Endometriosis and hysterectomy???
485292
Now for a sensible answer that doesn't contain erroneous information recommending futile treatments or try to sell you supplements:\n\nThere is no definitive cure for Endometriosis, hysterectomy included.  Because Endo makes its own estrogen synthesizing enzyme, called aromatase, it is able to sustain its own life cycle even after hysterectomy.  If there is any disease left behind, it will continue to cause symptoms, period.  You need to have it removed via excision by an expert, such as Dr. David Redwine at www.endometriosistreatment.org or Dr. Albee at the Center for Endo Care in Atlanta at www.centerforendo.com.  Those specialists use excision - not ablation, vaporization or other superficial removal - and routinely excise all disease from all locations, including bowels, bladder, ureterus and other advanced areas.  Hang in there and don't mess around with local docs who say that it "couldn't be removed" - what they mean is, THEY couldn't remove it.  Check out www.endocenter.org and the other sites above to get help and support from those who can relate.  Help is out there.  Good luck.
551278
The only way to confirm endometriosis is through a laparoscopy.  An ultra sound WILL NOT detect it.  A doctor may suspect endo based on your symptoms and s/he can treat those but can never really know for sure without taking a look if you will.  \n\nEndometriosis is tissue (the endometrium) that is growing outside of the uterus.  This isn't something that can be detected by pap or ultrasound.
489621
Why have a test when there are only 2 options for getting rid of it. According to my doctor there's a shot I could take but that could throw me into early menopause. Option 2 is a hysterectomy which is unacceptable to me (and you!)\nI'm afraid if you have it, dear, you'll just have to live with it. I hope yours isn't as painful as mine. Don't worry though. There are many different reactions to Endometriosis.\nMy aunt has it too but she has no pain and she was able to bear three children! The best thing you can do is to keep your body at its peak of health with a great diet and consistent exercise. If you do have pain like I do, then try some prescription Ibuprofen, hot baths and those large heat patches from the drugstore. Also, wearing a pad instead of a tampon for the first couple of days really eases my symptoms. Good luck sweetie.
434504
http://www.hormonejungle.com/\nhttp://www.womenshealth.com/library/hysterectomy_meno.htm
221931
No, it is not crazy. Hysterectomy means that the uterus was removed. Your ovaries are intact and they are the ones that excrete the hormones responsible for your monthly symptoms. With a hysterectomy the only thing that should change is not having your period.\n\nOut side of medications you are going have to wait for menopause to hit.
548671
Killer cramps and GI disturbances are signs of Endometriosis.  Pain and symptoms such as those you describe are never normal and are the body's way of telling you something is wrong.  The pill can be helpful, but it's not your only choice for treatment.  The important thing is to get diagnosed.  Determining the underlying cause will help you get effective treatment, whether it turns out to be Endometriosis or something else.  Talk to your GYN and also visit www.endocenter.org; the ERC has a fact sheet dealing with Endo in the lesbian community.  Good luck to you.
1119129
It has not been research enough yet but it can be hereditary. I'm having surgery this Friday to find out how severe is my endometriosis. Drinking coffee can make it worse.\n\n"As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Endometriosis may be found in the risk factors for Endometriosis, medications that may cause Endometriosis, contagiousness for Endometriosis, genetics of Endometriosis, and underlying causes of Endometriosis."
313771
Note that endometriosis is specifically the condition where endometrial tissue (the lining of the uterus) is found outside of the uterus.\n\nFibroids are defined as non-malignant tumors of smooth muscle tissue, therefore you could theoretically get them in any smooth muscle tissue in your body.  However, the most common place to get them is in the uterine wall, and getting them there does not imply that you could get them anywhere else.  It is the impact of having them in the uterine wall that causes the problems associated with fibroids.\n\nIf you have the uterus removed, there will be no uterine wall to get fibroids, so a hysterectomy would solve whatever problems they are causing.  However, I would recommend researching other treatments before resorting to that, unless you are close to menopause anyway.
889294
With todays medical advances hysterectomy should be your last option if you are truly dealing with Uterine Fibroid Tumors.\n\nI would recommend going to http://www.webmd.com to do some research on the different options you have.\n\nThere are a couple things you can consider doing surgically through laproscopic techniques to reduce or remove the fibroids.\nYou will probably need to do an Ultrasound and/or an MRI to help you & your doctor determine the best procedure to consider.\n\nI will say take the wait and see approach for a little bit before deciding to surgically remove them.  If they don't grow quickly  you might never have any need to do anything more than adjust your food & supplement intake.  The should stop growing after menopause since they feed on estrogen.\n\nYou do want to decrease caffeine and chocolates, eat less animal protein and normalize your hormones.\n\nThere is a great book I use for natural therapies and helps.  You might see if you can get your hands on it to do some quick research.  It's called Healthy Healing by Linda Page.  Or go to a good health food store and ask them if they have any information / products that can help.\n\nYOU HAVE LOTS OF CHOICES and should not be afraid of this diagnosis.  You don't have to lose your uterus and can still have babies.\n\nHope this helps\n\nUPDATE:\nThere is another helpful website I'd like to share http://www.mdchoice.com\n\nBaptist Hospital in Miami offers another solution not listed yet.  It is called Uterine Artrery Embolization. (UFE).  They have found there is one artery which supplies the fibroids in the Uterus.  Through a laproscopic procedure they inject very small pellets into this artery to block the blood flow.  When this happens the tumors will shrink and/or die.\n\nOne thing that I've learned is you can remove or have the UFE performed today but if your continue to produce fibroids you will have to deal with this again later.\n\nSo you will have to think about childbirth today and what you think you would want to do in the future when making this decision.
288311
If you have a complete hysterectomy, your ovaries will also be removed.  When your ovaries are removed, you go through surgical menopause.\n"Premenopausal women who have had both ovaries surgically removed (oophorectomy) will experience an abrupt menopause and may be hit harder by menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and loss of libido than those who experience it naturally. Surgical menopause is associated with a greater decrease in androgen production than natural menopause, which may make hot flashes more severe, more frequent, and longer lasting for some woman."  http://www.womenshealth.com/library/hysterectomy_meno.htm\n\nIf you still have your ovaries: \n"If one or both ovaries are retained during a hysterectomy the patient could experience:\n\nContinuing normal function of the ovaries until the normal onset of menopause at the usual age of menopause, or \nEarly ovarian failure with the ovaries stopping hormone production sooner than expected.  This loss of ovarian function can occur as early as 1-2 years after the hysterectomy.  The ovarian failure may be very apparent to the patient and HCP when symptoms of estrogen deficiency occur.  Or it may be silent if estrogen levels fall but symptoms do not occur."  http://www.womenshealth.com/library/hysterectomy_meno.htm\n\nIf you are not sure if you have your ovaries, you should find out!  If you can, call the doctor who did the surgery, or even the hospital where the surgery was performed, and ask for an operative report.  It is important to know what has been done to our bodies.\n\n\nTo read about causes of hot flashes (other than menopause), check out this link:  http://www.wdxcyber.com/nmood12.htm
80897
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrial stroma and glands, which should only be located inside the uterus) is found elsewhere in the body. \n\nEndometriosis lesions can be found anywhere in the pelvic cavity: on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and on the pelvic sidewall. Other common sites include the uterosacral ligaments, the cul-de-sac, the Pouch of Douglas, and in the rectal-vaginal septum.\n\nIn addition, it can be found in caecarian-section scars, laparoscopy or laparotomy scars, and on the bladder, bowel, intestines, colon, appendix, and rectum. \n\nIn rare cases, endometriosis has been found inside the vagina, inside the bladder, on the skin, even in the lung, spine, and brain. \n\nThe most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. The pain often correlates to the menstrual cycle, but a woman with endometriosis may also experience pain that doesn’t correlate to her cycle. For many women, the pain of endometriosis is so severe and debilitating that it impacts their lives in significant ways. \n\nEndometriosis can also cause scar tissue and adhesions to develop that can distort a woman’s internal anatomy. In advanced stages, internal organs may fuse together, causing a condition known as a "frozen pelvis." \n\nIt is estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis are infertile. \n\nIf you or someone you care about has endometriosis, it is important to research the disease as much as possible. Many myths and misconceptions about endometriosis still persist, even in medical literature. For many women, management of this disease may be a long-term process. Therefore, it is important to educate yourself, take the time to find a good doctor, and join a support group.
366740
There is no definitive cure for Endometriosis - not surgery (including hysterectomy), not medications, not "pregnancy" (as is still mistakenly believed by some), not alternative therapies.  Anyone who tells you different is uninformed or simply trying to scam you.  That is not to say that there are not effective treatments, such as laparoscopic excision (see www.centerforendo.com) and other therapies which many women and girls obtain long-lasting relief from.  \n\nIn terms of Ayurvedic Medicine, those with Endo who practice Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Acupuncture state that the treatment should involve the incorporation of dietary measures, herbal therapeutics, and yoga.  Marma massage may also be helpful.\n\nAyurveda treats the disease by achieving balance of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether). Each person has a particular dosha (constitutional make-up), which in part determines what disease they may be predisposed to, if any. An Ayurvedic physician will be able to take a detailed case history and determine the specific Ayurvedic remedies to work with in terms of your Endo in order to remedy the imbalances.\n\nFor more info, please see http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/Endometriosis.htm.
315306
Find a new doctor.  Endometriosis is something that a lot of doctors just are not able to treat effectively.  \n\nI used to have periods that were so bad that I would basically pass out.  If you have pain then your doctor should work with you to manage it.  Telling you to take Midol is not acceptable.\n\nI'm not sure if there is a proven connection between endo and fatigue but I'll bet there is.  I've had this pretty much since I started my periods at 11 but it got really bad at 16.  I was diagnosed at 26 and I'm 30 now.  For most of my adult life I feel like I'm 80 and not 30!  I was always tired and slept a lot while my friends were going out and staying up all night.  Can't tell you for sure but that's my experience.\n\nRight after my surgery I was put on Lupron.  I only made it 3 months instead of the usual 6 because of the bad side effects.  This is something that I wouldn't recommend as a first choice.  After that I went on BCP.  After experimenting with a few I got on Yasmin which worked for me.  I still have pain every day but it is nothing like it was.  I used to be in constant pain and now I notice it a couple of times a day.  If it gets bad ibuprofen usually helps to keep it down.  \n\nEndo is weird because the amount of scarring and implants isn't necessarily related to the amount of pain.  My left ovary is completely covered (can't really see the ovary) and my right only has a couple of little implants.  I feel most of my pain on the right side.  My doctor said that he has seen women with a gut full of scarring who had no symptoms at all.  Also, what one doctor describes as bad another describes as moderate.  Just be aware of this when dealing with doctors.\n\nPain is felt differently by different people so it is hard to say what you need.  Find a doctor that is willing to work with you and who isn't quick to say it's in your head.  Don't be afraid to interview doctors and ask lots of questions.  If you aren't comfortable with the answers move on.  Remember that you are hiring them for a service.  Be in control - this is your body.
1134916
I have endometriosis as well and found work from home a few years ago. It really has been a blessing since I work using my computer and telephone and I make my own hours. I can work around my doctor appointments and 'bad days'.  I've tried a few different things from home before like Tupperware and stuffing envelopes. I didnt have the money or desire to have strangers in my home for parties, so working strictly on the internet is what works for me and my family. Be sure to check out www.endocenter.org for help with your endo, and if you want to find out more about how I work from home, the link to the organization I work with is www.PracticalSolution.info.
513998
I had a few: \n 1) hormone tests - blood tests.\n2) Dilation and curetage D & C\n3) Hystersalpingogram - check the uterus and tubes.\n\nAlso a surgery for endometriosis to check on it's severity.
907110
I enjoy sex more often since my hysterectomy in january. Seems like I have more interest in it. Not because I can't get pregnant, but because I just feel so much better. Best thing to happen to me, Had mine Jan 2 this year.
659336
You need to see a specialist.  www.centerforendo.com, www.endometriosistreatment.org, www.drcook.com, www.endoexcision.com