Having spent my late teens and early 20s in an out of hospital with debilitating low pelvic pain, I know what it feels like to suffer from the chronic condition known as ‘Endometriosis’.
So, what is endometriosis
In a nutshell Endometriosis is a condition whereby bits of endometrial tissue similar to the uterine lining, grow outside of the uterus and can grow anywhere in the body, most commonly though in nearby areas like the deeper tissue of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries or bowel tissue. Each month instead of shedding out of the uterine cavity as in a normal menstrual cycle that expels blood and tissue, the tissue in endometriosis however can’t escape as there’s no exit to escape from, thus bleeding occurs internally, causing cysts known as chocolate cysts, scar tissue and inflammation at the site they are trapped.
Common symptoms of endometriosis
- Consistent Pelvic pain
- Heavy painful periods
- Painful sex
- Bladder urgency & UTIs
- IBS symptoms like gas and bloating
- Low grade fever
- Infertility
My personal experience with endometriosis
Pain: It wasn’t the kind of agonising cramping pain that showed up just before a period, although I was also experiencing this too. My periods were heavy with large clots although this isn’t uncommon for a lot of women, however we now know this to be one of the signs of endometriosis. Throughout the rest of the month though I experienced a prolonged constant low grade dull ache and discomfort in my lower abdomen that wouldn’t go away. It was a persistent chronic pain, bloating and tender to the touch. I had to forget about sex too, as it was far too painful.
I knew this wasn’t normal and It became all I talked about. Searching for others that might be suffering with the same discomfort left me going round and round in circles in search of someone who could empathise or help me understand what was going on in my body. This was the 80s after all and we didn’t have the worldwide internet to research information at our fingertips.
Finding a diagnosis wasn’t straight forward
It took several trips to my GP over the course of 18 months, 2 ultrasound scans and 3 hospital procedures (laparoscopy), before finally getting to the bottom of my chronic pelvic pain once and for all. I had a diagnosis of endometriosis at the Chelsea hospital for women where they also discovered an ovarian cyst the size of an orange behind my left ovary caused by endometriosis, (called a chocolate cyst) along with scar tissue around my fallopian tubes!
Finely I had a diagnosis though, I wasn’t imagining this pain, I could now give it a name, this was a huge relief, I thought they can treat me now at long last! I also had a warning from my consultant that I may have trouble getting pregnant, they could drain the cyst but due to the nature of the condition and scarring that occurred I may have a problem conceiving. They advised me not to wait around if I was planning on having a family. That was 33 years ago, I did however go on to have 3 wonderful children naturally and thankfully I haven’t had a reoccurrence of this complex condition since then for which I thank god.
What causes endometriosis
The true answer is we still don’t fully know; however, research suggests there’s a strong link between:
- Genetics disposition, especially if your mother or sister have endometriosis.
- Oestrogen dominance: Higher than normal level of circulating oestrogen is also linked.
- A dysfunction going on in with the immune system has been strongly linked to the condition (autoimmunity).
- Digestive problems, most probably because 80% of our immune system is in the bowel and gastrointestinal tract. It is also in close proximity to the uterus.
- Insufficient detoxification pathways and clearance of toxins including hormones through the liver, bladder, and bowel.
Endometriosis is far more common that we realise. Its estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age will develop the condition. Sadly, for many, diagnosis is still taking far too long, leaving many women feeling isolated, in pain and frustrated from not knowing what’s going on in their body. little has changed either with conventional harsh medical treatment.
Conventional treatment
Immune suppressing steroids, Danazol, the pill, anti-inflammatory pain killers and paracetamol.
Surgery keyhole surgery to remove lesions or hysterectomy in severe cases.
I wish I knew then at the age of 21 what I know now!
I would have reached out to a number of natural support strategies including nutritional advice as we now know the wrong type of foods can aggravate the condition, while the right foods can be supportive along with targeted supplements. Whilst Acupuncture, physiotherapy, deep tissue massage and exercise are also great natural strategies to relieve symptoms and severity of the condition. At least now I have a role to play in supporting others who are suffering with this debilitating condition, advising natural proven strategies that really do help!
5 Natural lifestyle and diet approaches to reduce endometriosis
Removing food triggers: Gluten, diary and sugars can all exacerbate the condition, causing inflammation. By removing these triggers you stand a better chance of reducing symptoms.
Supporting detoxification pathways: Drink plenty of water 6-8 glasses per day, to flush out toxins, also getting adequate daily bowel movement by eating plenty of fibrous fruit and vegetables, pulses, beans and whole grain rice etc, as this Supports detoxification of oestrogen one of the main culprits exacerbating endometriosis
Regular daily Exercise: Brings circulation and blood flow to the area and supports detoxification.
Stress management: As always stress exacerbates lots of chronic conditions and endometriosis is no exception, reducing the stress hormone cortisol is key, by follow mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, Epsom salt bath can all support you to reconnect with your limbic system (the calming part of the brain that supports the nervous system), all proven beneficial.
Supplements: Various targeted supplementation for your unique set of symptoms are key, however some are a given such asmagnesium which relaxes muscle cramps and tension and also supports the nervous system, I like the glycinate form as its gentle on the digestive system, if constipation is a thing, I suggest it with citrate (Magnesium citrate). B vitamins are also very supportive like B6, B12 and folate which support the liver, whilst agnus cactus vitex helps mood by raising progesterone. Omega 3 fatty acids will help to reduce inflammation as they are high in EPA and DHA. Always check with your GP if you are on medication as you don’t want to clash supplements with medication. (I can check this also for my clients).
I would also recommend Comprehensive functional testing as this can pin- point the root cause of the condition by looking at hormone levels, genetic disposition, gut health, and immune and inflammatory markers that may be playing a role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis so we can address the right unique support and relief for you.
Please feel free to call me for advice to see how I can help you.
