Endometriosis for dummies : [explains the latest drug, hormone, surgical, and alternative treatments

Get the empowering info that puts you in control Take charge and take comfort in knowing how to live well with endometriosis Diagnosing and living with endometriosis isn't easy, but this disease doesn't have to rule your life. This book helps you find out and recognize typical symptoms. Plus, you'll get up-to-date info on traditional and alternative treatments -- ranging from medications and surgeries to acupuncture and massages. The authors provide plenty of compassionate advice on dealing with the pain and emotional issues, so you can enjoy life. Discover how to * Evaluate treatment options * Enhance your chances of getting pregnant * Manage the pain * Make lifestyle changes to minimize symptoms * Deal with the emotional and financial challenges Endometriosis For Dummies 3 Authors’ Acknowledgments 7 Contents at a Glance 9 Table of Contents 11 Introduction 21 About This Book 22 Conventions Used in This Book 22 What You’re Not to Read 22 Foolish Assumptions 23 How This Book Is Organized 23 Icons Used in This Book 25 Where to Go from Here 26 Part I: Endometriosis: What It Is and Isn’t 27 Chapter 1: The Lowdown on Endometriosis: A Quick Run-Through 29 Defining Endometriosis 29 Going Public: Why Don’t People Know About Endometriosis? 32 Who Gets Endometriosis? 34 Calculating the Cost of Endometriosis 38 Do You Have Endometriosis: A Self-Test 41 Chapter 2: Suspecting Endometriosis: Defining the Symptoms 43 Considering the Most Common Symptoms of Endometriosis 43 Noting the Not-Quite-As-Common Symptoms of Endometriosis 52 Writing It Down: How a Diary Can Help 55 Chapter 3: Endometriosis: A Quick Review of Biology 59 Getting Back to Basics: Bio 101 of Female Anatomy 59 Measuring How Endometriosis Affects Your Reproductive and Other Organs 64 Chapter 4: Determining What Causes Endometriosis 75 Speculating on How Endometriosis Develops: The Most Common Theories 75 Exploring Other (Not-So-Common) Theories 81 The Mystery of Traveling Endometriosis 92 Avoiding Endometriosis: Is It Possible? 95 Part II: Digging Deeper into Endometriosis 101 Chapter 5: Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle (And Its Relationship to Endometriosis) 103 Your Period and Endometriosis: Why Are They Connected? 104 A Pain by Any Other Name Is Still a Pain, But Is It Endometriosis? 111 Regulating Your Menstrual Cycle to Reduce the Pain 113 Hello Menopause: Goodbye Endometriosis? 115 Chapter 6: Looking Closer at How Endometriosis Also Affects Other Body Parts 117 What a Gas! Endometriosis and Your Intestines 117 Endometriosis and Your Urinary Tract: More Than Just Another Infection 125 Endometriosis in Your Lungs: Coughing, Chest Pain, and Breathing Problems 130 Endometriosis in Your Brain: Rare, but Possible 132 Chapter 7: Endometriosis and Infertility: Having a Baby (Or Trying To) 133 Figuring Out Why Endometriosis Is a Major Cause of Infertility 134 Endometriosis In, Around, and On Your Ovaries 137 Interfering with a Good Uterine Environment 143 Messing with Your Fallopian Tubes 145 Diagnosing Infertility Caused by Endometriosis 148 Starting with Simple Treatments 153 Taking the Next Step: Surgery to Treat Infertility 156 Going for the Big Guns: Is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Necessary? 159 Miscarriage and Endometriosis: Is There a Connection? 161 Chapter 8: Finding the Right Doctor 163 Finding a Gynecologist 163 Navigating the First Doctor’s Visit 168 Working with Your Doctor 171 Divorcing Your Doctor Painlessly 173 Chapter 9: Do You Have Endometriosis? Your Initial Exam and Diagnosis 175 Preparing for Your Diagnostic Exam 175 Understanding How Your Doctor Makes a Diagnosis 177 Keeping the Lines of Communication Open 180 Undergoing a Few Diagnostic Tests 181 Diagnosing Endometriosis Surgically 185 Staging Endometriosis 190 Part III: Treating Endometriosis 191 Chapter 10: Relying on (Prescription) Drugs to Treat Endometriosis 193 Understanding Medical Treatment: How Drugs Fight Endometriosis 193 Looking at Hormonal Medication Options 195 Checking Out Nonhormonal Options 212 Looking at What the Future Holds 213 Chapter 11: Contemplating Surgery to Improve Your Endometriosis 217 Eyeing the Two Main Surgical Methods 217 Naming the Surgical Tools 228 Starting Surgical Treatment Conservatively 232 Opting for Radical Surgery 239 Making the Right Surgical Choice 246 Chapter 12: Considering Alternative Therapies and Remedies to Relieve the Pain 247 Being Aware of Alternative Medicine Pitfalls 248 Accessing Acupuncture 251 Considering a Chiropractor 252 Using Heat and Massage for Pain Relief 253 Relying on Relaxation Techniques 254 Stretching with Yoga and T’ai Chi 255 Using a TENS Unit 257 Trying Traditional Chinese Medicine 257 Considering Herbal Medicines 259 Breathing Your Way to Feeling Better: Aromatherapy 261 Considering Immunotherapy 262 Chapter 13: Managing the Chronic Physical Pain 265 Defining Chronic Pain 266 Self-Medicating with Over-the-Counter Meds 266 Trying Prescription Medications 270 Creaming Away the Pain 276 Exercising Away Your Pain 277 Using Heat and Massage for Pain Relief 278 Chapter 14: All Things Teens: Diagnosing, Treating, and Coping with Endometriosis 279 Making a Diagnosis in Teens (And Preteens) 279 Knowing the Risks When Choosing Treatment for Teens 283 Keeping Communication Open between Parent and Teen 286 Helping Teens Live with Endometriosis 287 Part IV: Living with Endometriosis 291 Chapter 15: Coping with Endometriosis and Your Emotions 293 Understanding How Endometriosis Can Affect Your Mental Health 294 When Depression Rears Its Ugly Head: Feeling Down in the Dumps 294 Determining If Anxiety Is Your Problem 297 Treating Emotional Problems with Medication 298 Expressing Your Frustration without Alienating Everyone You Know 303 Chapter 16: Changing Your Lifestyle When You Have Endometriosis 307 Focusing on Life beyond Endometriosis 308 Coping with Work When You Don’t Feel Good 310 De-stressing Your Life: More Than Just Breathing in Slowly 313 Changing Your Bad Habits 314 Exercising for Health and Other Benefits 319 Finding Chemically Safe Products 321 Adjusting Your Sex Life 322 Chapter 17: Just for Friends and Family: Help and Support 325 Living with Endometriosis — Secondhand 326 Persevering Through Infertility Treatments Together 330 Just for Moms and Dads: Being There for Your Adult Daughter 332 Finding Support for Yourself 333 Part V: The Part of Tens 335 Chapter 18: Ten Myths about Endometriosis 337 Endometriosis Is All in Your Head 337 Endometriosis Is Just Cramps 338 Only Women Get Endometriosis 338 Teenagers Don’t Get Endometriosis 338 Endometriosis Goes Away at Menopause 339 Endometriosis Is a Career Woman’s Disease 339 Endometriosis Only Exists in Industrialized Countries 339 A Hysterectomy Cures Endometriosis 340 Endometriosis Is Easy to See and Remove during Surgery 340 You Can’t Get Pregnant If You Have Endometriosis 340 Chapter 19: Ten (Or So) Trends in the Future of Endometriosis 341 Determining the Source of Endometriosis 341 Identifying Endometriosis Genes 342 Overcoming Infertility in Endometriosis 342 Diagnosing Endometriosis Earlier 343 Refining Medication Treatments 343 Improving Immune Therapy 344 Gaining Respect for Endometriosis 344 Starting More Organizations to Help 344 Getting Insurers to Help Cover the Costs 345 Transplanting Ovaries and Other Reproductive Organs 345 Decreasing Surgical Risks 346 Chapter 20: Ten Strategies to Help with the Pain 347 Planning to Avoid Pain 347 Jumping on Pain the Minute It Begins 348 Keeping Medications You Need on Hand 348 Soaking in a Hot Tub 348 Massaging Away the Pain 349 Breathing Slow and Easy 349 Using Your Imagination 349 Talking It Over 350 Trying a Little Laughter 350 Knowing What Works for You 350 Part VI: Appendixes 351 Appendix A: Glossary 353 Appendix B: Resources and Support 361 Looking for an Organization 361 Going Online 362 Flipping through Books 363 Reading Newsletters 363 Getting Involved in Clinical Trials 364 Attending Meetings and Support Groups 364 Asking Relatives and Friends 364 Index 365