Gynaecological woes

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cat	20 May 2002
Returning again to the subject of the monthly cycle, i could do with some help. I'm currently not in the land of the happy uterus, as I have endometreosis, which means a week of severe pain every month. I'm on very strong prescription painkillers, but they leave me too zonked to do anything more productive than watching The Bear In The Big Blue House. Does anyone of information on natural remedies for cramping? Blessings, C

Butterfly	20 May 2002
Harking back to my uni biology years, muscle cramps are often caused by lack of magnesium. Try taking magnesium tissue salt (not the mineral, the tissue salt!). Available from any chemist and really cheap. You can take them daily for chronic situations, or for an acute one every half hour. These did wonders for my migraines which are occasionally caused by my forehead muscles cramping. They may work for these types of cramps. For the $4 they cost, it's worth a try!

Phoenix	20 May 2002
No offence Cat, but I am glad that I am not female(now, all you females out there, don't go throwing things at me, I have a lot of respect for you!!). Maybe you can try alternative healing like reiki?? Or crystal healing?? I'll go take a look at my crystal book. Hope you feel better!

slinky_jo	20 May 2002
Hey Cat - I also have "endo" - and my real name is shortened to "Cat" too! :D Yes, I know that painkillers don't work. I was taking "Panadeine" for a while - codeine was one of the ingredients. I couldn't do anything but roll around in bed, really stoned and still in pain. I would thump my stomach because I hated it. The only thing that helped slightly was a hot water bottle and drug-induced sleep. I lost several jobs because of too much "sick leave"... I remember my boyf taking me to the hospital, because I couldn't walk from the pain. I lay in a hospital bed for four hours before a Dr looked at me, and he gave me ASPRIN. He discharged me without doing any tests (what if I had a ectopic pregnancy? I shudder to think...). I endured the pain and the contempt of male Dr's for over ten years before I got REALLY mad - I knew something was wrong with me, and it wasn't in my head! Actually it was my Mum who decided that I should see a gynaecologist. It was expensive, but worth it. I had a laparoscopy (short op under anaesthetic) and it confirmed that I had endo - it was all over the place - my abdomen wall, my bowel, my ovaries, my uterus. It was a mess! But you know what? I was GLAD! There was a reason for all my pain and suffering! And it had a name, and there were drugs to help treat it!! I was put on a male hormone drug for six months called "DIMETRIOSE", which basically gave me a early menopause ( I was 22!), and stopped my periods for 6 months - I felt great (NO PAIN!), although I felt very "manish" - sweaty and horny and hairy!!! LOL After that treatment, my gyno put me on the Pill - and I was told to never to take those nasty lil sugar pills that let you have a period! So I never have one - no pain, no heavy bleeding, etc. If I see a little spotting, I let myself off the Pill and have a little mini-period - and there is no pain. I feel almost normal! So, basically, to sum up this very LONG story - Don't feel like you have no voice, don't make yourself a victim - that's what the Dr's want, for you to shut up and put up! Go to a female gyno and tell her - DEMAND - that you want something done! It is expensive, but it's your health, your body, and your pain. You can live without it!! Blessed be! PS - PM me if you need more support, advice, whatever!! :)

jade	20 May 2002
a tincture of cramp bark. works amazingly wonderful. not only does it remove cramps from your moontime but it also slows down your flow if you bleed really really heavy. :) love jade ps get it at health food stores and very inexpensive.

cricket	20 May 2002
You might also try iron supplements. But yes, do, do, DO go to the gyno. I've had a few problems due to a few things that happened when I was young (this being one of them) and they've gotten me pretty much straightened out.

Faerie Lin	21 May 2002
I also get really bad cramps, but I haven't been diagnosed with anything, I know my mom and one of my older sisters had really bad cramps before they started having children. I had my first child almost 4 months ago and have had 3 periods since then. First 2 were the usual pain (awful cramping, stiff achy muscles in my legs, knees, thighs, sometimes even my hands and feet start throbbing with pain, as if the pain wants to spread out more, but I only have so much body to me.) I usually start cramping a few days before I start then gets stronger and lasts until like the 3rd period day. But this period, my 3rd one since the baby, It was a total surprise that I got it (I usually don't keep track of it 'cause the pain is my period indicator). But I'm HOPING and PRAYING that my pain is no more, this is like the best period I have had ever. Yes, I DID have pain, but it wasn't ANYTHING compared to the ones before and it only lasted a day. I can truthfully say, that my menstrual cramps were almost up there right along with my labor pains. (Which I handled quite well I must say, which I think is because I sorta new the pain that can be involved with the uterus) But I may be speaking too soon and have alot of pain when I get my period again :( . I want to get on birthcontrol (mainly to help with menstrual cramps) but I don't take well to hormones, I am a moody, easily irritated person usually. So I am gonna try that cramp bark!!!!! and also that magnesium!!!! Lin

Bings	21 May 2002
I was diagnosed with endometreosis about 4 years ago. The pains first started as little sharp pains low in my side. Then over a few years progressed to being constant. Not just when I had my period. There would only be a few days a month when I wasn't in pain. And the pain during sex was awful. I finally couldn't take it any longer and went to a gynaecologist and was diagnosed with endometreosis. I had a laparoscopy and lazer surgery to clean up the build up of endometreosis around my ovaries and uterus. Once I recovered from the surgery it was an instant end to the pain. I went from being in pain almost daily to living a normal life again almost overnight. There are some doctors who just give you pain pills and nothing more. If that is all your doctor is willing to do for you then you should get a second oppinion. There are other options. Dianne

Cat	21 May 2002
Thank You all. I'm on the waiting list for a laparoscopy - but I've just heard that my female (and really lovely) gynaecologist (who always admires my socks - nothing like Bert and Ernie socks to help you maintain your dignity during a Pap smear...) has had a nervous breakdown, induced by overwork....So I have to try and find another. While this will give a formal diagnosis, it's not much immediate use, they won't give me laser surgery until I turn 25 - at which stage they will consider my reproductive system sufficiently mature........f***ing male capitalist establishment trying to take over my womb.......:) So for now, It's a case fo grin and bear til I can find a new gynae (and get an appointment - should I plead emergency to get bumped up the waiting list?). But I'm definately going to give some of the suggestions a go. Blessings, C.

amyel	23 May 2002
Cat, I have also been just recently diagnosed with endo, and had a lapro with laser removal of the bad bits. My story is similar to Slinky_Jo's & Bings. I started having dull, lower ab pain about 10 years ago. Nothing as bad to keep me from work, but it just never went away. Then I started having trouble with my colon, etc, and my family doc sent me for really icky tests (just trust me on this) thinking I had Crohns diseses, but that came up clear, so he figured I must have colitis. Due to alot of other things, I was also told I was most likely infertile, and certainly, this seemed to be the case. For 8 years, I have lived under the impression I had colitis. I moved to another province & found anough doc. I got married. And then trouble really started up! After 3 years of complaining & having this doc. tell me to "get pregnant", I finally told him that sex was now so painful I could not have it at all and I feared my husband would divorce me. *Then* the idiot took notice. He sent me to two specialists; one a very well respected female gyno & one a very well respected sexual dsfynction pyschiatrist. The psych was convinced that "part" of the problem was that I was underproducing testerone. He also agreed with the gyno that I very likely had endo. Both turned out to be the case. So I started hormone treatments and within the first three injections, I was like a new woman! Now, with the lapro done and the offending bits vaporized, I am well on the road to recovery. What the pyschiatrist told me was that very little research has been done on exactly how a woman's hormonal system actually depends on male hormones to balance themselves out; that a lack of them actually cause women to become more agressive, because estrogen needs to be balanced by testerone, and that it is the ovaries which regulate your hormone balance. So, if the endo is attached to one of your ovaries - which is very common - then not only are you in pain, but your hormones are likely unbalanced. All this to say, Cat, if they will not do a lapro on you know, that maybe some hormone testing is in order. As Slinky & now I have pointed out, it made a big improvement, even temporarily. Finally, check out the endometriosis society web page: www.endometriosisassn.org This site is filled with info. Some of it may surprise you. It did me. Good luck & let us know how you are doing!

The Gynaecological woes thread was originally posted on 20 May 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.