My story: treatments
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, the information on these pages is gathered from my own experience, books, websites, and other people's experience. I will not be held responsible for any injury resulting from this information. If you have a medical condition, you should seek qualified medical advice and supervision at all times.
Treatments that seem to work for me
For endometriosis/adenomyosis:
- Zolodex treatment to shrink blood vessels and adenomyomas. Induced a temporary menopause, with all of the associated side effects.
- Birth Control Pill - Nordiol, then Norinyl, Minulet, and finally Loette. Taken continuously, preventing a period, and slowing the regrowth of endometriosis. Continuous BCP elevated my blood pressure, so I switched to the Mirena IUD.
- The Mirena IUD works fabulously to control adenomyosis symptoms and to stop endometriosis regrowth. I do bleed regularly, even though this IUD usually prevents it altogether, and my blood pressure is normal. The Mirena needs to be replaced every 4-6 years
- Several laparoscopies to diagnose and remove endometrial growths and adhesions.
- Diet
- reducing dairy made an initial difference, however, now there seems to be no effect.
- reducing sugar, caffeine, fat have also helped a little.
- red raspberry leaf tea for cramping pain.
- Exercise
- Tai chi chuan helps with pain and flexibility, walking in the hills increases fitness.
- belly dancing and yoga helps loosen the pelvic region. Yoga worsened the nerve pain in my hands (Raynaud's), so I had to stop.
- Acupuncture and Chinese herbs initially helped the adenomyosis pain quite a lot.
For kidney disease/cystitis:
- 2 litres of water a day and a moderate intake of vitamin C
- Double voiding, regular toilet breaks, wiping from front to back
- Not using tampons
- Using pads that 'suck away' the blood, or fabric pads.
- Using an antibacterial or feminine wash.
- Not cycling
- No anti-inflammatory medication, at all, ever again.
For sciatica:
- Physiotherapy and massage
- Deep Heat or Tiger Balm
- Heat packs
- Hard bed
- Chairs with decent lumbar support
- Exercise - tai chi chuan, specific stretching exercises for the back and abdominals
For costochondritis:
- Physiotherapy and massage
- Deep Heat or Tiger Balm
- Heat packs, warm baths, spas and saunas
- Posture correction, stretching the upper chest and shoulder muscles, gently
- Stress reduction
For migraines:
- Diet
- as much fresh food as possible
- reducing caffeine, sugar and fat
- cammomile tea
- more fluids
- Exercise and relaxation - neck stretches to relax the neck, yoga, tai chi chuan, meditation, aromatherapy
- Enough sleep
- Removal or reduction of stressors (situations and/or people)
- Glasses and decent computer screens, dark sunglasses
For depression:
- Enough sleep, exercise and a healthy diet
- Relaxation - tai chi chuan, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy
- Psychotherapy
- Removal or reduction of stressors (situations and/or people)
- Patient and supportive friends
- Pets
For sinusitis:
- Cortisone spray may help for a while.
- Neti pot or nasal spray with saline solution
- Avoid air-conditioning
- Heat packs and warm baths
For hives:
- Anti-histamines may help for a while
- Stress reduction and enough rest
- Bicarb soda and/or corn flour in a not-too-hot bath
- No scratching (impossible!)
- 2L of water drunk throughout the day, I think this helps flush out the toxins that cause the hive response.
- Aromatherapy oils, baths and sprays - personal recipes
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Longer than normal sleep hours (9+ hours) and naps
- Occasional days off
- Stress reduction, especially pets
- Reduction of caffeine, sugar, preservatives and processed foods
- Eating many small healthy meals, grazing throughout the day
Fibromyalgia
- Longer than normal sleep hours (9+ hours, plus longer when able to), and naps
- Stress reduction, especially pets
- Massage, heat packs and warm baths
- 2L+ of fluids throughout the day
- Regular gentle exercise (walking and tai chi chuan)
- Fingerless gloves or wrist supports (when using computers all day)
- Eating many small healthy meals, and grazing throughout the day
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- awareness to stop grinding teeth during the day
- mouth guard worn at night to protect the teeth
- heat packs held to jaw
Moreton's neuromas
- Prescribed custom insoles, worn all the time, which have a bump in the pad of the foot to stop toe bones turning in on each other and squashing the nerves with each step.
Raynaud's syndrome
- Gloves and layers of warm clothing
- Heat packs, electric blankets, lap blankets, hot baths and showers, spas, saunas
- No contact with cold or frozen objects
- Fewer cold drinks, regular hot drinks
- Wrist braces and dictation software (to avoid typing)
Dyshidrotic eczema
- Keep hands dry
- Avoid latex gloves
- Natural fabric socks/gloves
- Less stress
- Vinegar cleaning solutions around the home
- Topical steroid when very bad
- Moisturising creams when the blisters have broken
