Adapting to this new Endo life, I have made the changes. This cheese loving gal turned in her shredded gouda for daily avocados, her pasta for quinoa, and dessert for apple sauce.
Prior to this new insight into my physical health I was an early gluten free survivor. I had to trade in my baked goods for fruit at the ripe age of twenty. This was before we had all of these food sensitivity tests but my test did not say I had celiac.
All my adult life I was the least annoying GF (gluten free) person. If you asked I would tell you, but I was not out preaching it on the street corner.
After I lost my second pregnancy to a tubal ectopic, I was diagnosed with the endometriosis. My provider did what all providers do and put my on drugs and wished me good luck. It wasn’t until I did the work thanks to our vast online data bases, that I began to make daily changes to benefit my health.
Here is what I found.
1. I was eating WAY too much food.
As a person who also suffers from headaches and migraines, I frequently over ate in hopes of preventing pain later in the day. I began tracking my meals to find trends and look for my symptoms and the insane amount of food was apparent.
2. I had to keep eggs in my diet.
Many books and articles I read discouraged the consumption of eggs due to the chances of an inflammatory response. This is not the case for me, and having two eggs for breakfast cooked in a splash of olive oil allows me to take all my vitamins first thing in the morning to promote absorption throughout the day and not feel nauseous before stepping out the door.
3. I kept the Coffee… Just toned it down a little bit.
As a coffee junkie, and Dunkin’ regular (here in Baltimore, MD) I easily consumed 1-2 liters of coffee a day. Yes the Dunkin’ coffee was laced with dairy and flavored syrups. I have limited myself and like I have done in much of my life, prioritized quality over quantity.
Today and for the past two months I (former coffee ambassador for North America) consume one latte made with locally roasted beans with oat milk. This allows me my fix and brings joy in a more delicately produced item than a vat of murky brown drive thru cocaine. I mean caffine.
4. Lastly, Turn UP! (the seafood)
As you may know if you are also on this journey, read meat and dairy items are a no go. I have been pescatarian since carving my last turkey on Thanksgiving and it truly has benefitted my digestion. By replacing this expectation of protein with every meal, my husband and I have enjoyed all that Salmon and Shrimp have to offer. Homemade sushi (shrimp avocado) bowls anyone?
While these little things have deeply benefitted my physical and mental well being it was not a diet but rather a mindset shift. If science and others with this condition have found these small adjustments to work, then I would be silly to not try them myself. Before I consume anything I wonder if that food item is worth the pain an flare up of inflammation could cause. I may splurge occasionally but in the big picture these few adjustments have saved me days of pain.
What have you found to help? Are you on this journey/battle too? I would love to hear from you and build our community of physically and mentally strong, working to holistically heal our bodies!
I
Let Us Talk About Hope 