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. Induced a temporary menopause, with all of the associated side effects.
- Birth Control Pill - originally Nordiol, then Norinyl, Minulet, (a third generation high progestogen, low oestrogen pill), and now Loette (low progestogen, low oestrogen) taken continuously, preventing a period. This seemed to slow the regrowth of the endometriosis. Third generation pills are purported to have fewer bad side effects. BCP can (and did) cause high blood pressure, so I've had to stop it.
- The Mirena IUD works fabulously to control adenomyosis symptoms and to some extent the endo symptoms. I do bleed regularly, even though this IUD should stop it altogether. The Mirena needs to be replaced every 4-6 years
- Several laparoscopies to diagnose and remove the endometrial growths and adhesions.
- Diet
- cutting down on dairy made an initial difference to ongoing pain levels, however, now there seems to be no effect at all.
- cutting down sugar, caffeine, fat have also helped a little.
- red raspberry leaf tea helps with cramping pain. This does not seem to help now that I have the Mirena.
- Exercise
- helps in the ongoing pain
- Tai chi chuan helps with pain and flexibility
- belly dancing and yoga helps loosen the pelvic region. Although yoga worsened the nerve pain (Raynaud's), and I had to stop.
- Acupuncture and Chinese herbs initially helped the adenomyosis pain quite a lot.
For kidney disease/cystitis:
- Diet
- 2 litres of water a day
- moderate intake of vitamin C
- Double voiding
- Wiping from front to back
- Not using tampons
- Using pads that 'suck away' the blood
- Using fabric pads, washed with a hypoallergenic washing machine liquid.
- Using an antibacterial wash to wash between legs (Blackmores antibacterial facial wash). Blackmores has changed the formula and it now aggravates the problems, so I switched to Vagisil gel.
- Not cycling
- Going to the toilet as soon as I need to
- No anti-inflammatory medication, at all, ever again.
For sciatica:
- Physiotherapy and massage
- Deep Heat or Tiger Balm
- Hard bed
- Chairs with decent lumbar support
- Exercise
- tai chi chuan
- specific stretching exercises
- strengthening the abdominal muscles
- yoga and belly dancing
For costochondritis:
- Physiotherapy and massage
- Voltaren anti-inflammatory gel and Deep Heat or Tiger Balm
- Heat packs
- Posture correction
- Warm baths, spas and saunas
- Stress reduction
- Stretching the upper chest and shoulder muscles, gently
- If you must drive, try to use a car that has power steering
For migraines:
- Diet
- as much fresh food as possible
- cutting down caffeine, sugar and fat
- cutting out dairy
- cammomile tea
- more fluids
- Exercise
- especially neck stretches to relax the neck
- reduces overall stress/tension levels
- Relaxation - yoga, meditation, aromatherapy
- Enough sleep
- Removal or reduction of stressors (situations/interactions with people that
- Glasses and decent computer screens
- Dark sunglasses (bright light causes major headaches for me)
- During a migraine - pain killers and sleep is the only treatment that works.
For depression:
- Enough sleep
- Exercise
- Relaxation - yoga, meditation, aromatherapy
- Diet needs to be healthy
- Psychotherapy
- Removal or reduction of stressors (situations/interactions with people that are stressful) This is the most important!
- People around who will listen to my moaning
- Pets
For sinusitis:
- Cortisone spray may help for a while, but I got acclimatised to it, and it no longer helps.
- Neti pot with saline solution
For hives:
- Anti-histamines, but I have become acclimatised to them, and recently have had to change to a 'double dose'
- Stress reduction
- Bicarb soda and/or corn flour in a not-too-hot bath
- No scratching (impossible!)
- Enough rest
- 2L of water drunk throughout the day, I think this helps flush out the toxins that cause the hive response.
- Little to no caffiene
- Aromatherapy oils, baths and sprays - personal recipes
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Longer than normal sleep hours (9+ hours)
- Occasional days off
- Naps
- Stress reduction
- Reduction of caffeine, sugar, preservatives and processed foods
- Eating many small meals, and browsing throughout the day
Fibromyalgia
- Longer than normal sleep hours (9+ hours, plus longer when able to)
- Days off
- Naps
- Stress reduction
- Weekly massage
- 2L+ of fluids throughout the day
- Regular routines, especially sleep times
- Dry heat, but not a hot draft
- Pets
- Regular gentle exercise (walking and tai chi chuan)
- Fingerless gloves (I use computers all day)
- Eating many small meals, and browsing throughout the day
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- awareness to stop grinding teeth during the day, especially when in pain
- mouth guard worn at night to protect the teeth
- heat pack held to jaw to help with jaw and sinus pain
Moreton's neuromas
- Prescribed insteps, worn all the time, which have a bump in the pad of the foot to stop my toe bones turning in on each other and squashing the nerves with each step. This only works to control the pain, it does not fix the problem.
Raynaud's syndrome
- Gloves, all day, every day, even in summer
- No contact with cold or frozen objects
- Fewer cold drinks
- Hot baths/showers
- Heated lap blanket (a heated bed blanket may also help for those times where I can't stop losing heat at night)
- Lots of layers of clothing
- Regular hot drinks
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
Tendonitis
- Typing with wrists raised, reduced mouse work
- Not pushing trolleys
- Not opening jars
- Heat
- Swimming