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Re: Alt. Medicine (to Yen) and My Endo Story
From: Yen (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue Mar 6 11:22:50 2001
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia,
You have been through the endo mill! Sounds like you're on the right
track re Redwine.
No, I had no idea that caffeine had that type of effect on our pain
receptors! Another strange thing I've noticed re my flares -- at times I
get horrible sinus headaches so I take sinutab occasionally when needed.
When the condition lasts a few days, thus a few days of sinutab, I get a
flare. I think it may have something to do with the pseudophedrine
hydrochloride in the sinutab -- this has happened consistently over the
past few years, so there must be some relationship.
On the other hand, in the past I have also tried benadryl + ibuprofen
for flares -- the benadryl supposedly helps control the histamines.
I feel for you re the bouts of uncontrollable diarrhea (?sp.) -- knock
on wood, I don't have that problem but rather, the opposite (I'm always
afraid to say things like that because I fear I'll jinx myself!). The
good news for you, though, is that I've heard from a couple of Redwine's
patients who, before surgery, had the same problem w/diarrhea, but his
surgery cleared it up!
Take Care,
Yen
At Tue, 6 Mar 2001, Marcia wrote:
>
>Hello Yen:
>
>I am glad my endo diet was of interest to you. I have been watching
>your posts with Pep, as well...to see what works for others.
>
>Thanks for asking about me. It's long, but here goes: I've had 2 laps
>and 4 go-rounds of Zoladex. Five years ago, I had 10+ pain on my right
>side, diarrhea, I thought I was dying, I couldn't work, couldn't sleep
>through the night, I cried and cried... and all tests were negative. It
>took two months of never-ending pain until the gyn doc decided to do my
>lap. I was diagnosed at age 35 at my first lap, with endo on both
>ovaries, my appendix, and several places on my bowel (I didn't know how
>extensive, he didn't tell me and he wouldn't tell me what stage I was
>in...he said it wasn't important). The doc closed and did practically
>nothing...put me on Zoladex for 6 months; 3 months of bcp's and the pain
>came right back...another 6 months of Zoladex...
>
>And then I went to the holistic doc to try alternative medicine. It did
>work for a while, as I said, but it was really hard for me to go
>vegetarian, although I did, but soy makes me kinda sick...I did give up
>dairy though along with caffeine (did you all know that caffeine somehow
>makes our pain receptors more receptive???)...the hardest part was
>making meals for my then-fiance that were not veg. and then me doing
>the veg...ah well!!
>
>And then, of course, the pain came back...so I decided to do Zoladex
>again...Then in Spring of 1999...it came back again (is this a broken
>record??) and I opted for surgery...asking my doc to "cut it all out."
>Well, he didn't...he used laser...and then put me on Depo-Provera to
>keep ovaries off...I went off in January 2000 when we got married, with
>the thought that we might try for pregnancy...but within 3 months
>(again, that 3 months!!)...pain was back...my original doc was out on
>medical leave...so went through 3 docs and decided on Zoladex one last
>time, as I didn't want surgery again so soon after the last time..they
>were trying to talk me into having my ovaries out to solve my endo...
>
>But this time after the Zoladex, my pain is still here...I went back on
>Depo-Provera in Oct 2000 and am still on it...and in January really
>surfed the web for answers. I found this wonderful site and you Angels,
>and found Dr. Redwine in Oregon, and I know in my heart that he is the
>one to help me...but my HMO won't pay, and I don't think I have the
>strength to fight them...and will probably just wait til next January
>for new insurance.
>
>Through all this I also have IBS...one of my symptoms is pain in my endo
>spot, then the urge to have BM, then it is diarrhea, with no control on
>my part...it has been extremely embarassing at times...I have no
>control. Then it alternates with constipation. (what a cycle) I take
>psyllium in the a.m. to help regulate, and that does help.
>
>This last month I was given an anti-depressant, Effexor, which (much to
>my surprise) has helped ease my pain as it is supposed to do. I am now
>down to a 2-3 pain level most days, instead of 6 or 7, still on pain
>pills though. However, at times, I find myself angry and depressed that
>I am on "another pill" even though it eases my symptoms. It's just a
>bandaid until I can get to my surgery. I am so tired all the time...I
>want to be pain-free, endo-free, and pill-free!!!! I know, we all want
>this...this is my little "poor me session." Please forgive me for
>letting it all out.
>
>But most days now are better...the main reason...all the beautiful
>Angels here...as we help others, we help ourselves. My life is enriched
>by knowing all of you.
>
>Thank you Yen, for asking about me... so sorry for my long story.
>
>And a heartfelt THANK YOU to Belle, Suzanne, Wanda, Wendi, Heather Blue,
>Kristy, and all the Angels on My Shoulders.
>
>Love and Blessings to us all,
>
>--
>Marcia
>
>At Mon, 5 Mar 2001, Yen wrote:
>>
>>Marcia,
>>Thanks so much for sharing your "endo diet" with us. I'm always
>>interested to learn of diets which may assist in the alleviation of endo
>>pain.
>>Marcia, you mentioned 1 surgery three years ago. How many have you had,
>>when was your last surgery and how are you feeling lately (endo pain)?
>>Thanks:)
>>Yen
>>
>>At Mon, 5 Mar 2001, Marcia wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi Joanna:
>>>
>>>Three years ago, after 1 surgery, and 2 courses of Zoladex, I wanted to
>>>try to heal naturally. It does work best after a surgery or the med.
>>>treatment, and it did work for me for about 10 months. Then the pain
>>>came returned with a vengeance. I think the holistic regimen I was on
>>>did help to balance my system, as it was supposed to do, however, the
>>>holistic pratitioner I went to told me she could get rid of my endo, and
>>>that, of course, is not really possible.
>>>
>>>Here is what she put me on:
>>>
>>>vegetarian diet (no meat or dairy, as they have estrogen or
>>>antibiotics), no caffeine
>>>
>>>1 tablespoon flaxseed oil daily (on salads or cereals)
>>>
>>>Twice daily each of the following:
>>>
>>>Digestive enzymes (bromelain [which is pineapple] and papaya), both of
>>>which were supposed to break up my endo, although really, all they did
>>>was help me digest food better.
>>>
>>>And herbal drops, made by HerbPharm: Dandelion and Milkthistle, which
>>>were to cleanse my liver, for immune purposes; and Pulsitilla Vitex,
>>>which is a woman's mixture, to cleanse my female organs.
>>>
>>>[She also gave me a homeopathic remedy, which suppossed gives you part
>>>of the disease to cure it, but I don't believe in this--and it didn't
>>>work anyway]
>>>
>>>Now, as I said, this did work for a while, and natural regimens can work
>>>for some. I do all my shopping now at Whole Foods, a health food store,
>>>and all the dairy (I don't have much), and meats I buy are hormone- and
>>>antiobiotic-free. If you buy these at a regular store, you don't know
>>>what you're getting. They give estrogen to cows to make them produce
>>>more milk, so if you go and get certified free milk and meat, it is
>>>much, much better for you all-around. Yes, it is more expensive, but I
>>>feel better knowing I'm not getting the extra hormones.
>>>
>>>Hope this info helps you. :) :)
>>>
>>>--
>>>Marcia
>>>
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