Both Em and L suffer from conditions that fall under this umbrella; fibroids (Em) and endometriosis (L) and we have researched and researched to ensure that our lifestyle, diet and mental outlook can help to address these issues. Luckily Em's fibroids cause her no pain but that doesn't mean that she wouldn't be happy to see the back of them (as it were). But L suffers from a lot of pain because of the endometriosis.
We'd like to share our resources with you, had there been a post with these tips on when we first started researching we would have been eternally grateful. Because of the length of this post, we're going to break it up into a series of posts.
First off we're focusing on online resources that have helped us in our quest for more information.
As we've stated before we are not doctors, and if there are any changes or tips that you are inspired by please consult with your health practitioner before you incorporate them into your health regime. Our main is to help our readers through information, and if you have any tips for women's health issues please let us know in the comments. As always, we are so grateful for you visiting.
Our first stop was the internet and the best sites we've found are:
1) The Laughing Sage Wellness Group who focus on the emotional roots of women's health problems (see the table below) and offer a support counsellor service, along with free teleclasses, individual and group workshops. This site has proved to be very helpful for all of us. We all suffer from digestive problems and facing the issues mentioned on their hormonal health tip sheet has helped us a lot. Here's a snippet from that tip sheet, a table that the folk at Laughing Sage adapted from Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, by Christiane Northrup, MD, and You Can Heal Your Body, by Louise Hay:
Hormonal Health Concerns and Common Belief Patterns
Abdominal cramping: fear, stopping the processFor more information please visit the Laughing Sage Wellness Group and/or the Laughing Sage Wellness Blog. Their other tipsheets are about (1) healthy, drug-free fertility and menstruation, (2) The humble hot water bottle, and (3) Why the winter affects women differently from men.
Acne/Pimples/Blackheads: small outbursts of anger, dislike of the self
Adrenal Problems: defeatism, anxiety, no longer taking care of the self
Breast Cysts, Pain, Cancer: can’t fully feel, express, and resolve emotions, can’t participate in balanced partnerships, imbalance between time alone and with others
Constipation: stuck in the past, fear of letting go of what is old and no longer needed
Cellulite: stored anger and self-punishment
Cervical Abnormalities, Cervical Cancer: poorly defined boundaries in relationships, relationships and activities that detract from well-being, guilt about sexual pleasure
Diarrhea: rejection, running away.
Endometriosis: illness of competition, emotional needs competing with ability to function in the outside world, see also “menstruation”
Fibroids: low self-esteem, self-criticism, bondage to emotions of others, unable to birth most creative self
Kidney Problems: failure, shame, disappointment, criticism
Infertility/Miscarriage: insufficient energy, ambivalence about impact of pregnancy on lifestyle and body image, hanging on to grief or loss
Libido Problems: denial of pleasure, belief that sex is bad, insensitive partners, fear of father
Menstruation: Irregular/Heavy/Absent: not at peace with being a woman, not at peace with the cyclicity/ changeability of all things, see also “PMS”
Ovarian Cysts, Abnormalities, Cancer: too much giving or receiving of control or criticism, addiction to external approval, imbalanced drive toward financial, creative, or relationship goals
PCOS: rejecting one’s womanliness, deep messages that women are inferior, see also “ovarian”
Pelvic Pain: emotional stress believed to be unresolvable, emotional, psychological, or sexual trauma
PMS: refusal to embrace both difficult and pleasant emotions, not allowing shadow side to be seen and worked through
Stomach Problems/Indigestion: fear of the new, inability to assimilate the new
Throat Problems: inability to speak up for oneself, swallowed anger, stifled creativity
Thyroid Problems: “I never get to do what I want. When will it be my turn?”
UTIs, Interstitial Cystitis: anger at life, stagnated flow of emotions, dependency in relationships
Vaginal Infections, Vulvar Pain, STDs: see “cervical”
Before you think it, we know that there is a biological basis to illness, but we also know that emotions can affect your health and that the human body isn't a series of unrelated parts. There is no blame in illness and it is not our intention to make you feel that way. The first time L read the above list she got so annoyed that she started crying, but after a long talk and a few days of contemplation she realised that she has felt as if she struggles with the outside world and that she was unable to fully express herself when it came to what she calls "life responsibilities".
We feel that information is empowering and that everyone has the right to take responsibility for their own health in a way that suits them.
2) Beautiful Cervix Project. It really is quite strange that for every promotion of how liberating sex is, there is little to nothing said about the cervix (aside from the HPV warning). This site has cervix photos of pre and post partum, entire cycles, a pap smear/smear test, during pregnancy, cervical dysplasia and more. It's probably not suitable for work viewing...but it is well worth checking out! And can help to provide a better understanding of sex, fertility, labour, pregnancy, abortion, hysterectomy and other cervix related issues.
It's also a great resource simply for knowing what the cervix actually looks like.
3) Wikipedia. We didn't start there, but it's a good way to keep up to date with any new options for the treatment of your particular problem.
4) Sex, Lies and Uterine Fibroids. This is the story of Carla, a woman diagnosed with uterine fibroids in her late twenties, and was told what seems to be the standard; "it's nothing to worry about". Which as Carla says, isn't exactly true nor is it exactly false. Her fibroids grew to the size of a 6-7 month pregnancy.
She put together the site in her quest for an answer to her fibroids. She clearly states she doesn't necessarily agree with all of the ideas, information or research contained in links that can be accessed from the site, but that she believes that it is extremely important that each woman decide what is best for her.
She also uploaded her journal, which describes the good, the bad and the ugly. If you are offended by "profanity or discussions of a sexual nature" then you may not want to read it. But it has proved to be another brilliant resource for us, and yes, there were times that it was uncomfortable reading but it was also hugely humbling to know that this lady put her journal online so that other women could see that they were not alone.
4) Soul Cysters is the largest online community for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). They have a message board so you can connect with other members and discuss any issues that might be bothering you, they are in the process of developing their own radio show and they provide a multitude of resources for women with PCOS. Definitely worth taking a look at if you or anyone you know has PCOS.
5) Endometriosis in the UK. Set up in 1999 by a woman living with endometriosis who wanted to offer a support system for other sufferers, this site has gained 1358 endostories published by it's users, offers support for people living with endometriosis and their partners (by way of a messaging board) and explains all of the need-to-know stuff very well.
We haven't covered everything, because we haven't had to research any other women's health issues. If you know of any other websites dedicated to a women's health issue that you have found to be very useful please list it in the comments.
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