Help with your pain

Endometriosis is much more than just brown/black spots in the pelvis that can be seen at a laparoscopy. There are many different problems that women with endometriosis suffer.

Some women will have painful periods, but be otherwise completely well. Others have a more complicated picture that can include:
- an irritable bowel (IBS)
- sharp, stabbing or burning pains
- an irritable bladder
- painful intercourse
- bad headaches or migraines
- fatigue and exhaustion
- pain moving around or sitting for a long time
- trouble sleeping

Not surprisingly, women with these problems feel worn down and miserable.

Because these problems cover several different areas of medicine, women often feel lost 'between the cracks' of healthcare. Each health practitioner they see cares for a small part of the whole picture, with variable success.

Surgery is helpful for some aspects of the pain, but can leave many women disappointed.

I hope that you will find this blog useful for your pain. Each week there will be a new topic covered, and your comments are welcome.

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With best wishes,

Dr Susan Evans, Gynecologist and Laparoscopic surgeon

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

My doctor says I should see a pain specialist. Why?

It is hard for any doctor to know about all the different pain treatments, so nowadays there are doctors who specialise in pain. They are called pain medicine specialists. Many started their career as anaesthetists (the people who put you to sleep for an operation), but now spend most of their time caring for people with long term pain. Others come from different areas of medicine.

Lots of women with endo have chronic pain, but so do other people in the community. There are those with back pain, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia (pain in the face), pain after a bad leg injury or pain from diabetes. Pain specialists believe that chronic pain is a medical condition itself, rather than a symptom of something else. There may have been something (like endo) that started the problem, but overtime, there has also been a change in the way the nerves send pain signals which has made everything worse and kept the pain going. They use special medications, lifestyle changes, physio and psychological support - and they work with your gynaecologist to help you have as little pain as possible.

If you have pain on most days, or have sharp, stabbing or burning pain, and are lucky enough to live near a pain specialist, they are a great idea.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Improving your man's fertility

It takes two to make a baby and there are lots of things your man can do to help.

A semen test can measure how many sperm he has, how well they move, and how many of them are normal. However it doesn't show if there is any damage to the sperm. This is called DNA fragmentation. Higher levels of DNA fragmentation result in a higher chance of miscarriage, infertility and ill-health in the child.

Your man can improve improve his sperm quality and cut down DNA fragmentation by:
1. Stopping smoking
2. Improving his diet and avoiding overweight. Less fat and more fibre
3. Cutting down on alcohol, and caffeine.
4. Avoiding recreational drugs
5. Taking a vitamin supplement with B Vitamins, Iodine, Folate and Zinc.
6. Avoiding tight fitting underwear
7. Avoiding hot tubs, saunas and electric blankets
8. Checking with your doctor whether his medications affect fertility
9. Avoid environmental chemicals such as lead, pesticides and organic solvents or wear protective clothing
10. Have a blood test for Vitamin D and take a supplement if this is low

Women also benefit from a multi-vitamin and having their Vitamin D checked with a blood test.

Susan