I was diagnosed with endometriosis over 3 years ago now, I had a laparoscopy in 2014 however within 6 months the endometriosis returned. I have tried different contraceptives to help reduce the pain but it seems to be creeping it's way back. I visited the doctor earlier this year but they have said no to another laproscopy, they have said most treatments available they will not do until I have had my children. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on home remedies to help with the pain? I exercise when I can but I do not want to depend on paracetamol/ ibuprofen.
Any help would be great!
Thanks x
Written by
ma145
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You can experiment with diet to reduce inflammation and try to boost progesterone building blocks naturally.
Trying to change one thing at a time scientifically and taking what works for you may be the best approach rather than following the Endo diet as a Bible and stopping everything all at once . Ehat works seems to vary significantly by individual.
Liver
The liver is important in metabolising excess hormones so eating foods that help it like leafy greens and avoiding foods that strain it like wine is helpful.
Wine is again contentious, on balance not so good, I suspect because it puts a strain on your liver. At any rate I find I physically can't drink more than half a small champagne glass now, very depressing! Here are some links.
When it comes to dairy milk it is the casein type that is relevant apparently. Originally cows' milk had A2 beta casein, the same as in human milk. But the domestication of cows for dairy production caused a mutation that gave rise to A1 beta casein that has seemingly been proven to have several adverse effects on health. Amongst these are effects on immune and endocrine function and, as a consequence, on autoimmunity and allergies. There does seem to be a case that it is potentially harmful for anyone, but particularly for someone with an immune/endocrine disease such as endo. Goat's milk and Guernsey milk are meant to have mostly A2 so not be so bad. Or try any of the numerous alternatives soya, almond, oat milk, rice milk etc. Bute Island Scheese is the best dairy free cheese alternative ( I've tried them all!)
Soy gets a bad press from to the Endo Diet and also to be fair from certain dubious US manufacturing methods, where it is often GM and heavily crop sprayed and there seems to have been a US specific scandal about production methods. Using organic branded products like Cauldron and Alpro with traceability tested beans avoids this risk and any GM intake from human foods.
If GM is a real concern you need to consider only eating organic meat and dairy or going vegan. In the UK large quantities of GM soya and maize are now used as animal feed. Meat and dairy products fed on GM animal feed are not reqired to be labelled as GM-fed in British supermarkets.
There is no evidence that soy is bad for you although I would always stick to organic and avoid USA products where they use GM and crop spray and it's good to avoid over reliance on any one protein source. If soya had a material negative impact, having consumed it extensively for over 20 years I would be riddled with end-stage severity endo not just one rv nodule.
Hormones and Diet
I'm starting to look into this more at the moment given progesterone side effects, I'm not sure there is evidence that eating the building blocks for a hormone means your body will automatically produce more if you have a hormone disorder like Endo but it's very interesting.
Wine and soya are both linked to phyto oestrogens, which have been controversial, but the debate centres on soya.
Phyto-oestrogens
Phytoestrogens aren’t actually oestrogen (beware of sites that say they are) but are naturally-occurring plant compounds that are functionally similar to mammalian estrogens.
Past studies were conflicting but now the latest studies lean towards soya, which is particularly rich in phyto-oestrogens, being mildly positive. It was thought that as oestrogen stimulates endo, plant oestrogens would do the same. But there are only so many receptors that oestrogen can latch onto. So the recent thinking is that phyto-oestrogens (which are very weak) will occupy some of the receptors and prevent the much stronger oestradiol from attaching (the driver of endo and oestrogen cancers). Latest clinical opinion now is leaning toward soya as having protective effects due to this. Earlier positive studies also existed from Japan where tofu is a traditional diet component and a lower incidence of Endo was recorded.
There is lots of debate about the connection between various toxins in our diet and environment and auto immune disorders and endo.
Toiletries
I certainly found going to organic sanitary towels and toiletries beneficial to my IC, and a long standing skin rash my husband has has cleared up to boot, so I guess I am a convert, and I now look out for SLS and SLES an irritant used in toothpaste and toiletries.
Food
I don't know of any direct evidence of harm to humans from pesticides but glyphosphate is often used on wheat shortly before harvest, and is found in our breaf. It is believed to be carcinogenic (WHO) and there are concerns more broadly about the cocktail mix of chemicals being used together. (SO) Certainly bees and other pollinators are now definitively proven to be affected and their population is plummeting. If you can afford it, I'd say eat (or grow) as much organic as possible, it can only be a good thing to reduce toxins. If you can't ,do wash fresh fruit and veg thoroughly. The Soil Association ( the organic certification body) campaigns against pesticides so is probably a good place to do more research if interested.
Cause and effect is hard to prove and theories abound but any overall healthy diet that is high in fresh vegetables and fruit, low in fat, sugar, artificial chemicals and processed food is likely to help you feel better in yourself regardless of any endo specific properties.
I am now more or less 100% vegan but eat a fair bit of organic soya as I am nut allergic . I have just recently cut down gluten to beneficial effect. I continue to have wine and caffeine though theoretically I shouldn't. I have severe deep endo but only experienced comparatively mild to moderate pain though fatigue did not benefit from my diet.
Others will have different experiences though and find different foods a problem or aid, as we are all unique.
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