Endometriosis Support Group
Endometriosis is a common medical condition where the tissue lining the uterus is found outside of the uterus, typically affecting other organs in the pelvis. The condition can lead to serious health problems, primarily pain and infertility. A major symptom of endometriosis is pain, mostly in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvic area.
I kind of want to go off my birth control. I don't like the idea of pumping myself with artificial hormones for years on end. I have been giving up processed food and eating tons healthier. I hear that some people are able to go off these meds when they change their diet. I'm afraid that it will hurt me, though, and I'm afraid my doctor won't like it. Any opinions/experiences?
I had a good experience with this - when I first started. I was on a constant bc pill for about 7 years and then went vegetarian (and super clean) about 8 months before I wanted to go off of it. I went from constant BC to no BC and I was shocked. I had almost no pain at all. It took me about 8 months to actually get a period when I went off it all together.
I lasted about 1 year almost pain free. I was even going to the gym on my first day and trust me, every month I was thinking, is this really happening.
So yes it was good .. but after I was off it for one year my pain slowly started to return. It got worse and had my fourth lap.
I still decided to stay off of it after because I really didn't want the fake hormones either. The pain was there but only about 20-30% of what I usually had, so it was tolerable. Now it is three years later from my last lap, no pill and I have to have my fourth lap because the pain is increasingly getting worse.
The crazy part is I don't regret it (sometimes I wonder if I would have less pain but how would I know anyway). Only because I believe that the fake hormones just can't be good for that long. I wanted to tell you my experience good and bad so you can make your own judgements.
Hope my story made sense. Good luck.
I have been wrestling with the same decision... In the last year i had a lap, 6 months lupron depot, and then immediately but on depot provera. while my endo pain has certainly decreased the side effects have gotten so bad, and i just haven't felt myself. i have developed chronic backpain and a bulging disc, which i think could be due to bone density loss on the meds. More than that i have had pretty strong memory problems on the medications, and that to be has been the hardest. I recently discussed with my doctor about my options. ideally i would want to go off the hormones completely but my doctor is worried we will undo all the work of the lupron... so i'm going to try Nexplanon next, im getting it placed tomorrow. she says its lower dose hormone but should still keep my period at bay and the endo from spreading.
it's a hard decision, and i'd like to be off the hormones. but for me the fact is that i have this disease, and because of it there will be tradeoffs. either i take hormones i dont love, or it grows quicker and i have to have more surgeries. i guess the decision is which is better for my body long term. im sure there is arguments both ways, but for now i trust my doctor and she says that the low dose hormones will serve me better.
if i have bad side effects on the nexplanon i may just go off it completely... keep us posted, will you?
~~Pup
Everyone is different but this is my experience.