Hi. My name is Jenny Matthews and I have Endometriosis. My story with this disease began in 1995. How I believe I aquired endometriosis was through surgical transplantation. In June 1995, I had a laparscopy, a laparotomy, and right ovarian cystectomy. I had all this due to a cyst on right ovary the size of a softball. During the surgery, the DR's looked for endometriosis and could not find any.
Soon after the surgery, I began to develop pains on my left side of my abdomen. I went back to my GYN and he ordered an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed nothing. Three months after the surgery, I began to have incapacitating periods. I wound up being rushed off to the hospital, to beg whatever doctor happened to be on duty for pain killers.
After a couple of visits to the ER, I began going to different GYNs to see if they could find out what was wrong with me. Some doctors said it was in my head, one doctors thought I was abused as a child and the painful memories were manifesting in my abdomen. (Oh, please!) It took about 2 years, 3 different incorrect diagnosis'es, 6 different ultrasounds, and 10 different doctors to finally come up with a correct diagnosis.
The medical problems that I was having, combined with the work that I was doing, and the unsympathetic doctors that I was meeting got to me after a while. It all started depressing me in a major way.
One night after coming from a rough day at work-I spilled my guts to my Ex-husband. I told him that I couldn't take it anymore and something had to be done. The next day, he called my health care providers and pretty much yelled and screamed until someone listened. The next month I had surgery.
In December of 1997, I finally had a laparscopy done. It showed that I had endometriosis pretty much all over my left side of my abdomen. Aaaahhh, what a relief-to know that I was not crazy and this problem was not all in my head-it was in my abdomen!
Since I have known exactly what was wrong with me, I have been able to study Endometriosis. The internet has been one of my only helps with this disease. Most of the information that I have gotten, has been from sites like this. Most of the support that I have gotten have been from women, like myself, with their own web pages.
This theory believes that menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes, implants in the abdomen, and grows.
This theory believes that endometrial tissue is distributed from the uterus to other parts of the body via the lymph system or the blood system.
This theory believes that remnants of tissue from when the woman was an embryo may later develop into endometriosis due to the ability of the tissue to transform into reproductive tissue.
This is thought to be the cause when endometriosis is found in abdominal surgery scars.
What I believe to be the only true and correct way to diagnose Endometriosis-is by laparscopy. Most doctors would agree w/this statement. But, some insist that they "can tell" by a pelvic exam or by an ultrasound. If your Doctor tells you this, please find a more qualified doctor. A laparscopy is an easy surgery. The pain from the surgery is probably less than what a woman w/endometriosis experiences with her period every month.
Treatments that are available for endometriosis are limited. Here's a list of the current treatments available.
Usually a laparscopy is done to find endometrial implants. Destruction of endometrial growths is carried out in a variety of ways. There are varying levels of surgery from "conservative" to "radical" (a hysterectomy).
Hormonal treatments include a testosterone derivative (danzanol), GnRH agonists (like Lupron), oral contraceptives, and progesterone drugs.
Hi there all, "IIIIIII'MMMMMMBBBBAACCCKKKK..."
1999 has been heck of a year for yours truely. Got divorced, meds for endo have been changed three times, traveled all over the place, changed jobs, etc. But, through all of this-I have made it out on top. I survived the absolute hell of divorce-and I can honestly say that I am happier than I ever have been.
Well, let me tell ya about the LOVELY, different medications my genuis doctors have put me on. First, there was the progesterone pills (aygestin). The first month on these pills was really hard. I had hot flashes, ***REALLY BAD*** mood swings, weight gain, etc. After the initial month of wanting to put myself in the booby hatch, the progesterone pills worked wonders for six months. (I was taking 30 mg a day.) Then the wonders ceased; back to the pain wagon once more.
My doctor then put me on Depo Provera-ignoring the fact that I had a history of migraines that hospitalize me. Back came the migraines. Stopped the depo-provera.
Now, I am on a birth control pill called "Ortho-Cept" WOW! big change to my body. I have had minimal amounts of estrogen in my body for the past year and BANG!!!! The ortho cept is adding estrogen. Talk about mood swings; YIKES! Road rage has a new definition thanks to me. I have stopped taking the ortho cept and am going to let my body adjust naturally to producing estrogen again.
I have recently completely changed my eating habits to a "way of life" called Macrobiotics. Basically, macrobiotics is eating ONLY organic, regional food that is not refined, processed, enriched, etc. Macrobiotics is also based upon the theory of Yin and Yang. The foods in macrobiotics are in the "neutral zone"-not too much Yin or Yang.
WHY!?! have I turned into a granola-eating-tree-hugger?? Well, I am sick of being sick!!!! I am looking into alternative (low cost) ways to attack endometriosis and the OTHER lovely diseases that I have. My research concluded that the "Macrobiotic Way" is definately worth a try.
Since, I have just started eating this way-I'll let you know as I see improvements with the endo and the others diseases that I own. Take Care and God Bless you all! Remember, Jesus loves you and I do too!
"Once a Coastie Always a Coastie-right????"(The US Coast Guard's Unofficial, Official sight)
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