Grief

Does anyone else find themselves going through a sort of grief process with endo?? I'm really missing "the good days," when I made plans with friends and kept my word, when I went to work over 40 hours a week and still had the energy to run and keep my body in perfect shape, having extra money to spend on cute shoes and clothes instead of medical bills, not having to worry about how many pain meds I took yesterday, not being on a constant emotional roller coaster, thus keeping my loved ones on one too, as they walk on eggshells not knowing what's going to bring me to tears... and the list goes on and on and on... chronic illness is not fun. I try to remain hopeful, but today I just don't have it. I miss the good days.

Posted via Blogaway

New Pain Scale!!

Well, I am actually not sure how "new" this is, and honestly one of my least favorite things to be asked at the dr. or hospital is, "describe your pain to me on a scale of one to ten." But on my endo support page someone posted this:

Mankosi Pain Scale

0- pain free

1- very minor annoyance, occasional twinges. No medication needed.

2- minor annoyance, strong twinges. No medication needed.

3- annoying enough to be distracting. Mild pain killers (Motrin, ibuprofen, etc.)

4- can be ignored if you are really involved in your work, but still distracting. Mild pain killers effective for 3-4 hours.

5- cannot be ignored for longer than 30 minutes. Mild pain killers effective for 3-4 hours.

6- cannot be ignored for any length of time. Can still work or participate in social activities with stronger pain killers (Codiene, vicodin, etc.) Effective for 3-4 hours.

7- difficult to concentrate. Interferes with sleep. Still funtioning with effort. Strong pain killers only partially effective.

8- physical activity is limited. Can read or converse with effort. Nausea and dizziness set in as factors of the pain.

9- unable to speak. Crying out, moaning. Near delirium.

10- unconcious. Pain makes you pass out.

I thought this one was really good! Giving it to my doctor!

Posted via Blogaway

Posted via Blogaway

UGH!!!

OMG, I just really need to vent right now! I feel like CRAP today! I had a weekend of trying to relieve myself of a week's worth of constipation- now that problem is "fixed," but I barely slept last night and I am in SO MUCH PAIN today, at work, and running out of pain meds. I am STILL waiting on some blood work so I can figure out why I am so damn tired all the time, why my scalp is flaking off, why my skin is so oily it's disgusting!! This is definitely one of those days where endometriosis is kicking my ass and I'm just too tired to fight back. I am trying to find a specialist in my area because I am just not pleased with my doctors currently. This is so stressful!!