Endo doesn't have to be a downer

Yes, I said it. Endo doesn’t have to be a downer.

I hope I don’t sound flip when I say that. But then again, maybe I mean to.

I know, it’s a serious chronic illness. It can be a debilitating disease that affects a woman’s ability to live a normal, happy life.

Many endometriosis sufferers can’t work steady jobs or enjoy the daily activities most of us take for granted. Many struggle for years with fertility treatments, desperate to start families. Many endure a parade of surgeries and medical treatments that yield few results. They are poked and prodded by doctors who often have little understanding of the illness they are attempting to treat. Many suffer in silence because they think no one will understand what they are going through (and, sadly, many people don’t understand).

When I say endo doesn’t have to be a downer, I am in no way seeking to make light of the severity of this chronic illness or the effect it has on the women who have it and their lives, relationships, careers, and families.

In fact, I hope to share first-hand accounts of women who struggle with endometriosis on this site, because I firmly believe (and research backs me up) that women who have endometriosis (myself included) find valuable information and support from one another’s stories.

I plan on delving into the research that has been done on endometriosis to date—and discuss what research is missing.

I have no doubt I’ll spend plenty of time talking about symptoms and possible treatments—relying on expert insights and solid medical information, wherever possible.

And I’ll also throw in tidbits here and there about my own experience with endo.

But I want this blog to be more than that. I want it to be upbeat. I want it to be helpful. I want it to be a positive place where women who have endometriosis—or friends and loved ones seeking to know more about it—can come for information along with a dose of inspiration.

I don’t want to get bogged down in thinking about endometriosis as a lifetime sentence for chronic pain. Rather, I want this to be a place where women with endometriosis can come to find helpful information, positive energy, and easy ideas for making their lives healthier and happier every day.

It’s what I’m seeking to do in my own life, and I’m guessing I’m not alone in that pursuit. That’s why I’ve started this blog.