Re: Anyone Into Alternative Healing for Fibroids?

[Guest guest]

Hi Deni,

Do you have to do anything? Do you have symptoms? If you don't have

symptoms, you may decide to do nothing, since you may be close to

menopause when the fibroids may shrink.

I tried quite a few alternative measures before having my myomectomy

last December. I am 48 years old and also had hysterectomy

recommended by more than one doc.

My fibroid, which started at 4 cm. when first found about 10 years

ago, slowly and steadily just kept chugging along until it reached 29

cm. (that's right, about 9 inches) when it was removed (appeared on

ultrasound to be 2-3 very large fibroids, also on the outside of the

uterus, though not pecunculated).

I think a good book that gives an overall sense of some of the logic

behind different holistic treatments is Dr. Alan Warshowsky's book.

Here is the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-

/0743418247/qid=1082138344/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-9179812-6909653?

v=glance&s=books

I tried vitex, Chinese herbs, various supplements, careful diet, the

castor oil packs and more. Some of this I did on my own, some was

under the supervision of a naturopath/md who was in the same office

at that time as Dr. Warshowsky and happened to take my insurance. I

have also practiced yoga and have been jogging regularly as well, for

years before the fibroid was discovered (though my fitness obviously

did not prevent fibroid formation or growth, I do believe it helped

to minimize symptoms and keep hormones more in line over all these

years than they would have been if I wasn't fit).

The naturopath/md I was seeing strongly recommended all these things,

but also said that usually by the time people try these things their

fibroids are quite large (as mine was) and there may not be dramatic

shrinkage -- but for some of us with only bulk issues, even a couple

centimeters reduction could eliminate the pesky symptoms.

Didn't happen for me and I did end up with surgery, which I am VERY

glad I did.

Please, if you do try alternative methods, keep the list posted and

let us know if you have any success.

Sunny

> Dear Group,

> A recent MRI revealed multiple fibroids, grapfruit-sized, many of

> which are pedunculated (attached with stalks). All of the fibroids,

> large and small, are OUTSIDE OF MY UTERUS IN THE PELVIC CAVITY.

>

> Help! My doctors are recommending hysterectomy, which I don't want.

> I'm 49 and don't want kids, but I also don't want my uterus removed!

>

> I'm a believer in holistic health and wonder if any of you have

> personal stories or know of people who have treated their fibroids

in

> non-surgical ways.

>

> Note: I've checked and know that I'm also NOT a good candidate for

> UAE or MRI Guided U/S Surgery, or for acupuncture. Ahhhhhh! Thanks

in

> advance

>

> Deni

[Guest guest]

To add to what Sunny has to say, the lifestyle and diet changes that

one institutes while undergoing naturopathic or other alternative

treatments is beneficial overall. While it may not affect your

fibroids specifically know that you will be decreasing your risk for

other illnesses since a diet low in saturated fats, that emphasizes

whole foods (food close to its natural state, aka -- unprocessed)

will in fact help your body to rid itself of toxins, heal itself and

operate more smoothly.

So many of us didn't find out about our fibroids until they were huge

suckers -- so much for the use of pelvic exams as a screening method.

Someday soon I'd like to know that ultrasounds are standard screening

for fibroids, and hopefully that there will be some better treatment

options available than just major surgery to help get rid of these

rogue cells.

Just yesterday on the morning news there was a story about how a

medical researcher was able to dramatically reduce arterial blockage

linked to high LDL (bad cholesterol) by giving transfusions of a

synthetic HDL (good cholesterol).

Also a couple years ago on the radio there was a different researcher

who talked about how the standard diet of 100 years ago was much

higher in omega 3 fatty acids, which has been replaced in our

modern " refined " diets by massive amounts of omega 6 fatty acids. By

getting arthritis patients to improve their Omega 3 to 6 ratios in

their diets the researcher was able to help decrease pain

significantly. You are definately what you eat.

--Ann

> I tried vitex, Chinese herbs, various supplements, careful diet,

the

> castor oil packs and more. Some of this I did on my own, some was

> under the supervision of a naturopath/md who was in the same office

> at that time as Dr. Warshowsky and happened to take my insurance. I

> have also practiced yoga and have been jogging regularly as well,

for

> years before the fibroid was discovered (though my fitness

obviously

> did not prevent fibroid formation or growth, I do believe it helped

> to minimize symptoms and keep hormones more in line over all these

> years than they would have been if I wasn't fit).