I have spent years of suffering from fertility issues and increasing pain from my endo. Before Christmas I started a weight loss diet and started doing a daily walk of 30-45 minutes in the hope of improving my symptoms and helping my fertility. While I started to feel better mood wise and weight wise (losing over 6 stone so far), the pain from the endo then spread across most of the month. I had 7 days out of the month when I was not in pain. I was having multiple painkillers a day to keep on top of it. My hot water bottle a near constant companion. I also started to use a portable TENS machine. It came to a head in the last couple of weeks where I ended up in hospital with faecal impaction from co-codamol use. While this was horrible it was useful as I had a number of scans (CT and X-ray), which confirmed the endo had spread to my bowel and that my ovaries are ‘kissing’ which may explain some of the fertility issues. I was referred on for specialist treatment to hopefully sort the kissing ovaries and improve my fertility. After all this, I decided I really needed to find a way to deal with the pain, improve my chances of a successful pregnancy and lose more weight. I decided to take the bull by the horns in an attempt to deal with all these issues by going full out on an anti-inflammatory diet, so gluten-free, caffeine-free, dairy-free and processed food free (as much as possible!). I now seriously think before I eat something and consider what nutritional benefits it may bring me. I have also started using the following supplements, spread out across the day.
Powders:
Baobab Powder
Golden Flaxseed Powder
Maca Powder
Supplements:
Organic Ashwagandha 1150mg
Solgar NAC 600mg
Evening Primrose 1000mg
CoQ10 200mg
Currently also on Pregnacare Conception Max but will be switching to Zita West Vital DHA at the end of the packet. I am also starting acupuncture in the next couple of weeks.
This all has not been the easiest of transitions. However I hope it will be worth it. I am just wondering if anyone else has done something similar? Did it help with pain management and with fertility? Is there any other supplement you would recommend trying?
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Behind_Hazel_Eyes
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Hello, yes I follow an anti-inflammatory (gut health) food program and can get to the point of almost no pain and a lot more energy. It’s gruelling though; no dairy, no sugar, no gluten, no processed foods, and a strict “allowable foods list” but it’s so worth it xx
Tropic, thank you for your reply. That is good to hear that it is helping you. Hopefully I will feel the results soon! 'Gruelling' is definitely the word to describe it!
there is research showing that a gluten free diet will help 80% of the people, it can be hard at first finding all the hidden gluten in foods. Who would expect to find gluten in lemonade, but some companies put it in to make it look cloudy! We also discovered that many red wines caused problems then we find that wheat was used in the glue for the oak barrels. You may also discover a problem after being wheat and gluten free for some time and your pain has diminished to nothing, if you accidentally eat some gluten it can be worse than ever or you may feel nothing until your period weeks later!
NAC has also been shown in research to shrink endo, reduce cysts and ease pain. Wouldn’t like to comment on your other supplement as I am not a trained nutritional therapist but I suggest you need to see someone who is like Dian Shepperson Mills who has helped thousands of women with endometriosis with their pain and fertility.
Hi ccfd9, Thank you for your reply. Yes its a real shock seeing everything that has gluten in it! Really have to examine all food labels before taking anything! I will check Dian out. Thank you
The key for lots seems to be enough of the right kind of & well balanced Omega 3 . Seems those with endo have a much higher need. Vegan or plant based doesn’t offer the DHA/EPA required or strength recommended so insuring the Omega 3 is doing the heavy lifting needed is important to healing gut and hormones.
Understand essential fatty acids and oils in the diet is really key as too often the Omega 3/6/8 ratio is off . Lots of folk misunderstand and don’t get the 3 high enough to balance the other in our diets. Not all veg oils are helpful and too much can aggravate the inflammation.
BloomingMarvellous, thankyou for your advice. The primose oil supplement hopefully boosts the Omega 6&8 but I hadn't realised I was neglecting Omega 3! I do take Salmon twice a week now but this probably isn't enough. I will definitely look into boosting my Omega 3 intake too. Thank you 🙂
Perhaps re read the Omega section of Katie’s book. Most of us have plenty of 6&8 and don’t need that boosting ( yup despite all the media push on it !) but are badly in need of the 3
Sounds like you have made lots of good changes. I find that an anti inflammatory diet helped me a great deal especially with fertility. I would add that a regular sleep pattern and actively managing stress levels/ building space to rest and recover into your live really helps too. Ultimately nothing has helped me better than surgery but treating my body kindly has really helped me cope and feel in control. Good luck with it and remember you can't be perfect, but every little thing you do to help your body is progress.
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