Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Living Life To Its Fullest

So every entry will not be these terrifying stories that I have been through. I have been blessed with so many great things, events, people and family. I will not allow my endometriosis to run my life. I run my life. I believe that once you start allowing the pain to dictate what and who you are, then you slowing start dying. My passions are traveling, art, languages, music, graffiti, sports, cars, friends, God and life. Every year I make it a point to go some where big or do something that is completely out of the ordinary. In future entries I will go into more detail but I have done things like stay with tribes in the Amazon Jungle, camped on the Kenai River in Alaska, standing on Zugspitze-Germany's highest mountain and so much more because I refuse to let my pain take over. I live my life to its fullest. I was told that many women that have what I have stay in bed. And many even commit suicide because they can not handle the pain that they are in. What makes me happy and proud is that my doctors tell their patients about my stories. About how I stay strong and keep on moving forward. Don't get me wrong. I have bad days. But I remember that those will pass and the good days will out weigh the bad ones. Plus what kind of life is it to live when yo are only living bad ones? I would love to hear your stories and what you do to live your lofe to the fullest.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Tell Me Your Pain On A Scale From 1 to 10.

When I am in pain, it is so hard to put it to that stupid 1 to 10 scale the doctors ask. Everyone's tolerance is different. Someone's 5 could be someone's 8. It is absurd to me that there is a scale. I have been rushed to many ERs.

There was one incident in Dallas, TX at a hospital when I went into the ER. I was doubled over and bleeding heavily. I could barely stand, barely breathe, vision blurred, head hurting, sweating, crying and just wanting everything to pass. Granted, there were people in front of me that had life threatening emergencies. But I was not at all prepared for the way the doctor treated me once I was in the ER. I eventually was taken back to my area. My area consisted of thin pieces of cloth separating from the next person. I was new to Dallas at the time. So I went to this particular ER because the were known for their Woman's Care. So I was asked to switch into my gown. One detail I forgot to leave out is at the time I was there alone. My boyfriend at the time was trying to get to get to the hospital as all of this was going down. So I was scared. The doctor comes in and asks me what was going on. I explained my situation. That I do have Endometriosis but the pain I was experiencing was really intense and I was advised when going through this to come to the ER in case it was a Cyst or something worse. So he rolls his eyes and sighs and says ok well let me check. So after a quick check he then goes into a quick scolding of how I am wasting his time by showing up in his hospital with bad cramps meanwhile he is standing there with my blood all over him. The nurse standing next to him is just mortified. After the scolding he tell me to get dressed and to get out of his hospital and that he had real patients to attend to. I was speechless. Not only did I feel violated but I felt completely embarrassed because the entire ER could hear what was going on. The nurse immediately came over and helped me and started apologizing for his actions. I told her not to apologize for him. It was not her place to do so.

But the entire this was happening, all I could think about were all the women and the girls that this kind of stuff happens to on a daily basis. People that are out there that think these are just "bad cramps." I want to share these stories because I never have. I am at a point in my life to where I am comfortable in doing so. I want to help people by telling them that these type of situations are not ok. Not allowing people to do these things. I have learned not to accept NO and I DON'T KNOW as answers. Neither should you.

Cheers,
B

I Define Me, Not My Endometriosis.

Let me start with the basics. Hi, my name is Brandy and I have Endometriosis. I wanted to start a blog because ever since I was a young girl this is something that I have been diagnosed with. I had so many questions and concerns. The one that is the most frustrating is having people around me understand what I truly go through. Even though I am an adult now, one of my goals is to create a place that people can come to talk, express what they are going through, have questions and much more. No I am not a doctor, I do not have a certifications or any qualifications. What I do have is life experience, tons of doctor visits with thousands of dollars of medical bills, a heart that is wanting to help those out there that needs it and a fire for life. I will share many of my stories, the things that I feel, the issues that I have but how I do not let Endometriosis run my life. I will never let it win. I have achieved so much and will never give up no matter how much pain I am in.

Cheers,
B