Beyond the Sunrise

March is Endometriosis awareness month and in honor of that I was thinking about how we, as the fighters, face a month completely dedicated to our battle. Awareness for this disease is not as active as other diseases, such as breast cancer awareness month when the world turns pink. I’m thrilled that there is so much support for the women that face breast cancer. But I would also like to see more support for the ones of us that face Endometriosis. The only way that will happen though is if WE the fighters make people more aware. I know for me that is a hard thing to do. I don’t like telling people I have a disease. Who does? But I think sometimes the difference in what happens when you tell someone you have Endometriosis compared to someone who says they have or have had cancer is the way that it’s portrayed. Not only by the public but by ourselves. I know myself that I feel like when I tell someone “Oh I have Endometriosis.” that what everyone thinks is “Oh that just means she has cramps and heavy periods.”. It’s true that is what a lot of people think, but it’s because they are not educated about what Endo actually is and how it effects you. When someone has cancer and goes through chemo it’s evident by the way they lose their hair, they lose weight, all things that can be see outwardly. For someone with Endometriosis unless you live with that person and you can see the bad days, overall you won’t ever see outward physical signs of this terrible disease.

I know for myself, and this just may be me, that a lot of times I think I don’t tell people because instead of feeling like a strong woman for dealing with this day in and day out, I feel weak because I have bad days. We shouldn’t feel that way. We’re not in just a battle, we’re in a war! So instead of feeling like we’re weak because we have days we don’t want to get out of the bed, we should feel proud and strong that we get UP out of bed, that we face everyday, not only everyday but we stand facing the rest of our lives with this disease.

I know in some of my other articles I have talked about on the bad days just getting through the day. Getting up the courage and praying to face the day. I don’t believe that we were meant to live taking it one day at a time. I’m a Christian. I don’t believe that God, who loves me and cares for me and you wants us to just get through the day. I know that sometimes that is all we can do. I know there are days you have to pray when you wake up, that God will help you get through the day. I know, I did that this morning. But I don’t want to live just day to day. My life is so much more than that. I want to live beyond the sunrise. I want to look ahead and plan my life, not by the days I feel like a normal person, but by the knowledge that I’m a strong woman that faces horrible days with pain but that I can get through them. I have a loving God that helps me through each and every day. I have a family that supports me and does everything they can to help me. I have a doctor that does everything she absolutely can for me. So in the knowledge of all that, I have to dig deep and find the strength to look beyond today. I have to see myself as the strong fighter and have the courage to tell people about this battle.

It only takes one spark to start a fire and that one spark can be you. You can raise awareness. You can speak out even when your shaking inside. You can encourage someone else to speak out too. You can help someone else get through the hard days. You have so much power and strength, more than you even realize. You can get through today, and you can look beyond the sunrise at the days ahead, good and bad, and face them with the knowledge that you are more than strong enough to face them and get through every single one of them. You can. I pray that this month we will all find the courage and strength inside to rise up and make the world recognize us for the strong women we are.

So this month, Speak out. You have the power.

Much love and pain free wishes!

Rachel

The informational content of this article is intended to convey general educational
information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

This article is intended to convey general educational information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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19 comments

  1. Christina

    Thank you! This is our month. All of us whose lives are derailed by this disease. Thank you for writing a heartfelt message that I can share with my friends.

    • Rachel

      Thank you for being a fighter!♥

  2. Casey

    Thank you for this website. Women who have such courage to put it all out there are an encouragement to me. I have written on my blog today about hope. It is not so much hope that there will be a cure, although I do hope there will be a cure one day. It is just hope! I pray for a cure and I pray for doctors who do not look at us as if we are “crazy.” I pray for more people to be passionate about finding cures for unseen diseases.
    “Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
    http://prayerstomyking.blogspot.com
    http://prayerstomyking.blogspot.com/2012/03/endometriosis-awareness-month.html

    • Rachel

      Thank you so much for sharing and for all the prayer! It means so much to me to know other people are praying and hoping for the same thing. Thank you for all your encouragement, it’s truly a blessing. ♥

  3. Tina

    I just want to thank you for this. I have felt so alone with this. I had to have a full hysterectomy at 29 years old because of this disease. If I did not have God and my wonderful husband to help me out these last five years I do not know what I would have done. Once again thank you for letting me know that I do not suffer alone.

    • Rachel

      Tina, you are never ever alone! I will be praying for you and always know that God promised He would never leave us, He will go with us always. Keep believing and staying the strong brave woman you are. ♥

  4. Meghan

    Thank you for this article! I have been battling with Endo since I was 11 (I’m 27 now). The good days certainly outnumber the bad but it’s a daily battle and I truly appreciate your article! Thank you!

  5. Wendy Thomas

    Thank you! I am going for Dand C and Ablasion surgerory on the 20th. I think I am going to request a laporoscopy to be done first. I don’t agree that being in menopause that endo should just go away. I have had several episodes of irregular bleeding and ultra sound shows my endo lining is more than twice the size that it should be. Also have tested positive for RA which is also effecting my liver and lungs with fibroisis as well as connective tissues in my lower back and spine and my joints in my feet, knees, hands, elbows and shoulders. I also read on line that there is a possibility of endo from RA. Tired of all the pain and all the different drugs that don’t help just make me more tired. I use music that is empowering music, meditation, work,and spirituality to help me deal with all my pain. The more I lay down the more it hurts and it is hard to get up most days. I Thank God every day my feet hit the floor for another great day. Thank you for making an awareness of endo and letting me know that I am not alone.

    • Rachel

      Oh Wendy I pray that they will find out for sure what is causing your pain and be able to help you! Please know you are never alone and all of us here at Fight Like A Girl are here for you and cheering you on. I will be praying for you! Keep me updated on how you are doing! ♥

  6. Joann

    I must say thank you also, this disease also cause me to get a hysterectomy at the age of 37 after putting my life long dreams of having a big family to rest. It took me 17 years of some of the most hateful periods there are to give up and of at 17 years 8 of them were almost 24/7 and nothing to help.
    But I am greatfull that some people are trying to make more people aware of this disease today.

    • Rachel

      Joann I am so sorry for all the pain that this terrible disease has caused you and I pray that with all of us together we can raise awareness. ♥

  7. Shanda Woods

    Thank you so much for this article. I had to have a complete hysterectomy at the age of 23. They almost had to take part of my colon due to this disease. I am so GLAD that “WE” “SOMEBODY” is TALKING OUT LOUD ABOUT IT!!! I was able to have one son. He is such a blessing to me!! However, I greived for the children that I longed to have. It took me a number of years, before I decided to give all of that grief over to the Lord and let him heal and restore my spirit. He is a Good and Faithful God!!
    So, I will be speaking out this month!! In Honor of all the women with me who have had to have life changing operations, or those who will deal with the pain and emotional agony that comes along with this horrible illness.
    My prayers are with you. 🙂

    • Rachel

      Shanda! I’m so glad you are speaking out! I’m so sorry for what Endo has cost you but I pray that with women like you that are willing to step up and speak out about it that we will make people become more aware! Women like you will start a fire that can lead to a cure. Thank you so much! ♥

  8. Angie

    I don’t have anyone in my life that fully understands what I’m going through except for my sisters on this website so “thank you” to all of you for sharing your stories! My family is very supportive, but they haven’t walked a mile in my shoes! For me, the emotional aspect of all of this is just as bad as the pain. I am 37 years old and have been blessed with 3 kids, ages 6, 9 and 12. There have been so many days over the past 2 1/2 years where it took everything I had just to get out of bed and “function.” It is truly heartbreaking when you can’t run and play with your children and they just don’t understand why. They don’t understand that you have a disease that is keeping you from living life the way you used to.
    I had a partial hysterectomy in May, 2011 and a 10 cm tumor removed from my pelvic bone in February, 2012. I just started Lupron injections last week to shrink the remaining endo in my abdominal wall before my next surgery in June. For the past month, I have been able to run and play with my kids like I used to and it has been wonderful. I am not only fighting for myself, but am also fighting for my family. I will not let this disease beat me!

    • Rachel

      Angie, I am cheering you on! I know what you mean. Sometimes no matter how supportive someone is, unless they have been through it too they will never be able to understand and truly feel for you. I am SO happy that you are getting to live your life and have that time with your kids. God Bless you and keep fighting! ♥

  9. Kasey

    This is a wonderful article for so many reasons! I, too, have a more “hidden” illness, and although I am glad that my sister warriors with cancer get the recognition and fundraisers that they need & deserve, sometimes I wish that more people understood what it’s like to live with other illnesses, too, and you speak so eloquently and powerfully about how to handle this. I was just talking today with a friend of mine who suffered terribly from endo & complications, until she had to have a pretty radical hysterectomy. Though that’s not the solution for everyone, for her it has been a life saver, helping her move on with her life, feel more balanced and healthy… still, a tough thing to come to terms with. Now her younger sister is going through the same thing. It was good to talk to her today about all of this; it sucks to suffer in silence or feel like you’re a freak because you’re keeping some “secret” like it’s something to be ashamed of. Thank you for speaking up and encouraging others to do the same!

    • Rachel

      Thank you so much for your encouragement! It means the world to me to know that I can encourage someone else to speak out about this disease. I know your friend is thankful to have you to be there to talk with. Good friends are a must when battling disease. Thank you for your support!♥

  10. Tiffany Johnson

    I came to this site looking for an article to cheer me up, I found it! This was inspirational and I thank you for sharing this with us. I too am a Christian and I ask God to help me and show me mercy on those days I’m having it hard and He does. Thank you Jesus! Rachel, Keep sharing your story and being an encouragement to others.

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