Guest guest Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Hello everybody! I have a few questions dealing with fibroids and alternative medicine. And perhaps I need to talk to try to get myself back to a more positive frame of mind. The questions first, in case the rest gets too long to read: Is progesterone cream safe to use? Reading that California has banned it makes me a bit nervous. Also it seems that some sites say the cream helps fibroids shrink, and others that they cause the fibroids to grow. I have some in the house but I have yet to use it. How do I know what to look for when finding an alternative practitioner, in terms of effective services...or anything? What methods work best? Can a person get pregnant and retain the pregnancy to a successful delivery despite having these squatters inside? Here's my backstory: Over a month ago, I found out I have two uterine fibroids and one on my cervix. This was via ultrasound, and I have not seen the actual ultrasound myself. My gastro doc had " felt something funny, " scheduled the ultrasound, called me with the results, and sent them to my regular doctor. I also had no symptoms other than what I figured was just years of bad eating and no exercising catching up to me, for despite a year of sit-ups, abdominal poofiness was refusing to budge. I dove into research, was completely scared off by all the invasive options that weren't even guaranteed to stop regrowth, and discovered alternative methods geared toward shrinking fibroids. I'm following Dr. Christiane Northrup's guide that consists of whole grains, no dairy, leafy and cruciferous vegetables, castor oil packs and so forth. In fact, I've completely switched to a macrobiotic diet and cut out meat, alcohol and sugar. I incorporate a lot of soy. I exercise at least 20 minutes daily and do breathing exercises. I take a whole host of vitamins, including twice the daily dosage of C, and lipotropic factors. I've been doing this since May 13. I have not, however, used the progesterone cream yet because of my above question. My regular doctor never contacted me so I had the results sent to another ob/gyn, and just saw her yesterday. In the meantime this new program has completely turned things around. I've been feeling extremely well, my outlook has brightened, and I've even lost weight. I know the abdominal distension has gone down because I can see how it's changed. I was eager to hear what the doctor would say. It didn't go so well. Beyond giving my vitamin list and answering obligatory smoke/drink/drugs questions, none of which I do, she didn't seem concerned with anything else about my lifestyle, so I volunteered the information about diet and exercise and how I was feeling. She didn't respond to that in any positive manner; she just acknowledged what I was saying. I did say that I did not want invasive surgery. In fact, I said it twice because she didn't respond to that either and I felt a bit uneasy. She did tell me that the ultrasound results said the big one was 19 cm and the littler one was 12 cm, and the one on my cervix was pushing it to one side. She said that I looked like I was 22 weeks pregnant and that " 22-week size fibroids don't just shrink on their own. That's all muscle. They stay the way they are. They make pregnancy almost impossible and if you do get pregnant, you risk early delivery if at all. It's a pity you didn't catch this sooner. Since you're not feeling any symptoms and they're just basically " there, " come back in seven or so months for a checkup or earlier if anything changes. Goodbye! " I felt rather stunned. I had to remind myself that I'm only one month into this program and have all these books and citations and articles on lots of women who've gone this route and shrunk their fibroids. So I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing because if muscle can grow, muscle can get taken away. I just have to look at my arms to see that they don't look like they did when I was an active teenager. Still, it was a bit disheartening to be so summarily dismissed and I haven't completely bounced back from it even this morning. Sometimes trying to stay positive can elude you. Thank you for listening. - Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Hi Becky, I skimmed through your post. Good that you're following a great diet and using castor oil packs. They can be very helpful. I found one very telling line in your post that's working against you. " I incorporate a lot of soy. " Hey, I know that Dr. Northrup suggests this, but I've never understood why. Soy increases estrogen and your fibroids are the direct result of too much estrogen. Soy also compromises thyroid function, something that naturally happens as progesterone levels drop in perimenopause. Eliminate that soy, would be my recommendation. Later, when you've reached menopause, a little soy can be helpful since it boosts estrogen. But, only organic, fermented and NON-GMO. Yes, bio-identical progesterone cream is totally safe and will balance your estrogen dominance beyond what is possible with diet and exercise. It does not " cause " fibroids, but instead helps shrink them. Remember too, that as you approach menopause and estrogen levels drop, fibroids naturally begin to shrink. The challenge is, women are experiencing estrogen dominance so early in " the change " these days that actual menopause may still be many years away. RE: Prop 65 in California. I hate that damned disclaimer! Progesterone is not banned in CA, but the FDA is trying to control it because it is a hormone. Saying that progesterone causes cancer is rediculous and will unfortunately stop women from using it as the FDA touts synthetic, risk-laden estrogens and progestins and doctors continue to put estrogen dominant women on " The Pill. " Don't get me started on that one! Michelle http://www.HolisticPerimenopause.com I have a few questions dealing with fibroids and alternative medicine. And perhaps I need to talk to try to get myself back to a more positive frame of mind. Is progesterone cream safe to use? Reading that California has banned it makes me a bit nervous. Also it seems that some sites say the cream helps fibroids shrink, and others that they cause the fibroids to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 Michelle, Great advice to Becky. You did not mention taking iodine to help shrink the fibroids and I wonder your feelings on this protocol. Namaste` Cynthia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 AMEN, SISTER!!! Way to refuse to let the FDA feed lies to the public about their health ... , " Michelle " <michelle wrote: > > Hi Becky, > > I skimmed through your post. Good that you're following a great diet and using castor oil packs. They can be very helpful. > > I found one very telling line in your post that's working against you. > > " I incorporate a lot of soy. " > > Hey, I know that Dr. Northrup suggests this, but I've never understood why. Soy increases estrogen and your fibroids are the direct result of too much estrogen. Soy also compromises thyroid function, something that naturally happens as progesterone levels drop in perimenopause. > > Eliminate that soy, would be my recommendation. Later, when you've reached menopause, a little soy can be helpful since it boosts estrogen. But, only organic, fermented and NON-GMO. > > Yes, bio-identical progesterone cream is totally safe and will balance your estrogen dominance beyond what is possible with diet and exercise. It does not " cause " fibroids, but instead helps shrink them. > > Remember too, that as you approach menopause and estrogen levels drop, fibroids naturally begin to shrink. The challenge is, women are experiencing estrogen dominance so early in " the change " these days that actual menopause may still be many years away. > > RE: Prop 65 in California. I hate that damned disclaimer! Progesterone is not banned in CA, but the FDA is trying to control it because it is a hormone. Saying that progesterone causes cancer is rediculous and will unfortunately stop women from using it as the FDA touts synthetic, risk-laden estrogens and progestins and doctors continue to put estrogen dominant women on " The Pill. " > > Don't get me started on that one! > Michelle > http://www.HolisticPerimenopause.com > > > I have a few questions dealing with fibroids and alternative medicine. And perhaps I need to talk to try to get myself back to a more positive frame of mind. > > Is progesterone cream safe to use? Reading that California has banned it makes me a bit nervous. Also it seems that some sites say the cream helps fibroids shrink, and others that they cause the fibroids to grow. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Hi Cynthia, Since it's an excess of estrogen that causes fibroids, balancing the estrogen progesterone ratio is the best approach. (IMO) Plus, there are so many great health benefits associated with bio-identical progesterone cream. I wouldn't recommend iodine without knowing more about someone. But, when it comes to home remedies, I would recommend Apple Cider Vinegar and/or Blackstrap Molasses as well as castor oil packs. Michelle http://www.HolisticMenopause.com Great advice to Becky. You did not mention taking iodine to help shrink the fibroids and I wonder your feelings on this protocol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Hello, everybody! I'll have to look into these reports about soy, then. I did read Allan Warshowsky's " Healing Fibroids " book and he also has good things to say about soy. I don't even know how many years the research has been going on for either the pro or con side. I wonder if the Linus Pauling Institute has done anything with it...? I can say that I'm still feeling amazingly well, and to my surprise have dropped a pants size, for the first time in years. I have started taking a tablespoon of the blackstrap molasses every day. Very interesting taste...! I drown it in oatmeal sometimes, but other times just suck it up and take it like it's cough medicine. My innards feel just a wee bit funny afterwards, but the feeling passes soon enough. And I feel good about taking that too, so it's doing something. I bought Apple Cider Vinegar but don't know what to do with it yet because I only read that I should get it, so I have it! Thanks for all the feedback! Becky , " Michelle " <michelle wrote: > > Hi Cynthia, > > Since it's an excess of estrogen that causes fibroids, balancing the estrogen progesterone ratio is the best approach. (IMO) Plus, there are so many great health benefits associated with bio-identical progesterone cream. > > I wouldn't recommend iodine without knowing more about someone. But, when it comes to home remedies, I would recommend Apple Cider Vinegar and/or Blackstrap Molasses as well as castor oil packs. > > Michelle > http://www.HolisticMenopause.com > > > Great advice to Becky. You did not mention taking iodine to help shrink the fibroids and I wonder your feelings on this protocol. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 It is " thought " that an excess of estrogen promotes fibroid growth; but it's not a proven fact....it's " assumed " since fibroids tend to shrink when a woman goes through menopause (when estrogen levels ebb). Max --- On Fri, 7/3/09, Michelle <michelle wrote: Michelle <michelle Re: Fibroids & Alt Medicine Friday, July 3, 2009, 10:19 AM Hi Cynthia, Since it's an excess of estrogen that causes fibroids, balancing the estrogen progesterone ratio is the best approach. (IMO) Plus, there are so many great health benefits associated with bio-identical progesterone cream. I wouldn't recommend iodine without knowing more about someone. But, when it comes to home remedies, I would recommend Apple Cider Vinegar and/or Blackstrap Molasses as well as castor oil packs. Michelle http://www.Holistic Menopause. com Great advice to Becky. You did not mention taking iodine to help shrink the fibroids and I wonder your feelings on this protocol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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