New from Canada

[Favoured]

Today I started on a raw food diet (not 100% raw). My husband is celiac and so our home is already quite limited. It will be quite a lot to juggle! One perk is that i hate cooking, and you don't have to cook raw food! ;)

I'm 33 and I have a fibroid that, last it was measured, was approx. 10 cm around (and I have other small ones too). Thankfully I have no pain or excessive bleeding. I have been finding it discouraging, though, that now I'm avoiding certain clothes to wear because people may notice my belly and think I'm pregnant (I wonder if it's growing). I also hope to have children in the future. I was gungho to have the fibroid surgically removed, but the surgeon I met with discouraged my having the fibroid removed for that reason...there's always risk that if something went wrong they'd need to remove my uterus which would ruin my chances for kids (or at least that was what I inferred from his caution.) I appreciate his concern and respect his opinion. The ball is in my court now and I am going to work at what I can do from my end. Eating better (no chocolate, wine, etc), self-acupressure, reflexology...we'll see where this leads.

I would love people's advice for how they keep themself motivated to stick to their diet. There's something about denying myself something that makes me crave it! Social situations are especially tricky when it comes to food, I find. Does anyhow have a matra of sorts or something that they repeat to themself to keep on track?

Thanks so much :)

[k8sl8]

Have you considered a second opinion on the fibroid issue?? At a certain size they can become problematic depending on what they are attached. If attached to an ovary, the risk of torsion is very real. I appreciate caution, just educate yourself.

[trenchchic]

Eating raw food doesn't stop the cravings for chocolate and chips, but it certainly does lessen it. It's like this...the more raw food you eat, the more satiated you are. You aren't going to feel "stuffed" like when you eat the Standard American Diet (SAD). You are just going to feel like not eating because you aren't hungry at all. It's weird. Until you experience it (I suspect it will take a week or so) then you aren't going to know what I'm talking about. But just stick with it; it is soooo worth it. At any rate, the feeling of "I'm just not hungry right now" will bleed over and take care of your "I have to have a piece of chocolate!" cravings.

Also, there's women on this board that have had raw food pregnancies. You should do a search for their posts. Also, look to youtube for videos on women who have had raw food pregnancies - their childbirth stories are very cool.

[Favoured]

I did ask someone I know what he thought about the advice the doctor gave me. The man I asked, though not specializing in this, is a doctor. He did some reading first, and then said that he agreed with the surgeon's advice. He did said, though, that if there's trouble with conceiving, then consider surgery....but first things first. My friend also said that, though he has not worked with that doctor, he is a well-respected as a doctor, which is good. Not all doctors have a good reputation.

Torsion...I have to admit that I don't know that I'm not entirely sure what it is.

I have been considering asking for my medical records, actually. It would be nice to have a copy. Sometimes when doctors have talked to me, I forget what terms were used and it might help me.

Thanks for your push. Maybe I should ask for a second opinion (that has seen the ultrasound). I'll certainly consider it.