u/888888---

Hey fellow endo folks in Canada! I'm trying to compare my best options for private health insurance right now, and I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions. My ideal plan would have decent drug coverage (pain management drugs, Visanne), and decent enough coverage for body work (massage, osteo, acu, physio). Any suggestions? I'm finding it a bit overwhelming and hard to understand with my own searches! Help! 🫣

This is a public service announcement to anyone out there who wants to access an affordable Mirena IUD!!!

After learning that even after Pharmacare coverage, my IUD prescription would cost me $450 (💀), and having ZERO luck with online searches, I asked my doctor if she knew of any local support programs that offered it at low cost. She referred me to the representative for the drug company's "compassionate care" program. She said it is difficult to find through online searches, and could only access the contact details through her online professional healthcare portal.

A week later, I got a phone call from Sentrex Pharmacy Charlottetown, I did a very brief intake where I confirmed my address, DOB, health card number and they confirmed that for the cost of $45 (paid by credit card or e-transfer), they would mail me my IUD.

It seems like only some health professionals know about this program, so if your doctor says this doesn't exist or they don't know of anything, mention that it's not posted publicly through online searches and refer them to Sentrex - DM me if you want more details. They are located in PEI, but serve Nova Scotia!

So relieved that there's an option out there, because the $450 is a wild barrier.

Anyone here in Canada who can emotionally prepare me for the cost? And maybe offer tips for good private insurance options? I'm on the Nova Scotia pharmacies plan, but the coverage isn't great and I don't know if it will even cover LDN.

Just got a prescription for LDN, starting at 2mg for four weeks, then upping dose to 4mg to see how that goes, then possibly upping again.

Thanks!

This is a public service announcement to anyone out there who wants to access an affordable Mirena IUD!!!

After learning that even after Pharmacare coverage, my IUD prescription would cost me $450 (💀), and having ZERO luck with online searches, I asked my doctor if she knew of any local support programs that offered it at low cost. She referred me to the representative for the drug company's "compassionate care" program. She said it is difficult to find through online searches, and could only access the contact details through her online professional healthcare portal.

A week later, I got a phone call from Sentrex Pharmacy Charlottetown, I did a very brief intake where I confirmed my address, DOB, health card number and they confirmed that for the cost of $45 (paid by credit card or e-transfer), they would mail me my IUD.

It seems like only some health professionals know about this program, so if your doctor says this doesn't exist or they don't know of anything, mention that it's not posted publicly through online searches and refer them to Sentrex - DM me if you want more details. They are located in PEI, but serve Nova Scotia!

So relieved that there's an option out there, because the $450 is a wild barrier.

Curious is others here have experience taking GLP-1s and progestin together, and how that is going for them. I'm on 2mg dienogest, and just learning about how GLP-1s have been used for endo.

I've been reading that GLP-1s have been helping with energy, bloating, feelings of gut inflammation and that really excites me, but I already suffer from chronic digestive issues like constipation so unsure if this would be a helpful approach.

My doctor is sizeist and has already emphasized how I'm "healthy" because of my "petite frame," so I'm not optimistic that she'd take my request for a GLP-1 very seriously. We'll seeeeeee.......

Had an initial appt with this doctor that seemed promising - she was knowledgable, up to date on new approaches/hormonal treatments, didn't fight me when I stated my preferences for treatment. She sent me for a MRI (something I've been begging for for years), and advised me that it was possible that the endo wouldn't show up in the imaging, but it would still be a worthwhile step to see if there are any structural issues or anything else going on, while I wait for the laparoscopy.

Fast forward to my follow up appt where she informed me on how the MRI went. She started off my saying that everything came out totally normal, but then she proceeded to tell me that a fibroid was discovered, as well as a "bright spot." She said that the MRI technicians advised that it was likely adenymyosis. I have all the symptoms of adenymyosis. She then said she didn't believe it was that because I'm "healthy, young and petite." WTFFFF. I'm 33, and have been chronically ill my whole life, and have had textbook symptoms of endo for TWENTY YEARS. So shitty for so many reasons; petite?! Young?! Healthy?! Soooo gross. The weight stuff feels so fatphobic and pseudoscience.

She then asked me if I even wanted to get the lap done anymore based on these findings...ummmmm yes bitch, wtf?! A MRI is not conclusive, and I already have two irregular issues detected in the imaging. Just baffling.

She is going to be the one doing the lap, and now I'm scared that she's not going to take this seriously, because she's already going in with these biases about me, that aren't true.

Anyone else been here? Def never doing an appt alone with her again, will be ensuring I've got a witness to this. Ughhhhh