It's been two years since I was diagnosed with endometriosis. A lot has changed for me since first sharing my journey. And while I am seemingly managing my pain and symptoms better, I am always learning something new about endometriosis and how it is affecting me and my body on a daily basis.

If you don't know, endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus causing chronic, debilitating pain and menstrual irregularities. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years and there is currently no cure (not even surgery). That is about 176 million women worldwide. Because endometriosis is a full body disease, it has the potential to spread to other places in the body outside of the reproductive organs such as the chest cavity, lungs, liver, kidneys, bladder and bowels. Many people don't know that there are different types of endo and there are four different stages (I-minimal, II-mild, III-moderate, and IV-severe).

So two years after my diagnosis, what's changed?

My daily life: Overall, my daily life has improved drastically. New meds and adjusting my health regimen again reduced my pain a lot and I am so grateful for this stage of my journey. My brain fog has also decreased which has been such a relief. Last year, business picked up for me drastically which meant more clients. I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep up since I am a solo doula. Even with a backup doula, I was working all the time. Not to mention my part time job. The community center where I teach my Zumba classes closed the building for over a year so I wasn't teaching classes, but my body was still taxed due to stress and pandemic restrictions. I just started teaching again a few weeks ago and it has been great for my mental health and my body is adjusting well too.

My physical health: I have more good days than bad days now. I have changed my diet yet again (surprise surprise). I started pelvic floor therapy a few months ago after being on the waitlist for 8 months, but that was short lived due to scheduling and my extensive dental surgery so I am going to start again in the Fall. The great news is that my endo flares and bad days are few and far between now. Y'all, I can sleep again!!! And of course that has led to me having more energy and time to do all the things. Never could I imagine getting up with the sun after a good night's sleep with endo. But here I am. There are days when I know I need to slow down and rest because I know the signs.

My mental health: I spent a lot of time last year focusing on my mental health for various reasons. I created my Black Tea IG Live series to have a safe space to talk to with others about Black issues, family, life, love, entrepreneurship and health. I have also been writing and praying more which always helps me release and refocus. My walk with God has been very comforting during the highs and lows of this past year. Especially when I have felt the loneliness of this disease. Since my diagnosis, my self care has been a top priority and it entails all of these things.

New revelation: After learning about sciatic endometriosis earlier this year, I believe that I may have this type of endometriosis. I'm looking more into it while I search for the best endometriosis specialist closest to me (Endo specialists are scarce and some individuals have to cross state lines just to find one). Sadly, I am also looking for a new doctor. Dr. Summers was amazing and most importantly, she listened to me. But I was notified in March that she was going on medical indefinitely.

New products: I have been embracing holistic options more and more these days. I take herbal supplements, prebiotics and probiotics daily now instead of countless ibuprofen which I know has made me healthier internally. Last October, I ditched my NuvaRing for Norethindrone at the suggestion of my doctor. She had suggested it months earlier, but I finally decided to give it a try. Not only did it balance my hormones (my estrogen dominance was very real), it reduced my pain by 90%! I went from having pain 5 days a week to maybe once a week. In April, I started taking ENtouch supplements created by my friend and fellow endo warrior, Samantha Denae. They have helped me so much! I am planning to post a full review of the capsules soon. The also recently started using Lilas Wellness pain patches which have been so helpful for my sciatic, hip and back pain caused by my endo. The other day I finally picked up some Semaine supplements from Target and I can't wait to try them.

New considerations: If I'm being honest, I feel like my nervous system needs a total reset and I'm trying to figure out how to best do that. I have been looking into non-traditional treatment options like acupuncture, sound therapy, reiki, womb massage and regular chiropractor visits. I know that I said before that I do not want to have another surgery after the long recovery from my myomectomy. But due to the fact that I have tried nearly everything under the sun to reduce my pain and heal my endo holistically, I am not seeing the results I thought I would at this point. So, I have put surgery back on the table as a treatment option. Is this ideal for me? Absolutely not. But if you know anything about endo then you know that an official diagnosis can only come from surgery. And Lord knows the worse thing that could do is have another surgery just for the surgeon to tell me they didn't find anything (I have heard stories and this is a real fear for many who believe they have endometriosis).

Earlier this year, I became an Endo Black Ambassador. I am responsible for raising awareness about endometriosis and sharing my personal experiences while living with this disease. I have found so much comfort in the Endo Black community because we all have similar stories & experiences that we each can relate to on a deep level. As always, I am working on collaborations and partnerships with other endo warriors as well as some businesses & organizations to continue to spread awareness, increase research & studies and hopefully get some disability legislation passed for those of us with endometriosis and other chronic diseases and illnesses. We deserve more care and support and we will fight for it just like we fight to have normal lives while living with endo. If you would like to collaborate, please feel free to contact me.

When I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2019, I was so relieved. Not only had I found a doctor who actually listened to me, but she had an answer for my debilitating pain. After years of confusion, dozens of doctors and several misdiagnosis, I felt like I could breathe again.

But last year proved to test me even more physically and mentally as well.

I thought the height of my pain was a few years ago when I became the caregiver for my mother who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. What I didn't yet know was that I had endometriosis and my chronic pain was just one symptom of many that I was experiencing. For over a year, I ignored my pain, put my business on hold & got a nanny job so that I could properly care for my mother all while still homeschooling my son and continuing my education through trainings and doula courses.

While I have been able to somewhat manage my physical pain since being diagnosed, I was not at all prepared for how endometriosis and stress would affect my mental health.

If 2020 taught us nothing, it taught us to focus on health and whole body wellness, especially mental health. Many things changed for me professionally and navigating a business during a pandemic was more than challenging. And due to the nature of my work, I had to make huge operational changes that completely modified the way I worked and connected with my clients. To say I was stressed was an understatement. Thank God for my husband who proved to be my saving grace and comfort more often that not after a long day of Zoom consultations and birth support. During this time, my main source of stress relief was halted overnight: exercise. I am a Zumba instructor as well as a doula and when Covid-19 began to rapidly spread across my city, county and state, everything was shut down including my classes. Truth be told, I was already planning the next phase of my fitness journey, but I did not anticipate how long my classes would be on hold. It has been over a year since I taught my last Zumba class and yes, I miss my students and the dance floor terribly. But it didn't matter. My body was holding on to so many emotions, it was presenting itself as physical pain and suffering which left me no energy or desire to exercise anyway.

May 2020 proved to be one of the hardest months to endure due to the murder of George Floyd. Between the news and social media, I was in a constant cycle of being triggered and when I am emotionally triggered, my body responds well before my brain has a chance to even process what is happening. This is likely due to my childhood and the sexual abuse I experienced as a young girl. Believe it or not, this was a HUGE revelation for me. Why you ask? Making the connection between my pain and what I was consuming (news, gossip, negativity, lies, videos of unarmed black and brown people being murdered, political propaganda and yes, even food) helped me to make the necessary changes to slow and break the continuous cycle of triggers and pain so that I can permanently release all the built up negativity and projections that I am physically and mentally holding on to.

I have known for some time that I have a stronger intuition about certain things than most people. Attunement is a word often used in the birth world when describing the way doulas connect with our clients. My son has actually helped me to tap into my own empathic power. What I have learned on my healing journey is that I am also an empath. However, I have recently discovered that this spiritual gift has been blocked in one way or another since I was a kid. So the more I teach my son to lean into his own power, the more I learn about my own and that has given me a peace I haven't had in long time. It assures me that I am indeed headed in the right direction with my healing.

This year I am continuing to focus on my mental health and releasing any blockages that may be holding me back from fully realizing my purpose. I have started writing and journaling again. I have been meditating and practicing Reiki therapy. I am moving my body intentionally through yoga and nature walks. I am also exploring acupuncture and sound therapy. I am open to any and all things that will facilitate healing and mental wellness. The most important thing is that I am happy and whole so that I can properly care for myself, my family and my clients. You can read my complete endo story and learn more about endometriosis here.

As an Endo Black Ambassador, I am responsible for raising awareness about endometriosis and sharing my personal experiences while living with this disease. I have found so much comfort in the Endo Black community because we all have similar stories & experiences that we each can relate to on a deep level. Below are testimonies from some of my fellow "endo warriors" about how endometriosis has effected their mental health. If you did not know, endometriosis is a FULL BODY DISEASE and that includes the physical, mental and emotional. There is no cure so we share our stories in hope that research will give us the answers we want and need someday. Please consider making a donation to Endo Black, Inc. today.

Have you ever wondered about the meaning behind the name of my doula business? It has taken me a long time to verbalize and express the full meaning and I thought I would share it with you today.

In early 2015, I attended my very first doula training after two years of researching and planning my transition into entrepreneurship. Working as a professional nanny for 10 years had been an amazing experience, but I wanted more. I wanted to offer more to the families I was working with. And I also wanted more for my own family. I wanted to build a long lasting legacy rooted in community and support.

Over the last 5 ½ years, Best of Both Worlds Doula Services has become so much more than I ever dreamed. My early years of both motherhood and business proved to be more than a challenge, but as I navigated my way through milestones & memories, I grew more confident in my abilities as a natural caregiver. I have seen the good, the bad and everything in between serving various family dynamics. If I haven't experienced it firsthand, I know someone who has and I have assisted them through the learning process.

Best of Both Worlds Doula Services is where
Passion meets purpose...
Faith meets fulfillment...
Knowledge meets experience...
Tradition meets modern...
Empowerment meets advocacy...
Commitment meets community...

With 20 years of experience in me, you can guarantee top notch support & care from a family expert. I understand how unique each family dynamic is and I will meet you where you are and provide quality service to ensure that your family will thrive.

Contact me today to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.