Endometriosis- need help

[pycelan]

Hi everyone. I just got back from visiting my SIL. I told her I would post her problem to see if you wise MDC posters had any advice. My SIL has severe endometriosis, to the point that she had her tubes evacuated about 2 years ago. The problem is, that she and my BIL have only been married about 10 months. I don't think they have done a test to see if her tubes are narrowed again, they are just assuming. SHe ans my BIL are still trying every month, but no success yet. She has visited fertility specialists who say she needs to do invitro fertilization, but her insurance doesn't pay (It doesn't pay for infertility and gender reassignment...don't even get me started on that one) and they really can't afford all of that. So, any suggestions? I am asking for all kinds...herbs, holistic medicine, funding options for invitro...you name it! Thanks for the help!

[OTMomma]

First off, 10 months isn't that long to have been trying- so I wouldn't panic there. I would consider doing an HSG, where they inject dye to see if there are blockages, no need to get the cart before the horse, so to speak. I think if a regular OB/Gyn orders it, it may not even be a problem with insurance. And then they can make an educated decision from there. It also wouldn't hurt to have your brother do a semen analysis, just to be sure there isn't a problem there.

I don't have any personal experience with endo. but I do know that lots of women with it go on to have healthy babies, and I hope your SIL is one of them.

Peace,
Laura

[karahsmomma]

Becky,
I have stage II endo and now have a healthy DD age 14mths. My dh and I TTC for 3yrs before finally doing IVF - I did two cycles of IVF which resulted a miscarriage and my dd.

Before going down the route of IVF I had a lap surgery to remove the endo found and was told to immediatly start ttc. Althought I didnt get pregnant I was pain free for a while. The rule of thumb when ttc is to try naturally for 12 mths and if not successfull to seek a fertility specialists.

I would suggest doing some research on herbs, diet and vitamin changes if that is the way she wants to go. Will her ins pay for diagnosis of infertility? testing and such? Has her husband been tested?

HSG is definetly a route that needs to be taken. certainly have her ob discuss this option with her. There are other avenues such as an IUI - however, if her tubes are blocked this would be a waste of time and money.

If her current ob is not open to any of these ideas, I would suggest getting a second opinon.

Good luck to your sil! I hope that she and her new husband are able to fulfill their family dreams.

love
holly and karah 14mths

[ericaz]

As someone with endometriosis, I wholeheartedly disagree with waiting a year to ttc, particularly for someone who has a dx'd condition. That's potentially 12 months of a broken heart. Why put yourself through that when you can try other methods, natural or more invasive, to conceive??

For the OP, I'd suggest that your SIL have another diagnostic workup to see what condition her tubes are currently in. In terms of natural therapies, I've heard great things about acupunture. There are also many herbs that can help a woman conceive, but if her tubes are jammed shut or there are other factors preventing fertilization of an egg, her only hope for conceiving might be to go the in vitro route.

Just trying to be realistic.

[karahsmomma]

As someone with endometriosis, I wholeheartedly disagree with waiting a year to ttc, particularly for someone who has a dx'd condition. That's potentially 12 months of a broken heart. Why put yourself through that when you can try other methods, natural or more invasive, to conceive??

Just wanted to say I did not mean to infer that she should wait for another few months. Being diagnosed at age 22, I was told that I would probably need help with ttc. At the time I did not know anything about IUI's IVF or other procedures. I was simply trying on my own. Then I found a dr that would evenutally put me on clomid for a year - so that I did not have to spend the money out of pocket for IUI or IVF if clomid worked. I think there is a natural progression before someone gets into IVF. Yes I had many MANY MANY years of heartbreak - and I probably could have bypassed all those years if I had done IVF in the beginning. I think for me at my age, and my husband and our young marriage it was not the route we needed to take.

My only advice is to explore ALL your options and know that no matter what you are working toward your dream - however you get there.

love
holly and karah 14mths

[WendyC]

I concieved after an unsuccessful lap then a long course of accupuncture, diet change, and soul searching. I wasn't trying to concieve at the time - I was in tremendous amounts of pain (Stage II-III) and just trying to heal myself. I ended up getting pregnant without trying. I highly reccomend Christine Northrup's Women's Bodies Women't Wisdom - I worked through her healing regimine for endo and it made a huge difference, mainly in accepting responsibility for my health and on a spirtual level. Obviously it helped on the physical level too - I don't think I could have gotten pregnant so easily without all the alterntaive measures.

[Pookietooth]

Definitely look into the Endometriosis diet (google for it), and read up on chronic inflammation, which is a probably cause of endo (Again, google, there's tons out there about it, much conflicting). IVF is rarely covered by insurance, but there are payment plans, buyers clubs (for the meds), and sometimes loans. Check with www.resolve.org for more info.

[pycelan]

Thank you all for all of your replies! I am going to send my SIL a link to this thread so she can read all of your responses! Thank you again!