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Re: accupuncture for Endometriosis
From: Alyson (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed Jan 4 13:26:35 2006
Toni,
Here is my opinion...and its just an opinion...if you are very concerned
about having another surgery at this time, try the acupuncture for
awhile. The worst that can happen is that you don't conceive. At some
point if you have no results, you still have surgery as an option. Yes,
it is possible that the endo is worsening during the acupuncture
treatment. If the endo is what is causing you not to be able to
conceive then at that point you can consider the surgery. Surgery will
clean out the endo, scar tissue, adhesions that the doctor can find,
hopefully clearing the way for you to get pregnant. Again, my doc
suggested the best chances were a window of up to 4-6 months following a
lap. Obviously I am not a doctor, but if you get busy quickly I
wouldn't think there would be enough time for you to wind up with severe
adhesions. You could also seek a third opinion to see if you can find
some kind of consensus among the docs.
A note about the acupuncturist and the herbs....My acupuncturists have
university level degrees in alternative medicine and certifications
(can't remember the specific certificate name/requirement at the
moment). There are also Medical Acupuncturists, actual MD's that also
practice acupuncture as part of their care. You can call your insurance
company to get the names of acupuncturists they are affiliated with. As
for the herbs- my acupuncturist NEVER gave me anything that was not in a
manufacturers sealed bottle. All of the herbal treatments I received
came in the manufacturers bottle which was sealed and labeled with all
of the contents, concentration of the contents, dosage instructions,
etc. I also kept my ObGyn up to date on all of the herbs I was taking.
Alyson
At Wed, 4 Jan 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>Hi everyone,
>Thank you so much for your feedback about the acupuncture and Chinese
>therapy. My pain isn't that bad. I feel it when I get my period and
>sometimes during sex (sucks that I am trying to have a baby but don't
>want to have sex because it's not comfortable). But on a daily basis my
>pain isn't that bad. I just found out that I have endo in my leg but
>not sure about the reproductive organs. Only will know if I have the
>laparoscopy. This is why one of the doctors I saw told me to wait on
>the surgery. I have been off the pill since August and have not
>conceived yet. I have heard it may take longer than expected but I'm
>worried that the longer it takes the harder it will be because the endo
>may come back full force. I have already had 4 surgeries for it. One
>doctor told me to wait and try to conceive because surgery causes
>adhesions which can also cause infertility. The other said to have
>surgery and get everything cleaned out and then try to conceive. It’s
>like a catch 22, if I don't have the surgery endo could be growing on my
>reproductive organs and preventing me from having children and the
>longer I wait the worse it may be. On the other hand if I go ahead and
>have the surgery the aftermath (adhesions and whatever else) may cause
>me not to conceive. I have no idea. What to do. My doctor also told
>me I could get back on hormone therapy like the pill (I refuse to do
>Lupron ever again) for about 6 months, and then get off and try again.
>But then of course I’d have to put off trying to have a baby and who
>says the hormones will work. That’s 6 months wasted. I'm so confused
>and so worried at the same time. I'm 30 and not getting any younger. My
>hubby and I both want a baby desperately. Hence, why I was going to try
>the acupuncture. I wanted to try something different and have some kind
>of hope. I'm so confused and have no idea what to do right now. Please
>help.
>
>Also, what is this progesterone cream I am hearing about? What is that
>for? Can you use it while trying to conceive?
>
>At Wed, 4 Jan 2006, anonymous wrote:
>>
>>Toni,
>>
>>What Alyson said in her post was very good. Acupuncture, chiropractic
>>adjustments and massage therapy are SYMPTOM RELIEVERS not disease cures.
>>Any therapist who claims they can cure you is a quack and you should RUN
>>not walk to the nearest exit.
>>
>>The basic principle of why these things work to reduce the symptoms is
>>because they cause relaxation. When you are relaxed your body is better
>>able to circulate good healthy oxygenated blood to all cells, when
>>you're stressed then the delivery system doesn't work as well and you
>>get crampy and irritable and don't feel well and it's harder to sleep
>>and harder to cope with pain.
>>
>>People who receive regular therapy also tend to have better nutrition
>>and eating habits and are overall in better mental and emotional health
>>even during terminal illness.
>>
>>So, there are some positives but don't just blindly accept everything
>>that is given to you - some herbal concoctions can be quite harmful so
>>make sure that you understand what you are being given, what the purpose
>>is and what interactions it may have with medications you take.
>>
>>You can certainly eat raw foods but in moderation. When you are having
>>symptoms then stick to warm foods but in between if you want a nice
>>crisp garden salad then have one! All things in moderation is the key.
>>Pay attention to what your body is telling you and give it what it
>>needs.
>>
>>By the way, it is equally important that your husband pay attention to
>>his nutrition, eating and sleeping habits. Do all that you can to
>>create a welcoming and healthy environment for a baby and if all the
>>circumstances are right then conception should be in your future. It
>>may take a while or it may happen quick, you really don't have much
>>control over that part but you can take good care of yourselves so
>>you're ready when it does happen.
>>
>>At Wed, 4 Jan 2006, Toni wrote:
>>>
>>>I recently found out that my endometriosis is back. In the past, I have
>>>had four laparoscopies to remove the endometriosis and one surgery to
>>>remove a fibroid. I have been on the pill and even tried Lupron. One
>>>doctor has advised that I have surgery to remove the endo. Another told
>>>me to wait on the surgery because I am trying to conceive. I have heard
>>>that having multiple surgeries can make it harder for a woman to
>>>conceive. I'm now looking into alternative therapies because my husband
>>>and I are trying to conceive and I don't want to go through surgery
>>>again. I have read many articles on acupuncture, and Chinese herbology
>>>to treat endometriosis. I just wanted to know if anyone has tried it
>>>and if so, what were the results? Do you feel any different? Able to
>>>conceive? Also, what about nutrition and endometriosis. I have read
>>>that a lot of what you eat effects your symptoms of endometriosis.
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