If birth control pills worked for you - how long did it take for you to notice improvement in symptoms?

[Rhyothemis]

Also, which pill do you take?

~

I'm new here; asking for a relative, she's really struggling right now - vomiting frequently.

[Abbbb]

Hi rhyothemis,

If your relative is vomiting due to pain, she needs surgery to remove the endo. It's a horrible disease where the severity is not equal to the pain felt. She could hav a bit of endo on her ovary which causes excruciating pain, and someone else could have stage 4 sever endo and only feel mild pain at times.

The pill will only dampen symptoms, especially at ovulation which is often a hormones spike, but it wont necessarily have any affect on day to day pain.

The progesterone only mini pill is the most effective as endo feeds on estrogen, so you want as least amount of estrogen as possible in the body.

She needs a laparoscopy urgently. That's the only way to remove the endo. She also needs it with a gyni specialising in endo as I've read many people on here have laparoscopys and having no treatment and sewn back up and referred to a specialist. Which is awful. Endo can hide behind/inside organs, only a specialist knows how to look for it.

Sorry it's not more positive but please keep fighting for her. You hav no idea how important it is to have someone supporting you through this madness. She will no doubt be exhausted from the pain but an urgent referral can be done in some circumstances. I ended up going private for all of mine due to our ridiculousloc NHS wait list.

Xxx

[Rhyothemis in reply to Abbbb]

Thanks for the information.

I'm not sure why she is vomiting. I am wondering if she doesn't have something else. It's possible she is a carrier for Familial Mediterranean Fever (causes abdominal pain) - as I am. Carrier status isn't supposed to cause the disease, but who knows. FMF can flare up with the menstrual cycle. She does not get high fevers, but sometimes has bouts of elevated temp, ~ 99 - 100 deg F. Unfortunately, she may also be a carrier for MCAD deficiency, again, not supposed to cause the disease, but one of the symptoms is vomiting. I had not gotten her to do genetic testing since I had been concerned about privacy & future impact on health insurance (she's a minor, we are in the US), but as bad as this has become, I now feel we need to get as much information as possible.

There's no way to confirm endo without laproscopy, correct?

[Abbbb in reply to Rhyothemis]

Yes that is correct a laparoscopy is the only true diagnosis.

I fou d much more information on US sites than anywhere in the UK.

If you look at hystersysters (a forum of information and support for hysterectomies), they have an entire section on endometreosis which I have found really useful.

Xx

[HikerGirl]

The pill is not a treatment for endo and comes with its own set of side effects. It best to visit the Nancy Nook Facebook page which is an amazing educational resource on the condition.

[Rhyothemis in reply to HikerGirl]

Thanks for your input. I have heard of the Nancy Nook facebook group, but I don't do facebook - I have strong reservations about that company's ethical standards.

[HikerGirl in reply to Rhyothemis]

Interesting, what are your reservations? I’ve not heard anything negative but always good to hear different opinions. I thought Nancy Peterson was a nurse, not a company? the Facebook page acts as a resource library.

[Rhyothemis in reply to HikerGirl]

The page for Nancy Nook is on the Facebook platform; I am unaware of any connection between the page owner and Facebook besides her use of the platform. Facebook requires one to become a member to use the pages it hosts effectively. I have never been a Facebook member and do not want to become one.

I really don't know where to begin to explain the problems with Facebook. If you google #deletefacebook (it's both a hashtag and a movement) you will get a lot of articles on Facebook's numerous privacy violations and data breaches. Also, Peter Thiel is on the board of directors; he has voiced the opinion that women should never have 'been given' the right to vote.

[HikerGirl in reply to Rhyothemis]

Oh I see! Sorry I misunderstood and thought you meant reservations with Nancy Peterson of Nancy’s Nook.

Totally understand your reservations over facebook!