On 8^th September we were up at 4AM for the St Kitts Caribbean Wellness Day Walk. It was hard waking up at that time, way before the sun was up, but it was worth it.

This walk was months in the making and started as an idea, back in June, at the first planning meeting of Caribbean Wellness Week. The planning meeting brought together the Ministry of Health and its partners all working towards a common goal of  improving the health of the nation.

So, on 8^th September, feeling pretty sleepy, we drove to the meeting point at the Caribbean Cinemas parking lot and joined about 50 other people to recognise Caribbean Wellness Day and the importance of physical activity.

The walk was led by Elite Fitness, a local gym, who started off the morning with a warm-up and then we hit the streets of Basseterre for a lovely walk. The route took us through town, all the way down Cayon Street and then we turned left onto Wellington Road and continued to the airport roundabout and then turned onto the bypass road and made our way back to the cinema where we finished off with a cool-down session.

We walked a total of 7.49KM which took us an hour and 20 minutes and with the inclines in two locations, the route provided us all with a great workout.

We had a great time and it was a so nice to see the diversity of people in attendance – old, young, male, female and all shapes and sizes.

This event not only celebrated Caribbean Wellness Day, but it was the launch of Caribbean Wellness Week which runs until Friday 14^th September. Look out for all the events being organised this week. Highlights include the a Health Fest on Thursday 13^th September, National Sneaker Day on 14^th September where everyone is encouraged to wear their sneakers to work and the grand finale at the Marriott, a soca-cise party starting from 4pm with free health checks from 2:30pm.

Come out, get active and let’s make sure that we create a healthier nation!

We are absolutely delighted to announce that the My Hair Care Nightmare Documentary Crowd Funding campaign is kicking off on Monday 3rd September, and we’d absolutely love for you to be involved.

We’ve teamed up with Tola Okogwu of My Long Hair Journey and filmmaker Sheila Marshall to answer the question: Are Black Hair Care Products Safe? We aim to highlight the recent research which showed that 80% of black hair products tested contain endocrine disrupting chemicals and ingredients linked to asthma.

Our goal is to educate and empower women caring for Afro textured hair so they can make an informed decision about the products they choose to buy and use. The film also seeks to highlight alternative and safer brands so that consumers realise they have options.

We’d very much appreciate you supporting our crowd funding campaign by making a donation and helping us spread the word so we can raise the funds to make this film a reality.  We want to make a big splash and create a buzz this week.  If you can please post about the campaign on your social media platforms and let your networks know, that would be great. We started a hashtag #MyHaircareNightmare where people can share their hair and product stories.

The link to our Indiegogo Campaign Page is https://igg.me/at/myhaircarenightmare

We’ve included some images and videos in the Dropbox folder below. Please use #myhaircarenightmare and tag us @myhaircarenightmare (Instagram) and @myhaircarenigh1(twitter).

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ek76ijvmyx8hzej/AADUvB3z4Vrz70lLdSkLzrXra?dl=0

Don’t have time to create a post? Have no fear, below are some suggested posts.

• Are your hair care products safe? My Haircare Nightmare documentary aims to find out. Support @myhaircarenightmare (Instagram)/ @myhaircarenigh1 (twitter) Indiegogo campaign to help make this film happen. https://bit.ly/2NwnOJm #MyHaircareNightmare #HaircareNightmare

• We’re supporting @myhaircarenightmare (Instagram)/ @myhaircarenigh1 (twitter) indiegogo campaign because 80% of hair products marketed at black women contain potentially harmful ingredients. Be part of the REVOLUTION by giving at https://bit.ly/2NwnOJm. #MyHaircareNightmare #HaircareNightmare

Want to have a bit more fun? Then share your #HaircareNightmare story.

–       Tag your friends, nominate other people. Help us to get the conversation going
–       Your post could make all the difference

What We Know

Research published in April in Environmental Research found that 80% of black hair products in this study contain endocrine disrupting (EDC) and asthma-associated chemicals. A second study published in 2017 by researchers at Rutgers University found a link between breast cancer and the use of hair dyes and relaxers and a research study published in 2012 identified a small link between fibroids and relaxers.

We surveyed 215 black women and 86% of respondents were very concerned and 13% of women were concerned about the main conclusion of the study published in April.

63% of women in our survey stated they didn’t feel able to identify the chemicals, that researchers stated may be cause for concern, and a further 30% stated that they can only sometimes identify these chemicals.

The most recent Nielson Beauty & Personal Care Report stated that black women spend nearly nine-times more than their non-black counterparts on hair products, demonstrating a high quantity of product consumption, which means exposure to any chemicals could be high and long-term.

More Information

We really appreciate your support! Let’s make a difference and once and for all get to the bottom of this issue. For more information please email info@lakehealthandwellebing.com and you can also sign up to the My Haircare Nightmare mailing list here

Looking For Organic Black Hair Products?

Check these brands out:

Afrocenchix
Almocado 
Camille Rose Naturals
Pure Goodnes
Root2Tip
Shea Butter Cottage
Shea Decadence
Yaphene
CARA B Naturally – Natural Products for African American babies

And view some more on Amazon – Organic Black Hair Products

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

We just finished reading Flow Fighter: How I Kicked My Fibroids and Heavy Periods to the Curb by Holly Bridges. We thought this was a very insightful and informative book that not only explores the personal experience of the author but that of other women, young and old, with fibroids, endometriosis and heavy menstrual bleeding. In this book we also hear from gynaecologists, young doctors, women’s health advocates and sexual health experts and through all these perspectives readers are given a comprehensive view of the fibroids experience.

We were also taken on an educational journey with the author having conducted extensive research into fibroids, other gynaecological conditions and heavy menstrual bleeding. The book explains, in detail, the latest warnings from the FDA and Health Canada on laparoscopic power morcellators and the drug Esmya. Helpfully and impressively we’re provided with:

• Timelines that provide context and background to these warnings,
• Letters, quotes, summaries of research, recommendations and reports from all interested parties on both sides of the argument of these warnings – the FDA, Health Canada, gynaecologists and other government agencies

The above facts were interspersed with commentary from the author which gave us some good background into both issues.

Our educational journey continued with a reminder of the structure and function of the women’s reproductive system, what fibroids are and what constitutes heavy menstrual bleeding.  The book covered all the treatment options for fibroids and what their pros and cons are. The author also reflects on the injustices that exist with respect to women’s health where the lack of focus on conditions like fibroids mean:

• There are still major gaps in research;
• There is a significant delay in the diagnosis of many women leading to years of unnecessary suffering;
• There is no clear understanding of the cause of fibroids and the best approaches to treat women;
• We have a healthcare system that is not patient-centred leading to women feeling isolated and confused.

Author Holly Bridges also discusses the reasons why hysterectomies are so common, why doctors recommend invasive treatments over non-invasive approaches, and why this needs to change.

At the core of this book is the message that women need to be empowered with all the information they need to make an informed decision about their treatment.

The format of the book is useful with many chapters ending with a list of takeaway messages. In addition, the author, throughout the book, refers readers to useful resources. These include books, research papers, videos and websites.

The book ends with a chapter entitled ‘Empowering Our Daughters’ which we thought was very important section because there is a need to ensure that the generations of women who follow have a better experience.

The only topic that we felt was missing was a discussion on the impact of diet, exercise and environmental toxins on fibroids. This was touched on very briefly and there was recognition at the end of the book that this is an area that requires some attention and the author will be exploring this in the future.

This was a very interesting and informative book and we recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the experience of women with fibroids and how we can move forward and ensure that women get the best care possible.

You Can Claim A Discount on this Book

We’re delighted to say that Holly Bridges is offering a 20% discount on her book to all our blog readers. To claim your discount, visit her website and use the discount code LakeHealth at check out.

Also, the first few people who register to attend our fibroids self-care webinar in October will be entered into a giveaway and one lucky person will win a copy of the book.

Have You Read Flow Fighter?

Have you read this book? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave them in the comments section below or send us an email

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

We love collaborations and are so delighted to have teamed up with the family business Almocado for our upcoming fibroids self-care webinar series.  As a sponsor of our webinar series Almocado will be offering those who attend our webinars a 20% discount on their hair and body products – yay!

About Almocado

Almocado is a small family-run business based in the UK who we discovered several years ago. Almocado was founded in April 2010 and create artisan hair products for curls, kinks and coils which are handmade with love, you can tell by the way each order is packaged with care – sometimes a surprising free sample is included or a note that expresses that love – we really appreciate their personal touches.

Not only do they create hair products, but their collection includes skincare products and they are certified Sisterlocks consultants.

The founder and CEO of Almocado is the lovely Annette Clark-Headley who is very warm and friendly and has a truly inspirational story.

Annette is a British-Barbadian who graduated from the very prestigious Cambridge University and started her career in the fast-paced world of investment banking. It was during this time that she started exploring holistic therapies becoming passionate about wellness and stress management which led her to receive training in this area.

“In a nutshell, the company was birthed to fulfil a desire I have to provide holistic solutions (hair care, skin care, emotional & physical wellbeing) to the community.” – Annette Clark-Headley

Not long after starting Almocado, in July 2010, Annette was diagnosed with Alopecia Totali and by October 2010 she was completely bald. This was a difficult time for Annette personally and professionally, and professionally she was deeply concerned about whether her business would survive – could someone bald succeed in the hair industry? Annette rose to the challenge and refused to let her baldness act as a barrier to her business success and continued to spread the message of love and acceptance as the basis for cultivating healthy hair.

As an Oxbridge graduate she utilised her research and analysis skills to identify effective natural ingredients and by bringing together nature and science she has created products of the highest quality that have made her business an award-winning one.

Why Almocado?

We love Almocado and teamed up with them for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are a brand that truly cares about the health and wellbeing of their customers – their products are hand-made, paraben free, natural and organic.  In addition, their products are safety assessed and meet the stringent EU regulations. All of this means that their products don’t contain endocrine disrupting chemicals which many women with fibroids are keen to avoid.

Furthermore, the genuine interest the team at Almocado have in their customers’ wellbeing means they regularly host open-house events at their studio so they remain attuned to the needs of they customers, we also like that they go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure their customers are satisfied and it’s nice to see that they donate a percentage of their sales to Alopecia UK.

We just really like that love is the foundation of their business, and it’s genuine, as it is evident in everything they do.

Products We Love

We’ve been using Almocado’s products for quite a few years now and our two favourite products are their Avocado Honey Hair Milk and their Cherry Vanilla Moisture Mist

Avocado Honey Hair Milk

One of our previous Almocado orders

The product description states that:

“This luscious easily absorbed treatment is what your precious coils have been crying out for. Rich in moisturising soy lecithin and honey and packed with Pro-vitamin B and Silk Protein, the Triple Treat Moisture Milk strengthens, moisturises, improves manageability and reduces breakage while delivering botanical extracts and nutrients to the hair shaft.”

We can attest to this, this is a great moisturiser leaving our hair feeling soft and hydrated.  Once we purchase it, we pretty much use it daily, but since moving to St Kitts it’s harder for us to get products shipped to us so we’ve been rationing our last order!

Cherry Vanilla Moisture Mist

Another one of our Almocado orders

On Almocado’s website they say about this product:

“Think of this as a conditioning berry-tastic hair tea! Carefully blended with natural Aloe Vera and herbal extracts to refresh and hydrate without feeling sticky or greasy.”

All we can say about this fantastic hair mist is: wow! It smells divine and is perfect for adding some much-needed moisture to kinky hair. It’s just beautiful, we think of this product as a special treat for our hair and try to savour every drop of it. This product has the added benefit, for us at least, of having an aromatherapy effect, the smell just relaxes and soothes us…hmmm.

Thank you

We’d like to say a big thank you to Annette for supporting our webinar series, we’re so grateful. We’d also just like to thank and acknowledge her for being such an inspiration and fantastic role model for black women in business. She does business the right way, with kindness, dedication, excellence and integrity; we applaud her and wish her continued success with her business.

More Information

You can find out more about Almocado on their website here.

You can find out more about our webinar series and sign up to the first session on fibroids, diet and hormones led by Le’Nise Brothers, the founder of Eat Love Move, on our website here

We are delighted to let you know that registration for our Fibroids Self-Care Webinar Series is now open! Our series starts on Saturday 27th October at 11am AST/4pm GMT with a session led by Le’Nise Brothers, a Registered Nutritional Therapist and the Founder of Eat Love Move.

Le’Nise will deliver a webinar on Fibroids, Diet and Hormones giving attendees the opportunity to learn about the role that hormones play in the development of fibroids and how simple changes to your diet may improve symptoms.

Discounted Early Bird Tickets Are Now Available

Early bird tickets for this webinar are now available and are just $10 (about £8) and you can book your tickets on Eventbrite 

We Have A Special Giveaway Just For You

We’re pleased to let you know that the first 10 people who register for this webinar will be entered into a giveaway and one lucky person will win a copy of the book ‘Flow Fighters – How I Kicked My Fibroids and Heavy Periods to the Curb’ by Holly Bridges.

We’re also delighted to have formed a partnership with OH Services who will be launching their ‘Emotional Impact of Fibroids’ online course in November 2018.  The first 10 people to register for our webinar on 27th October 2018 can claim a £5 discount on the cost of the OH Services course.

Other Webinars in this Series

Other webinars in the series will include:

Session 2: Deciding on the Best Treatment For You, Apryll Chase, Consultant Gynaecologist, 5th December 2018

Session 3: The Importance of Exercise, Relaxation and Me-Time, Candice Bryan, Founder and CEO, Noire Wellness, 23rd February 2019

Session 4: Hair and Body Care for Women With Fibroids, Rachael and Jocelyn, Founders of Afrocenchix, April 2019 (To be confirmed)

Session 5: Dealing with the Emotional Impact of Fibroids, Olivia Haltman, Founder, OH Services, June 2019

Session 6: Our Fibroids Stories – A Time to Share, August 2019

More Information 

We hope that you’ll join us on 27th October for this really interesting online event and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at events@lakehealthandwellbeing.com or visit our Eventbrite page

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

Our July 2018  #FibroidsChat was with Jenny Rosenberg, the Executive Director of CARE About Fibroids.

CARE About Fibroids is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit whose mission is to elevate uterine fibroids as a women’s health issue and drive change. Bringing together many of the nation’s most respected women’s health advocacy and policy-focused organizations to advance solutions, CARE About Fibroids is a catalyst for increased awareness, research and education about uterine fibroids, leading to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment.

If you missed this Twitter chat you can read through the highlights of our conversation below and if you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or send us an email, we’d love to hear from you. Additionally, you can read the highlights of our previous #FibroidsChats here

Now, drum roll please…🙂. It’s my pleasure to introduce our guest Jenny Rosenberg, @CAREAbtFibroids

Welcome Jenny and thank you so much for taking part in this Twitter chat, it’s a pleasure to have you. Please can you tell our audience a bit about yourself #FibroidsChat (3/3)

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

You’re welcome! Our organization has been very much looking forward to this #FibroidsChat. We find these chats to be incredibly informative and engaging.

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Ok, we have a few people that have joined us. Hello all!

We’ll go ahead and get started with our first question: Jenny, what motivated you to move into your current role at CARE About Fibroids @CAREAbtFibroids #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

I have always been passionate about women’s health and women’s health care. (1/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Serving as Executive Director of CARE About Fibroids is an opportunity to help women in the U.S. – a majority of whom suffer from uterine fibroids but know very little about the condition and their treatment options. (2/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

This seems to be a global issue as we have found that in many countries despite how common fibroids are, there isn’t an awareness of what them and treatment options. #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

You’re absolutely right. That’s why organizations such as yours are so important to help educate and promote more awareness.

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

I totally agree it is global and therefore this chat is so important and connect globally will help raise the bring awareness.

— OH Services (@OHServices2018) July 25, 2018

Based on your experience so far, what have been most important lessons you have learnt about fibroids and their impact on women? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

I’d say the one of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that fibroids carry a significant emotional and economic toll in addition to the obvious physical symptoms. Too many women with severe symptoms often feel helpless and worry about potential health complications. (1/2)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

This. This right here, emotionally and mentally it is draining.

— Olliviette (@olliviette) July 25, 2018

Definitely true. As a society, we need to be pushing for more patient-centric care when it comes to fibroid treatment. #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Many other women who suffer delay their diagnosis and are resigned to tough it out. We need to do a better job of promoting more information awareness about treatment options and pushing back against stigma that might deter women from seeking treatment. (2/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Absolutely. We need to inform women with accurate information and empower them to talk to their health care professionals about treatment. And you’re not alone if you’re asking, “What Are Fibroids?” We have answers: https://t.co/lPknefmtWH #FibroidsChat https://t.co/oD5F09ETsp

— HealthyWomen.org (@HealthyWomen) July 25, 2018

Agreed! Informing women about #fibroids and all of their treatment options is so important. We hope you’ll also include uterine fibroid embolization (#UFE) on your treatment list. Here’s more about this minimally invasive option! #FibroidsChat https://t.co/9Tdo5JSv7E

— SocInterventionalRad (@SIRspecialists) July 25, 2018

Yes and tough it out is the key word as then woman stop speaking about it and just go on struggling alone thinking its normal or okay. They are not alone and they should know there is help and support.

— OH Services (@OHServices2018) July 25, 2018

Absolutely agree! Women need to know they’re not alone–AND health care professionals cannot brush off their pain or experiences. #FibroidsChat

— HealthyWomen.org (@HealthyWomen) July 25, 2018

We’ll move on to our next question for Jenny: Can you tell us about the work that @CAREAbtFibroids does? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Right now, we are working to mobilize a broad spectrum of women’s health advocates to build greater awareness of uterine fibroids. This work includes the establishment of our steering committee, which you can read more about here: https://t.co/UFc3VmxyHF (1/3)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Are you members mostly America-based organisations? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Yes, given that we’re a relatively new organization, we are focusing on building our membership domestically.

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

We are also working to establish a broad-based membership of stakeholder organizations that can help us advance increased awareness, research and education about uterine fibroids. You can read more about some of these stakeholder organizations here: https://t.co/XdQdZYMYGa (2/3)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Additionally, we are working to build our patient network. We just launched a call for first-hand stories from patients who have experienced symptomatic uterine fibroids. https://t.co/tsmT6QiK2a (3/3)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Great to hear of all that you’re doing. This is really interesting.

I think one area that you’re exploring is research into fibroids. Research is such a key area and we wanted to get your thoughts on what the priorities should be for research into fibroids? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

First and foremost there needs to be an increased investment in overall research. We need to have an abundance of information into new treatments and mechanisms for earlier diagnosis. (1/4) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

We are currently developing a white paper on uterine fibroids that seeks to answer some of the common questions about the disease (2/4) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

These questions include: When is the right time to see the doctor? How does a patient choose if, when, and how to treat symptomatic fibroids? How do women and their families deal with the physical and emotional toll of fibroids? (3/4)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

We believe that by asking and answering questions such as these, we can do better for women and their families by raising more awareness of this condition. (4/4) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Yeah I personally find it frustrating that the cause of #fibroids is not known and why it affects black women so…where that research 😑📝🔬

— Olliviette (@olliviette) July 25, 2018

Yes, there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to #fibroids and the need to push for more research. Fibroids are more common in black women and it’s thought to be due to a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Them peas and rice days coming to haunt me. Lawd. #fibroidschat #fixit #imanewcreation

— Olliviette (@olliviette) July 25, 2018

Lol but the good thing is that you are changing it now. We did not know then what we know now so improvement is coming #fibroidchat

— OH Services (@OHServices2018) July 25, 2018

Thanks @OHServices2018 nearly missed the #Fibroidschat @CAREAbtFibroids @lakehealthwell @olliviette It’s great to see more #fibroid orgs Internationally

— Fibroid Network UK (@fibroidsupport) July 25, 2018

From your experience, so far, what are the biggest challenges that women, in the US, with fibroids face? #fibroidschat @CAREAbtFibroids

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Despite their prevalence, there is a considerable amount of misinformation about fibroid symptoms and treatments. This prompts women to forgo or delay treatment, causing more long-term suffering and increased treatment cost. We’ve got to push back against this (1/2) #fibroidschat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

and ensure that women who suffer have an abundance of information about symptoms, treatment options, etc. (2/2)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

.@CAREAbtFibroids What do you think needs to be done to address these challenges (by doctors, the Government, charities etc)? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

It’s important for us to break down barriers to access for women’s health care, and promote legitimate information about symptoms, causes, and treatment options for uterine fibroids. (1/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Our governments, physicians, groups like ours, etc. must emphasize that there is no one-size-fits all treatment. We must work to promote patient-centric treatments that work best for the individual patient. (2/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

.@CAREAbtFibroids What has been the most surprising thing you have learnt since working on fibroids? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

How many women have suffered from uterine fibroids and that if an organization like CARE About Fibroids had existed years ago many women would not be in the dark about this condition. #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Y’all keep working so it can get better. That was the past, only thing to do is help illuminate women and fam in the future. 👊🏾

— Olliviette (@olliviette) July 25, 2018

@CAREAbtFibroids To date, what has been your proudest moment with regards to CARE About Fibroids’ achievements? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

I would say hearing from so many women who have experienced symptomatic fibroids that there is a need for our organization and that by raising awareness of uterine fibroids (1/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

and educating about the condition plus the options women have for treatment we are going to make a difference in the lives of women and their loved ones for the better. (2/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Wow, time is really flying! We’re coming towards the end of our #fibroidschat. If you have any questions for Jenny Rosenberg, the Executive Director of @CAREAbtFibroids, please do tweet them to us.

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Just keep up the work Jenny #fibroidschat

— Olliviette (@olliviette) July 25, 2018

.@CAREAbtFibroids What tips/advice would you give to women living with fibroids? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

I would say three things. 1 – Know that you aren’t alone 2 – Don’t delay your visit to the doctor or OBGYN and 3 – Choose the treatment that works best for your individual needs. #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Our final question before we start wrapping up: Jenny, is there anything that you would like to see happen globally to improve the situation for women? Any global approaches that you think could be useful? @CAREAbtFibroids #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

First and foremost we need more awareness about symptoms and treatment of uterine fibroids in order to push back the stigma that associates periods with embarrassment and disgust. (1/2) #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

We also need well-funded research into treatment options so that we can continue to develop more options for women with fibroids. (2/2)

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Again, there is no one-size fits all treatment to symptomatic fibroids. But the more treatment options we have and the more women and their providers know about them, the more we can begin to address the individual needs of women who suffer. #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

If anyone would like to find out more about @CAREAbtFIbroids, contact your organisation or get involved in your work, how can they do this? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Please visit our website https://t.co/yO9sMD5u49. We have curated a lot of information that we hope can serve as a useful tool for women seeking to learn more about fibroids. You can also contact us here: https://t.co/C6RAeRVGIW

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Great, thank you for sharing. We’ll make sure we point people in your direction. Thank you so much for joining us today, it has been really informative. We wish you every success with all the work that you’re doing and look forward to seeing your white paper #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Thank you so much! We are honored to have been your guest this month. Looking forward to speaking with you again soon! #FibroidsChat

— CAREAboutFibroids (@CAREAbtFibroids) July 25, 2018

Thank u everyone for joining our #FibroidsChat today. We’ll be taking a break for the #summer and hope to back with another #FibroidsChat in September. We hope you found this chat useful and if you have any further questions, please do email us an info@lakehealthandwellebing.com

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Many thanks for this #FibroidsChat @lakehealthwell A pleasure as always. Have a Great Summer #July #FibroidsAwarenessMonth

— Fibroid Network UK (@fibroidsupport) July 25, 2018

For those of you who joined our #fibroidschat today and are looking for more support, @OHServices2018 are launching their 4-week online course on the emotional impact of fibroids. You can find out more here: https://t.co/Xcyq5ilDRK@olliviette, @The1980rules, @NoToFibroids

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) July 25, 2018

Sorry missed the chat during the course of work…thank you for helping raise Awareness about #fibroids and being an #advocate .#FibroidsChat #FibroidAwarenessMonth

— Keith Pereira MD, #Vascular_Irad (@keithppereira) July 25, 2018

Are you interested in this topic? Then please do sign up to our fibroids mailing list here

Our gardening and health series is back and Abi Begho, in this two-part blog, focuses on fruit trees. In this article she discusses her sour orange and mango trees.

I have really been enjoying my gardening journey, it has been fulfilling and rewarding in so many ways. I’ve grown enough okras and tomatoes to keep us going for months, overcome the challenges of growing peppers and delved into the world of sweet potatoes. This has given me a new-found love of the outdoors and provided an outlet to relieve stress, unwind and relax. I can’t begin to express the significant impact that just five minutes in the garden has on improving my mood and lifting the heaviness of a bad day. It’s been fabulous.

In my previous blogs I have covered vegetables and fruits that I have grown from seeds or cuttings, but in today’s blog  I want to focus on the lovely fruit trees that we inherited from the previous owners of our house.

We moved to St Kitts about ten months ago and when we moved into our new house we were just so happy about the fruit trees that came with it, and we have thoroughly enjoyed exploring each one of them, and they are:

• Sour orange
• Mango
• Soursop
• Guava

Today I am going to focus on our sour orange and mango trees.

Sour Orange

A sour orange from our tree

You may know sour orange by another name,  such as bitter orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange or marmalade orange.

It originated in south-east Asia and was believed to have been taken to Arabia in the 9^th century and then made its way to many countries in the years to follow. An interesting fact about its journey around the world is: it was the first orange to arrive in the Americas.

Sour oranges, to me, taste like a cross between an orange and a lime. They are too sour to eat on their own but that hasn’t stopped them from being used in many recipes – its juice and peel are the key ingredients in marmalade, its oil is used as flavouring, its fruit is used in the preparation of liqueur and the dried peel is oftentimes used as a seasoning. And, just about every part of the plant itself  (the flower, leaf, fruit, juice and peel) has been used for medicinal purposes  but caution is needed as bitter orange supplements have been found to be “possibly unsafe”, especially if taken in combination with caffeine which can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, fainting etc.

Our Sour Orange Experience

Sour Orange: From Garden to Glass 🙂

When we arrived, our sour orange tree was laden with fruit and continued to produce fruit for a couple of months and then stopped for several months and now, about 8 months later, copious amounts of fruit are starting to appear again.

For us, we have kept it very simple with our sour oranges and have used them to make a refreshing juice, very similar to lemonade but with more of an orangy-lime flavour (delicious!). The trick to making the juice is getting your proportions of sour orange juice, water and sugar just right. After several tries, I think I mastered it. I found that the juice from two medium sour oranges mixed with 1L of water and sweetened with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar makes the perfect drink, we couldn’t get enough of it and were so sad when we had used up all our fruit. We can’t wait to make some more juice when the current batch of oranges ripen.

Mango

Mango overload!

When we first saw the mango tree in our garden it looked like it was on its last legs – the leaves were brown and dropping, in what seemed like large numbers. We kept looking at the tree and thinking: ‘is it going to survive?’, but then a few months later there was a re-birth. We noticed new leaves, and the tree started to look really healthy. Then, in March, we were so excited when we noticed lots of little flowers and it was at that point that we knew we were going to be inundated with mangoes. And, sure enough, a few months later, in May, our tree was absolutely covered with young mangoes (yay!) and in June we had so many mangoes we honestly didn’t know what to do with them. We started giving bags of them away and we’ve also frozen bags, and bags, of mangoes, and still they keep coming, so we’re probably going to run out of space in our freezer soon.

Making a strawberry, mango and banana smoothie

So far, apart from eating the mangoes as is, we’ve made a lot of smoothies. We’ve tried the simple, so almond milk, banana and mango (nice), then moved on to adding pineapple (very nice) and then added some spinach (not as nice). We then tried mango, strawberry, banana and almond milk and that was delicious, the best so far.

I continued experimenting with recipes and made a  mango tart/pie (same concept as a French lemon tart, but I used almond milk to make it a bit healthier) and it was absolutely delicious. All I can say is thank God for the internet, I pretty much combined three recipes to get what I had pictured in my mind (I wanted a mango pie with a key-lime pie/lemon tart consistency) and it turned out much better than I expected. I highly recommend it.

Next I would like to make dried mangoes because I have liked buying them in the past as a quick and easy snack.  I’m also contemplating making mango ice-cream as I found a very straightforward recipe online. I will let you know how it all goes!

At the moment I have to admit that I am getting a bit tired of mangoes – we have waaay too many and as I type I have about 10 more that dropped overnight that I need to get from the garden. This is truely mango overload!

Freshly baked mango tarts

Mangoes are very well-known so I won’t say much more about them except that I have discovered so many creative, simple recipes that we wouldn’t have come across had we not had an abundance of mangoes to experiment with.  So,  if you’re looking for something tasty, healthy and tropical then mangoes are a great option as they are very versatile.

Next Time

Our fruit trees have really been a blessing and we’re enjoying experimenting with various recipes. It has been fun. In my next blog I’ll tell you about the final two trees, our soursop and guava trees.

See you next time and happy gardening!

Previous Blogs

If you missed the previous blogs in this series you can read through them here:

1. Improving Our Health and Wellbeing Through Gardening: An Introduction
2. How I Got Started
3. Growing Tomatoes
4. Growing Okra
5. Growing Peppers

You Can Get In Touch

Are you a gardener? Are you new to gardening or an experienced gardener? We’d love to hear your story and experiences with gardening and how its impacted your health and wellbeing.  You can email us at info@lakehealthandwellbeing.com with your experience and we’ll include it in this blog series.

We love attending health conferences. They’re a great opportunity to discover the latest advances in the field, learn something new and meet interesting people. Since moving to St Kitts about 10 months ago we haven’t had the opportunity to attend any conferences and so when we learnt that the 63^rd Annual CARPHA Health Research Conference was going to be held right here in St Kitts, we jumped at the opportunity and registered immediately and started counting down the days until conference day.  In today’s blog we’re going to share some of the highlights of the conference from our point of view, but first, you may be asking: who or what is CARPHA?

CARPHA – Who Are They?

CARPHA stands for the Caribbean Public Health Agency and they are the only regional public health agency in the Caribbean. They provide strategic direction  in analysing, defining and responding to the public health priorities set out by CARICOM in order to prevent disease, promote health and respond to threats to the public’s health and emergencies. Their programme of work falls in the following categories

• Emergency responses to disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding),
• The surveillance and management of non-communicable diseases (NDCs) that have reached epidemic proportions such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
• The surveillance and management of communicable diseases (CDs), including HIV / AIDS; re-emerging diseases, like tuberculosis in association with HIV/AIDS; and new communicable diseases that are now endemic in the region
• The surveillance and prevention of injuries, violence and job-related illnesses.
• Contribution to global health agreements and compliance with international health regulations

CARPHA Conference

Every year CARPHA hosts their health research conference which provides Caribbean researchers, at every level, with the opportunity to showcase their work and disseminate their research findings.  This provides the perfect environment to determine how cutting-edge research can contribute to the development of effective evidence-based policies, programmes and practices to tackle the Caribbean’s health challenges.

This year’s conference was the 63^rd conference, making this event the longest running health research conference in the English-speaking Caribbean and it brought together policymakers, researchers, health professionals and public health officials from the Caribbean, Latin America, North America and Europe.

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Sustainable Health Systems for Economic Growth, Development and Wealth.’ The aim of the conference was to provide an opportunity to raise awareness of Caribbean research that can provide the evidence and information to create stronger health systems in the region.

The conference was a three-day event, packed full of presentations, concurrent sessions, panel discussions, feature lectures, poster presentations and an exhibition, giving attendees an engaging, informative and diverse experience.

Our Conference Highlights

The conference on a whole was excellent, there was something for everyone, but for us certain presentations and pieces of work, really stood out for us. These included:

Assessing the impact of the Barbados Sugar Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax on Grocery Store Beverage Sales – with many countries  around the globe introducing a sugar tax it was interesting to hear about the experience in the Caribbean. This presentation summarised the findings, so far, from the introduction of a 10% tax on SSBs in Barbados in August 2015. It was promising to hear that following the tax there was an increase in water purchases, a 4.3% reduction in SSB purchases and a 5.2% increase in the purchase of non-sweetened drinks. It was interesting to note that the decline in SSB purchases was in expensive drinks and there was evidence that consumers were switching to cheaper SSBs.

Diabetes Distress and Diabetes Self-Care in Barbados – this presentation was insightful as we had never come across the term diabetes distress, which refers to the emotional impact of diabetes where patients may experience fear, frustration and guilt. It was interesting learning about this and how promoting self-care and self-management may address this issue.

Obesity and Weight Misperception Among Adults in Eastern Caribbean– this was a very well-presented and engaging talk that explored the extent to which people misunderstand their weight. Researchers found that in their study weight misperception was very common with the majority of people  under estimating their actual weight. This is a problem because it means that people who are overweight or obese don’t realise it, and if people don’t realise they have a problem with their weight they won’t take steps to address this. This leads to people remaining at risk of a number of health issues when they needn’t be. You can find out more about this study here.

Our Voices: Women’s Perspectives on Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment in the English-speaking Windward Islands – this presentation really struck a chord with us as we conducted a similar piece of work exploring black British women’s beliefs about breast cancer and their help seeking behaviour. It was interesting to hear that their findings were very similar to what we found around fear, fatalism and stigma

Finally other highlights for us were, being new to the Caribbean, it was just wonderful meeting people, exploring the important health issues in the Caribbean (e.g. NCDs and mosquito borne diseases) and learning about interesting projects like ECHORN, the new Caribbean Cancer Registry Hub and The Seth Fund, as well as innovative methods of care like that being delivered by the Caribbean Cancer Centre Network – a partnered care hub and spoke model.

In Conclusion…

This was three days well-spent and a great introduction into the research being conducted in the Caribbean. We highly recommend this conference to anyone in the Public Health field and we look forward to next year’s conference. Every year the conference is hosted on a different Caribbean island, and we’re also looking forward to the announcement of which of the beautiful islands will host the conference next year.

More Information

To find out more about this year’s conference you can visit the conference website here and you can learn more about CARPHA here

On 21st June we were delighted to host a  Fibroids Twitter Chat featuring Angèle  Mbarga.

Angèle  Mbarga is the Founder of Fibrome Info France which she established in 2011 to provide a place of healing dedicated to women suffering from fibroids. Angèle’s personal experience with fibroids motivated her to start Fibrome Info France to fill the gaps in support that she noticed when she was first diagnosed.

If you missed this Twitter chat you can read through the highlights of our conversation below and if you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or send us an email, we’d love to hear from you.

Hello Twitter family, it’s our pleasure to welcome you to another one of our #fibroids #TwitterChats.

Today, we’re absolutely delighted to have as a guest Angèle Mbarga, the founder of @FibromeInfoFr (1/3) #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Hi everybody, i’m Angèle Mbarga, founder and CEO of Fibrome Info France, an organization in charge of women suffering from uterine fibroids in France. 1/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Fibrome Info France has a three-fold missions namely: to inform and alert women about uterine fibroids, to assist those who have already developed fibroids, and the last one but not the least, the enhancement of fibroids’ cares in France. 2/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

I’m delighted to share my experience with all of you, and I want to thank Abi, the founder of Lake Health & Wellbeing, for the wonderful idea she had to invite me to this fibroids chat. 3/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Q1: Angele, you have an incredible bio, so let’s start at the beginning; you have had personal experience with #fibroids. Can you tell us a bit about your experience? @FibromeInfoFr #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

My fibroids were diagnosed in February 2008 further to pelvic unbearable and sharp pains. The pelvic ultrasound realized in emergency by doctors unveiled that my pains are due to a necrobiosis caused by my fibroids. And that’s how it all started! 1/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Necrobiosis is nothing more than the infarction of fibroids. It is the severe form of complication of fibroids which may require emergency surgery, especially when the necrobiosis is over supplied with blood. 2/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

We’re so sorry to hear of the experience that you had with #fibroids and hope that you recovered well and are ok now. It must have been significant challenge. #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Q2. What was the most challenging aspect of having fibroids? #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Yes it was a big challenge! The first time the doctor told me I have fibroids, I was dumbfounded! My gynecologist of that time never alerted me about fibroids. I barely knew what they were as I had some relatives who had surgery because of fibroids. 1/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

My ordeal lasted almost 2 years during which untimely bleedings and haemorrhages were my daily reality. Their impacts on my day-to-day life especially on my social life and my relationship were disastrous. This latter were going downhill fast. 2/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

I was operated by laparotomy in January 2010, after several months of medical wandering. Now i’m doing well. 3/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Q3: What would you say that you have learnt from your experience? #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Further to my experience I am now certain that women have to act for their own health in order not to just undergo medical decisions that are proposed to us, but also to change the care of uterine fibroids. 1/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Just like all women fights, such as the right to contraception or the right to abortion, women with fibroids must go down in the arena to move the lines. We must be carriers of changes if we want doctors rethink of the care of fibroids. 2/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Q4: You founded Fibrome Info France in 2011, can you tell us what motivated you start your organisation? @FibromeInfoFr #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

I created Fibrome Info France to avoid to women suffering from fibroids to experience what I been through. I remember that after hearing the doctor diagnostic my first action was to rush on internet looking for an organization dedicated to fibroid. 1/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

I wanted to talk to women suffering from fibroids. I needed to talk about it, to be listened. My researches were vain. There was no such as organization in France that could help me. 2/3 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Our organization receive very often women who have been told by their general practitioner or their gynecologist that having fibroids is not a big deal! #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

This is very true. So far I have found that medics tend to take a blasè approach to #fibroid care as they are non-cancerous. So I think as women we need to do more to highlight the struggles faced and advocate for further advancement of care #FibroidsChat

— JourneyToBeatFibroidsNaturally (@NoToFibroids) June 21, 2018

Yes, we hear this a lot in the UK and #Caribbean. Fibroids seem to be trivialised a lot!, which is not helpful to women who are going through a challenging time. #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Q6: Can you tell us about the services Fibrome Info France provides to women who have been affected by fibroids? #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Fibrome Info France works to improve the care of uterine fibroids and to change people opinion about fibroids in France. Before the creation of the organization, women suffering from fibroids were left on their own. #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Our organization filled the gape in terms of information for women about this disease, through awareness campaigns and the edition of information leaflets made available to women in hospitals and waiting rooms of gynecologists. #FibroidsChat pic.twitter.com/XfbgJEXVkF

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Fibrome Info France offers women a personalized support. We act through individual interviews, support groups and any other means that can help to reacting out a maximum women. 1/4 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Uterus being the neuralgic organ of women, we need to consider its symbolism meaning when talking about care and healing of disease related to this organ. 2/4
#FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Fibrome Info France has created a specific support group for women experiencing troubles in having a child or women who have had miscarriages. We consider that their cases are so sensitive that they need specific support. 4/4 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

This is such a useful service to offer, as there is a lack of support for women in this situation #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Yes! Some of those women need to mourn their missing babies and sometimes to definitively give up on their desire of motherhood. I personally work with those members on the matter of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they don’t feel responsible/guilty of their situation

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Even though vital prognosis of women with fibroids is rarely life threatening, the fact remains that many affected women are devastated. There are significant impacts of uterine fibroid on couples, social and professional life.

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Q7. We can see you have several achievements such as releasing an awareness video and supportive guide. Can you tell us more about these? @FibromeInfoFr #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Our first awareness video and launched in June 2012 on social media the first campaign on uterine fibroid. We developed and published in January 2013 our first information leaflet, for the purposes of our second awareness campaign. 1/2 #FibroidsChat pic.twitter.com/y7GpfT24Es

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

In January 2015, with the support of the Ministry of Women’s Rights, we worked in partnership with specialized doctors to develop an information and support guide for patients. Made up of a dozen practical sheets, this guide can be used as a roadmap for women. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/D3CCNJBf6f

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

It’s good that you were able to partner with the Ministry of Women’s Rights on this project as well as doctors, nice that you all come together on this.

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Yes it important for to partner with doctors & hospitals. In Paris area and in various other regions: in June 2015, multi-disciplinary consultations dedicated to the diagnosis and management of fibroids, were open to reduce the medical wandering of women. #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Q7 and Q8 Time is against us, so I will ask two questions at once 🙂

We’ve talked quite a bit about the challenges, are there any other challenges that women in #France face and what do you think the Government should do to address these? #Fibroidschat @FibromeInfoFr

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

The trivialization of uterine fibroids and the denial of the pains of women suffering from fibroids are undoubtedly the most common challenges to be faced. 1/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Another one is the systematization of surgical treatments and the propensity to offer hysterectomy as the only therapeutic solution: uterine fibroids are the leading cause of uterine ablation in France: more than 75,000 surgeries are performed each year. 2/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

One of the major changes in the management of uterine fibroids would be, the implementation of awareness-raising and primary prevention. 1/2 #fIBROIDScHAT

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Particularly through national information campaigns which would allow women to be informed as soon as possible about symptoms & complications of uterine fibroids, especially in terms of fertility. 2/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Our last question is about your anniversary! a.The 30th June is Fibrome Info France’s 7-year anniversary – congratulations! How will you be celebrating this great milestone? @FibromeInfoFr #fibroidschat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Several highlights are planned to mark this event; in particular an open day under the sign of the sharing of experiences. The celebration of the future mothers group is one of the highlights of the festivities. 1/2 #FibroidsChat pic.twitter.com/rAlGUDIkhy

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Several members of this group will testify to break the law of silence and the taboos around fibroids. And of course the highlight of this event will be the toast that will be proposed to the health of women who suffer from fibroids. 2/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Congratulations and we wish you all the best with this event. What has been the proudest moment of your first 7 years and what are you major plans for the next 7 years? #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

It’s a very difficult question as I am proud of all the achievements of the organization. I am very proud of the first info leaflet published in 2012 and shared in the hospitals. I am equally proud of the guide of information and support published in January 2015. #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Uterine fibroid affects 30% to 60% of the women of childbearing age, including 60% of Afro-Caribbean native. There is an urgent need to open an antenna of Fibrome Info France in Martinique or in Guadeloupe. 2/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Next year, we plan to carry out a caravan for raising awareness, in order to meet women living in several regions of France. Besides big cities, West French Indies will also be part of our caravan. 1/2 #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Thank you so much Angele for joining us for today’s #FibroidsChat. It has been really great learning more about you and all the great work you’ve been doing over the past 7 years. (1/3) #fibroidschat @FibromeInfoFr

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

We wish you continued success with your organisation and are impressed by all the work you have conducted and the difference you have made in women’s lives. (2/3) #fbroidschat @FibromeInfoFr

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Thank you to you Abi, its was a pleasure for me! #FibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Thank you so much. We need a significatice change of management of fibroids. It’s important to women to know that the evolution and complications of fibroids vary from a woman to another, depending on the location, size and number. 1/2 #FIBROIDSCHAT

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

If women would like to find out more about Fibrome Info France where can they get more information (3/3) #fibroidschat @FibromeInfoFr

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

If you need further information, I kindly invite you to visit our web: https://t.co/pYydcFttV1 Or our facebook page https://t.co/xXVJ1dHl08
#fibroidsChat

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this #FibroidsChat. We hope you found it useful and it gave you some insight into the work of @FibromeInfoFr and the situation in #France.

Find out more about Fibrome Infor France on their website: https://t.co/XCMre5oVdk #FibroidsCHa

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Or you can visit their Facebook page here: https://t.co/2FOuGZc1w6 #FibroidsChat

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

We’ll see you all in July for another #FibroidsChat. We’ll be chatting to @CAREAbtFibroids on 25th July. More details to follow.

Have a good afternoon/evening!

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

I’d like to share with all of you our awareness video pic.twitter.com/jCRtWPz7dh

— Fibrome Info France (@FibromeInfoFr) June 21, 2018

Thank you to all who joined us earlier today during our #FibroidsChat. If you missed any of our previous chats you can read through the highlights of all of them here- https://t.co/N0nHIerZz3

Our past guests included @eatlovemove, @KandiceBryan, @selfcareandfood, @OHServices2018 pic.twitter.com/k2d6PAZgKa

— Lake Health and Wellbeing (@lakehealthwell) June 21, 2018

Are you interested in this topic? Then please do sign up to our fibroids mailing list here

We’re delighted to have Contance Ray, the founder of Recovery Well, back on our blog exploring addiction.  In her previous blog  Constance provided tips on how to get back on track after substance abuse relapse and in today’s blog Constance focuses on dealing with a spouse’s addiction.

Being married to someone with addiction can be one of life’s unexpected challenges. The road to recovery requires mutual commitment and support, and may be punctuated by difficulties and upheaval. However, it can be worth it, and both you and your loved one can come through this stronger and healthier.

Get Treatment

 When your relationship is exposed to addiction, its negative influences can harm married life. Its destabilizing effects can erode trust, happiness and leave a relationship in tatters. Without addressing addiction, the strains can grow and the situation worsens, especially if a mutually destructive cycle of blame and conflict develops. That’s why it’s crucial to urge your partner to accept treatment.

Your spouse’s treatment can be multifaceted, involving group and individual therapies, and can be complemented by support groups. It won’t be easy discussing addiction, so do so with tact and empathy and when your partner’s sober. Encourage them to visit a professional and offer to be with them to discuss their options. Affirming your commitment can be highly motivating. Treatment can give your spouse techniques to help overcome addiction and maintain sobriety. It may also offer some of the building blocks to heal marriage, and encourage self-care.

Move Forward Together

 Dealing with addiction can be a complex process, but the negativity and strain can be reduced. Some form of counseling or couples therapy may be the best approach to giving your marriage a safe environment to heal and repair. You and your partner will have the opportunity to identity issues and develop solutions to them. Addiction doesn’t happen overnight. A counselor can give insights into its origins, and restore communication and trust.

In the process, you may gain coping mechanisms and stress management techniques that can help your spouse, and yourself, minimize problems faced in the future. Counseling may be discomforting. Acknowledging each other’s struggles, and identifying harmful behavioral patterns won’t be easy. Yet creating lines of communication may go a long way to repairing some of the damage and hopefully bring you both emotionally closer as you move forward together.

Protect Finances

 A healthy marriage depends on stability, on savings and good credit, but addiction can leave finances in a parlous state. This can be a huge source of conflict, so it’s prudent to protect assets. Try to involve your spouse in the process every step of the way, and discuss with them the various options. Gently reassure them of your love and that you want what is best for the relationship. A financial plan will be essential to rebuilding depleted assets, and managing future expenses, such as your spouse’s recovery.

There are websites and apps that can give financial overviews and allow you to bring expenses under control. Set goals as well, either to pay off debts, or to look forward to things that you and your partner can work towards attaining. This can act as an incentive for recovery and give focus if temptation ever arises.

Lastly, consider separate accounts for savings and household expenses to ensure neither are adversely impacted. It’s a sensitive topic, but one which can provide additional security for both you and your spouse.

Think Future

 Looking forward is essential when facing addiction. It’s an ongoing condition, so focus on short and long-term goals, and emphasize smaller, manageable achievements. This can be a more forgiving gauge of progress that may mitigate frustrations and discouragement. Sometimes, however, the strain that addiction places on a marriage may be irreparable. You may come to the conclusion that your marriage has become unbearably toxic. There can be plenty of reasons for this, such as your partner not being committed to recovery, or their actions becoming unacceptably destructive to your life. Your welfare takes precedence over saving a relationship. If you have children, they too must come before a deteriorating home life.

Addiction’s impact on marriage can be overcome. It will require working together to heal and better understand each other’s struggles. No matter what happens to your marriage, your experiences will hopefully enable you both to be able to lead healthier and happier lives post-treatment.