Fibroids: What I Wish I'd Known Before 3 Surgeries

So.... I've had three surgeries to remove fibroids, and you'd think someone would have  sat me down and explained what was causing them, and what I could actually do about it. I asked consultants and my GPs and no one could give me an answer.  So I began to look into it myself. In this blog, I'm sharing everything I wish someone had told me years ago.

Know the signs

So many women brush the symptoms off as just a bad period. Bleeding like you're hemorrhaging, and cycles that just go on forever. Pain and pressure low in your belly. Back pain. Running to the loo constantly. And that tiredness that no amount of sleep seems to touch. If that is ringing bells, please do not just soldier on. Book in with your GP and ask for an ultrasound. You have every right to know what is going on in your own body.

The thing that changed everything for me

Fibroids feed on oestrogen. Once I understood that, it all clicked. It meant the stuff I was putting on my hair, skin, in my body, and how I was living, actually mattered.

What the research is showing

There's some really interesting research on vitamin D paired with a compound from green tea called EGCG. In small studies, women taking both for a few months saw their fibroids get smaller, with less pain and lighter bleeding. I am not going to promise you a miracle, because everyone's situation is different, in terms of the size of fibroids and location, and the studies are small and early, but even drinking green teas and taking my vitamins helped reduce my symptoms. If you have ever been told your fibroids are small, 'just wait and see', this may be something you feel is worth looking into.

One important thing. Talk to your GP before you start taking anything. Green tea extract in big doses can be hard on your liver, and vitamin D needs the right dose. A simple blood test sorts it out.

Easy wins I have leaned into

In addition to ramping up my vitamins and the green teas, I zeroed in on my diet.  I cut processed foods and sugars and increased fibre which helps your body clear out the excess oestrogen. I do love my veggies, so my meals were loaded with veg, fruit, beans, and whole grains.

I cut dairy (cheddar cheese was a work in progress) but I increased my good fats like oily fish, flaxseed and walnuts. The research on the good fats and fibroids specifically is a mixed bag, so I will be honest about that. But for calming inflammation and easing period pain, they genuinely help.

My job was desk bound, I'd sit for hours on end staring at a screen.  Movement is so important.  You have to get your body moving to get the blood circulating.  It doesn't have to be anything intense, even a walk (ideally outdoors) counts.

Why I am sharing this

Even after surgery, fibroids can come back. Why?  Because I wasn't changing anything.  I was doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.  Once I stopped using toxic products on my hair and skin, made the dietary and lifestyle changes, my last scan showed I had no new fibroids to report. I definitely put that down to years of doing things differently, easing the load on my hormones, actually listening to my body instead of pushing through. One thing I'd add is I also had to reduce my stress levels, and that involved taking time out for selfcare.

I make no promises about how quickly or whether you'll eradicate your fibroids entirely, but I can promise that you're not powerless.

Your body is not broken. It is overwhelmed.