Any advise on other alternatives besides the pill?

[afierros]

I have been reading so much junk on the internet about birth control I am tired of it.  I really need to occupy my mind with more positive things.  I feel that since I started the bc in Jan for the endo, I have been more depressed.  I do not want to take the bc anymore but if I quit then I will be getting my periods again which will increase the endo and I will more cysts.  I am scared. I am 36 years old and what other alternatives do I have.  I hear about these lupron shots for women with endo.  Could I do that and get off the pill?  and will that prevent ovarian cysts.  Since I have only my right ovary that is the only one I am concerned with.  They say if you are on the bc estrogen and progestin combined,for many years you increase the risk for breast cancer.  Is that true?  I have been in a state of panic for awhile but I just don't know what to do.  My doctor told me to come back in 3 months for a checkup.  It's been almost 3 months.  I know she will want me to continue the pill or her suggestion is a hysterectomy.  My grand-ma wants me to give the bc a little longer, but she doesn't understand all the risks there is.

[Neta100]

Hi there.  I was operated in December due to the presence of a cyst of unknown origin and they believed I had cancer, but it turned out to be a 6 cm endometrioma, a cyst that forms from old blood in the ovaries, but I didn't have irregular or heavy periods, severe pain at any time of the month.  The doctor was able to remove the endometrioma and left me my ovary and uterus.  He placed me on a 3-month Lupron shot to control the endometriosis and help improve my fertility, and almost 3 months after, I feel pretty well.  I need to get checked again - ultrasound and CA - 125 marker before I go to the doctor for my 3 month appointment.

As far as I know, the only way to diagnose endo is by doing surgery - laparoscopy or laparotomy, and having kids can help control it.  I took a year to get operated but it was due to the fact that my regular doctor wanted to remove everything and leave me without the possibility of having kids, so I searched on line a lot and found a doctor who was also worried about my fertility.

Hope this info helps.  

Best wishes,

Neta

[diemyn]

Diet diet diet.
It feels like you with DIE without the food you've been eating all your life. But it will greatly improve your condition! You can find many endo diets on the net and I'm telling you they work. For me, I went from writhing in agony for 8 hours every day, screaming in pain like a murder victim on my period, and bleeding HEAVILY(from bowel and bladder), to just being in really bad pain every day, screaming just on the first day of my period, and having the most normal blood flow I've ever had in my life. If my terribly severe endo got THAT much better, just think what the diet change could do for you too.

Diemyn

[jjerzeegirl]

I to have endo and had a lap 4 yrs ago. I now have to children and am about to turn 30 in May. My endo came back and I am quite upset about it. I went to the doc and they want to do an internal ultrasound to see if there are cysts. I go in 2 wks. He knows I do not want to go on the pill as it made me VERY depressed as well. The only other option is for me to have another baby to suppress the pain. My hubby and I aren't ready for another baby yet (We have a 2 1/2 and 1 yr old). I have a new doc, as I have moved and he said that I am too young for a hysterectomy. Let me know what you find out b/c I feel like we are in the same position.