We survived spring break!

Well, we are back from vacation, and WE SURVIVED.

CAN I GETTA AMEN

Was it the best vacation we've ever had? No. But it was a vacation nonetheless. We did some cool things. We saw some cool things. We visited some pretty sweet bars (of course). We walked a lot. One day, we visited this really scary jail that is supposedly haunted to try to decide if we were brave enough to take the haunted tour that night. Dave and I both got some really weird vibes just standing outside, decided we were too creeped out to take the tour, and watched the Ghost Adventures episode about the place instead.

IT'S SEASON 6, EPISODE 11, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED

But the one thing we did on this vacation that was so important was rest. Normally, when Dave and I go on vacation, we are up and going all day and all night. (Unless we are at the beach; beach rules are different.) When we left for this trip, we both agreed that we would have no agenda, only make loose plans, and REST. It was glorious. We went out and explored the city every day, but we took our time about it. Most days, we didn't even leave our cozy little Airbnb until around lunchtime. Then, about mid-afternoon almost every day, we came back and took a break—sometimes we took a nap, sometimes we just laid on the couch and watched TV, whatever we felt like we needed.

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this, but don't you worry about that. There is a point and it is this: One thing that I think people don't realize about endometriosis is the staggering fatigue that it can cause. Not just that Oh I didn't get enough sleep last night, I could use a nap kind of fatigue; it's a knock-down, drag-out, dead tired that makes even little things like taking a shower or brushing your hair feel very hard. I don't know how else to explain it. Sometimes, you wake up with it in the morning and you just know it's going to be one of those days. But other times, it hits you out of nowhere. You wake up feeling fine, and then it's like you were viciously mowed down by an 18-wheeler. I don't know the science behind it, but I can tell you that endo fatigue is real. And it's been heightened for me lately as my body adjusts to the trial meds, especially on those days when it comes out of nowhere. Those days are actually worse than the days I wake up fatigued. But either way, most days, because I am required to be an adult and do things like work and pay bills and shower and take care of other people, I have to push through it. We all look forward to vacation as a time to "rest," but honestly, most of us are not actually resting when we're on vacation. We're out and about and exploring and playing, which is all good and also necessary—especially when it comes to mental health—but when we're doing those things, our bodies are not resting. Several studies have pointed out the link between sleep and chronic pain as well as sleep and chronic illness. Researchers have yet to fully determine the link (lack of sleep can cause pain to flare up; however, pain can cause lack of sleep), but they do know that there is a link. (If you want to read more, check out this article and then explore on your own: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4046588/). Yet, despite that research, we do not get enough sleep. In 2016, the CDC reported that 1 in 3 adults do not get enough sleep, and that includes those of us with chronic disease and chronic pain. Why must we adult so hard??

BUZZFEED GETS IT*

So, basically, what I am saying is this: We (and that includes me) have to do a better job at taking care of ourselves, and sometimes that means actually getting some rest. Self-care is not selfish. It's necessary. It's even more necessary for those of us who do have these chronic issues.

Dave and I made a plan to actually let ourselves rest this vacation, and I feel like we came back better for it. I didn't feel great every day, but I also didn't have any flare-ups. When the fatigue hit, I let myself take a nap. Most days, I felt better when I woke up. But, alas, we had to come home and become adults again. That being said, while we did have to return to the real world, I haven't felt terrible since we got home. I haven't felt great—that's pretty much a constant—but I haven't felt terrible. Maybe there's some proof of the benefits of rest. Or maybe it's not and my body is just getting more adjusted to the trial meds. But I like to think that it's at least partially the result of vacation.

Let's all make a pact to take better care of ourselves, okay?

Until next week.

Yours,

Test Subject 521-002

P.S. Here's your weekly reminder that it's still Endometriosis Awareness Month! Pin on a yellow ribbon and show your support.

*BuzzFeed image source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/annaborges/how-to-not-suck-at-adulting?utm_term=.bjDdXEkqW#.wmL8Av4Ro