In today’s blog post we hear from Silvia who shares her experience with fibroids and explains why she started her blog, Life With Fibroids.

Well, let’s start off with a little bit about me. My name is Silvia and I am married to an amazing man who is so supportive and have an adorable dog who from time to time drives me nuts, but that is okay because I adore him.  I have fibroids and have been living with them for two years and have come to a place in my life where I want to share my story and my personal opinions and connect with others and learn about their stories as well.

I was diagnosed with Uterine Fibroids two years ago officially but have lived with them for just about 6 years now and since then I have done a lot of research but there is still so much more to do, so in no way am I saying I am an expert and I am not a doctor.  I decided to start my website, Life with Fibroids,  to create a space where women of all ages, creeds, backgrounds, religions, and parts of the world could come together and know that having fibroids does not mean that you are alone. Although fibroids is very common it is crazy to think that it is not a very talked about subject for most women and there is really no place to connect with others and ask how they are living with it and going through life with this. I was diagnosed with Uterine Fibroids two ago and they do affect my life they make me have the worst menstrual cycle of my life for example I have more bleeding and the first couple of days is so painful and the cramps sometimes can drop me to my knees. It hurts so much let me just say.

I guess, for me at least, that is the biggest inconvenience and it is so crazy to think that they can develop like they did for me because of the fact that your body can produce too much oestrogen and they can grow over time as well and can cause other problems like infertility if they block the Fallopian tubes and get in the way of implantation but to know that it is on a case by case situation and if you come to find out  that you have them and are worried about that then I would definitely set up an appointment with your doctor and get your situation checked. I did and thankfully they are not going to stop me from getting pregnant but I think for the best option since they have gotten bigger is to get them removed before we try for a baby again since I have experienced a miscarriage due to fibroids and want to avoid any further complications due to fibroids, so that is another reason for me to write this post and try to reach out to those who are in the same situation and be an outstretched hand and let others know you are not alone and I am here for you. I guess I just want to help people share and get connected and help support each other because there are lots of stories like mine but there are also lots of stories that end up with a happy mommy and a happy baby, so like I said it is case by case and if I can help even one person then I think that writing this post and creating my blog, Life with Fibroids, is worth it.

Now let’s get a few things clear about fibroids first:

1. Fibroids are not cancerous and from what I have come to learn not life threatening, so you can take that stress off your mind right now.
2. What my doctor has come to teach me is that for every woman’s fibroids are different and can affect them in different ways and with fibroids especially the kind that I have which is Uterine Fibroids is always a case by case situation so in no way am I saying that I know everything about you and your situation so please feel free to write about your story and connect with others.
3. Fibroids can happen anywhere in the body but the most common fibroid I have come to read about is Uterine Fibroids which is what I have.
4. Even though many women have fibroids they can go their entire lives without knowing it due to having no symptoms and doctors not having any indication to look for them.
5. Women who do have them and do have active symptoms can have a variety and cannot have their daily lives affected in any way and then there is the other side of the coin where women have their everyday life come to a standstill and cannot function and then of course there is the middle ground where you have good and bad days but nothing too drastic, which for the most part is where I fall, well for the most part anyway.
6. My final point on this never-ending list is that for every woman with this diagnosis there is a story and it is different and each and everyone is valuable and important.

So with all that I have said again I just want to say that I created my blog, Life with Fibroids, as a place to connect and share your individual stories and remember that you are not alone and you are one of a kind and that you and I and everyone else living and not living with this is beautiful and amazing. Please feel free to visit my blog, share your stories and help me to connect with others from all over. Thanks for taking the time to read my post and even though I am not the most talented writer I want to share my story and hope that it can help at least one person out there. Thank you again for visiting and taking the time to read my post. At Life with Fibroids I do my best to keep everyone up to date on what is happening with me and my fibroids and try my best to keep it active and hopefully on-going. Have an awesome day and you rock!

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Lake Health and Wellbeing  would like to say a big thank you to Silvia for sharing her experience with fibroids, we hope that through her experience you have gained some useful insight into this condition. You can find out more about Silvia at Life With Fibroids

If you have any questions or comments please do leave these in the comments section below. 

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link. Find out more here

We first heard about Eat Love Move on the Secret Birds Podcast a couple of months ago when founder Le’Nise Brothers was interviewed about health, hormones and barriers.  We were really impressed with all the great work that Le’Nise is doing and it also piqued our interest because of the work we’ve been doing on fibroids, an area that Le’Nise focuses on too. We felt the services offered by Eat Love Move would be of interest to you, our readers, so in today’s blog we introduce you to their services.

Who Is Eat Love Move?

Eat Love Move is a business that focuses on women’s health and offers personalised hormonal health programmes and workshops. At the helm of the company is Le’Nise Brothers, a registered naturopathic Nutritional Therapist who specialises in women’s health, anxiety, depression and weight loss.

As a nutrition and wellbeing coach for women, Le’Nise’s mission is to help women understand and embrace their hormones and menstrual cycle and thus much of her work focuses on women who struggle with low energy, sugar cravings and hormonal issues such as PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, heavy & painful periods, fibroids, perimenopause and menopause.

“I’ve had a life-long interest in food – eating it, cooking it and sharing it. I slowly started to make the connection between what I was eating and how I was feeling and used diet and lifestyle changes to improve my anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome.”  – Le’Nise Brothers

Le’Nise firmly believes in the power of food and she takes the time to understand her clients, their lifestyle and goals, and then designs nutrition and lifestyle programmes that are tailored to the individual.

Their Services

Eat Love Move’s services fall into three categories:

• Personalised Health Programmes
• Hormone Health Programmes
• Workshops and Talks

Personalised Health Programmes – these are a minimum of 8 weeks long and are for women who have symptoms or health issues, are concerned about their family’s medical history or have been advised by their doctor to improve their diet.  A typical personalised health programme consists of the following:

• Initial personal consultation including an in-depth health and lifestyle assessment
• Personalised nutrition advice and supplement plan
• Current medication and nutrient interaction evaluation, if applicable
• Recommendations of clinical tests and interpretation, if applicable
• Follow up consultations – face to face, skype, telephone
• Mini progress review calls
• Email support
• Personalised menu planning and recipes

Hormone Health Programmes – Eat Love Move offers three programmes:

1. Period Helper – this is a personalised programme that helps women with their periods and menstrual cycle so they enjoy life with no PMS or pain (yay!)
2. Hormone Helper – this programme teaches women how to manage their hormones and stress, and how food can bring things back into balance.
3. Menopause Helper – teaches women how to support their hormones and get a sense of balance so they feel better as they go into perimenopause and menopause

Workshops and Talks

Le’Nise is passionate about helping women learn more about how they can improve their health and wellbeing and regularly facilitates workshops and delivers talks covering a range of topics including meal planning, wellbeing in the workplace, self-care and hormone health.

More Information

For more information and to book a free 20 minute health and wellbeing review you can email hello@eatlovemove.com or visit their website

Eat Love Move offers Skype and FaceTime consultations so you can access their services from anywhere in the world, or if you’re based in London you can find Le’Nise at the Onebody Clinic in Chiswick on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 – 11am

Alternatively, you can join Eat Love Move’s private Facebook group, Embrace Your Hormones. It’s a private and positive space for women to ask questions about their hormones and menstrual cycle and get evidence-based information and support.

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link. Find out more here

I remember it like it was yesterday, I was 27 years old living in Washington, D.C. I kept feeling a sharp, somewhat dull ache in my pelvic area. I had never felt anything like it before. It would creep up on me suddenly and out of the blue. At times, it would trigger a sharp pain down my leg. At first I ignored it, as I thought it was just related to my monthly menstrual cycle. I always felt deeply connected to my body and prided myself on trusting my intuition. I decided, it was time for a visit to my doctor.

My doctor, always friendly, always efficient. She ran every test imaginable, we even repeated some twice. Some were painful, others were very routine. I had several smears done, in an attempt to make sure nothing suspicious was missed. After months of tests, exams and being prodded, I was told, “Nothing is wrong with you.” I was relieved but at the same time confused. Why didn’t the doctor know, why isn’t she fixing me, after all that is her job. Back then I obviously gave doctors a little too much power. I have come a long way, as this blog will soon describe.  It didn’t end there, I saw another doctor, this time recommended by one of my mentors. She said, “Jo-Ann, he is the best. When I had my breast cancer, he took care of me and he is the reason why I survived.” I visited him and the results were the same. I returned to my old doctor and once again, she told me there is nothing wrong with me. She suggested over the counter painkillers and at one point intimated that I may depressed. This is when it dawned on me that I have something that they don’t understand. She said, “Yes, you have fibroids, but they do not cause pain. “You are fine,” she continued, “Your blood flow is fine and all looks good!”

I went home and started researching.  I became obsessed, fascinated and even a little in love with my fibroids. I felt like I had to love them in order to understand them, otherwise I would have just been in a perpetual state of frustration. Weird but true, I really immersed myself into this world of uterine myomas, my uterus, my ovaries and widely speaking, my womb. You, see I did not fit the criteria for what doctors generally believe are problematic, therefore I was somewhat sidelined.

A year later at aged 28 I relocated to the UK. I was beginning a new era in my life. I was starting business school, transitioning and looking forward to a new chapter across the pond in Europe. The pain continued, life continued and nothing changed. I decided to visit my GP, perhaps she would tell me something different and she did! She told me I did indeed have fibroids, she mentioned there were many of them, some bigger than others and that based on their position, they were in fact causing pain and creating some discomfort. I felt relieved, she paid attention and asked me the right questions. She was very laid back, she spoke with ease and experience. At one point she suggested I relax and try to get to know more about my body. I heard what she said but I was not truly willing to pay attention. I wanted a quick fix, I needed relief. She explained that fibroids are normal but sometimes they can be a nuisance. She referred me to a gynaecological consultant, in short, in the summer of the year of my 29th birthday I had the fibroids removed via laparoscopic myomectomy. I initially felt the difference! I was lighter, the pain was gone and well, I was happy again.

I forgot about my fibroids until seven years later at aged 36, when I was participating in a duathlon and I felt it, that pain, the one that struck me almost ten years before. I knew exactly what it was and I was overwhelmed with grief and sadness. I visited my GP, this time a different lady, who was somewhat cold and unapologetic. She said, “Yes, you have fibroids but they are normal and you can live with them. I am sorry but we cannot do anything for you. I have women with bigger problems and I think you will be fine.” I went home and I cried, not only was she was lacking in empathy and slightly rude but she completely disregarded my experience. Other women had bigger problems than me, what does that even mean? Yes, of course, I do not have uterine cancer or endometriosis but does this make me less worthy of attention?

After wallowing in self pity for weeks, I decided to contact the lovely consultant who performed my laparoscopic surgery. Can you believe he died? Additionally, I read online that before he died he was involved in a malpractice lawsuit, after performing the same procedure on another woman, who unfortunately died. It is as if everything was against me. I sobbed some more. I was miserable for months.

Then one day, I was online and read about acupuncture. This is probably where I should state that I am a vegan, I have been so for 23 years now. I am very active, I exercise regularly-cycling, walking, hiking, I love being in nature, I tend to think I am positive, open minded and in touch with my body. This is what I thought, until I visited my acupuncturist for the first time. She was also a Chinese traditional doctor. With every visit I learned something new about traditional Chinese medicine, the teas, the pins she stuck in my body and the like. I was fascinated. I kept asking her, “Is this going to work?” She always smiled but never responded, until one day she said, “Everything will work, when you get to know your body.” Was that not what the really nice GP said too? She also said, “You work long hours, you don’t sleep well, despite being a vegan you drink too much coffee, you don’t breathe, you are like a machine, jumping from one thing to the next.” She added,  “You are like a jumping rabbit.” She was right!

This time around I was ready to listen and so I did. I started studying my body, paying attention and tuning in. She taught me how to meditate, how to breathe, she told me to start doing yoga again ( I did it for a year when I was 25 and stopped). She also encouraged me to keep a period diary. I began reading books about my body, my womb and explored how my hormones affect all of me. This then introduced me to the concept of what it means to be feminine. For a long time I thought to be feminine is to a be a woman. Every woman is feminine right? Well, not really, every book I read touched on the pillars of femininity such as collaboration, empathy, patience and vulnerability. Everything I was NOT! And why? Because I was too busy letting life run over me. A mental shift began and I started making connections between my mind, my body- specifically my fibroids and hormones- and connecting to my inner me. I literally tapped into my inner self in a way I had never done before.

I believe that my fibroids were my body’s way of saying you are off, you are out of sync and you need to fix it. In a strange way I believe it was my body screaming for me to connect with my womanhood and all those things that make me uniquely me. Somehow along the way between the career and incessantly doing I lost all of those feminine qualities and it took years of pain, one laparoscopy, a very wise acupuncturist, several doctors and my willingness to surrender to my intuition to arrive at where I am now.

I turn 40 in two months, I still have the fibroids but there is no pain, they have not grown or shrunk and I have learned how to manage them. I also switched careers, started a business, relocated to a new country and have an understanding of my body that I never knew existed. It is quite unbelievable what can happen when one pays attention to all the signs around them.

I honestly believe that this experience was meant to enhance my quality of life. I no longer see my fibroids as these awful tumours lingering inside of me but as reminders of how I should live and what I should focus on. Every woman has a different fibroid story and albeit mine does not include heavy periods and endless bleeding, the mental and emotional burden was heavy. I think my connection to my inner self is one that I never knew existed and has transformed my mindset and life in unconventional and unremarkable ways.

I realise now that the quality of my life is not dependent upon what I do, or how I do it but how deeply connected I am to my body. For a very long time, I thought I knew who I was because I ticked all the boxes. What a revelation, I actually didn’t. If you were like me, looking for relief the first step, does not begin with that doctor’s appointment and it does not end with a yoga class. Instead it begins with you. Like I was told more than once, “Get to know your body.”  And I will add, get to know you!  An exploration of self is the beginning to a curing of the mind, body and spirit!

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Lake Health and Wellbeing  would like to say a big thank you to Jo-Ann for sharing her experience with fibroids, we hope that through her experience you have gained some useful insight into this condition.

If you have any questions or comments please do leave these in the comments section below. 

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link. Find out more here

Today we tackle a question that we are asked quite regularly at our fibroids events: ‘Is there a link between fibroids and endometriosis?’

To answer this question, we’re going to look at what research tells us, but first let’s start with a bit of background on endometriosis. You can find out about fibroids on our fibroids page here

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to those that line a woman’s womb are found in other parts of the body like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and stomach. The problem with this is that the cells that line the womb have a specific function which is only appropriate in the womb. The cells that line the womb build up, break down and bleed every month during our period. In the womb the blood has an escape route (the vagina), but in endometriosis the blood from the womb-like cells don’t have an escape route, and this can cause pain, inflammation and scarring.

Endometriosis is a long-term condition that affects millions of women worldwide causing a range of symptoms, such as heavy and painful periods, back pain, constipation, infertility and more. Thus, it has a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life.

Is there a link between fibroids and endometriosis?

When we look at research that has been conducted in this area, there does seem to be a link between fibroids and endometriosis. Firstly, several studies have found that many women with fibroids also have endometriosis, but just how common it is to have both fibroids and endometriosis isn’t clear as it has varied between studies. For example, a study carried out in the US by a team in Stanford in 2010 found that 86% of patients with fibroids also had endometriosis, whilst in 1994 a team in Italy found that just 12% of women with fibroids had endometriosis. Furthermore, three other studies found that 87%, 21% and 28% of women with fibroids also had endometriosis.  So, it does vary from there being a very strong link (87%) to a relatively weak, but significant link (12%).

When we look at the biology of fibroids and endometriosis there is evidence of a link between these two conditions. It has been reported that fibroids and endometriosis have common biological abnormalities that contribute to the development of both conditions. Namely these are defects in molecules called 17B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (involved in hormone regulation) and aromatase (involved in the production of oestrogen). Related to this it is thought that women with fibroids and/or endometriosis tend to have a hormone imbalance having excess amounts of oestrogen in the body which, in both conditions, causes growth of the abnormal cells.

Why is it important to know about this link?

It’s important for patients and doctors to be aware of the link between fibroids and endometriosis so patients can receive the most appropriate treatment. If there is no awareness that women with fibroids are likely to also have endometriosis, patients diagnosed fibroids will be treated for just their fibroids and their symptoms may persist which the doctor and patient may think is due to the treatment being ineffective, but the persistent symptoms could be due to undiagnosed endometriosis. Researchers from the Stanford Study therefore recommend that doctors explore whether their fibroids patients also have endometriosis. Their study did identify helpful clues to identify whether a patient with fibroids may have endometriosis. They found that women who were diagnosed fibroids were more likely to have endometriosis if they:

• Had pelvic pain that was disproportionate to the size of their fibroids
• Were infertile

Therefore a good starting point for doctors and patients wanting to explain persistent symptoms after fibroids treatment is to explore whether the two symptoms above are present as this could mean the patient has endometriosis. If we can pinpoint these patients early then steps can be taken to alleviate their symptoms and thus improve their quality of life.

More Information

For more information about endometriosis you can visit Endometriosis UK’s website and for more information about the link between fibroids and endometriosis you can check out the references below.

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References

1. Huang J.  et al. (2010). Coexistence of endometriosis in women with symptomatic leiomyomas. Fertil Steril, Volume 94(2), p 720.
2. Nezhat C. et al. (2016). Strong Association Between Endometriosis and Symptomatic Leiomyomas. JSLS, Volume 20 (3).
3. Maclaran K., Agarwal N. and Odejinmi. (2014). Co-existence of uterine myomas and endometriosis in women undergoing myomectomy: risk factors and surgical implications. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, Volume 21 (6), p 1086.
4. Tanmahasamut P., Noothong S., Sanga–Areekul N., Silprasit K. and Dangrat C. (2014). Prevalence of endometriosis in women undergoing surgery for benign gynecologic diseases. J Med Assoc Thai, Volume 97 (2), p147.

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link

We recently came across this really useful ‘Know Your Flow’ infographic created by Be Prepared.Period. It provides really clear information to help you understand what is normal with regards to your period.

For women with fibroids this infographic may be useful  in assisting you when you’re having a conversation with your doctor during your follow-up appointments.  Using the information provided in this infographic you can describe how heavy your period is and explore with your doctor whether the colour of your period is cause for concern.  This may help your doctor understand whether your symptoms are getting better and whether a particular treatment has been effective.

Check out the infographic below and let us know in the comments section below whether you found this useful or not, and you can find out more about Be Prepared. Period on their website here

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link

On 14th March, we hosted a fibroids Twitter chat with the Fibroid Forum UK. We had a great time discussing the work of The Forum, how they’re supporting women who have been affected by fibroids and explored some of the challenges women with fibroids encounter.

You can read some of the highlights from this really interesting chat below and if you have any questions for the Fibroid Forum, please do send them an email or drop by their next support group session (all the details are in the chat below).

Hi everyone, it’s our my pleasure to welcome you to another one of our #fibroids #TwitterChats. #FibroidsChat (1/4)

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Today we’ll be chatting to, @FibroidForumUK, and exploring all the great work they’ve been doing to support women who have been affected by #fibroids. (2/4)

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce our guests @FibroidForumUK.

Welcome @FibroidForumUK , please tell us a bit about your organisation and what you do. #FibroidsChat (4/4)

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Hello everyone, it’s great to be a part of this chat. Fibroid Forum UK was set up in 2015 by a group of women who have suffered with fibroids. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

We started Fibroid Forum UK to raise awareness of the condition, provide support for women with fibroids and empower them to make informed choices about treatment. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

So, let’s get started.@FibroidForumUK, can you tell us what motivated your team to start the Fibroid Forum UK #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Between us we have had various forms of treatment for fibroids including myomectomy, hysterectomy and embolisation #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

There were good and bad things about our collective experiences but we all felt that there was generally a lack of information about fibroids and about choices for treatment options. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

We wanted to make sure other women had all the information they needed. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

It can also be a daunting experience mentally and physically and we want to help other women on this journey by coming alongside them. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

We feel it’s important for those of us who have information to share this with others. We don’t want women to suffer in silence. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

.@FibroidForumUK Having probably interacted with many women affected by #fibroids since you started, what has been the most interesting and also the most surprising thing that you’ve learnt about fibroids since delving into this area?

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

We’ve learnt a lot! One example is that the location of the fibroid can be more important than the size, particularly when thinking about treatment options. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

We were also surprised to hear just how long women wait before seeking help. We seem to find coping mechanisms before reaching out and this doesn’t help. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Many women didn’t realise how big a problem it was and looked for other reasons to explain their symptoms. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

I did this myself – when I was very tired over a period of time I put this down to lifestyle and thought I needed to slow down. We really want women to identify the symptoms early on and seek help. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

.@fibroidforumUK, you have organised educational events in both #London and #Birmingham. Can you tell us about these events? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Yes, that’s important. We held events in 2016 and 2017. There were presentations from consultant radiologists, obstetricians and gynaecologists. There was also a forum for women to share their experiences. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

.@FibroidForumUK , What were some of the most common challenges that women who attended these events raised about #fibroids? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Many women didn’t feel that the range of treatment options were explained or offered to them. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Many women didn’t feel that the range of treatment options were explained or offered to them. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

There was also an issue of doctors not realising that fibroids could be a cause of the symptoms when some women visited and explained what was happening in terms of heavy bleeding, fatigue, etc. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

It looks there needs to be some educational work done with doctors too #fibroidschat @FibroidForumUK

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Absolutely l am totally there for doing some via social media and group chats it’s up to us to raise the profile of Fibroid suffers. I am really passionate about it because l am still suffering after surgery 10 years of fighting it. #fibroids #BlackTwitter

— RAINBOW BLAK (@RAINBOWBLAK) March 15, 2018

Yes, some doctors seem to know more about fibroids than others. We would like to see a universal standard of information included as part of their training. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Did you find that women in #London and #Birmingham raised the same or different issues? @FibroidForumUK #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Yes, the women raised similar issues about lack of information but also about feeling quite lonely as they went through their experiences. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

This is part of the reason why we set up the support group so women can share and be encouraged by others who have been through similar experiences. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

We’ve heard from a lot of women how their social lives were impacted, particularly if they were bleeding heavily. They just stayed at home, and sometimes had to take time off work. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

This is part of the reason why we set up the support group so women can share and be encouraged by others who have been through similar experiences. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Oh that’s great. Can you tell us a bit more about your support group? Just in case people out there might like to attend @FibroidForumUK #fibroidschat https://t.co/ELljRu0xpo

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Oh that’s great. Can you tell us a bit more about your support group? Just in case people out there might like to attend @FibroidForumUK #fibroidschat https://t.co/ELljRu0xpo

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Yes, we run a quarterly support group for women. Our next one is on Monday 26 March at 6.30pm at St Thomas Hospital in London. Everyone is welcome. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

What do you think needs to be done (by the NHS and by organisations like yourself) to address these challenges? @FibroidForumUK #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Organisations like ours need to do as much as possible to raise awareness of this issue among women. As individual women, we need to share our stories and also give leaflets on fibroids to our doctors. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

The NHS can follow the guidelines that are already in place about giving women leaflets on fibroids when they come to appointments, and others. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

What other events, support and work have you undertaken and what are your plans for the future? @FibroidForumUK #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Our future plans are to host more events and see more support groups started across the country. We will continue to raise awareness where we can with those who are involved in treating women with fibroids. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Hi @CAREAbtFibroids, if you’ve been following our discussion, I was just wondering if you see some of the same issues over there in the US – women with fibroids feeling lonely, lack of information, doctors not recognising symptoms.

#fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Definitely. One of the most troubling aspects is how many women with fibroids wait for years without seeking treatment.

Fibroids place a heavy toll on a woman’s emotional well-being and can lead to body-issue anxieties and lower self-esteem. #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) March 14, 2018

Where can women find out more about these services and the work that you’re doing on fibroids? And if people want to support your organisation how best can they do that? @FibroidForumUK #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

They can join our Facebook group. They can also email us fibroidforum@outlook.com. We will have more information about how people can support us in the near future. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Do you have any tips or advice you can share for women living with fibroids? @fibroidforumuk #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Generally, it’s important that we take care of ourselves – that includes our physical, emotional and mental well-being. It’s important to seek appropriate medical advice as all of us are different. #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

Well, we have come to the end of our #FibroidsChat. A big thank you to @fibroidforumUK for joining us. It has been really nice speaking to you and learning more about the work of your organisation. It’s great what you’ve been doing and we wish you all the best #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

Thank you @lakehealthwell for having us as your guests. Keep up your good work too! #FibroidsChat

— Fibroid Forum UK (@FibroidForumUK) March 14, 2018

What a great chat we had with @FibroidForumUK. They provided some really useful insight into some of the challenges that women with #fibroids face and how they’re addressing some of these issues.#fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

If you’re based in London and have been affected by #fibroids, check out their support group on 26th March at 6.30pm at St Thomas Hospital in London. Everyone is welcome. #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) March 14, 2018

We are so happy to announce the publication of our new fact sheet on fibroids and exercise. This is the first in our new series of fibroids fact sheets which aim to cover a range of topics that you have told us are important to you.

This fact sheet series is a direct result of the findings of our small research project where we explored the needs of women with fibroids. From this work we discovered that there were significant gaps in the information and support available to women and we are on a mission to fill those gaps. We have worked towards this by:

• Forming a Fibroids Ask the Expert Panel
• Publishing a fibroids booklet
• Hosting our first conference for women affected by fibroids
• Delivering presentations to churches and community groups
• Hosting a regular fibroids Twitter chat
• Writing a fibroids blog and news series

Our fibroids and exercise fact sheet discusses how exercise can help alleviate the symptoms of fibroids and provides readers with simple tips on how to get active without aggravating their current symptoms. We hope that this resource will provide women with useful information that empowers them to take control of their health and take positive steps towards improving their health and wellbeing. You can download the fact sheet in the download section below.

Coming soon….

The next fact sheet in the series will be published soon and this will focus on fibroids and mental wellbeing. This fact sheet will aim to help women identify, understand and address the emotions that may be associated with having fibroids.

Thank yous

We’d like to thank Candice Bryan from Noire Wellness for contributing to this new fact sheet, Way Wive Wordz Publishing, Editing and Tuition for their editing services and FutureSoft for their design work.

We are so happy to announce that we’ve joined forces with Noire Wellness to launch a fibroids campaign today, in the run-up to International Women’s Day on 8^th March.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is #PressForProgress and, together with Noire Wellness, we are calling for everyone to #PressForProgress to improve the experience of women with fibroids.

We believe that for progress to be made, there needs to be:

• Breakthrough research into fibroids and ethnicity
• Patient insight on the impact of diet and exercise on fibroids
• A commitment to professional excellence when caring for women with fibroids, who have a family history of fibroids or who have symptoms associated with fibroids
• Global and local support networks to ensure that women with fibroids never feel isolated
• Greater awareness of fibroids, its symptoms and impact on women’s lives, particularly the psycho-social impact.

We want all women, particularly women who have been affected by fibroids, to join us in our social media campaign to highlight the change that needs to occur to improve the experience, care, health and wellbeing of women with fibroids.

We’ve created a range of resources you can use to join us in this campaign. These include images for social media, Facebook and Twitter headers, sample social media posts and a media kit. For more information and to download our resources, please visit our campaign page here.

The Power of Partnership Working

We are extremely proud of this collaboration which has brought together two organisations passionate about addressing the issues that women with fibroids face. We believe we are stronger together and can achieve so much more by pooling our resources, expertise and strengths. We hope that this will be the start of many joint health initiatives.

More Information

For more information about this campaign, please visit the campaign page here or send us an email, we’d be very happy to hear from you.

On 21st February we were delighted to host another fibroids Twitter chat. Our featured guest was Laterria Patton.

Laterria Patton is a Self Care Activist who writes a food blog that promotes reproductive health to black women. The blog content utilizes natural self-healing food practices to educate black women who are suffering with reproductive health problems about the hormonal process, and how to keep it in balance.

During our chat we had an interesting discussion with Laterria  about the common challenges that contribute to uterine disorders (like fibroids), how these challenges can be overcome and how women can achieve optimal uterine health through self-healing food practices.

If you missed our Twitter chat, have no fear, you can read the highlights below.

Hey, hello, hello, Twitter family, it’s our my pleasure to welcome you to another one of our #fibroids #Twitter chats. #FibroidsChat (1/4)

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

Today we’ll be chatting to, Self-Care Activist, @selfcareandfood, about some of the factors that lead to uterine (womb) disorders, like #fibroids, how these can be addressed and how women can achieve good womb health through self-healing food practices. #FibroidsChat (2/4)

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

Hello! My name is Laterria Patton.
I’m a Self Care Activist that promotes social change that is centered around the self care practices of black women. One of the ways that I do this work is by writing a food blog that promotes reproductive health to black women. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

.@selfcareandfood Can you tell us a bit more about your blog and why you started it? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

1/2 I started this blog because I wanted to create content that breaks down the different ways in which food is impacting our hormones and how these hormones are having a negative or positive effect on the health of our reproductive organs.

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/2 I use natural self-healing food practices to teach black women who are suffering with reproductive health issues about their hormonal processes and how to keep them in balance.

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

. @selfcareandfood What has been the most interesting and the most surprising things that you’ve learnt since delving into this area? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

The most surprising thing that I learned since delving in this area is that many obstacles are strategically being put into place that make it hard for black women to get access to the information & food that could help them with their reproductive health issues. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

That is quite surprising, let’s explore that further. What sort of obstacles have been put in place? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

Some of the obstacles are:
1) Food desserts
2) Bias Physicians
3) Lack of family support

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

We’ll come back to some of these. We should start at the beginning, your work centres on understanding the link between the liver & the uterus. Can you tell us how the health of a woman’s liver affects the health of her uterus, and how this could lead to disorders like fibroids?

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

1/4 The health of a women’s uterus is affected by the health of her liver because the liver produces the cells that help to create neurons in the brain. These same neurons use cells to send messages from the brain to the uterus.#FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/4 These messages control the rhythm in which the uterine muscles contract & relax so that the uterus knows when to shed the lining(menstrual bleeding) & when not to. An unhealthy liver has a negative effect on the neuron’s ability to communicate messages. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

3/4 When uterus begins to shed it’s menstrual lining at the wrong time or it doesn’t shed as much as it’s suppose to, the excess lining that stays in the uterus contains hormones that never got a chance to leave the body. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

4/4 Too many hormones can cause the uterus to make abnormal cells that contain excessive amounts of estrogen and progesterone. Abnormal cells lead to various disorders within the uterus. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

.@selfcareandfood You write a lot about healing through food. So, let’s explore food a bit, how does the food we eat affect the health of our liver and thus the uterus? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

1/2 The liver is a highly dependent upon nutrients to function properly. There are 4 things that can hinder the absorption of nutrients in the liver:

1) Processed foods
2)Toxins
3) Bioavailability
4) Long-term medication usage

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/2 When the liver is not being nourished with nutrients, it can not make the cells that communicate with the neurons that are controlling the functions of the uterus.#FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

1/3 One way that we can improve our reproductive health is by minimize the amount of grains that we are consuming. Many people who want to eat healthier tend to fill their plates up with grains. Grains are healthy BUT overconsuming grains can be counterproductive because:

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/3
1) Most commercially produced products like bread, still contain the anti-nutrients that prevent us from absorbing the nutrients in grains.
2) Eating large amounts of grains daily can cause the pancreas to produce too much of a hormone called insulin.#FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

3/3 3) Some grains like wheat are processed. When your liver gets too busy breaking down processed foods, it doesn’t have time to metabolize your hormones, which causes excessive amounts of hormones to be thrown your bloodstream. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

Ok, that is interesting, so really we should be eating grains in moderation #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

Absolutely. Small portions are fine. If you eat bread, try making you own at home so that you can ferment the grain so that the anti-nutrients are ineffective. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

What are the best foods for a healthy uterus, @selfcareandfood?
#fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

1/2 The foods that are the most beneficial to our uterine health are all types of whole foods. Eating a variety of whole foods regularly improves the bioavailbility of the liver because the liver requires some nutrients to be paired in order to improve absorption. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/2 For example, black pepper improves the absorption of turmeric. Plus, the liver has the ability to heal it’s with the help of various nutrients. Healing the liver can improve upon the health of the uterus. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

.Do you have any diet tips or advice you can share for women who already have fibroids? Would the advice be the same? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

1/2 I would advise anyone who is already suffering with fibroids to minimize processed foods, drink less caffeine, eliminate alcohol and opt for natural healing remedies instead medication(if possible) for 3 months. #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/2 This gives the liver the time that it needs to create new cells that can repair tissue damage or congestion in the liver. This can help to heal minor uterine issues, minimize symptoms or prevent new uterine issues from reoccurring after a uterine surgery #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

The most common concern that I hear about reproductive health is “Should I try to heal an reproductive ailment naturally or with surgery?” I think it depends on the severity of the problem. You need to see a physician to know exactly how minor/urgent the problem is #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

Yes, we hear that a lot too.. Many women would prefer more natural approaches to addressing their reproductive health issues #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

1/2 #FibroidsChat One of the BEST things that anyone can do outside of eating healthy food to promote their uterine health is to start gardening. Start growing small plants in doors until you feel more confident into growing your own TOXIC-FREE produce.

This is why:

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

2/2
1) Plants will eliminate toxins in your house.
2) There are establishments that are paying for you NOT to have access to foods that keep you from filling up pharmaceutical companies pockets.
3) It will save you $ on produce because organic food is beyond high😂 #FibroidsChat

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

If you’re looking for natural self-healing food practices that will help you balance your hormones in order to promote a healthy reproductive system, check out my blog>> https://t.co/RL0VFVdLyj

To contact me email me at Laterriapatton@gmail.com#FibroidsChat pic.twitter.com/tlxdv4EfWK

— Laterria Patton (@selfcareandfood) February 21, 2018

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this #fibroidschat we hope you found it useful! We really did #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@TheLakeFound) February 21, 2018

On many occasions women with fibroids have asked us to recommend a good, experienced doctor who specialises in fibroids. We tend to point them in the direction of the two doctors on our Ask the Expert panel, Dr Nigel Hacking and Mr Adrian Lower.

Because we get this question a lot we started looking into whether we can put together a resource of highly recommended doctors and consultants in the UK who have expertise in fibroids. Whilst doing this we came across an article on the Mail Online which we thought would be a good start and be useful to our readers.

The Mail Online spoke to 40 leading gynaecologists and interventional radiologists in the UK and asked them: “If your own nearest and dearest were to need fibroid treatment, to whom would you refer them and why?”

Based on the answers provided the Mail Online put together their top ten fibroids experts cautioning that this is a guide, not a scientific study and there are many more highly-skilled consultants throughout the UK.  Their list is below.

Please note this was put together in 2011 and we’ve therefore updated some job titles.

Mail Online’s Top Ten Fibroids Experts (UK)

Mr Ertan Saridogan, Consultant Gynaecologist, University College Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“Has huge expertise with fibroids and is probably the best in the country for keyhole myomectomy. He’s a delicate surgeon who is kind and has great empathy for his patients. As a fertility expert, he takes exquisite care with nearby structures such as the fallopian tubes, so his patients will have the best possible chance of a successful pregnancy.”

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Professor Anna-Maria Belli,  Consultant Radiologist, St George’s Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“Has pushed hard to get embolisation accepted. Technically she’s superb and she’s warm too. Patients love her — she cares about them, takes their views on board and will do all she can to ensure they get the best possible treatment.”

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Professor Issac Manyonda, Consultant Gynaecologist, St George’s Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“A fine gynaecologist and an international figure who has distinguished himself  in the field of open myomectomy for large fibroids, and is one of the lead investigators in a  new major trial comparing  myomectomy with embolisation.  He has treated huge numbers  of patients, which he has  followed up over many years with excellent results. Uteruses after his treatment are beautifully neat!”

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Mr Alfred Cutner, Consultant Gynaecologist, University College Hospital, London

“A highly-skilled laparoscopic gynaecologist, who would be an excellent choice for fibroids. He’s a warm person who’d do his best to tailor the right treatment for each patient.”

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Dr Paul Crowe, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Birmingham Fibroid Clinic

What the Mail Online said:

“An excellent operator who set up the service in the West  Midlands and does a huge number of fibroid operations that have yielded first-class results. With Paul Crowe, it’s  not just about technical excellence — he is also patient- centred and manages to make them feel they are in the driver’s seat at all times.”

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Mr Adrian Lower, Consultant Gynaecologist and Minimal Access Surgeon, Consulting Rooms, London

What the Mail Online said:

“Sometimes he is described as the king of fibroids. He doesn’t work in the NHS, but does everything excellently. His background is in fertility problems and he will remove even large fibroids superbly by keyhole surgery, so his patients will have an excellent chance of pregnancy. He also has a very good bedside manner.”

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Dr  Anthony Nicholson, Consultant Radiologist, Leeds General Infirmary

What the Mail Online said:

“One of the leaders in interventional radiology, he is charismatic and popular with patients. He can be counted on  to give unbiased advice. He  works closely with gynaecologists and will always refer patients  to them if he thinks the patient will benefit.”

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Dr Woodruff Walker, Consultant Diagnostic and Interventional radiologist, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford 

What the Mail Online said:

“He is undoubtedly one of the pioneers of uterine artery embolisation and has blazed a trail in this country. An acknowledged expert who has done more fibroid embolisation than anyone else, he has achieved outstanding results. Extremely personable, and patients have complete and well-deserved faith in what he does. He won’t push anyone into anything.”

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Dr Nigel Hacking, Consultant Radiologist, Southampton General Hospital 

What the Mail Online said:

“Approachable and has done a lot of work extending the availability of interventional radiology both here and abroad. Highly-skilled with the manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination needed. He knows when to embolise and when he’s done enough. This is vital because you want to starve the fibroid of its blood supply, but not damage the supply to nearby structures.”

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Mr Adam Magos, Consultant Gynaecologist,  Royal Free Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“He has been in the forefront of developing hysteroscopic myomectomy (where the fibroid is removed via the cervix, using a hysteroscope, a narrow, telescopic camera with instruments attached — there are no abdominal cuts). He also collects and appraises his own results and presents these to peers at meetings, and is a keen researcher. This is the sign of a quality surgeon who is interested in what he’s doing and is open to new ideas.”

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The Mail Online also noted these highly recommended experts who didn’t make the top ten:

Mr Andrew Kent, Consultant Gynaecologist  and Minimal Access Surgeon, Royal Surrey  County Hospital, Guildford

What the Mail Online Said:

“Technically a superb keyhole surgeon  in a very high-profile centre,  who operates beautifully. Fibroid patients would be in very safe hands with him.”

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Professor Lesley Regan, Clinical Professor, St. Mary’s  Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“A top gynaecologist with a great  interest in fibroids who would do her best for her patients without forcing her views on them. She would put all the options to each patient fairly and then help them to decide.”

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Professor Jonathan Moss, Professor of Interventional Radiology, Gartnavel  General Hospital, Glasgow

What the Mail Online said:

“An enormously dedicated and highly skilled radiologist of the highest order  and with the right mindset — which is  that all options should be on the table for all women who are needing fibroids treatment.”

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Mr Yacoub Khalaf, Consultant Gynaecologist, Guy’s Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“Has a big fertility practice and will operate on large fibroids by open  surgery, taking meticulous care. A  well-rounded gynaecologist who is totally dedicated to his patients.”

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Professor Tony Watkinson, Consultant Radiologist, Royal Devon  & Exeter Hospital

What the Mail Online said:

“Lovely with patients and gives them choices. He will explain what he  knows about fibroids and the alternatives, too. If they then decide on embolisation, he will look after them very well.”

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Mr George Pandis,  Consultant Obstetrician and  Gynaecologist, University College  Hospital, London

What the Mail Online said:

“Being a very good gynaecologist is  about much more than how good  you are with a scalpel and telescope.  It is also about how kind you are  and how good you are if things happen to go wrong. He ticks all of these boxes, taking excellent care of his patients.”

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We hope you’ve found the above list helpful and we thank the Mail Online for compiling this list.  You can read their original article here