mental battle

good morning everyone, hope all is well.

so i have been having quite a mental battle here the past couple of days. anytime i start to have pain, my automatic response is to take a pill to make it go away. the pain i had yesterday wasn't really that severe, to where i would NEED to take one, but my body/brain said yes. all i have really for anything is about 4 bentyls, and that just helps with some minor stomach pain. i don't go back to the doctor (a new one) until feb 4th, so i have to wait awhile...and i was going to talk to her about some kind of alts (besides surgery or clinical studies) for pain relief, but i don't think i will really have much luck. that is not making this mental battle any better....i have tried SO many things for pain, non narcotic and narcotic. the narcotic doesn't even take it away completely just numbs me. with this doctor though, she isn't a specialist,so i am not sure what she will do....

anyone have any advice or uplifting words?

thanks guys

[hopsing94]

The mental part is tough. I battle with this the most,even in the middle of w/d it was the mental craving that drove me crazy. You have to just fight it off as it comes and goes. I couldn't concentrate on anything except a book. I would read,it took my mind off the pills. Keep fighting those cravings back and i promise they will get less intense.

[IBKleen]

I hear ya!

I live with pain everyday myself, and of course my brain tells me if I take a pill, it will be ok and the pain will go away. But the truth is, is that is not the truth.

When it hits me, and it DOES hit me, I do something right away. Walk, read...call someone..talk. I have a good support group here and folks that I can call. I talk until it passes, and someone always remind me what will happen if I take that first pill. It is never one for me......

[avisg]

Do you realize how negative and pro pill your post is .....your convincing your self you have no alternative but to take a pill ,that's is not true .edno can be burned off very easily they offered you a trial but you don't like that either ,do you realize you are looking for reasons to use .
as addicts that's what we do !!!!! ,You put it in your own words "I don't think I will have any luck ".......

[hope08]

no, i am not trying to make a post on 'pro-pill', i am seeking support. if i did not let you know, the doctor that did my surgery did not burn off the endo, he said it was a 'diagnostic surgery'. he encouraged me to participate in clincial studies....and i don't really want to be some monkey to be experimented on. who knows what would happen, the side effects?
when i said i probably wouldn't have any luck, i was referring to any luck with finding something else to take for the pain, that actually worked, that was not a narcotic form.
do you have endo? did you get a hysterectomy or have kids? did you take lupron?
i have tried so many different meds, not just for my endo but for other health problems. nothing seems to work very well.
i would appreciate a little more postive talk and not so negative. you don't ever know what something like that could do to a person.

thanks for the encouragement others....

[toxictome]

You said it right there..."the narcotic doesn't even take it away completely just numbs me"...so now you are numb and still in pain...i would try something different...maybe you don't know what WILL work, but this obviously ISN'T working.....I have pain, but not to this extent so I don't know what to say...keep trying...good luck

[avisg]

its not negative .did you look into the research entails ,did you look into it . I believe people have thrown out name of non narcotics meds have you written them down to talk to the doctor .
Ummm i have had it burned off MANY TIMES if they had offered me another choice I would tryed it ... I did the surgery it worked you do have to have it redone if more come back . I had kids then a hyster.
I did try the hormones I looked for long term way to deal with pain .not something to mask it .You can take this post as negative that up to you ....really its about the fact that you have admitted have a problem with pain meds and people here are trying to help.

[avisg]

good post

[avisg]

Hormonal treatments





Most researchers agree that endometriosis is exacerbated by oestrogen. Subsequently, hormonal treatments for endometriosis attempt to temper oestrogen production in a woman's body and thereby relieve her of symptoms.

Hormonal therapy may include birth control pills, progestins, a class of drugs known as GnRH-agonists, and danazol (though this is seldom used any more).

The combined oral contraceptive pill

Progestins

Mirena

GnRH-agonists

Danazol

Aromatase inhibitors [still somewhat experimental]

Hormonal therapies have varying degrees of side effects, and unfortunately, whatever pain relief that is achieved tends to be only temporary for many girls and women.

TIPS for dealing with side effects associated with drug treatments



  

Surgery






Most doctors agree that laparoscopic surgery is the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis. In many cases, the disease can be diagnosed and treated in the same procedure.

The success of surgery depends greatly on the skill of the surgeon and the thoroughness of the surgery. The aim is to remove all endometriosis lesions, cysts, and adhesions.

Today, most endometriosis surgery is being done through the laparoscope, although a full abdominal incision called a laparotomy may still be required in rare cases for extensive disease or bowel resections.

More about laparoscopic surgery

Although women with endometriosis are often told that hysterectomy is the “definitive” solution for endometriosis, the disease can recur even after a hysterectomy.

More about hysterectomy




  
Nutritional therapy  
The correct balance of daily nutrients are essential for all of us. Proper nutrition helps improve our general health.

For a woman with endometriosis it may also increase her ability to tolerate medical treatments, increase her ability to deal with potential side effects of treatment, increase her energy, and enhance her ability to think clearly. Nutritionists can work with women and girls with endometriosis to put together an appropriate dietary plan.

More about dietary modification to alleviate endometriosis symptoms




  

Complementary therapies  
Given the chronic and stubborn nature of endometriosis, there may be times when it is beneficial to explore therapies beyond the medical mainstream.

Whilst there is no clinical evidence as to the effectiveness of these therapies, many women with endometriosis have had good symptom relief by using homeopathy, osteopathy, herbs, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Physiotherapists (physical therapists) can develop a programme of exercise and relaxation techniques designed to help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, reduce pain, and manage stress and anxiety. After surgery, rehabilitation in the form of gentle exercises, yoga, or Pilates can help the body get back into shape by strengthening compromised abdominal and back muscles.




  
A multi-disciplinary approach
To provide holistic treatment to women and girls with endometriosis, a team of medical professionals may be involved in providing care, including:

- general practitioners
- gynaecologists
- surgeons (from a number of disciplines)
- reproductive endocrinologists
- immunologists
- nutritionists/dieticians
- nurses
- psychologists
- counsellors
- pain specialists
- physiotherapists

All of these disciplines can play an important role in providing an individualised treatment plan for a woman or girl with endometriosis.

Finally, please remember that endometriosis affects more than just the physical body. It often affects women and girls in profound emotional ways as well. Psychologists and counsellors can play an important role by helping women and girls cope with the feelings of confusion, disbelief, chronic pain, infertility, and frustration that often accompany this disease.

Support groups also play a vital role in learning to cope with endometriosis and may be able to provide information about national or regional centres, who specialise in the treatment of endometriosis.



See also  

A practical guide to finding a centre of excellence/endometriosis specialist

Preparing for your first endometriosis consultation [English|Español]

Tips on talking with your doctor

Coping with endometriosis

ESHRE guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis


ENDOMETRIOSIS | SYMPTOMS | CAUSES | DIAGNOSIS | SUPPORT GROUPS

[hope08]

thanks for the info on this.

the problem is, my doctor is not willing to do another surgery to burn it off. he is willing to give me MORE hormones (which mostly just made me out of my mind with the medically induced menopause) or the clinical study. i have not yet found another doctor that is willing to actually work with me, help me, not just throw some pills in my face.
i have tried all the nsaid's, tramadol (which didn't help either, had no wd's i saw on here some ppl get addicted to them?) muscle relaxants....
i have changed my diet, very much so. i understand that things worked for you and you were able to get it burned off many times, which is great. i on the other hand do not have those options right now. if i have learned anything about this disease it is that every single case is different. so what worked for you may not work for me, unfortunately. i wish it was that easy i really do. this has wreaked havoc on my life the past year. being diagnosed with something is hard to take, and no i am not trying to feel sorry for myself or anything, i just get frustrated when people tell me something is going to work, yet it doesn't.
i just got info on a local acupuncurist, so i may try that, depending on the cost....
i am currently on continual hormones but that is it. along with my stomach conditions, i can't just take any medication they try on me, because then it just causes me intestinal/stomach pain. that is a lot of why i get so frustrated with all of this. so no, i am not taking this negative.
like i said, i am frustrated, and mentally wore out right now because of being physically wore out, and it tends to make one a little grumpy. sorry if it came off wrong, but that is how i took your first post.
if i could just go to another doc and say i want this burned off i would, but my doctor said that i can't really do something like that.i am not getting a hyster cause i have no kids, and not making a decision like that right now. i wish that i could though it would make things a lot easier!