COMFORT FROM A BAG OF RICE

A rice bag is an alternative to an electric heating pad or hottie. They are cotton pillows filled with rice and scented oils which are heated in the microwave to provide hours of warm comfort.

How to make one:

Sew a bag of cotton material to whatever size you prefer. If the bag is large, sew channels into it to separate the rice so it spreads out evenly.
Sew a removable cover for washing, because rice doesn't take kindly to the washing water!
Fill with 1 3/4 cups uncooked long grain white rice.
Half-fill a glass with rice, add 6 drops each of lavender, rosemary and eucalpytus oils. Mix and let stand for 2 days so the rice can absorb the oils. Add to rice in bag, sew closed. Heat in microwave for about 60 seconds when required.

The scent is relaxing, the heat is soothing, and some women find the weight of the rice is comforting. Try your own variation - make a snake shape for an aching neck, or add different oils.

ONE OF THE BEST
Book Review

The Endometriosis Sourcebook,
by Mary Lou Ballweg and the Endometriosis Association. (1995).
Reviewed by Frances.

Of the many books on endo I have read, I found this one of the very best.

The 471 pages are packed with information and personal experiences, which could be rather overwhelming if you're just after a quick read, but are invaluable if you are trying to understand endo.

Mary Lou Ballweg, co-founder of the EA (the American Endometriosis Association), has produced the most up-to-minute resource on endo, with the help of a multi-disciplinary group of health professionals.

The American slant is sometimes obvious, for example in attitudes to the health system. It's an indispensible compilation of research, new treatments, common myths, pregnancy experiences, advice for coping, and personal case histories of women sharing their struggles and successes. Everything you need to know.

Available in New Zealand for $35.

COPING WITH DIMETRIOSE

DIMETRIOSE is a synthetic steriod hormone which suppresses ovulation and periods, so shrinking endo deposits. It comes in a very small capsule which is taken twice a week in the evening.

Here is a list of the possible side effects which the manufacturer admits to:
spotting, acne and oily skin, weight gain, appetite changes, hot flushes, headaches, cramps, nervousness, depression, gastrointestinal disturbances (in other words, tummy upsets); changes in libido, breast size, voice and body hair.

Women taking Dimetriose may get some or none of these. It is extremely rare to have them all!

Here is Frances’ story with the drug:

``I took the drug Dimetriose for six months in 1995. I started a month after my diathermic laparoscopy, in an attempt to reduce period pain and retain my fertility.
``The morning after taking the capsule, I would feel dizzy and weak for a few hours. The side-effects I experienced were fatigue, depression, constipation, weight gain.
``I had two periods while on the drug; both were very painful and heavy. The drug seemed to worsen my bowel trouble, and I ended up in hospital with a bowel blockage.
``Unfortunately Dimetriose didn't give me any relief from my endo, but it takes different women different ways, so please don't be discouraged by my own experiences.’’

Does anyone else have an experience with Dimetriose they want to share?

Frances’ six months on the drug were particularly bad but it has been reported to have had positive results for some women with relatively few side effects.

Can anyone provide a balancing view? I'd like to start a whole series of “Coping with...” articles on a range of different drugs and treatments.

Your experiences are needed!

ENDO-INFO

read all about it

Take a pinch of ginger and a little honey in a cup of boiling water to relieve cramps and improve circulation.

Troubled with excess gas? try charcoal tablets.

Calcium is nature's painkiller. Try a supplement with calcium and magnesium in it.

Avoid heavy lifting, lawn mowing and vigorous exercise as these can put stress on the pelvic region and even stretch scar tissue and adhesions.

Black cohosh is a herb often prescribed for hot flushes, but just be wary that it contains natural estrogen, which has been shown to "feed" endo.

Evening primrose oil has greatly improved the lives of many endo sufferers, especially those bothered with PMS.

Hot news from Overseas
ENDO FOUND IN HERMAPHRODITE “MAN”

A REPORT in the The Medical Journal of Australia reveals that doctors found endometriosis after a man was forced to see a women’s specialist because of his abdominal pain.

The “man”, a 29-year-old Asian refugee now living in Australia, was also a hermaphrodite, one of a rare group of people who have both male and female organs.

True hermaphroditism is very rare, with less than 700 cases reported in the last 100 years. The refugee, who had been brought up as a man, had a small penis and one testicle but also breasts, a womb, a small vagina and one ovary.

Doctors said it was the first time that endometriosis had been found in a hermaphrodite. They removed the womb and the ovary, which was surrounded by a benign cyst. Some hermaphrodites brought up as women have been able to become mothers.

AROMATHERAPY

Instead of heading straight for the medicine cabinet or the pharmacy, more and more people are turning to aromatherapy oils for relief. Aromatherapy is an ancient art that is being revived. Basically, it’s the process of treating illness with highly-scented and concentrated oils extracted from plants. These essential oils are used mostly for massage but can also be inhaled or added to baths.

Valerie Ann Worwood recently visited New Zealand from her native Britain to promote her book The Fragrant Pharmacy. Valerie has found aromatherapy oils beneficial in treating endo. Using women with endo, she carried out a trial by getting them to use particular oils and record their symptoms. She reports that the results were great, and the pain reductions were substantial.The Fragrant Pharmacy is available at bookshops for about $25, and it’s just one of many books on the market which can tell you about the healing powers of aromatherapy oils.

It’s best to consult an aromatherapist for the best blend of oils for your own situation. A soothing blend of lavender, chamomile, and rose geranium oils has helped women to relieve pain and relax.

WATER RETENTION

Many women suffer with retaining excess water in their bodies, usually just before their period is due. It’s possible to control this uncomfortable feeling by following a few hints:

Eat small quantities of raw parsley and drink dandelion tea. These are natural diuretics but don’t overdo it, as you may strain your kidneys.

Reduce salt in your diet, because salt helps the body retain fluid.

Reduce your intake of tea, coffee, chocolate, and alcohol.

Soak in a warm bath with 6 drops of lavender essential oil Take brisk exercise like running, walking, or cycling (if you can manage it!)

REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology is an alternative treatment which practitioners say has unlimited possibilities for relief of pain and all sorts of disorders.

It is a gentle, non-invasive treatment which involves working parts of the feet and hands which correspond to areas of the body. The painful part of the body is not directly touched, rather certain points on the hands or feet are believed to stimulate these areas indirectly.

Here are some examples of how it works:

Insomnia
If you’re too tense to fall asleep, work the solar plexus reflex point.
Press the centre of both palms for about one minute.

Headache
Gently press the pad of your thumbs, working from the knuckle joint to the tip of the thumb.

Period Pain
The reflex point for the ovaries is on the outside of each foot, just below and to the back of the ankle bone. The uterus point lies on the inside of each foot, almost directly opposite the ovary reflex points. Try gently rubbing these points to relieve pain.

ENDO-INFO ....read all about it ....

Dong Quai is a herbal treatment that is widely known to provide pain relief.

Trying to conceive? under your doctor’s guidance, try 100mg a day of Vitamin B6 and 1mg a day of folic acid.

Overseas studies have indicated that endo may be a hereditary disease, most likely passed on from mother to daughter rather than from the father’s side of the family.

Many doctors prescribe Ponstan for period pain, but it’s really only effective if you take it before your period begins - perhaps a couple of days before it’s due. It’s best to start taking the tablets before the pain begins.

About 10% of women with endo have implants on the appendix, which is commonly mistaken for appendix troubles rather than endo.

Have you a distended abdomen? try these pointers for relief:
cut out dairy foods, eat acidophilous yoghurt, take a yeast-free vitamin B complex tablet, drink aloe juice.

Pamela Anderson Lee, of Baywatch fame, told her story with endo on an MTV interview in the USA. She is reported to say that she suffers great pain and has had a miscarriage. She has since had a baby boy.

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