Pain management for agonizing AF cramps? - Page 3

[FtMPapa]

Originally Posted by Keri Carpenter

Have you dealt with adenomyosis, and is there a cure withour removal of uterus? Please share everything you can with me. I am considering surgery. I have changed my diet three years ago, and tried teas, progesterone cream, and supplements. Nothing so far has helped,but I am thinking having hormones regulated by a doctor (if I can find one who believed in bioidentical)to see if this helps better?

No cure, just treating the symptoms, as far as I can tell.

I've had good luck using a DIVA cup (like the keeper) and some success with Cyklokapron - it's apparently not available in the US, I asked my doctor for it in September when I moved here from Canada, but it's a clotting medication used to treat hemophilia.

My new doctor wants me to stop taking it, because it can cause a stroke, so now I only take it about every second cycle, when the bleeding is *REALLY* heavy and nothing else works.

Generally, I just ride it out. I take Robaxacet, which is OTC in Canada (I actually take the Costco knock-off) and is by prescription in the USA as Robaxin (SP?). It's Robax mixed with acetominaphen (Tylenol) and it's a powerful muscle relaxant. Combined wiht a bit of alchohol, it can easily knock you out for a day or two.

I also take Amitryptaline, which helps with the pain, but also knocks me out.

Then I usually just sleep for a day or two - it's not ideal, clearly, because I end up taking two days off every 31 days, and then taking a few more days nearly off, where I don't do much but go to what I have to do and sleep.

I've found that adenomyosis comes and goes - I've been doing better in the past few months since I moved to the US. I'm not sure why, I'm eating more organics and eating unquestionably better than I was before, so that could be a large part of it.

I think basically you need to tinker with what you're doing and find out what works for you.

If you're not planning to give birth (again), you could have a hysterectomy, which is what my aunt did, 15 years ago. She left her ovaries, but had her uterus removed.

Good luck!

[airmide_m]

FTMPapa Thanks for the info! I sure wish I could find someone to give me halfway decent painkillers! I'm on vicodin and baclofen (muscle relaxer) but even combined it's not enough to even touch the pain. And I've switched doctors and my current doc doesn't ever prescribe narcotics so I need to find a new doc. I'm considering seeing if I could go to a pain specialist.

I haven't re-read the whole thread. Does anyone know how to get adenomyosis diagnosed? I had the laproscopic for endo and didn't have it. We've been TTC for 2+ years now, struggling with severe male factor infertility. I'm hoping that my body is relatively healthy for a pregnancy but I'm not sure how I'd know for sure.

Keri if you or someone else bumps the thread tomorrow I'll try to put together my list of places to learn about bioidentical hormones and thyroid issues, how to find a good doctor in your area, how to have the right tests done and how to get treated properly.

I think my cramps have vastly improved since getting my hormones balanced with bioidentical progesterone, and since being diagnosed and properly treated (5 grains of Armour) for Hashimoto's hypothyroid. Still, the first 24-48 hours is almost always pure agony. But at least it's not 5-7 days anymore! Also I've switched to mostly traditional foods, gluten free, off and on sugar free/grain free....and lost 40 pounds, so maybe that's helped a bit too.

[FtMPapa]

Originally Posted by airmide_m

FTMPapa Thanks for the info! I sure wish I could find someone to give me halfway decent painkillers! I'm on vicodin and baclofen (muscle relaxer) but even combined it's not enough to even touch the pain. And I've switched doctors and my current doc doesn't ever prescribe narcotics so I need to find a new doc. I'm considering seeing if I could go to a pain specialist.

I haven't re-read the whole thread. Does anyone know how to get adenomyosis diagnosed?

That's messed up - I hope you find a new doctor.

My adenomyosis was diagnosed based on ultrasounds and a family history.

I wonder if it gets worse with time? Or with being pregnant?

My old OBGYN said adenomyosis shouldn't interfere with getting or staying pregnant, except for a slightly increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

[LoveMyJonah]

I just wanted to pop in and add my two cents.

THere is a surgery that is not performed everywhere, but it is called excision. It is the only known "cure" for endometriosis. And just because a lap found nothing does not mean you don't have it. Excision goes a lot deeper than just looking externally on the organs and can find it burried deep. They then excise the tissue instead of just destroying it.

I forget where to look but there's a place called the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, GA. A lot of people travel there to have the surgery done and people swear by it.

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds relief in orgasming, even if it is temporary.

[airmide_m]

Yeah I've been told by every doctor that the endo can still be there even if they cant see it. But it seems like they're all using it as 1. an easy answer so they don't have to think and diagnose anything, and 2. a way to make higher profits. When I had bad insurance my doctor was just really so unsure it was endo. As soon as I went back with good insurance he was convinced it was endo and we needed to do surgery ASAP. Really why do a couple simple blood tests (Hashi's and hormones) when you could do a whole expensive invasive surgery?

I'm so glad to hear that adeno should not pose a problem with getting pregnant!. I am thinking that it could possibly become endo if you had a c-section, but otherwise might not have the risk increased too much just by pregnancy, but that's purely guesswork. I have a friend who has endo and says it seems to go in cycles. It builds up for several months, pain increasing each cycle, till the adhesions break off and everything resets.

[LoveMyJonah]

Have you tried Tylenol with Codeine????

I was prescribed this yesterday when I was in dire straights and I cannot tell you how much better I feel....

[airmide_m]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm glad you found something that's working for you. Did you happen to read my first post to this thread? I listed tylenol codiene as one of the things I've tried, as well as several other stronger medications. My pain has been beyond something like that helping for years now. At this point vicodin or percocet AND strong muscle relaxers and kahlua all at time same time don't even touch the pain. But at least the amount of days has decreased some.

[LoveMyJonah]

Originally Posted by airmide_m

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm glad you found something that's working for you. Did you happen to read my first post to this thread? I listed tylenol codiene as one of the things I've tried, as well as several other stronger medications. My pain has been beyond something like that helping for years now. At this point vicodin or percocet AND strong muscle relaxers and kahlua all at time same time don't even touch the pain. But at least the amount of days has decreased some.

I'm so sorry I was where you were three years ago.

[Purple*Lotus]

I don't have any different suggestions, but I wanted to say that I hope you are able to get some relief! My Aunt went through this. She wouldn't even be able to get out of bed, she would be in such agony