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Post by puddleduck on Apr 8, 2008 3:31:30 GMT -5
Hi there,
I'm interested to know, on behalf of all ladies, whether your consultants and GPs support you and encourage the use of complementary and natural therapies, particularly those which have been proven through research trials to benefit women with endometriosis and reduce symptoms of the disease or side effects of medication used to treat endo conventionally.
1) Does your doctor encourage you to find out more for yourself or recommend particular therapies/people trained to help you with these? 2) Or does your doctor NOT support these at all and even chide you for experimenting with yourself?
Such complementary therapies might include acupuncture, pycnogenol, nutrition... 3) Do you inform your doctor if you are using complementary therapies or do you feel you cannot be open for fear of being ridiculed? 4) Can you be open with your doctor about using complementary therapies and state your case for using them in preference to conventional treatments? 5) How do you feel about your doctors' attitudes to complementary therapies? Does it influence your choice of GP/specialist?
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Post by tmichelle on Apr 8, 2008 12:44:31 GMT -5
My doc doesn't discourage me per se but doesn't think much of the alternative therapy I brought up. Nor does he tell me about other places to look.
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Post by Tiff on Apr 8, 2008 13:21:21 GMT -5
Me too, like tmichelle said my Dr. does not discourage me from doing it but will not make any reccomendations for she is not thrilled about the idea. I reall want to find a Dr. who is not only open to medical procedures but alternative medicine as well. I am currently having a hard time finding one. Any suggestions?
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Post by anneny on Apr 8, 2008 17:15:05 GMT -5
I voted tha mine gave me the name of practitioner because he recommended the physical therapist who really helped me. He also recommended I stay away from gluten and eat a good diet, so if I had been able to vote twice, I'd have selected "optimal nutrition" too.
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Post by puddleduck on Apr 9, 2008 3:56:16 GMT -5
1) Specialist suggested homoeopathy, knows nothing about it & hasn't recommended a practitioner. Responses to my informed questioning and research about specific natural treatments shown to be useful for endo are inconsistent: once he backed it :)and another time seemed threatened by these ideas . 2) Told very sternly by a specialist not to "experiment with myself"(!) , even though the suggested treatment is proven from evidence based medicine . GP responded encouragingly to one idea & found extra information, although she couldn't prescribe: is open to ideas but wary of condoning them unless prescribed by a consultant. Catch 22... 3) I inform my GP and consultant of any complementary therapies or natural treatments I am using, and provide all available info. on the constituents of the treatment/actions/interactions/possible adverse effects/contraindications. Phew! What a lot of work! 4) Have tried stating my case but it is not always respected; many doctors feel undermined by an informed patient, which is sad . 5) I feel that docs and patients should be able to work together to manage chronic conditions and to use such experiences to expand upon existing knowledge to benefit even more patients. I just don't like the attitude of "you have to just take it because it's the best there is: suck it and see" which is so prevalent. When a doctor disregards/chides me for helping myself with complementary therapies, it colours my view of that doctor's approach. I find it difficult to trust a doctor who disregards what I feel is right for my body. The fact that doctors will actually scold a patient for trying to help herself (often at great cost) seems to show a lack of understanding of just how awful endo is to live with!
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Post by minnie on Apr 9, 2008 11:47:34 GMT -5
Totally with you on this one Puddleduck. There is nothing worse than being ticked off by your doc/gyn for trying to help yourself. I often wonder, when faced with the multitude of hormonal treatment/surgery on offer, whether they would go for that or try and help themselves in a more natural manner.
My GP was receptive to the idea of accupunture but couldn't recommend anyone and suggested that a dietician may help - again, no referral was offered! It seemed I had to options, the national health service way or my way. I chose my way and then mixed in the lap from their way! I did tell a few white lies along the way in order to get the lap but it was worth it! Tee hee
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Post by cherylann on Apr 22, 2008 15:31:58 GMT -5
The only options I've been given are potent drugs and surgeries. Not one ever mentioned anything about diet, vitamins or supplements. I researched and found the info on my own. After I went back to see the surgeon for my laproscopy post-op check..I told him about the diet, etc. I was following and read up on and he sort of made a face and basically told me that diet probably won't have any effect or "cure" in my case, because there's some on my bowel and I will probably end up having a hysterectomy or Lupron. This is exactly why I rarely go to doctors (and haven't had to in many years until now).
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monira
Full Member
Life is always exploring something new.
Posts: 117
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Post by monira on Jul 26, 2008 0:00:16 GMT -5
I voted for "Yes: encourages openness and sharing information". Althought she has little idea about alternative treatment and explains regular treatment options as an obgyn, has interest on what I am doing alternatively to improve my condition. She does not opose to my natural way and try to share information. She told me "when you feel like you want to do regular treatment, let me know so that we can start the process". She did not push me or did not showed any negative opinion to alternative treatment.
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