Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Need to get back on the horse
I'm really disappointed in myself. I don't know if it's the stress of the end of school or just a simple lack of discipline that I've been having such a hard time sticking to my diet and exercising, but it needs to turn around. The last two weeks have not been good for me. I can feel myself getting flabby, but for some reason the snickers in my classroom that I have for good student behavior seem to be calling my name more and more every day. I'm super frustrated with myself, but once I start eating something with refined sugar I am like a heroin addict and can't stop. It's depressing and embarrassing! I'm fully aware of what I'm doing, but at the same time I just can't seem to turn it off. It has to be a result of blood sugar going nuts. I feel like I need a babysitter to stay on track, too bad I can't afford to hire one. This has to get better!!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
We're on the right track
It has been a roller coaster of a month, but I'm working hard to count the blessings. I have ovulated again with a strong ovulation. We were trying for a baby this month, and like a fool, I convinced myself I was pregnant. After ovulation I had extremely tender breasts, cramping, tired, and just having that pregnant feeling. I started feeling hungry constantly and continued to convince myself with every symptom that it was pregnancy. I went to the doctor 7 days past ovulation to get a progesterone/estrogen level reading. I was amazed when I got it back. Normal is between 15-25 and I was at 30! That's crazy! I'm actually worried that it's too high. I've been working on getting ahold of my doctor about it, but I haven't heard back yet.
So on day 14 I hadn't see any sign of menstration, and woke up at 5am to take a pregnancy test, and got a negative reading. I thought that it was just too early, but later that day, what should appear but that lovely sign of menstration.
I was bummed, not going to lie, but I also know that just mentrating without taking all these prescription meds is a blessing. I honestly feel really well and my energy and moods are staying fairly stable, which is something I don't think ever happened with any prescription meds.
The progress is exciting and I'm hoping that in a couple weeks we'll be able to try again because I'll be getting more regular. I have never had this many periods in a month without birth control, so it's totally possible!! Get off of birth control! That is my plea to women. There are so many bad side effects and who knows the long term effects for sure. Drs. use it as a fix for every female problem instead of trying to find what really is wrong. Find a dr. that will listen to you and get off of birth control, track your ovulation and you will be happier and healthier!!
So on day 14 I hadn't see any sign of menstration, and woke up at 5am to take a pregnancy test, and got a negative reading. I thought that it was just too early, but later that day, what should appear but that lovely sign of menstration.
I was bummed, not going to lie, but I also know that just mentrating without taking all these prescription meds is a blessing. I honestly feel really well and my energy and moods are staying fairly stable, which is something I don't think ever happened with any prescription meds.
The progress is exciting and I'm hoping that in a couple weeks we'll be able to try again because I'll be getting more regular. I have never had this many periods in a month without birth control, so it's totally possible!! Get off of birth control! That is my plea to women. There are so many bad side effects and who knows the long term effects for sure. Drs. use it as a fix for every female problem instead of trying to find what really is wrong. Find a dr. that will listen to you and get off of birth control, track your ovulation and you will be happier and healthier!!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Continued Success
I'm officially ovulating for the 3rd time since October. For me, that is unheard of! I'm so excited. I'm hoping this will be the month that things finally come together, but I don't want to get too excited.
According to my charting it looks like I'm actually cycling. They are about 60-90 day cycles, but it's a start! It sure beats once or twice a year! I went to the Dr. on Friday and she's super excited by what she is seeing. So excited, in fact, that she is going to check out Vitex to potentially use for other patients. I'm on a pretty strict regimen, but hey, whatever works. Here's what I'm doing:
Exercise every morning at 5:30 (I'm proud that I've finally gotten this in!)
Vitex = 800 mg
Wheat Grass = 5000mg (I have so much more energy from this)
False Unicorn Root (twice a day)
Omega 3
B6 = 400mg
Evening Primrose Oil
Asprin = low dose once a day
Metformin = 1500mg (the Dr. upped me)
L-argenine = 500mg
It's a lot, but honestly, I've never felt better!. I've also been really focusing on eating warm foods as was suggested in the Making Babies book. As well as avoiding soy, wheat, and artificial sweeteners as much as possible. It's sounds difficult, but it's really not so bad. I've also found Goji berries to be incredibly beneficial. I put them on my oatmeal every morning and even found a green tea with them in it which I drink every morning. Goji berries are kind of a super food and especially beneficial for fertility.
I'm excited that I think I'm on to some natural fixes that could potentially help and save others from having to go into unnecessary treatments!
According to my charting it looks like I'm actually cycling. They are about 60-90 day cycles, but it's a start! It sure beats once or twice a year! I went to the Dr. on Friday and she's super excited by what she is seeing. So excited, in fact, that she is going to check out Vitex to potentially use for other patients. I'm on a pretty strict regimen, but hey, whatever works. Here's what I'm doing:
Exercise every morning at 5:30 (I'm proud that I've finally gotten this in!)
Vitex = 800 mg
Wheat Grass = 5000mg (I have so much more energy from this)
False Unicorn Root (twice a day)
Omega 3
B6 = 400mg
Evening Primrose Oil
Asprin = low dose once a day
Metformin = 1500mg (the Dr. upped me)
L-argenine = 500mg
It's a lot, but honestly, I've never felt better!. I've also been really focusing on eating warm foods as was suggested in the Making Babies book. As well as avoiding soy, wheat, and artificial sweeteners as much as possible. It's sounds difficult, but it's really not so bad. I've also found Goji berries to be incredibly beneficial. I put them on my oatmeal every morning and even found a green tea with them in it which I drink every morning. Goji berries are kind of a super food and especially beneficial for fertility.
I'm excited that I think I'm on to some natural fixes that could potentially help and save others from having to go into unnecessary treatments!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Possibilities
In the past week, with my new found excitement in finding a solution to my problems, I've been toying with the idea of finding some way to help people with this besides this blog. I seriously thought about going back to school to become an OBGYN, but the amount of school and money involved is not feasible, especially for someone trying to have a baby. However, another opportunity became available. I may be teaching NFP creighton model. I'm in the works of starting the process and I'm excited to help couples deal with infertility in a positive way, free of side-effects. If anything I want to be a person that couples with issues can turn to for an understanding ear. I'm excited for this opportunity. I don't know how long it will take to get all the training I will need, but I'm willing to give it a go!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Moving closer
As I sit down to write this I have a new, found zest for women with PCOS. In the past two weeks I have read two books that have changed my life, The Making Babies Program: A proven 3-month program for maximum fertility and The NaPro Reveloution. These books have so much information in them, but I want to attempt to summarize their amazing research.
Making BabiesThis was the primary book that has really changed how I am handeling PCOS. Sami David and Jill Blakeway combine both western and eastern medicine in this book. Sami David was the first doctor to successfully perform IVF. Dr. David said that he did not like holding life in his hands as he felt he was playing God. After that moment he decided he did not want to be a part of that reveloution. He has spent his life dedicating his practice to finding the root of the problems in patients that are infertile. Drs. today are very quick to send someone to IVF without really knowing what is causing the infertility. Dr. David is interested in finding the root, trying everything, and if absolutely nothing works send them to IVF.
Jill Blakeway represents the eastern side of medicine using herbal supplements, vitamins, and daily therapy. This was the most enlightening part of this book for me as I'd been looking high and low for other ideas to help with PCOS.
I encourage all of you that follow my blog to check out this book and the webstie Making Babies At this website you can find out your fertility type "FT" by taking a 10 minute quiz. This will tell you your fertility type and give you a list of supplements and therapies you can introduce into your daily regimine. Jill Blakeway states in her book that if you can do up to 80% of the recommendations you're on the right track.
I've only been doing this a week, but I have had no side effects from any of the supplements I am taking. Currently I am taking the following:
Vitex (800mg), Metformin (1000mg), False Unicorn Root, Evening Primrose, L-Argenine, (good) Prenatal vitamin, Wheat Grass, and Royal Jelly.
Yes, without question, this is a lot, but if it works, it's worth it. I've also been drinking warm lemon water and I've been trying to get in 1/2 of exercise a day, which is sometimes difficult with my schedule, but I've been trying to make it work. I do feel I have more energy and I look forward to seeing how it works for my cycle. In encourage anyone interested to read this book as it has had some fabulous reviews!
The NaPro Technology ReveloutionI have been involved with Creighton Model for Natural Family Planning for a year and 1/2 and the more I do it and learn the opportunities available I have fallen in love. So much so that I am planning on becoming a teacher for NFP. Before I understood it I thought there was no way it could help me, but it has done nothing but help me learn and understand my body. This book describes the Creighton Model, how to chart, and then list specific ailments and their treatments through NaPro technology. This technology has been researched by Dr. Hildgers out of Omaha, NE. You can check out more about NaPro and the Creighton Model through these websites:
http://www.creightonmodel.com/
http://www.fertilitycare.org
http://www.popepaulvi.com/
http://www.naprotechnology.com/
My goal is to update this blog more regularly as I think I can help people more by updating more. I'm constantly reading and researching in hoping to find something that will work for me and in turn find something that will work for others. Blessing to all my followers!!
Making BabiesThis was the primary book that has really changed how I am handeling PCOS. Sami David and Jill Blakeway combine both western and eastern medicine in this book. Sami David was the first doctor to successfully perform IVF. Dr. David said that he did not like holding life in his hands as he felt he was playing God. After that moment he decided he did not want to be a part of that reveloution. He has spent his life dedicating his practice to finding the root of the problems in patients that are infertile. Drs. today are very quick to send someone to IVF without really knowing what is causing the infertility. Dr. David is interested in finding the root, trying everything, and if absolutely nothing works send them to IVF.
Jill Blakeway represents the eastern side of medicine using herbal supplements, vitamins, and daily therapy. This was the most enlightening part of this book for me as I'd been looking high and low for other ideas to help with PCOS.
I encourage all of you that follow my blog to check out this book and the webstie Making Babies At this website you can find out your fertility type "FT" by taking a 10 minute quiz. This will tell you your fertility type and give you a list of supplements and therapies you can introduce into your daily regimine. Jill Blakeway states in her book that if you can do up to 80% of the recommendations you're on the right track.
I've only been doing this a week, but I have had no side effects from any of the supplements I am taking. Currently I am taking the following:
Vitex (800mg), Metformin (1000mg), False Unicorn Root, Evening Primrose, L-Argenine, (good) Prenatal vitamin, Wheat Grass, and Royal Jelly.
Yes, without question, this is a lot, but if it works, it's worth it. I've also been drinking warm lemon water and I've been trying to get in 1/2 of exercise a day, which is sometimes difficult with my schedule, but I've been trying to make it work. I do feel I have more energy and I look forward to seeing how it works for my cycle. In encourage anyone interested to read this book as it has had some fabulous reviews!
The NaPro Technology ReveloutionI have been involved with Creighton Model for Natural Family Planning for a year and 1/2 and the more I do it and learn the opportunities available I have fallen in love. So much so that I am planning on becoming a teacher for NFP. Before I understood it I thought there was no way it could help me, but it has done nothing but help me learn and understand my body. This book describes the Creighton Model, how to chart, and then list specific ailments and their treatments through NaPro technology. This technology has been researched by Dr. Hildgers out of Omaha, NE. You can check out more about NaPro and the Creighton Model through these websites:
http://www.creightonmodel.com/
http://www.fertilitycare.org
http://www.popepaulvi.com/
http://www.naprotechnology.com/
My goal is to update this blog more regularly as I think I can help people more by updating more. I'm constantly reading and researching in hoping to find something that will work for me and in turn find something that will work for others. Blessing to all my followers!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Feeling Positive
I definitely haven't found the cure yet, but I feel like I'm getting closer. Currently I am doing the following:
800 mg of Vitex every day
200 mg of B6
Prenatal vitamin
1000 mg of metformin
Accupuncture once a week
I started accupuncture about a month ago. I ovulated in January again and had the most normal cycle I've seen, which tells me that things are working. The chiropractor I see suggested accupuncture as well as progesterone cream. I used the progesterone cream after I ovulated and had one of the longest luteal cycles I have seen.
The chiroprator suggested that I used the cream 3 weeks and then off one week for menstruation. I really questioned this move as too high a level of progesterone can cause you not to ovulate because it tricks the body into believing you are pregnant. For some reason I talked myself into giving it a try, never ovulated, and decided to stop the cream all together for fear that things could get more screwed up.
After doing a little more research I really felt in my heart I should not take any progesterone early in my cycle. Estrogen is the primary hormone at the beginning of the cycle and having too much progesterone, I really believe, will screw things up. It's hard to know whether I would have ovulated this month or not, but I've definitely decided to save the progesterone until the end of my cycle. The cream is a lighter dose than the pill form, but I've been reading mixed reviews on the wild yam extract that is in the cream and how it reacts with human hormones. I am planning on going back on the progesterone in the pill form that I received from my dr. That was also a natural progesterone and I trust it a little more than I do the cream at this point.
I decided to start accupuncture as I have heard many people rave about their results from accupuncture for many different ailments. It's hard to know if it has helped or not, but I've decided it really can't hurt.
I really attribute my recent ovulations to vitex. It seems only since I started taking this that I have started ovulating, and my acne has been a lot better!
Like I said, I havne't found the cure, but I feel more positive that things are moving in the right direction.
I recently read an article about how copper can have an estrogenetic effect. I'm not sure if I have to worry about it, but I'd like to do some more research on it to find out if this could potentially be an issue as I eat a lot of nuts being on a low carb diet.
At least things are looking up....
800 mg of Vitex every day
200 mg of B6
Prenatal vitamin
1000 mg of metformin
Accupuncture once a week
I started accupuncture about a month ago. I ovulated in January again and had the most normal cycle I've seen, which tells me that things are working. The chiropractor I see suggested accupuncture as well as progesterone cream. I used the progesterone cream after I ovulated and had one of the longest luteal cycles I have seen.
The chiroprator suggested that I used the cream 3 weeks and then off one week for menstruation. I really questioned this move as too high a level of progesterone can cause you not to ovulate because it tricks the body into believing you are pregnant. For some reason I talked myself into giving it a try, never ovulated, and decided to stop the cream all together for fear that things could get more screwed up.
After doing a little more research I really felt in my heart I should not take any progesterone early in my cycle. Estrogen is the primary hormone at the beginning of the cycle and having too much progesterone, I really believe, will screw things up. It's hard to know whether I would have ovulated this month or not, but I've definitely decided to save the progesterone until the end of my cycle. The cream is a lighter dose than the pill form, but I've been reading mixed reviews on the wild yam extract that is in the cream and how it reacts with human hormones. I am planning on going back on the progesterone in the pill form that I received from my dr. That was also a natural progesterone and I trust it a little more than I do the cream at this point.
I decided to start accupuncture as I have heard many people rave about their results from accupuncture for many different ailments. It's hard to know if it has helped or not, but I've decided it really can't hurt.
I really attribute my recent ovulations to vitex. It seems only since I started taking this that I have started ovulating, and my acne has been a lot better!
Like I said, I havne't found the cure, but I feel more positive that things are moving in the right direction.
I recently read an article about how copper can have an estrogenetic effect. I'm not sure if I have to worry about it, but I'd like to do some more research on it to find out if this could potentially be an issue as I eat a lot of nuts being on a low carb diet.
At least things are looking up....
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Hopeful!!
I know I don't update often, but I don't feel there is a need until something new happens. And here it is....something new....
In the last post I had a change of heart about things. I've stuck to a good portion of them. I have been continuing with the Metabolism Miracle diet which has brought my energy level back up, and I just feel better in general. I started taking a prenatal vitamin, fish oil to help my skin, B6 to help with hormone balance, and continuing with the metformin to help with insulin resistance.
I have been taking all these for quite awhile. Since the start of school I have not been able to exercise as much as I would like so that is something that has suffered. I have continued using the Creighton model NFP. However, after all of this, I still didn't feel things were doing what they were supposed to. I definitely felt better from better eating and I'd been dropping some extra fat around the middle, but I still wasn't seeing an ovulation or menstation.
I did some research on herbs to add. I wasn't sure if I should add something without checking with a Dr. but I wanted to find things out anyway. I kept running across the herb "Vitex" or Chasteberry. It, apparently, is used a lot in Europe for female infertility. I kept finding more and more sites that recommended it with studies to back it up. I decided to give it a try. I ordered it (quite cheap) and added it in the end of Sept.
By the end of October I had ovulated on my own for the first time in a very long time. I started menstruating today and although it's been a bit painful I couldn't be happier to see this. My only fear is that I will become anovulatory again, but I'm hopeful that the Vitex is making the difference. Feel free to check out some of these websites for more information:
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/vitex.html
http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle.asp?page=/pcos/articles/dunne_vitex
In the last post I had a change of heart about things. I've stuck to a good portion of them. I have been continuing with the Metabolism Miracle diet which has brought my energy level back up, and I just feel better in general. I started taking a prenatal vitamin, fish oil to help my skin, B6 to help with hormone balance, and continuing with the metformin to help with insulin resistance.
I have been taking all these for quite awhile. Since the start of school I have not been able to exercise as much as I would like so that is something that has suffered. I have continued using the Creighton model NFP. However, after all of this, I still didn't feel things were doing what they were supposed to. I definitely felt better from better eating and I'd been dropping some extra fat around the middle, but I still wasn't seeing an ovulation or menstation.
I did some research on herbs to add. I wasn't sure if I should add something without checking with a Dr. but I wanted to find things out anyway. I kept running across the herb "Vitex" or Chasteberry. It, apparently, is used a lot in Europe for female infertility. I kept finding more and more sites that recommended it with studies to back it up. I decided to give it a try. I ordered it (quite cheap) and added it in the end of Sept.
By the end of October I had ovulated on my own for the first time in a very long time. I started menstruating today and although it's been a bit painful I couldn't be happier to see this. My only fear is that I will become anovulatory again, but I'm hopeful that the Vitex is making the difference. Feel free to check out some of these websites for more information:
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/vitex.html
http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle.asp?page=/pcos/articles/dunne_vitex
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