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.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
.....Can You Walk the Walk
Friday, January 11, 2008
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.
