My Journey With Uterine Fibroids So Far
If you are dealing with uterine fibroids you aren't alone. I share my personal story in dealing with uterine fibroids and what I am doing about it.
HEALTH AND WELLNESSFIBROIDSHORMONE HEALTH
This blog post will be a little bit more personal as I share my journey so far with uterine fibroids. I wanted to share about it in hopes it might help or encourage you if you deal with fibroids or just want to learn more about my journey. None of this is medical advice, so obviously talk with your doctor if you have concerns.
It started about two and a half years ago where I felt a lump in my lower abdomen, but I figured it was just gas or stool (as I deal with chronic constipation, but that is a whole other story ;)) I didn't think much of it, but I figured I would check again later. I did also have increased constipation and we had just moved and I had dealt with a severe case of poison ivy that required antibiotics and steroids during that time. Stress was at an all time high plus the backlog of everything that had happened in the years leading up to this point I think was a tipping point for my body. As time went on I started also having more period cramps and pain and irregularity with my periods. Which again was frustrating, but I did not put two and two together.
After some time I felt the mass in my stomach was larger, I always felt bloated, significant PMS symptoms, and constipation I knew I needed to be looked at. I scheduled an ultrasound after my doctor figured that it probably was a fibroid and it was and confirmed in November of 2023. I then was on a journey to try and get rid of it as I knew most places offered hysterectomy as the main option. Since my husband and I were not ready to officially close the door on having children this wasn't an option. (Even if we were done, I am not fond of chopping out organs)
For the next few months I did what I could, cut out/limit sugar, no caffeine, eating enough protein and fat, avoiding processed foods, moving my body, and trying to decrease stress. Nothing was working and the fibroid continued to grow. I also was recommended to do a DUTCH test so did that along with blood work and another ultrasound. The fibroid did grow and my bloodwork was all "normal" for the most part except for slightly elevated LDL and of course low vitamin D. My DUTCH test revealed I had high estrogen, and low progesterone. Which I knew already, but now I have a paper to prove it. From there I continued to try all the things, red light, castor oil packs, anti-fungal protocol, DIM to manage estrogen, vitamin D, etc. Still nothing helped and I broke down and scheduled an appointment with an OB. She said because the fibroid was so large at that point surgery was the best option. All the other less invasive options would have side effects along with not being as effective for what I needed.
Main treatments for fibroids include medications, IUD's, hormone-based medications, ultrasound waves, ablation, embolization, myomectomy, and hysterectomy. There are other options as well, but those are the most common ones. I had an MRI with and without contrast done (which I share a little bit about what I did to move that out of my body on my Instagram highlights) Due to the size of my fibroid, where it was located, and wanting to maintain fertility, a myomectomy was the best option per the doctor. I kept moving along with the recommendations all while still trying to see if I could make any changes on my own. As a last ditch effort I decided to try to do more of a parasite cleanse as most tumors have a significant parasitic component and I opted to use Ivermectin for a time. I also utilized coffee enemas again for a time, and I am sure I passed some parasites, but did not change the fibroid size. (Again, not medical advice)
I had reached out to many other integrative/holistic practitioners and was met with crickets or just explaining why I had a fibroid. I googled and asked around if anyone had successfully shrunk or reversed their fibroids and I have still found nothing. At this time I am moving forward with the surgery and praying for healing in the meantime. As a Christian I have seen many people healed of all kinds of crazy issues and I believe that God still heals today and that this wouldn't be a hard case for Him. If you don't feel that is a reality, that is totally fine, but this is my experience and what I am hoping for.
As far as what causes fibroids, most people still don't know. Most common issues that contribute are: hormone imbalance especially estrogen dominance (which isn't a root cause but a symptom of a deeper issue.), Toxin buildup including parasites, heavy metals, mold/fungus, bacteria, and viruses are also huge contributors to fibroids. This happens because tumors are actually a way the body is trying to wall off and separate the toxins from the body. Gut issues, lack of movement, eating processed foods, lack of sleep, etc. The biggest one that I think contributed the most to my situation is chronic stress. (Also having to utilize steroids and antibiotics for severe poison ivy) So, this is my last step in how I am supporting my body and working toward truly decreasing stress. (Which is extremely difficult and maybe a story for another time.)
In the meantime I am now working to prep my body for surgery as I know that can make a big difference for the outcome. Ideally, most of these should be done most of the time, but sometimes there are different seasons for what you are working on. This is what I am doing to prep for surgery:
Cutting out all sugar-this includes honey, maple syrup, stevia, etc.
Cutting out caffeine-I have been drinking matcha so it is less caffeine, but there is still some caffeine
Prioritizing Protein and Fat more specifically-I normally eat a good amount of these, but I hope to be more intentional. (Check out my free protein guide to help you get enough protein in a day.)
Choosing quality carbohydrates-focusing on whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
Avoiding processed and fast foods.
Drinking plenty of filtered water and really supporting my mineral stores
Moving/strengthening my body-especially specific core and pelvic floor exercises just like if I was preparing for pregnancy/postpartum (Some of my favorite follows are Strong Body Strong Mama, Deliciously Fit and Healthy, and Get Mom Strong on Instagram for helpful steps for true core/pelvic floor health)
Getting morning sunlight first thing after waking
Not scrolling on my phone before bed or first thing in the morning
Working on breathing and decreasing stress-going to therapy
Optimizing digestion-Chewing food well, castor oil packs, betaine HCL, ox bile, etc.
That is basically it for now. I plan to share the rest of the journey once I have had surgery and recovered and what items I used for recovery. So, that will be part 2 so to speak. I hope this was helpful for you whether you have fibroids or just knowing that even health professionals have health issues. I hope you know this is a safe place to discuss health issues and not have it become your identity, but find the support you need to navigate them! If you read this far you are the real winner. ;) If you have any questions or thoughts with any of this don't hesitate to reach out.
