You seem well-informed of your condition so I assume you're also aware of the estrogen-like qualities in soy and plastic, especially water bottles? Thought it was worth mentioning.

I understand you're fears about surgery... and if you can avoid it that would certainly be for the best. One thing that I now realize that I failed to mention in my previous post is that I also had uterine fibroids and almost died from excessive blood loss when I hemorrhaged after coming off Lupron. I had to have emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. And because I lost so much blood they couldn't remove the fibroids at that time... so I ended up having 3 surgeries in a period of 4 weeks. In my case... surgery literally saved my life. If I hadn't also had the fibroids (which were the bigger problem for me)... I would have only used natural healing methods to deal with the Endo. And if I had known more at the time about the potential consequences of Lupron... I NEVER would have agreed to using it as a treatment. If anyone suggests any of the hormonal therapies that are generally suggested for treating Endo... really do your homework. For me... the effects of the Lupron were even scarier than having the surgeries!

Also... when I had my emergency surgery they had to give me a spinal because I had recently eaten. Now if someone had suggested a spinal and given me time to think... there's NO WAY I would have chosen that as an option... it would have scared me half to death! But I gotta tell ya... as scary as it sounds... that was the easiest surgery that I have ever had! I was also amazed at how much quicker I recovered! And I'm convinced that it was because my body didn't have to deal with all the toxins from the anesthesia! I even ASKED for a spinal when my doctor did the surgery to remove my fibroids, although he said 'No'. He was concerned that the surgery would take too long and he needed me perfectly still. He probably also wanted me totally knocked out so that I wouldn't ask a bunch of questions, lol! When he did the emergency surgery with the spinal I got to watch the whole thing on a screen... and I was fascinated with the procedure and what I was seeing. I mean c'mon... how often do you get a chance to see the inside of your body?! And since I was able to talk during the procedure... I asked him all sorts of questions while I was lying cut open on the table, lol! I think I actually freaked him out because I was curious instead of scared, lol! But I also trusted him and we had a good rapport... and I believe that that alone made a HUGE difference in the experience for me!

Even then there were very few doctors that I would let anywhere near me... so I truly understand your concerns. And since there are many natural approaches to treating Endo I wouldn't go through surgery for it either... UNLESS... it was creating so much pain and such a poor quality of life that this outweighed not having it. You are the only one that can make that determination for yourself. And given the hormonal effects of PTSD... resolving it may also greatly benefit the problem you're having with estrogen dominance. Stress alone is a major contributing factor to any hormonal imbalance. For instance... excessive stress leads to adrenal exhaustion which results in a reduced output of progesterone. Since progesterone has an opposing effect on estrogen... low progesterone is involved in estrogen dominance. However, in this case... the root of the problem is with the adrenal glands and the hormones that are associated with stress.

Here are a couple of additional links that deal with estrogen dominance and adrenal fatigue...


http://www.drlam.com/a3r_brief_in_doc_format/estrogen_dominance.cfm



http://www.drlam.com/a3r_brief_in_doc_format/adrenal_fatigue.cfm


Also keep in mind that there are differing opinions about natural treatments also. For instance... some say that phyto-estrogens are beneficial because they bind with the estrogen receptor sites and block the effect of the stronger estrogens that are manufactured in your body. However, there is another theory that using phyto-estrogens creates a bigger problem... because they just add more estrogen creating greater estrogen dominance.

Another thing you might want to consider is your use of soy... there is a growing body of research that suggests that soy is a real problem. Here is a link to Dr. Mercola's website that has numerous articles on soy...


http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/index.htm


Again... I would suggest that you do more research and decide this for yourself.

And most of all pay close attention to your body and how you feel!

There is much controversy regarding substances with estrogen-like properties in our environment. Google soy and estrogen to learn both sides, but both agree that...
"Soy does indeed have estrogenic properties. It contains phytoestrogens, which are produced by plants and mimic the action of estrogens at the body's estrogen receptors."

I wouldn't touch it with your issue; traditional dr's aren't usually up on this sort of thing.

However, the biggest dangers are in the environment in the form of plastics and pesticides which imitate estrogen effects, especially estrogen-based cancers like ovarian and breast (also prostate).

Plastic bottles contain a toxin that leaches into the water. This is especially problematic considering we have no idea how long they may be sitting on the shelf! We are warned against re-using them as continued use and washing allows more toxin to leach. Probably all plastics are a danger. I rarely use anything but glass since learning of this.

Pesticides have the same estrogen-like properties...I hope you are not living on a farm where they are used or near a pesticide factory!

These things are more dangerous to the population than we are led to believe. My dr (non-traditional, though he has an Md and ND) says he is seeing an unusual amount of men with an imbalance of estrogen these days and he suspects it is exactly these new, environmental hazards to blame.

Good luck.

Thank you Luella, I will take a look.

Val

Gilda, no no, I don't feel at all pressured!
You have been very kind, and I have learned some things that may benefit me.
I am just like the little kid who NEEDS to be convinced that there are no monsters under the bed. There ARE no monsters, never will be, but believes in them, and can be shown that they don't exist. That's me.

Estrogen dominance exists, cancer exists, tumors, cysts, etc, all do exist. I am in such a state of fear after my last year I have gone through that I will develop something else horrible, that I am the little kid with a REAL monster under the bed.

I need to grow up and face reality, but I am caught in a cycle of fear and panic.
And even though I need to educate myself, when I read what I read in articles, forums, etc, I read about all the monsters. Not the good stories. So, I find I am not able to handle it.

It is simply that. Gilda, I truly thank you for all your advice, and I really am going to change my water supply. I have you to thank for inspiring me to do so.

I am just not mentally in the right place for reading all the bad stuff, and it triggers severe, severe anxiety in me. (I am getting help for that).

Anyway, thank you again, and my very best wishes to you and all the other ladies here on the boards. I will go and look at the Tony Issacs board....don't know what I can find, but that might upset me too, but I will see. I am always searching for hope.

I may come back, who knows, ....
Peace and joy to you,
Val