How Eating Right Saved Me from Hysterectomy Surgery

Many people felt Morgan Spurlock was completely crazy to use himself as human guinea pig in the 2004 documentary "Supersize Me". Most of us know when we really think about it ,that most adults (and their children) who are constantly on the go, eat some form of fast food at least once a day, five days out of the week. We do this because we do at least two of the following duties on a daily basis - commute at least forty-five minutes, one-way to work, go to school, raise a family, work a second job or maintain a household single-handedly. Can we really make time to plan a meal for an entire week? Maybe for 2-3 days? Let's see, you have have to make a list, make a budget for that list, choose a convenient time and store to pick up the items on that list , store the food and finally prepare it. Sounds like a part-time job, doesn't it? I didn't add in special dietary preferences one may have (low sodium, carbohydrates, etc.), organic foods which sometimes have a limited shelf life or just the fact that not all stores have what we want when we want it. Before you decide whether it is worth the trouble or debate the expense in the long or short-run of things, here's my story that may make most think otherwise.

More than five years ago, I made an(other) attempt to return to school part-time while working full-time. The commute was long but figured as it's only for two days out of the week, I could handle it. Well, I didn't. My first mistake was drinking coffee instead of water since this was in warm Southern California weather, the second was that not only was my coffee from a fast-food estalishment but so was everything else I ate. From warm doughnuts in the morning to a .99 spicy chicken sandwich in the evening, it wasn't unusual for me to not see the inside of my fridge until near the end of the week. While I never ordered 'mega' or 'super' - portion meals (and was acutally carb-conscious before it became a trend), enough money was spent to where it might has been smart to make it one of those oversized, "value" meals. Yet, what I came to experience was something Spurlock could have never fathomed.

For years, my menstrual had normal pattern with minimal change once a year every other year. Most women who are not irregular have this pattern. The first time I experienced menorrhagia, or an extremely heavy blood flow from the vagina, I dismissed it until it went into a seventh day with no signs of slowing down. On the ninth day, I checked myself into the emergency room at the local county hospital. A female gynecologist interviewed while giving a full vaginal exam which included an ultrasound. Twenty minutes later she said she saw some of blood flow coming to an end, so it should finish in a day or two. The next thing she said was not so relieving. If the menorrhagia continues now or at the next cycle, a biopsy would be needed to check for any unusual growth and the only sure way to prevent reoccurence would be to perform a full hysterectomy. At the time, I was only 32 years old and was basically waiting for the right moment to start a family.

The doctor gave me a prescription for low-estrogen birth control pills as well as iron tablets for the anemia caused by the blood loss. On the way home, I began to curse myself for not getting myself together sooner as well as those who had all the babies they wanted and were not half the mother I felt I could be or intentionally went on AFDC (Aid for Families and Dependent Children) and had children as a way of getting a "raise" in payments. My period lasted a total of 11 days and I was so very physically and mentally drained. While friends were of minor comfort, I knew there was no way I was going to do this again. I took the Pill with reluctance because of a past history with my cycle that made me irregular for almost four months.

Of course, when my period came again, twenty something days later it was heavy but not nearly as bad as before. I went back to ER and sure enough, while waiting the flowed slowed down. After the nurse took my vitals, we both jumped as I got on the scales.

In less than one month, I was more than thirty pounds heavier. Though I always wore loose clothing, they didn't seem to fit differently but my feet and ankles were always swollen. As the doctor looked at my chart in amazement, she had no resolution but to suggest a nutritionist - I was not interested in seeing any more doctors. On the way home, I felt strange and felt as if I needed a colonic.

When I got home, I went through all of my health-related books and found nothing. After I changed clothes, I went to the local bookstore and went through every book that related to women's health. I found one that recommended herbs such as Black Cohosh ( I never took it because of the side effects) and other items that would definitely make my next grocery list. During my trip to the supermarket, I remembered how good and energetic I felt after leaving California Conservation Corps. There, I unintentionally became a vegetarian because of the way meat and dairy products were handled. That's also where I discovered soy milk. Through my readings which I still continued, I found what I had was a hormonal imbalance. Possible causes were dairy products and processed meats.

I was never able to pinpoint a particular hormone or chemical that directly caused my illness. The doctor was less than happy when I cancelled my next appointment and she found out that I did not refll my prescription of the Pill. Yet, after several months of drinking plenty of water, getting soy products instead of dairy and preparing meals at home that included vegetables, fruit and whole grains - I was better than before.

My periods were coming at a lighter flow than I could remember. I could sleep Iat night without constantly getting out of bed to change my equipment or making sure I was positioned a certain way. It was also discovered in my research that both my mother and grandmother had pre-menopausal hysterectomies due to menorrhagia.

As a result, I am not a health nut nor a vegan. There are still fast food restaurants I go to out of convenience or necessity. I try to keep fruit in my purse whenever I go to work and one bottle of ice water is as necessary as my keys when I leave the house. I cook at least twice a week and use fresh herbs in most of my dishes as well a variety of condiments. While relieved that Morgan Spurlock did not try to expose the effects of fast food on the female body, I am glad it has been revealed (though slowly) that no matter how clean an eating establishment looks or excellent the customer service, it's the product itself we have to be careful of.