How My Endometriosis Improved During a Global Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has affected us all in different ways. But I had no idea it would teach me so much about how to manage my endometriosis symptoms.
Like many people, I started working from home in March. I’m not gonna lie- it was pretty nice working in my sweatpants. By May, I started to realize that many of my most annoying endometriosis symptoms had almost completely disappeared.
Those whole body aches that make it feel like I have the flu? Gone. The stomach aches and discomfort? Nada. The painful flare ups? I couldn’t remember the last time I had one.
I had to step back and evaluate this.
Why on earth would my endometriosis symptoms be BETTER during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC?
This makes no sense, right?
It actually wasn’t hard to me to figure out. For the first time in a very long time, I was getting 8 to 9 hours of sleep EVERY NIGHT. I wasn’t on my feet all day every day (teacher, here). It was way easier to eat well and avoid inflammatory foods because I was cooking all of my meals. I actually had the time to exercise and was working out 5 or 6 times a week. And believe it or not, my stress levels were much lower.
I was amazed.
These aren’t earth shattering things I’m talking about. It’s the stuff people always tell you to do in order to stay healthy. But guys, in the real world, it’s HARD.
But I’m not going to be holed up in my house forever. Things are starting to open up again. I’m going back to work in person soon. Can I possibly maintain this lifestyle and keep my endometriosis symptoms at bay?
Well, I’m going to try really, really hard.
Now that I know that I can feel this good, I’m going to do whatever I can to keep it this way. So what’s my plan?
Sleep! I’m going to go to bed early instead of watching just ONE more episode of the Great British Baking Show. I’m also going to turn off devices an hour before bed so I can get quality sleep.
At work- I’m going to take care of myself when I’m at work and give myself permission to sit down. I don’t need to be on my feet all day to be a good teacher!
Food- I’m going to meal plan and prep my meals the night before. Well thought out meals will help me avoid the drive thru.
Exercise- I bought myself a new workout DVD for the school year, called Piyo. It’s a combination of pilates and yoga and I really love it so far! Most exercises are about 30 minutes long which is totally do-able, even with a 2 year old running around.
These are my goals for this school year, and I think they are attainable no matter what else this crazy year throws at me.
How has the pandemic affected you? Has it affected your endometriosis? Share in the comments!
Want to learn more about my endometriosis journey? Check out these posts:
15 Must-Haves for Laparoscopy Recovery
My Endometriosis Journey: Laparoscopy Recovery
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