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Post by KSA on Jun 26, 2010 14:25:40 GMT -5
I am wondering if anyone knows if taking birth control can control my endo on my bowels? I had so many issues taking the pill before my hysterectomy but as a last resort for my bowel I feel like I may want to atleast try. The past months have taken me into a new relm of bowel pain and constipation. I am staying active eating well but maybe my stress is causing all of these issues? I am speaking to my doctors about it this week. I still have my ovaries and until I am late 30's doc wont consider taking them. I keep hearing from docs there is nothing anyone can do for bowel endo. That seems so odd to me? I would think something could remove it. I know its a risk but wish they had some more answers for the women with bowel and bladder endo.
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Post by KSA on Jun 26, 2010 14:37:49 GMT -5
I also want to add that my doctor is limited to the drugs he can give me for pain as I am allergic to so many meds. I take demerol as needed but it can cause bowel obstructions so I dont use hardly at all I just deal with the pain but the constipation is so bad. I wonder each day if I will end up with a bowel obstruction bc of the endo or the med. I take MIRALAX like most people drink water. Still some weeks nothing comes out and the bloating is so severe I can compete with my twin sister on who has the biggest belly and she is 8 months pregnant. LOL! She usually wins:)
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 26, 2010 15:31:37 GMT -5
Hey Keri - how about trying Provera? My endo pain is all but gone, but I still get bad constipation and bloating. I take Movicol to keep things 'soft' lol. Definitely noticed that my diet can play a part, I think wheat and dairy make the constipation worse. Don't have it all figured out though! I don't know what affect birth control would have on you?
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Post by KSA on Jun 26, 2010 15:38:16 GMT -5
Once I think I have it figured out and I stop eating the culprit another thing does it and I am like what should I just not eat LOL! I was on provera thing about that med for me my doc will only perscribed it in 5 to 10 day doses for me. I am going to see what he thinks THANKS! BTW Helen you are stunning in you FB prof picture!
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 26, 2010 16:05:21 GMT -5
I'm on 10 mg twice a day, permanently. Only side effect that I know of is fluid retention. I've gained 21 lb in the last 7 months. Provera probably isn't to blame for all of it. Thanks, I figured out a while ago if you lie back while taking a photo from above you get a much more flattering outcome!
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Post by Karen on Jun 27, 2010 10:56:43 GMT -5
If you think about it, when women are pregnant, they often don't have symptoms - they have progesterone to thank for that. That's why progestin only drugs, such as BC or provera, are so big for women with endo. But, so many of us have side effects that make them intolerable, and with your issues, you need to be extra careful.
My latest favorite thing is bio-identical progesterone. I've been using a low dose (100 mg) of prometrium, a micronized form of progesterone in pill form once a day at bedtime. Three weeks on, one week off. With the exception of a few twinges here and there every few days, when I'm on it, I have NO pain. Bio-identical progesterone is available in suppositories, creams, and pills, and because they are bio-identical, they are molecularly the same as the progesterone (progestins are not) your body makes so they are usually much more well tolerated than progestins, which is found in BC. I've heard there are fewer side effects from creams as it's absorbed directly into the fat cells under your skin where it is slowly released into your blood system throughout the day. The only real side effects I have of the pill form is tingling hands when I wake up (not quite sure why), so I'm thinking of asking my new doc for a progesterone cream that's specifically compounded for me instead. I've read that the pill form of progesterone isn't as effective as a lot of it is lost in the digestive system, so you have to ingest a lager dose of it in order to get just some of it to get where it needs to go.
If it's something you discuss with your doc, though, keep in mind that more progesterone isn't better, but finding the amount that's right for your body (and the bare minimum of what you need) is critical. Testing your progesterone levels before, during, and after are critical! If you have too high of a dose for what you need, you might get very, very sleepy!! But, it may be something to look into further as a potential option. Good luck, and please let us know what your doc suggests!
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