Re: accupuncture for Endometriosis
From: Laurie (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed Jan 4 15:29:55 2006
Hi Toni,
I just wanted to add that although I'm 28 and just diagnosed and not yet
ready for kids, I do fear that in a few years I may be in your shoes.
In the few weeks since my diagnosis I've been reading everything I can
find.. one of the books that im reading now that was suggested by the
Endometriosis Association is " Endometriosis A Key to Healing and
Fertility Through Nutrition" by Dian Shepperson Mills MA & Michael
Vernon PhD.
I'm using the book for ideas on preserving my fertility to the best of
my ability, but I think it would be very useful for someone in your
position as well.
Think positive, I can relate to your confusion and I feel for you.
Keep well, All the best
Laurie
At Wed, 4 Jan 2006, Alyson wrote:
>
>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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