Raw To Live
11-18-2008, 08:47 AM
Hello everyone!
I'm looking for some advice, some personal stories, just some encouragement.
About four and a half years ago I was FINALLY diagnosed with endometriosis! I say finally because for YEARS I suffered in horrible, excrutiating pain only to be told that "All girls have some pain with their period" all the way to the pain is in my head!! I once shared with a doctor how I suffered in pain during intercourse and he told me I should go see a sex therapist to help me work out the aversion I had to my husband!!:eek: Oh, I've heard the gammut! I had pain because of the endo disease not because I had an aversion to my husband!! Finally, after about 3 years of trying to get pregnant and constant visits to a regular gynocologist, I saw a reproductive endocrinologist. When I explained my symptoms to him he said, "You have endometriosis written all over you". So, he did laproscopic surgery and discovered I had stage 3 of 4 for endo. He cauterized the endo at that time but cauterizing does NOT get rid of endo. Endo is like a cancer and it grows deep w/in your tissue. So, cauterizing just burns the top.
In May of 2006 I went in for more surgery. This time I traveled all the way to a specialist in Atlanta (I was living in the Northeast at the time) who excises the endo. Excising and Cutting as deep as is neccessary to get all of the endo out. They also took my left tube and ovary.
Still, I suffered from HORRIBLE cramps! I had been trying to get pregnant but was really getting tired of the PAIN all of the time. So, I sought out birth control pills and they have stopped the pain! They've also stopped my chances of getting pregnant but being pain free is addicting! I've been on them for over two years now.
Recently, I tried going off the birth control pills for one month and I was back to be in excruciating pain. I was miserable trying to complete a deadline at work that day and then I was out the next day. When I have cramps, all I want to do is drink HOT tea and lay in bed w/ my heating pad. Not meeting other peoples' demands.
When you're in the degree of pain that I was in, you can't hide it. It's written all over you!! It's not like trying to mask a leg ache or headache or whatever and my coworkers knew I was in pain. I also have been very forthcoming about my endo because I feel the word should be put out there as far too many women go through what I did and suffer to something that doesn't have a name to them.
So, then of course here comes the medical advice that I need to go back to the doctors. Make an appointment NOW. Boy, it was coming from all sides!! And I know they were just trying to be helpful because not too long ago I would have been "advising" people to call the doctor. . . now.
I tend to be a private person (I know you wouldn't guess that by the length of this post but I'm under the cover of anonymity ;) ) and I HATE for everyone to be up in my business so I resorted back to the birth control pills so I wouldn't have to go through that barage again.
I was ok for about two months and then all of a sudden I started getting crampy on my birth control pills. I was about a week into the pack and I started getting crampy. The thing is, I usually don't get a period at all on the birth control pills so when I started feeling crampy I felt like it was my body saying, "OK, we got to get this stuff out of here". So, I stopped taking the birthcontrol pills midweek and by Friday I was really cramping. Got my period on Saturday and was in horrible pain Saturday and Sunday. Came back to work on Monday and was deluged with more "advice". I cracked under the pressure and contacted my doctor.
I'll admit that I was surprised that immediately he wants to get me back in for surgery. I can't even say it's for the money per se. I've met my deductible for the year with chiropractic visits and they're willing to take whatever my insurance company gives. I have it in writing that I owe the doctor nothing. Now, the hospital and surgery and stay are a different story.
So, to close this Looooonnnnggg story. I don't feel comfortable at all with this idea but I'm sick of the pain and birth control pills as well. I've decided to give the raw foods diet a SINCERE try and I've been doing good for a whole two days. But, I need to decide what it is I need to do.
They say there is no cure for endometriosis. Is this one of the diseases that raw foods can't cure? They say they're going to cut nerves going from my uterus to my brain so that I won't *feel* the pain.
Let's say I don't go through with it. What am I supposed to do month after month when I'm missing time from work? I'm at work now so I really must close but I'll gladly answer any questions you may have to help me decide what I should do.
Thank you for your time.
I'm looking for some advice, some personal stories, just some encouragement.
About four and a half years ago I was FINALLY diagnosed with endometriosis! I say finally because for YEARS I suffered in horrible, excrutiating pain only to be told that "All girls have some pain with their period" all the way to the pain is in my head!! I once shared with a doctor how I suffered in pain during intercourse and he told me I should go see a sex therapist to help me work out the aversion I had to my husband!!:eek: Oh, I've heard the gammut! I had pain because of the endo disease not because I had an aversion to my husband!! Finally, after about 3 years of trying to get pregnant and constant visits to a regular gynocologist, I saw a reproductive endocrinologist. When I explained my symptoms to him he said, "You have endometriosis written all over you". So, he did laproscopic surgery and discovered I had stage 3 of 4 for endo. He cauterized the endo at that time but cauterizing does NOT get rid of endo. Endo is like a cancer and it grows deep w/in your tissue. So, cauterizing just burns the top.
In May of 2006 I went in for more surgery. This time I traveled all the way to a specialist in Atlanta (I was living in the Northeast at the time) who excises the endo. Excising and Cutting as deep as is neccessary to get all of the endo out. They also took my left tube and ovary.
Still, I suffered from HORRIBLE cramps! I had been trying to get pregnant but was really getting tired of the PAIN all of the time. So, I sought out birth control pills and they have stopped the pain! They've also stopped my chances of getting pregnant but being pain free is addicting! I've been on them for over two years now.
Recently, I tried going off the birth control pills for one month and I was back to be in excruciating pain. I was miserable trying to complete a deadline at work that day and then I was out the next day. When I have cramps, all I want to do is drink HOT tea and lay in bed w/ my heating pad. Not meeting other peoples' demands.
When you're in the degree of pain that I was in, you can't hide it. It's written all over you!! It's not like trying to mask a leg ache or headache or whatever and my coworkers knew I was in pain. I also have been very forthcoming about my endo because I feel the word should be put out there as far too many women go through what I did and suffer to something that doesn't have a name to them.
So, then of course here comes the medical advice that I need to go back to the doctors. Make an appointment NOW. Boy, it was coming from all sides!! And I know they were just trying to be helpful because not too long ago I would have been "advising" people to call the doctor. . . now.
I tend to be a private person (I know you wouldn't guess that by the length of this post but I'm under the cover of anonymity ;) ) and I HATE for everyone to be up in my business so I resorted back to the birth control pills so I wouldn't have to go through that barage again.
I was ok for about two months and then all of a sudden I started getting crampy on my birth control pills. I was about a week into the pack and I started getting crampy. The thing is, I usually don't get a period at all on the birth control pills so when I started feeling crampy I felt like it was my body saying, "OK, we got to get this stuff out of here". So, I stopped taking the birthcontrol pills midweek and by Friday I was really cramping. Got my period on Saturday and was in horrible pain Saturday and Sunday. Came back to work on Monday and was deluged with more "advice". I cracked under the pressure and contacted my doctor.
I'll admit that I was surprised that immediately he wants to get me back in for surgery. I can't even say it's for the money per se. I've met my deductible for the year with chiropractic visits and they're willing to take whatever my insurance company gives. I have it in writing that I owe the doctor nothing. Now, the hospital and surgery and stay are a different story.
So, to close this Looooonnnnggg story. I don't feel comfortable at all with this idea but I'm sick of the pain and birth control pills as well. I've decided to give the raw foods diet a SINCERE try and I've been doing good for a whole two days. But, I need to decide what it is I need to do.
They say there is no cure for endometriosis. Is this one of the diseases that raw foods can't cure? They say they're going to cut nerves going from my uterus to my brain so that I won't *feel* the pain.
Let's say I don't go through with it. What am I supposed to do month after month when I'm missing time from work? I'm at work now so I really must close but I'll gladly answer any questions you may have to help me decide what I should do.
Thank you for your time.