Health Issues is a general health based blog concentrating on multiple health topics.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS IN CASE OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: SUE’S STORY

Friday, May 8th, 2009

I’m out and about and then I get the standard question: ‘How are you?’. I give my usual answer: ‘I’m surviving, thank you’. A twitch of an eyebrow. Of course they were expecting and only wanted to hear: ‘Fine, thank you’. But, I don’t like to lie and I also don’t wish to give a ‘case history’, so ‘surviving’ is honestly how I feel. It is also somewhere in between feeling good (‘normal’) and being sick enough to justify being in bed — mind you, often I’d love to be curled up in bed!

Then, you get ‘Oh, but you look fine’. I almost scream with frustration. They’re fishing for an explanation. So, should I explain or not? Well…in the interests of helping them to understand (hopefully), here goes with the justification speech yet again! I spiel off: ‘Well, I’ve got endometriosis (only some know what it is and even less understand the implications) and it is caused by… and it makes you have…symptoms, etc. etc.’. I would usually like to add, but prudently don’t, ‘I look “fine” because…

I have become determined to beat it!’.

I have my outward “facade” on today, which is a fake expression, accompanied by make-up, that says “I’m fine, I have no pain or problems at all’”;

the fact is I don’t venture out when I’m really feeling dreadful so you don’t see the real evidence of endometriosis’, or

I’ve taken a painkiller!’

You come away feeling guilty because you don’t look sick enough for them to believe or understand.

*110\83\2*

Tags: Women’s Health
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TREATMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: DANAZOL AND HOW DANAZOL WORKS

Friday, May 8th, 2009

It is thought that Danazol eradicates endometrial implants in several ways. The net result is that the production of oestrogen is suppressed and the levels of oestrogen in the body decrease to the low levels found in women following the menopause. Hence, Danazol treatment is sometimes referred to as pseudomenopausal treatment because it mimics the hormonal condition of menopause.

The low levels of oestrogen mean that the endometrial implants are no longer stimulated to grow and break-down each month. Therefore, they become inactive and begin to gradually waste away.

Ovulation and menstruation usually cease by the end of the second month of treatment though this may depend on the dosage being taken. The symptoms of endometriosis usually begin to decrease by the end of the second month of treatment and then continue to improve throughout the course of treatment.

*52\83\2*

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DANAZOL AS A DRUG USED FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS TREATMENT

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

How Danazol works

It is thought that Danazol eradicates endometrial implants in several ways. The net result is that the production of oestrogen is suppressed and the levels of oestrogen in the body decrease to the low levels found in women following the menopause. Hence, Danazol treatment is sometimes referred to as pseudo-menopausal treatment because it mimics the hormonal condition of menopause.

The low levels of oestrogen mean that the endometrial implants are no longer stimulated to grow and break-down each month. Therefore, they become inactive and begin to gradually waste away.

Ovulation and menstruation usually cease by the end of the second month of treatment though this may depend on the dosage being taken. The symptoms of endometriosis usually begin to decrease by the end of the second month of treatment and then continue to improve throughout the course of treatment.

Dosages of Danazol generally used

The dosage and length of your treatment will depend on a variety of factors including the severity of your disease, your response to the treatment and your gynecologist’s preferences.

Most gynecologists recommend that you start with a dosage of 600 to 800 milligrams per day (three or four 200 milligram capsules per day). Some research studies have suggested that Danazol is equally effective at lower dosages if your periods are suppressed. Your gynecologist may decrease your dosage to 600 milligrams or even 400 milligrams per day once your periods have stopped.

In order to increase the effectiveness of the drug it is best to take the capsules at fairly evenly spaced times throughout the day — in other words one capsule every eight hours if you are on 600 milligrams per day or every six hours if you are on 800 milligrams per day.

The usual length of a course of treatment with Danazol is three to nine months — the average length being about six months. A further course of Danazol may be used if you have a recurrence of your endometriosis as there is no evidence to suggest that the implants become resistant to the drug. Because so little is known about the effects of repeated or long-term use of Danazol you should probably only have two or three courses in your lifetime and you should not have a prolonged course of treatment beyond twelve months.

You should start your course of Danazol on the first day of your period to minimize the likelihood of taking the drug while you are pregnant. If you do not begin the treatment at the start of a period you should have a pregnancy test to make sure that you are not pregnant.

Although it is unlikely that you will conceive during your course of treatment with Danazol every care should still be taken to avoid pregnancy. The manufacturers of Danazol recommend that some form of barrier contraception (e.g. condom or diaphragm) be used while taking the drug, particularly during the first two months of treatment or if you are taking less than 800 milligrams per day. The oral contraceptive (the Pill) should not be taken at the same time as Danazol.

You should see your gynecologist about six to eight weeks after beginning your course of Danazol to discuss how the treatment is progressing and any problems that you may be having. Thereafter, you should see him or her every two to three months for the remainder of your course of Danazol.

*34 /41/5*

Tags: Women’s Health
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