Re: advice!
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Wed Nov 17 23:02:47 2004
Hi Sandra,
I have that book too! It is a wonderful reference. I think it is so
great that you are trying other things. There are many women I know who
opted for alternate treatments, you are definitely not alone. I even
put my sister on the diet when after trying for more than a year to get
pregnant the doctor finally checked her hormone levels and discovered
she was estrogen dominant and this was preventing the egg from
attaching. He told her she could not take clomid until her levels went
down. She went on the diet and a month later she was pregnant! Didn't
even need those fertility drugs! A book that also helped me a great deal
was Dr. Lee's, What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause. I
realized there was a typo in my note, not bigger, but my cysts should
have been written in cm, not mm, much bigger! The progesterone cream
helped me a lot! Give it time though, some women need about 6 months to
feel the effects of it. I think I take more tham most of my friends. My
MD started me at 80 mg a day, but it made me very sleepy (slept great
though) and it was hard to work. I dropped down to 60 mg (20 am/40 pm)
and still sleep and do not experience drowsiness. I also tried it at 40
mg, but started to get some cramping so I've learned 60 mg is a good
dosage for me. Some women I know can only take 20 mg a day. I have to
say I felt a million times better within a month but was still
experiencing PMS. I then started the fish oil and that has felt like a
magic pill for me. Interestingly, if you go to Lori's site you will see
that while we go to the same doctor, our endo treatments are a bit
different, signaling to me that NDs really take into account the
individual's health history, not just lump everyone into one category.
I take flax everyday too and a liver detox/protein
powder/anti-inflammatory supplement. I also take 4 Emergen-C packets
everyday. And I exercise 4-5X a week. I do cheat on birthdays though
and eat a piece of cake!
Take care, Sandra. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. And if you
ever have questions fell free to email me. Or post to Lori's site, I
tend to hang out there much more often because of Lori's bent toward
natural treatment.
Melanie
At Wed, 17 Nov 2004, sandra wrote:
>
>Melanie,
>Thank you so much for your info and knowing that I am not alone in not
>taking Lupron. I purchased a fabulous book that discussed Endometriosis
>and Nutrition, I believe it was called Nutrional Healing and
>Endometriosis. It is a great book. I don't drink, take high grade flax
>and rarely eat meat and only organic fruits and veggies. I don't eat
>sugar or artificial sugar, however I do enjoy the cup of java in the
>morning! I pray that the progesterone cream will help. you sound like
>you are doing very well, that is awesome, we rarely hear of people who
>are doing well! Thanks for the website and I will let you know how I am
>doing with the lifestyle and diet change.
>
>Regards,
>SandraAt Wed, 17 Nov 2004, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>
>>Hi Sandra,
>>
>>I was one of those folks who opted not to take Lupron, not simply
>>because of the side effects but it seemed like such a temporary solution
>>to an on-going problem. And quite frankly, the side effects didn't seem
>>worth it to me at a point where there were other things I could try to
>>help relieve my endo pain I do follow the endo diet. In addition to no
>>wheat or dairy, I also do not eat read meat and eat only organic poultry
>>and some fish. I also cut out sugar and caffeine because these really
>>escalate the amount of estrogen in your body and for me that seems to be
>>a big pain trigger. I also cut out alcohol because it interferes with
>>liver functioning and the liver helps break down excess estrogen in the
>>body. I also see a naturopathis doctor who has guided me in the use of
>>supplements. What has been helpful for me are high quality vitamins,
>>natural progesterone cream (which you cannot take with other hormones)
>>and phamacuetical grade fish oil. I have a couple of other things on my
>>daily list but won't go into it completely. But if you're really
>>against Lupron there are choices for you. I know all these changes do
>>not work for all people, but I (and a few others I know) am experiecing
>>incredible relief. I have no pain and do not even have signs of PMS.
>>The only indication that I'm getting my period is the calendar I keep.
>>If I didn't bleed, I'd never know I was on my period, I feel that great.
>>And I am down from popping pills all the time to not a single one. My
>>pain used to be quite challenging. It is very tough to stop me from
>>doing things, but I would miss work almost every month because of the
>>pain. And so many nights I would cry instead of sleep. I should point
>>out that an 8 mm chocolate cyst completely debilitated me, put me in the
>>ER and required surgery. I do have two new cysts (which I think
>>developed before I started natural therapies, the one that I know for
>>sure showed up two weeks after surgery and it has not grown at all),
>>both about 4-5 mm. On the one hand it's not great to know I have these
>>in my body, but what a relief that they do not bother me.
>>
>>Deciding upon the best treatment for myself was a very difficult thing
>>for me to do. A large part of me wanted to just give into my doctor and
>>take the Lupron or at least go on the pill, but I did not feel
>>comfortable with either. Perhaps the pain will come back, but for now I
>>have not felt better in my entire life (well, since I started my
>>period). The side effects to these changes have been awesome (in
>>addition to no pain, my treatment has also gotten rid of my 20+ years of
>>insomnia, greatly reduced my anxiety, depression and a host of other
>>things).
>>
>>Best of luck to you! Oh, and if you haven't checked out Lori's site and
>>are intersted in other natural therapies, it is a great resource:
>>http://www.theendoclub.com
>>
>>Melanie
>>
>>At Tue, 16 Nov 2004, sandra wrote:
>>>
>>>At Mon, 15 Nov 2004, Erin wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Erin,
>>>
>>>Thanks for the response, I have cut out wheat and dairy and eat
>>>primarily vegetarian with all the estrogen reducing foods. All of
>>>phytochemicals. What is PCOS?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>SandraHeya,
>>>>
>>>>I don't mean to pontificate here (a little bit of knowledge is
>>>>dangerous, right?)... Have you tried any research on PCOS and diet? It
>>>>won't solve your problem, but it might help with pain.
>>>>
>>>>Erin.
>>>>
>>>>At Mon, 15 Nov 2004, sandra wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>I had my first laparoscopy in June and I have had chronic back pain for
>>>>>two staight years. I have acute bouts of pain where I will go into the
>>>>>emergency room. I have decided not to take Lupron because of the side
>>>>>effects, knowing my luck, I would have a heart attack or something. I
>>>>>don't want to have a child just to get rid of my pain. I have no idea
>>>>>what else to do and I am losing hope quickly. I have seen a specialist
>>>>>in Miami who was awful, I would be willing to go anywhere in the country
>>>>>for help. I am desperate. My endo is according to my doctor mild to
>>>>>moderate however my pain is severe and I feel shitty all the time and my
>>>>>moods are herendous!!! Has anyone else ever experienced this before?
>>>>>Thanks for listening.
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