Chapter 24: Rep. Abby Finkenauer

March was Endometriosis Awareness Month. I meant to blog about this then, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, I've felt very uninspired to write lately. Based on what I've read, this is common. We are all grieving and coping, so be kind to each other, be patient with yourself, wash your hands, and stay home.

Back in March, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer revealed that she has endometriosis and that she is starting the House Endometriosis Caucus to raise awareness and double the federal research budget. As an endometriosis patient, this was life changing news. Endo has had a bit of a moment recently in the media, with celebrities such as Padma Lakshmi, Halsey, Lena Dunham, Tati, Whoopi Goldberg, Emma Bunting (Baby Spice), Cyndi Lauper, Julianne Hough, Tia Mowry, Jaime King, and Bethenny Frankel opening up about their struggles with endo, which is so important. Knowing that it exists and what the symptoms are is the first step in finding a diagnosis. That's what I'm trying to do here- educate people on what isn't normal so that others don't suffer as long as I did. However, Rep. Finkenauer has the rare opportunity to make a national difference. So much more research is needed on what causes endometriosis and how to prevent it from returning after surgeries. More OBGYNs also need to be aware of what it is and where to send their patients for help. Rep. Finkenauer has the ability to create such positive change for my community and I'm so grateful to her...

However, there are some things about this announcement that worry me. For example, Lara Parker, a writer with endo who has a book coming out in October about her struggles, tweeted the email that was sent out from Rep. Finkenauer about endo. Parker points out that while this is so important and necessary, the wording in the email is very ableist. People with endo (and other chronic health issues) don't "let" endo get in the way of their lives. I graduated high school with honors, then college, then law school, passed the bar exam and worked on a Presidential election. Did I miss days of class, work and studying because I "let" endo stop me from doing the things I cared about? No. There are things that people with endo cannot control and flare ups are one of them. To imply anything else is hurtful to the entire community. I understand that she had to write that so that she didn't get questions about her ability to serve her constituents, but there were definitely better ways to handle that wording.

Additionally, the original articles released about Rep. Finkenauer mentioned that when she was in desperate pain she googled hysterectomies. I get it. I've been there. I've been curled up on a heating pad or in a hot bath and just wanted my uterus gone. At my most desperate point I have wanted to yank it out myself. But unfortunately, it's a big misconception that hysterectomies cure endo. They don't. I'll eventually get around to a whole separate blog post about why, because it is contrary to common sense. I hate that the article raising awareness for such a misunderstood health concern even mentioned hysterectomies at all. It didn't need to be mentioned except to prove her desperation. However, if the reader didn't already know that hysterectomies don't cure endo, it would be easy to get confused.

I don't want this to seem like I'm shitting on Rep. Finkenauer. She's an amazing congresswoman and I'm grateful for her advocacy. I just wish a few things would have been handled differently. I have hope that she'll listen to others in the community and change any future messaging. I'm excited to see what the House Endometriosis Caucus accomplishes once things return to a new normal.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Wash your hands. Stay home. Thank an essential worker (from a distance).