use of systemic enzymes for treatment and dissolving of endometrial adhesions??

[tashantx]

I've searched these boards for experience with endometriosis, I've not found a whole lot. I'm pretty sure based on symptoms that I have endometriosis. My gyno agreed but wanted to do a lap, surgery to be able to say for sure. The only thing that remotely interests me in that is having a possible temporary aleiviation of pain from removal of adhesions. I'm taking vitex which from my research has mixed effects on endo. I'm about to try progesterone cream and possibly maca root I've read that these two things along with systemic enzymes produce good results. I'm not really willing to go on birth control and cringe at the thought of surgery. I'm not actively ttc but hope to in the next 6 months. I had a c -section 11 years ago I've heard that there is speculation that abdominal or pelvic surgeries can be an attribute to endo. Any comments? Also all of the systemic enzymes I've been looking into say not to use if breastfeeding, any ideas why?

[TonyaW]

I just posted a question yesterday about proteolytic enzymes and adhesions. I haven't gotten a response. However, I just had an ectopic pregnancy and surgery twice. I had lots of adhesions due to a c section. My chiropractor recommended the enzymes for the adhesions and she said she also uses these for fibroids and other tumors too.

So, I would say your adhesions, if not from endo, were at least caused from the c section. I don't think it would hurt to try enzymes. I think having adhesions can give you the same feeling as endo due to ashesion locations. From my c section I had adhesions on most of my organs in that area, fallopian tubes, bladder, uterus.

If you ever have the surgery, my chiro also recommended buffered vitamin C.

What was it you were trying to accomplish using vitex and maca? Are you trying to regulate hormones, or will these help with adhesions too?

[tashantx]

thanks, I think it would be great to just have adhesions from surgery and not actual endo. I'm just nervous about taking the enzymes without knowing why the label states not to take it if breastfeeding. My son is almost three but I'm trying to be cautious. I actually saw your thread. I was hoping that the use of vitex and maca would help regulate estrogen production which from my understanding can contribute to endo and other fibrous problems. Now, just brainstorming but I was on b/c pill for 7 years or so after my c section and never had any of the problems I have now. So I'm thinking endo for that reason...I got pregnant about 1 year after stopping the pill and when my cycles returned all of this started. I never had any problems during the year of ttc. I'm just so tired of the pain. I wish I could afford the chiro right now we have 2 here that are excellent. The gyno was pretty understanding of me not wanting to undergo the lap surgery , but that was about all that was offered. That was about 9 months ago and I've tried to be strong but this is getting so hard to deal with. I'm so sorry for what you've been through it sounds so difficult I hope the enzymes help you. May I ask the difference in the proteolytic enzymes and something like this product? http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Natur...es-RejuvenZyme

[tashantx]

another question for you did you ever have pain with the adhesions? I have horrible pain with bowel movements during my period. I've looked into ibs but I usually only have the problems during my period....

[TonyaW]

It looks like the enzyme you posted is similar to mine. I am taking what my chiro recommended. They are suppose to be taken on an empty stomach.

I was diagnosed with endo 10 yrs ago. I did take BC for it for a while. However, I changed my lifestyle significantly and don't have any problems that I am aware of from endo now. I did have pain from the endo at first, but once off BC and changing my lifestyle, I no longer had pain. The adhesion's did cause pain at first from my c section but that changed with time. Now, I do have pain, but my surgery is so recent I don't know what the results will be.

Has your OB/gyn looked inside with a sonogram. There were visible adhseions on the sono for me via sonos. At least you could possibly know if that is the problem. I have heard and read people saying that adhesions do cause problems with pain esp with bowels. Of course it could be endometriosis causing the pain too.

Oh, also pretty much any supplement says not to breastfeed while using the supplement. I don't know why the enzymes would be a problem. I am visiting my chiro tomorrow and if I remember I will ask her about it.

[tashantx]

thanks I know that most supplements say that ugh!! I allready take a handfull daily. I'm just trying to be careful. I did take some enzymes when my son seemed to be having reactions to certain things I was eating and we never really had any problems with them. What type of lifestyle changes did you make? eta no I haven't had him check by sono he seems pretty adamant about a lap (cut happy??) I may end up seeing a different doc or I may end up asking him about a sono.

[TonyaW]

BTW, I forgot to mention that any belly surgery even a lap begets adhesions, even my ob gyn said that. So I often wonder why ob gyns recommend surgery for endo or adhesions, except in cases of severe pain.

I am so missing breastfeeding my son who is a bit over 3 years. We got to breastfeed for 3 years, but I had to quit due to trying to conceive and needing to take aspirin and possibly another anticoagulant for an autoimmune disease. I am glad I did stop BFing at the time esp with the ectopic and all the meds I needed for pain and surgery. But I miss it now! I Still have milk and my son still asks to nurse, but now I need to detox after all the crap that was put into my body. :-(

Anyway, the lifestyle changes I made were over time. I started with eliminating most processed and refined foods. I started eating a whole foods diet like clean meat, eggs, organic dairy, organic produce and whole grains. I moved on from there to eating raw milk and cultured milk products and meat from clean animals processed without the use of hormones, antibiotics and steroids. Most of the meat, milk products and eggs which I buy now are from local farms. I eat mostly organic produce and my grains consist of organic brown rice, sprouted grain bread and other whole grains. I took a good vitamin and b complex. One thing I did at the time was to juice fresh fruits and vegetables all organic. That really helped and I want to start doing that again. I stopped being afraid of saturated fat from clean sources. I really think a big key in dealing with endo is a good vitamin b complex, clean fats and clean meats and milk. All the estrogen and hormones in meat and milk are horrible as well as all the pesticides in produce. They can all mimic estrogen. Also, plastic has chemicals that mimic estrogen. So I use glass as often as I can. You can check out the traditional foods forum here on MDC for more info about how I eat. Finally, I started using all natural ways of cleaning my home. Mostly I use vinegar and water with a dash of 7th Generation soap. So many chemicals in our environment wreak havoc on our bodies and hormones. I was just watching a program where a common herbicide called atrozine (I think) which causes male frogs to become female. They are getting much less of it than we do in our drinking water. I avoid unnecessary chemicals as much as I can because there is so much we cannot avoid.

[tashantx]

okie dokie sounds very similar to my lifestyle except my grain intake! I'm considering going gluten free. I do eat some processed foods but mostly only when we eat out or eat at friends/ families homes. I drink raw milk and get my eggs from my dads chickens. I get grassfed beef but still buy conventional chicken. With most of these changes I can not allways do orgainc veggies. I make broth and am trying so hard to defeat all of this! I bought a juicer but have yet to use it a whole lot. I am definatley not a chemical user. I do use laundry soap I used to make my own but got lazy and most of my cosmetics are paraben free and so on. I'm glad to know I'm somewhat on the right track. I totally understand your need to stop breastfeeding 3 years is a long time! May I ask what autoimmune disease you have? My mom had lupus and fibromyalgia. I've been tested for both and was not positive. I often wonder with all of my mothers respiratory problems if she may have possibly had endo in the lungs/ chest area. There is so much we don't know and I agree 100% removing chemicals and trying to eat healthy is vital to taking control of our health. oh also I was taking a lot of coconut oil when my symptoms were a little less severe. I need to start taking it again I have it I just get so discouraged with trying so many things!

[TonyaW]

Yeap we are on the same page with diet! :-) I can honestly say that is what helped me with my endo. I was so afraid to come off birth control for fear of my horribly painful periods. I had made all those lifestyle changes and then came off BC and was pleasantly surprised that I had very manageable pain and then having a baby took away all my menstrual pain. My doc said he didn't see any endo when he did the two laps for my ectopic. I think anything to reduce inflammation would help which is my next step too. Gluten free and dairy free is a big part of reducing inflammation for many people. Enzymes should help.

I have antiphospholipid syndrome....supposedly.

I hope you figure something out! I hope enzymes are the answer for me too!

If your mom has lupus, it seems that disease always seems to settle in one particular organ and of course multiple organs at some point. I did some reading about it because a lot of people with Antiphospholipid Syndrome also have Lupus.

[tashantx]

yeah I've heard that about lupus, but my mom had endo and had a total hyterectomy and I've read in various places that at times the endo will attach elsewhere after a hyterectomy. I hope the same for you and really apprecitate the conversation. I can say it has helped me to have a little more confidence in my own research and I think I am going to order the enzymes. I hope you also have success. thanks mama!