Feed-back on 'Recipes for the Endometriosis Diet'

This is a selection of comments and feedback from other women who have started to use the recipes and advice in the book.

Its great to receive this feed-back from other endometriosis sufferers, as it enforces the message that changing your diet really does make a difference.



Feedback sent to website August 2011
Your query here: Hello, I just wanted to say that I bought your book in March 2011 after being diagnosed with severe endometriosis. I have followed your diet plan to the best of my ability. No wheat, red meat, sugar, minimal dairy and alcohol. I have aloe vera juice and coconut oil. I also supplement with calcium, evening primrose oil and omega. Anyway I had my 3 hour operation 4 days ago (1 Aug 2011) to remove the Endo. It went very well. My surgeon said a small amount of the Endo had disappeared on it's own since my diagnosis in March. I truly believe your diet plan has allowed this to happen. I will becontinuing with it for the rest of my life and I am so grateful that I have your book to help me. Thank you for making my life so much more bearable. Claire UK


Rebecca – sent to website June 2011
This very positive feedback from Rebecca which tells how she has totally turned her life around after going on the diet for endometriosis after being diagnosed with advanced stage 4 endometriosis …
To endo resolved. I have been meaning to contact you for weeks but have been enjoying my new life too much to remember or have time. I am 28 years old. I have a wonderful husband who I love with all my heart and we have been trying for a baby for almost six years. I found out I was pregnant in 2007 after a year and a half of trying and we were over the moon. We told our families immediately and my parents began their plans to travel to the other side of the country to see us as we live two states away. The whole family was ecstatic and we just couldn’t wait to meet our baby. We made plans of what we were going to buy, I bought some maternity clothes in preparation for my soon to be growing body and my husband and I started to think of baby names. We were really excited! Our world started to crash down around us two days later when I began bleeding at work and I was sent directly to the Emergency department at my work (I'm a registered nurse and work in a regional hospital). People who I knew cared for me and I was told that due to the huge amount of blood I lost (I was crossed matched for transfusion) that the baby could not have survived. I was admitted to the maternity unit and I waited until morning when I had an ultrasound to see if I needed a Dilation and curette. Upon ultrasound it was shown that our baby was still alive and had a viable heart rate. I was alone through the ordeal as my husband was interstate for work and we lived in a new town so I had no family and very few friends for support. My father was in his car driving 20 hours to visit us and I was alone. I called my mother overnight who had told my devastated father that his grandchild had died and my husband was away from his wife. After our baby was found to be miraculously viable I went home. Over the next four weeks I was on strict bed rest and after many scares and hospital visits our baby eventually died at ten weeks gestation. We had a memorial service at the hospital (which I am eternally grateful for) and I was off work for two further weeks to attempt emotional recovery.

Three months after the miscarriage I developed significant abdominal pain during the month which did not coincide with my period. After two months of pain I had numerous ultrasounds and was referred to a gynaecologist who performed laparoscopic investigations. The results came back and I was diagnosed with advanced endometriosis. My specialist (from my regional town) told me that she was not experienced enough to removed the adhesions laprascopically herself and she would either need to refer me to a specialist in the capital city or perform open surgery. By this stage my husband and I had made the decision to return to our home state to be with family as I was significantly suffering from depression and I needed to be with my mum and dad. As a result I was unable to have the surgery. After the laparoscopic diagnostic procedure my pain was reduced somewhat but still significant. Upon returning to my home state I saw a gynaecologist who insisted my husband I have IVF treatment to have a baby after zolodex injections. I agreed to four months of injections despite significant side effects such as night sweats, severe mood swings, agitations, weepiness, and a whole host of other side effects. Not only did I have these symptoms my pain was just as bad as prior to the treatment. After this experience I left this gynaecologist and found another who said he could remove the adhesions. He was highly recommended and a specialist in his field. I have to admit he was very caring and supportive and I believe he truly wanted to help me. After a month of blood tests as well as testing my husbands sperm I had laparoscopic surgery to remove advanced stage four endometriosis. After recovering from the initial surgical pain I did go on to have almost a year of almost pain free living. I had been advised that the adhesions would most likely come back and towards the end of last year this happened. Even though I knew the likelihood of a reoccurrence of pain was high I was devastated when the constant cramps and stabbing pain returned. At this stage we still had not fallen pregnant again and the pain became unbearable. I had to leave a job that I loved and I became confined to our home again. My husband took many days off work to stay at home and look after me and I was unable to enjoy my life. My pain was horrible and I began to become very depressed. I withdrew from social activities and although a normally hopeful person in life I began to believe I would always have this pain and at under 30 years of age I would live the life of someone much older than me.

One night my husband and I were looking on the internet and I found Endo Resolved. I read the information regarding diet and my husband agreed that I should purchase the ebook. I had tried western medicine and it had failed me and we were both willing to try alternative treatments. Now I must tell you my two favourite foods are chocolate and cheese. I love dairy, I love sugar and I could be described as a chocoholic. Unlike many who suffer from endometriosis I am very slim and at 161 cms I weighed 46.1 kgs. I had begun seeing a dietician who recommended large quantities of chocolate and dairy including two large blocks of chocolate a week, a glass of milk with milo (chocolate powder)a day and cheese, as well as handfuls of nuts in order to gain weight. I ate all of this willingly before I found the endo diet and over 6 weeks my weight had increased to 49.8 kgs. The day after I found the endo diet (April 11 2011) I told my dietician I had started a new diet which included not eating dairy, gluten, red meat, added sugar, un fermented soy and limiting e-numbers. My dietician strongly encouraged me not to do the diet as I had gained a lot of weight on his regime and he believed it very unhealthy to cut out so many whole food groups. After our meeting I cried uncontrollably and told my husband I shouldn’t do it. I desperately want a child and I was on my way to a healthy conception weight and I didnt want to risk limiting our chances of a pregnancy any more. My husband was incredibly supportive and suggested that I at least try the diet, he told me that skinny girls can fall pregnant and if there was a possibility of my pain reducing I should try it. So on the evening of the 11th of April my journey towards my new life began. At this time my mother and father in law were visiting us and they have known of my suffering for years. My father in law is vegan and my mother in law is vegetarian and so they were both very supportive of my new diet. Within one week on the diet I began to notice small changes in my pain levels.

After two weeks on the diet (which I must admit I didn't believe would help) my mother in law asked me how my pain was. I remember standing still in the kitchen focusing on the different parts of my body and for the first time in three and a half years I felt almost no pain. My mother in law and I were thrilled and she encouraged me to continue my diet. Six weeks later I returned to my dietician. I had lost two kilos but my pain levels were dramatically reduced. I believe my pain is about 95% reduced. For the first time in fifteen years I have not taken pain killers for my period. I now have a 2 day a week permanent job at the same hospital I used to work in. I am picking up extra shifts and am able to work night shifts without severe exhaustion. My mood has improved dramatically and I am so happy. My marriage has improved so much because I am a much nicer person to be around. Every one I know says I look so healthy even when they don't know I am on the diet. My hair is healthy and shiny and no longer have huge bags under my eyes. My mother and father are over the moon and say I look the healthiest I have looked in years. My friends are so happy to have their bubbly, friendly, joyous friend back and I believe I am truly blessed to have found this diet. Just believe that it might work and try it. Yes it is restrictive, yes it is difficult at time to eat out, yes you have to prepare your own food and yes you can't indulge in the foods you may have been addicted to. I do include chocolate in my diet but it is raw, unprocessed organic dark chocolate sweetened with agave syrup and I only have around 2 or 3 small squares a day...not two huge blocks a week. I have found a cafe in my town that serves gluten free waffles with coconut milk ice cream (also sweetened with agave syrup) and I enjoy home salted popped organic popcorn. I eat heaps of fruit, lots of nuts and dried fruit and plenty of water. I drink herbal teas and love experimenting with different combinations which I combine in a tea pot and drink with friends and family. I have not drunk coffee in around 8 weeks and yet I have plenty of energy and can work eight hour night shifts without 'needing' a coffee. My husband loves his new wife and I love that this diet has given me my life back.

I am just unbelievably grateful to the writer of the Endo Resolved cook book and all those people involved in creating this website. I have almost painless periods, I am back at work at a job that I love, I am a fun loving happy person and I truly believe this diet is a miracle. God created food for us to nourish us and heal us and I will forever remember the day that changed my life. Words cannot express my gratitude to the writers of this website. You have given me back my life. It has involved a lot of hard work and determination on my part as it is not easy to cut out so many foods but the food that I cook at home is beautiful and varied. I eat organic chicken, lots of fresh veggies and many pulses, beans and basmati rice. In essence there is still a lot of variety in my diet. My advice to you if you are reading this and suffer from endometriosis is give it a go. This is a genuine testimony, I am so thrilled with the results and if you suffer like I did I'm more than happy to correspond with you to encourage you in your journey towards healing. Thank you to the Endo Resolved group and despite medical experts telling me it wouldn’t work, this diet has proved them wrong and I am eternally grateful. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. My husband and I are excited about the future and if my pain has reduced so significantly and I am so much healthier we now believe it is only time before I fall pregnant and we have the baby we have always dreamed of. All my love to you in your journey towards health.


Christine
Feedback sent to website – Aug 2009

Thank you so much for your web site! I was diagnosed withendo 17 years ago. I have had 4 laparoscopies and years of birth control pills and lupron shots. In 2004, I was done with all that ....I was so tired of being on hormone treatment and being up and down emotionally and had pretty much resolved that I wasn't going to have children because of all of it, there wasno sense in continuing this kind of treatment. I was told of your web site by a co-worker and thought the diet couldn't hurt. Within two cycles, my symptoms disappeared. It totally made sense that everything I was eating before had so much outside hormones, it couldn't possibly help regulate my own hormones. By following this diet, I became a healthier person overall, I wasn't tired as much, I had more energy, just felt better. In 2008 I gave birth to a healthy little boy and something my previous doctors told me was not likely. There were no complications whatsoever, he is an absolute blessing. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your research on this disease and sharing what you've learned. God Bless You


Dear Carolyn
Thanks for sending this book - and for writing it. Can I commend you on the warm and caring tone of the book, which you have carried from start to finish. I'd like to let you know how I go in a few months, but have already been inspired by the breadth of the advice.Best wishes
Katie Young



Lindz, United Kingdom
From the stories submitted here at Endo Resolved – July 2009

'I’m 30 years old now and my endo was diagnosed when I was 20, I had a laparoscopy then and the doctor told me straight out that is was the worse case he had ever seen in someone of my age and that I would never be able to conceive naturally. I have been on various medications over the years, 3 times a day pills and still in constant pain, twice I was rushed into hospital where I had to stay in for a few days while they pumped painkillers into me. Anyway after 10 years I had had enough and after seeing yet another specialist who gave me lots of options, none of them good, I decided I wanted to at least try another way. I talked my doctor into giving me a year off the medication, with the promise that if the pain got too bad I would be straight back on the pills. 3 weeks after being pill free the pain started again, I was doubled over crying my eyes out the pain was just searing through my body. In desperation I looked again on the net and found this website. I looked at the Endo Diet and downloaded the recipe book. That night my boyfriend and I went out and brought what we needed and emptied the kitchen cupboards of all the food that was there. The next morning we both (my boyfriend is so supportive) started the diet, we did it cold turkey; we thought it would be easier that way, rather than cutting things out gradually and if there were results it would be quicker. We were not disappointed. It’s been nearly 4 months now and for the last 2 months I have had NO pain, I even had a period and didn’t even get a single cramp. I was amazed, stunned in fact. I also see an Osteopath who has felt around my tummy and when I first started going to him he said everything seemed very blocked up and tense. I visited him last week and he confirmed that there was no tenseness and no blockages that he could feel. I will never go back now, and we will continue this way of eating for the rest of our lives. I have NO pain, and am taking NO medication… I didn’t think I would ever be able to say that! I am so angry that none of the doctors ever mentioned changing my diet may help. Now I just want to shout it from the rooftops “don’t take the pills, try the diet instead” This could have saved me so much pain ad heartache if I had known about it years ago. The diet may 'look' a bit complicated and time consuming but once you get the hang of it, it’s fine, everything is really easy and soon you’ll be making up your own dishes. Any cravings I had for old food soon went, after about 2 weeks, Occasionally I will try something that I used to eat but to be honest it tastes disgusting now, my taste buds have changed now and will only accept quality ;o) The main thing I have to remember is to leave my beans to soak overnight. Now I don’t even have to think about it and can put a meal together really quickly. Thanks'

´Hello, Two months ago, I purchased the book for the Endometriosis Diet on this website. I took it very seriously as I needed to find some relief from my severe menstrual cramps. I was at the end of my rope. Doctor's told me that my cramps were normal. They told me I might have endometriosis, but that I should get pregnant to cure the disease. The amount of ignorance out there had me feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. The diet book gave me the opportunity to put the healing back into my own hands. I started to feel like I had some control over my own body again. Because I was feeling good, and I had energy from eating the healthy foods, I started to exercise and lost 10lbs. Exercising really helped my mood and kept me feeling positive. I thought maybe some of the excess estrogen was being stored in my fat cells. I wanted to minimize places for it to hide. Through this, my husband and I have been TTC. We had been trying for 1.5 years with no luck. The second full month after following the Endometriosis Diet perfectly, I started my period - and to my amazement, I had bearable cramping - nothing like I'd been experiencing for the past two years. I couldn't believe it! I didn't take any painkillers just to see if it could really be true and I was fine! Usually, I am in tears and popping painkillers every two hours. It's awful. This month, I am walking around, feeling fine, a little crampy but THESE are normal cramps. I wanted to say thank you. I am healthier than I have ever been. I still eat organic chicken and some fish, but overall it has been very easy and enjoyable to follow this diet. I hope the healthier lifestyle will help with our infertility as much as it has helped with my pain. Thank you so much. Amanda Johnson * I also began drinking Noni juice and taking extra multivitamins, especially vitamins E, C, and B
Amanda Johnson, United States

‘I just want to thank you so much for this website and your books! I just downloaded the diet book.... AMAZING! I have been practicing this diet for just 2 days and feel so much better. I'm so happy and can never thank you enough! My pain was horrible and I just had a laparoscopy 2 weeks ago. I still have pain after the laparoscopy. I'm on Lupron therapy but it hasn't kicked in yet. I have to take narcotics just to get through the day. But I believe as long as I practice this diet there is hope! I'm about a 2-3 on a 10 pain scale as opposed to an 8 since I've been on this diet! Since the surgery I've been doing so much research to find ways to cope. Not even my gynecologist has been that informative. I've been offered anti-depressants to deal with everything, but I refuse to succumb to this disease. I can't thank you enough really... I hope to offer as much as I can to the Endo-fighting community too!’ –
Christa


'Thanks Carolyn
Since receiving your e-book I have stuck to the recipes and I just want to say a big thank you. The recipes are easy to follow, I'm saying this as a person who never cooks! So not only am I now taking charge of my own health, I'm also learning to cook at the same time.. I thought I was one of the "lucky one's"able to eat any type of food I wanted whilst not putting on weight. Little did I know the damage I was actually doing to myself.

I had minimal to mild endometriosis, with no adhesions but severe pain, that was removed 2 months ago. However after surgery I still had very severe pain most notable around ovulation. However by sticking to the advise in your book it has been a case of so far so good...

I also went to see a naturopath who specialises in infertility; myself and my husband have been trying to conceive for 3 years. I showed her your recipe book and she thought it was excellent. Although I don't think she was as aware of the impact of soy!

Once again thanks for this very informative book.'
Regards
Yvonne



'I bought your recipe book and went on the suggested diet about6 months ago. In that time, I have lost 15 pounds and I feel fantastic. No more excessive gas and bloating, and my pain is virtually non-existent. I am also, finally, medication-free thanks to a terrific doctor at the New York Endometriosis and Infertility Center. It seems that the combination of his surgical skills and your diet has been (knock-on-wood) keeping my stage 4 endo at bay. So, I want to thank you for helping me take control of my life again.'
Clare Gardner



Hi,
I just wanted to thank you for creating this website. It has been of tremendous help to me. My mother bought your book of recipes for me to try. I have been on the diet for about 3 weeks now and I have noticed significant improvement in my pain level. I’m still on pain meds but the dosage is much less now. I just can't thank you enough for taking the time and effort to help women with this condition. There should be more people like yourself making effort to help people in need. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again for all your help, you have made a big difference in my life. I’m a much happier person now. I’m very thankful that you have so much information, I was at the end of my rope when I found your website, it turned my attitude around about everything. I’m on my way to feeling better because you have so much information about endo. Sorry for the long query but, I needed to tell you.thank you Carolyn.
Toni



Hi Carolyn,

I have looked at the recipes and I have to say you must have worked jolly hard to get all that sorted out a great deal of research has gone into it. I don’t know if your aware that you are possibly the only person in the world who has written a cookbook designed primarily for endometriosis sufferers? I have not been able to source one anywhere other than yours to which I’m eternally grateful.

For that alone I would like to say a huge thank you. I have researched a lot on the subject of endo and it not only affects the sufferer but those closest to them and indeed my daughter is seeing Dian Shepperstone Mills but although Dian is helping she doesn’t seem to supply people with the right foods for the endo sufferer? Also the supplements are not always correct, its far better to get more from the foods than in any other form although there’s always a case for the use of supplements I am investing in a juicer (Omega 800) a brilliant tool to add to kitchen. Its action means that sealed juice will last 48 hours in the fridge before becoming useless. The pulp is bone dry. I watched one and have wanted to get one since! This will also make nut paste, add dates etc and it will make a delicious alternative to butter as well. I love your egg substitute. It’s all great so much so I’m going to join her for a month too! I’m over weight and need to eat better. ;-(

I am so glad you have given my daughter renewed hope for the future. She was trying so hard and without culinary knowledge she was finding it all so bland and I’m sure she would have slipped. She has been so strong till now, at 24 it should be me who has this awful disease not her, I will write again in a months time to tell you how she’s doing if that’s ok?

All the best and thanks so much once again. Ruth and Rebecca, mum and daughter resp.



Carolyn,

Thank you for responding to my query. My own experience with estrogenic products supports the estrogen-dominance connection to endometriosis. When I stick to the Endo Diet, my symptoms disappear; and when I cheat, they flare up again. I love Shaklee's products and have been using their energizing soyprotein for over a month now, but I have recently noticed the return of endo symptoms. I guess I'll have to rely on other sources of protein. Thanks foryour advice!
Jennifer




S.D.
New Zealand

'The best thing that ever happened to me was being diagnosed with endo last year! Since 16 I had had difficult painful periods (which I thought was normal because of my mum's terrible problems) and the pain was sort of controlled by the Pill. After having 2 children in my early 30s, for about 8 years I had no period pain. Approaching 40 I started getting migraines, bad skin, irritable bowel syndrome, constant thrush, dreadful mood swings and weight gain. Taking supplements helped, but then when the period pain began a year ago, it was unbearable.

I was diagnosed about July 06, and a hysterectomy sounded really good. I did my homework, thanks to endo-resolved, and started the diet, cold turkey. I also increased my exercise regime. After 8 weeks I had lost 8 kilos, my skin cleared up, I had boundless energy and much less period pain. I decided on a laparoscopy & mirena. The specialist said I was making a mistake and would be back for the hysterectomy. After 6 months I have lost 15 kg, all of my symptoms are gone, I have no pain, and today for the first time in 30 years, my optometrist tells me my eyesight has improved - dramatically - which he can't explain. I have shared the diet with many friends and acquaintances, and some of them are starting to try it. Thanks for your help, it's literally changed my life.'



Erin
E-mail Address: shukura9@hotmail.com
'Feel free to post my story and e-mail address on your site as you see fit. THANK YOU for your site and THANK YOU for the very informative book and recipes! It's worked miracles for me. THANK YOU!

I've been dealing with endometriosis for over 10 years. I had reduced my sugar and wheat intake for several months when I found your site and recipe book recently, and though I'm normally skeptical about e-books, I downloaded and read it the same night. It's now been eight months since I've eliminated dairy, wheat, sugar, meat, etc. from my diet. It may not work for everyone,but it worked for me. I recently talked to an acquaintance of mine who is also dealing with endometriosis. She said she would do absolutely anything to reduce her pain. I told her about changing my eating habits, and to my surprise, she said "Oh I could never follow such a strict diet!" I couldn't believe that something as harmless (and beneficial!) as changing your dietwasn't even being considered by someone who had just sworn she'd try anything!

Please, if you are looking for an alternative to pain and surgery, PLEASE just TRY the "endo diet" for at least six months. I hate to sound like an infomercial, but I can't stay quiet about my success story when I read about so many people suffering. It might not work, or work as well as it did for me, but what do you have to lose except your pain? Take control!'



Mercy
wagemam@hotmail.com
'Hello, I just wanted to thank you so so much for this website.You have no idea what difference it has made in my life. I had unbearable pain from endometriosis, had laparascopic surgery and after one year, the pains returned with vengeance. I have been trying to get pregnant for 21/2yrs with no success yet I am in my twenties. I was feeling so hopeless until the day I stumbled on to this website 3 months ago. I immediately decided to get on theEndo-diet and my first cycle after being on the diet for a month, was pain free. I did not even need pain medication, and so was the next month, and this month as well. The other thing is since I got endometriosis my cycle has been longer than usual and for the first time in a long time I am now back on a28 day cycle. This is the best thing that ever happened to me. Thank you for all the work you have put on this website. You have transformed my life. God bless you! And to those in endo-pain I would want to say DO NOT EVER GIVE UP! There is HOPE! Thank you.'



‘Many thanks for the endo site and your recipe book full of good advice. I was particularly interested in the hype about soy and how to be aware of the so called "pretty advertising" I have followed your wheat free, diary free, red meat free, caffeine free advice and hey presto 8-10 weeks later symptoms have improved. I no longer need anti-inflammatory drugs, the irritable bowel symptoms have all but disappeared and I feel more energized by eating organic fruits and veg, and taking vit c and d. I am now working on external estrogens and how to avoid them in household products and body products. Thanks carolyn for all your hard work.’
Val
email:valcady@msn.com



'Thank you for the in-depth discussion on the pitfalls of soy both in the Recipe book and on your website! My endometriosis wasn't a problem until I went vegetarian and started eating soy products at every meal (soybean sausages, hamburgers, milk, even tofu in tapioca pudding and other baked goods). Because the pain didn't hit all at once, and I fell off the almost all soy diet, I didn't catch my mistake in time. Now, however, I can control my endo pain by staying away from soy, dairy, and peanuts! My mother, a life-long soy eater, didn't believe me when I initially figured out the cause of my pain. Resources like yours helped her to understand why I had still been having pain after two laparoscopies and a hellish year on Lupron. It was my diet all along! Thank you again!
Melissa



'Firstly I would like to congratulate you on a fantastic website. I was feeling very down about my situation when I stumbled across you site and feel it has been the best news since my diagnosis. I purchased you endo recipe book around 3 months ago and boy have I notice the difference. I have not had one day off work since starting the diet!!'
Alicia Fereday, Haileybury College
Australia



‘I thought this diet thing was going to be really hard, and lots of work. Once I got rid of the bad foods in my cupboard, to resist temptation, and got to know where to shop better, I find it really easy now. And I must not forget to mention the pain I used to have with endo has now reduced TONS!!!
Thanks a million.’
Kirsty, Boston



‘An excellent book, I use it every day. Even my family enjoy many of these recipes’
Barbara, UK



‘At last I no longer have to agonise over what I can and cannot eat. There are enough recipes in your book to keep me fed and happy for a long time. I have been sticking to this diet for just over 3 months and already my symptoms have improved a lot.’
Thank you, one happy and relieve endo sufferer.
Jules, South Africa



‘I had read a lot about the diet for endo, and felt daunted about what I would actually eat. Your recipe book has covered everything I need to know so I can now eat safely. The reduction in my symptoms after changing to this diet has been invaluable. I was sceptical at first to think that what I ate would improve my endo, but it is so true! I used to have awful pains with my periods for at least 10 days, but they have been reduced hugely. Your recipe book has been worth every cent for me.'
Hannah, NJ



‘Your book is as good as the info I found on your website. I feel really pleased now because not only am I eating a diet for endo and getting good results, I am also eating everything that is healthy and I feel so much better for it. Your tips about Irritable Bowel have made sense and have helped me sort out my own problem with IB.’
Jenna,



‘I bought your book just recently and I am glad that I did - I am already feeling the results. A great job to cover the needs of everything needed in a very specialist diet like this. As you say, the book is the ‘bottom line’ for a diet for endo, without making any mistakes. With that in mind, I think the number and variety of recipes included is excellent.’
Many thanks and well done on thorough research' Tricia, US
PS. Puddings included as well - joy!

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