We wanted to create a series where we share our subscriber’s stories. It’s important to talk about what we’re experiencing as it may help someone else. These topics of conversation are often labelled as “taboo” or aren’t even spoken about. We need to change that cycle and share our stories. This is a safe space where everyone in the community can share and ask questions.
Next up is: Endometriosis
Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis.
We reached out to the GLW community and asked the subscribers to send in their stories. Everyone’s story is different and everyone’s story is important. We’re so grateful to have this community built full of love and mutual respect.
This story also involves adenomyosis.
Adenomyosis is a condition in which the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) breaks through the muscle wall of the uterus (the myometrium). Adenomyosis can cause menstrual cramps, lower abdominal pressure, and bloating before menstrual periods and can result in heavy periods.
Here’s a story from subscriber: Vanessa Vespoli
Hi GLW Team!
My name is Vanessa Vespoli and I am from Montreal. I have stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis and have an instagram account where I am spreading awareness for this condition. My account name is @fightlikeagirl4.
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease in which tissue similar to the kind of tissue that grows in the uterus, also grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis affects more than 176 million women worldwide. Many women remain undiagnosed and are suffering in silence. It is one of the most excruciating pains that humans can experience and there is no cure. I started my page to raise awareness and provide tips and advice about this condition.
The picture on the left is one of my better days and usually how my stomach looks in the morning. Throughout the day, my stomach starts to look like the endo/adeno belly on the right. The smallest amount of the “wrong” food can trigger that. The added stress lately also doesn’t help the flare ups, it just makes it worse. It used to get even bigger before my surgery when I had large cysts. It’s not just an inflated belly, it’s extremely painful. It also comes with abdominal pressure and pain, intense pelvic pressure, painful bowel movements, nausea, major headaches and constant fatigue. My wardrobe has been replaced with baggy and comfy clothes. I try my best not to make it affect my confidence, easier said than done. Most times I don’t wear what I want because of the pain.
My goal is to:
????????Work on trying to figure out what my triggers are and keep a food journal. I already cut dairy, gluten, red meat and refined sugar from my diet.
????????Work on lowering my stress levels
My goal is to:
????????Work on trying to figure out what my triggers are and keep a food journal. I already cut dairy, gluten, red meat and refined sugar from my diet.
????????Work on lowering my stress levels
Feel free to leave Vanessa a comment if you’d like to speak with her about endometriosis.
You can follow Vanessa’s journey on her Instagram account @fightlikeagirl4.
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Vanessa is the most brave and inspiring women I have ever met! I think anyone going through this horrible challenge should never be scared to reach out to her. I know it can be scary to open up to a stranger, but it is worth taking your life to a different direction and using Vanessa’s experience and take on lofe to coach you. ❤️ I have been friends with her since we were 15 years old! Although we met at 13 our friendship took
Off in level three and she has been my adventure queen meeting Brody Jenner and silly car rides to heart breaks and tears she was my ride or die. Life is hard and things appear out of nowhere. Vanessa is creating a circle of confidence and trust. Her secret to life is staying positive starting with her surroundings! Then fighting to keep her diet in track because Vanessa as small as she is could have outeaten all of us. She stays strict to her goal and fills her life with nothing that can upset her and bring her to negative spaces. You are what you eat and you are a teflection of those you allow in your life. I think the inspiring aspect of watching Vanessa’s journey on instagram @fightlikeagirl4 is her courage, her drive and her transparency. This bump
In her life has changed her to reach out to women and make a difference. Instead of wallowing in her pain and allowing her limits to takeover her, she turned her pain into a gain to open her life to other scared women in her situation and give them a glance of how changing your diet and surrounding could keep you in the state you need to stay in to control this disease and not let it take over! Vanessa I am so proud of you and to GLWGIRLS on behalf of thise that love her so so much THANK U For using your social
Platform to showcase one of the bravest most beautiful women you could ever meet????
#supportlocal
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Babyboys2
Vanessa is the bravest and most inspiring women I have ever met! I think anyone going through this horrible challenge should never be scared to reach out to her. I know it can be scary to open up to a stranger, but it is worth taking your life to a different direction. Gravitating and using Vanessa’s experiences and her take on her new reality will really help you! She can even coach you! ❤️ I have been friends with her since we were 15 years old! She has been my adventure queen meeting Brody Jenner and laughing partner being silly from car rides to just being in each other’s company! We shared heart breaks and tears she was my ride or die but her special secret is her supportive partner who has embraced her journey and supported her and makes her feel on top of the world! Life is hard and things appear out of nowhere. Vanessa is creating a circle of confidence and trust. Her secret to life is staying positive starting with her surroundings! Then fighting to keep her diet in track. Vanessa as small as she is can out eat all of us with her magical metabolism and love for food. Yon can imagine how much of a struggle it is to find out the things that you love are whats hurting you the most! She is motivated to taking this disease by the horns and stays strict to her goals, diets, meditation and fills her life with nothing that can upset her and bring her to negative spaces. You are what you eat and you are a reflection of those you allow in your life. I think the inspiring aspect of watching Vanessa’s journey on instagram @fightlikeagirl4 is her courage, her drive and her transparency. This bump
In her life has changed her. Her ability to lock up her timid nature while pouring her journey on social media has been a source of gratification. She realized she is not alone and she can make a difference buy reaching out to women who have become ber « Endo sisters » her army to making a difference in those that know and recently discovered her. Instead of wallowing in her pain and allowing her limits to takeover her, she turned her pain into a gain to open her life to other women in her situation. Women that feel frightened with these unknowns and feel alone in this struggle. She gives them a glance of how changing simple things in your diet and choosing who needs to be in your surrounding could keep you in the check to be in the state you need to stay in to control this disease. Her quotes inspire those to not let it take over them! Vanessa I am so proud of you and admire you. I love you to the moon and back. And to our beautiful KGMTL and the team at GLWGIRLS on behalf of those that love and cherish her so so much we THANK U for using your social
Platform to showcase one of the bravest most beautiful women anyone could ever meet????.
Thank you
Antonella R Mendicino
This is so kind! it’s so nice to see such strong support xoxo