An alternative Christmas message

[Bubble_by]

Hello everyone,

If you, like me are suffering from endometriosis you may well not be looking forward to Christmas this year. Perhaps it is your first Christmas we're you've got a diagnosis - much like myself. Perhaps its your 10th Christmas with still no diagnosis or answer. Perhaps you've just had a laparoscopy and wondering how you're going to get through the festive season. Perhaps you're worrying how will you 'put on a show for Christmas?' or maybe you're concerned about how family visiting will react?Whatever the situation, it's a struggle, yes?

What people need to understand is that the chronically ill do not bound out of bed on Christmas day with a tinsel wreath, ready to peel sprouts. It is a struggle to get through a normal day sometimes, let alone one that usually comes with two weeks of celebrations.

The reality is a little more something like this: Attempting to carve the turkey in pain. Clutching your stomach whilst playing charades or curled up in bed feeling like your womb has been set on fire whilst your mother-in-law makes snidey remarks about you 'always being sick' just loud enough for you to hear. Sounds a little more realistic, right?

If any of this applies to you, please know that you are not alone in any of this. This is reality for millions of women across the world. We are all in this together. Even if you do feel unwell on Christmas day, don't beat yourself up. You cannot control when you fall ill and the day will not be 'ruined' because of this so please don't be worried about this.

The message of Christmas can sometimes be lost under all the presents and the social media posts, but so long as you have love in your life whether it be from family, loved ones or even pets, that is all you need for a wonderful day.

Looking to the future, 2020 is the start of a whole new decade. The decade that some of us will have the surgery we need, start the families that we want or finally get the diagnosis we've sought after for such a long time.

I can only hope, as I'm sure many of you do that during this decade, advancements will be made in the field of endometriosis and that we will finally have better options than invasive surgery or aggressive hormone treatment. Not just for us, but for future generations who I hope do not have to struggle as much as we do in order to seek treatment and support.

So to any endo warriors reading this I say 'Merry Christmas and a happy new year' ❣️

[AllthatGlitters]

Great post.

You are right it’s become all about presents and social media which is ridiculous.

I would happily not receive any presents but have the company of my family & better health x

[MrsF75]

Thank you for your message.

Merry Christmas to you too, and may 2020 continue to deliver the strength we all need to make our dreams, however big or small, come true x

[Hidden]

What an amazing post. I adore this. I hope you get through it OK.

[Roro1]

What a lovely message, merry Christmas to you too and a happy new year!

[vixstar84]

Such a lovely message, thank you for sharing 💕 I spent most of Christmas day in bed as my endo flared Christmas eve but it was still lovely to be able to join in with family for a bit in the morning and again in the afternoon. It made me more grateful for that time and in some ways helped my family understand more seeing me during a flare as normally I don't allow people over and try to ride it on my own. Here's hoping for another surgery in 2020 and getting some quality of life back. Happy New Year to all my fellow endo warriors xx