Endometriosis is It diet related?

Isabel had resigned herself to the fact she would probably never be a mother.

As the result of the disease endometriosis, her fallopian tubes were damaged and she was told the chances of having a baby were non-existent. Yet after years of her whole life being affected by the severe menstrual pain caused by the condition, changes to her diet have set her free of the agony and she is now the proud mother of one-year-old Rebecca.

Her pains began when Isabel, now 34, was 19. "It was painful to the point I was passing out at work and throwing up with the pain," says Isabel, who lives in Edmonton, Canada.

The contraceptive pill kept the cramps at bay but when she had to change her brand, they came back and she was passing clots of blood with her period. Over time, the pain became worse and was striking during ovulation as well as during her periods. Isabel then started bleeding from her rectum.

She was initially diagnosed with piles and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and in 2010, she was given a colonoscopy where a camera was put up her bowel. The doctor performing it believed she had endometriosis instead and a further internal investigation confirmed his suspicions.

Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological disorder and affects one in every ten women. It is estimated over 5 million female population  in north America could be affected. The average age for diagnosis is 27 although a woman can first experience the pain at 16.

Some women have no symptoms while others suffer severe pain. It also often causes fertility problems.

Endometriosis occurs when the womb lining called the endometrium is found growing on other organs outside the uterus, such as the ovaries, womb, fallopian tubes, ligaments supporting the womb, between the womb and the bowel and other places in the pelvic area.

In some cases it even affects other areas in the body such as the lungs or kidneys.

The tissue sheds blood with every period but because the blood has nowhere to escape it remains in the abdominal area, where it can cause pain and inflammation.

Endometriosis affected the whole of Isabel's life. She was suffering tearing, burning pains which were so agonising she couldn't even talk when they struck, and bloating so severe she couldn't see her feet.

"It makes you feel appalling all the time," she says. "I was having pain every day. I was taking medication most days which, in turn, would give me side-effects such as headaches. I was still working but by this time, my social life had gone to pot. At one stage, I would come home, eat and go to bed at 7.30pm."

In March 2011, Isabel underwent an operation. Surgeons found her ovaries, tubes and bowel had joined together, which was causing her pain. They had to be cut apart and a gel was applied to stop them from re-joining.

But after the operation, the pain got worse. Isabel was given a drug designed for male testicular cancer, which helped, but she was only allowed it for five months. Her consultant suggested a hysterectomy.

Then in 2012, she went to a talk by nutritional therapist Diana, who is associated with several endometriosis and reproductive organisations, runs the Endometriosis And Fertility Clinic.

She looks at sufferers' diets, health and family history, and devises a healthy eating plan to reduce the pain of endometriosis and improve fertility. The patient is given a list of foods to eat and avoid and advised on supplements to take. Every woman's condition is different and the advice is tailored to suit them.

The cause of endometriosis is unknown but there are several theories. There is known to be link between the condition and the immune system and Diana is currently undertaking a PhD looking at the link between wheat and endometriosis. More than 80 per cent of women she has seen discovered cutting out wheat drastically reduced their pain.

Isabel made an appointment to see Dian, who advised her to cut out wheat, cow's milk and dairy products. She substituted them for goat's milk and carbohydrates such as rice and potatoes, ate more fruit, vegetables, seeds and pulses and took the recommended supplements.

"Within six weeks I had no pain at all," she says. "If I do sneak in something which is on my forbidden foods list, then my symptoms return."

Isabel was keen to have a baby with her husband but was told the only way she could have child was through IVF treatment.

As Isabel had gone through so much already, the couple decided against it. Then, a week before she was due to see her gynaecologist to tell him their decision, Isabel discovered she was pregnant.

The delighted couple were surprised and amazed and Isabel gave birth to Ruby in March last year.

"I had a normal pregnancy and a normal delivery. It was a lovely birth," she says.

Now Isabel is busy getting on with her new family life and managing to juggle motherhood with her job working for a bank.

She says: "For me, living with endometriosis was all-consuming - your whole life is focused around your endometriosis and making arrangements to do anything is very hard.