Endo Geelong

For anyone using Zoladex, please be aware of the upcoming discontinuation of the product.

More info here:

endodoc.com.au

BIG NEWS !! From now until December 1, you can stream Below the Belt for FREE!! We ran two screenings of this doco for our endo community and now EVERYONE can watch it! Do not miss out on this!! Share it with everyone!

https://watch.showandtell.film/preview/thinkendo

*TW please note this film also discusses pregnancy loss

Endo Geelong also notes that while this documentary focuses on women/AFAB affected by endometriosis, endometriosis affects all genders and is not a “period disease” but is a full body disease affecting all major organs and systems.

*EG recognize that ALL people suffer from endo, and that it is not limited to being a women’s disease. This post is specific to a particular cohort of endo warriors.

It’s that time of year again… women’s health week 😱

Much like endo awareness month, women’s health week can be riddled with misinformation and triggering topics.

The EG admin encourage anyone who identifies as a woman/AFAB to reach out to supports if needed and take time away from social media if needed.

If you are in need of support:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
13 YARN 13 92 76

Much love,
EG

🔥Your rights as a patient🔥

Sadly, we often receive messages from endo patients who speak about poor experiences and mistreatment from practitioners and hospitals. The physical and emotional burden on endo patients is a significant barrier to recovery and leads to poor health outcomes, resulting in patients feeling disempowered, dismissed and failed by those we rely on when navigating this complex disease.

Patients may not be aware of their rights when reporting instances of malpractice, misinformation and neglect by our healthcare system.

The is responsible for reviewing complaints about health services provided in Victoria, or about the handling of health records in Victoria.

Anyone with concerns about a health service that is being provided can make a complaint. This includes health service consumers and their friends and family members, health service staff and volunteers, concerned community members and professional organisations.

Although it is strongly encouraged by the HCC to attempt to resolve the issue with the provider directly, we in the endo community are well aware that this is often futile, especially when reporting to a business or organization directly. As part of our work in the advocacy and support space, we feel it is important to share this information, in order to ensure that serious issues are raised with the body responsible for overseeing the ethics and conduct of practitioners and providers.

You can lodge a complaint by calling the HCC on 1300 582 113 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday or in writing: Level 26, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000.

For more information, visit HCC.vic.gov.au

If you’re coming to our Empowering Endometriosis event tomorrow night at this is where you need to go!

Tix on sale 9am tomorrow!

Join us for a special Q&A evening with a panel of holistic practitioners, designed to help you thrive with endo and find strength and support within the endo community.

DATE
Tue 25 Mar 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

LOCATION
1915 - Switch Room
Federal Mills Precinct
Mackey Street, North Geelong Vic 3215

Each member of the panel will deliver a presentation on their own specialty, aimed at providing you with both the knowledge and the tools to live well with endometriosis.

Our Panel:
Gabrielle Van der Schoor, Barwon Psychology
Alice Waddell, PhysioPod Co
Shannon Jolly, Nourished You Naturopathy
Adrian Stone, Living Holistic Health
Kelsey Long, Geelong Rehabilitation Centre
Stacey Micallef, Everybody Sexology

Event details:
6.30-7.00pm Welcome drinks and nibbles
7.00- 8.00pm Panel presentations
8.00- 8.30pm Q&A with the panel

This event would not be possible without our incredible sponsors:
Barwon Psychology
PhysioPod Co
BOPS- Music for Kids
Elementary Financial

We acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Custodians of the land and we pay our respects to Elders, past and present.

https://www.trybooking.com/CZKOX

You may have seen reports that Meta have announced they will no longer be fact-checking information posted on their platforms.

This is deeply concerning for a myriad of reasons, but it is particularly concerning for our community. Endo patients are no strangers in having to continually challenge the medical profession, organizations and institutions when it comes to obtaining accurate and factual information regarding endometriosis treatment, and there will now be added risk to patients with the inability to discern between truth and misinformation.

Endo communities such as this will be critical in the coming years as we anticipate even more misinformation being circulated amongst patients. A large percentage of us rely on each other when it comes to understanding our disease, treatment options and self-advocacy.

Endo Geelong have a strong belief that patients have the right to challenge advice given to them by their medical professionals and encourage endo patients to empower themselves by seeking sources of truth, such as finding reliable sources of information via Google Scholar, following social media accounts known to be reliable and accurate and connecting with other patients to discuss and share knowledge.

Endo Geelong strive to provide up to date and accurate information, and promotes key messaging from sources we know to be trusted. We do not claim to be the experts, rather we continually educate ourselves in order to provide the best support we can, from one patient to another.

There is no doubt that we will continue to see not just a continuation, but an increase in the levels of misinformation currently circulating around the disease and treatment options. Whilst this can feel overwhelming and scary, there is hope in the strength of our patient community along with key advocates and pioneers in the medical field.

Endo warriors are just that- strong, resilient and tenacious. We pledge to fight for truth and justice for all patients, existing and future. We need each other now more than ever.

If you find yourself in need of a chat:

* Lifeline: 13 11 14, available 24/7
* Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, available 24/7
* 1800 MY OPTIONS: 1800 696 784 9am-5pm weekdays
* 13 YARN: 13 92 76, available 24/7
* Q-Life: 1800 184 527 3pm-12pm daily

We will be doing this again in November! Details to follow x

Okay I am terrified. I feel so responsible for the outcome of the campaign and as I stand here today for our It's in the Bag photoshoot at Bunnings I am oscillating between being terrified and full of joy about this upcoming campaign.

The gap of It's in the Bag that we collect compared to how many are requested by our charities just keeps getting wider and wider and I honestly don't know what more I can do.

In 2019 (yep before COVID) we were collecting over 130,000 bags but now we are collecting around 80,000. It’s such a dramatic drop and I just don’t know what else to do. I fully understand the rising cost of living is affecting so many, but I just can't keep not being able to fulfill all the requests. It breaks my heart that women and girls will wake up in a DV shelter on Christmas without a bag and you have no idea just how life-changing a bag filled with essentials can feel to receive.

Got any ideas about how we could get more bags? I am open to all suggestions, I need help www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag