Ladies...monthly Pain Gone Being Gluten & Dairy Free?

[Cottage-Soul]

I found this thread from last year discussing endo, cramps and gluten.

Open Original Shared Link

It seems going just gluten-free didn't help most of the ladies with the monthly pain. I am wondering if cutting out dairy as well has a better outcome?

I have between a week and two of cramping every month starting at ovulation (not the little sharp pain which has a German word for a name either), this is a twisting gnawing pain that lasts up to 4 days. The pain used to stop once my period started, but now I get a extra 4 or 5 days to suffer with cramps during my period as well. My gyn is pushing for a total hysterectomy and I've got her to hold off until mid-summer to give me a chance to try this gluten/wheat/dairy free diet (starting later this week). I've been on pain pills for 3 years and she wants me to do something. I don't know that I have endometriotsis, but I do have a large fibroid. I also have a very tilted uterus (like a lot of women in the linked post). I'm 47 and done having children (I'm the mother of 1 beautiful teen daughter!) so that isn't really an issue, I'd just like to avoid the hysterectomy if I can.

So...anyone here found that eliminating dairy (or something else) had a positive impact on their pain?

[jerseyangel]

Hi,

I can really relate to what you're asking!

I was in the same situation as you are when I was diagnosed in June of 05. Same symptoms, fibroid, etc. I was 49 at the time.

I have been gluten-free for a year and a half now, and dairy free for about 2 years. In my case, during that time, my largest fibroid grew from 2cm to 8cm. My symptoms actually got worse--I had hoped that the diet would have made a difference--but for me it did not. That is not to say that this is the case for everyone.

I opted to have a hysterectomy 6 weeks ago--during the surgery, they also found endometriosis and adendomyosis. For the latter, surgery is the only treatment, so I'm glad I did it.

My doctor said I should be feeling much better overall in the next month or two--and I already am! A bit sore, still, but I am feeling a positive difference.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do--it's never an easy decision.

[Cottage-Soul]

Thanks for the reply jerseyangel. Not what I wanted to hear but a good honest answer.

My main fibroid hasn't changed in size for the past 2 years, they say it is the size of a 3 month pregnancy. I realize they won't know what else is going on in there until they do the surgery, but I'm sure it's more than just a fibroid or two. I've really been trying to avoid the hysterectomy although almost all the women I know who have had one are happy they did it.

Hope you get to feeling better soon and thanks again!

[Michi8]

Thanks for the reply jerseyangel. Not what I wanted to hear but a good honest answer.

My main fibroid hasn't changed in size for the past 2 years, they say it is the size of a 3 month pregnancy. I realize they won't know what else is going on in there until they do the surgery, but I'm sure it's more than just a fibroid or two. I've really been trying to avoid the hysterectomy although almost all the women I know who have had one are happy they did it.

Hope you get to feeling better soon and thanks again!

Hi Cottage_Soul,

I think you're wise to try all of your options before hysterectomy. Hysterectomy can have a profound effect on your health and emotional well-being, and comes with a whole host of potential side-effects (one of which is pelvic pain), so should never be done "lightly." Unfortunately, it's a surgery that is performed more often than it should be.

For myself, I intend on doing everything I can to avoid this surgery. My grandmother and mother had it done, and they had difficult emotional challenges afterward, plus the issue of weight gain. Excessive bleeding (months long periods that became a health hazard) was the reason for my mother's hysterectomy...I wonder if endometrial ablasion would have been a better option for her?

BTW have you been given the option of fibroid removal? Can you have exloratory surgery without hysterectomy? I'm sure you've done already done some reading and searching about this...if you haven't seen it already, I have found an interesting book & link on the topic: Open Original Shared Link

I hope that you have good response with going gluten and dairy free...it's certainly can't hurt, and you may find added health benefits that go along with it!

Michelle

[Cottage-Soul]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for your reply and the link. I read part of it, but need to go back and read the other sections.

I had thought of just having the fibroids removed, but most of my pain is from the ovary area..so I don't think that would solve my problem.

My Mother is the only person I know well that is unhappy with her hysterectomy. She's had bladder problems ever since (it may not be related to the surgery, but you won't convince her otherwise). So a bad outcome for me with a hysterectomy will lead to a lifetime of "I told you so!" from my Mother which puts another con on the list.

Thanks again and now to get back to reading the informative link you posted!

[Michi8]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for your reply and the link. I read part of it, but need to go back and read the other sections.

I had thought of just having the fibroids removed, but most of my pain is from the ovary area..so I don't think that would solve my problem.

My Mother is the only person I know well that is unhappy with her hysterectomy. She's had bladder problems ever since (it may not be related to the surgery, but you won't convince her otherwise). So a bad outcome for me with a hysterectomy will lead to a lifetime of "I told you so!" from my Mother which puts another con on the list.

Thanks again and now to get back to reading the informative link you posted!

The uterus is an important part of the female anatomy, so to have it removed can certainly affect the positioning of the surrounding organs and tissues. As I understand it, it could affect the bladder due to organ prolapse (somewhat common after hysterectomy.) I would expect there could also be some complications with the bladder if it is adhered to the uterus (due to prior surgeries such as cesarean section).

If the ovaries are the problem, and need to be removed, you may be able to choose to remove them without removing the entire uterus. Might be something worth looking into if you need to choose surgical correction.

Michelle