Over the years I’ve been successful at overcoming endometriosis and am lucky to have led a happy, active, healthy life. But it wasn’t without its challenges and certainly I had my share of working with specialists back some years ago to help resolve symptoms.
But it was my own naturopath who encouraged an integrative medicine approach. I worked with her and a renowned gynecologic surgeon and a separate pelvic health specialist at the former Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. Later, that also involved (all the recommendation of my naturopath) an osteopath, pelvic health yoga, nutrition, supplements, lots of exercise and most of all, listening to my own body.
After any kind of test/ultrasound or my surgery, I reported back to my family doctor and my naturopath. At the time it was uncharted territory, and it still is. For me conventional medicine had its place (a successful surgery back some years ago to remove the endometriosis), but medications did not help and after that it has been all about eating the right foods, (more on this later), and natural approaches.
In the end it’s a balancing act – specialists are experts for a reason. I trust them, I learn from them. After working for many years as a medical writer I learned the value of medical research and science, especially in the field of women’s health.
But in the end you are your body’s expert. Only you know how you feel after introducing or removing a new therapy, a new supplement, a new treatment, a new food or exercise. Talking to others helps too. It is an integrative approach, and I always keep an open mind and am still learning on this journey.