Endo it with Zahra

Endo it with Zahra Endometriosis & adenomyosis education, awareness and support page, by Zahra McDonald 🩷

I first got my period at 13. Each time I got my period from then on it got worse and worse. By the age of 15 my periods ...
19/07/2024

I first got my period at 13. Each time I got my period from then on it got worse and worse. By the age of 15 my periods were absolutely unbearable. Every adult I spoke to including doctors told me everything was normal and said “it’s just part of being a women” or “you just get bad periods”. I would silently struggle every day at school having to go to the bathroom every hour, as my maxi overnight pad and tampon had completely overflown. My period would occur every 2 weeks and would last for 2 weeks long. The pain would be absolutely unbearable but I would just have to suck it out and take a hundreds of different pain medications each day.
If only i had heard about endometriosis when I was younger and was taught about it (not that that would’ve made my diagnosis any sooner) 🤍

I am now 23 and just got diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis, despite suffering with the exact same symptoms since the age of 14. As well as hiding and worsening my symptoms through birth control by doctors ❤️‍🩹

I hope my page helps raise awareness to other young women/people as well as medical professionals to hopes we can shorten the diagnose time for everyone 🫶🏼

Endometriosis does not have a cure.Here are some common myths or misconceptions about endometriosis. There are still doc...
18/07/2024

Endometriosis does not have a cure.

Here are some common myths or misconceptions about endometriosis. There are still doctors who tell patients they can cure endo when there is NO cure.

This is probably one of the most hardest things to come to terms with when living with endometriosis. You receive a diagnosis and you’re then faced with the reality that you have to live with the disease for the rest of your life.

Medication, surgery, pregnancy, menopause and hysterectomy do not provide a cure.

Diet and lifestyle also do not provide a cure.

The different treatments available for endometriosis aim to reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life for someone living with the condition.

Drawn by me 🎨



Let’s play Endo Bingo! 🫶🏼Share your own on your story!
18/07/2024

Let’s play Endo Bingo! 🫶🏼

Share your own on your story!



🩸 period pains should not be debilitating 🩸Such an important reminder that period pains that are debilitating are NOT no...
17/07/2024

🩸 period pains should not be debilitating 🩸

Such an important reminder that period pains that are debilitating are NOT normal, and it’s important to chat with your GP or health professionals if you are experiencing painful periods that interfere with daily life.

Drawing by me 🎨

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Endometriosis is often associated with tightness in the hips, abdomen, pelvic floor and lower back. 🤍If you suffer with ...
16/07/2024

Endometriosis is often associated with tightness in the hips, abdomen, pelvic floor and lower back. 🤍

If you suffer with a tight painful pelvic floor know as pelvic floor dysfunction, here are some amazing stretches to do to release and relax your pelvic floor. When your body and pelvis are in constant pain, the pelvic muscles get strained trying to protect what’s going on inside. Your pelvic floor is literally made up of a sling of muscles that support the uterus, bladder and colon, therefore those areas become affected when constricted and tight from chronic pain. A lot of pelvic pain from endometriosis can be muscular, that’s why applying a multidisciplinary approach to care and incorporating pelvic floor physiotherapy is crucial in managing this disease.

Pelvic floor physio therapy is great for endo and can help with pelvic pain, urinary issues and bowel issues.

Most of these stretches I normally hold for 30 seconds while deep/mindful breathing.

If you have endometriosis/pelvic pain, & you do physiotherapy, do you find it to be beneficial?

Probably my favourite endo drawing I’ve done so far 🪩🤍🍰💐
16/07/2024

Probably my favourite endo drawing I’ve done so far 🪩🤍🍰💐

Officially posted my first YouTube video!Talking about surgery recovery tips as it’s my most commonly asked question 🥰If...
16/07/2024

Officially posted my first YouTube video!

Talking about surgery recovery tips as it’s my most commonly asked question 🥰

If this is something you like please please let me know, and also other ideas to post! It’s a lot easier to explain things better in longer form content. As I struggle to get all the information across in TikTok and instagram videos. ❤️‍🩹

Hope you enjoy! Please go give it some love and comment on it any other tips you’ve got for others 🩷🩷

Did you know that the only way to truly diagnose Endometriosis is by a laparoscopy surgery? 💛🎗️“Laparoscopy and excision...
07/07/2024

Did you know that the only way to truly diagnose Endometriosis is by a laparoscopy surgery? 💛🎗️

“Laparoscopy and excision surgery” is currently the gold standard method for diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. During a laparoscopy they create a few small holes into the abdomen, inflate the abdomen with CO2 and insert rods with cameras. The surgeon then inspects all organs in the abdomen and removes the endometrial tissue if found.

But the catch is that there is currently no cure, and it will likely grow back, sometimes as soon as year.

On average it takes 8 YEARS to receive a diagnosis!! It took 9 YEARS for myself.

Although this surgery is labeled as “minimally invasive” due to the fact that it is a key hole surgery, the surgery itself and what they do inside is most definitely invasive and a major surgery. Taking a huge toll on the body.

Although doctors often refer for ultrasounds & MRIs, which can sometimes detect endometriosis, it is not reliable and often cannot be detected in most women.

Artwork by me


Endometriosis may be associated with numerous autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s th...
05/07/2024

Endometriosis may be associated with numerous autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, POTS, fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and possibly multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research. There appears to be a higher prevalence of autoimmune illnesses among those with endometriosis, while the relationship with MS is still under investigation. 🩷

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland; it may be more common in women with endometriosis. Studies reveal that women with endometriosis have a markedly increased incidence of Hashimoto’s disease in comparison to the overall population.

POTS: More frequently observed in endometriosis patients, this condition is characterised by an elevated heart rate when standing and reduced blood flow. Similar symptoms, including exhaustion and lightheadedness, may point to shared risk factors or underlying causes.

Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a common chronic pain and tenderness syndrome that many endometriosis sufferers also have. The intricate connection between immune system function and chronic pain syndromes is shown by this co-occurrence.

EDS: Endometriosis has been linked to this condition, which affects skin elasticity and joint mobility. Similar symptoms, such as joint problems and persistent pain, point to possible immunological or genetic links between the two illnesses.

Examining these possible connections to autoimmune disorders with your healthcare provider may help you find answers if your symptoms don’t exactly fit the profile of endometriosis.

This information is offered solely for educational purposes; for individualised guidance, it is always advisable to speak with a licenced healthcare provider.

Reducing inflammation is essential for pain relief because endometriosis is an inflammatory illness. For this reason, I ...
03/07/2024

Reducing inflammation is essential for pain relief because endometriosis is an inflammatory illness. For this reason, I frequently suggest foods high in anti-inflammatory chemicals to help reduce inflammation in the body and subsequently pain. 🍓🫐🥜🍣🫚🥬🍒🫒

For example, ibuprofen and the polyphenol oleocanthal in extra virgin olive oil are comparable in their ability to reduce pain and inflammation. Other foods high in substances that reduce inflammation are:

Antioxidants: present in dark chocolate, artichokes, berries, and nuts;

Flavonoids: present in citrous fruits, soybeans, apples, and mangoes;

Terpenoids: present in mangoes, avocados, tea, and citrous fruits;

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: present in salmon, mackerel, tuna, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and nuts.

I couldn’t believe this when I found this out. For years I have bleed so much more than what is shown in the picture. Of...
03/07/2024

I couldn’t believe this when I found this out. For years I have bleed so much more than what is shown in the picture. Often that amount but during 1 DAY not an entire WEEK! ❤️‍🩹

A heavy period, medically termed menorrhagia, is characterised by the loss of more than 80ml of blood during menstruation or a period lasting longer than 7 days.

For reference, a regular pad or tampon typically holds 5ml of fluid. Therefore, if you use these products, saturating 16 regular pads or tampons would approximate 80ml of fluid.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common symptom of endometriosis and adenomyosis. It often manifests alongsid symptoms like clotting, fatigue, and iron deficiency.

Here is a cute little packing list of essential items to pack for your laparoscopy surgery! Comment below any other item...
21/06/2024

Here is a cute little packing list of essential items to pack for your laparoscopy surgery! Comment below any other items you like to pack or recommend! 🏥 🫶🏼📦

Drawn by me 🎨

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