Need Advice on Dietary or Alternative Treatments for Endometriosis

Dear L.,
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I suffered for so many years.
I didn't start my period until I was 15 and it was all down hill from there. And not in a good way. I was in so much pain that I could barely walk and my mother was not at all understanding about it. She never had a cramp in her life, my little sister started before me and never had a cramp. My mother thought I was being completely and unnecessarily dramatic. There was zero sympathy there. She found out the hard way what a mess I was inside when I landed in the hospital at 19 and had to give permission for them to do a hysterectomy. Thankfully they were able to spare my uterus, part of an ovary and a poor spindly little tube, but my troubles were far from over. I had so many surgeries, I've literally lost count, but I wanted a baby so badly. Believe it or not, I got two! A year after my last baby was born, I was back in the hospital and my doctor said, "That's it. I can't let you go like this any longer".
I had tried every tea, every herb, every tincture, I had tried birth control pills, I had the endo spots burned off. Nothing worked for me. But, I have to say that after my hysterectomy, I felt so great that I was up and dressed and went to the grocery store with my mom 2 days after getting home from the hospital. It changed my life. I was 34.
I'm so glad I have my children, don't get me wrong, but I have said that if I'd known that one procedure would have ended all the pain, I'd have done it years before when they wanted to.
I know you don't want surgery, but laparoscopies aren't that bad. I've had them numerous times and really it's the only way to take a look and see what's going on inside so you know exactly what you're dealing with.
You're doctors may be pretty sure it's endometriosis, but they can't make a definitive diagnosis without looking. Take it from me, endometriosis can be very mild and cause severe pain, or you can be completely covered with it and not realize how bad it is. And, it can attach itself to other organs. It's my opinion, because of my own history, that the pain you're describing to the point you can barely take care of your kids means it's time to assess the situation and go from there.
I see you've received other responses and I just hope that something suggested can help you because I so understand the misery of hurting that badly. I do really feel for you.

Oh...P.S.
My mom called me one day to ask my advice. She, of all people, had started having terrible pain with her periods and excessive bleeding. She said she had tried to ignore it because she just thought it was menopause but she hurt so bad she couldn't stand up and she didn't know what to do. I said, "What you're going to do is go straight to the doctor". Her little butt got chucked in the hospital. She had 14 uterine fibroids.

Definitely try other remedies and see if they help, but don't put off letting someone make sure exactly what's causing your pain.

I wish you the very best. Please let us know what happens.

I'm sorry you're experiencing all this pain. My recommendation for alternative therapy would be an acupuncturist who either specializes or is well versed with female ailments. I had endometriosis in my early twenties and went to Dr. Lifang Liang in San Francisco - http://www.lifangliang.com She is known for her fertility treatments (and endometriosis often affects a women's fertility). She had me on an herbal medicine regiment as well as acupunture visits. She was wonderful! I know she's a bit far from you but you might be able to find a reputable practitioner nearby. The thing that is great about Dr. Liang is that she is also schooled in Western medicine. Not sure if she's licensed to practice in the USA, but it it's good to know she has that knowledge and background too. I saw her over 15 years ago...so her credentials may have changed. I did refer my friend's teenage daughter to her for other hormone imbalance treatments and they had great results too. That was just a couple years ago.

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

~K.

While alternate medicines are great to pursue, it helps to have an accurate diagnosis. You could have fibroids that are causing heavy periods and pain. Too much blood loss may lead to anemia and with less oxygen-carrying capacity, everyone feels very tired. The laproscopic is not too bad - the worst is the pain from the gases in the body being absorbed, but this only lasts a day or two. At least you would know what you are dealing with. As for general nutrition, foods that help boost iron will help with fatigue.

Hi L.
I work with a nutritionist in Danville and she runs a program called a 28 day detox. This program will take you through eliminating bad foods from your diet, detoxify your system and teach you how to eat for good health. While there are no guarantees it will "cure" your situation, we have many testimonials from people who have gone through the program and are now pain free from many different ailment. I have experienced this first hand with pain from a car accident over a year ago and now I am pain free...just by cleansing my system and learning how to eat a healthy diet (I thought I was before, but leanred so much with this program).

There is a Free informational call this week, Thurs. 8/5 if you are interested in more information. The classes start the 2nd week of Aug...Tues 8/11 or Thurs. 8/13, or if you live too far from Danville there is and Teleconference class that starts on Wed. 8/12. The class is 28 days and meets once per week for 4 weeks either live in Danville or on the Teleconference.

There is no obligation if you want to join the Free Q&A call on Thurs. 8/5 to get more information. Please let me kn ow if you would like more information, and I am happy to provide you with the call in numbers and more information.

Good luck
C.

Years ago, I had severe endometriosis... I had pain 3 weeks out of the month for a long time. I would go to work and an hour later, have to go home. The last straw was ER and a shot of Demerol and then finally, my doc went in and did exploratory surgery and said it was the worse case he had ever seen... I woke up without a uterus, tube and ovary and I have to say, I have been pain-free since and it has been wonderful.

If you have all the kids you want, get the surgery... it is well worthwhile. When I had it, I took Motrin which did nothing... the only thing that worked for me back then was mj... which I don't suggest.

I take a supplement that supports hormone balance. It's made a huge difference for me in a LOT of areas. I buy it from a nutritionist in the Roseville area.
There is definitely hope. I sent my friend there too recently. She had been dealing with unspeakable pain and found relief in a matter of weeks.
Good luck!

L.,
you are so on the right track. Another thing you may want to try is to stop using plastics as much as possible. That sounds crazy right, but if you can only pick one thing, stop using plastics in the microwave because when plastics degrade (which happens in the temperature change) the chemical they emit is like a false estrogen. But the body doesn't know any different, so it causes the body to have estrogen responses. Thus, we have an increase in endometriosis, breasts on men, more dramatic menstrual cycles, etc,

You can also get some things that are natural that can be rubbed over your skin that will reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing.

Good luck.

Hi L.,

It must be frustrating for you to be in so much pain and not be able to do the things you want to do.

There are natural ways to get your body balanced. If you are interested in learning more let me know.

Have a good day.

N. Marie
____@____.com

Dear L.,

I've worked with Dr Susan Lark. She's awesome when it comes to women- Her website is www.DrLark.com She has many books that help with this! You can google her and find her books on heavy menstrual, diet and exercise. She helped me with my woman issues- and it's amazing how taking supplements can help.

I have all her books and get her newsletter.

All the best to you!
C.
Miracle Nanny

Metal Toxicity can be a root cause to severe periods, as can Candida. (Metal Toxicity and Candida sort of go hand in hand I might add.) I would check into seeing a Naturopath who could help you. I was recently very sick - it had reached a height after a few years of being off and on sick. Docs had me on tons of meds, but my condition would not improve. I, too, had very painful periods. I went to a Naturopath - I feel great -I'm off all meds- but I am still metal toxic. We will be working on that as soon as my adrenals are better. The Naturopath, honestly probably saved my life, as I was on meds with a black box warning about dying with the meds on was on. She made all the difference in the world. Tanya Fleck in Santa Cruz is who helped me and she was wonderful. HTH. -oh, and btw -to get metal toxic is very easy -all immunizations and 4 amalgams is all it takes, but there are other ways to get toxic too. After what I know now, I never want to be under the "care" of a doctor again -as they are killing us!

Hi! Have you tried the Eat Right for Your Blood Type book. See the website www.dadamo.com. You should get off ibuprofen as soon as you can. I was taking tylenol and NSAIDs for my menstrual cramps for many years and I have a whole host of other medical problems (weak digestive, hormones, thyroid, adrenals, allergies) now even though I stopped taking those 4 years ago. My problems improved and the menstrual cramps stopped after I went on the new diet. I found out about Eat Right 4 Your Type only recently and was surprised at how closely the recommended diet mirrors my current diet.