Case History: Annette's story

This is a very happy thank you letter. I so much enjoyed reading the case histories in your book that I felt I should share my own with you.

My periods have always been uncomfortable, but they were becoming increasingly painful over the past three years. Finally, when in addition to the bloating and pain, I started to get midcycle pain and could no longer lie on my back at night due to the persistent tugging feeling, even when I wasn't having my period, I went to see a gynecologist. She asked a few questions that I found myself a bit surprised at having to admit to, such as "Could you work if you didn't take the ibuprofen during your periods?" Well, no, not really. "Is intercourse painful?" Actually, yes, we've eliminated most positions. "How long have you been attempting pregnancy?" 2 years... After a few more questions and a brief abdominal palpation that had me yelping in pain, she said, "I'd like to rule you out for endometriosis."

That was not a potential diagnosis I wanted to hear. Although she was kind and knowledgeable, the treatment options didn't seem very promising or appealing. ("Would you like a prescription for stronger pain meds?") A laparoscopy just for diagnostic purposes was something I would not have considered, at least not yet. And for infertility? "Well, how far do you want to go? Hormones, IVF, there are various options." OK, but it all seemed a bit drastic when all I thought I had gone in for, really, was pelvic pain.

I spent 2 days in denial before I decided that there must be something that could be done nutritionally. My family has always been interested in nutrition and good health, so I did a bit of research: a brief internet search yielded several books, so I ordered them. Dian, yours stood out immediately by the quality of explanations and references and depth of teaching. As I paged through, I read that many endometriosis sufferers improved when wheat was excluded from their diet. Suddenly, things began to make sense.

When I was in my teens, we moved from the US to Germany, the Land of Bread. I had never liked bread, so much so that my mother packed soup in my school lunch for years, not sandwiches. In Germany, bread is difficult to avoid. By the time I was in my late teens, I figured out that bread made me feel bad. I thought it was gluten, so I eliminated it from my diet, and I felt much better. Looking back, I also realize that my period pain got better, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together at the time. After a few years, the occasional slice of bread didn't seem to bother me, so I thought I had outgrown it, and I began to eat small amounts of wheat again. Plus, I was told that I "didn't have the symptoms of celiac disease, so couldn't be allergic to wheat."

I got married and we moved to America, and after a few years of indulging himself in the admittedly tasty American beef, my husband was diagnosed with high cholesterol. His doctor threatened him with Lipitor. I panicked slightly at the potential side effects and insisted he first try a nutritional approach. His new diet included lots of whole grains, but he complained: "Whole wheat stuff doesn't taste good." Well, he had a point – whole wheat flour goes rancid almost instantly here in Florida. So he bought me a grain mill and I started making our own bread. It is absolutely delicious baked on the outdoor grill and brushed with garlic butter, and what could be better for you than homeground, freshly baked, organic whole wheat bread, right? My wheat consumption skyrocketed.

That was 3 years ago and now I realize that since then, the pain had gotten steadily worse. (My husband's cholesterol, incidentally, was back to normal within 3 months on diet alone.)

Wheat immediately became a banned substance once I understood it could be the culprit. I did my best to implement the other recommendations in the book as well and my next period was already a bit easier. Things continued to improve over the next few months and soon I noticed that the tenderness was going away – I could lie on my back and even palpate my abdomen without that nasty tugging sensation. One by one, all of the symptoms I had complained of were vanishing. The crowning moment came just recently when I found out that I am pregnant!

Now, of course, my concern is that my diet and health be optimal to nourish the growing baby. Living wheat-free hasn't been difficult at all, because I've done it before and also have never much liked the taste, but mostly because I am thrilled with how much better I feel, even just generally. I'd love to schedule a telephone appointment with you, if that's possible. Perhaps I could fax or scan and email the questionnaire in advance?

Again, thank you very, very much. It's almost worth having had the diagnosis just to find your book with all the good research and info in it!

Annette from Florida