Alternative remedies for chronic pain (1)

Like me I'm sure you've been through the wars with this illness and when it comes to talking about pain relief I'm usually the first one to roll my eyes because not a lot has worked for me. It dawned on me one day that my G.P had put me on medication that's also used for Cancer pain and that kind of freaked me out. I have always had a keen interest in the alternatives to convential medicine. I have tried accupuncture for my Endo with successful results, I must actually make a new appointment. My therapist actually told me that there was a "mass" over my right ovary and after what happened on Tuesday I'm inclined to believe her even more now.

I have also tried herbal and homeopathic remedies. Personally, Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

(seeknatural.co.uk)

 and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium),

(Etsy.com)

taken in tincture form can sometimes ease my bleeding and the symptoms of PMS but this does depend on the cycle and what medications I'm taking the effects vary. For my pain I have found that Belladonna works great for me. Its a dangerous herb so do not try to cultivate this yourself. Buy from a reputable health store please.
Herbs like Ginger are great for nausea and Nettle tea is an old remedy my Mum used to give me for cramps. It eased the pain I must say and I was really skeptical at first. Again in depends on your pain levels. We're all different. Nowaday's I wish a cup of Nettle tea would do the trick. But I'll stay positive and kick this Endo in the butt. I don't want to get stuck in the negative pain cycle. It looks a little like this and I'm sure we can all relate to it at some point or another;

You are best to talk to your healthcare professional before beginning any course of herbal or homepathic treatment. 

I've heard many people tell me now aboue TENS machines. I have as of yet to try one out. I think I'll do some research into it and decide then. For now here's a little bit about the TENS machines;

How tens pain relief works

At high and low frequencies, tens machines activate opioid receptors in the central nervous system. Opioid receptors have various functions, including the production of analgesia (pain relief), sedation and euphoria. When a tens machine is turned up to a high pulse rate, it causes neurotransmitters (chemicals) in the spinal cord to send messages to the synapse in the brain. This causes the spinal cord to block the pain gate, by producing pain relief (analgesia). At a low frequency, tens pain relief machines also stimulate serotonin receptors in the spinal cord. This causes serotonin to be released in the brain. Serotonin helps to relieve chronic pain.

How effective are Tens Machines

Various research has shown that using a tens machine is an effective way of easing pain, if it is used correctly. The results vary according to the type of pain. A study done abroad surveyed the effects of tens pain relief for labour pains. 71% of participants said tens machines had provided effective pain relief for their labour pains. Most of the participants said they would use a tens unit for pain relief in the future. For more TENS machine info, go here  http://www.tensmachines.ie/

Scared yes, foolish perhaps, stubborn most definitely.

Hi all, forgive my absence I've been having a rough time with my Endo of late. So bad that on Tuesday morning I actually gave myself a fright. For a few days previous I had an intense pain in my right side. Not a familiar pain, like a sharp stabbing pain just under my last rib. Too high I thought for it to be connected with my Endo and I had planned to see my G.P Tuesday evening if the pain did not ease. 

{I know many people would say to go straight away to the hospital if you have a sudden intense pain but when you are experiencing pain daily and you are accustomed to a certain amount of unexplained intense pain I think you can become a little bit complacent about things. Well I can only speak for myself but I think this is the reason I don't run to A&E each and every time I've a new pain as I'd be in there every week and that's not the life I choose to live. My apologies if this offends anyone, it's not my intention.}

So with that in mind I was minding my own, doing some chores when all of a sudden this tearing pain just floored me. I mean literally. I fell to the floor with the pain. It shot right through my body, spasmed around my back and even into my legs. I was clutching my abdomen having no idea what was happening to me. It felt at if someone was twisting my ovary and pinching it until finally I felt what I can only describe as a "pop" or a sudden "burst".  The pain lasted several minutes with such an intensity I had to focus on my breathing, using techniques I have learned over the past few years. Of course it would be a day I was at home alone. I couldn't even get to my phone from where I was. I just had to ride the pain out. Those minutes felt like flaming hours. It was intense to say the least and one of the worst pains I've experienced in sometime. 

Ten times worse than this picture could depict. I would have taken the barbed wire I swear. 

When I was finally able to move I noticed there was a lot of blood, clots and tissue has passed. It was a scare to say the least. I must point out that I did not proceed to the Emergency Room. I rang my hospital and spoke to someone from the Gynae Team. I have in my possession Cyklokapron and Primolut and was advised to take these to stop the bleeding as that's really all they would do for in hospital. When I described my symtpoms it was loosely agreed that it was an ovarian cyst that had ruptured. The person I spoke to obviously will not be named and they couldn't assure me that staying at home was my best option. They encouraged me to come in for a scan but having been through this process several times before I felt fairly confidant that the pain would pass with the clots. 

Today I am much better. Even yesterday the pain was completely gone from my right side.

I found out from my pharmacist that the painkillers prescribed my my G.P are no longer on the market as there were not enough people on them. I have decided to return to a homepathic remedy I know well. Touch wood, all is going well today. I managed to get some sleep last night which I really needed and between my boyfriend looking after me, then going to visit my Mum and Sis. I have so much support and I am eternally grateful for them. 

Facing up

I recently was asked to write about my thoughts and emotions whilst going through certain points of my process with Endo and while I thought it would be a natural and easy progression I was ill prepared for the feelings I was about to experience.

As usual when writing I sat down with my cup of decaf coffee and tried to collect my thoughts and pick a starting point.
Do I begin at age eleven with my first period? My years of G.P visit's? The first consultation at the hospital or the day I was diagnosed?  Each moment changed me, shaped who I am and each has its own baggage and emotional attachment obviously. It's just never occurred to me until now that maybe I haven't actually dealt with things in the manner I should have. I have just steam rolled through the years accepting each treatment without question, each surgery without any real thought for what I was signing up to. I mean I never stopped and thought if any of it was the best course of action. I just took the professionals word for gold and never thought to question them.

It seems somewhat wreckless now when I look back. When they did take the time to explain the side effects to me I just nodded like a dog and went along with everything. I'm not too sure exactly what I would change given another chance as this would inevitably change the outcome of everything but I would like to think I would approach the situation with a little more care.

Until now I've not really given much thought to the impact my diagnosis had on my mental health. I just accepted it. It's not as if I had a choice. I wasn't shouting about it from the rooftops but there was nothing I could do to change it so the only option was to put my best foot forward and attack this invader as aggressively as I could. Sure I had horrible days which involved me becoming overwhelmed and I remember one time being placed in a maternity ward in hospital and I found this too much too handle given that I'd been told I would most like never conceive. There were nights I lay awake worrying about what lay ahead for me and times where I acted as if none of it bothered me in order to cope and get on with things.

It's a case of survival I think. We react in a way best suited to our own personal survival and whether or not it's right or wrong isn't really for anyone to say unless of course it's having a really negative effect on our lives or we're acting utterly out of character. Then I would suggest well meaning loved ones intervene at your own risk.

I'm becoming increasingly aware that I've gotten off point and I'm doing it again. A kind if deflection if you will. I will discuss Endo, the symptoms and my pain levels with anyone now. But delving into past memories is incredibly difficult for me and right now I'm not even convinced I can access everything I need to in order to complete this task.

For someone who has, in the past, been described as an over achiever, the level of frustration I am currently experiencing at my own expense grows more infuriating by the day. It's as if some part of myself is preventing me from remembering the emotions attached to the memories. I can quite coldly and fairly calculatedly sum up a serious of events and present them in a factual manner much like giving a report. I essentially remove the human element. (Think I've just hit the nail on the head here) Now to face my fears..... To be continued

Keeping positive

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you ladies are hanging in there and staying as strong as I know you can be.

Personally, I'm doing ok. I've had some flare up's over the past few days and again the pain is heavily concentrated on my left ovary but my mind is in a really positive place and I have to admit that it really does help to express it rather than hold it in. Whether it's talking out loud, speaking with my Mum or Sis or even writing it down its proved very useful in the past and especially of late to keep me on track.

Living with Endo can be tiring and difficult at times and trust me it's not always been easy to be bright and bubbly about the situation. I've hit my walls and obstacles but with some support and the determination not to quit I've kept going, moving forward because looking back is ok to learn from but it's not a place we should live in.

I take each day now as it comes and try not to think too far into the future. I've come to realise there are limitations to what I can contribute on my life. Endo certainly isn't one of them. I can seek treatments, take care of myself, mind, body and soul and genuinely keep a positive mindframe. Whether my disease advances or lays dormant isn't something I can control so I'll do what I can, when I can and right now that's working for me.

The days when I'm in pain are annoying, tiring and sometimes quite upsetting but it's only temporary. For me the intensity does pass and while there's day pain you become accustomed to it. We truly have no understanding of what our bodies are capable of tolerating until it has to.

It's not an ideal way of life "living in constant pain" but who's to say what's ideal or not? As long as I can cope I will keep going and having positive people in my life works for me.

Love to my Endo Sister's
XxxxxxX