So back in July I started taking Pycnogenol supplement. It is an extract from the pine bark of French Maritime pine tree. A limited study in endometriosis patients has shown that it is effective in reducing pain. It is being used for a lot of others things from anti-aging, circulation issues, heart disease , cancer and plenty of other ailments. I started with 1 capsule (30 mg) and increased it to two capsules after a few weeks.
I did not notice any reduction in pain but what I noticed is that since I start taking it the number of brown spotting prior to my period has been reduced to a day or none. I haven't taken it long enough to determine this is real but it is promising. About a month ago I noticed my stomach was acting up specially in the mornings, I take it after breakfast and dinner. So I stopped for a few weeks and I have resumed taking it once a day and will go up to two capsule a day. If anything may be my skin will start looking better and my body will stop growing gray hair :).
I talked about hysterectomy being an option down the line but probably wouldn't help me since I don't have crazy cramps like I use to around my period and removing my uterus would not take care of the endometriosis outside of the uterus. Well lets just say I am rethinking it. This cycle after ovulation I felt great, my pain was minimal and my mood was even better, felt hormonally stable and come P + 9 I started cramping. It started with lower back cramps, feels like labor contractions. Today is P + 13 and I am still cramping like crazy. It is on and off but enough to ruin my day. I took pain killer for two days because I needed to stay out of the house. It is crazy to have serious cramps for a week.
I usual host Thanksgiving and I have never made the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I usual stick with the Ethiopian dishes. But this year I was thinking of doing strictly Thanksgiving menu. I have never oven roasted meat so today I am trying my hand in oven roasting a whole chicken and see how it comes out. Lets just say I hate touching whole chicken. My family is not much in to Turkey so I probably will substitute the turkey with chicken. What I was hoping to avoid making both the traditional Thanksgiving meal and also Ethiopian dishes; it will just be too much work. My niece is a college freshman and she is home sick like crazy. So I asked her if she has any request for Thanksgiving she said to have Ethiopian food. So now I am stuck, may be I will have my sisters bring the Ethiopian dishes, we shall see.
