20

Mar

Use of Alternative Medicine To Treat Endometriosis

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Use of Alternative Medicine To Treat Endometriosis

There are alternatives to treating the symptoms of Endometriosis, in addition to, or in place of, pain medication and/or surgery. These alternatives may help you find temporary relief from the symptoms of endometriosis:

  • Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage
  • Chiropractic
  • Acupressure
  • Yoga
  • Qigong
  • Progressive Relaxation
  • Dietary Modification
  • Chi Nei Tsang
  • The Alexander Technique

NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list. These alternatives do not cure endometriosis. There is no cure for endometriosis.

Short explanations of these types of alternative medicine are found at:
https://www.livingwithendometriosis.org/alternative-medicine/

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19

Mar

Endometriosis Stages

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Endometriosis Stages

During pelvic laparoscopy, based upon how much of, and what sort of Endometriosis the surgeon finds, the Endometriosis will be staged.

The stages of Endometriosis were developed in 1974 by G.W. Mitchell and M. Farber, who based their staging system off of what was already in use at that time to stage gynecologic cancers. The stages have undergone revisions over the years.

The current stages of Endometriosis are:
Stage I – Minimal – Few superficial implants
Stage II – Mild – Several implants which are deeper
Stage III – Moderate – Implants, cysts on ovaries, adhesions
Stage IV – Severe – Many implants, large cysts & adhesions

NOTE: The current staging system does not correlate to symptoms or pain levels.
Some people with Stage I Endometriosis can be in debilitating pain, while some who are Stage IV may experience no pain or symptoms at all.

For more info, see:
Classification/staging systems for endometriosis: the state of the art
https://gremjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/03_Petraglia.pdf

Endometriosis classification, staging and reporting systems: a review on the road to a universally accepted endometriosis classification
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8530712/

Endometriosis Stages: Understanding the Different Stages of Endometriosis
https://www.endofound.org/stages-of-endometriosis

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18

Mar

The Most-Often Doctor-Recommended Treatments For Endometriosis

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The Most-Often Doctor-Recommended Treatments For Endometriosis

* Hormonal Suppression
* GnRH Agonists
* Pelvic Laparoscopy
* Hysterectomy

Hormonal Suppression may take the form of birth control, progestin-only pills, IUD with progestin, Danazol, Depo-Provera, etc.

GnRH Agonists may take the form of Lupron, Zoladex, Orilissa, etc.

Pelvic Laparoscopy may consist of ablation, excision or a combination of the two.

Hysterectomy may be Supracervical, Total or Radical.

NOTE: These treatments DO NOT cure endometriosis. There is no cure for endometriosis.

While I personally have very strong opinions against most of the treatments above (except for excision surgery), others have found one or more of these treatment options very helpful. It is highly recommended that you do as much research into all of these options as possible, taking note of your personal health and any propensity toward side effects from these treatments.

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17

Mar

Fact or Myth? Children and Teenagers are too young to have endometriosis

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Fact or Myth? Children and Teenagers are too young to have endometriosis

MYTH!
Endometriosis is an autoimmune disease that one is born with. Therefore, the symptoms and pain of Endometriosis can begin at any time in one’s life. It’s not just tied to menses.

Children and young teens may experience endometriosis before onset of menses in the form of:

  • Urinary Tract Infections.
  • Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (yeast infections).
  • Diarrhea or constipation outside of what’s considered ‘normal’.

Endometriosis.org writes, “Unfortunately, this belief is a carry-over from earlier times”, and “Far too many doctors still believe that endometriosis is rare in teenagers and young women.”
See https://endometriosis.org/resources/articles/myths/ for more detail on this and other myths.

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15

Mar

Types of Endometriosis

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Types of Endometriosis

* Superficial Peritoneal Endometriosis (SPE)
Endometriosis which forms on the pelvic peritoneum (a super thin membrane of tissue which lines the pelvic cavity and the organs in the abdomen).

* Ovarian Endometrioma (OMA)
Endometriosis which forms as a cyst on or in one or both ovaries.

* Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE)
Endometriosis which forms on or in the rectovaginal fascia, on or in the bladder and on or in the bowels.

* Extrapelvic Endometriosis
Endometriosis which is found outside of the pelvic region, such as in the lungs or in the brain.
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14

Mar

Is Endometriosis a rare disease?

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“Is Endometriosis a rare disease?”

No, Endometriosis is not rare.

In fact, there is a saying in the Endometriosis community:
“Endometriosis is the most common disease you’ve never heard of”.

According to the World Health Organization, “Endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million)” people around the world, and “is a chronic disease associated with severe, life-impacting pain.”

Many people do not know what Endometriosis is, and/or assume it’s a rare condition, likely because it’s still taboo even in the 21st Century to speak up about menstrual and reproductive health issues. This in turn leads to less funding for research on Endometriosis.

World Health Organization source:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis

See also: “Endometriosis: Why is there so little research?”
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/endometriosis-why-is-there-so-little-research

See also: “How long does it take from the time Endometriosis is suspected to the time it is officially diagnosed?”
https://www.livingwithendometriosis.org/2024/03/11/how-long-does-it-take-from-the-time-endometriosis-is-suspected-to-the-time-it-is-officially-diagnosed/

See also: “Time for global health policy and research leaders to prioritize endometriosis”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10696045/

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13

Mar

I heard that some people have had dozens of surgeries, but are still in terrible pain. Why?

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I heard that some people have had dozens of surgeries, but are still in terrible pain. Why?

Regardless of whether a person has had ablation surgery, excision
surgery or a combination of the two, Endometriosis is really difficult
to remove.

Endometriosis can:
* hide between the folds of the super thin tissue surrounding the organs.
* be deeply embedded to the point where excising the entire lesion may
not be possible or safe for the patient.
* take on a ‘gunpowder’ or ‘splattergun’ look – where it’s just tiny specks
all over the place, and is too much to remove.

In Addition:
* Surgery itself leads to internal scarring, which can produce
more adhesions and pain.
* Endometriosis continues to form new lesions, so further surgeries
may, for some, be necessary.
* Some folks may also need pelvic floor physical therapy and other
treatments if there is pudendal neuralgia.
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12

Mar

What does Endometriosis look like?

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What does Endometriosis look like?

Endometriosis is currently only diagnosed via pelvic laparoscopy, and during the surgery, the surgeon must know the wardrobe of Endometriosis, which can be dressed as:

* Black, blue, brown, reddish-brown, red or white lesions, which can be shiny or dull, raised or flat.

* Oozy-bloody masses or cysts.

* Sticky stringy structures.
Picture stepping in gum on the street, and trying to pull your shoe away from it. These are called adhesions, and they can stick one’s organs together, pull organs out of place, and strangle organs.
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11

Mar

How long does it take from the time Endometriosis is suspected to the time it is officially diagnosed?

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How long does it take from the time Endometriosis is suspected to the time it is officially diagnosed?

It can take anywhere from 4 – 11 years on average (sometimes less, sometimes more) for a person to get diagnosed with Endometriosis.

There are many reasons for this:

  • Sexism
  • Classism
  • Racism
  • Patriarchal / Religious / Societal taboos which continue to shame people for talking about reproductive pain and related health issues
  • Health Inequity related to all of the above

Stay strong and keep demanding humane care and treatment. I know it’s exhausting.
It took me 11 years to get diagnosed, too. 🙁

(See also: “Time for global health policy and research leaders to prioritize endometriosis”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10696045/ )

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10

Mar

If someone suspects they have Endometriosis, what can they do to get diagnosed?

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If someone suspects they have Endometriosis, what can they do to get diagnosed?

* Keep a log of menstrual cycles and track symptoms and pain triggers.

* If possible, interview siblings, parents, cousins, parents’ siblings and grandparents about any similar symptoms and pain, and what, if anything they did to relieve it.

* See a doctor to put the health concerns on record, then a GYN to further record concerns, and then advocate for a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist GYN and/or Endometriosis specialist.

* It needs to be said again: advocate! There is a huge issue with health inequity in every part of the world. It’s totally unfair that so many of us have to literally beg for timely and humane health care.
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