I was diagnosed with Endometriosis about 15-years-ago. At that time, I had 3 surgies because of it. I have been OK - with the exception of painful cycles.

I stopped getting my period in July then it came about 2 weeks ago with pain that wouldn't go away even after my period ended. I contributed it to the endometriosis.

Is there anything I can do for the pain? Years ago when it was bad I used to take Advil all the time - it helped with the pain but I no longer want these chemicals in my body.

Thanks!!!

I don't have any advice, but can relate. I don't get periods (last one was well over a year ago) and I am supposed to have progesterone pills for 10 days to bring one on. I keep putting it off as I don't like to pump my body with artificial hormone, but I know I need to shred the lining.

I used to get very bad period pains, sometimes so bad I could hardly walk. I found that a glass of warm water helped. I don't know why.

Hi Lynn,

I know we talked on the telephone, but I thought I would go ahead and share the suggestions I gave you with everyone one the forum.

I don't have a lot of research specifically on endometriosis. However, I have found where Blue Cohosh has been used for this problem, along with many other related health issues. Blue Cohosh contains magnesium, which helps to relax uterine muscle and relieve the pain and cramping associated with various menstrual conditions and even childbirth.

I would also suggest trying extra magnesium itself. According to Dr. Cutler's book Amalgam Illness, mercury interferes with the body's ability to utilize magnesium. Therefore, people experience a lot of problems related to magnesium deficiency, such as cramps, muscle twitches, muscle pain, back aches, headaches, even heart problems. I personally use Magnesium Complex because it contains two forms of highly absorbable magnesium. I've even opened the capsules and put the contents under my tongue to absorb it faster. I've definitely noticed a difference when I take extra magnesium...I sleep better, I don't wake up stiff or sore, I can work on the computer all day without getting stiff or sore shoulder and neck muscles, etc.

Hi

According to the surgeon who operated me, I had really bad endometrioses. Not wanting to go through another surgery, nor take the strong hormones post-operation, I reasearched and experimented everything possible. I also had bad period pain, which would make me bed-ridden at least the whole first day...

Here's what I found:

- Wheat.....100% bad for endometrioses. Switched to spelt flour instead.
- Zinc and B6 supplements during the second half of the cycle to raise progesterone levels naturally (which prevents endo.).
- Enzymes (bromelain/papaya) inbetween meals to digest the misplaced endometrioses in the womb and heal inflammation.
- No sugar, red meat or milk products to reduce inflammation (and period pain).
- A high dose B-vitamin supplement throughout the cycle, but especially important to take during and two days before period. B-vits. break down oestrogen (which is in excess with endo. prob.), and this supplement also minimizes blood loss. This is crucial to prevent endo from occuring in the first place.
- Take no vitamins/minerals, except the B-vits two days before and during period. We are extremely sensitive to supplements and various food such as the meat and milk. Best to keep the body clean of anything artificial around that time.

Hope this helps some...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ann

A woman named Julia Chang tells her story of endometriosis on her site www.sensiblehealth.com Very interesting indeed.

Lynn,

Have you done a castor oil pack before? Those helped me tremendously, esp when I got the chocolate cysts and they burst (blood in the abdomen is like acid and there is a lot of pain related to this). I added EO's that help with pain.

Also, the hydrotherapy helped me a great deal.

Ummm, what else (I am at work and do not have my notes).

What I call mud baths. A type of peat that comes in 1 litre tubes. I started these baths with 1/2 liter in 1st bath and then followed iwth an additional 21 more baths (every other day) with 6 oz of of the peat in the bath. I also would heat some of this stuff up and wrap in wool and place over abdominal area, covered with more wool, and reheat as needed.

If you want me to elaborate on any of the above, please let me know and I will.

It was very difficult getting off the pain medications. I commend you for doing so, I know it is not easy and when you are in pain, you just want some relief. I hope you find what will help you out.

My endo was mostly inoperable due to it's location.

Another thing, my chiro did this specific adjustment on my uterus. All I remember is the pain and that it would increase/correct blood flow in that area. It did hurt, BUT, after the adjustment, I was painfree for the first time in months and I was not taking any meds. My chiro has other degrees/certificates other than a DC and he does very little manual adjustments.

Lynn,
My sister was like you as she was in tons of pain each month and her Dr. did a D and C and when that didn't help she wanted to put her on the pill. I finally got her to agree to try progesterone cream before letting her Dr. do surgery. She has been very happy with the results and no longer talks of surgery and her Dr. was happy about it too.

I agree with Ann that Wheat is 100% bad for endometriosis! The biggest change by far that I've noticed since going wheat and gluten-free has been with my periods. I don't know if this will work for everyone, or if you have to be gluten-intolerant. But it's taken less than three months for me to see a big difference.

I had painful and rather heavy periods as a teen, and by the time I was 19 I started missing periods for years at a time. In recent years they have been very, very heavy and painful. So much so that it actually frightened me, and I'm not easily frightened after dealing with so many health crises for decades. (Ya'll probably know what I mean. You feel like you're living at death's doorstep much of the time as it is).

I started using progesterone cream about six years ago, which helped quite a bit. The last few years things started getting out of hand, though. When I'd mention to my doctor how heavy my periods were getting he'd just say "that's your PCOS." I'd tried birth control pills in the past, but couldn't tolerate them at all. I'd get severe migraines within days of starting.

Just over a month after going gluten-free my period was much easier. Only one day with a lot of pain (and I think that was because I got overwrought about something). My last period I didn't even have enough pain to need an ibuprofen, when earlier this year I was having to take Vicodin a few days in a row, multiple times a day, just to be able to bear the worst of it! And I try to be stingy with painkillers because I don't want to get addicted.

Also my periods were getting longer and longer, 10 days to 2 weeks. The last one lasted only a week though, and was not even half as heavy as before. The change is so dramatic I half expect it not to last! Especially since I'm sure my hormonal problems are a result of mercury poisoning, both which I've had for decades. I feel extremely lucky that I was able to find a solution that helps as much as it does before I even get my amalgams out (which may play havoc with things all over again, who knows?) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

P.S. LynnR -- My pain lasted probably a week after my period too. I wasn't having much pain right before though, and the first couple days would be pretty easy...so I'd think "maybe this period isn't going to be so bad." Then it would really kick in on about the 3rd day. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I've read that a dairy and gluten-free diet has been successful in helping children with autism. I heard further that mercury interfers with the body's natural responses to caseinate in the milk and gluten.

I'm going to try a gluten free diet and see what happens.

That's great, Demi! It's a difficult transition at first but I've gotten pretty used to it already.

Yes, there seems to be some kind of unholy trinity between autism/gluten-intolerance/mercury poisoning. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I thought I read that you were vegan. My favorite cookbook since going gluten-free (and even before) is La Dolce Vegan by Sarah Kramer. There are dozens of soup recipes that are especially useful and already gluten-free. My mainstays now are soups/stews, pasta or rice dishes and green salads. I eat a lot of cole slaw, potato salad, and sweet potato fries as sides.

Plus, I *have* to eat pizza at least a couple times a week so I use the yeast-free pizza crust out of that book often. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There's a gluten-free flour mix you can make on your own from Bette Hagman's gluten-free cookbooks that works as a substitute for white flour. I think it works the best, and is the cheapest with easiest to find ingredients.

6 cups brown rice flour (or mixture of white and brown rice)
2 cups potato starch or corn starch
1 cup tapioca flour
2 1/2 tsp. guar gum added to it will keep baked goods from getting crumbly.

I bake a lot of cakes, cookies, muffins, pancakes, and biscuits with it and it works great for everything. Maybe once I get my amalgams out my sweet tooth will decrease. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Soaper Girl,

Are you able to explain castor oil packs for endometriosis? How is this done? What exactly happens to eleviate the pain?
Thanks,


Chloe

Thanks Linda! I'm going to try and bake my own bread - should be interesting as I'm not a very good cook <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am an "aspiring" vegan, lol. I'm afraid chocolate is my weakness, but I no longer drink milk and rarely have cheese. I'm trying to plan out a diet for myself that meets all nutritious requirements - and then to keep to it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes, my sweet tooth dropped to a small fraction of what it was before my amalgams were out.