Coping Tips for Endometriosis That Really Work

Endometriosis is a common condition suffered by growing number of women in their reproductive years. Although commonly found in adult females in their 30s and 40s, endometriosis can also strike women as young as their teens and in their 20s. In North America alone, there are over 5 million women suffering from this painful and debilitating condition. Since it's a chronic condition, women need good coping tips for endometriosis so they can handle symptoms on a month-to-month basis.

Endometriosis can be asymptomatic to some women, who go through life without suffering from any of the symptoms associated with it. Unfortunately, there are more women who bear the burden of experiencing the sometimes excruciatingly painful symptoms that plague them each month.

Some of the most common symptoms include chronic or irregular pain in the pelvic area, painful menstrual periods, painful intercourse, painful bowel movements, irregular or heavy bleeding, fatigue, lower back pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Some women even experience pain during ovulation. In some cases, endometriosis is blamed for infertility due to the lesions and scarring it develops in the uterine cavity.

Coping with Pain

If pain is the major cause of discomfort for you, pain relievers may be the solution. Pain relievers are often prescribed to help minimize or stop abdominal cramps. Drugs containing ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin and naproxen have been effective in addressing the swelling of endometrial tissues that cause the pain.

If taking pain relievers is out of the question, application of heat on the abdominal area and lower back may help ease the cramps. You can use heating pads for this purpose, or try a warm caster oil pack for 30 – 60 per day. Another common solution is taking a hot bath, which relaxes the muscles and contributes to lessening pain.

Nutrition and Diet

Another way of coping with endometriosis is making certain changes in your nutrition and diet. Some women report that staying away from certain foods minimizes their symptoms of endometriosis. It is unclear whether the symptoms are a result of certain allergies, but small changes in food choices can make a big difference.

For example, some women find that cutting down on caffeine, sodas, sugar, fats, salt and dairy products help them experience periods with minimal to zero pain. It may also be a good idea to take vitamin and mineral supplements such as Vitamins A, B, C, E, magnesium and selenium.

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Rest

Most experts recommend rest as a way of coping with endometriosis. Sleep is a good booster of the immune system and helps the body to attain balance. Most women find that when they are well-rested, they are better able to cope with endometriosis and its painful, disruptive symptoms.

Getting Help

Coping with endometriosis means being able to know where and how to get help. Most women find that a strong support network of family and friends helps them in coping with endometriosis. Joining associations, visiting pain centers or simply exchanging views and questions in online forums and message boards can be very therapeutic for many women.
Try just a few, or all of these coping tips for endometriosis and you'll find you are living a more comfortable, more symptom free life.