Endometriosis is probably one of the hardest things that a woman can go through. It is hard to treat and even harder to deal with. Day to day life is affected in a way that most other conditions don’t come close to. Which is why most women who have endometriosis will do just about anything to find relief. Let’s talk about what endometriosis is and how it affects your life before we discuss the top five tips to reducing endometriosis cramps. Just so you understand what it is you are trying to find relief from.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the condition where uterine cells grow outside of the uterus. This means that tissue that should be the lining of your uterus may be found growing in your cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, or abdomen. They then decide that they still have a job to do. Which means the shed once a month, and not always at the same time of your cycle. They put pressure on your body and its systems, which are cramps. It can cause a variety of symptoms.
How does it affect your life?
It’s the symptoms of endometriosis that cause the most problems. You are going to have to deal with breakthrough bleeding, cramping, constipation, and even IBS. The cramps can become so bad that you cannot do anything else. You may not be able to get out of bed. You may not feel like socializing with friends or family. You may just want to curl up in your bed and never come out.
Does that sound like what you want to do? If so then these five tips are going to help you find relief from your cramps so that you can turn off Netflix and get back to living your life.
The Five Amazing Tips
1. Apply Heat
Your heating pad may be your new best friend. You may want to hang out in the shower or bath all day long, or at least until you run out of hot water. Wait! Before you grab that remote and your bag of chips, there are other solutions to add heat that will help you get out of bed. For instance, you can get patches that offer you heat that you can carry with you. Simply pull off the sticky patch and put it to your stomach, then you can get dressed as normal. Immediate relief that lasts for as long as the patch lasts, usually 4 – 6 hours. The best part is that you won’t smell like a medicine chest while you are relaxing from the pain.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric can help with all kinds of inflammation. From stiff joints to menstrual cramps, once you give it a try, you will wonder what you did without it. This is a yellow spice that you can get at most grocery stores. You can make it into a tea, add it to your food, or you can try taking them in capsule form.
3. Stress
It is time for you to de-stress. Stress puts pressure on your entire body. It is going to make everything feel worse. So, just stop stressing. What does it do besides make you sick anyway? Okay, we know that it is so much easier said than done. Not everyone can quit their high-stress job and find something that speaks to their soul. Maybe it is even simpler than that, maybe it is your high-stress job that speaks to your soul. What are you going to do? Find a way to de-stress. Pick up a hobby. Join a yoga class. Join a dance class. Paint a picture. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are focusing on it and letting the stress run out of your body. You are going to feel so much better once you get into a routine that will help you relax and de-stress on a regular basis.
4. Massage and Acupuncture
It might feel a little weird having someone rub on your abdomen, but it really does help. A good deep tissue massage will help your body to release its tension which really does help with cramps. Another great way to get relief in an alternative way is to have acupuncture done. Acupuncture has been around hundreds of years. Your acupuncturist will know what points will help you the most. They are trained to know which chakras are linked together so that you get the best benefits possible.
5. Essential Oils
Lavender and lemon are a calming blend and will reduce cramps and pain. Cinnamon can increase blood flow to the area which could also ease inflammation. You shouldn’t put it directly on the skin. The lavender wouldn’t burn but the cinnamon could. All you need to do is mix your essential oils with some coconut, olive, or even baby oil.
On a side note, you could get lavender and cinnamon fresh and make a tea from them to help calm your muscles. Chamomile tea could also offer you some relief and help to add in sleeping.
Get Out of Bed
This isn’t us telling you what to do. It is us saying that you feel worse if you are wrapped in a blanket all day. It simply isn’t good for your mood. Depression makes your physical pain worse. Get up and move. Take a walk. Do some yoga. Light exercise will help to boost your mood and get your blood moving. You will feel better and cramp less. You don’t have to go all out and workout forever and you shouldn’t do more than you feel like doing. Some light stretching will probably be enough to help you feel good.
Put on some music and get up and dance. You will feel some much more ready to take on your day when you do. Try to do it regularly and if you feel like you are slipping into a depression do some right then.
You Are What You Eat
If you are eating carb loaded foods, high in sugar foods, convenience foods, and/or fast foods just stop. Cut back on your sugary drinks. Why, because your body doesn’t want them. One of the best ways to fight off the funky mood and aching body is to fill it with healthy foods. A diet high in veggies will help your body to fight the sluggishness. It has a ton of vitamins and minerals that your body needs. You should eat simple foods with a few ingredients as possible.
Fish is high in omega 3 and fatty acids these will help you body as well. Not to mention, it is high in protein. Protein is essential to help your body to build new healthy cells.
What Your Doctor Has to Offer
After all of this, if you still cannot get through the pain, it may be time for you to visit your doctor. There are some options that only a doctor can help you with. For instances, you could be offered a treatment plan that involves a long term solution, like birth control. You may be in need of surgery to remove the misplaced tissues. Of course, pain management could be an option for you. There are so many downsides to filling your body with chemicals. You should be sure to research everything in full before you make any decisions. In the meantime, try some of these tips and see if they help you to find the relief that you need so that you don’t have to turn to more serious options.
