Mental Health Help

[Em98]

Hi, I'm newly diagnosed and in my 20s. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to deal with everything mentally ? Im finding everything very overwhelming, how do people accept the diagnosis and move on knowing it won't ever go away ?

[Amywoodx]

Sorry to hear about that.

I’m the exact same right now. In fact I literally passed out one day at the hospital because I just felt so overwhelmed by everything.

Haven’t been officially diagnosed yet but we’re all pretty much 99.9% sure it is endometriosis and it’s getting worse day by day. Find myself in tears most days as I can’t come to terms with it.

I’ve been looking for doctors and surgeons who are willing to excise the endo through a diagnostic laproscopy at the same time because it seems like this is the only way to get my life back and to avoid having multiple surgeries. What stage of endo are you at and have they removed it?

[Em98 in reply to Amywoodx]

Oh god so sorry to hear that. Ive had scans and things done and been told this is what I have, as I can apply for certain schemes that allow me time off uni and extensions on deadlines. Im booked in to have the surgery after I finish uni as I am in my final year and don't have the time right now. I 100% agree tho its so hard to get a concrete diagnosis and while your left waiting you have so much pressure that builds up.

[Amywoodx in reply to Em98]

Exactlyy its horrific. I’m in second year of uni and I wanna get uni out the way before dealing with any of this too but unfortunately it’s just getting worse so I might have to just have an excision as soon as possible It’s annoying bc of uni too, just wanna focus on that and finish my degree but endo has decided to creep in And i really dont want to repeat the year bc im already behind 😫

[Em98 in reply to Amywoodx]

If you talk to your course leader about all this they should give you extensions on all your deadlines and authorised absence as its a chronic health condition. I take Naproxen which is given to me by my GP that helps when i'm at uni, as before I would have to leave lectures as the pain would make me sick. With the naproxen it helps control the pain don't get me wrong it still hurts but its much more manageable. If you talk to your GP they might prescribe you some or another pain killer as you will know the over the counter pain meds don't even touch it!

[Amywoodx in reply to Em98]

Yeah had a word with them but they said they need medical evidence. So asked the gynaecologist and he said they need to get in touch with him first. So annoying... will deffo go GP and ask for naproxen though thanks for letting me know about that x

[Em98 in reply to Amywoodx]

No worries hope they get you an appointment soon x

[Elfbarfina in reply to Em98]

Just want to say if you need to take time from uni, then please, please do! I know you said you're 'already behind' but please try not to think like that! Your health and especially your mental health should be the most important thing at university! Talk to your personal tutor or course leader or any lecturer you can talk freely to, and reach out to your wellbeing centre or provider to see if they can help!

I work in Outreach at Surrey and know how hard it can be feeling like you have to 'keep up' with your peers and with the timings that society has set. But take your time and if you have to redo the year or even just a module or exam then that is totally fine!!

Please don't just push through if you are struggling with endo and mental health, you won't do as well as you would if you were fully 100% and you're putting your mental health at further risk!

Happy to chat if you need an ear 😊

[Pinkyandthebrain]

I really feel for you and Amywood. After I was diagnosed I felt like I should be relieved to know that it wasn’t all in my head; but I actually entered a very deep depression that reached its peak in a suicidal incident.

I have since come to realise that it’s very common to experience depression alongside endometriosis, and really it’s no wonder right?!

I am now in a good place and the things that have helped me get here are:

1 seeing a therapist, I felt stupid at first talking about my period in a counselling session, but it rules my life so it kind of makes sense really.

2 I started being open with people about how I was struggling. For years I felt like I had to keep it a secret and that was driving me mad. As soon as I started admitting I couldn’t do everything, everything became a lot easier.

3 I meditate regularly, no idea how or why this helps but it does.

4 I have accepted that I have depression and I take medication for it. As soon as the meds started kicking in I realised how much I was struggling before, now my period comes and I only have to deal with the pain, not with the crushing blackness in my head.

5 I take a cbd supplement every day and I also eat a vegan diet, although that’s for ethical reasons rather than health but apparently cutting out diary is good for endo.

6 talk about how you’re feeling. Talk about it on here, talk about it to your manager/teachers, talk about it to your friends, your therapist, partner etc.

Keeping it all bottled up is only going to make it worse.

You are not alone and you will get through this xxx

[Amywoodx in reply to Pinkyandthebrain]

So sorry you had to go through all of this. It must’ve been so awful! Endo is horrible. I totally understand where ur coming from. But so glad you’re getting help and feeling better. Quick question, do the anti depressants have side effects? X

[Pinkyandthebrain in reply to Amywoodx]

Yes - I think pretty much all medication can have side effects, and this was one of the reasons why I resisted taking them for so long.

However I talked about it to my gp and they put me on one that mainly has temporary side effects, and they started me on a very low dose so that the side effects were quite minimal.

I haven’t gained weight or stopped feeling happy or anything like that, now the only side effect I have is getting quite warm and sweaty sometimes 🙈 not ideal, but it’s better than feeling insane and not being able to cope with life with endometriosis.