When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
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Whole Woman
louiseds
February 8, 2009 - 8:41pm
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Adenomyosis and endometriosis
Hi Christine
This is the site I found helpful. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/Adenomyosis/DS00636 . I figure that Mayo Clinic is a household word so their description can't be that far wrong. There are a lot of sites about adenomyosis on my google search results. Be aware that there are several ways of spelling it on the imperfect Net. It would seem that endo (endometrium tissue outside the uterus in other parts of the pelvic and abdominal cavities) is more a disease of younger women, whereas adenomyosis (endometrium growing within the muscle walls of the uterus) tends to start later, but women can have both. As far as I know, both should ease and eventually disappear as a result of menopause.
So glad you were able to sit it out and find ways of coping with the symptoms until menopause took its course. Sadly, for a younger woman with worsening symptoms who is much younger and has a demanding life in terms of employment and family responsibilities, the symptoms might be more than the woman can deal with, without the use of dangerously strong, longterm pain relief and perhaps other drugs like cortisone, that are damaging to health in the short and the longer term. Their suffering can be almost intolerable. For these women hysterectomy can be a blessed relief, even with all the damage that hysterectomy does. For some women it is the devil or the deep blue sea, the frying pan or the fire. Not wanting to be negative about your philosophy on this but I think it is all shades of grey. There is no right or wrong.
Cheers
Louise
alemama
February 8, 2009 - 9:48pm
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here are some quotes from that site
" The only way to establish the diagnosis of adenomyosis is to examine uterine tissue using a microscope after removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).
Many women have other uterine diseases that cause signs and symptoms similar to adenomyosis, making adenomyosis more difficult to diagnose. Such conditions include fibroid tumors (leiomyomas), uterine cells growing outside the uterus (endometriosis) and growths in the uterine lining (endometrial polyps).
Although not harmful, the pain and excessive bleeding associated with adenomyosis can have a negative effect on your lifestyle. You may find yourself avoiding activities that you previously enjoyed because you have no idea when or where you might start bleeding. Painful periods can cause you to miss work or school and can strain relationships. Recurring pain can lead to depression, irritability, anxiety, anger and feelings of helplessness. That's why it's important to seek medical evaluation if you suspect you may have adenomyosis.
Unlike endometriosis, adenomyosis doesn't usually affect fertility. However, if you experience prolonged, heavy bleeding, chronic anemia may result.
Adenomyosis usually resolves after menopause, so treatment may depend on how close you are to that stage of life."
So not having had this in my life so far all I can say is that it does not sound like anything I would remove my uterus for. I would have pain- even sharp stabbing during intercourse- I would bleed every day of the week- but I just wouldn't remove my uterus over an undiagnosable- non- fatal condition. All the side effects they list on lifestyle can also occur with the removal of the uterus. You trade pain and bleeding for pain and more surgery in the future.
Not to mention that I imagine there are some amazing alternative therapies for this condition. and of course I have to wonder (not knowing anything about anything) what difference lifestyle makes in the women who are asymptomatic and those who are not.
louiseds
February 8, 2009 - 10:05pm
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surgery or not
Yes Alemama, it certainly doesn't sound too bad, certainly not enough to lose your uterus over, but one of my friends has just been to hell and back before having a hyst for endo. After two lots of really complicated surgery she can do without the drugs, and has a life. Lert's see what the lnger term brings though.
Endo can be really crippling. I don't know anyone with adenomyosis is like. I imagine it can cause an enormous amount of suffering too, and I wouldn't tell any woman not to have a hyst if she was truly suffering. I would send her to HERS Foundation so she knew what she was letting herself in for, and get her to read STWW, and try mainstream and alternative therapies, but the decision would be hers alone, without guilt or resentment attached. We cannot walk in the shoes of another.
Cheers
Louise