Living with Endometriosis: Symptoms, Signs & Tips

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month and to support better awareness, understanding and support we want to share as much information as possible for both signs & symptoms of endometriosis as well as navigating those challenges and tips & tricks to liver comfortably with endometriosis.
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Living with endometriosis is a challenging journey, one that often involves a variety of mobility aids but with the right support and resources, it can also be a journey of resilience and empowerment. We’ve gathered some helpful insights from members of our community - Dr Liz Murray, Chloe Durrington, Josie Tang & Gabriella Pearson - who are living with endometriosis themselves. Together we hope that by sharing their experiences and tips, we can offer guidance and comfort as you navigate your own path.

Chloe Durrington

• Pure Spectrum CBD Recover Salve and Cream can melt the pain away on bad days.
  
  
• Cool Crutches Mobility Aids! My walking stick is what makes it possible to get out the house on the days when I’m having a flare-up. Without it, I’d be housebound, which only makes me feel worse!
  
  
• The MyObi Apollo 2.0. It combines heat, TENS, and red light therapy and is a real lifesaver.

Dr Liz Murray

• Lucy & Yak dungarees - it sounds crazy but I found having brightly coloured and loose fitting clothes helped so much with my relationship with my body and those swollen days where I would look pregnant. Wearing bright coloured clothes and receiving compliments lifted my mood and helped me regain confidence again
  
  
• A lavender-scented microwave wheat bag. The lavender is calming and the heat helps so so much. I have gone through so many of theses!

Gabriella Pearson

• I second the CBD Recover Salve and Cream and Mobility Aids. Both are products I rely on when I'm having a flare-up, and Pure Spectrum and Cool Crutches are the brands I have found work best for me too. My Leopard Walking Stick is the comfiest aid I've had - and for me, comfort is key!
  
  
• I also couldn't live without my BeYou Pain Patches. You can wear them anywhere, they are super lightweight and discreet. They are an alternative to a hot water bottle or heat pad if you are out and about and don't want something so bulky.

Josie Tang

• An acupuncture mat to lay on can help ground your mind and body. I find it not only helps with my back pain but my mental health when the weight of the illness gets overwhelming.
  
• A heated blanket is a source of joy and relief. Wrapping it around the body allows the heat to target pain spots like the abdomen, pelvis, thighs, and lower back. P.S pick a fun coloured one so it lifts your mood when you’re using it!

Gabriella Pearson

• Trust your gut!
  Advocating for yourself and your health is always valid and warranted. You only get one health and one body, so you have to do what you need to do to ensure you get the right care, support and treatment. Sometimes we are labelled difficult, overemotional, dramatic or aggressive when all we are doing is trying to get a better quality of life.
  
• Have multiple flare up kits, so you are never without your go to products/items when you are flaring or in pain.
  
• Make sure if you have anything planned which requires any travel, energy or spoons, to block out some rest time before and after. Your body will thank you for it later! 

Dr Liz Murray

• Your diagnosis will feel devastating and bring about so many questions of fear and anxiety. If you have a partner make sure he/she is also educated so that they know how best to support you, This is a marathon not a sprint. There will be good days, challenging days but you need to be a team to get through it together.
• Do your research from reliable sources. There is so so much misinformation on social media. Social media can be a wonderful place for community support, but be careful not to fall too far down the rabbit holes. Figure out what your goals are; is is symptom control or is it fertility preservation. This has a big influence on your treatment options.
• Avoid oestrogen rich foods (soy as well) and dairy. There are a lot of inflammatory-triggering foods and some very useful diet and nutritional studies which have been proven to help not just the symptoms but the disease progression itself. Similarly sugar levels can have a major role in the disease and your hormones. With something like end you want to look at an holistic approach as everything has a role.

Chloe Durrington

• Don't overexert yourself with big tasks that can lead to burnout. Instead, focus on smaller, more manageable tasks that fit your current energy levels.

• Prioritise rest WITHOUT guilt. It's essential to listen to your body and allow it to recharge. Taking breaks is not laziness; it's a necessary part of managing your health.

• Do small things for yourself as often as you can. Whether it’s skincare, something creative, cooking a nice meal, low intensity exercise - just taking that time to remember who you are outside of your diagnosis is imperative.

• I switched to an anti-inflammatory diet and the results have been HUGE - it worked so well for me. Make sure you speak with a medical professional before you give it a go as everyone is different. If you do decide it's safe to go ahead, I recommend Sophie Richards AIP Guide and Recipe Books - I couldn't have done it without her!