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A review by smalltownbookmom
Vagina Problems: Endometriosis, Painful Sex, and Other Taboo Topics by Lara Parker
5.0
WOW. Just WOW! This easily just went straight to the top of my favorite memoirs about living with a disability. In the author's case she suffers from chronic pain related to various reproductive conditions including endometriosis, vulvodynia and vaginismus.
I hadn't even HEARD of some of these conditions and to learn that over 200 million people worldwide (approx. 10% of the population) are affected by them was mind-blowing. What's worse is how little is understood about reproductive conditions and just how long people can go before getting diagnosed (on average 7 years)!
This was by far one (if not THE) best book about living with chronic pain I've ever read. Listening to the author describe her daily and often constant pain that has no relief and can strike any time and any where was horrifying and while I have a chronic illness, it is no where near as debilitating as what the author goes through daily with little to no relief.
The book covers a number of important topics from difficulties to get diagnosed, the disrespect and dismissal many doctors give to people who complain of reproductive problems, trying to work with chronic pain and trying to find love and be in a relationship when penetrative sex can be excruciating, (if not impossible).
Highly enlightening, and in my opinion a MUST READ! Great on audio read by the author. There were so many passages I highlighted and related to, particularly the way that chronic conditions can take a toll on people's mental health and relationships!
Favorites quotes included:
"It is exhausting in every sense of the word to try to find a way to make peace with the knowledge that your own body will rebel against you over and over again and there is essentially nothing you can do about it."
"Living with chronic pain is not just being in pain, it's being forced to alter your life in a million different ways that other people don't have to. All while trying to find the mental capacity to be okay with this."
"As a person with chronic illness I constantly feel like a burden and therefore am often too ashamed to truly ask for what I need out of my friendships. It somehow feels easier to be angry or upset at friends than to humble myself to ask for help."
I hadn't even HEARD of some of these conditions and to learn that over 200 million people worldwide (approx. 10% of the population) are affected by them was mind-blowing. What's worse is how little is understood about reproductive conditions and just how long people can go before getting diagnosed (on average 7 years)!
This was by far one (if not THE) best book about living with chronic pain I've ever read. Listening to the author describe her daily and often constant pain that has no relief and can strike any time and any where was horrifying and while I have a chronic illness, it is no where near as debilitating as what the author goes through daily with little to no relief.
The book covers a number of important topics from difficulties to get diagnosed, the disrespect and dismissal many doctors give to people who complain of reproductive problems, trying to work with chronic pain and trying to find love and be in a relationship when penetrative sex can be excruciating, (if not impossible).
Highly enlightening, and in my opinion a MUST READ! Great on audio read by the author. There were so many passages I highlighted and related to, particularly the way that chronic conditions can take a toll on people's mental health and relationships!
Favorites quotes included:
"It is exhausting in every sense of the word to try to find a way to make peace with the knowledge that your own body will rebel against you over and over again and there is essentially nothing you can do about it."
"Living with chronic pain is not just being in pain, it's being forced to alter your life in a million different ways that other people don't have to. All while trying to find the mental capacity to be okay with this."
"As a person with chronic illness I constantly feel like a burden and therefore am often too ashamed to truly ask for what I need out of my friendships. It somehow feels easier to be angry or upset at friends than to humble myself to ask for help."