Hi Maryanne!
I did not experience the on again-off again periods when I had fibroids...but I have had a little of that more recently and believe it is part of perimenopause...(I'm 43 now...was 35 when my fibroids were removed with a surgical procedure called myomectomy)...also greater irregularity and 2 periods last month...oh, lucky me! LOL
Since I had fibroids and endo it is a little hard to say what was causing what symptoms...although the really heavy periods and clotting are much more common with fibroids. I had pain from the endo...but also some pain from the location of the fibroids...actually first started noticing pain on the left side of my pelvis when I'd raise my foot to press in the clutch. I also developed chronic constipation and eventually rectal pain....which may have been a combination of the two. I also experienced a dull aching pressure sensation deep in my pelvis and I'm certain that it was from the fibroids...I always had the sense that my body was trying unsuccessfully to expel them. As this worsened and the bleeding became heavier, I also began experiencing a lot of fatigue and considerable decline in my energy...which gradually carried over beyond the days of my period. I have also known women, though, who have absolutely no pain and few symptoms and have quite large fibroids that can be felt through their abdomen. Basically there are three types of fibroids...those that grow on the inside, on the outside and in the wall of the uterus. The ones that grow on the inside (maybe outside too?) will sometimes form a stalk and grow like a pendulum. It's also common for there to be more than one...I had three.
Unfortunately....by the time I was diagnosed I didn't have much time to start using natural methods to treat my endo and fibroids when I hemorhaged... and the myomectomy was the second of three surgeries I had over four weeks. Consequently, I don't know how much these natural steps would have helped...but I can tell you that they have definitely helped to keep my endo in check. Here's what I would suggest:
- NATURAL PROGESTERONE CREAM...I like Emerita and it is available at most health food stores. If you do a search for Transitions for Health that is the company that makes it (Emerita is their retail line...they also distribute to health care providers under another name, but it's the same product)...they have done clinical trials using the cream and their website has oodles of information on women's health
-VITEX...also known as chasteberry...this herb helps your body to synthesize its own natural progesterone and it is great for balancing the hormones
-PHYTOESTROGENS...do some research on the pros and cons of phytoestrogens (ie. soy, red clover, black cohosh)....some studies say that phytoestrogens are beneficial in cases of estrogen-dominant conditions such as endo and fibroids because the plant estrogens lock on to estrogen receptor sites and their effect is milder than our bodies' estrogens...other studies have indicated that phytoestrogens may aggravate these conditions...you might have to experiement and see for yourself...they seem to be beneficial for me, but may pose problems for some women
-CASTOR OIL PACKS...run a search on CureZone or do a google search to get the specific directions....castor oil packs were recommended by
Edgar Cayce for a number of conditions and are beneficial for improving circulation in the area that they are applied, breaking up any stagnation and congestion and improving adhesions. They are a bit messy...but have been helpful with my endo and are also beneficial for a variety of problems. You'll need a wool or cotton flannel, castor oil, plastic garbage bags and a heating pad.
I would also do a really thorough colon cleansing program to clear out any toxic congestion in your abdomen and pelvic region...and then do a series of
Liver Flushes as well as herbs to address your liver function...the liver metabolizes hormones such as estrogen and testosterone and a sluggish liver can result in hormonal imbalances which contribute to conditions such as fibroids, endo, PMS, etc. The Holistic Horizons (do a search)
Colon Cleanse includes some herbs for the liver (dandelion...a good
Liver Cleansing herb) and you might also want to start taking milk thistle which helps regenerate liver tissue.
Hope all this helps...but I still think it would be best to get it checked out for sure.