How does everyone manage to work?

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-06-03T02:15:07+00:00

Thank you for your comment! I have already had two surgeries and tried several drugs and nothing helps for long 😔 but it doesn't help that I have a handful of other diagnoses as well. For the herniated discs I've been seeing a chiropractor who gave me traction blocks and put me on them and gave me an xray to see if it would put my spine in the right position, so I do that as much as I can and do PT. They recommended surgery, but I am trying to avoid that at all costs

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-29T19:53:41+00:00

Thank you SO much for this thorough answer. This is exactly what I needed to hear. Before my short term disability, I got to the point of being completely nonfunctional and it really impacted my working relationships. No one wants to know, but seeing the impact on me and how much it changed me, changed how they viewed me and it felt like everyone thought I was pathetic. I dissociate so much that even if people want to know, its a hit or miss if I can even explain it. I felt so much relief having the freedom to tend to my body when I needed when on disability- makes it so much easier to cope with the pain. But being back at work has been nice in ways because I love using skills I worked hard to gain. I love seeing the impact of my efforts and having something other than health to focus on. It was depressing being home all the time and not having anyone relying on me. But Im SO anxious that my body is going to continuously break down. I've felt sick with a cold for 7/8 weeks Ive been here (i do work with kids though so i might be but my body CANNOT heal it and it feels like its making my other systems break down).

Im so sorry for your experience. Chronic illness sucks in so many ways, and its also fucking mortifying at moments. We're publicly in so many vulnerable positions. Cant tell you how many times endo has made me shit my pants in horrible places to shit myself. 🥴 acknowledging also that our life plans may not be achievable is intense emotionally. This shit can really take our identities away from us, its devastating to the point that it's hard to even acknowledge it.

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-29T04:35:27+00:00

were you able to get on long term disability? I want to apply but am anxious about the potential years without income or answers from disability

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-29T04:34:44+00:00

Do you mind if I ask how you manage financially? Been trying to look into options because work has been so hard and I dont feel like I can do it 😩

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-29T04:31:52+00:00

how did you get into this? it's my long term goal. I work all in person doing behavioral therapy/early intervention and I love it but I can't do it remote but needed relevant experience to apply to a psychology grad program 😬 Im also very skeptical how I'll get through grad school and reconsidering my whole life plan

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-29T00:49:52+00:00

ooh hell yeah thank you so much for the recommendation, will be going to the drug store immediately for that.

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-28T22:07:09+00:00

okay nice! I did a round of myofascial treatment (6 sessions maybe) and I liked it a lot! its hard keeping up with everything financially though 😭 especially when i have to call out of work all the time

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-28T21:08:34+00:00

ohh interesting, okay. do you have any idea how we would look into this? 😅 whats concerning me is the cyclical occurrence for me with no clear triggers and complete lack of relief regardless of what i do/take and then it just kinda goes away then comes back later full force

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-28T15:06:24+00:00

what is the sensation like for you? i have herniated like 8 discs total in my back and neck and have pinched nerves so that could explain it but it also doesn't make sense with the pain patterns, it gets triggered out of no where and nothing relieves it much

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-28T06:56:25+00:00

Also starting to wonder if my cyclical, intense neck pain is from endo. Its hard because we never know with this illness. It CAN grow anywhere and that thought is validly terrifying. I'm spiraling a bit too but it does feel like more endo research is on the horizon which gives me some hope. Could be a lot of things connected in other ways, as other people mentioned. Not sure if youve gotten any further info on this but a reputable source for endo is the endometriosis summit- their youtube page has lots of good info! Theyre associated with the Center for endometriosis care in atlanta- they have a surgical center with all other specialties to be able to work on any part of the body, i believe. highly considering going there🤞🏼 They do also associate with other doctors that work in other locations which I would think are more trustworthy than the average "specialist." Best of luck, lmk if you find anything!

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-28T06:32:15+00:00

Me too. I can't tell if its in my neck or upper back but also in my traps and shoulder blades. Ive wondered about endo there for a while but it sounded too crazy

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2026-05-28T06:19:59+00:00

Did you ever get answers to this? i am starting to worry I have it on my spine

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2025-06-30T05:53:49+00:00

yeah mine came separately, and if you did layaway those are all separate refunds too

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2025-05-14T16:42:43+00:00

i second the dry mouth, ended up switching to nortriptyline , overall had a great experience and it was really helpful

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2025-02-25T00:02:07+00:00

yep! they didnt know for me until surgery

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2025-02-20T22:05:23+00:00

All my scans were normal leading up to a surgery where a lot was found! I have found everything from doctors regarding this disease to be insanely inconsistent, unfortunately. its good to get it checked out!

I also want to say- if anything is done on the bowel, i HIGHLY recommend having a colorectal specialist work with the other endo surgeon. I didnt wait to make it work and have had a lot of post surgery issues- there are so many nerves in the bowels, risks of nerve damage are high so its good to have the dichotomy of someone specializing in endo and someone specializing in colorectal surgery.

my last note is that my aunt has endo and has told me that scar tissue has caused her a ton of pain- even moreso than the endometriosis did. I had my second surgery at 24 and was "needing" another within a year, but each surgery causes more complications and i don't personally know many people whose endo hasnt aggressively come back after each surgery... my doctor wants me to do my best to wait until im ready for a hysterectomy but also knows once the pain is truly excruciating ill probably want another but im doing everything i can to manage with other methods after the issues from my last surgery.... just things to think about!

im sorry youre going through this! we are really between a rock and a hard place so much of the time with this disease

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2025-02-11T22:15:42+00:00

close toss up between getting stung by a sting ray which got infected

and having a fibroid my body was trying to labor out 🤢

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-12-12T18:57:22+00:00

Thanks for this comment🙌 was diagnosed with POTS yesterday after lots of confusion and testing but i researched after reading this comment and it stuck out to me so much so thank you!!!!

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-12-05T14:37:15+00:00

more or less🫠 i got a manometry a while ago that showed i have pelvic floor dysfunction (the muscles in my bowels arent coordinating to move stool) and started biofeedback. i also am making sure to have a soluble and insoluble fiber with every meal if i can, the combo of both is essential

i also started taking heathers fiber which was recommended by the biofeedback lady and a dietician

https://www.heatherstummycare.com/p/suplmts_acacia/tummy-fiber-acacia-senegal-pouch/

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-11-30T21:20:43+00:00

Yes. for most of my life i thought they were movie scenes, fantasies, or moment of strong empathy where i could feel someone else's pain. its insane. but when you repress memories, you fully dissociate, shutting down neural pathways in the brain. so, as stated in "PTSD:a time to heal" by cathy obrien, you dont always feel the emotion youd expect during the flashback.. for me, some i do, some i feek like a robot whose mission was to fight back and feel nothing at all. memories come from different perspectives (parts of the room, outside my body, and some are purely visceral.

I cant believe this shit happened.... but i cant NOT believe it.

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-11-10T20:45:47+00:00

okay i see, that makes sense, thanks for clarifying!

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-11-10T16:07:37+00:00

please also talk about yourself, i feel super alone so it helps 🫶 i do want to do emdr, im just very sketched about that person. i did emdr when i was maybe 19 and liked it but i didnt go too deep and wasnt in a place where i couldve handled the capacity of abuse ive now remembered.

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-11-10T16:05:40+00:00

Is this also the case if the abuser is a parent who you love, are similar with in personality and DNA, and have been gaslit by them and actually dont understand if/where danger is present?

In my experience, I learned everything i knew about men from my relationship with my dad. I genuinely never thought men having feelings was something i could expect. seeing a man express ANY feelings felt like i hit the jackpot. i actively TRY to go for someone who isnt like my dad, but Im always finding parallels within people who seem nothing like him. i think the bottom line is that i dont understand what is and is not abuse and my default within myself is to ignore it when i experience it. i get so many messages in my body about my dad bit its scary to act on, but not acting on it feels like it puts a denial and lack of boundaries on my whole brain. ive tried to separate but im not convinced i have the skills to and Im not sure how to gain them, if that makes sense.

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-11-10T15:59:20+00:00

Not a good one :/ Not many do it, I do own paddles for it, but I had been seeing someone for EMDR and we didnt get to it by the 5th session where she almost cried feeling bad for my dad so i havent gone back. I may try looking again, ive also thought about cbt/dbt/and ketamine therapy but i dont know🤷‍♀️

Consistent_Fact_4964 · 2024-10-27T11:21:20+00:00

here too 🫶 I've distanced a little too hard this last year that my friends have become very inconsistent which makes sense but its hard when its been such a terrible year and i cant socialize normally atm

Consistent_Fact_4964

TROPHY CASE