It’s been a while since I posted something about endometriosis. I was diagnosed about a decade a go and yes that long!!! but I’ve been suffering with dysmenorrhea since the start of my menstrual age.
Time to time, I get tired sharing my experiences in social media that only a few friends can relate. Sufferers like me can get frustrated and hopeless in finding a definite cure. I’m friends with fellow “endowarrior” and I admire them for passionately posting their journeys in social media.
As it is reported that 1 out of 10 women is affected, more than 11% of women between ages 15-44, and common in women in their 30s to 40s which makes it hard for them to conceive.
– womenshealth.gov
“This is why one of the biggest symptoms of endometriosis is – chronic inflammation.” – Dr. Berg
Endometriosis is a long-term condition and considered to be a chronic illness. One of the most painful and debilitating diseases. Our battle cry – “It is not just a period pain!”
I tried a myriad of herbal supplements and I’ve had various medical procedures, many of which I vaguely remember. Then I came across Doctor Eric Berg and his videos are practical. Sharing his video/s about endometriosis and would probably post more about women’s health again soon…
This is short and sweet, my life has changed for the (much) better because of Doctor Berg. Hoping you can find his videos helpful as well, so here’s the link to his channel.
If you are like me, sadly, having both endometriosis and adenomyosis – we have natural alternatives to deal with these conditions. No need to suffer in silence, I know entirely how you feel and the infallible agony you are going through, for I’m experiencing it too!
I sympathised with my endo-sisters in their 20’s or 30’s who had hysterectomy as their last resort. That’s what most doctors would recommend to end patient’s complain about pain.
But is it the only cure?
If there’s anything we can do to avoid the ousting of our wombs or ovaries, we would definitely jump on it right? Most especially when we’re still trying to conceive. We are often confronted with varying dilemmas of whether to have it removed or not, take synthetic hormones to mask the symptoms and pain, and the endless misconception that the pain we are feeling is “normal” for women during their menstruation.
In Endometriosis Diet: Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid, there are certain lifestyle choices that play a big role in the progression of endometriosis or adenomyosis. Foods can greatly influence the hormones, particularly estrogen balance, and can negatively affect us with these conditions.
Both diseases are caused by what else – hormonal imbalance, usually an excessive of estrogen supply. The management for endometriosis and endometriosis is the conventional palliative therapy with pain medications and hormonal manipulation. Minor surgeries and the final course is hysterectomy.
“Various published studies have shown that 12% of patients with Adenomyosis also have been diagnosed with Endometriosis in other sites outside the uterus, within the pelvis. As high as 62% of women who had hysterectomy were found to have this disease on pathology reports.” – alternativesurgery.com
Endo-diet for me seems unthinkable & impractical (pardon the candidness). Of course I want to be healthy but being able to eat only what is suggested ugh! is a punishment. And so I thought of improvising, tweaking it a little bit. I call it myhormone-helper nutrition. Long name alright, it is basically a diet of having mostly plant-based whole foods and some selected supplements.
I still indulge on eating seafood, pork, free-range chicken but not red meat. I now avoid red meat, alcohol, artificial sweetener and other inflammatories. I also began reducing my calorie intake and monitor my calorie consumption. There’s a lot actually, but baby steps is crucial and really important.
So what is plant-based whole foods?
Plant-based examples; almond milk, coconut sugar, whole grains, cereal, nuts, legumes, fruits – food that didn’t undergo processing. Organic and free from chemical or GMO’s. The supplements I’m taking are posted in herbal supplements. We may have different reactions and in Filipino saying “hiyang” when certain herb improves our situation. So I suggest to do baby steps, take supplements one at a time and monitor any response.
Wellness practices – Lifestyle change
Exercise – when we sweat, our body releases endorphins. These are chemicals to help you become less sensitive to pain. It also triggers a positive feeling in the body, naming it “happy hormones”. Do you know that I went back to the gym and started doing dumbbell workouts, and I feel so good after workout.
R and R (rest and relaxation) – living in constant pain can cause more stress. Making symptoms worse and you more anxious and sensitive to pain. So chill out, relax and practice deep breathing exercises.
Acupuncture – this I have yet to try. It is a traditional Chinese therapy that uses fine needles to stimulate points in your body. It increases blood flow and releases natural pain-killing chemicals thus help us in pain during flare-ups.
Counting Calories – which helps a lot in weight management. Using a mobile app to assist you, I have the free version of – Lose it! and thinking of upgrading to premium because of a continued effort to improve my condition.
These are some points to consider or to try, paying tribute to my endo-community. I recently underwent some endometrial procedures, my doctor removed two benign polyps from my uterus (thank God) and so far I’m pain free!
Having both endometriosis and adenomyosis should not dictate your life. It led however to a drastic awakening on my part, but I got up and continue to get up in spite the pain. Seek help and there’s always hope – #endohope.
Before treatment, it must be accurately diagnosed since it has similar symptoms as Systolic Heart Failure.
Treatment – first means a change of lifestyle & medicine (some doctors call it Cardiac Rehab), or an invasive option which is surgery to replace a damaged heart valve. And the following managements should be prescribed and supervised by your cardiologist.
strict control of hypertension
aggressive treatment of coronary artery disease
use of diuretics to control pulmonary congestion
use of vasodilators to make blood vessels open up, increasing in the size of the blood vessels allows more blood to flow through. This lowers the blood pressure and lessens the workload of the heart
use of beta blocker or calcium channel blocker to relax the heart muscle
or an ACE inhibitor to relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Helps the heart to pump more blood out to the body.
strict water and salt restriction to prevent congestion
weight control
How to take care of a family with Diastolic Dysfunction?
let them rest, shorten their working hours if possible
help reduce stress – anxiety and anger can increase heart rate and blood pressure. A relaxing and calm environment will help promote a stable heart rate and blood pressure
monitor their blood pressure and heart rate regularly
help them limit their salt intake
remind/give them their medicines on time
assist them to manage their weight and watch out for sudden weight gain that may be a sign of congestion
God decided to do certain things in a certain way,
and why He did this is a secret known only to Him.
– Paulo Coelho
Pre – operation, I would have diarrhea and extreme lower back pain every menstrual period. The reason for this was explained later on by the laparoscopy procedure done to me. They found out that my posterior uterus adhered to the intestines already. And you could imagine the monthly agony I went through, I felt like dying every time. Area/s affected by endometriosis will most likely manifest symptoms of pain & discomfort yet some cases I read are asymptomatic (oh lucky them!)
To simplify its definition – Our womb (uterus) is where a baby grows when pregnant. Endometriosis is a disease in which the kind of tissue that grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Our womb (uterus) is where a baby grows when pregnant.
Endometriosis is a disease in which the kind of tissue that grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus.
The procedure provided a great relief but it was short-lived. For new findings of cysts, adenomyosis and enlargement of uterus were seen recently as bleeding becomes heavy again. I regret relying on the temporary relief of surgery. I thought that was it and oblivious of what could have been a chance for me to be healthy-er.
Many studies showed that unhealthy diet, chemicals and environmental pollution, lifestyle and mostly stress, compounded over time are the culprits behind our afflictions. Though there is no clear explanation for the cause of this illness, I believe that I’m guilty on the “work-related” stress, environmental factors and unhealthy eating which brought me to this present state of health.
it’s not too late…
There’s hope.
About a month ago, I become a member of Endometriosis Philippines Group, and it’s heartwarming to belong to a group that knows exactly what you’re going through, to have an advocacy and bring awareness to this disease.
Next post I will share the medicines, supplements, homeopathic medicines and vitamins I took or currently taking, which provided relief or just a waste of money. Of course, my body’s reaction can be entirely different from yours.
mypanoplies 