ENDOMETRIOSIS

Don't give up, live every day to the best of your ability and have no regrets, remember it's NOT

your fault.

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Bowel Diet Relax Medication Other Illnesses

                                                                                                                   Eczema Depression

Hello my name is Abi, and I am 22 I thought I would do this website so all the info you need is in one place I have being doing a lot of research and some things amazed me and others horrified me, through all my research I still haven't found a cure but hopefully it's just a matter of time before someone can find a cure for us. Remember you are NOT alone.

Most doctors say that on average 25 -30 year old get Endo but that is mostly when the symptoms are discovered as being endo not usually any younger but slowly that outlook is changing, but very slowly. 

Endo is a very common disease which can affect women from their first period to the menopausal women. Yes even people as young as 10 can get Endo (8-10 is normally the youngest age to start your period). There is NO CURE yet but I have things below which may help with everyday life.

Do you think you have Endometriosis here are some of the most common symptoms associated with this disease.

I have had pain for nearly 3 years now and me and my partner have suddenly figured out why all the tablets didn't work because the doctors were trying to treat my endo rather than finding if it was Endo that was causing me the pain, it was causing some but not the majority of the pain I was in. 

Check your Bowel Movement

I kept having pain in my left side and every time they sent me for an x-ray they would say that I was blocked up, anyway last time I was in hospital They gave me a drip and I felt great.

 It didn't last and not long after I had pain on my right side and they were so frightened that it could be my appendix that they hooked me up to a drip ready in case I needed and op and sent me for and x ray when I came back they told me I was so blocked up it wasn't surprising I was in so much pain.

 They gave me paracetomol for the pain and an injection of morphine and told me to go home and  get some laxatives to help me go.

I got some senokol(a herbal laxative) and I took them for 3 days.

 I eventually started to go but on the third day I had a bad stomach (diarrhoea) and was on the loo half the day, I had also being eating a lot of fruit to try and help, and to give the doctors benefit of the doubt.

But for once they seemed to be right, well they must of being because I have just had the first month when my endo has started up around my cycle rather than constant pain, so before going to doctor with pain why not get some laxatives first (make sure you read instructions carefully) or even go to the doctor and ask for some lactose then take a spoonful or two every day it will start you off slowly and you won't have a bad stomach like I did and maybe that may be causing your pain not actually the endo.

Change your diet

I also changed my diet (not drastically just small things) instead of frying bacon/sausages etc I decided to grill them i have less fried food and my stomach is a lot happier (hee hee) during your cycle try and cut down on the sugary stuff (cut down not cut out see) and cut down on your caffeine intake and red meat, try and eat oily fish such as salmon/tuna sardines etc cut down on dairy and wheat, when you are feeling a little more human gradually introduce these back into your diet and you should feel the difference.

I hate veg I hate pasta I hate rice and all that kind of stuff but it's the best thing you can eat if you have endo, so because I can't eat most of that I just be careful about what I eat. I found too much chocolate makes me moody and causes my side to twinge, too much sugar in a day (I love cups of tea but about 1 every hour is not good especially when you sometimes have 3 sugars in it) Cut down on sugar. (you got that yet) I eat lots of fruit (not too much that you cause you stomach to be upset) for example maybe after my dinner I will have a handful of grapes, if hungry in-between meals eat apple/banana if you don't want that then you aren't hungry your eating for the sake of it, yes I know you want chocolate/biscuits ice cream , why not think of them as pain making foods not so nice now huh? If you follow this simple but effective ideas you will be amazed. Some people have Soya milk instead of proper milk, they cut out wheat and things like that but I found that the above helps me. Everyone is different though.

RELAX

Yep that's relax, you do have time if not make time you have 3 kids 2 in school one isn't well make it a game.

Relax with child:

It doesn't matter how many children under school age you have make it into a game and you will be amazed as the kids relax too they will feel better and because you do as well you won't feel as stressed then it will be a happier environment. If your kids play up what have you given them to eat (see eczema and hypo activeness). 

Get everyone to lie down, maybe give the kids some towels so they can pretend they are on a beach and you lie on the bed couch etc (wherever comfy) or sit (if you lie down and your stressed you are more than likely to fall asleep) whichever you prefer. Put some relaxing music on, it can be classical or a proper relaxation tape/ cd (available in new age shops ask they are normally very helpful).

If you haven't time to do it 3 times don't worry just do it once and you will feel better. If you feel down do this and it will help I promise. (I swear by it and I suffer with depression, anxiety and panic attacks)

REMEMBER STRESS MAKES US FEEL A LOT WORSE SO RELAX RELAX RELAX!! IT'S NOT SELFISH YOU DESERVE IT AND YOU NEED IT!!

MEDICATION

Yes we all know this word all our life's have been turned upside down and outside in and topsy turvy and we are all experts on medication we could give many doctors a run for their money but still we have people around us who are unsure at treatment what they mean and how they can help so this is for you. A note though if your reading this because your doctor hasn't explained it properly to you I advise you to change your doctor especially if your not happy with him/her. But it is up to you I take no responsibility for you changing your doctors.

When you first tell your doc about the pain he/she will probably prescribe

painkillers (a few zillion of them) which some may work for you but if your like me they'll make you feel worse (oh they can help to block you up too by the way).

They may put you on the pill for sixth months without a break.

If they don't work then it will most probably be antibiotics  (which block you up worse than painkillers lovely eh?) then they will be like okay what do we do now.

They will most probably give you options such as pregnancy tabs (makes your body think your pregnant) which in America I think it's called Lupron mine were called Diemetriose/Gestrinone 2.5mgthen another which is the

Menopause injections/ nasal spray.

I think over here (UK) that laser surgery is a last option especially when you are young and you would like to have children.

Then it is a Hysterectomy, and most people have a whole one so there is no chance of the Endo returning (only in rare cases)

INFERTILITY

About 30% to 40% of women with Endo are infertile, making it one of the top three causes for infertility. But Endo related infertility can be treated successfully using hormone tablets and surgery.  Like I have mentioned before that when you have Endo it is possible that you can have adhesions which can cover the bottom of the fallopian tube and even twist the fallopian tube away from where it should be therefore resulting in infertility this can normally be corrected with laser surgery.

Apparently it is more common in sisters than if the husband/fathers side of the family have had endo the mothers side are more prone to carry on in the generations. I have an elder sister who has endo and my mum must of had it and my mums mum the terrible thing we're from a family of all girls so I have 3 younger sisters who will most probably have it too and it breaks my heart to think they may be in the pain me and my sister have suffered from.

OTHER ILLNESSES!!

UNDER ACTIVE THYROID

The Dr's have just discovered I have an under active thyroid and they only found this out because I kept becoming dizzy and sometimes felt like my blood sugar levels were down, so he sent me for blood test and it has come back today positive and apparently I have it borderline I have to have another blood test at the start of May. The reason it took the Dr's so long is because the symptoms are very very similar to endo symptoms such as

What doesn't help is the fact that I'm dyslexic (memory loss/confusion) and I have eczema (dry skin). For example my dyslexic -ness gets worse when I am stressed down (with endo you are mostly down) so I forget the daftest things so I thought that is what it was. My eczema also gets worse if I'm stressed and worried or eat the wrong thing, I did though think I was taking a long time to heal. But I am quite happy they found this out because I don't feel crazy anymore I can now turn around to people who were nagging at me to get a job (but I didn't feel well enough) that I'm not lazy there was actually something medical wrong with me.

So my advice to anyone who suspects they may have this is to check with their doctors. I had noticed I didn't have hardly (if any) get up and go anymore and I couldn't be bothered to do anything, I'm glad it wasn't all in my head.

ECZEMA AND HYPER ACTIVENESS

I suffer from both the above and my mother had many years of battling with the Dr's about the fact that the different foods could help, she got no help from them (even though now it is common knowledge it makes a difference) so she battled on regardless alone, with people disbelieving her.

The foods she cut out from my diet started with diary, milk, cheese etc then it was certain colours in food for example "E's" no that doesn't mean there is a drug in it but it might as well be, the "E's" are normally found in high coloured foods. Now if your child isn't behaving change their diet introduce fruit and gradually remove the other things and re introduce them one by one this way you will see what affects them more.  Since I have been about 14-15 I have been able to eat mostly what I want but in moderation, If I have too much chocolate in a week I know about it because I feel sluggish I have terrible moods and my hand flares up (this is the weakest part of me so it flares up here). I can't have lots of milk and If I have cheese before I go to bed I find it hard to sleep and I can sometimes have nightmares.

My mum always found that if I did have chocolate that Cadburys was the best to have but Nestle was the worst, I hope this has helped you somewhat. Hyper activeness can also mimic the ADDH disorder too which if your child is still playing up why not ask your doctor for some tests If you believe it is medical. There is no harm in asking your doctor these things.

DEPRESSION!!

Depression must be one of the worst things to suffer during your time of having endo because the moods the stress and the tearfulness does nothing to help with any of the pain. I have also got depression and I know first hand what this can do to your mind body and soul.  I have however suffered with depression most of my life I have had a lifelong battle with it so it wasn't only the Endo that brought on this last attack but believe me it didn't help.  Endo turns your life upside down especially when people don't believe anything's wrong with you. (normally only the closest people see your pain) you lose your job and people are like yeah well you just too lazy/can't be bothered there's nothing really wrong with you but that makes you worse, people can be so cruel. 

Because people can't see endo they assume you are fine so when you look a bit pasty they just say oh you'll be okay in a day or two but you and me know that that isn't the way this disease works.

The symptoms of depression are

If you believe you are depressed contact your doctor immediately don't try and cope on your own, I find it virtually impossible to pull myself out of depression when it does get hold of me, you may be different but you should contact your doctor. If your tablets aren't working go back and tell them, don't worry about wasting their time they are there for you!!

If you have anything to add to the above contact me on [email protected].