Endometriosis: A Key to Healing Through Nutrition. Michael Vernon

inside out

       on top of these symptoms, my periods made me feel dirty.

       I had managed to programme my periods to start on a Saturday, so I was able to spend the weekends in bed. Intercourse was impossible, and although my husband was very understanding, it was difficult not to be depressed. We had sex, but not intercourse. Sometimes I would demand intercourse, but would be in so much pain for days afterwards, it really wasn’t worth it. I had a hot water bottle at work and used to spend a lot of time hanging onto the radiator in my office. I couldn’t walk any distance and was exhausted all the time. We had to plan our life around my monthly cycle. I used to retire to bed most of the time. I think this was more depressing than anything. I hated having to cancel social events or even visiting my parents. People were very sympathetic, but I felt very pathetic. Life was not good.

       I’d read a lot of books, many of which touched on nutrition, and I felt that maybe it was time to seek alternative help. I read Dian’s book from cover to cover. It all made so much sense. I got her number from a friend of a friend, but I delayed making the call. I think I was afraid of another treatment not working, as what would I do then? I know this was the wrong attitude, but it wasn’t until later that I realized that.

       My life changed over a year ago. My period had come a day early and I had to take a day off work. As an IT manager, my work involved a lot of stress, running up and down stairs and humping heavy equipment from place to place. There is no way I could function with my period. It was like a battle and my endometriosis seemed to be winning. I finally made the call to the clinic from my bed. I was in tears and the receptionist was really sympathetic. I was amazed as, over the years, I have seen many medical people and I can’t say that any of them were sympathetic. I wasn’t expecting sympathy, but it would have been nice on occasions.

       I saw Dian; we discussed my condition, lifestyle and diet. She prescribed multivitamins, minerals and fish oils. These were to give me a booster as I was so low. I was to give up wheat, citrus, chocolate and coffee, and to reduce dairy, increase fruit, vegetables and oily fish, drink more water and generally avoid very processed foods. I decided to make a real effort and stick to the guidelines for a month to see what happened. I celebrated this with a cappuccino and a large piece of cheesecake followed by an orange.

       I kept a diary, recording what I ate and how I felt. It was a very useful process as I could refer back and see how well I was doing – or not. I thought about what I ate and ate regularly. I’d never had such exotic breakfasts! I knew that we ate food because our bodies needed it; I knew I should eat more fruit regularly, but just never fancied it.

       After about three days, I felt fantastic, had loads of energy and didn’t look so drawn. My husband said he could always tell the level of pain I was in by my eyes, and my eyes seemed bigger and brighter. I looked forward to food, and ENJOYED fruit. I had my period 10 days later. It was amazing. It hurt but was manageable. I almost enjoyed it (that was weird). The blood was bright red and, because of a major systems failure at work, I had to work on the weekend. I couldn’t believe it. Not only was I standing up during my period, but I was working too.

       It’s been over a year now since I first met Dian and I am a different person. I wonder how much I have cost the NHS over the years in drugs, surgery and consultations, which weren’t as successful as nutritional awareness has been.

       It seems that wheat is my real problem, but because I now eat so well, my body can tolerate the occasional accidental wheat consumption. I am now very finely tuned so that if I do eat something that upsets me, I pretty much know immediately. I usually drink lots of water and cranberry juice, which seems to ease symptoms.

       I had an amazing experience recently that confirmed my intolerance. I had a piece of chocolate cake – a real treat – which I was told was gluten-free. After a few mouthfuls, I found it physically hard to swallow. Within 10 minutes, I felt very tired and withdrawn. Later that afternoon, I had a pain in my left side and found it difficult to speak coherently. I knew something was wrong. I remembered I’d had some quiche at lunch and thought maybe the flour used was the problem. It turned out to be coeliac wheat flour but with the gluten removed. It is the wheat that affects me. I was very ill the next day and amazed by the severity of my reaction. I felt ill and tired the following week as well. It wasn’t nice feeling ill again, but it confirmed to me how well I maintain my diet.

       The point I want to get across is that I am an ordinary girl and lead an ordinary life. I sometimes stay out late and drink beer! But now I think about what I eat and I’ve got my life back. It isn’t hard to change your diet because the rewards are immediate and your body takes control. Your body will let you know what vitamins and minerals you are lacking through cravings for different foods.

       In a way I’m glad I was so ill when I first saw Dian because the change in me was immediate and immense. You don’t have to live a miserable and painful life. There is help out there. I hope you are able to change your life like I have, and wish you a long good health.

      FERTILIZATION

      In women, the ovum lives for approximately 72 hours after it is expelled from the follicle. It may be fertile for less than half this time. Sperm survive in the female genital tract for 48 hours. Sperm have been seen to survive for one week after intercourse.¹⁵ If sperm are present in the Fallopian tube, then the egg may be fertilized (see figure 2.3).

      A fertilized egg, called a zygote, sends a hormonal message to the reproductive system that conception has occurred and the corpus luteum is prevented from degenerating. The corpus luteum of pregnancy continues to produce progesterone and the endometrium gets even more lush. As the zygote passes down the Fallopian tube its cells begin to divide to form the embryo. It keeps dividing, first into a two-cell embryo, then a four-cell embryo and then an eight-cell embryo, up to about 100 cells, at which point it is called a ‘morula’ (see figure 2.3).

      At this stage of development, the cells of the embryo begin to develop into specific different types of body cells, and a fluid-filled area forms in the middle of the embryo. The embryo, now called a blastocyst, implants itself in the endometrium, a process dependent on enzymes rich in vitamin E and zinc. It takes about seven days for a fertilized egg to develop into a blastocyst and implant into the endometrium. Blastocysts may have 1,000 to 10,000 cells by day 8; by day 9 or 10, it should be firmly attached. On day 10, the placenta is formed when cells invade the maternal blood vessels. By day 19, the placenta has developed its own blood vessels.¹⁶

      A woman is totally unaware of these important events. She will not know that she is pregnant for another week, when she misses her period.

      Once the sperm has entered the egg, how does the body recognize that a conception has occurred? A message comes from the embryo that prevents the shedding of the endometrium. Within two weeks of conception the level of progesterone produced by the corpus luteum is maintained, and this protects the pregnancy. This progesterone enhances the ability of the endometrium to produce nutritious fluids that the embryo will need during its very early development.

      Just imagine, from the tiny egg in the ovary and the minute sperm from the testes a whole new person can grow. The beauty of it is that each egg and sperm contain totally unique blueprints so that the baby developed from them will be a totally unique individual. We all began from this miracle of nature; we are indeed the stuff that stars are made of.

      As complicated as the reproductive process is, it is easy to see that human procreation is a miracle. In fact, the incidence of subfertility in human beings is high, and as many as 15 to 20 per cent of all couples may be subfertile. Some of this subfertility may be the result of ‘hiccups’ in the reproductive process or a result of anatomical deformities in the reproductive system. As you will see in chapter 4, endometriosis may adversely affect many parts of the reproductive processes. What we have to do is make the body less tolerant of endometriosis,