Life throws you a grapefruit

Do you ever get the feeling that things are too good and you have this uneasy sensation that it somehow won't last?   That some Karmic injustice you've done in your life might come due?  My life until two weeks ago was great -- I have an awesome job, loving boyfriend and family and friends, hip loft and cottage, groovy car, and thought I was in good health.  Then I had my annual checkup.  My doctor felt a lump in my uterus.  A subsequent ultrasound found multiple lumps, one the size of a grapefruit :(   I'm scared.  The fabulous Canadian health care system isn't getting me into to see a specialist for another 7 weeks.  I'm now considering selling my Karmann Ghia to pay for treatment at a private clinic that can see me right away. 

How did this happen?  According to the Mayo Clinic, uterine cysts are fairly common for women in the 30s and 40s.  They are formed as a result of a hormone imbalance and often disappear with menopause.  There is a small probabilty of them being cancerous.  They unfortunately can also affect a woman's ability to conceive and to carry a child for full-term without miscarriage. 

On a positive note, I've decided to try to fight this with a naturopathic approach, since mainstream medicine at the moment is not accessible to me.  I've stopped taking birth control pills, gone semi-vegan, and adopted an alkaline diet (no red meat, dairy, or wheat), and am doing my best to eat and drink organic foods and beverages.  I've started with a 15 day cleanse and hope that clearing out the toxins and artificial hormones will make a difference.  I'm also looking for a naturopathic doctor.  Fortunately Vancouver is the most vegetarian friendly city in Canada and likely one of the most alternative medicine friendly cities in North America.

Ice cream and climate change

Interestingly by giving up ice cream, cheese and hamburgers, I'm at least in one small way helping the environment --  according to a recent UN study, livestock are responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gases that cause global warming (more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together).

Natural family planning?

My boyfriend has been very supportive and it will be much easier to adhere to this new diet with him since he already is semi-vegan as well. Not sure how we're going to deal with birth control, since I'm now trying the Basal Body method, which I'll be damned if I can figure out.  My temperature doesn't appear to follow any regular pattern that I can discern so far.  No wonder it's only 80% effective!

Happily Ever After?

Guess I'm on a new and unwelcome journey.  I'm fortunate to have a lot of wonderful people in my life and hope it has a happy ending...
 

Comments

[Ian Glazer]

Keep your spirits high, Lori! We're all pulling for you.

[Lori Lynn]

Thanks for the kind words Ian :)

[Sheila Kippley]

For effective NFP, go to www.nfpandmore.org. The online manual is short, easy-to-read, and free. It covers all the fertility signs of systematic NFP and ecological breastfeeding. New research proves it can be 99% effective. Sheila Kippley, volunteer for NFP International

[Pamela]

Hi Lori,

My mom had this same condition - she says to search online for Fibroids and you will get a lot of useful information. She had 8 lumps, 2 of them the size of golf balls, and they were removed successfully without any damage to any of her organs. She also works with a lady who had a lump the size of a grapefruit, and that lady successfully went through a pregnancy - in fact, in her case, the lump had disappeared by delivery, most likely as a result of changes in hormones from being pregnant.

Anyways, my mom is a nurse and has a lot of knowledge in this area, I'll email you with her number & email, so that if you want, you can have someone to talk to who has been through it.

I hope you're holding up ok.

Hugs,

Pam

[Lori Lynn]

Hi Pam,

Thanks so much for the kind words and offer of help. It's much appreciated. Hopefully my new alkaline diet and naturopath will make a difference!

See you in a few months :)
Lori

[Courtney]

Lori,
I just came across this and wanted to tell you that Caroline and I are thinking about you. I hope that everything is going well. Love you much!

Courtney