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Re: advice!
From: sandra (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Nov 18 07:50:18 2004
Melanie,
Thank god there are alternative treatments, right? I am going to start
the progesterone cream and see what happens. I will get Doctor Lee's
book as well. When I googled natural progesterone he came up several
times. I don't think people give enough credence too alternative
therapies, however to each is own. I too, take Emergen C's often, I
love the tangerine one. I exercise 4 to 5 times a week as well and
actually I was reading an article about exercise and how is lowers
estrogen levels which is awesome. I didn't know that, that may have
contributed to a pain free high school existence way back when I was
playing sports all year round. Congrats to your sister, she must be
thrilled. Thanks for your support, it means a great deal to me.
Thanks,
SandraAt Thu, 18 Nov 2004, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>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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