From: IN%"aemlu@boco.co.gov" "Amanda Marmie" The biggest help was giving up caffeine. I took lots of vitamins, particularly the B's, vitamin E (which supposedly softens scar tissues, and therefore endo adhesions), and a multi-vitamin that gave more than 100% of the USRDA for magnesium, calcium, iron and a few others that I can't remember. For a while, I was taking in no caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar, or red meat. I'm not sure if it made much of an effect on the endo., but I sure felt great otherwise! The caffeine, especially, made a huge difference in PMS symptoms (I can't emphasize that enough!!) and I recommend giving up caffeine entirely to any woman with menstrual problems. My doctor also wanted me to eat lots of dark green veggies (broccoli, spinach, etc.) and dark orange food (squash, nectarines, carrots) because of the vitamins found in those.
From: BROOKSKA@DICKINSON.EDU To: WITSENDO Subject: Survival Tips Date: Friday, November 11, 1994 11:19AM
2. Selenium. It's a vitamin, an anti-oxidant, I believe. I don't know why it works for me but it does. I often get these "twinges"--little pains or tenderness particularly around the tubes and ovaries--when I take selenium they go away. I have experimented with my vitamins, starting with nothing and adding one vitamin at a time, and it's definitely the selenium that has the effect. 3. Taheebo (or Pau D'Arco) tea. I have chronic yeast problems and when I went on the pill I had trouble with vaginal burning, dryness, etc. I had read about this tea in Natural Health magazine and decided to give it a try as nothing else was working. I drink one cup every morning, and since I started it I've had no more burning, itching, etc. I don't know if it's a placebo effect or not, but I don't care since it works. I've been drinking it for about 2 months now and I'm thrilled with the results. Get it at any health food store or at General Nutrition Centers at your local mall. 4. Vitamins. I take a lot of anti-oxidants and other vitamins. I used to have digestive problems with the mineral supplements (for instance, Centrums upset my stomach) but I've switched to a brand that is advertised on the QVC Channel (no, I didn't buy any cheesy jewelry at the same time) and it's worked well. It's endorsed by Kathy Smith (for what that's worth). The guy who developed them has a law degree and a chemistry degree and the formula he's created has all the needed vitamins in a powdered capsule so it's easy to digest. Check the standard books on endo which have been discussed on this line for the amount of each vitamin you should take. Call QVC to find out about their vitamin line if you're interested.
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Christine Jesensky, xine@ayup.limey.net