New Approaches and Treatments

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry I always wait until I have something substantial to write about and

then I end up with extremely long posts

like this one.

Lately I have been trying and about to try some new approaches. I have done

acupuncture for about 6 weeks. The

last three sessions I have had a needle inserted into the perineum. This is very

painful but only for a second, then I

can't even feel it. My husband came with me the first time it was done in my

perineum since I was so nervous. My

acupuncturist also puts needles into my lower legs, stomach and head, and my

throat and chest when I had a cold.

He believes I have a systemic yeast problem. He gave me (actually sold me) a

chinese herbal " detox " tea to clean

out my intestines. It gave me terrible diarrhea which my acupuncturist says

means I really needed it. He thinks many

of my systems are out of balance, mostly my liver, kidneys and hormones.

The only evidence I have that this may be working is that my last period was

very different. Usually I have cramps

the day before and first day. This last time I had no cramps and since my period

is irregular, I rely on the cramps as

my only clue that it is coming. It caught me totally by surprise this time. Then

I bled more heavily than I normally

do. It was incredible...I was going through tampons and maxi pads in an hour!

Usually a tampon lasts more than 4

hours but I take it out earlier to avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome etc. So my theory

is that acupuncture may be

balancing out my hormones and making my periods even more normal! and maybe my

cramping and light periods are

not normal.

Then I also went back to the naturopathic MD for a follow up visit. This is the

dr. I wrote about last time who

wanted me to go on a restrictive diet of no sugar, no white flour, no dairy, no

rice, no potatoes...and about $300

worth of vitamins. Needless to say, I didn't do the diet or the vitamins but I

made a huge effort to limit my sugar

and white flour intake and eat healthier.

But I had to go to this follow up visit in order to get the results of a blood

test for hormone levels that she had me

have done on the 20th day of my cycle last month. The results were very

interesting. My progesterone level was

extremely low and my estrogen level was somewhat low. So she prescribed a

naturally compounded Progesterone in

a pill that I will take the 12th through 26th days of my cycle. Once my

Progesterone level is normal, she may try to

raise my estrogen level.

Then she decided to examine me for Fibromyalgia. She " mapped " me, feeling

different muscle areas for lumps and

bumps and tender areas. She said the mapping indicated that I definitely have

Fibromyalgia. I do not have the

classic symptoms of aches and pains and tiredness but that maybe my vulvodynia

is my body's way of expressing

the Fibromyalgia. She uses the medicine, Guaifenisin, as a treatment for Fibro.

See this site for info on Guai: http://www.guaidoc.com/index.html

She says it will dramatically change the way I feel if it works. Usually you get

worse before you get better as your

body is cycling out of the disease. This part I'm not looking forward to. Also

you can't use any products with plant

extracts...mints, certain toothpastes, lotions, shampoos, teas, aloe products,

herbal products...because something

in them interferes or blocks the Guai.

Of course, my acupuncturist thinks the Guaifenisin treatment is worthless, but

he is against anything from western

medicine, only believes that natural herbs and acupuncture are the right

treatments for Fibromyalgia. And since this

Guai treatment says no HERBAL products, of course he is against it...So I've

found it difficult to decide which

treatments to try.

Here's my decision: Tomorrow I will start the Progesterone pill and the

Guaifenisin and continue with acupuncture,

but I will not take any of his herbal products. Also I had the Naturopathic dr.

tell me which vitamins and supps on

her original list were the most essential so I would not have to shell out

$300/month. I will continue to eat healthier

and take Acidophilis which BOTH practitioners recommend. But no more detox tea

or Chinese herbs.

I welcome any ideas or thoughts on any of these approaches. Thanks. Ann

[Guest guest]

Ann,

I am on the same treatments that you are about to go on. I have been on

Guai for 3 months now and my VV has gotten so bad that I had to stop it for

a few days. I don't know if it is a cycle or what but I have this rash on

the vulvar area now and it all started with the Guai. I guess it may be the

phosphates cycling out. I will see if the rash goes away in a week or

so..if it does then I guess it was the Guai. I also have Fibro and am

starting to develop more and more symptoms of it. VV is supposedly a

symptom of Fibro. That is controversial. I have had VV for over 4 years

and have done everything to get better even the surgery...Nothing has

helped.

Also my progesterone is low and my estrogen too. I am starting compounded

progesterone tablets tomorrow and testosterone cream. I am only 23 so I

have a lot going on for being so young. I hope that with the Guai and

hormones that I will get past this soon. Oh, BTW you better make sure that

the progesterone pills are derived from soy and not yams...cause if it comes

from yams it will block your Guai...Let me know how you come out....I hope

and pray for relief for both of us..Keep in touch.

Suzanne