*I am not a doctor nor do I intend to pose as one. Always consult your own doctor and do your own research*
I have mentioned in previous posts that I have gluten free products around the house or that I have to eat gluten free. Truth is I have Endometriosis. Such an ugly word and such an ugly disease. I found out that indeed I did have Endo while my husband was deployed when G was about 16 months old.
To my surprise most people do not have a clue what Endo is. Basically the cells of the Uterus decide to grow in other places such as bowels, ligaments, bladder and many other places. Rare cases have seen Endo implants on the lungs, in the nose and on the brain. Since these are the same cells as the ones that line the Uterus, they are driven by the same hormones. Meaning, they bleed and shed during your period just as it would inside the Uterus. Though when the Endo implants bleed and shed every month, the blood has no where to go but stay inside your body which causes pain and scar tissue. Adhesion’s can act as glue and can bind internal organs together (frozen pelvis).
Some women have this intense, horrible pain mostly during their periods but others have pain all the time.
The symptoms of Endo are:
*painful bowel movements
*painful sex
*feels like your insides are falling out
*painful urination
*pain in lower back and shooting pain down the legs
And a whole slew of other symptoms which are different for every woman. Many women with Endo have chronic fatigue and problems with fertility. THERE IS NO CURE!
I had never dealt with this pain growing up instead my pain got worse each month after G was born. It was like a light switch that turned on the disease in my body. The pain got so bad that I would fall to the floor while walking if a pain happened. The only way I can explain the pain to people is this:
Imagine a giant fishing hook and being lifted by that fishing hook down there.
It is the most intense pain ever and I have never felt pain like that besides when I was in labor. Every time I went to the bathroom I cried and I often avoided eating or drinking alot of fluids so I wouldn’t have to go often. Chasing G was not happening….I couldn’t keep up with her at all. The doctors wanted to put me on Lupron, I told them they were nuts. Lupron was not for me. I decided that I would rather try the less invasive route that proved to have no side effects first and then I would consider other routes after if necessary.
I found a group of women and Endo specialists on Facebook. Headed by a woman who worked with WERF (World Endometriosis Research Foundation.) I found out many helpful things. Since I grew up with a mom who was addicted to prescription medications I wasn’t comfortable with having to take them. I found that many women with Endo can benefit from kicking a food allergy to the curb. For some odd reason most women with Endo have an intolerance to gluten. I decided to try that first. I went 30 days without gluten and tried to eat whole wheat pasta after, within 3 hours I had the pain back.
I lost weight and was mostly pain free without the gluten. After a bit I started getting some pain back which is when I cut the caffeine out and the pain went out the window. I am soda free, salt free, msg free, gluten free. For the most part I don’t eat red meat except maybe once every three months. I consume as much organic produce and meat as I can. Which is why we raised our own meat chickens. We also have our own egg layers that have not had hormones or antibiotics.
A book I recommend is Endometriosis: A Key to healing through Nutrition by Dian Shepperson Mills
In no way am I saying that you can be cured from Endometriosis as there is NO cure. Endo can come back after repeated excision surgeries as well. I just use some of the nutritional methods to eliminate most of my pain.
If you have any suggestions, comments or have your own story of Endo please do share.
