Posts by: Shireen Hand

Shireen Hand

Shireen has lived with endometriosis since the age of 12. Now in her thirties, unable to work following a flare up from the disease, Shireen juggles daily life and motherhood with writing over at EMLWY (Endometriosis: my life with you) - a blog about her life with endometriosis, the curveballs of mental health, infertility and fertility treatments, and further diagnoses of fibromyalgia and borderline osteoporosis, while sharing information on the disease and other women's stories.

April 25, 2018April 24, 2018

Playing the Endometriosis Waiting Game

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

Endometriosis is one big waiting game. I wouldn’t say I waited throughout my teenage years because I thought the immense pain I felt every cycle and the extremely heavy bleeding ... Read more

April 16, 2018April 13, 2018

When Others Have a Blinkered Attitude Toward a Shared Illness

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

One thing I have noticed since being diagnosed with endometriosis (and other chronic illnesses) is the lack of understanding others have of the illness. I know it’s a big thing ... Read more

April 9, 2018April 6, 2018

The Guilt of Being a Chronically Ill Mama

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

When the thoughts of having a child first popped into my mind, I imagined a life much different than the one I now lead. In an ideal world — a ... Read more

April 2, 2018March 29, 2018

How Endometriosis Hid My Crohn’s Disease Diagnosis

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

Only a few days into 2018, I found myself in the hospital after a sudden flare of nausea, diarrhea, and intense abdominal pain. I thought it was food poisoning that had ... Read more

March 26, 2018March 23, 2018

Please Don’t Make a Joke of Pregnancy

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

If there is one day of the year I find difficult, it’s April Fools’ Day. And I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. Let me explain … We ... Read more

March 19, 2018March 16, 2018

Is There a Cure for Endometriosis?

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

Research into endometriosis is advancing and we regularly learn new things about the disease. However, a cure for endometriosis is yet to be identified and this is simply because we ... Read more

March 12, 2018March 9, 2018

The Top 10 Endometriosis Myths Debunked

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

1. Endometriosis occurs when endometrium is found growing outside of the uterus. False! Many resources will tell you that endometriosis occurs when endometrium (the mucous membrane that lines the inside ... Read more

March 5, 2018March 2, 2018

6 Ways of Raising Awareness During Endometriosis Awareness Month

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

It’s Endometriosis Awareness Month. An entire month in which patients, charities, and organizations share information on the disease to raise much-needed awareness. But why does endometriosis need awareness? Doesn’t every ... Read more

February 26, 2018February 23, 2018

What Does Endometriosis Feel Like?

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

It’s difficult to describe pain. When we talk to our doctors, we usually try to describe pain with words like “sharp” or “dull,” or by using a pain scale from ... Read more

February 19, 2018February 16, 2018

Why I Write About My Health

Columns, Endometriosis, My Life With You - a Column by Shireen Hand

We live in the age of online social networking, where we share even the most mundane elements of our lives. Not much is kept secret from our peers. But it ... Read more