my life. So how do you live with
that? </i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I’m sure that people don’t mean to make life more difficult by making you
feel misunderstood but the bottom line is for me this makes living with these
illnesses more difficult. I suppose the saying is true that unless you walk a
mile in someone else’s shoes you don’t know what it’s like for them. I’m so grateful to have my Endo and Vulva
Pain friends via the blog, Endometriosis UK, LVPSG and Happy Pelvis e-mail
group. You really do keep me sane. You know how it is living like this. You
just get it. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How do you
cope with it? <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Last week as
with every month, I was stuck in the house due to so much pain from
Endometriosis. Do people need to know this, do they even care? Do we just
accept that this is just the way it is?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If the shoe
was on the other foot and I knew nothing of living like this, would I be
telling my neighbour how well they look. Is it meant as a compliment?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Any
thoughts or experiences to share, I’d love to hear.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lily Lou x</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-37388920459247121472012-01-27T13:57:00.000+00:002012-01-28T12:55:21.316+00:00Update on Dilators<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After my
blood test results came back in December, I was informed that I wasn't ovulating that month. The Consultant
asked me to come in and see her to talk through our options which I did in early
January. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So option one, to do nothing, just wait and see what happens. Option
two, to have some more bloods taken on day 2 of my cycle and then on day 21 and
to also look at my partners sperm quality. Option three, to try Clomide first
and then maybe think about IVF. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I opted for option two as it will give us some
facts about whether I am ovulating to work with. I'm not keen on taking drugs and would like to fall
pregnant naturally. Maybe time to look at acupuncture or something along those lines again.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>So this
month I am booked in with the HCA in my Doctors practice for my day 21 blood
test. Day 2 of my cycle is a little more complicated due to being housebound for the week of my cycle, so my doctors practice have kindly organised a district nurse to come
in and take the bloods. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The
Consultant told me we should be trying every other day from day 11 to day 17.
She asked me if I knew when day 1 of my period was. It turns out I didn’t really
know. I thought it was when you got some red blood but she said it was when it
was flowing. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This meant
this month I tried to use the dilators earlier then I normally would so that I
could get ready for day 11. I am going to have to change and go back to a
smaller size. As I used the biggest as per normal and I was really sore and
made my skin bleed a tiny amount in the vestibule area. </i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Day 11, my right piriformis really hurt and
was causing pain down my right leg and my left side was sore so we didn’t try
until day 12. We opted to used the syringe and I popped my legs up the wall for 10-15 minutes afterwards. Not sure if your supposed to stay there for longer. I will have to have a search on the recommended time for gravity to help. Its
day 14 today so we’ll have to see how the day pans out! Ice at the ready!?</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I'd love to hear from you, if you have anything you would like to share</i></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lily Lou x</i></span></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-9494002089508007262012-01-26T19:01:00.002+00:002012-01-26T19:01:15.058+00:00User Friendly Blog<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Welcome to
my more organised and easier to use blog. As you will see I have been working
hard to make some changes to make it more user friendly. There are now pages
at the top of the bog, Home and About Me pages you will already be familiar with, I
have just moved them. The two new pages I have added as useful resources for you are Useful
books & Tools and Websites.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Also new is
a search bar, to search the blog. Just make sure you are on the correct
page you wish to search. There is now also the option to follow the blog via your e-mail, just pop
in your e-mail address.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I hope this
makes it easier to get to any information you may find useful. As always I’d be
happy for your feedback.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lily Lou x</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-63536692314648274252012-01-24T14:35:00.000+00:002012-01-24T14:35:35.016+00:00Happy Birthday Wendy! Nurse Care Practitioner at the Royal Surrey Hospital<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wrote this poem for Wendy Rae Mitchell as a thank you for all of her hard work. She supports ladies at Guildford Hospital, raises awareness both in the medical profession and to the general public. When she is not doing that, you will also find her up a mountain raising money for Endometriosis. It is a special Birthday this year (I can’t tell you which one, as she is a lady!) I wish her a very happy one filled with lots of fun</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">! x<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>A poem for a special lady</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Wendy in her pants of pink</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Another mountain to climb</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>With a smile, a laugh and a wink</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>We appreciate you so much</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>You give freely of your time and heart<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>All in the aid of your Endo girls</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>With your kindness and knowledge to impart<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>So proud of you, with the doctors you stood</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Explaining the emotional care<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>The huge importance and impact</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Nurse care specialists could have, everywhere<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>` Without you as part of the team</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b> It would be like having fish without chips<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Not everybody is lucky enough to have</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b> A Wendy during their hospital trips<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>When things are going up the wall</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>You’re always at the end of a phone<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>To help us with feelings and thoughts</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>And let us have a good old moan<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>You come along to appointments</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>And offer a willing ear<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Which is always a comfort</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>And greatly helps to alleviate the fear<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Personally for me </b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>I was an inpatient for a week<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Had a visit from a friendly face</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Which made me feel less bleak<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Wendy Wendy, there is only one</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>You’re made of special goo<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>You make a difference to our lives</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>And help us not feel blue<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>I know without a shadow of doubt</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>That if endo was a walking thing<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>You would be popping on your gloves</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>And jumping straight in the boxing ring<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>If only it was an open fight </b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Against you, it wouldn’t stand a chance<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>It wouldn’t be around </b></span></span></i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><i>any more</i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>To give us a backwards glance<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>So the last thing that is left to say</b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Is thank you and wish you Birthday cheer<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And find out who’s round it should be</span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To get in all the beers</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">! </span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Love Lily Lou x </i> </span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-49945456875065716672012-01-17T14:19:00.005+00:002012-01-23T14:15:38.635+00:00My Story...Part two.<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Continued from part one (blog below)..........</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I stopped Zolodex in Dec 06. In Nov 07 I made the decision to have excision surgery to take away a nodule in my pouch of Douglas, split my womb from my bowel, clear up my left ovary and take adhesions away. A month after that surgery I came across the books </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">‘A headache in the pelvis’ </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">written by David Wise </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and the trigger point manual by Clair Davies</span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> . I did a lot of research on trigger point therapy and found out how this was helping a lot of people in the states overcome their pelvic/vulva pain. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There is a lot of information out there on Endometriosis and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and the role that endometriosis plays in this.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I did some research to find somebody based in London trained in Trigger point therapy and this brought me to </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Brent Osborn-Smith (Osteopath & Acupuncturist) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.clickaback.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">www.clickaback.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. </span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I went to see Brent in March 08 and he treated me for external and internal trigger points. He found that my coccyx was out of place and I had many trigger points both externally and internally. The treatment is painful but I found it settled down a few days later, I was doing well then I would get my period and it would be agony, then after my period stopped I would feel like all of my nerves had been switched on and would hurt. I would then go and have a session with Brent and again it would be painful but settle down again a few days later and then the cycle would begin again.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I started taking Yasmin in September 08 to stop my periods so I could continue with having trigger point therapy without periods but the Yasmin had the opposite effect and made me bleed nearly continuously for 5 months which made life incredibly difficult and I was unable to go and have any treatment.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Just over one year later,in January 09 I had more surgery to remove another nodule from my pouch of douglas, same place as last time, clean up my left ovary again and my right ovary and remove some endo deposits from my rectum, I had a mirena coil fitted at this time.I bled nearly continuously again. I was in pain all of the time. It was just the degree of pain that went up and down. It made my life unbearable!</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>In May 09 I went to see Mr Kent – Endometriosis specialist at The Royal Surrey, he took out the mirena coil. He sent me for a trans-vaginal scan, an MRI and referred me to Dr Dow – Pain Consultant. Dr Dow suggested taking Lyrica (Pregablin) which I was very against due to my earlier experience of amitripyline. I started taking the Lyrica in Sep 09 and pushed it up to 300mg a day. This didn’t do much for the pain but did help me sleep which made my days easier.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>In April 10 Mr Kent and Prof Rockal (Bowel surgeon) performed a joint bowel re-section, Mr Kent also had to take a small section of the wall of my vagina, my left ovary was involved and my left side needed a clean up. It is now 19 months since</i></span><i style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> the surgery and there is no difference in pain during periods. This type of surgery does help a lot of people but sadly it hasn't helped me. I am still happy that I opted for this surgery as at least the Endo that was there has been cut out so less likely to grow back.</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>I have lost a lot of everyday fitness after the last few years of just getting through life in pain and then laying on the sofa or in bed and specifically after my last surgery. Every time I start getting on my feet I have a period and it knocks me off my feet for a week or so then I spend the next couple of weeks trying to get back on my feet before the cycle starts again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>In Oct 10 </i><i>I tried Trimovate for fissues and I started using lidocaine on a cotton wool ball continuously for 3 months in </i></span><i style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the vestibule area on the advice of Wendy Reid</i><i style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. This seemed to be numbing the area nicely until I had flair up of pain after a sigmoidoscopy and now I have become sensitive to the lidocaine.</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>I have seen </i></span><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Maria Elliott (pelvic pain physiotherapist) </i><i style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">since June 2011 </span></i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="http://www.simplywomenshealth.co.uk/">http://www.simplywomenshealth.co.uk/</a><i style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </i></span><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. She has been treating me for connective tissue problems and lengthening the tight short muscles around the pelvis. She has taught my partner to skin roll so I can have this done 3 times a week when possible at home. I now have the confidence to touch my tummy which I didn't have before seeing Maria due to the pain.</i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Since Jan 11 I have been doing the yoga series in Isa Herera’s book to stretch out my pelvic muscles and being aware and thinking about dropping my pelvic floor muscles using my in breathe.</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I have most recently been to see Natasha Curran, Pain specialist at UCLH (I'll blog about this in more detail)<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="http://www.uclh.org/Pages/home.aspx">http://www.uclh.org/Pages/home.aspx</a>. </span><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There is no magic cure for me to end the pain but I have been referred to their physiotherapy department that work with you to regain some level of ability and to improve your quality of life. </i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I feel with the team I now have working with me Guildford Hospital, UCLH, Alison, (pain psychologist at Kingston Hospit</i><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">al </i></span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="http://www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/">http://www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/</a>) <i style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ma</i></span><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ria and Brent that something will change and life will improve. Maybe getting pregnant will help things?! or at least stop my periods for a while.</i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I'm hoping that you are still awake at the end of this huge blog. I would love to hear your stories</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Lily-lou x</i></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-30325492224630830302012-01-17T13:30:00.001+00:002012-01-18T13:06:55.442+00:00My Story... Part one.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I haven't written my story so far. I'll try to keep it short but it has been going on for years. To make it easier to read and to stop you falling asleep, I'll do it in two parts.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I st</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">arted my periods at about age 13, they have always been very painful. I was put on the pill by my GP and given strong painkillers and told I would grow out of it. The pill helped with my periods but I still had some very bad ones. </span></span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I had a cyst on my left ovary at age 17 which was operated on by a general Gynae. (I found this a very painful experience). </span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When I was 18, my periods were so painful that I had to stop using tampons and started using sanitary towels. At the end of each period I would have a sore vulva. I went to the doctors and they said nothing was wrong. This pattern carried on but then the pain was there when I tried to have sex (Pain was at the bottom of the opening of my vagina) this then caused Vaginismus, where the muscle would spasm. This was very distressing as I was so young and felt unable to talk to anybody. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I continued to go to various doctors, different GUM Clinics. I was tested for everything but it all came back negative and I still was being told nothing was wrong – in fact it was said it was all in my head!! I left many buildings in tears due to misdiagnoses.</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Aged 23, I made various visits to my GP and he finally sent me to the Gynaecology Department – they also said there was nothing wrong and told me to contact Relate Psycho-sexual councillors. Nobody asked me about my periods at this time and I had no idea that the amount of pain I was suffering with them wasn’t normal.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was finally diagnosed with vestibulitus when I was 26. I was given anti-histamine and lidocaine to help with the pain and trainers to overcome the vaginismus and then went into psycho-sexual counselling (Sensate focus). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After trying anti-histamine with no success, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was given amitripyline, (aged 30) I was on them for three months. I had terrible side effects, heart palpitations, sweating, panic attacks etc. I felt like I was on another planet! In hindsight I should of come off them before three months but I was hoping so much that they would work.</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was desperate to do anything that might help my health and decided that after being on the pill for so long I would come off it. My periods were getting worse each month even on the pill. I had always been terrified of coming off the pill. I didn’t have a period for a couple of months. Then they came with gusto, the pain was agony.</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My Gynae then tried to put me back on the pill, I tried three different pills on a continuous basis but none of them suited me and I just bled for three months. During this time I was sent to the women’s physio department for bio-feedback to see if this could help with my vestibulitus. The bleeding meant that she was unable to do bio-feedback. The vestibulitus got worse and moved up to the clitoris and the rest of the vagina.</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I had a laparoscopy in October 04 in day surgery and was told when I woke up that I would need more surgery with a bowel prep as I had severe/stage 4 Endometriosis with bowel involvement. There was also a cyst present.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As an inpatient I had another laparoscopy with bowel prep in March 05, my Gynae cleared up with laser as much as possible and moved my left ovary off the bowel, the cyst had gone.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> When I woke up </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was surprised to be told I would be treated with medication, I thought having surgery would cure me. Little did I know! </span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I took livial everyday orally and had a Zoladex/Goserin implant every 12 weeks </span></span></i><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(puts you into a chemical menopause)</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. I grew facial hair because of the livial! Another joy! So I tried Marvalon and then Kilofem but I still bled and had pain.</span></span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My Gynae didn't operate on the Pouch of Douglas as it is a highly complex and high risk area. He frightened me by telling me</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> the risks associated with more complex bowel surgery. So </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I put the idea of further surgery to one side and then tried acupuncture and Chinese herbs for 18 months with Trevor Wing </span><a href="http://www.naturalgynae.com/nav7.html">http://www.naturalgynae.com/nav7.html</a>. T<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">his helped my overall health but didn't touch the pain I was still suffering. Trevor did a food intolerance test due to some of my symptoms and it reported I was sensitive to wheat and cows dairy. I am still wheat free now and it definitely helps with bloating and extra pain. The dairy I don’t notice much difference but have stuck to eating sheep, goats or soya due to the hormones used in cows dairy. I don’t eat red meat but that is a lifestyle choice from my younger years.</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Part two to follow.... Lily Lou x</span></span></i></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-1319300394015834682012-01-09T17:21:00.003+00:002012-01-23T14:10:39.149+00:00The Royal Surrey Hospital<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I wanted to blog about The Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford </span></i></span> <i><span style="color: #666666;">and my experience of the team there. I have been seeing Mr Kent and team since May 09. I wanted to blog about them as I wish I had been referred to them years ago and if you are looking for a new hospital or one that is more Endometriosis Specialised, this might be the one for you. This link will take you to their website. </span></i><a href="http://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/">http://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I only learnt that they were there when I attended the Endometriosis UK awareness day in London and I went to the talk on painful sex given by Wendy Rae-Mitchell. Wendy is a Nurse Care practitioner at the Royal Surrey Hospital, I had never heard of this position before, in all of my previous hospitals (three) I was just looked after by a Consultant. It took me a while to realise that not all Consultants were what I call super specialists, some are Gynaecologists with a specialist interest in Endometriosis which is not the same as the super specialists. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">The Royal Surrey Hospital was the first hospital to refer me for an MRI, then onto their pain team and Wendy. My last surgery was a joint surgery with both Mr Kent and Professor Rockall (Bowel Consultant) as I had a bowel re-section. </span></i></span><i><span style="color: #666666;">Personally, when having surgery I want somebody who performs lots of these operations and really knows their stuff to minimise the risks of surgery. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I was really well looked after before the surgery and afterwards. Wendy rang me the day after I got home and gave me support via the telephone for some time so the care didn't end at discharge. I was so grateful for these calls, it gave me confidence speaking to somebody medically trained and emotionally aware of the impact of Endometriosis and surgery. If I had anything that I was worried about I could talk it through with her or if she thought I should see my GP, she would organise that to happen. It was a much more positive experience than I have had before and made a real difference to the way I felt.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">There is also a great support group at the Royal Surrey, there is normally one support group a month instead of every other month as one is a hospital led group and the next is an </span></i></span><i><span style="color: #666666;">Endometriosis Uk group</span></i><i><span style="color: #666666;">. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Lily Lou x</span></i></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-63247301501278576662011-12-29T18:05:00.002+00:002011-12-29T18:15:57.721+00:00Happy New Year!<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I know I'm a couple of days early in saying Happy New Year but who’s counting.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I wanted to focus a post on all of you lovely and brave ladies. I hope you have been able to have some fun over the festive period and see friends and family. It’s miserable to be poorly over Christmas and feeling like everybody else is having fun. If this has been the case for you then I hope you are feeling much better.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;">My past two years I have been really poorly over Christmas so I know what it feels like. This year we didn't manage to go to family for Christmas day as I wasn’t well enough. I did however manage to have a nice quiet day with my other half and to eat Christmas lunch which I was very grateful for.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I hope that this year you find some answers to your Endometriosis, Vulvodynia, Vestibuldynia, fertility problems or any other problems you are going through. Stay strong and keep in touch, I’d love to hear from you about your experiences and hopefully we can in turn help somebody else reading this.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Also not forgetting Partners, Consultants, Nurse Care Practitioner, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Pain psychologists, Alexander Technique teachers, friends, family and all the staff, trustees, fund raisers and volunteers at Endometriosis UK, both the Vulva Pain Society and the LVPSG and the Happy Pelvis e-mail support group. If I have forgotten anybody please forgive me.</span></i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Thank you for all you have done this year in supporting and using your expertise in treating us ladies. For me, you know who you are.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Wishing you strength and a much happier and healthier 2012!<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Lily-Lou x</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-50723948734926220722011-12-27T12:12:00.000+00:002011-12-27T12:12:25.237+00:00Wheat and Dairy Free recipes for Winter<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I thought I would share a couple of dairy and wheat free recipes with you. Both of these recipes are using spelt flour, which is obviously wheat free but is not gluten free. I buy Dove's organic wholegrain spelt flour. This first recipe below is from the back of the spelt packet.</i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Roman Style Bread<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ingredients<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>500g Wholegrain Spelt Flour</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1/2 tsp Salt</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1 tsp Quick Yeast</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1 tbsp Honey</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>400ml Warm Water</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1 tbsp Olive Oil </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Preheat oven to 200C/Fan180C/400F/Gas 6. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt and quick yeast. Dissolve the honey in the water and roughly mix it to the flour. When the dough is craggy, add the oil and mix well. Knead or work the dough for a few minutes, then divide between 2 x 500g bread tins or place on a large, well oiled baking tray for an artisan-style loaf. Cover and leave to rise for 25 minutes in a warm place. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 25 minutes if using a baking tray, or 40/45 minutes if using loaf tins.</i></span></span><br />
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I also add seeds, rosemary or olives sometimes to the mix, just add whatever you fancy. </i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Festive Winter Crumble</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Ingredients</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>275g spelt flour, pinch of salt</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>50g Oats</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>175g brown sugar</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>200g unsalted butter, cubbed at room temperature</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>2 tsp ground cinnamon</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>1 tsp nutmeg</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Packet of frozen mixed berries</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Preheat the oven to 180c/350F/Gas 4</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Place the flour, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Taking a few cubes of butter at a time rub into the flour mixture. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. </i></span></span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Butter a 24cm/9in oven proof dish. Spoon the berries into the bottom, then sprinkle the crumble mixture on top. </i><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the crumble is browned and the fruit mixture bubbling. </i><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Serve with thick cream or custard.</i></div></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-33933869364321963532011-12-21T18:03:00.000+00:002011-12-21T18:03:20.422+00:00Fertility Nurse Talk<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Both my partner and I found the presentation by Helen Graham, Fertility Nurse at the Royal Surrey Hospital very useful. She talked about hormone levels during your cycle and when ovulation happens, she said that its best to have sex three days before ovulation then every three days during your fertile time to try and catch the egg.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I obviously knew to have a varied diet full of different colours to get all of the nutrients possible. To keep saturated fats to a minimum i.e. cakes and bakery items and to keep within your BMI for your height and weight and to include exercise. </span></i><i><span style="color: #666666;">The advice was also to keep alcohol to the recommended safe limit and stop smoking but I was surprised to find out that caffeine effects fertility! Not a problem for me, more for my other half and his new cafetiere! </span></i><i><span style="color: #666666;">My down fall is having a sweet tooth but I intend to drop 7 pounds or so and stay off the sweet stuff, or at least try and make my own cake if I do eat it.</span></i><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">Helen also mentioned to watch out for too much vitamin A as this can cause birth defects. Taking folic acid is needed when trying to conceive and vitamin C and zinc was also important. She said it is useful to check if you are ovulating by using a test. I did this over two days in the middle of my cycle, the first day it came back negative, the following day it said I was ovulating. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span><br />
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</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">However, I had a blood test done at the hospital on day 24 of my cycle to see if I had ovulated and the results said I didn’t ovulate! I was surprised and confused at this after taking the test. The doctor said that the ovulating kits on the high street aren’t very sensitive so may not always be correct. She went onto say that this may not be the case every month for ovulating, it could just be this or some months that I don’t. We now have an appointment at the hospital to talk through our options. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I did speak to Helen regarding taking painkillers and using very hot water bottles regularly. They would normally prefer you to not be taking any painkillers. Although in my case I need them so I am trying to take less of them during the month if I can, whilst trying to keep a balance in pain. I have decided to take a pregnancy test before I take my really heavy drugs each month. The advice for the water bottles was too keep them to a minimum and not too hot. She said plenty of warms baths were a good idea and very relaxing. Obviously if I have a period then I wouldn't be pregnant and can have hot water bottles and all my painkillers.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #666666;">I was hoping to go with the flow and not get to hung up on trying for a baby but it seems it won't be quiet that simple. I am keeping in my mind that I have come far in this journey as now I can use all of the dilators and have some sex so that is some great progress!</span></i></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-83924807126646705672011-11-28T16:25:00.001+00:002011-12-20T17:31:20.496+00:00Piri -flippin –formis<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">After I have my period my Piriformis muscle goes rock hard with a trigger point in it and causes a great deal of pain to run down my left leg and in my buttock muscles and hip. Occasionally this pain is in my right side. I have a foam roller <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002JJQSOW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B002JJQSOW">66Fit Elite Foam Roller- Blue, 15 cm X 90 cm</a> </span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">which I use to roll over the muscle to try and break it down. My other half also skin rolls over the area three times a week which Maria showed him how to do.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.simplywomenshealth.co.uk/">http://www.simplywomenshealth.co.uk/ </a></span><a href="http://www.simplywomenshealth.co.uk/"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.simplywomenshealth.co.uk/"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">One of the best things to break it down is to have it dry needled by Brent Osborn-Smith </span></i></span></a><a href="http://www.clickaback.com/">http://www.clickaback.com/</a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> . He uses an acupuncture needle to find the spot of the trigger point. It does hurt when the needle is in the right spot on this trigger point, it gives a very deep pain which goes down my leg and in my groin. After a day or so this does give me some relief so is definitely worth it.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I also stretch out my Pirformis muscle using the pigeon pose along with other poses to stretch all of my pelvic muscles as per the yoga series in Isa Herera’s book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1439257779/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1439257779">Ending Female Pain, a Woman's Manual: Ultimate Self-Help Guide for Women Suffering from Chronic Pelvic and Sexual Pain</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=1xhappypelviw-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1439257779" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. These are specific exercises to stretch this area out without putting the pelvis under too much strain which can increase pain.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">My problem is the trigger point keeps coming back. I feel it is somehow connected to my left side of my pelvis where I suffer the worst of my Endometriosis pain. I would really like to know exactly what happens on a biological level to my body during the month. I know my periods are a culprit and cause this continuous cycle to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I am hoping that if I manage to get pregnant it will give my body a chance to calm down. Nine months with out periods plus time added for breast feeding. I have brought a box of Yes Baby </span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">to try out this month which includes sperm friendly organic lube, a tube for him and one for me with some ovulation sticks. I’ll report back to you on how I get on and how easy it is to use. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">http://www.yesyesyes.org/yesbaby.htm </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I also had some great e-mails from fabulous and brave ladies reading this blog suggesting googling ‘Turkey baster pregnancy’. Not the greatest of titles but I found some useful information. So for this month I also have some 10ml syringes in case I’m too sore to have sex around ovulation time.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I’m off to hear a fertility nurse speak tonight so I’ll also pass on any information I learn from her. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Keep in touch and let me know how you are getting on and any tips you think are working for you or useful to pass on to both me and the readers of the blog.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Thanks x</span></i></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-83216573901493118672011-11-15T18:32:00.000+00:002011-11-15T18:32:39.344+00:00Early diagnosis campaign<div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">Since recently sharing the shocking statistics on endometriosis with the government, the CEO of Endometriosis UK, Helen North, has launched an e-petition to campaign for better support to GPs and hospitals in diagnosing chronic conditions. I am sure you see lots of e-petitions and know how they work - 100,000 signatures results in the topic being debated in the House of Commons. We would be most grateful not only if you would be willing to sign the petition below, but if you could forward it to any of your contacts who might also be interested in this cause. This isn't just about endometriosis but about all those diseases that may be common but not well understood or well funded. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><br style="line-height: 23px;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 23px;"> </span><a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22012" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; line-height: 23px;" target="_blank">http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22012</a> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><br style="line-height: 23px;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">Thanks so much for your support</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">Lily lou</span></div><div><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-84580289014501902682011-11-15T17:29:00.000+00:002011-11-15T17:29:13.623+00:00Smears<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Smears, like me I'm sure its something you do not like having done. Maybe even fear or dread going. I think to be honest that most women do not like having it done but for different reasons to anybody suffering Vulva or Pelvic pain.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB">I put off having a smear for some time after my last surgery as I was worried about the pain it would give me. I am glad to report that after reading the Vulva Pain Society’s ‘Smears without tears guide’ I plucked up the courage to call and book into have one done. Check out this link and have a read. </span><a href="http://vulvalpainsociety.org/index.php?page=smears-without-tears">http://vulvalpainsociety.org/index.php?page=smears-without-tears</a><span lang="EN-GB">. </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB">When I booked the appointment, I asked the receptionist if she could make a note that I had requested a smaller speculum because of Vulva pain and Endometriois. That way there would definitely be one when I arrived for the smear and the nurse would be aware why I had requested this. It</span> was a much better experience than I was expecting. The nurse was kind and took it slowly, the speculum she used was made out of plastic and much smaller than the normal one. Not the metal contraption I remember.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">So a big thanks to the Vulva Pain Society and the lovely girls that put the leaflet together! It’s well worth a read for both Vulva pain and Endometriosis patients, especially if like me, you have pouch of Douglas involvement.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I was glad I went for a smear when I did. I had an abnormal bleed one of the following months and one of the first questions the Consultant asked me, “Are you up to date with your smear?”. At least I then didn't have to go and have one done and wait and fret about the results. It was good to sigh with relief.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-54992379416158274882011-11-05T15:06:00.001+00:002011-11-06T16:24:00.333+00:00Update on the Dilators<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I normally try and start using the dilators again after about 7-10 days after my period has finished. I let the internal pain from the period calm down. Then as I haven’t been able to use them during or just before the period. I stick with the largest size but I go back to using it for 5 minutes, then 10 minutes the next day and so on until I get up to an hour. These muscles have to be stretched every day, then I ice.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I’m in new territory now as we are having some sex, this month it was really sore around the vestibule area. I tried my beloved icepack, then felt the need to apply Lidocaine onto the area. Boy that was a mistake! <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I had previously been using Lidocaine under a regime of applying it to a cotton wool ball and placing it in the vulval lips to desensitise the area for 8 weeks. This was working really well until I went into hospital for a procedure. Two days later, my intestines and stomach flared up in pain. Following that my vulva looked like the skin had come off and blistered where the cotton wool had been. So I stopped using it. I was told that you can become sensitive to the ingredients that they put with Lidocaine rather than the actual Lidocaine itself. In the States they have compounding pharmacies so you are able to get Lidocaine made up into other bases that you might not react to. But in England it’s the tube or nothing!<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Anyway, I thought I would try the Lidocaine again as it had been some time, well I didn’t react well to it. It made my vulva even sorer, redder, and swollen. Not good. Seven days later and it’s still hot and sore but it’s much better that it was. I kept using ice for 7 minutes a few times a day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">As you know we are trying to get pregnant which is a difficult task when sex is painful. I tried googling getting pregnant with-out having sex, nothing came up along these lines. Any ideas, I’d love to hear them. I’ll keep trying with sex though, it’s amazing that we could do it. I keep it short for my part so not to make me too sore.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I’m seeing the pain team at UCL next month so hope that they will be able to shed some light and help with some of the pain that I’m experiencing. Fingers crossed.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-70640568680514611662011-10-22T21:26:00.002+01:002011-10-23T12:32:46.931+01:00Diary October 2011<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When I started this blog I never wanted it to be 'poor me......' but I wanted it to be upbeat and informative and to be honest and open. But in being honest I have to say and I’m sure anybody living with Endometriosis, Vulvadynia or Vestibulitus would understand about having bad times and I have to open up and admit that this week was a bad one, as this time of the month always is for me.</span></i><br />
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</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Mrs Louis visited Sunday (anybody following this blog will know this is what I call my period) after having period pain for 9 days, I finally came on. I always end up in bed when I am bleeding for a week due to pain, relying on my partner for food and only getting up to go to the toilet. Unfortunately I don’t have any family nearby so we have to just manage. My partner makes me breakfast and lunch before he goes to work, then returns to make dinner and dish out the TLC.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">For the first few hours I have unbearable pain that I find hard to deal with. D</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">uring this time I find that my partner rubbing my hand seems to distract my brain a bit from the pain</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">It doesn't take it away but I think it confuses my nerves that send signals to the brain. Maybe worth trying. T</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">his level of pain normally calms a little after a few hours when some of the drugs I take kick in, although it is really intense and at its worst for the first three days. The pain medication I take made me feel really sick this time and I couldn't get much food or fluids down which adds to the symphony of symptoms having to be endured.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">After my week, it then takes me a few days to get up and about. So for about two and a half weeks of the month at least I'm unable to do much. Then I spend the next week pushing myself to get back to my walking/physio routine before the next month comes around.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">During my time stuck in bed my little Compac notebook is a god send and I watch i-player or itv player. I got mine free when I got a new phone via </span></i></span><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=380&id=128500" target="_blank">Mobiles.co.uk</a>, it has changed being stuck in bed. During a few</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> days of taking certain medication I find it difficult to focus and</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> read, </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">my partner found me an audio book, </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0718155815/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=1xhappypelviw-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0718155815">Life and Laughing: My Story</a></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> by Michael McIntyre, click on the link and opt for the</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">audio version. I love him anyway and think he is really funny and by just listening to him tell his story he kept me amused. That is saying something at this time!!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Being sick this time has meant that I missed the Endometriosis UK Awareness Day, it was being held in London, I’m gutted. I found it a great day the last time I went, I was so looking forward to it. I hope some of you managed to attend, I’d love to hear what you thought of it. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Anybody interested in raising some funds for Endometriosis UK, they currently have Christmas raffle tickets available in books of 10, priced at £1per ticket. Good time to see if your family and friends fancy winning some cash ready for Christmas as 1<sup>st</sup> prize is £1,000, 2<sup>nd</sup> prize is £500 and 3<sup>rd</sup> prize is £250. Look on their website <a href="http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/">http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/</a> and order some books if you fancy, it will be going to raise awareness and support women with Endometriosis. Good Luck!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Anyway I’m now over the worst of Mrs Louis visiting and have to concentrate on some nicer things happening this month. We are celebrating our 15<sup>th</sup> year of being together at the end of this month, I want to show my gratitude for all of the support I get from my partner so hopefully it will be fun and illness may bugger off for a bit. One can live in hope eh?!!</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589668444631519887.post-11000891325164817642011-10-14T19:21:00.000+01:002011-10-14T19:21:46.986+01:00Useful physio tips when away and update on dilators<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ahoy me hearties!! I’ve been away with my other half on a cruise from Southampton to the canaries. We sailed on a Royal Caribbean Ship called the Independence of the seas. It’s the second biggest ship in the world. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>During my first couple of days on board I needed to roll my gluteus and piriformus muscles as I was plagued with left leg pain and this is normally due to them. I went to the gym to see if they had any foam rollers, they didn’t. One of the gym staff gave me a great idea to make a foam roller when travelling. She said get a thick magazine, roll it up, tape it to keep its shape and then wrap a towel around it. Ta da, one foam roller!! I didn’t have a thick magazine so in the end I got an apple, put it on a towel as I wasn’t sure if it was going to split, but it didn’t and I managed to roll out those muscles on it. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Following on from my dilator post and using my partners willy as my 5<sup>th</sup> dilator, I first tried when we were at home. I have to say I didn’t think of the human element too much, obviously a dilator is made of plastic and stays in shape but my partners willy unless stimulated doesn’t! </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When we were away we tried again and I had to do a bit of moving around to overcome this problem. Third time I would say was sex! Never thought we would get there. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Afterwards my skin on my vulva was hot and sore due to Vestibuldynia and Vulvadynia. I bought an eye mask along with me to keep in the fridge as there was no freezer so I couldn’t bring my beloved ice pack. The eye mask wasn’t cold enough so I ended up using a tip I learnt – I used a can of red bull wrapped in some tissue. I popped it on my vulva, it was colder than the eye mask and a good shape to use as it is long and thin.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I wanted to pass these ideas on as you have to improvise when you are away and I would never have thought of these tips, I hope you find them useful. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Going on a cruise was lovely, I normally carry a cushion around with me everywhere I go as I find sitting very uncomfortable. On the ship they had so many comfy seats that I didn’t have to carry it around with me. That was amazing! It was like a floating hotel, my room was never far away if I needed it. Also the beds are comfy as its an american company, the beds in the states always seem to be big and comfy in my experience.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I know everyone comes back from holiday and normally gets the holiday blues, my tummy started feeling periody a day before we got home, for me this is a sure sign my period is coming in the next 7-10 days. That really made me feel down in the dumps so I have been trying to take it day by day. I wish I was as regular as clockwork to the day or even the hour and if us Endometriosis sufferers had to have it, it would be made easier to bare if we only had pain during a period and not before or afterwards.</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Although I've been having a tough week, I know it did me good to get away, in fact only after being away for a few days I realised how good it was and felt more relaxed. Its good to get away from the four walls you get stuck in, very therapeutic!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438428736947177952noreply@blogger.com0