.....Can You Walk the Walk

I made a lot of assumptions when it came to the Menstrual Cycle and Menstruation. I now realized that there is a lot I do not know about it. I put up some links.

I got my treatment plan from JJ. Wow! Kind of intimidating but not as intimating as a hysterectomy, so to me the plan is doable. I’ll up date the My Regimen Post. The hard part (relatively speaking) looks like the diet and just the shear volume of things I have to do. I have to be diligent, persistent and patient. I can’t miss or skip something. For example yesterday I forgot to take my Reliva (Iron pill) and I started bleeding and cramping again. Luckily when I got home I had some shepherds purse tea and it stopped. But missing that one pill set me back even if it was for a few hours. I may go Vegetarian. I can still eat chicken and very little organic beef but Vegetarian is the best course of action. It takes the most discipline. I know yesterday I was all fired up about diet and nutrition, but it's easy to talk the talk. We are talking no Pork Chops!!

I informed my primary doctor and my Interventional Radiologist of my holistic approach, and my blog and I received positive feedback from both. The Interventional Radiologist suggested I also see a fertility specialist in regards to my fallopian tubes because s/he could tell me if my tubes can be unblocked and if they will work again. I will do that but not right now. I do not think I am emotionally ready to deal with the can or can’t I have a baby. I’ve compartmentalized all this and I can only deal with one piece at a time and my focus now is keeping my uterus.

In this blog I am sharing my course of action in regards to my fibroids that is based on the recommendation of licensed and experienced Doctors and certified Herbalists. If you think you have similar health issues, I urge you to go see a medical doctor and get a diagnosis. After that if you decided to treat your issues holistically than see a certified and recommended specialist.

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Ding Ding! Let The Fight Begin

December ’07 I was so low when I thought a Hysterectomy was my only option. Since I decided to go Holistic I’ve been really up. Well I just read the report from the MRI that I had on Dec 1st, 2007, and let me tell ya, that fibroid tea has got it’s work cut out. This is going to be some kind of battle, and I am down right now, because I might lose. I knew things were bad but this report is scary.

"Findings: Uterus is markedly enlarged by numerous large fibroids. The uterine
dimension is 20.3 cm in length, AP dimension of 8.5 cm, and transverse dimension
of 9.1 cm. the largest fibroid is at the fundus, measuring 9.6 x 8.8 x 9.1 cm. "

Further in the report is the measurements of my other fibriods:

"This lower uterine segment fibroid measures 4.5 x 4.1 x 3.9 cm Another large
fibroid is seen in the upper body towards the left, measuring 4.7 x 5.0 x 4.3 cm in
size. Another sizable fibroid is seen just to the right measuring 4.0 x 3.3 x 2.4
cm. There are a limited number of additional smaller fibroids also noted."

It goes on to note Bilateral Hydosalpinx which I think is my jacked up fallopian tubes. Also that my Endometrium is distorted. Whatever that is. (I’ll google it later I can’t deal right now)

I know there are people out there who think I’m crazy. Or at best humoring myself. I am starting wonder if I am crazy for taking this holistic approach. What am I thinking!!

I don’t know…I’m going to keep on with the holistic program for a while but I am going to keep my expectations low. Earlier today I saw JJ and I talked to my primary doctor. I will write about that later. Right now I got to get my mind right and prepare for this battle.

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My Thoughts on My Diet and Nutrition

Due to heredity I may have a predisposition to getting fibroids, however I have to take a look at the environmental factors that may have had an effect on my health. I am taking a serious look at my diet and nutrition.

I could rant about big food companies throwing fillers and additives and whatever in to our mass produced processed foods all in the name of making a buck. Their attitude being that if it sells, taste’s good and doesn’t kill people (quickly) it’s all good. But all I am going to say is processed foods may not kill us but it sure as hell is not making us stronger.

I can’t really go off on any of these companies, because I was a willing participant. Hell I love big mac’s, jumbo jacks, bacon, pork chops, Kraft mac & cheese and sugar (to name a few). I would roll my eyes and chuckle every time I saw some article about how hot dogs and big mac’s would kill us. And I can’t blame my parents for my bad eating habits. My parents raised me on a very healthy and nutritious diet. I was eating Spirulina, carrot juice, tofu, meat alternatives, protein powder and other tree barks and grass clippings back in the 70’s long before Jamba Juice and Whole Foods.

Once I left home I started pigging out on whatever I wanted. I did not consistently think about nutrition or what I was putting into my mouth would do to my body. With out a care in the world to long or short term consequences, I just satisfied one craving after another. In my twenties, if I gained a little weight I would diet, lose it, stop the diet and gain it all back. Then when I hit my thirties it became harder and harder to lose the weight. Now I am single, overweight with fibroids, jacked up fallopian tubes, anemia, and staring down the barrel of a hysterectomy.

I am not blaming and I am not saying that there is a cause and effect relationship. I know that there are quacks, chicken littles, and scam artists on both sides. Also that information needs to be scrutinized and I am skeptical. With that said I think that taking a holistic approach and changing my diet can make a difference. I think that balancing my hormones and providing my body with the nutrients that it needs, and not flooding it with crap that it does not need (and could be harmful), will make a difference. I am watching everything I am putting in my mouth. I am eating to live a healthy life. I am respecting my body. What I am saying is that I am on guard about food and my environment. Check out these searches on Processed Food and Hormones In Food.

Got something to say? Ideas? Suggestions? Leave a comment.

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My Regimen: So Far So Good

On Thursday January, 10, 2008 I had a cup of shepherds purse tea with two droppers of the cramp relief tincture. I understand that it could be placebo affect, however my menorrhagia has cut down dramatically. Also I have not had cramps since I started taking the cramp relief tincture. Later the same night I did my first Castor oil pack. Not sure if it did/does anything but the heat on my abdomen felt really good and soothing. Also I took 3 droppers of the insomnia tincture in heated almond milk (yum) and had a really good nights sleep. (no waking up to change pads, or from cramps, and for some strange reason I did not wake up to use the restroom. One of the fibriods is pressed up against my bladder and usually I am going to restroom several times a night.)

I started drinking the fibroid tea, taking milk thistle, DIM and Calcium D-Glucarate on Friday January 11, 2008. I don’t know if the tea is having any effect on the fibroids yet. In a few months I am going to have another MRI or ultrasound to see if they have shrunk or reduced in number. (At my last MRI I had at least 10.) However, I look and feel much better. My face, hands, feet, and abdomen are no longer bloated and I am not as pale and sickly looking. I did have a bit of a headache Friday night, but when I woke up Saturday it was gone.

I have modified my diet and eliminated things that I think have hormones added, like milk, dairy, sugar, saturated/hydrogenated fats and red meat. (Holistic Protocol For Uterine Fibroids) However I am sure it will be modified even more by the naturopath.

I am thinking about going to an Acupuncturist and Reflexologist. Any suggestions?

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My Regimen

*Note: I see JJ Tuesday January 15th, 2007, for a full consultation, so my holistic regimen may change. If it does I will update this post.

My Uterine Fibriod Tea consist of the following herbs:
Dandelion Root (helps decongest the liver, detox)
Yellow Dock Root (detox)
Ginger Root
Licorice Root
Vitex (Chaste) Berries (normalize estrogen levels by stimulating progesterone production)
Nettle (Rich in Iron helps in relieving Anemia)
Red Clover Leaves
Red Raspberry Leaves
Wild Yam
Burdock

JJ Worked out the actual amounts and I think I ended up with 10 ounces of tea. To make the tea I use 4 tablespoons per quart. I drink 1 quart a day. I put in parentheses what the book Herbal Healing Secrets for Women says about the herb. From what I’ve read the herbs in this tea are helpful in detoxifying, and balancing my hormones.

Shepard’s Purse: For the uterine bleeding (Menorrhagia) I drink 1 cup of tea a day made with 1 tablespoon of Shepard’s Purse.

The Herbal Healing Secrets book had formulas for cramp relief and insomnia relief, both of which I was having problems with. I take these as needed. I put a few droppers full of the cramp relief in what I am drinking. I put a 2-3 droppers full of the insomnia relief in heated almond milk. Yummy!! JJ says I can use Hazelnut milk too. I love Hazelnuts!!

Cramp Relief Formula:
1 ounce Cramp Bark Extract (relax muscle spasm)
½ ounce Valerian or Hops Extract
½ ounce White Willow Bark Extract
¼ ounce Ginger Root Extract

Insomnia Relief Formula:
1 ounce Valerian Root Extract
½ ounce Hops Extract
½ ounce Passionflower Extract

JJ recommended some Milk Thistle Powder. According to my Herbal Healing book, the Silymarin in Milk thistle protects the liver, helps stimulate the growth of healthy new liver cells and improves it’s the ability to detoxify estrogen. Sorry JJ but that powder taste NASTY!! I purchased GAIA Herbs Milk Thistle Seed caplets. I take 2-3 a day.

I also take Premier Science’s Indoplex (DIM). It says it “Supports healthy breast, uterine, cervical and prostate tissue*” Also Premier Science’s Calcium D-Glucarate. It says it “ Enhances detoxification and promotes estrogen metabolism to support cellular health”

At night I do a Castor Oil Pack.

I will use Natual Progesterone cream 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon twice a day on days 12 to 26 of my menstruation Cycle. (First day of Menstruation is day 1. See Natural Progesterone Cream article)

I still take my Repliva a prescription Iron supplement. Right now I need it.

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Fibroids Are Cramping My Style

Aloha, The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my holistic fight against my uterine fibriods and commune with other people who are dealing with fibriods/tumors. Even before my diagnosis my quality of life had been compromised because of excessive bleeding and chronic anemia, which over time has gotten worse. However I can't just give up my reproductive organs without a fight. I just can’t accept my doctors recommendation to have a hysterectomy without trying other methods. My goal is to shrink my fribroids using natural medicine to the point where I can be a good candidate for a myomectomy or UFE. If at the end of my fight I have a hysterectomy I think I'll be better able to accept it knowing that I tried.
I am a single 37 year old black American woman, with no children, who recently moved from the Islands to the Pacific Northwest. Spring of 2007 my doctor told me I had fibroids. Later I will write more about my experiences but for right now I want to sum up.
During the summer of 2007 I had two ultra sounds. My doctor told me I had numerous fibroids which caused my uterus to enlarge to the size of someone who was 4 to 5 months pregnant. Also that I was chronic anemic and that I may have cysts on my ovaries. In Dec'07 I was referred to an OBGYN who recommended a hysterectomy. At the suggestion of the OBGYN I had an MRI. I met with a Interventional Radiologist at OHSU about uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)however I was not a good candidate. I went back to the OBGYN and she strongly recommended that I have a hysterectomy. The doctor also said that there were problems with my fallopian tubes and that she was going to remove them too. In regards to the possible cysts on my ovaries the Doctor would not know whether I would keep my ovaries until they opened me up.
I felt that I have reached a brick wall with conventional medicine. A few days a go I purchased a book Herbal Healing Secrets for Woman; Safe Natural remedies for 40+ Women. The book symbolizes the beginning of my non-conventional fight.
After reading the book, doing some research on the Internet and meeting with a naturopath (who I am going to have a consultation with on Tuesday, Jan 15th, 2008) I have come to believe that I have high levels of estrogen. I have decided to use natural remedies and supplements to balance my hormones and see if this has any effect on my fibriods. I am going to use this blog to share my experiences and hope that others will share with me.

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