Endometriosis...advice please!

[OzJo]

Dear All,
a good friend has just been diagnosed with endometriosis grade 3, she's just had an op to have it cleared out, but is having a horrible time now on the pill. One made her quesy, the curent one makes her V. emotional, and slightly deranged. Her GP told her that these symptoms would ease up after 3 months and it's worth sticking with it. Personally I think that sounds like a crock of shit, I've never heard of the pills side effects easing up after 3 months! I don't want to give her dodgy advice and was wondering what the mumsnet folks would advise.
I think she should give herself a break from the pill and find a decent homeopath, she really is all over the place at the moment.

Hi

Would suggest your friend look initially at the National Endometriosis Society's website which is www.endo.org.uk. They have a lively message board and many of the ladies on there can advise and offer support. The NES also have a helpline that she can call.

She needs to be seen by the consultant gynae who carried out the op originally and followed up regularly by such a person. This is all outside a GPs' general remit, some GPs are very ignorant when it comes to dealing with endometriosis. She should not have been sent back to the GP post op and just given some pills!.

What pill is she taking?. Waiting three months for symptoms supposedly to ease is not on and she is being fobbed off big time. This pill she's on is certainly not working.

If your friend does see a homeopath would see if they use endobrit. However, I would urge her to use both conventional and complementary medicines alongside one another; not just use one to the exclusion of the other. She may get some benefit from homeopathy, she may not.

Would also suggest that she reads the NES's publication called "Endometriosis and Fibroids" published by Vermilion. This will also give her a lot of information.

DEfinitely go back and see consultant. I had endo as well and had op to remove it- was really worried about fertility afterwards but had dd with nor probs. The consultant told me to takt the pill without a break, which I did for a while but I found it made me very emotional and I am limited in what I can take as some make me sick. I stopped the pill altogether and wasn't sure how I'd react but I've had no recurrence of the endo (although this may coincide with dd being born... 11 months after stopping the pill . Feeling fine now ans have no intentions of going back on the pill.

Hiya.
Definitely get a second opinion. I've had severe endo since I first started periods aged 11. I've had 2 laproscopys plus laser surgery. Due to have more done and hopefully it has'nt spread to my womb.
They put women on the pill to try to regulate the bleeding (does nothing for pain however) and in minor cases it does work. They then normally prescribe Mefanamic acid and a Tran (something) acid (can't remember been that long lol). They ease bleeding and help with pain. Lastly they refer you to a gynae for surgery etc. That's where I'm at.
As someone previously said, check out ww.endo.org.uk. They are brilliant. Everyone there either has endo or knows of someone who has it.
Best of luck x