I think about it a lot.... I usually watch my favorite show or read a good book or just give my work my all.. When ever I try not to think about it tho i end up thinking about it more or if it works then that's when I get horrible cramps... That's just my luck tho. I hope you can get it off your mind!!

Hey hotchocolate, please excuse the rambling....

I agree- I think about it constantly. And that's partially a choice, at least for me. I was diagnosed as a sophomore in high school, and my young adult life has been consumed by daily pain, surgeries, medicine, etc. etc. I spent this past summer and am now spending my senior year of undergrad doing research on endometriosis, and providing endo educational materials to women at my university and in the area. So even though I think about endo all the time, I think about it in a way that allows me to fight back, in some small way. On the other hand, I have created a nice little situation in which I can't escape from endo in my personal or academic life...ehhh.

So here is what I think about. I constantly think about pain. Either I am in pain, or shocked that I'm not in pain. Mostly the former. I think about what I could do to make it go away. I think about ripping all non-vital organs out...LOL. But seriously. I think about being jealous of healthy people, and I think about what people think of me. I think that they think I'm weak, but more often than not, I find out that it's the opposite. People see what you go through every day and see you as a strong person and respect you for your perseverance. And if they don't, they suck and aren't worth it anyways.

So I guess this is all a long way of saying that I think about endo a lot, but I have tried to spin it into something positive. Maybe you could find a way to do the same?

xoxo

Also, sorrry. There's a short answer to that question too :) I agree with ronniliz- watch shows and read books, talk to a friend or whoever. Doing something that you enjoy or makes you happy will take your mind off the pain and everything else!! And if all else fails, there's always chocolate.

Chocolate makes everything better!!!!!!! Or a giant ice cream Sunday!!!

I take a bath and read a book - usually a book that's 100% for fun that is easy to get engrossed in. Perhaps not the most constructive use of my time, but helps to distract me and the bath is like a super big heating pad. Also, I love TV series that will keep me interested for longer periods of time (lately Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire, etc.). I've also been learning to sew (never learned how growing up), I guess that is slightly more productive.

I wish I could say I didn't think about it. But my body seems to not let me not think about it. I am always in pain somewhere in my stomach mostly on my left side going toward the middle. Sometimes I feel jealous because we have not been able to get pregnant bcuz of this mess. Then I feel angry at God for letting this happen to me and I get all depressed and cry for days when I am mostly in the shower or coming home from work.

I too think about it too much. It got in the way of living for me. I started seeing someone because I couldn't have a conversation with friends without either talking about it, or wondering why my friends didn't talk about it.
It is pretty traumatic to be diagnosed. Guess what? We are no longer perfect. We have a stamp of imperfection on us.
The shrink helped the most for me, I have my friendships back. But I also turn to gossip magazines, fashion, home decorating magazines, and national geographic. Anything so I can talk about something else!!! It helps a lot to read the crazy lives of others. I feel more normal when I see that others have problems too. Erinsf (from the board) recommended it to me earlier this summer. Best advice!
(other than to see a shrink, also good advice....).

I hope you all dont mind me weighing in on this topic. It really hit home for me!

Even though I dont have endo, Im consumed by my new reality. Although its been over 6 years since my organs were removed, I feel like Im damaged and have a horrible secret that no one understands. With the rapid aging and changes to my body, its not even something I can hide. So I shut myself off and avoid others because Im embarrassed and worry about what theyll think. But Ive also lost interest in life and pretty much everything I used to enjoy. Shopping isnt even fun because I hate trying on clothes with my altered body. I used to hate being stuck at home wanted to be out and about doing things. Now I dont want to leave the house unless its to do something away from civilization like a walk in the park.

Like rcwals, Ive become an advocate which is a double-edged sword. While it feels good to help others, it also keeps me somewhat stuck in this place of lament. So I have to force myself to do other things to have some balance. I used to love to read, scrapbook, and socialize but didnt have much time with work and family. I lost those interests for a long time post-op and just recently started reading again. I watch some TV but I usually have to force myself to stay focused. Therapy was somewhat helpful but the biggest thing for me is just forcing myself to do things that take my mind off hysterectomy.

accept it... that is all I can say. I had endo for a long time but was diagnosed with it 5 years ago. it is like any disease or disorder you have to learn and accept it is a part of who you are and deal with it, whether it means changing lifestyles or meds or other treatments. you cannot let it run your life and like you said you are lucky enough to not have it affect your daily life and it is usually not bad enough to keep you from work...

Thanks! It helps to know others struggle with this, too. I think it is hard because it never really goes away. I may have good moments and some good days, but it is always there in some way.

I have really bad cramps now and my books, especially my nipple are sore. It sucks!!!

I meant my boobies, not my books lol

Its hard not to think about Endo if you are in pain. I am very busy with my 2 year old that I have no time to be thinking or let my life to be consumed by Endo. I really try not to think about it or talk about it too much. I really think people get bored of listening to the same history over and over again. I do talk about my Endo worries with my husband and my mom. Only my closest friends know I have Endo. I personally don't publicized my illness on Facebook or twitter etc. I think this is my way of dealing with Endo. I don't want everybody looking at my different or thinking "poor thing"

Lately I am trying to do Zumba or a combination of yoga and Pilates whenever I can. Trying to keep busy is the best way to cope with Endo for me ;)

Take Care.

I've been having a reallllly hard time with this, so I'm glad you asked. I can't stop thinking about it. The hopeless, trapped feelings are almost worse than the pain causing them.

The other day I actually asked my Facebook friends (all close friends) for tips on dealing with the emotional toll of chronic pain. Someone said I need to love my body more and stop letting negative energy in, and said I'm in pain because I'm letting myself feel it. I know he meant well but I was soooo mad. Why would someone choose this? Positive thinking isn't enough to cure this thing. UGHH!!!

But um. Someone else told me that finding distractions helps them. That's a pretty broad suggestion, but a good one. I've been watching a lot of movies. I should probably be reading books instead so I don't rot my brain... Baby steps, I guess.

@kara, there was a great response for this on the fertility board. It is common for women to hear "just relax and you will get pregnant." the response? "I am sick. I have a disease. Do you tell a cancer patient to relax and it will go away? No, because that is insanity!!" I laughed at this comment, it is so true. We have a disease, end of story.

I was actually coming back on to say another coping mechanism: yoga. I got 3 private lessons and for the first time in three years I could work out and not worry that I was going to mess up my back. She gave me easy exercises, and also taught meditation which is very helpful.

Hang in there, with time we will learn to cope...