Endometriosis Laparoscopic Surgery

Endometriosis Laparoscopic Surgery

Endometriosis Symptoms and Treatment

Endometriosis is a dangerous disease experienced by many women. The symptoms vary from woman to woman, but some common ones are painful, heavy, or irregular periods, fatigue, vomiting, stomach problems, infertility, and pelvic pain.

The most common symptom is pelvic pain. Many women ignore this pain because they think it is simply period pain. This pain usually appears around the normal time of the period, which makes it more difficult to notice. Another problem is the fact that some women actually don’t feel this pain at all. Only those that feel this pelvic pain at a time other than the normal period notice it and go to a doctor. The disease sometimes causes pain during sexual intercourse, most of the times before and after a period. Endometriosis can cause swelling of the lower abdomen and bloody stool during the period or when going to the toilet.

This disease can be treated in several different ways, depending on the level it reached. Pain management and surgery are two of the most common treatments. Pharmaceutical treatments include hormonal treatment using GnRH agonists and danazol (drugs that can cause chemical menopause) and birth control pills that shrink endometriosis lesions by stopping ovulation. Unfortunately, the disease can recur after patients stop using hormone therapy.

The most common method of treatment is laparoscopic surgery. The foreign tissue can be removed and organs that may be damaged can be reconstructed and this method can also solve the problem of infertility. In some more severe cases a laparotomy can be used and in even fewer, more serious cases, a hysterectomy may be required. This involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries and leads to surgical menopause. It is very important that women understand what surgery treatments involve before choosing what to do.

Other treatments that have worked include nerve blocks, acupuncture, herbal remedies, aromatherapy, dietary modifications, vitamins, immunotherapy, and others. It is vital to be cautious and informed before deciding what to do.ems, infertility, and pelvic pain.

by Josh Riverside

Endometriosis and Hysterectomy

Are There Any Side Effects of a Hysterectomy?

It’s a logical and frequently asked question - are there any hysterectomy side effects?

Absolutely!

Hysterectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the vital organ called the uterus. Most hysterectomies are performed on women between the ages of 20 and 49. In the United States, the rate of hysterectomy is higher among African-American women and is higher in the Southern states. There are 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States every year.

There are two types of hysterectomy, the partial hysterectomy and the total hysterectomy. In a partial hysterectomy, the uterus is removed and the ovaries are left in place. In most cases, because the circulation of blood to the ovaries is diminished, the ovarian function will cease all together, although it’s unknown why this happens. In a total hysterectomy or "surgical menopause", the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed which results in the interruption of the ovarian hormone production.

After the surgical procedure called hysterectomy, since hormone production has been altered, a woman may experience one or more of the following side effects:

• Anxiety
• Depression, mood swings
• Dizziness and nervousness
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Joint pain
• Low sex drive, painful sexual intercourse
• Memory lapses
• Unexplained weight gain
• Urinary incontinence
• Vaginal dryness

Women who have had a hysterectomy are at increased risk for developing heart disease, arthritis and osteoporosis.

There are medical conditions for which hysterectomy may be needed, especially if malignant cancer is involved. However, many hysterectomies are used to remove fibroids and to treat other related conditions. For these kinds of conditions, hysterectomy may be not needed, but women may not know of effective less radical and alternative treatments that should be considered and discussed with their physician. And women are frequently mistakenly afraid of developing cancer if a hysterectomy is not performed and may decide to have the procedure, according to a study as reported by the Reuters News Agency.

When a woman undergoes a hysterectomy, she goes into surgically induced menopause that results in the condition called "hormone imbalance", even if the ovaries are left intact. Even with the ovaries not removed, the blood supply to the ovaries lessens after the surgery and the ovaries usually cease functioning within 1-3 years.

The body needs hormones to function properly. And for a woman -- progesterone, testosterone and estrogen are vital. How and when does a woman’s body produce progesterone? It’s produced in the regular menstrual cycle when ovulation occurs. No ovulation, no progesterone!

After a hysterectomy, women will experience a deficiency of two critical hormones –- progesterone and testosterone. If only the uterus is removed in a partial hysterectomy, progesterone levels will fall dramatically in one to two months and estrogen levels will decrease in one or two years. Progesterone deficiency is related to numerous side effects including the side effects of a hysterectomy listed above. Progesterone deficiency is related to increased risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Testosterone deficiency in women causes low sex drive, low energy levels, thyroid deficiency and depression, for which there is no clear medical explanation.

Women who enter menopause as a result of hysterectomy should monitor their estrogen (estridiol), progesterone and testosterone levels -- and natural estrogen alone should not be taken without natural progesterone. Hormone levels are easily and accurately measured with the saliva test, which will indicate the levels of the critical hormones in the body. Since a hysterectomy creates a deficiency of vital hormones in the woman’s body, hormone replacement therapy should be considered. However, using synthetic hormones comes with additional risks and side effects.

Instead, women considering hysterectomy or already having had the procedure should seek the help of physicians trained in the use of natural bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are identical to what the body makes and what normally would exist in the body. Synthetic drugs such as Premarin, Provera and Prempro are not natural nor the same as the body makes, and these kinds of synthetic drugs have numerous side effects. Naturopathic physicians, alternative medicine and holistic physicians are educated and trained in both conventional medicine and the use of bio-identical hormones, including bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Hysterectomy is a permanent, irreversible surgery that will likely result in unwanted side effects. Unless malignant cancer or other life-threatening condition exists, instead of hysterectomy, consider natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to treat fibroids, endometriosis and other conditions related to hormone imbalance. Read all you can and learn more about what to expect after a hysterectomy and effective alternative treatments that may be better for your health.

by Olinda Rola


Keywords related: Endometriosis, Endometriosis symptom, Endometriosis treatment, Sign and symptom of endometriosis, Endometriosis infertility, Endometriosis and menopause, Sign of endometriosis, cause of endometriosis, endometriosis
diet, Endometriosis after hysterectomy

Treating Endometriosis with Supplements and Nutrition

ENDOMETRIOSIS NATURAL CURE

Treating Endometriosis with Supplements and Nutrition

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, usually in the pelvic area. But it can grow anywhere, even in the brain and lungs. Endometrios is stimulated partly by the hormones of menstruation. So pain, a characteristic of symptomatic endometriosis, is worse at ovulation and during the menstrual and premenstrual parts of a woman's cycle.

Symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, abnormal menstruation cycles, and infertitlity. If you have endometrial tissue growing between the uterus and the rectum, symptoms can include pain during sex, pain with bowel movements (especially before a period) and pressure in the rectal area. Some women don't have any symptoms, but their doctors discover endometrial tissue growing where it shouldn't during a routine check, or a check for other conditions.

Dr Christiane Northrup writes of a link between endometriosis and the autoimmune system. She cites studies on women with symptoms of endometriosis that "show these women often have antibodies against their own tissue, called auto-antibodies. This means that at some deep level, the mind of their pelvis is rejecting aspects of itself." This is an interesting approach, the psycho-spiritual one, that can help address the underlying energetic and emotional imbalances in our bodies when we are dealing with illness.

She goes on to say "When a woman feels that her innermost emotional needs are in direct conflict with what the world is demanding of her, endometriosis is on of the ways in which her body tries to draw attention to the problem." (p152, Northrup)

Managing Endometriousus Naturally

Dr Northrup suggests a treatment that supports the functioning of the immune system whilst allowing sufferers of endometriosis to find out what they need to address in their lives.

Natural Progesterone

This Works to decrease the effects of estrogen on endometrial tissue. Its advantages are that it doesn't have side effects. The cream is applied every day to soft areas of the skin like the face, neck and abdomen. Dr Northrup recommends using a 2 oz jar per month, alternating the areas it is applied to. She recommends applying it on days ten to twenty-eight of each monthly cycle. There are also natural progesterone capsules that are inserted into the vagina or rectum. The recommended dosage of these is 200 to 400 mg twice a day.

Castor Oil Packs

Apply a castor oil pack to the lower area of your abdomen three times a week or more, for one hour each session. Watch what feelings or thoughts come up for you during this time.

Other Options

* · Consider getting a massage once a week on alternate weeks for two months. Some women have reported this alleviates their symptoms.
* · Find ways to express your creativity, nurture yourself, meet your own needs. Discover what your needs are.

# Accupuncture and chinese herbs

Accupuncture is excellent for managing pain, and using the traditional chinese system of diagnosis, can address underlying energetic imbalances within your body. Best of all, the treatment is tailored to you exactly. The chinese herbs prescribed usually work in conjunction with the accupuncture treatment, although they can be taken on their own to great effect.

Changes In Diet

Dr Northrup has found that because symptoms of endometriosis are associated with too much estrogen, minimising foods that encourage estrogen production can help alleviate symptoms. This means removing dairy products, even of the low fat variety, increasing fiber intake, and minimising fats. She also recommends:

* · mutli vitamins - a good supplement with good levels of the B vitamins
* · magnesium - 400 - 800 mg which is about 90 - 150 mg of elemental magnesium. This helps to relax muscles.

# Managing Pain Through Nutrition

The premise behind this is that "diseases which are the result of vitamin deficiency are associated with unspecific pains." (p62, Mills & Vernon). And Mills & Vernon also found research papers that showed that some vitamins have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.

They suggest these vitamins as options in pain management:

* · DLPA - D,L-Phenylalanine is an amino acid that has been found to relieve chronic pain. It needs to be taken consistently over time. Some people notice an immediate effect, for others it takes several weeks. If there is no effect after this time then it probably won't work for you. Take 2 tablets three times a day until pain symptoms are relieved. The maintenance dose is followed after this, which is 1-2 a day. This is based on tablets being 375mg. You may need a presciption for these.
* · essential fatty acids - fish oils (omega 3), evening primrose (omega 6: Take 2000mg per day. Make sure they are cold pressed. A combination oil, like Udo's, is effective, though a bit more expensive. To learn more about the optimal ratios of essential fatty acids, read this article on evening primrose oil.
* · zinc citrate, or chelated zinc: Research has demonstrated that zinc has anti-inflammatory effects on the knee joints. It reduces the release of histamine and leukotriene from cells during the inflammatory process.
* · the non yeast form of selenium
* · vitamin A, C, and E which are antioxidants: Vitamin E inhibits the production of prostaglandins, which are involved in the inflammatory process.
* · the non yeast forms of vitamins B1, B6 and B12: These three B vitamins together have an anti-inflammatory effect
* · vitamin c with bioflavanoids and enzymes that digest proteins: Beneficial for reducing inflammation, and helps the immune system.
* · proanthcyanadins (found in grape seed extract)
* · quercitin
* · resveratrol
* · probiotics

# (p74, Mills & Vernon)

Nutritionally, many women with endometriosis find that when they stop eating wheat, they have either less or no pain. Some people are sensitive to sugar and gluten also. If you remove these items one at a time from your diet for a period of about a month, then watch how your body reacts when you eat them again, you'll know whether this applies to you.

Many women have found relief from endometriosis by trying the different methods above. Sometimes a combination of approaches, both natural and conventional, works best. It depends on your individual circumstances, the level of endometriosis, and the nature of the journey that you are able to take with your body.

References:
1. Endometriosus: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition, by Dian Mills & Michael Vernon (Thorsons, 2002)
2. Womens Bodies, Womens Wisdon by Dr Christiane Northrup (Piatkus, 1995)

Rebecca Prescott runs two websites covering health issues from a natural perspective. The first reviews vitamins and supplements in terms of possible health solutions, and the second covers acne treatments.

by Rebecca Prescott

Keywords related: Endometriosis, Endometriosis symptom, Endometriosis treatment, Sign and symptom of endometriosis, Endometriosis infertility, Endometriosis and menopause, Sign of endometriosis, cause of endometriosis, endometriosis
diet, Endometriosis after hysterectomy