The spoonie Diaries : Endometriosis & PCOS with Renee Dzandzo – Caesar

Renee is a POWERHOUSE. She’s currently studying law, is the CEO of ONE Holistic Boutique which focuses on the power of holistic healing and does all of this whilst living with endometriosis and PCOS.

I recently found Renee’s instagram account, rayraydoesit, and I’m now obsessed with her. She’s so honest and open about her health conditions and sharing the highs and lows of living with a chronic illness.

So, let’s get to know Renee!

What was your initial reaction to your diagnosis

I cried a lot. I was happy that I wasn’t insane because I began to think that if no one can find anything after multiple scans and hospital admissions maybe every girl feels like this and it’s normal.

But I was also so upset that I had this thing that I had no idea what it was. Honestly, I thought my life was over.

How much did you know about your chronic illness before you were diagnosed? What was your initial reaction?

I knew nothing at all about it. I had heard of it like once. But I knew nothing about it at all. I don’t even think Google is that helpful. I have learnt so much from connecting from sisters over Instagram than I have a wiki page.

What is one thing you’ve learnt from being chronically ill

I’ve learnt that life is so temporary and that we have to live in each moment and live for today.

That not to say that you can’t plan for tomorrow. But also to just be present with yourself. I’ve also learnt that people are very ignorant when they don’t understand things and you cannot change a person way of thinking.

How did you make the decision to openly discuss your diagnosis and chronic illness journey? Was it an easy decision to make?

Well at first when I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17 it was not that much of a thing to me. They basically never told me anything about the illness at all.

Only now at 21 have I realised so many things that are due to me having PCOS such as excess hair growth. I realised that I knew nothing about my illnesses, but I realised EVERYONE had the same story as me and no one was educated.

So, I decided to post one day about it. It was nerve-wracking but after the response, I got I knew I wanted to build a brand.

My brand is always developing but I know what the goal is so I am so glad I started to talk out about it. I kept my illness a secret for such a long time and anytime I would talk about it I would want to take it right back.

I’m usually an open book so it was hard to have to lie about things a lot. Like why I could not attend events but now it’s in the open life is actually easier, my friends are a lot more understanding and I have a whole community of support.

How has being chronically ill affected your life? Have you made any major changes?

Its affected my life a lot at the age of 21 as someone who is a uni attendee. People my age are partying a lot. Going out and travelling a lot but I cannot do that and have to plan everything so carefully.

I have to watch what I eat at certain times of the month and I have to cancel things last minute. I have to have a night time routine to help myself wake up in the least pain possible and I get fatigued really easily.

I have a busy lifestyle anyways so sometimes I have to take a lot of pain meds just to make it through the day. But the time I get home I’m either in so much pain, vomiting or asleep.

At 21 I didn’t think my life would be like this. Simple things like journeys on the tube if I’m flaring I will have to get up earlier and travel by bus because the hot air in the tube makes me vomit. Just little things like that that others don’t have to think about.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who has been newly diagnosed, what would you tell them?

Connect with other people who have the same illness. They have been there done that. They have the best advice. Better than ANY doctor. It will be okay. Adjust your life accordingly your not superman stop trying to do it all.

Do you think your physical health has impacted your mental health? Have you gever sought help for it and do you have any coping mechanisms?

Yes, having PCOS means I have a hormonal imbalance and before I knew how to control this to a degree. I fell into deep depression I had suicidal tendencies and anxiety. I was not cute.

Also because of my age, I felt like I should be doing with normal 21’s do but I feel the same age as my grandma at time where was are talking about the same creams to use for back pain etc.

My coping mechanism is yoga a lot of people are hesitant to try it because EVERYONE says try yoga and its like shut up. But it helps me a lot. I go to HOTPOD yoga which allows my pain to calm down to a nice 2/3 so I can get a nice practice in without a 10/10 pain. It also balances your hormones and gives you a mindful headspace. Overall it has been the most helpful thing ever. Bonus – you lose weight and get that waist snatched!

What do you with your friends and family knew/understood about your illness/disability?

That even if I don’t say I’m in pain, I’m in pain. Sometimes I can’t be bothered to say, this hurts that hurts. Its just too long. Usually when Im having a pain free day. Im super excited and im like omg im having a good day. So when I don’t say that they should assume im in pain.

Finally, what does Chronically Living mean to you? Do you have any advice for readers going through similar things?

A normal life with adjustments. It’s annoying yes. Sometimes I get so annoyed I try to fight the pain by carrying on but it only leads me in two places my bathroom floor or an ambulance.

My advice does not let your illness consume and control you. Make adjustments for it, it is part of you but you can still be and do whatever you want to do or be with it.

A massive thank you to Renee for taking over the Spoonie Diaries this week. Don’t forget to check out her YouTube channel for more chronic illness content! Do you want to be featured in the Spoonie Diaries? Get intouch at hello@ktmy.co.uk