I would like to know if anyone has any holistic tips to help deal with endometriosis.
I have just had an appointment with my gynaecologist, and they strongly recommend I have my second surgery in spring. However, I have asked if this could be delayed as im currently in my final year at university and want to try to improve my lifestyle choices and move away from surgery as my first option.
My endometriosis story is that I was diagnosed last April (2023). I had been rushed to the hospital three times before this due to debilitating period pain. In my surgery, they found a 15 cm cyst on one ovary and a 5 cm cyst on the other. My specialist also told me that I had stage 4 endometriosis and one of the worst cases she'd seen at my age, which, at the time, I was 20.
I have had improvements since my surgery, but not too much. I'm currently having problems with my bowel and am being checked for deep bowel endometriosis; as in my surgery, it was found on the outside.
In my most recent appointment, they found that a cyst had grown back, and my pelvic area was all pretty much stuck together again. They have highly recommended surgery. This would be two surgeries in a year at the ages of 20 to 21. Im finding this overwhelming and am feeling extremely anxious, and im noticing a significant dip in my mental health at the moment.
I have been trying to do holistic approaches to improve my situation. For example, I have cut dairy and gluten out, but my stomach and bowel still seem to have bad problems. Im also trying to keep fit but am struggling to motivate as I get pains after exercise. What are good exercises for endometriosis?
My main question is if anyone has any holistic tips to help reduce or alleviate symptoms until the surgery.
Written by
shaqshuka101
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I’ve been taking Serratia for the last month or so after my surgery in December, with the hope it might stop the endo growing back. It’s hard to know. My pain is minimal, but it wasn’t too bad before the surgery. I do have a very clean diet though, lots of fibre, no alcohol
I found a caster oil pack quite soothing when I was experiencing pain. It doesn’t relieve it, but felt quite soothing. Have you read Heal Endo, but Katie Edmonds? I found that a useful read.
I am really sorry that you have to go through all that pain and anxiety...
I am a firm believer in a holistic approach to endometriosis, and I have made many changes to my lifestyle. Combined they made a significant difference to my overall health and pain levels, and as a result I am currently meds free. Having all that in mind, please remember that we are all different and things that worked for me don't have to work for you. It is very important to try different things and listen to your body.
I started with eliminating inflammatory foods and substances from my house. I cut out: gluten, caffeine (from all the sources, so coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and so on), alcohol, refined sugar, highly processed foods and became vegan. I replaced these things with a whole foods plant based diet, caffeine free coffee and herbal teas. I drink decaf green tea with ginger everyday and found it to be the best painkiller on the market. It reduced my pain (especially around period) better than the opioids I used to take. There is a herbalist that was a panel speaker on the last Endometriosis UK event in Glasgow that I also plan to go to. Maybe she will provide some good advice as well.
Next were endocrine disruptors, so I replaced all the beauty, household and cleaning products for non-toxic alternatives: I started with shampoo and shower gel (replaced with shampoo bar and a bar of soap without SLS and parabens). Next a toothpaste, as the foaming SLS can increase inflammation. Later I removed all artificial scents from the house. So scented candles (replaced with pure beeswax) and air fresheners (I open windows instead) had to go. Following that I replaced household products - laundry powder, fabric softener, bathroom and toilet cleaners, dishwashing liquid and so on.
All of the above decreased my pain to the point that I stopped taking any medications, including pain killers. The pain didn't go away completely, it was just manageable without any pills. I didn't stop there though.
The next step was to take care of my mental and physical health. I do yoga everyday - there are many sources online about the best poses for pelvic floor health (like child's pose, pigeon, spinal twists and so on). I also do breathing exercises daily. Just about 10 to 15 minutes help to reduce my stress levels significantly. To learn more about myself and improve my overall wellbeing I started to use the app called Intellect, where you can find many tools to improve overall mental health. The other app that I use is Curable - it is for those suffering with chronic pain. It explains the mechanisms behind pain. I also prioritise sleep and try to give myself an opportunity for more than 8h of sleep every night. I don't always need it, but the opportunity is there.
I found that fasting a couple of days before my period also helps, so for these couple of days I only drink herbal teas and water. When I need something extra I use hot water bottle and TENS machine.
I currently started an endometriosis journal, where everyday I write down everything that I ate and drunk, and tag my symptoms. I hope to find some more connections between flare ups and things I put in my body.
The very last and the hardest one to implement for me was to let go, to accept. I recently read that suffering = pain * resilience. I can't agree more! By purely accepting that the pain is there, that I can't remove it fully, that there are better and worse days my mental health improved. I currently allow myself to go to bed if I don't feel the best or skip some gatherings without shame. I am still a work in progress and it is fine.
I know it is a lot, but I hope you will be able to find something in there that will resonate with you and help you on your endo path. Please let me know, if you want to know something more. I am more than happy to share my experiences. In the meantime take care of yourself, hun. 🤍
Sorry you're going through so much. I understand your wanting to delay your second surgery during your final year. I hope the decision made will be the right one for you and that you will feel at peace with it. Regarding gluten free. I've heard it can take up to a year for that to fully work, but many people feel the benefits.
I recommend getting a tens machine. I used the Ova tens machine, without a heat option, which was best for me as heat often made things worse. They work in a similar way as pain meds in terms of blocking pain signals, so you need to put it on at the first sign of pain and not wait for pain to ramp up, thereby losing the benefit.
Keeping a food diary might help. I discovered that any more than 3 cups of jasmine green tea a month and I'd be in terrible agony and visiting a+e in an awful state. I found cutting out processed foods and added sugar of great help to my mental and overall health.
Have you had your magnesium, vitamin d and other levels checked? I went to see a Nutritionist to get further help than what was given to me via the nhs in my locality.
I found the Psalms of great comfort to me. I learned a large part of a Psalm, which I would recite when I was in a lot of pain and found it really helped.
Have you tried any breathing exercises? It's worth looking up as I think lots of us tend to shallow breathe when we're in pain and some deep breathing exercises might help.
I do hope things get better for you soon. Sending you a virtual hug x
So sorry to hear about your situation, it sounds incredibly stressful. I am also in the process of deciding whether or not to have a second surgery, albeit with what seems like less severe endo than yourself.
I have booked to see a physiotherapist who can help in a range of ways and is an important part of endo care so it might be worth seeing if you can find a women’s health or pelvic health physio who treats endo symptoms. A lot of this is around relaxation and stretching I believe so fairly holistic.
I also take vitamins after attending a women’s health physio webinar, I take omega 3 and an iron boosting general women’s vitamin, she’s called chloestevensphysio on Instagram if you want to look at what her actual guidance was on this, she did a thing reviewing the evidence base and is a friend of a friend, so I know she’s appropriately qualified and experienced
Sorry to hear you are going through all this at such a young age and whilst studying. I found making changes to my diet made a massive difference to my endo symptoms. I follow a anti-inflammatory diet, so adding in plenty of fruit and veg and then working out if particular foods are a trigger for you - wheat, sugar and caffeine were my triggers. I found yoga really helpful when my pain level made other exercise difficult. Heat packs and TENS machines can help too. Good luck.
Hi, Sorry you are going through this! I am stage 4, everything pretty much stuck together, with my ovaries kissing and a 5cm cycst. I was diagnosed nearly 7 years. I used to be in agony from the start of my period to ovulation. However, I found the following drastically reduced / removed my pain. An anti-inflammatory diet, no gluten, no dairy, no sugar, no caffine, no alcohol. Sugar is a major trigger. I find particularly if I am on my period and I have some I will start to cramp within an hour. I also found drinking ginger and peppermint tea helped. Also keeping well hydrated. A TENS machine is also a Godsend. I also found the podcast by The Gluccose Goddes very helpful. She talks about how the order you eat food can help reduce inflamation which can be caused by glucose spikes. She reccomends eating your food in the following order, veggies, then meat and finally carbs. I hope this helps give you some relief.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Tips for dealing with endometriosis pain and emotional distress
Does anyone else suffer from lower back pain from endo? Any tips on easing it?
Any tips for worsening pain?
not diagnosed yet but need pain tips 
Endro pain not controlled help!
