A personal choice for every person with Endometriosis : When have I suffered enough pain and when do I step up the treatment?

Some prefer natural methods of controlling their Endometriosis symptoms : supplements, vitamins, diet, and essential oils.  But these methods may not work for everyone. I’ve gone the route of prescription narcotics, surgery, hormonal treatments, eastern medicine, acupuncture, altered diet, etc. Others may have undergone hysterectomies.

When and how do you decide which is right for you?  Only you know the answer to that question.

Supplements:

Many swear that they have obtained hormonal balance and gained control of their Endometriosis symptoms by a change in diet and following a regimen of natural herb, supplements, and vitamins.  I have altered my diet along their same lines and have enjoyed a much healthier lifestyle. 

Medication:

Prior to learning I had Endometriosis, my primary care physician had prescribed me Naproxen Sodium to handle the pain. For a while, it was the only medication that helped.  Of course, it came with it’s side effects, but the benefits outweighed any issues the medicine itself created.  I have tried Lupron Depot.  After six months of that, I was on on constant birth control to keep my hormone levels in balance, with the hopes of slowing the growth of any new Endometriosis implants and adhesions. When Naproxen Sodium stopped working for intense pain, I moved up to Tramadol.

Surgery:

Laparoscopic or laparotomy surgeries are common for women with Endometriosis.  A skilled Endometriosis surgeon will excise all visible Endometriosis lesions. But not all surgeons are created equal and some may be ill-prepared to remove all (or even any) of the disease. Ablation is also a technique some surgeons use to burn off the surface of a lesion, leaving the root of the disease behind. Excision is considered the “gold standard” method for surgically dealing with Endometriosis.

Hysterectomies are no cure.  But it is what modern medicine leans on a fix.  Although temporary for some Endo sufferers.  Hysterectomies also come in various shapes and sizes, so to speak.  Not all hysterectomies are created equal.  More on hysterectomies, the different types, and why it may not work to relieve Endometriosis can be found here.

Counseling:

Talk to your physician when you need to make a decision regarding the best way to treat your Endometriosis.  Then get a second opinion.  Talk to your friends and family.  And fellow Endometriosis sufferers.  Get advice from every source you can think of.  Then take a few days to digest it all, weigh the pros and cons, look deep within yourself and figure out how you best want to handle it.

Only you can decide.

I have one reader who has been suffering with Endometriosis all of her life, had a hysterectomy in her 20s, and now in her 40s (32 surgeries later), has recurring symptoms, even after a hysterectomy.  This is a story I hear quite often…

Another friend of mine had a hysterectomy a decade ago and her symptoms are just now beginning to return.

Several EndoWarriors I know use supplements, but struggle to find a balance to maintain control of their pain.  Others do not struggle at all and have found what works best for their bodies.

Some swear off “modern medicine” while others embrace it.

Since 2014, I have undergone six excision surgeries, tried Lupron-Depot, tried a continuous birth control pill, used opioids to manage the pain, tried acupuncture, and altered my diet. I do not know what I will choose when I’ve hit the “enough is ENOUGH!” point…only time will tell.

What about you?

(Updated December 28, 2020)

*Sunday is “Reader’s Choice” where my readers, friends, and family get to suggest a topic.  Today’s topic came from my friend, Lauren Siciliano, “When to decide enough is enough, either take pain medication or do surgery.” So research began!  Again, I am a layman.  I do not hold any college degrees, nor mastery of knowledge.  Please take what I say with a grain of salt.  If curious, do your own research 😉 Validate my writings.  Or challenge them.  And ALWAYS feel free to consult with your physician. Always.  Yours ~ Lisa