It was a sociable job, my one goal after my studies and something I had worked so hard to achieve. This is like having your arm mangled by a shark, dipped in vinegar, covered in acid then set alight, then someone saying to you, ‘Yeah, I know, I get paper cuts sometimes.’. She now has her own blog where she writes about being a new mum after years of trying and also about wellbeing. This is disease. ͈ ��7{G��;��b@�� It is quite a large organisation which has a well established HR department with processes in place to deal with all types of employee situations. My communication skills have improved. OR approach some flexible working arrangements. Would it affect my progression within the company? Your email address will not be published. The only way to diagnose it is surgery. But, in speaking up and out about women’s health you will be serving a vitally important purpose. Call in SICK. 4. Imagine a casual conversation with your boss about why you need an operation and you are discussing your kidney having a period with nowhere for the blood to go. 7. I was terrified at the time and extremely anxious about what impact this might have. I am incredibly lucky to have found a job that I truly love and believe in. Here’s some points to sum up what we go through. As you know though, surgery isn’t a cure and I continue to have flare ups and treatment side effects which affect my ability to work. 10. 0 Busy, buzzy offices. I now see that opening up to your boss actually only serves to increase respect in both directions. Regular surgery is needed to physically cut out the unruly tissue. A monthly clean out. Ovaries. After my surgery I started on Zoladex injections again. I hated feeling like the odd one out or the girl with the really bad period pain. I was finally referred and had private healthcare via my employer to enable me to be seen and operated on, so always check on any workplace health care policies you have too. It’s not just the physical side of endometriosis that takes its toll. It then just bleeds inside your body thinking it’s your period. It wasn't until my own diagnosis back in 2016 until I started to look back over some real low points during the years prior, particularly experienced in the workplace and could finally make sense of it all. 10. Could wine actually work like an antidepressant? This is why I wanted to share how I have been able to manage a career and chronic illness so that others can go to their workplaces and show that it can be done. h��W�n�F��}LК��%��7���� �Fbe"2)Pt�}�,)Y�Y��>�jW�ٙ��9gWJƙ2� �&�C/�r�b�ӼfNRo����Z�0Rc��p�L`"�3��Ë�W�i �4�V1�8���t�b`�� It can grow anywhere it wants. It’s painful as hell. There is always someone you can talk to, whether friend, doctor or therapist and there are plenty of online resources and support groups for endometriosis sufferers. What exactly are facial serums and how do they work? Common locations of endometrial implants include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, ligaments that support the uterus, and tissue covering the bladder and rectum. 'However, it is a "hidden'"condition and some women – or employers – may find it embarrassing to talk about.'. A great resource for this is endometriosis-uk.org and in particular suggesting that your place of work consider becoming an official ‘Endometriosis Friendly Employer’ - more info on that here (https://endometriosis-uk.org/scheme) - but it would hold your employer to account in becoming better educated on the disease and how to support employees who suffer. This leads to everyone around you beginning to think you have a drug addiction when you’re carrying around a pharmacy in your handbag. 3. 380 0 obj <>stream Because my dear, you ARE. Does your employer have a policy or guide on supporting those with chronic health conditions? Firstly, few people probably know what this is. How could my period make trying to function like a normal human so bloody difficult? I carried a lot of guilt and embarrassment before I knew what was going on inside me. You then don’t particularly feel like explaining. You already carry around so much by just having the condition, can your employer offer any talking therapies? 11. Comparative prevalence rates relate to women with diabetes, not the whole population. h�b```c``�����P�� �� @1V ��������;�y��٫9��m�`c�f`(�\=czH9���~� R���9.����½J��:�uK��X�;ʋc�Y�ɚo{(+��r�*F���A�� [�H(utt00z Y �b@�`GSGv' ����@Z�%���`dc�j�\���x�������� l'�(W����o��n�� c;O�s%����@������0�@ʝ�c� � OR� 9. I can now tell him whenever I’ve started a new treatment, what the side effects are, when I’m having a pain day, week, or month. Aug 10, 2020 - This board answer a few important questions: 1. Quoting from Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology guidelines, Emma explains: 'Some women have found the following measures helpful: Exercise, which may improve your wellbeing and may help to improve some symptoms of endometriosis. More than ever, I think it is so incredibly important to talk out about women's health,to raise awareness and understanding about the different cycles of life we go through and the often problematic health issues we can face along the way. Explain how it effects your day to day life and the different ways you try to manage it. It’s funny, but I honestly think that having endometriosis has helped me to develop certain workplace skills in a way I’m not sure anything else could. Look up some articles with stock photos of a woman frowning and holding her tummy. Would I be judged? 4. It will make sense of certain situations your boss might have experienced with you before and it will also help explain future ones. I am also much better at time management. If you gain one thing from this post, let it be that it’s okay to open up to those around you. The more your boss understands the condition and how it presents in you and what you do to try to manage it, the better armed he or she will be in supporting you and putting measures in place if needed. So my boss spoke to HR for me and we came up with a plan to make things a bit easier for everyone. Be straight with your boss. These injections basically put your body into menopause which triggers a whole host of fun side effects. 12. 5. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Davina felt 'shame' around this part of menopause, Flu vs COVID-19: how to tell the difference, This is officially the most relaxing hobby ever, The heatwave sleeping hack you should ignore, Rankin unveils powerful NHS portraits series, Aldi launches reusable face masks this weekend. 3. THERE IS NO CURE. It’s impossible for anyone to be 100% all the time, and if they say they are there’s definitely some denial going on. Finding someone at work to open up to might just alleviate some of the burden you are likely carrying around. It can be so frustrating when your body doesn’t allow you to do what you want. I was getting hot flushes in the middle of summer and it’s hard to hide these from your boss when you share an office and have to sit in front of the fan spraying cold water on yourself! vibe surrounding any conversations about my endometriosis, mine decides to grow predominently on my ‘Pouch of Douglas’. Carbs eat your heart out. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. From surgery to natural therapies, This EndoLife brings you guests who are challenging chronic illnesses and mental health issues in their own unique ways, and are changing lives with their inspiring work. All of the time. For some they are able to have a career in various ways, for others it’s not possible to work at all. Would I be judged? We have certainly had some very interesting conversations, resulting him probably being way more informed than he wanted to be! I’m out trying to decide if I can get away with wearing booty shorts and a nose ring all the while having hot flushes and popping H.R.T. At my work whenever we have a sick day we have to fill out a return to work form. I was terrified at the time and extremely anxious about what impact this might have. And the reasons for that are nowhere near as important or valid as the need to create lasting change. My fears were never founded. endstream endobj 328 0 obj <>/Metadata 69 0 R/Pages 325 0 R/StructTreeRoot 136 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 329 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 595.2 841.92]/Parent 325 0 R/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 330 0 obj <>stream 6. This isn't period pain. "{��`.0�&Y���`�&X$L> �0���Y �v'�4(��"� ��(���1H�5���C����x�@� ��� Symptoms commonly experienced by endometriosis sufferers include: Although some women don't exhibit any symptoms at all. It’s a good way to find a patient, supportive and loving partner. Good excuse to get loved ones to wait on you hand and foot when you literally can’t move for a week. Why menopausal hot flushes could bring on depression. Talk. So, basically we suffer pretty severe internal haemorrhaging, all of the time. You’re in pain. As an endometriosis sufferer you are already braver than most. It’s a debilitating, chronic illness. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve burst into tears at work. Sometimes it can be even harder if they're a woman because 'standard' period pain is common and for many, very manageable so it can be hard for other females to understand the the difference between the two. Just as importantly, I also let him know whenever I’m not coping so well mentally. But on more than one occasion I just couldn't last the whole hour. Liver. The stats speak for themselves. Perhaps suggest some ways in which you might feel better supported from your workplace when experiencing a flare up. That reaction always attracts some confused looks from people around you. I was 31 at the time but in denial of adulthood and still thought I was 23. Would it affect my progression within the company? ‘Sorry, not feeling 100%, need to leave the meeting’ was a text I had sent my boss across the room one Monday morning as the president of the label was hosting his weekly all-department meeting, one where I was frequently asked to share marketing plans and updates. Some people find drinking herbal tea or eating soup for lunch also helps to warm them up internally and ease the pain while sitting at their desk. I was finally diagnosed in 2016, aged 35, some 11 years after my job at the record label. The full range of pain management options and further details are available on the Endometriosis UK website where you can also download information packs on the condition. When you have less time to do the same amount of work, you learn how to prioritise and get shit done. I lose count of the times I have been stood having a chat with someone in the corridor on my way to the loo to resume the hunched over position until the pain eased. If you feel uncomfortable talking to your boss about your condition however, there are things you can do both in and out of work to help you through the pain.