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Re: changes after Lupron - added info about Endo and medicationsFrom: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed Dec 29 11:48:13 2004
Have you had a complete workup? At this point, given your history you should probably have your thyroid checked (inability to stabilize body temp and sluggish or hyperactive metabolism are signs of a possible thyroid imbalance) a fasting glucose test, cholesterol check, full hormone check, bone density check - in other words a complete endocrinological check up. Now for some practical information about pain medications: Drug companies often get their products approved for use long before any real useful 'after-effects' information is acquired, otherwise known as 'long-term effects'. I think many of the research companies operate very short-sighted looking only at the one singular thing they are trying to achieve and often miss the signs of the other 100 things that are being affected by their latest 'wonder drug under development'. This is why we are now hearing about all these drugs being recalled. Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex were being developed for people with SEVERE arthritis who were unable to use or found no relief from any other pain reliever. It was not tested for or approved for general pain management but it was being prescribed for such which resulted in too many people taking it who should not have been. Luckily there were doctors who were tracking and monitoring their patients and properly reported the side-effects their patients were experiencing. Part of this is due to the advertising drug companies are doing. Patients are diagnosing themselves from TV commercials and, as the commercial advises, going to their doctors proclaiming they need this pill or that pill. Viagra is a perfect example. Most of the people pictured in the commercial don't need it but they look just like you and me and if they use it and look so happy then maybe I should use it too. And now we have 'celebrities' on TV bragging about how their doctor gave them Viagra for a wedding present so they could enjoy their honeymoon! They were healthy, active and in their 20s/30s!!! Is this appropriate medical practice? Women with endometriosis are particularly susceptible to being prescribed inappropriate drugs for pain management. The medical industry seems to have gotten into the habit of throwing pills at everything and it always has to be the strongest first it seems when many times ibuprofen alternated with tylenol is all that's necessary. For those days when nothing is working, that's when you take the prescription stuff but always, always, always read all information available on these drugs first. You will find almost all of them listed with full information including side-effects and food & drug interactions at http://www.rxlist.com bookmark that site, it may save your life someday! Some prescription pain medications cannot be used with ibuprofen or aspirin. Always try for the simplest formulation first. At more difficult times additional non-medical methods can be used as well, such as heating pads or hot water bottles, meditation, massage, sleep or even dietary change. Before you try that new superduper strength pain medication, try taking ibuprofen then 2 hours later tylenol then 2 - 4 hours later more ibuprofen, and 2 - 4 hours later more tylenol and keep repeating this pattern or adjust as needed until your cramps cease or you can lower the amount of medication you're taking. If you do that around the clock when cramping begins you will find that the cramps don't get quite so bad, you may find you have fewer clots and you will not have the groggy, sick stomach and out-of-focus effects of the stronger narcotic based drugs. Many women find that certain foods eaten in the days just before or during their periods cause extra cramping. The best way to determine if this is happening to you is to keep a log for a month of what you are eating and drinking; how you feel each day, what level and where your pain is; what meds you are taking, why and how much; and see if you can see a pattern and then make that pattern work for you. All of this requires some work on your part but you cannot rely on the doctors and drug companies to do it all, you have to take an active role in controlling your endo or it will control you and send you into a whirlpool of depression, pain, insomnia and despair and you don't deserve that. On your very worst days allow yourself to just go into hibernation for a bit, give yourself the extra rest you need. Try to anticipate these days and have some meals cooked ahead and frozen for a quick heat-up or treat yourself to ordering from a restaurant that delivers. Don't feel guilty about it, you worked hard the other days of the month to keep it all together and when this passes you'll get right back to it. You didn't lose anything, you didn't lose control of the endo it's the cycle of the beast and you do what needs done to take care of yourself. Often a part of the pain comes from the constant pressure we put upon ourselves to act like everything's fine and we don't need anything from anybody even when we know otherwise. That kind of stress just amplifies everything else and serves no useful purpose at all, besides, we're not fooling anybody. Good luck and happy trails to all.
At Wed, 29 Dec 2004, anonymous wrote:
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