Did you know that QENDO now offers a counselling service for those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and infertility? This service is tailored specifically to the needs of our chronic illness community to provide that extra level of personal support you may need. In part three of our three part series on the benefits of counselling, Amanda explores the “where” and “when” - including the different formats of counselling, some tips for those engaging with a counsellor via the digital space, and some signs that it may be time to add counselling to your chronic illness toolbox.

Niamh is the other half of @thoseendosisters, and her sister Freya has previously shared her story on the QENDO Blog. Niamh’s journey started at the age of fourteen, and at 23 she was diagnosed with both pelvic and diaphragmatic endometriosis and interstitial cystitis, after years of heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain, and fatigue that led to a period of her not being able to walk to work or around the shops without feeling exhausted. In this blog Niamh shares her story and her current management of both conditions to reach out to anyone else who may be experiencing the same, and reassure them that endometriosis doesn’t have to be the end of your life as you know it.

Olivia’s journey to diagnosis began at the tender age of eleven when she first began experiencing symptoms. At 18 she first started to actively to pursue a diagnosis, having had enough of her debilitating symptoms. By the time she was formally diagnosed at 34, Olivia had learnt to advocate for herself, do her research, and ask for what she needed for her body. In this blog, Olivia shares this journey to diagnosis and her message of support and encouragement to others who may find her story far too familiar. You can follow Olivia on Instagram at @sisterdoinitforherself

Freya is one half of dynamic duo @thoseendosisters on Instagram, an account dedicated endometriosis and IC awareness, education and support that she and her sister Niamh started after both being diagnosed with endometriosis. Despite experiencing suspicious and ultimately painful symptoms from a young age, Freya found herself struggling to convince GPs of the seriousness of her symptoms, and as a result went without a diagnosis for years. At 21, newly diagnosed with endometriosis, she is passionate about advocacy and education, and is one of the many voices calling for change in the United Kingdom, where the diagnostic delay for endometriosis remains even greater than that of Australia. In this blog, Freya shares her story and how she now manages her condition, in the hopes that others will feel empowered to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

Did you know that QENDO now offers a counselling service for those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and infertility? This service is tailored specifically to the needs of our chronic illness community to provide that extra level of personal support you may need. In part two of our three part series on the benefits of counselling, Amanda explores the “what” - getting into the nitty gritty of what to expect from the counselling process, the approaches your counsellor may take during your sessions, and some of the red flags that your counsellor may not be the right fit for you or your situation.

PCOS affects 1 in 10 of reproductive age and remains surrounded in a great deal of myth and misinformation. Here at QENDO we’re helping our community to better understand the realities of PCOS by shining a light on the many voices of those affected. Today on the blog Victoria Rouru shares her PCOS story, one which has spanned 11 years. She talks about the misinformation and lack of awareness surrounding her diagnosis, her struggles with PCOS related body image, and taking control of her health. We also go back to basics on what exactly is polycystic ovarian syndrome, and what are the symptoms we need to be aware of?

QENDO support worker and counsellor Amanda Grogan recently gave a presentation as part of QENDO’s At Home series about the benefits of counselling, with mental health an essential component of any chronic illness management plan. In a three part blog series, Amanda will discuss in depth the role that counselling can have if you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness like endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and/or infertility; covering the who, why, what, where and when. In part one, we'll cover the who and why: who are counsellors, and how do they differ from other mental health workers? And why might you see a counsellor, especially if you’re a member of the chronic illness community?

In 2020 QENDO began formally offering our support and education services in New Zealand, after many years of connecting with our friends across the water. Working with our colleagues and listening to their stories brings to light the challenges and barriers those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and infertility in NZ, and how much work we can do together to improve the experiences of these chronic health warriors. One such warrior is Sarah, who has graciously shared her story with us for this blog. To launch our 2021 blog season, we’re going back to basics and #ExplainingEndo.

Having a chronic condition such as endo, adeno or PCOS is hard, and unfortunately the festive season can sometimes make it even harder! Not just the increased expectations (which you definitely don’t need to buy into), social commitments, energy draining questions and explanations about your condition etc, but also if you have food intolerances, triggers or are following a specific lifestyle can be hard when it comes to festive food! So we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up our fave QENDO friendly recipes for entree / canapés, mains, salads + sides , and desserts, so you can enjoy the holiday season and not worry about feeling sick for days afterwards (because we’ve all been there)!

How long have you had your Christmas decorations up? We won’t judge. In 2020, we all need a little Christmas. Support Coordinator Dannielle takes you through QENDO’s guide to living your best Christmas life with chronic illness, and coping with some of the common issues facing spoonies around the holidays.

Sharing your story is an act of both bravery and compassion, as so many of us started our journey to diagnosis by reading the experience of others and wondering “endometriosis - could that be me?”. In this blog Bella Mitchell shares her story and journey to diagnosis with endometriosis, and wants others to know that they are not alone, that they don’t have to put up with being dismissed or ignored - advocate for yourself!

Do you ever wish you could talk to your younger self and tell them what you know now? Support Coordinator Dannielle does just that in this blog where she imagines a conversation with her sixteen year old self, a conversation filled with understanding, compassion, and a little bit of frustration (for God’s sake, listen to your freaking biology teacher, okay?). In reflecting on our younger selves we have the opportunity to thank them for their bravery and appreciate just how far we have come, and address that next generation for whom we want so much better: early diagnosis, early treatment, improved quality of life for anyone affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS or infertility.

Brooke Smith, 37, has had a long and complicated journey with pelvic pain, endometriosis, and now, adenomyosis. In this blog she shares her extensive journey and the medical professionals that have guided her along the way, taking us through the highs and lows so many of us with endometriosis have come to know intimately. From 14 to 37, Brooke has continued to stay positive in the wake of extensive and severe endometriosis, using her experiences to help others and our QENDO community. This post deals with infertility and IVF and may be sensitive for some readers.

In 2020, we’re blessed with an abundance of books on everything from endometriosis to hormones to PCOS to harnessing the power of your menstrual cycle. Being able to pick up a book that so frankly discusses the body, the subjects so often considered hushed conversations or conversations off limits all together. We asked our QENDO community to review some of their favourite endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and menstrual health texts. This blog is part one in a two-part series of reviews. Happy reading!

Did you know that we can use up to 12 personal care products each day (Taylor et al., 2017)? Your skincare, hair products, any makeup and perfumes - the list goes on! We’ve rounded up some of our fave clean beauty, skincare, haircare, deodorants and perfume brands so you don’t have to worry about it. All of these brands are not sponsored, just good and we’ve found some which are spendy and others which are savey, to try and find something that suits everyone’s budget!

It can be a challenge sorting fact from fiction, and horror stories from side effects when it comes to finding information on some of the medications and treatments suggested for those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS or infertility. Zoladex is one of the most talked about topics in the endometriosis community, so in this blog we asked pharmacist Prue Luck to give us “just the facts, m’am” about how it works, so that we can all be informed and empowered to make the decision that’s right for us, armed with the facts we deserve.

So many of us with endometriosis, adenomyosis and PCOS have found ourselves dealing with some debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms, whether it’s the dreaded “endo belly”, bowel pain, nausea or fatigue. Perth based Dietician Christie Lee Austin-Hore shares her wealth of experience in helping those with endometriosis by shining a light on the link between IBS, endometriosis and PCOS, and how a dietician can and should be one of the stars of your multidisciplinary line up.

Have you heard of occupational therapy? Did you know it can be a helpful part of your chronic illness toolbox for managing endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS or infertility? Occupational therapy is more than just work, it can help you achieve your goals! Occupational therapists are masters of enabling your participation even while managing the symptoms of your chronic illness. OT Emma Diepenhorst from Elevation Women’s Health explains the role of occupational therapy in managing your condition.

Something we are often asked about within our QENDO community is the use of medicinal cannabis. Is it legal? How do I go about getting my doctor to prescribe it for me? Is it included on the PBS? Can I drive while using medicinal cannabis? This piece discusses the legality around medicinal cannabis within Australia, as well as highlighting the process and information you may need to know when considering medicinal cannabis in your toolkit for managing your chronic condition