Todays Top 6 Articles on Uterine Fibriods

On March 19, 2008, I did a Google News search and here are the top 6 articles:

1. Embolization a Nonsurgical Way to Treat Fibroids
2. SIR: Fibroid Embolization Remains Option If Ultrasound Fails
3. Fibroids more severe for African-American women
4. Heavy periods, extreme pain
5. Uterine fibroids and pregnancy
6. Repros' Proellex(R) Safety Data Presented At The 13th World Congress of Gynecological Endocrinology

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Obesity and Fibriods

Since about 2004 I had been leading a sedentary life style. Because of that I gained a lot of weight. I had at least two jobs and worked several graveyard shifts on top of a regular 40 hours a week day job. I ate whatever I wanted anytime I wanted to and I justified it by telling my self that I worked hard. I “treated” myself to a lot of fast foods and sweets. I don’t drink carbonated drinks like soda, I don’t smoke, I rarely drink alcoholic beverages, and I was not using birth control pills.

In 2006 I started to feel very tired all the time. I had joint pain, and I would have these wicked leg cramps. I was hungry all the time. I was stressed out. I could eat and eat and never feel satisfied. My periods started wigging out. I went from no cramps, no PMS and 4 days of light bleeding to 7 to 9 days of cramps, acne breakouts, PMS, and heavy to moderate (including blood clots) bleeding. Over time my period got worse, i.e. heavier and longer to the point where I became anemic. I was depressed and tired all the time. I tried dieting to lose weight, but it was so hard or harder than usual. I lacked the energy to exercise, and my hunger and craving were overwhelming. I’m telling you all this because I think my excessive weight (my FAT) and my completely non-nutritious diet was a direct contributor to my fibroids. In effect I feel as though I was poisoning myself, and I was not listening to what my body was telling me. It wasn’t until the Doctors told me that they wanted to take my uterus and maybe my ovaries out of me, that I woke up.

Obesity seems like a ticking time bomb that is fueled by our diets and sedentary lifestyles. For me (so far) my bomb was fibroids, but obesity can manifest in our bodies in all kinds of nasty ways. There are so many articles about obesity and hormone imbalances, obesity and cancer, obesity and infertility, obesity and heart attacks, the list goes on. Check out the links below.

Counsel Patients on “Weight Loss For Life” To Prevent Obesity Effects

Medical Complications of Obesity
Obesity FAQ’s;
Some studies show obese women are at increased risk of having fibroids;
Obese Women, Reproductive Problems, and Infertility;
Obesity has closer association with infertility menstrual and reproductive abnormalities;

Obesity and Cancer;
Facts About Fibroids;
Obesity 'fuelling cancer timebomb';
Heart attack

Cortisol Connection: Tips on Managing Stress and Weight

OHSU Research Reveals The Complexities Of Obesity/cortisol Interactions
It is shear luck that I stumbled across a book that got me thinking that maybe I had other options besides surgery. My holistic regimen is about taking control of what I put and do to my body, understanding my body, balancing out my hormones (i.e. my estrogen to progesterone ratio) and supporting/healing my liver (so that it can do it’s job of removing/detoxing excess estrogen and other toxins) with lots of reading and talking to medical professionals, an anti-inflammatory diet, supplements and herbs. I know there are lots of overweight and skinny women who are perfectly healthy, and I’m glad for them, but I had to listen to my body I had to empower myself. I do all this so I can hopefully keep my uterus and ovaries. I eat right to live right; to live longer and healthier, I eat right to keep myself whole, intact and healthy. Crazy as it might sound so far its been working.

To sum it up: Being, fat, over weight, sedentary, obese, however you want to put it….FAT is BAD. Estrogen overload is BAD. Not listening to your body, ignoring signs like menstrual and reproductive abnormalities, can lead to BAD things.

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Feeling Good & Not So Crazy!!

It’s been about 35 days since I first wondered into the Herb Shoppe and met JJ. Since beginning my regimen, the almost constant bleeding (menorrhagia) has stopped. I’ve lost about 10 pounds. My color came back. My abdomen is no longer tight, bloated and distended. When I press on my abdomen area I can no longer feel the hard spots which I assumed were my fibroids. My face, hands and feet are no longer bloated. My teenage acne that turned in to adult acne just went away. I have treated my acne with everything from retinal, to tetracycline, to Acutane. None of which worked as well and with out negative side effects. I have more energy and can now exercise. My insatiable hunger has gone away and I eat much less and much more healthier. My cravings are manageable so it is easier for me to make healthy food choices. I am not depressed, I feel happier and more like myself. I sleep well. I am no longer constipated and I don’t have to pee every ten minutes.

When I first went into the Herb Shoppe I was on day 4 of my menstrual cycle, which means I was on the placebo/sugar pills of my birth control pack. I did not start the pill again so effectively I stopped taking the pill without any problems. My period started exactly on the 28th day of my menstrual cycle. My period was totally manageable with no large blood clots. The bleeding was nowhere close to what it was. The cramps were milder and were manageable with my cramp relief tincture. The Castor Oil Packs feel great anytime but were especially comforting when I was cramping. I take that as a good indication that my hormones are balancing out.

I feel great so far. I still want to incorporate systemic enzyme therapy into my regimen. I am doing research now and will post what I find out. I also still want to try acupuncture and message. I was thinking about Reflexology by the Mayan Message sounds interesting. One of the things that I should be doing but have not yet is Alternating Sitz Baths. According to Herbal Healing Secrets:

"Sitz bathes help to move blood into the pelvic area, which improves circulation and relives the stagnation that contributes to the development of uterine fibroids."

I haven’t because of time and space to do it. Well see maybe down the road, after my next ultra sound in a few months.

I don't feel crazy anymore for taking this holistic approach.

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Heavy Periods & Informative Forum

My cousin sent me some information on a non hormonal treatment for heavy periods called Novasure. Also while doing research she came across the website http://www.steadyhealth.com/index.php which has a forum on Womens health-> Reproductive Organs -> vaginal Problems. The Forum has post from people about their medical problems. Also there are articles that I found very informative. Like do you know what POF is, I didn't. It's Premature Ovarian Failure. The more you know....
The forums and articles are not a substitute for medical advise and diagnosis from a licensed professional. However they are useful in gathering information to ask and/or talk to your doctor about.

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