My 6 month check up...

Hello Beautifuls!
So before I left the country I received a 6 month check up and I have good news...all is well! From the breast exam I received (just the doctor feeling my breasts with her hands, not an ultrasound), there are no new lumps that she could feel and the ones that are present, have not grown. And perhaps they might have shrunk because she could not feel any large ones (like the ones that were there from before my last surgery in December). I have also been doing self breast exams and I do not feel any new ones. الحمدلله. Now, I am not sure what exactly this means, but I am so happy that for right now I do not have any more growths.
And I do feel like my diet has had a large impact on my experience. For almost a year now, I have been vegetarian, and I have cut back on my soy intake. What I want to do is demonstrate how we do have control over our health and our own well beings. We do not need to let this disease define who we are, nor determine our future health. I want to stress this point especially because I was in contact recently with a beautiful woman who has a highly aggressive form of fibrocystic disease. Remember: there are many options for you, and I would highly suggest focusing on the aspects of this disease you can control. Like your health, mind, and soul.
But I feel healthy, beautiful and great! And I love my lifestyle changes. My scars are healing up nicely and I'm hoping to take back control of my life.
Let me know if yal need anything.

xoxo
Lo

Hormone Balance Blog

I found this blog today. I think one of the most useful ideas that fits my experience, health and lifestyle is to drink cocunut oil. Especially after my surgery, it aids in decreasing inflammation.

http://wellnessmama.com/5425/balance-hormones/


xoxo
Lo

Big..Big..and BIGGER

Hot damn! My tits are huge. I am currently between 3-4 bra sizes larger than my size before surgery. And if you guys remember correctly I was rocking a 36 DD before surgery.Yea..I got even bigger tits now. To decrease my size I'm still doing my vegetarian diet, trying to make it to the gym every day. But it takes usually 3 months for your breasts to reduce after major surgery. After I just recently lost a bunch of weight over summer after strictly sticking to a fibrocystic disease diet, I am just eternally frustrated to have gained so much weight back involuntarily.
Alright that's enough complaining, because as we know, it can always be worse. And that's the reality. I'm blessed to be alive, I'm blessed to have the money and opportunity to even have had the surgery. When I get frustrated, I try to focus on my blessings because when we lose sight of them are when the real issues begin.
But for now, I'm going to follow this advice:http://www.breasthealthonline.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=48925
I'm also going to buy a larger bra, some new sweatshirts and just focus on my goals in life. Fibrocystic disease is just a part of who I am, and I will overcome these difficulties. This to shall pass.
A shout out to all the ladies (and men) who are recovering from a highly invasive fibroadenoma removal.
xoxo
Lo

S.U.R.G.E.R.Y.

Surgery

Well I had my fourth surgery for fibrocystic disease. I had three fibroadenomas removed from my right breast and one from my left breast. The one from my left was about 5 centimeters long and the ones from my right were about 4 cm long. I feel like I lost a cup size. Which would be nice since I have DD's…

Since the summer I had been trying natural ways to combat this disease. Seeing that of my original 11 in the right and 9 in the left, only 4 grew, I would call that an accomplishment. I am going to go back to monitoring closely my foods-I still don't eat meat which is good, but I have been sneaking in yogurt with hormones (oh come on! That Greek yogurt with honey is just too damn good!). So I am hoping that yesterday will be my last surgery ever. I am never going to take birth control, and I'm always going to be conscientious of what I eat. 

Recovery:

Recovery is going all right. Because of the large incissions I have a special sports bra thing that I have to wear for 48 hours. I'm probably going to keep it on for longer. The most difficult part about recovery is dealing with the pain. The pain meds make me really sick so I have to counteract the nausea which so far I've been going into a ball and crying. Also sleeping is pretty difficult. I am a tosser and turner, so I have to try to only sleep on my back. I woke up last night with a shit ton of pain because I accidentally rolled over.

Reflection:

Again, I am hoping that this will be the last surgery. And I do feel that I have a lot of control over whether it will be or not through diet and exercise. I am unsure how large the other fibroadenomas are, but I know they were smaller than the largest four. The doctor noticed my previous scars and was surprised at how many times I have gone under the knife for this. I still am advocating for more research and support for people who have fibrocystic disease. It is a life changing disease and can be overwhelming for some women as we have noted on this blog. I will keep you updated on my recovery.

xoxo

Lo 

Fibro diet update-Something's working!

Alright so it has been about two weeks since I have been specifically on this diet. And guess what?! I have been feeling great! I have more energy, I am happier, I have been exercising more, it overall feels really good. I decided to get up and weigh myself this morning for kicks and giggles and guess what?..I lost FIVE pounds. I could not believe it. I noticed my clothes fit differently but I didn't think much of it.

So what exactly have I been doing? Well I eat more of a vegetarian based diet. I have eaten meat about three times in the last two and half weeks. And if I do eat meat it is organic and hormone free, because we don't need an EXTRA HORMONES! We are trying to control our normal level of estrogen and not add anymore to our bodies. Me and mushrooms are bestfriends. I eat them everyday..do you know the nutritional value of mushrooms? peep this: http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-mushroom.html

Also I make my own food, so no more eating out. I just made some vegetarian tacos today which consisted of organic pilaf rice,feta cheese, sauteed black beans, onions, and orange pepper topped off with avocado:) Yea it was good. I just bought some organic wheat grass juice with aloe vera--I can feel the freshness and anti-carcinogens when I drink that, absolutely brilliant. Some other foods and drinks I added: organic vegetable juice, grapes, almonds, beans, organic soy milk, tofu, broccoli (a lot of broccoli!), green beans, yogurt, oatmeal, organic flax seeds ( I throw these suckers in smoothies), and organic rice.

Yes it's cute I'm losing weight, but what's most important is that I FEEL GOOD. And I feel like I'm taking control over my disease. I do have control over my body and so do you. I highly recommend making dietary changes, even minor ones, start where you can, because your body will thank you. The next time I go to the doctor (which I'm not sure when but I will post when I know), I will measure my fibroadenomas and I will let yal know if they decreased at all. But for right now, they aren't getting any bigger:) We are strong, beautiful and courageous women!

xoxo

Lo

Anti-Carcinogenic Foods

What?! Are there really foods that can decrease your risk of cancer? Well according to leading research there are. Here is an awesome website that lays out very well a list of certain anti carcinogenic foods and their descriptions:

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/anticancer/12-dietary-changes-will-lower-your-cancer-risk

There are some debates about the concept of anti-carcinogenic foods, and I understand why. I believe these foods decrease the radicals that can lead to cancer rather than directly decreasing cancer, but I think it is important to be aware of these foods. And just to clarify when I say cancer, I mean malignant and benign, because fibrocystic disease is a benign form of cancer. My next post will be an update about my fibroadenoma diet:)

xoxo
Lolo

Fibroadenoma Diet Round Two

Ok maybe we should give this diet a chance for real. I've been doing some internet searching and I realized that an estrogen low diet is very beneficial for people that suffer from breast cancer, fibroids, and uterus issues including ovary and irregular menstrual flow. I found a website that lists food low in estrogen and explains why:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/16099-foods-reduce-estrogen-dominance/

Remember that everything should be done in moderation as the website suggest. So broccoli every other day, and moderation of each food listed.

I also found another blog that is about the personal story of one women who used a low estrogen diet to combat fibrocystic disease naturally:

http://fightfibroadenomanaturally.blogspot.com/

I'm really into healthier eating as I stated before and I'm very excited to try these techniques. I'm suppose to have surgery in December so I will let you guys know what happens. Just to remind you I have 3 fibroadenomas in my right breast and 11 in my right. I will let you know if they decrease at all in the next coming months!

xoxo
Lolo