Six Weeks -- Feeling Pretty Fine

I haven't had my laptop so I haven't been able to upload any photos in a week. I'll have some soon of my healing belly. I don't think you can see much change on the outside but I can definately feel the difference on the inside. I'm a lot less sore now and I have more energy.

My cramps were awful last week, I thought I was going to die and I had spotting which isn't normal for me. My period came last week, over a week late, and it wasn't normal. I had more hemorrhaging for several days and felt very light-headed. It doesn't even take that much blood loss for me to feel this way. I was anemic to start with, something I've been working on since my surgery by taking iron supplements. I think my uterus might have had a hard time contracting properly and maybe it was still adjusting to all the recent changes.

I looks like things are getting back into order though, all biological signs are A-OK now. My incision is still sensitive but I don't have to wear the granny knickers anymore and I can comfortably sleep on my belly at night. Wednesday morning my body told me it was time to exercise again. I've been aching for the first time since my surgery, the kind of aches you get when you don't exercise for a while. I've been trying to pick it up and do more physical activity including a little jogging down the street and push-ups.

We babysat my 26 month old nephew at the beginning of the week and the kid had us running around for hours. My partner says that he's not sure he wants one now, that his life will be certainly over if he has to do that every night. I don't think he is serious, he would love a baby if we had one and be awesome about it. I told him we can get an au pair, though I don't know that we really would do that. We'll figure it out when the time comes.

My partner also noticed the other day that for the first time in a couple years there is this lightness to my person, some weight being lifted. I think it is from the fibroid mostly. It was a big psychological burden on me to know that I wasn't well and that I had to manage a condition that may or may not affect my fertility. My partner said that now I know I can get pregnant and now that the fibroid is gone things are looking a lot easier. Let's hope so.

It will be another 8 weeks or so until we're able to start trying to conceive. I'll be away on vacation for part of that time and then I'm going to try to take some art classes in the new year to help keep my mind off of it all.

Nutrition and medicine

"The doctors of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."

--Thomas Edison


In case you didn't know, most medical schools do not offer adequate training in nutrition to medical students -- even today. Ever notice that most doctors won't even ask you if you are getting enough rest or drinking enough water? We could be living on potato chips for all they know.

Naturopathic medicine in contrast focuses on the body's ability to heal itself and nutrition is a key part of this -- hence why some of us have had some improvement of health while under the care of naturopaths. In the ideal world of the future all doctors will look at us holistically and help identify imbalances before they become issues. I'm not saying naturopathy is better than allopathic (western) medicine, but I am saying that you will feel a bit better cared for since they try to get to the bottom of the causes of what ails you -- including psychological, spiritual, emotional, causes, etc. I got my anemia finally in check after other doctors telling me that it was normal for some people -- and I'm feeling much better now.

Since we know that western doctors aren't getting this training it is important that we seek out information about the role of nutrution in our health issues on our own. Doctors might even agree with you when you ask if you should be taking B-12 for instance, it just might not be something they offer you on their own.

Here are a couple links to learn more:

Nutrition Education in U.S. Medical Schools (1985)
Commission on Life Sciences (CLS)

Naturopathic Medicine - Philosophy

Oh, and if you are interested in controlling bad cramping pain then you might consider some of the suggestion for controlling prostaglandin production on these pages:

What causes Menstrual Cramps and Pain (Western and Oriental Medical
Perspective)

25 Ways To Handle PMS

Uterine Cramps and Pelvic Pain

Fibroids cause pelvic pain, here's what I know about uterine cramps and their physiology from a variety of sources...

From an RE...
Prostaglandins cause uterine contractions. Ibuprofen can be taken regularly to reduce prostaglandin formation but won't help if contractions and pain are present since the prostaglandins are already causing problems. If you are trying to conceive though you shouldn't be taking ibuprofen or other NSAIDs as they can impair ovulation and possibly implantation (there's no winning is there?).

From naturopathy...
Arachidonic acid is involved in the production of prostaglandins and is found in animal products. Reduce animal products consumption such as meat and dairy products, increase essential fatty acid consumption (such as flax seed oil). As ibuprofen interferes with the liver it is not advised.

From acupuncture...
My acupuncturist says that the weird crampy fullness in my belly is related to blood flow not going the right direction. Acupuncture can stimulate blood flow to go in the correct direction.

From my personal experience...
Ibuprofen won't stop cramps from fibroids. Hot water bottles do help with the pain and discomfort. Food and gas passing through your colon that is having to negotiate around the fibroid can also feel like cramps or cause uterine area discomfort -- as can a full bladder. Acupuncture can help with pain. I just had an amazing treatment this morning BTW, and I can't feel my fibroid at all right now and I feel really energized, almost lightheaded and lighthearted. My practitioner said that my blood was swirling around the fibroid and that instead of flowing in the right direction it was coming back around where it wasn't supposed to.

From the web...

There are links between progesterone and ararchidonic acid but I haven't totally made sense of them yet (I'll continue to research and see if I can make more sense of it for us).

I do know that progesterone stops contractions of smooth muscle (see: http://www.rnceus.com/hormone/progest.html and http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/reprod/placenta/endocr
ine.html)

Arachidonic acid is also linked to tumor formation as well (scary but here we all are with our tumors):

The Role of Essential Fatty Acids in Cancer
http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Cancer/good6.htm

Skin carcinogenesis, inflammation, arachidonic acid metabolism, cancer prevention
Susan M. Fischer, Ph.D.
http://sciencepark.mdanderson.org/documents/sfischer/fischer.html
(note that they are interested in applying this research on skin tumors to prostate cancer)

This page has links to a bunch of studies that are available through Amazon.com about arachidonic acid:
http://www.health.xq23.com/arthritis/Arachidonic_acid.html