I am a Fertile Mertile

Repeat after me...I am a fertile mertile!

I only have one thing to say, I have fertile CM today!!! So freaking excited, the girls are working hard to make a come back and this one is going to be better then Britney's! No bad dancing on the VMA's for my girls, they are going for the best performance in ten years :0) Just got back from a jog and noticed it when I was getting ready to take a shower.  I called to my hubby and told him who is a bit squimish when it comes to mucus talk. He said he was excited and that we would take care of things when we got back from the grocery store....so romantic...be still my heart.  Oh well, guess romance was thrown out the window once I started discussing CM with him.  Hope everyone has a great holiday.

A positive change!

It's been awhile since my last posting and a lot has happened since then.  After the foot bath I wrote about on my last posting, I experienced what appeared to be "Early Cervical Mucus" and "transitional cervical mucus". What I am not sure about it whether or not I had the "Fertile Cervical Mucus". Even if I didnt this month, guess what? I havent had changes in my CM since my last full cycle in November so any change is good news to me. I mean, I dont really expect the girls (my ovaries) to just jump start their engines, they need to ease into this.  After my good results from the doctor, the changes in how I feel and the changes in my CM, I know it is just a matter of time until my body is back in full swing. Another thing, it doesnt hurt to have relations with the hubby anymore! For those of you out there reading this with fertility issues you must change your diet and follow what the author of "Crazy Sexy Cancer" did. I am tellingl you, I feel like a new woman! My headaches are gone, I am no longer tired of the time, I feel clear headed and positive all the time and I am not on hormone replacement drugs. All of these things wouldnt be possible if I hadnt made the lifestyle change.  The first day I noticed the transitional CM I was in the restroom and noticed that there were what looked like small clear balls floating in the water. When I stood up to flush the toiled I realized it was my CM. You can tell if your mucus is fertile because it doesnt breakdown in water..just an FYI for you.  I took a test yesterday and it was negative but I have a feeling that we will not need the appointment with the specialist in August. For the kind follower who recommened Conceptions, my husband and I recently read an article on them and have been thinking of switching over to them however I am not comfortable going to see them until I get my FSH down. Thank you for your recommendation it was very kind of you to think of me.

Disturbing research and an interesting foot bath

Not even 24 hours after I last wrote on birth control and how dangerous it was (specifically Yasmin and all of the different generations of this pill) there was a news investigation that broadcasted on a local Denver news station. The investigator interviewed three women living in the state of Colorado that have had deadly side effects from Yaz or Yasmin. Watching this on television (twice) reminded me to post my research. The first bit is from http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/12/yasmin-birth-control-warning-risk-of-heart-attack-stroke.html “First put on the market in the United States in 2001, Yasmin birth control has since been under heavy scrutiny for possible links to serious side effects like heart attack, stroke, and thrombosis. That, however, hasn’t stopped it from growing in popularity with revenue generated by Yasmin reaching nearly $500-million last year. As of 12/10/2008 there has been no Yasmin recall by either the FDA or the drug’s manufacturer. Like all prescription oral contraceptives (ie birth control pills) Yasmin is associated with increased risks of several serious conditions, such as: myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, stroke, hepatic neoplasia, gallbladder disease, hypertension, tender breasts, mood swings, depression, weight gain, edema, and others. Yasmin contains the estrogen ethinyl estradiol and the progestin drospirenone, which can can work against the body’s normal mechanism for regulating salt and water balance, a situation that can lead to potentially serious heart and health problems in some high risk patients.”Ok, you know that I can’t not comment on something like this. I mean maybe I am bordering on the “old” side of opinions but doesn’t it seem silly for women (including myself) to even risk having one of the serious side effects happen to them just to get their periods more regular or keep them from getting pregnant? The news investigation that was tv quoted a women as saying “if I had known what I was putting in my body could cause blood clotting then obviously I wouldn’t have kept taking it.” This women continued taking yasmin under doctors orders so she thought she wasn’t doing anything wrong. That is why I find the number from the research above very frightening…yasmin generated nearly $500 million dollars last year and is the most popular birth control pill. Why is this? Because of advertising? Are the American people so easy to manipulate that we will select one birth control over another simply because it is mentioned on tv more? Forget taking or prescribing the ones with less serious side effects or ones with less hormones like the Nuva Ring. In the tv investigation, they quoted the maker of the product in saying that none of the conditions the women involved in the lawsuit against are claiming to have had are a surprise to them. They are all mentioned in the fine print as possible side effects. So basically what that quote means is that they are trying to trick people by printing the words heart attack and liver failure in the teeny tiny print on the pamphlet that comes with the pills…do they really think that makes it ok? My question to the maker of Yasmin (who will not be named….at least not right now) why would you distribute a pill that could cause things like blood clotting, kidney & liver failure, heart attacks and gallbladder disease so widely to the point that you are making $500 million on it every year? Have you no conscience? One of the ingredients in Yasmin, drospirenone, has been the subject of many debates. “Research on the issue is divided. Some studies have found drospirenone to pose no greater health risk than other birth control pills; some studies show a sixfold greater risk of getting blood clots, even in young, healthy women. More research is being performed on the safety of the contraceptives, but for now, women considering taking the pills will need to weigh the contradictory information themselves.Oral contraceptives control unwanted pregnancies by using hormones that block ovulation. The first of these pills, introduced in the United States in the early 1960s, contained high doses of estrogen. They were quickly found to raise the risk of stroke, blood clots and heart attacks. Second-generation pills introduced in the 1970s contained lower amounts of estrogen combined with synthetic progestins, including one called levonorgestrel. These reduced the risk of blood clots but caused side effects such as weight gain and acne in many women. The 1980s brought third-generation pills containing different synthetic progestins, such as one called desogestrel. These were later found to be associated with a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The fourth-generation pills — Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, a generic version — contain estrogen and yet another progestin, drospirenone. They were created not just to prevent pregnancy but to also reduce the side effects of previous pills and to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (severe cases of depression, anxiety, headaches and other symptoms). Yaz is now the No. 1-selling birth control in the United States, grossing more than $391 million in the first half of 2009, up 44% from the same time period in 2008, according to health data provider IMS Health. Bayer received a warning from the FDA last year for overstating Yaz's effectiveness in treating PMDD and acne while minimizing the risks of the medication on its website and television commercials. In response, the company altered its advertising. Now the contraceptives are not just the subject of lawsuits, they're also under scrutiny by groups such as Public Citizen over their safety. The FDA is testing the safety of Yaz and other pills in an ongoing study.” http://www.healthkey.com/sns-health-birth-control-lawsuits,0,4710881.story.
After watching the tv investigation and doing some research I was really upset with myself for taking Yasmin for over 5 years just to regulate my periods. I was also convinced that what has been going on with my body for the past year is most definitely side effects from taking “the pill” and what I learned from Mrs. W confirmed that my feelings were accurate. I got the works at my last appointment with Mrs. W. We started with the mignun bed and as I let the infared light shine in, Mrs. W and I talked about research I had done on the birth control pill and the new items she had brought for me to try. Next, we the ionic foot bath. This time my feet twitched a few times while the bath worked its magic. About 30 minutes later Mrs. W lifted the lid of the bath and I was kind of grossed out at what I saw. There was what looked like big flakes of black pepper, white cheese like stuff, lots of bubbles and the water was kind of yellow around my toes and red near the back of my food. Below is a picture of my bath and a key that helps explain what I released during the foot bath.

Black or brown water is the liver.
Orange; the joints.
Dark green; the gallbladder
Yellowy green; kidneys, urinary tract,
White foam; Lymph nodes draining
Red flecks; blood clot material
Black flecks; heavy metals
The color of the water may be different

With my first ionic foot bath, the water just turned a burnt red color. Mrs. W said that all of the other stuff coming out of my body is a sign that I am detoxifying and releasing more of the toxins.  For all of your non-believers of the ionic footbath out there here is a question to you....why, if you can't release toxins this way, would my water be so drastically different in my last foot bath compared to my first one? Wouldnt the results be exactly the same if I used the same bath, water out of the same tap and didnt have on any lotion or anyting else that could have effected the results? Take that you non-believers! To top off this visit, the next day I had an unbelievable amount of CM. It was bad, I felt like I was having to walk funny to keep things from moving around down there (TMI I know but just trying to get the point across). The past couple of days have been pretty dry but I am not discouraged.  This weeks appointment with Mrs. W is going to start off with some behavorial therapy. She is going to work with me on keeping negative thoughts out of my head. I am really looking forward to this as I still have those moments once in a while where I sit for about 5 minutes feeling sorry for myself. Learning strategies on how to keep my brain from traveling to that place will be very helpful.  For those of you who live in Denver, Mrs. W is holding a class series the next three Saturdays called "Detox & Dance". If you are interested you can go to her website for more information http://www.100thmonkeyresources.com/.

Annoying Neighbors, a Project Extension and Facts of the BCP Yasmin

After receiving my new and improved blood test results, the rest of the day passed by in the blur. I don’t know where the day went but before I knew it I was on my way home from work. Traffic was not bad and I managed to make it home fairly quickly. As I pulled up to my house I noticed that the neighborhood kids had continued their annoying pranks and had rearranged some of the items in my yard for the second day in a row. When we were first married, my husband and I were given a solar rock with our address on it. It sounds tacky but it was actually very cute and was a nice way for people to identify our address at night (when our front porch light was turned off). The numbers were removable so the neighborhood kids would rearrange the numbers while my husband and I were at work. Although it was funny at first that started to annoy me. Around Christmas last year, I came home from a family function to find one side of the solar rock had been bashed in! My husband and I decided to still leave it out because the part where the numbers where was still intact. About a week later we came home from his parent’s house to find that the rock was still there but that all the numbers had been taken off and were no where to be found! Now we were forced to throw our rock away and thought it would be the end of the pranks….we were wrong. I came home the next day to find that someone had broken two long branches off of our tiny tree in our front yard and stuck them in the two empty flower pots (because it was winter) so they were standing straight up. So now they were ripping branches off my tree…great! It is now May and it had been a few months since the pranksters had struck. Now that we are all caught up…last weekend my husband built a cute planter around our tree in the front yard. Since I purchased the home a few years ago, I have always had a fake rock with a prayer on it that can hold a spare key sitting somewhere in the front yard. It usually sits by the flower pots but we recently moved the pots into the backyard which left the rock sitting by itself not to worry because the neighborhood kids took it upon themselves to sit the rock on the nice, newly planted flowers in the planter the last two days. I also found a flattened, dead, baby rabbit sitting perfectly in the middle of our back deck. Unless the rabbit decided to climb onto our roof and commit bunny suicide, the kids put that there too. I have been trying not to get upset about things lately but the bunny was the straw that broke the camel’s back! I am going to take a day off of work in the next few weeks and wait for the kids to come walking along. Once they are on my property…I am gonna….well I don’t know what I am going to do but something needs to be done. Why would they do that? It’s not like my husband and I have been the neighborhood trolls always complaining and yelling at people. I was tempted to leave a nasty note in our yard so that they found it today but my husband said that would just add to fuel to the fire. I am jotting down a mental note right now to make sure my children know that vandalizing other people’s property is not acceptable. I would have never even thought about doing something like this as a kid or young adult. Now my opinion of every kid between the age of 10 & 20 in my neighborhood has been tainted. Everytime I see kids walk by I think to myself “I am watching you, my little pretties…and your little dog too.” I swear that if my plants are vandalized or taken out of my yard I will call the police and have them search all the homes in the area for kids shoes covered in dirt from my garden! Ok now that I got that out of my system…..the fact that I do not have to go on hormone replacement has hit me and I am so happy. Since by bone density test came back higher then average there will be no fake hormones for this girl! Not only am I happy that my bones are in good shape but the higher then normal readings mean my body is producing a pretty normal level of hormones….now all we need to do is get the hormones to follow the full path to ovulation each month and I will officially be the happiest woman in the world! I still have the clear cervical mucus and am wondering how long it is going to last (not that I am complaining). With my FSH still a bit on the high side (43) I don’t know if I am quite ready to get pregnant but I will take what I can get. Besides the author of “Inconceivable” conceived during a month where her FSH was in the 30’s. If I thought I was being strict on my diet before…there will be absolutely no cheating in the next month. I am determined to get an even lower FSH reading on June 18th and will not take any risks. Which reminds me of a little business I need to take care of..Dear body, I know I gave us a deadline of June 15th to get pregnant but all of the hard work and effort we have recently displayed has convinced me that 1. we are not quite ready to nuture and grow a baby inside us and 2. An extension to August 15th is only fair. You now have two deadlines with two different areas of focus. 1. Have at least one period before July 15th and 2. Get pregnant by August 15th. I know with the way we have been feeling, the positive changes in us and the recent good check up that we will make these new deadlines and make it look easy. Keep up the good work, I guess we found out what God was trying to tell us….get healthy and please start taking care of yourself! Taking Mrs. W’s advice, I have been doing some research on Yasmin and the reasons for the recent lawsuits against the maker of the birth control pills. What I found is that out of all the crazy possible side effects, there is a long list of very serious and deadly ones. It shocks me that so many doctors seem to be pushing birth control on young women like they are candies these days. Why would they do that if it could cause liver and kidney failure, Heart Attack, Stroke, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), Gallbladder Disease and Sudden Death (just to name a few)? It is not like there are only a few people involved in the lawsuits, there are thousands and the cases just keep coming. Now I am the first one to admit I took the magic pill for over ten years but I also didn’t do my research before I started drinking them down. I understand the need for protected sex in today’s society but I am thinking a condom and a diaphragm have got to be better then causing your blood to clot or your liver to fail just for a few fun nights. I think the maker of Yasmin and any other birth control pill should have to write in very large letters the toxic side effects of their product on the front of the packaging. Then maybe we wouldn’t continue to have hundreds or thousands of teenage girls across America start birth control prescriptions every day. It’s like society is saying “welcome to adulthood honey, now take this pill to suppress your reproductive system. It may make your blood clot, give you a stroke or cause you to go on kidney dialysis at a young age but you wouldn’t want to get pregnant at to young of an age would you?” I have some research on Yasmin I will share tomorrow. Happy Thursday!

More then a feeling.....

I anxiously drove to my doctor’s appointment yesterday ready for what results would be uncovered from this visit.As I drove up to the hospital, I turned the music down and had a quick pep talk with my body. “This is it, we have been working the last three months for this moment. It’s go time! Let’s get a good report so we can keep on improving without anyone doubting us. I am so proud of us for how much we have already accomplished and know we will get a good report since we feel so great.” With that I pulled out my keys, closed the door and started walking toward the building.As I walked across the crosswalk I felt like there was a tractor beam carrying me across the path, through the doors and landed me in front of the guest services desk.It seemed like I got to the desk very quickly, so quickly I could feel my feet. Having only been to this doctor one time before I had forgotten what floor they were located on. Guest services pointed my in the right direction and I took a deep breath as I walked out the elevator and onto the floor.I paid my copay and had only been sitting in the waiting area for about 5 minutes when the nurse came to get me.She took my weight and asked me a list of questions, including the one I dread “what is the date of your last period?” and then escorted me to the Dr. S’s office where we would be first reviewing results of my bone density test (taken last week) before she examined me.Dr. S was on her computer when I walked in and I took a huge deep breath in as I sat down and watched my results pop up on her screen.I released it as Dr. S said “these are really good.”It seems that my results were better then the average for a woman my age (without POF) and much higher then the average for a woman my age (with POF)!Dr. S said that this could be because things are starting to work again or that it could be because I am producing just the right amount of estrogen to keep my bones healthy. I will take either of those options, both are really great. As she explained this to me, my mind started to wander. Could this good result have anything to do with my diet and lifestyle changes? Could juicing things like broccoli, kale, wheatgrass and all of the other green vegetables actually be improving the quality of my bones?Why not? As I have already shared with you, Wheatgrass has an amazing list of health benefits, I am sure helping bone density is on the list as well.I gave my body an invisible pat on our back as we got up and walked toward the examination room with Dr. S.One test down, two more to go.I was handed a gown and asked to undress with the open side facing up. I changed, sat down on the examining table and the doctor and the nurse came in.I slid down to the edge of the table, put my feet in the stirrups and waiting for the exam to start. As Dr. S examined me she said that I seemed to have a lot of clear cervical mucus so it seemed that I was in the middle of a cycle. I told her I had seen a lot of it lately and she said that was a good sign. Next she felt my ovaries and said that the left one felt normal and that my right felt really large which usually means you are about to ovulate or have recently ovulated!This was good news, although I know that with POF my body can stop the process at anytime.“Keep going” I silently said to my ovaries as Dr. S finished the examination. Dr. S said that things seemed to be working and for me to call if I wanted to come in and check my FSH every so often. I got dressed and was escorted to get my blood drawn for a Thyroid and FSH test.The nurse that weighed me at the beginning of my appointment was also who would be taking my blood. She was really nice and funny and while she was taking my blood, we were discussing how we though 30 was the new 20 (not it’s not because we are both floating close to that current). It seems that through most of our twenties, none of us really know what we want in life, how to be completely responsible or just plain get adulthood. At 29, I feel like I am just now grasping what it means to be an adult.We laughed all through the blood draw which I was grateful for so that I didn’t have time to think about the last blood test results I had gotten in December. The nurse wrapped my arm, told me to call the next morning for my results and sent me on my way.On to the next appointment….another cleanse which went very well. I was excited to tell Mrs. W all about my good checkup. After my cleanse, she sat next to me while I laid on the Migun bed and we talked about my symptoms from doing the cleanse a few days before and the law suit that was pending on the birth control I had been on for many years. We decided I should look into side effects some of the people involved in the suit had just to make sure I didn’t fall in that category….probably a good idea.Mrs. W said she was going to start me on a superfood mix and a metal cleanse at my next appointment (which sadly I am excited about). I left my second appointment feeling great and ready for dinner.I managed to fall asleep and get ready for work without thinking much about my results. I had a feeling everything was going to be fine being that I have been feeling so incredible lately. I made my juice, drove to work and did my morning duties without giving my results one thought. After my morning meeting, it was time to go to Jamba Juice for my wheatgrass shot. I decided I would call on my to the juice place to get my results. Of course I got a voice mail! Man! I left a message with my cell number and patiently waiting for my turn at the Jamba Juice counter. I took my shot, drank my water chaser and was on my way back when my phone rang. It was the nice nurse who had taken my blood. She said my thyroid was normal (so no more of the thyroid supplements, seems that I don’t need them) and that my FSH was high, I gulped, she then said it was a 43. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and replied “well it was an 89 only 4 months ago so that is a huge improvement.”She agreed and said for me to call when I was ready to test again.My FSH has dropped over half since my last test, my thyroid numbers and bone density tests looked great and I feel better then I have in a long time…all in all life is pretty great. I can’t wait until this time next month to see how low my FSH will be then….I knew that I had more then a feeling!

The Passion Pen (Post from Monday 5//17)

As I got ready for work this morning I decided to switch out my purse and carry the nice one my husband got me during our last vacation. As I poured the contents of the older purse into the new one, I found a pen that a coworker had given me. He is an older gentlemen who is one of the most caring people I know. This pen has three different settings on it and each setting displays a different flashing red light. He had given me the pen a few weeks ago and told me that it was a “passion pen” to be used when my hubby and I were trying to make a baby.  I laughed and took the pen home to show to my husband who laughed it off and put it back in my purse.  Man do I wish I could just flip the switch on the pen and get pregnant…wouldn’t that be nice?? Finding the pen this morning reminded me how refreshing it is to have people in my life who genuinely care about me.  In the past few weeks, I have been overwhelmed with nice messages and I just want to say thank you to all of you…you know who you are.  I am happy to report that the new positive me still remains. I have yet to get sad since the last breakdown over 7 days ago. I co-hosted a baby shower over the weekend and didn’t get sad once. I did however get a few comments regarding a change in me.  One of my friends mother said I looked great and that there seemed something different about me.  I thanked her and explained all of the changes I had made and told her to read “Crazy, Sexy, Cancer.” She then said that if she didn’t know better, she would have thought I had a pregnancy glow. I laughed and said that I wasn’t pregnant yet but that it was great to hear she could see a difference. So I can’t remember if I have shared these few differences I have noticed since the diet change and starting the cleanses…..I have noticed that I am not growing as much hair under my arms or on my legs (not that I am making a habbit out of not shaving but I skipped a few days and didn’t even have anything to catch up on when I got around to it), I can go more time in-between hair washes (I said hair washes…not showering…please note I still take 1-2 showers a day) my hair just doesn’t get as oily as it used to, my coloring is improving and I no longer resemble the color of a banana, I feel really happy and positive…even when I shouldn’t (like when I am driving with someone and they get a ticket), my daily headaches are gone, I am not as hungry as I used to be, food tastes different and last but no least my skin is glowing. Have I convinced you to change your diet yet?  Yesterday,Sunday, was my liver cleanse day.  It doesn’t sound fun and believe me….it wasn’t.  You get up and drink a cup water with 1T Epson salt. An hour later you drink another cup of the mixture and then two hours later you drink ¾ cup grapefruit juice mixed with 1 cup olive oil….then you wait.  It seems that my liver is in really bad shape because I didn’t start “eliminating” until today (while at work)…lucky me. All day Sunday, I had other side effects of the cleanse such as nausea, sweating, exhaustion and a headache. Mix that together with the fact that I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink anything other then the mixes all day and that made it very difficult for me to not snap at anyone who was trying to have a conversation with me. It will all be worth it once I get to my cleansing appointment this afternoon.  My side effects and how long it took to eliminate will allow Mrs. W to have an idea of what is going on with my body.  I am very curious to see what she has to say and promise to take very good notes.  Before my cleanse I have an appointment with the reproductive endocrinologist that I saw in April. I have an annual appointment, ultrasound and lab tests scheduled.  I am excited to see how much my FSH has dropped since the dreaded results in December and to see what my ovaries look like.  I am sure I will have some positive information to share tomorrow.

I'm on a highway to health!

http://fertilityfile.com/2008/04/27/how-do-i-lower-my-fsh-level/


“FSH is the abbreviation for FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE. It is a substance created from part of the brain called the pituitary gland. In a young, healthy woman, a small wave of FSH released at the beginning of the cycle will get her follicles to start developing for that month. Why only a small amount? Because a young fertile woman’s ovaries are very sensitive. They don’t need much to get them going. After getting just a tiny whiff of FSH, they will start to do their thing. As the follicles do their thing, they start to grow bigger AND they will produce another hormone called estradiol. The news that estradiol is rising goes back up to the pituitary and tells it the good news that "OK, things are moving along just fine. You can ease up on the FSH production. Thank you very much. Talk to you later." The FSH factory supervisor gets this message and tells the production crew to slow down, get some rest and wait until next cycle. In physiological terms, this is known as NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, which is not a bad thing here, unlike the way it is when you’re talking about your EBay rating. In a woman who is 45, the follicles are few in number and poor in quality, so a different scene plays out. The story begins the same way. At the beginning of the cycle, the pituitary faithfully sends out pulses of FSH and waits for a negative feedback estradiol signal from the follicles that will tell the pituitary to rest again. However, because the follicles are bad, they won’t develop as vigorously, if they even develop at all. So while the follicles struggle to grow and develop in a healthy manner, they will not send out a strong estradiol signal. Meanwhile, the pituitary starts to get a little nervous. "Hmm, it’s been several days and we still haven’t heard back from the follicles. Maybe they need a little more juice." The pituitary then makes the decision to crank up the FSH production and the FSH level goes up a bit. If the follicles eventually respond to this new increase of FSH, then the estradiol signal will arrive and the pituitary crew will breathe a sigh of relief. However, in a worst case scenario (for example if the woman is completely menopausal or if her ovaries have both been surgically removed), then the pituitary is in for a big surprise. The estradiol signal will never come. So what happens is the pituitary will frantically shift into panic mode, going full power and pouring out tons of FSH. The FSH levels will skyrocket!This second scenario doesn’t just happen in 45 year-olds. It can also happen in some younger women whose ovaries for some reason or other are behaving much older than they really are. This is a condition, known as diminished ovarian reserve or in an extreme situation where the follicles have completely shut down, it is known as PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE.”

During my breakdown last Friday, I pleaded with God to help me let things go and be able to go back to being my old self. I asked him if it was going to be awhile until I was better, if it would be possible to help me move on from the awful rut I had been in for over a year and be able to be happy again. I don’t think I have ever cried that hard or felt like I have been that connected with God during a prayer. I felt like he was really listening and feeling my pain. I know all of you “non-believers” are rolling your eyes right about now but since that day I have felt completely different. Happy, light hearted and my heart no longer drops to my feet when I get an email with a picture of a friend’s sonogram or pictures of a family member’s new baby. In fact, while shopping for a good friend’s baby shower (which I am co-hosting this weekend) last night with my mom, not one moment of sadness came over me. I was able to shop, be excited for my friend and enjoy my mother’s company. I will admit I have been frustrated and at times plain mad at God in the last year but he did answer my prayers from last Friday and I am eternally grateful for that. I know that everything is going to be ok and until things are back to normal, I am now able to smile (without forcing it), walk (without dragging my feet) and inquire about close friend’s pregnancy or children (without feeling sad for myself). I am back to normal (well at least as normal as I can be). I feel great, have lost about 5 pounds and have removed the huge mother of a cloud off my heart. Feeling amazing today,(even after waking up 5 minutes before I had to leave for work) I decided to look up some success stories on women who were in similar situations as me and conceived and lowered their FSH.



http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Pregnancy-35/High-FSH-Levels/show/100478

“I went through a depression when my doc said that my FSH was a 13 and I'm 30! What it really means is that your body wont make as many eggs (with fertility treatment) as someone with a normalNormal saline flush FSH. With repronex and IUI I made 6 mature follicles....got pregnant and am 13 1/2 weeks along!!! I thought that this was the end of the world but it's NOT. My friend who's 27 has an FSH of 21...she's close to entering menopause at 27. Our RE gave her lots of drugs and with IUI she now has a 7 month old

“I started taking wheat grass pills and after taking them 2 months my FSH dropped to an 8 and I stimulated better with repronex. Also took Damiana which strengthens the egg...and with higher FSH you want to find the best eggs.”

“There is a great book, called "Inconceivable" by Julia Indichova. She was diagnosed with very high FSH's and tried many different natural remedies when conventional medicine couldn't help her. The month she conceived, her FSH was over 30. She had been flatly told this was impossible. The book goes into great detail about the things she tried.”

“I feel for anyone who had the FSH level testing and was told that their level was too high to ever get pregnant with their own eggs. I am 43 and my levels were 25.5 and 45.5. I was told that I would never have my own baby, and egg donation or adoption would be my only option for a child. I was devastated, but after a few hours I decided that I wasn't going to only take his word. I found a much more compassionate and knowledgable fertility specialist who said my advanced age is the real factor, not the FSH levels, which may or may not play a role. IVF was discussed and the question was whether to try with my own eggs (a 5-10% chance of pregnancy) or a donor's egg (a 70% chance of pregnancy). We didn't have the money for IVF so for the time being, I turned to Chinese medicine - acupunture and herbs. I started doing the home ovulation testing (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) which showed that I ovulate very early for a 28 day cycle. It's been about 4 months since those FSH tests, and I found out 4 days ago that I am pregnant. It's very exciting, but scary at the same time because I am 43. I have to believe that this gift have been given, is a mircle in itself and if I've beaten the odds so far, I will beat them all the way through my pregnancy and have a healthy baby. It's so important to find positive doctors, and to turn to other natural/spiritual types of healing practices. And to anyone who was given similar "you can't get pregnant" news, a doctor is only human. They can't really know, so be proactive, research yourself, and shop around for the doctor that you click with. :o)”

“Hi ladies. My fsh level peaked at 13 at the age of 34. I was devestated and thought all was over. I am happy to announce that I had my twins (via ivf) on 10-27-07! It can happen so don't give up. Just find yourself a good RE who is well versed in how to treat high fsh'ers!

“i'm 42. earlier this year i had an fsh of 9. next month i spiked to 39. bought "inconceivable" and followed verbatim, including shot of liquid wheatgrass from juice bar every single morning. one month after 39, got a 15.9, one month later 14.2. i highly recommend this book. it's not just good for your fsh, it's good for your overall health and soundness of mind as it stops your helplessness and puts you back in the driver's seat of your own life. good luck! update: had my fsh taken again today and i am now a 6.5. from 39 in july, following the "inconceivable" lifestyle, to a 6.5 today. read this book! and good luck...”

I read through posting after posting feeling more and more inspired as I read. Then I found this one entitled “Nourishing the ovaries back to health .”

“When we are trying to have a baby hear from the doctor that our FSH is too high it sounds like the death knoll. Is FSH really the only accurate measure of egg quality? It is not the final measure. Real egg quality is only measured by one thing: a baby. Also, remember hormones fluctuate. Your health is not the snapshot just taken of your FSH level. Your health is a moving picture. And you can start moving the picture in a new direction. You can restore and enhance your fertility. Your doctor can not. This is not an unreasonable or outrageous statement. If you were getting sick every month, one headcold after another, what could your doctor do? He or she could offer you antibiotics, but can the doctor build your immune system? Can the doctor make you stronger? No. But you can. There is a parallel here. The doctor can overstimulate your ovaries, putting everything on fast forward, but can he actually build your fertility? No. But you can. You can do things to enhance your fertility that your doctor, as much as he or she may want to, can not do. You can build back your energy, renew your cervical mucus and sexual fluids, eliminate PMS symptoms, sleep better, bring back a normal flow for your cycle. Oriental women have know how to do these things for thousands of years. They use herbs, healing foods and special exercises. These are things you can learn with only a small investment of time and expense. You can nuture your body and renew your fertility, and in the process your FSH levels will fall. We have helped many women to lower their FSH. A high FSH reading is merely a measure of your ability to respond to FSH drugs. High FSH (above 10) is an obstacle for Western Medical Reproductive Technology because it means your body will not tolerate the drug stimulation. But according to the clinical experience of expert Chinese herbalists FSH can be above the Clomid Challenge test minimum and not inhibit the ability to get pregnant. Also, FSH can be artificially increased by treatments such as Clomid. According to Traditional Chinese Herbalism, fertility drugs deplete the body's yin energy, sometimes creating what the Chinese call Yin Deficiency combined with Liver Chi Stagnation, bringing symptoms such as hot flashes, irritability, mood swings, headaches, insomnia. If your body is given the proper support through special energy exercises, the best herbal nutrition and recommended healing foods added to the diet, high FSH caused by pharmaceutical drugs will usually rebalance in as little as 2-3 months. It is rarely difficult. And this artificial imbalance can rebalance for women of all ages. A woman with high FSH is often told that she has “premature ovarian failure”. However, if the ovaries are actually healthy ,with the right herbal formulas, exercises and maybe some acupuncture or acupressure you can do yourself, we often see the ovarian function spring back, produce higher levels of estrogen and produce that true measure of healthy eggs – a baby. It is important to learn how to keep your body strong and balanced. Instead of focusing on individual hormones you learn the art of bringing balance to your entire endocrine system. This rejuvenates the complicated cascade of hormones leading up to the implantation of the fertilized egg. A Radiant Wonder Fertility Program will enhance your fertility dramatically. Will you get pregnant right away? Maybe, and maybe not. But you will know deep within that you are preparing yourself for that baby. The Chinese talk about a 100 day cultivation period. That is about three months. And it takes three months for the blood supply to completely replenish itself. Within three months you should see visible hormonal changes. I say this because I want you to understand that this is not a quick fix, but despite what I say, some of our customers actually become pregnant the first month.

Almost immediately you will experience more energy everyday. You will sleep well again. There will be a sense of calm and inner strength that tells you that you are working with your body to prepare yourself for not only receiving and carrying a child, but for raising the child. You can have a healthy baby in a healthy body. And that is the real goal. Open your heart and mind to the idea of possibility.... You can use Western Medicine, or Eastern Herbalism or a combination of both. The main thing is to take charge of your health yourself, not to expect someone else to make you pregnant. It is your body, your sexual vitality, and you have been given very strong intuition to know what is right for you. Our customers will attest to the fact that these individualized programs work. Fertility is enhanced. The chances of becoming pregnant are increased.

After reading through all of the stories, I am shocked at the number of 20 and 30 somethings that are getting such high FSH readings and an infertile diagnosis. It has got to be the lifestyle’s and nutrition of the typical everyday woman. Why else would we all of a sudden be hit with such large numbers of young couples having trouble conceiving? I have found hundreds of success stories on women who where deemed infertile, changed their lifestyle and eating habbits and not only restored their fertility but also conceived naturally. I am on the road to where I want to be, anyone care to follow me? Caravans welcome!

A Whole New World.....Complete with Green Juice

I have decided that I am no longer going to be sad about my current situation. I don’t have the energy and I am wasting my life away feeling sorry for myself. I need to cut it out and enjoy what I have left of my twenties (1 year) and all of the blessings in my life. Right now I am changing my intentions, from this moment forward I am working to restore my natural body processes and am not at this time working towards a pregnancy, I am working towards getting myself healthy. After I have restored my health and gotten my body back in balance, I will work on the pregnancy. This new direction stems from the last breakdown I am going to have on this whole ordeal. I woke up last Friday hating the world and woke up the next day with puffy eyes and a new focus. I am done being sad and I am pissed at myself for even trying to play the victim card. I am better then that! I have never in my life been someone who gives up. I have always worked hard and eventually gotten to the goal I was trying to achieve. This is not going to be any different, so no more pity parties for me. This girl is going to focus on healing my body. With that in mind, I have a few things I have been researching that I have been told will help my body to achieve our current goal. One is going on a metal cleanse. Most prescription drugs contain heavy metals including birth control pills which I faithfully swallowed each and everyday for over 10 years. During my recent cleanse, Mrs. W suggested I do a metal cleanse the day before my next colon cleanse. She said it was very important for me to do since I was on birth control for so long and could be the culprit of some of the things I am currently seeing (aka my fertility issue). This suggestion from Mrs. W encouraged me to do a search on Google to see side effects of the metals in the pill and also see what other products I use on a daily basis also contain heavy metals. According to alternative-doctor.com birth control pills have copper in them. Side effects of copper toxicity include “acne, adrenal insufficiency, allergies, alopecia, anemia, anorexia, anxiety, arthritis (osteo & rheumatoid), autism, cancer, chills, cystic fibrosis, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, dry mouth, dysinsulinism, estrogen dominance, fatigue, fears, fractures, fungus, heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Hodgkin's disease, hyperactivity, hypertension, hyperthyroid, low hydrochloric acid, hypoglycemia, infections, inflammation, insomnia, iron loss, jaundice, kidney disorders, libido decreased, lymphoma, mental illness, migraines, mood swings, multiple sclerosis, myocardial infarction, nausea, nervousness, osteoporosis, pancreatic dysfunction, panic attacks, paranoia, phobias, PMS, schizophrenia, senility, sexual dysfunction, spacey feeling, stuttering, stroke, tooth decay, toxemia of pregnancy, urinary tract infections, yeast infections.” Other products listed under copper are industrial emissions and insecticides…why would they put the same ingredient from bug killer in my pills? Come to think of it, why don’t I just go put my mouth over my car’s exhaust pipe? Mercury is another metal that is present in everyday women’s products such as skin lightening cream and most cosmetics. Side effects of Mercury include but are not limited to“adrenal dysfunction, allergy, alopecia, anorexia, anxiety, birth defects, blushing, brain damage, cataracts, cerebral palsy, poor coordination / jerky movements, deafness, depression, dermatitis, discouragement, dizziness, drowsiness, eczema, emotional disturbances, excess saliva, fatigue, gum bleeding and soreness, headaches (band type), hearing loss, hyperactivity, hypothyroidism, forgetfulness, immune dysfunction, insomnia, irritability, joint pain, kidney damage, loss of self-control, memory loss, mental retardation, metallic taste, migraines, nervousness, nerve fiber degeneration, numbness, pain in limbs, rashes, retinitis, schizophrenia, shyness, speech disorders, suicidal tendencies, tingling, tremors (eyelids, lips, tongue, fingers, extremities), vision loss, weakness. Mercury is also present in batteries, air conditioner filters, fabric softeners and floor wax….again why am I applying something on my face that contains an ingredient used to make batteries? This research confirmed that I will be doing a metal cleanse this Sunday. Mrs. W said that the worse you feel during and after a metal cleanse, the more toxicity you have in your body. I am excited to get the metals from the pill out of my system and see what happens after I do the metal cleanse. My husband mentioned a few months ago that my skin color has changed since we first met. I am wondering if the levels of metal in my body could be causing this? I guess Sunday will help me figure it out. Mrs. W gave me the instructions which I have yet to glance over but it didn’t seem to be that bad. I am also going to start taking shots of Wheatgrass every morning at the Jamba Juice by my work. Wheatgrass is mentioned in “inconceivable” as a way to lower FSH (and it worked for the author) and it is also mentioned in “Crazy, Sexy, Cancer”. If you search for health benefits of Wheatgrass you will be amazed at the list it is unlimited. Here is a list of only a few health benefits from taking wheatgrass supplements or drinking the juice.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Wheat-Grass-Shots---Benefiting-Fatigue-to-Fertility&id=776100

Helps prevent tooth decay
Neutralizes carcinogens
Cleanses blood by removing toxins and harmful chemicals
Detoxes liver, cells, tissue and blood
Lowers high blood pressure
Increases oxygen levels in the blood stream
Improved digestion
Creates balanced pH environment to prevent cancer
Increases energy
Provides healthier hair and reduces dandruff
Improved ability of the body to heal wounds
Chlorophyll found in wheatgrass can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Has anti-aging abilities and can keep the hair from greying.
Successfully treat inflammation of the uterine

Helps fight:
Arthritis
Diabetes
Allergies (can make some completely disappear)
Premature aging
Increases fertility- The high magnesium content in the chlorophyll of the wheat grass juice actually builds enzymes that increase fertility hormones.

For me, the fact that drinking 4 oz a day is a proven way to lower my FSH and increase my fertility is a no brainer but now I am finding out it is going to keep me younger looking, give me better hair, reduce my risk for cancer and could help with me Celiacs! Wow, why doesn’t everyone have a bit of Wheatgrass every day? I bet there would be a less Cancer patients in the world if we did. Along the same subject of getting my body back in balance. Here is a list of things mentioned in “The Infertility Cure” to help restore the natural balance of a woman’s body. http://parenting.ivillage.com/ttc/ttcprep/0,,qzx3-p,00.html#ixzz0nctIG9Ge

1. Eat alkaline rather than acidic foods. Many contemporary sources advocate eating alkaline foods like noncitrus fruits, vegetables, sprouts, cereal grasses (wheatgrass, barley grass), and herbs like black cohosh and valerian root to help provide the entire reproductive system with the right pH for conception and implantation. Acidic foods (like meat, dairy products, and most grains) produce acidic environments. Acidic cervical mucus may become hostile to sperm, which requires an alkaline environment to survive. Since saliva can have an alkalizing effect, it is also recommended that you chew your food thoroughly and refrain from drinking liquids with your meal. Let your own salivary enzymes digest the food, rather than washing it down with fluids. I don't advocate strict vegan diets, but you should make sure the bulk of your diet comes from organic plant sources. Bioflavonoids, found in many fruits and vegetables, also help in the formation of healthy blood vessels, helping the uterus prepare for implantation and prevent miscarriage. – Wheatgrass just about covers this one for me!

2. Get plenty of essential fatty acids, preferably from unprocessed plant sources and deep-sea fish. The essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are essential to every living cell in the body. They are also key in ovulation, specifically in the process of follicular rupture (releasing the egg) and collapse (allowing the development of the corpus luteum). Good sources of essential fatty acids are fish, fish oil, nonhydrogenated cold-pressed oils such as flaxseed and pumpkin-seed oils, eggs, soy products, raw nuts and seeds, and dark-green and winter vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, kale, collards, cabbage, turnips, rutabaga, and Brussels sprouts. – I sprinkle flaxseed oil on my lunch and dinner every day, eat pumpkin seeds for a daily snack and eat broccoli, carrots and kale at least once a day via juicing.
3. Eat organic foods and hormone-free meats whenever possible. In natural-food circles, organic foods are touted as necessary for optimum hormonal functioning because many of the pesticides, chemicals, and hormones used to treat produce and animal products contain synthetic estrogenlike substances, which occupy estrogen receptor sites and have negative effects on our organ and endocrine systems. However, Chinese medicine provides an additional reason for choosing organic food: food loses its Essence and Qi as it moves away from its source. We all have experienced the truth of this: we know fruit off a tree tastes much fresher than fruit from a grocery bag, and vine-ripened tomatoes taste much better than those ripened on the counter. The processing most food undergoes eliminates much of the natural nutrition present in the original fruits, grains, and vegetables. When we eat refined pasta and white bread, we are consuming mostly processed leftovers; little of the original substance of the wheat is left. Processed fruit juices consist of mostly sugar, and sugar damages the Spleen, which controls digestion. Frozen meals are packed with sodium, which depletes the Kidneys. Most of the canned, prepared foods that form the basis of the typical American diet contain preservatives and minuscule original food value.
Overall improvements to dietary health can be made by consuming more of a macrobiotic diet, including mostly fresh, organic produce supplemented with small amounts of hormone-free meat and animal products. The typical Asian diet is macrobiotic -- meals consist mostly of fresh, lightly sautéed vegetables, rice, and small amounts of meat for flavoring.You also might want to consider how you prepare your foods. Traditional Chinese cuisine advocates chopping vegetables and meat to allow for the release of more energy when they are eaten, and lightly cooking vegetables rather than eating them raw to make them more easily digestible. It's also a good idea to stay away from the microwave. Microwaving food affects its structure and, according to some, decreases the Qi energy available in the food. Cooking on top of the stove or in the oven is preferable. – I am currently all organic (even my water). For dinner every night, I lightly cook vegetables in olive oil and then sprinkle my flax oil and add a little brown rice.
4. Add more cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower to your diet. Cruciferous vegetables contain di-indolylmethane (DIM), a compound that stimulates more efficient use of estrogen by increasing the metabolism of estradiol (one form of estrogen produced by the body). Excess estradiol is associated with breast pain, weight gain, breast and uterine cancer, moodiness, and low libido. Adding DIM sources to your diet allows the estradiol to break down into the beneficial 2-hydroxy estrogens, which don't have estradiol's negative effects. – I need to work on this one.
5. Supplement your diet with a natural, high-potency multivitamin and mineral complex with iron, folic acid, and B vitamins. The vitamins and minerals important for reproductive health (vitamins A, C, E, B complex, zinc, and selenium) enhance fertility yet are lacking in the usual Western, highly processed diet. If these nutrients were adequately supplied through the diet, many fertility problems could be avoided. Other supplements you might wish to try include the following:

Bee pollen and/or royal jelly is regenerative and tonifying. Bogdan Tekavcic, M.D., a Yugoslavian gynecologist, conducted a study in which the majority of women who were given bee pollen with royal jelly showed improvement or disappearance of their menstrual problems, while there was no change in the placebo group. Another study showed bee pollen significantly improved sperm production in men. Bee pollen, which is worker bee food, is rich in vitamins, minerals, nucleic acids, and steroid hormones, and improves health, endurance, and immunity. Royal jelly is modified pollen fed only to the reproducing queen bee, whose job it is to produce more infant bees. This nutritive tonic might be considered the bee equivalent of fertility drugs. Rich in amino acids, vitamins, and enzymes, royal jelly helps the queen lay millions of eggs and live longer than the worker bee.

Blue-green algae is the origin of life-giving nourishment on this planet. Microalgae contains chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and steroid building blocks. Chlorella is freshwater green algae; spirulina is saltwater blue-green algae. Chlorella and spirulina nourish the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems; tonify Qi, Blood, and Essence; regulate metabolism; and repair tissue.

Wheatgrass is tonifying and curative. It nourishes Qi, Blood, and Essence, enhances immunity, and restores hormonal functioning. Other cereal grasses like barley grass function the same way.

Vitamin B6 helps the body metabolize excess estrogen, produce adequate progesterone, and lower elevated prolactin levels. A Harvard study treated women with galactorrhea (lactation not associated with childbirth or nursing)/amenorrhea syndrome with 200 to 600 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily. Within three months all the women in the study had normal menstrual cycles and had stopped lactating.

Coenzyme Q-10 assists mitochondrial function, the powerhouse of each cell.

Folic acid is extremely important in cellular division. I am a proponent of supplementing your diet with folic acid for months before you conceive and throughout pregnancy. You should be aware that the adult daily minimum requirement for folic acid advocated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is well below the amount we actually should take. If you have a history of abnormal cell division, such as cervical dysplasia, you should eat foods with high folic acid content, like dark-green leafy vegetables and natural orange foods -- oranges, cantaloupe, yams, and sweet potatoes -- in addition to your folic acid supplement.

6. Eliminate caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants should be avoided, especially if you have Yin, Blood, or Heart deficiency with heat symptoms. The American Journal of Epidemiology reports nicotine is ten times more concentrated in the uterine fluid than it is in plasma. Nicotine ages the ovaries and makes the eggs resistant to fertilization. Alcohol is particularly damaging if you fall into the damp, heat, or Liver Qi categories of disharmony. One study reported that any alcohol consumed during an IVF cycle reduced its chance of success by 50 percent. Tea, especially green tea, is not as problematic as coffee. It contains about 20 percent less caffeine, and fewer volatile oils. Coffee constricts vessels while tea opens them. Green tea (and, to a lesser extent, black tea) has an antioxidant benefit coffee does not share. If you require assistance "revving up" in the morning, use green tea.

7. If at all possible, avoid unnecessary medications and drugs, including over-the-counter preparations. Even non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can block the synthesis of prostaglandins and therefore inhibit ovulation. If you have scanty cervical mucus, you should avoid decongestants, antihistamines, and excess supplemental vitamin C. You may, however, use guaifenesin, an expectorant that thins all mucus secretions, including cervical fluid that is too thick. (While guaifenesin can be found in over-the-counter cough medicines like Robitussin, I prefer using natural sources such as beech wood, which you can buy at the health-food store and which contain no additives.) Avoid vaginal lubricants other than egg whites. – I need to look into taking this guaifenesin stuff.

8. Avoid junk food, excessive stress, too little sleep, too much exercise, or anything taxing to the immune system. In general, you should give your body every chance to be at its strongest and healthiest so that it can nourish your child. Late hours, bad food, or excessive stress of any kind means your body has to dedicate its precious resources to keeping you healthy instead of making a baby. Live healthfully until you conceive and carry your child to term. -  (this means you can't have any fun!....just kidding just relax and cut down on the dancing and drinks)

Ok I know you are probably on information overload. I have some info on yams but will save that for a later date. PS - my skin is starting to look amazing....not to brag on myself. I have had a few comments about it this week. Also, I tried quinoa for the first time and it was really good. It is also mentioned in "Crazy Sexy Cancer" as a great thing to eat for good health and it gluten free!

A little lesson on fertility enhancing herbs...and no you can't smoke them

It happened again! I woke up soaked and burning up again last night. This hasn’t happened in so long which tells me one thing….my body is desperately trying to get it together. This also means that my FSH level is most likely raising through the roof right now :0( Tired and discouraged when I got up this morning, I walked up to the computer, took a deep breath and began an internet search on ways to naturally help your body ovulate. The soft cups I have mentioned before were mentioned in a few articles (I still don’t know if I can shove a cup up there and then remove it). Also listed were pre-seed lubricant which I am already using, Evening Primrose Oil or (EPO), something called a conception kit and Robitussin. The last one mentioned got me…..the last thing I need right now is to get myself addicted to cough syrup trying to get pregnant. The site I found the list on is http://www.justmommies.com/ and here what it said regarding Robitussin. “Robitussin is helpful for the same reason as preseed. Robitussin® is an expectorant. Expectorants help to thin out mucous. It is mainly used for coughing because once the mucous in your lungs is thinned out, you can cough things up easier and clear your airways. It is helpful to use when trying to conceive because not only does it thin out the mucous in your lungs it will also make your cervical mucous thinner and more slippery. This can be very helpful for women that are not producing slippery fertile cervical mucous.” I am going to have to pass on this….at least for now. I am however interested in the Primrose Oil here is what was mentioned on it “Evening Primrose Oil or (EPO) is produced from a wildflower called the Evening Primrose. This oil has been used for years to help with lots of things such as lowering cholesterol, natural labor induction, and fertility. EPO is thought to help with premenstrual syndrome and it may also help to improve the quality of a woman’s cervical mucous.” Intrigued, I copied the name of the herb and pasted into a search engine and added the word “for fertility” at the end and pressed enter. Here is what I found on http://www.babyhopes.com/ “Evening Primrose Oil - helps to increase fertile quality cervical fluid and also contains essential fatty acids which are good for the brain. You may take this EPO from menstruation to ovulation and switch to Flax Seed Oil after ovulation. Flax Seed Oil contains the fatty acids needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Evening Primrose Oil causes uterine contractions - which is why you should not take it after ovulation in the event that conception did occur.” There goes that possibility, I can’t take it because I dont have a way to know where I am in my cycle at any time. I did find some other items that are options on this site though. Red Clover “is also known as Trifolium pretense, restores and balances hormonal function and nourishes the uterus. Red Clover contains isoflavones (estrogen-like compounds) which promote estrogen production and which may enhance fertility in women and boost estrogen levels in women with estrogen deficiencies. In addition, the Red Clover contains calcium and magnesium which can relax the nervous system and improve fertility. Traditionally, Red Clover has been administered to help restore irregular menses and to balance the acid-alkaline level of the vagina to promote conception.” This one sounds like it is right up my alley or street. Perhaps I will consider it. Here are some others on the site and what they do. Ginkgo Biloba “has been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory – and recent scientific studies lend credence to Gingko claims. In addition, laboratory studies have shown that Gingko improves blood circulation and increases peripheral blood flow to the reproductive organs, maintaining healthy blood vessel tone. Gingko also performs a cleansing antioxidant function.” (I am not sure if I want to take an herb I cant even pronounce. How would I even ask the store clerk to help me find it if I can’t pronounce it?) PABA “is a B Complex vitamin that is synthesized in the body. PABA is believed to increase the ability of estrogen to facilitate fertility and increases the ability of some infertile women to become pregnant. A clinical trial reported that 12 of 16 previously infertile women were able to become pregnant after supplementing with PABA over several months.” (They had me at 12 of 16 previously infertile women were able to become pregnant…..I will be trying this and checking to see if it is in anything I currently taking) Antioxidant Support: “Vitamins C and E are important vitamins and cleansing antioxidants that play a vital role in repairing damage caused by the environment, aging, and in preventing cellular damage due to oxidizing free radicals. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant central to overall reproductive health and wellness. In a preliminary human trial, infertile couples given vitamin E showed a significant increase in fertility. Other studies indicate that pre-conceptional vitamin supplementation can increase fertility.” (At the request of my new OBGYN I am already taking antioxidant supplements but it is good to know why she suggested them) Red Raspberry Leaf “is highly regarded for its ability to tone the uterus and muscles of the pelvic region. A highly nutritive ingredient, Red Raspberry is a powerful fertility-promoting herb, especially when used in combination with Peppermint.” (Hmmm, one glass of hot raspberry tea with peppermint leaves coming up! This will be worked into my daily routine…like now!) Green Tea “is a powerful antioxidant that enhances reproductive health by repairing the oxidative damage that occurs naturally as the result of environmental toxins and aging. A study from the American Journal of Public Health found that drinking 1/2 cup or more of green tea daily doubled the odds of conception per cycle. Due to the inclusion of Green Tea, there is a very slight touch of caffeine (equal to just 1/25th a cup of coffee).” (I drink one to two glasses of green tea at work at day, so I can put a check next to this one…yay for me). Nettle Leaf “contains a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals that are critical to good reproductive health, including Vitamins A, C, D, K, Potassium, Phosphorous, Iron, and Sulfur. Nettle Leaf also contains Calcium – a mineral that affects a woman’s ability to conceive and maintain pregnancy.” (Not sure if this is needed on top of my antioxidant supplements??) Here is the link to the page if you would like to see it http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/natural-fertility-boosters.html. Vitex/Chaste Berry was also mentioned. I was previously taking this supplement and was told by one of my doctors to stop taking it because it can reduce the amount of estrogen your body produces. I am thinking about giving it another try after reading this on babyhopes.com. “When Vitex or chaste berry are used and are successful it is based on the effect it has on the pituitary glands and the hypothalamus. It stimulates them to increase the production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and inhibits to some degree the production of FSH, follicle stimulating hormone. As a result, the progesterone levels in the body begin to increase. Chaste berry is not a hormone and does not increase progesterone levels on its own. Instead, it is an effect that this occurs. Many times women experiencing leutal phase defect have levels of prolactin that are too high. Vitex is an effective treatment for these women. Chasteberry or Vitex works really for women and usually by their third menstrual cycle major changes will be seen. Immediate results should not be expected, however. It may not be able to take effect, either for several months so this should be considered. Don’t expect the same results as taking progesterone because Vitex is not a hormone. Give it time and you should see your cycle regulate and hopefully ovulate!” I can’t decide if I want to start taking this again. At the time I stopped taking the supplement after a doctor’s recommendation, I hadn’t had a period for 5-6 months after going off the pill and had a period two months later so perhaps there could be some truth to what the doctor told me??? But then again I was also taking progesterone supplements which could have caused the period?? What I like it that it is said to reduce the amount of FSH the body produces which I need!! Decisions, decisions……. I am thinking I will look into the feriliAid or fertiliblend which are blends that include most of the items I have mentioned above. Seems like it couldn’t hurt to take a supplement that is jammed packed with things that are proven to help with fertility. I will stop on my way home today! And there is your lesson on fertility herbs….your welcome!

Hey FSH, you better have down..do it....or else!

Not much to say today (I know that is a first). All day yesterday I was full of air. Although according to my husband I am always full of hot air, it was really uncomfortable and a side effect from my last cleanse (I forgot to take my probiotics in the morning before I had my smoothie). It is suggested that you not eat extremely filling foods the 24 hours following a cleanse but at the new organic lunch place yesterday, I just couldn’t resist the brown rice, avocado and olive oil option that was calling my name. It was very yummy but just seemed to add air to my belly and went ahead and added heartburn to my list of symptoms. The same nutritional mistakes will not be made again today. I took two probiotic pills when I got up this morning and just took two more before starting my mid-morning snack. My stomach feels completely normal and I feel great! I am feeling a bit discouraged this morning after waking up soaking wet and on fire twice last night. I am not sure if this is because the temperature in our bedroom is always hot (and not in a good way) or if I was having hot flashes. Now I would like to go with the later but given that I haven’t had a period for five months perhaps my body was struggling through the hormone production process while I was sleeping last night. I can see it now a documentary called “while you were sleeping” this time the film would be about what the average woman’s body is doing while she is catching her zzz’s. I think it would be interesting to know what my body is doing all the time. In fact, the unknown is killing me right now! If I could get an ultrasound done on my ovaries everyday I would. I just have to know if there are non-maturing follicles in my ovaries again or if this time the follicles are going to be able to make it all the way around the bases and score this month. Here is what I have decided on the doctor appointment front……I will be going to see Mrs. W again as scheduled this Thursday but I will not be getting a cleanse (although it was recommended). I have been feeling really tired since Monday and I think my body needs a break. I will instead by doing the foot bath and the message bed which are also both good ways to detoxify. I have re-scheduled the appointment with the alternative medicine and spa clinic to May 20th. I just revisited their website and am going to give them a chance. They seem to have a good system down and have been recognized to have a 100% success rate at helping people conceive. On their website it states “We have spent years working with women on their journey to conceive and have developed a unique method to make this a process of growth and healing”. Your first appointment they establish a plan on how to help you conceive. They also offer a Maya abdominal and uterine message “this massage technique is a slow, gentle external massage of the abdomen and lower back that works to soften the muscles, and adjust the uterus to its proper position, enhance circulation of blood, lymphatic fluids and qi. It has been used successfully as par t of a holistic treatment for problems including painful periods, fertility issues, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and low backache” and whole list of other beneficial services. I have re-scheduled the appointment with the fertility specialist for the first week in August. I have also scheduled my annual check up with my new OBGYN (the specialist in POF) for next week where I am going to have my FSH tested for the first time since December (the dreaded 89 reading) and another ultrasound. I am going to do everything in my power to relax, meditate and think positive before this appointment (translation I will be planting my herb garden, sleeping in, doing some bargain shopping and buying a skinny mirror this weekend).

Oversharing is caring!

So I am still a bit upset about the mean posting on my blog yesterday. I just have never been able to wrap my finger around why some people are just mean and nasty to others for no apparent reason. It has always bothered me. I am always the person standing there with nothing to say after someone has stunned me with the nasty words gun. I have never in my life sought someone out solely with the intention of saying or doing something mean to them much less a complete stranger on the internet. I thought after I posted a response last night that I would feel better but I still laid awake last night with steam coming out my ears. My hubby said to just let it roll off my back and that some people were just mean. That is probably true but why does society accept behavior like that? Why is it ok for complete strangers to flip you off in public if you are driving to slow or not let you out of your seat on a plane before ripping past when they are not even trying to catch another plane? Most importantly, why did the poster think it was ok to post something mean? The frustrating thing is that the whole point of my blog is to share symptoms, feelings and experiences. It makes me angry that I shared my information with this person if they were just going to throw it back in my face. This person obviously has a complex of some kind and my guess is that “it” might be small. If you are reading this “Andrew”, please do not read my blog anymore and for your information cervical mucus (k__ter juice) is a predictor of ovulation and therefore important to my blog. If you and the so called other followers don’t want to read about it, then you don’t have to. I don’t make any money by sharing this information and am doing it to help others so please be my guest and elect not to follow me anymore if the mention of mucus sends you into revulsion. If you decide to keep following, please keep your nasty comments to yourself as there is enough negativity in the world without you opening your big mouth. I am helping people to see what changes they can make in their everyday lives to better their health and heal their bodies, what are you doing?


Yesterday afternoon I had my third cleanse, the experience was a bit different this time. Before my cleanse, Mrs. W had me lay on the MIGUN HY-7000 bed. http://www.migunworld.com/products.php . The bed is basically a heating message from head to toe and has two attachments you are to place on parts of body that need healing and they distribute far infrared rays and acupressure to that area. Studies show that infrared light can be helpful for enhancing blood circulation, reducing pain, strengthening the cardiovascular system, easing joint stiffness and inflammation, and revitalizing skin cells. It is the critical part of solar energy and the “good” part of a sun tan. The bed has different settings but the one Mrs. W likes me to do messages up and down to certain pressure points and holds them for a few minutes. The bed has the healing effects of acupressure, acupuncture, heat-therapy, chiropractics and message all rolled into one! Along with having all of the infrared benefits mentioned above, the heat therapy is what allows your body to more easily release pollutants trapped in muscles. It was really relaxing and Mrs. W explained that sometimes it allows you to relax before a cleanse and let go of more toxins. I went into the cleanse relaxed and about to fall asleep. It seems that my body has a large amount of “toxins” to get rid of and things got a little messy. It was not as bad as you are thinking but the cleanse was a bit stressful and my stomach was killing me as my body let go of all of it. It felt like I had some horrible stomach flu. I couldn’t wait until it was over but feel great today and although it wasn’t the most comfortable during the procedure, I feel like it was worth it because now all of that is no longer hiding in my colon. As I drove home, I could barely keep my eyes open. I was completely whipped out from the treatment and fought to keep my eye lids from closing the whole ride home. As soon as I got home I started making dinner which was planned to be pan seared scallops cooked in olive oil and garlic with brown rice, grilled eggplant, broccoli and carrots. I was so hungry that when it was ready I practically starting inhaling my food. About halfway through my meal, I slowed down and noticed that my food tasted really different. In fact, the taste of the scallops was actually almost making me sick and the broccoli which is usually my favorite also tasted grouse. I tried to work through the bad taste but ended up throwing away half my meal. I had just taken a HPT the day before so I didn’t think I was pregnant so it had to be a side effect from the cleanse. All I have had to eat today is my morning smoothie so I am not sure if my taste buds are back to normal yet. There is a new organic restaurant right by my work called Freshii I am going to try today. On the side of their building they have a small paragraph daring people to eat things that are good for them and to go ahead and order the onions. You can build your own salads or choose some combinations they have put together. I am going to try the antioxidant crunch salad today and then who knows maybe I will try a different one tomorrow. They were passing out samples of probiotic frozen yogurt yesterday. I tried a small spoonful (even though I am not eating dairy) and it was really good. There is another new organic place that recently opened up a few blocks from my work that serves the pho noodles that I want to try and I noticed while running an errand for my boss a weeks ago that there is a juice kitchen fairly close to my building as well. I am excited that the restaurant industry seems to be jumping on board to the new health wave. These places recognize that eating is for survival and not for entertainment. They make healthy food more enjoyable for everyone. Still trying to decide if I will be attending an appointment I made with an Eastern medicine clinic in Denver this Friday. They have 100% success rate but for just a consultation it is $130 and I am not sure I can trust someone’s opinion who seems to be taking advantage of their clients by charging so much. 100% success rate is very appealing and my thoughts are that I can see what they say in the consultation and make a decision as to whether or not I want to continue going there. I need to cancel by the end of the day tomorrow if I am not going so I guess I have a decision to make.

A rebutle to a mean comment ....."why I outta"

 A late night shout out to "Andrew" who posted something rude about my blog today. In the introduction to my blog I warn you that I may be oversharing. The material in my blog is regarding my medical condition so I  invite people to read ahead and travel with me on my infertility journey. I don't force my blog on anyone and dont pretend that some of the information might be TMI for some but the information I might leave out could possibly help someone. This blog is meant to be a form of therapy for me as I try and help others that may be going through the same thing and is not suppossed to be something negative. Andrew, you may not want to hear about my ...what did you call it "kooter juice" but there are some women out there with the same diagnosis as me wondering if their "juice" activity is normal. I have also received a lot of questions about the colon cleanse that you made a mean comment about. You blog about whatever it is you want to and I will do the same. No more verbal attacks, did it make you feel better about yourself when you sent me that message? Just because you have a complex doesnt mean you have to take it out on me. If the information in my blog is so repulsive, why did you read it?  You are making me feel bad for trying to help people so if you dont like it please dont read it and if you cant write anything nice, please dont write at all.  And to answer your question, yes I am obsessed. Obsessed with healing my body and restoring all natural functions and obsessed with the posibility of becoming a mother.

Placenta pie anyone?

The weekend was actually fun. It was nice to see all of my friends and get out of the house. I was so busy this weekend I didn’t have much time to think about things so I might try to keep that going. At dinner on Saturday night, I got to see about 12 women I went to college with. Our dinner conversation topics have definitely changed and most of us look very different but the dynamic of the group hasn’t changed. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time. Conversation topics of the cute fraternity boys and next parties have changed to things people do with their placenta after child birth and what happens when you push during labor. We were all laughing as the women who are expecting shared their fears and those that had given birth helped to make them feel better with their funny labor stories. The dinner topics did get me curious so I decided to do some research on the whole placenta thing. One of my very good friends is scheduled to give birth in a hospital in Boulder, CO next month so her and her husband went on a tour of the facility and went through her birthing plan. During the plan, she was asked what she would like to do with her placenta. Confused and not expecting the question she asked “what should I be doing with it?” The nurse then explained the mothers are welcome to take the placenta home and that some even ate their own placentas. My friend, was horrified and simply replied “we will not be needing a placenta service, thank you.” Her story is also the first time I have heard of people not only keeping their placentas but also ingesting them. In my mind I was picturing a woman checking out of the hospital and being handed her placenta wrapped like they wrap meat at the deli….so weird to me. Anyway here is what I found on the subject…… In the USA, most people don’t ever see their placentas (in fact some states have regulations that don’t allow patients to take their placentas out of the hospital). Most of the time they are either thrown away or sold to cosmetic companies (it’s true the embryonic tissue can be pulled from any pregnant mammal and used as a wrinkle reducer in skin creams…check this time article out http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1000192,00.html. Makes you want to rub your miracle cream all over doesn’t it?...Not!! A few other things Americans (that are allowed to take theirs home) are currently doing with their placentas. Some women plant their placenta in their yard and then plant a tree over it. Then every time the plant blooms, they are reminded of the birth or their child (doesn’t seem that bad to me, actually kind of like the idea). Other women make placenta prints. Before their birth they select a few pieces of art paper. After birth, they drop the placenta straight on the paper and have the blood mark the paper or some wipe the placenta off, dip it in ink and then drop it on paper (nothing like arts and crafts time after pushing out a watermelon from your hoha). Last but not least, some American women make medicine like capsules of their placenta and take them in order to ward off post partum depression and retain vitamins/minerals that may be lost during the birth process. I also found a crazy article on an artist who will take women’s placentas and sew them into teddy bears (I am not even going to comment on this one but here is the article http://www.bettyconfidential.com/ar/ld/a/Things-To-Do-With-Your-Placenta.html). What is interesting is what other cultures do with their placentas. I found this website ( http://www.pregnancy.org/question/what-can-we-do-placenta) that discusses what some other cultures believe about the placenta and what rituals they have on the subject. It seems that other cultures believe the placenta is considered to have a permanent and almost magical bond with the child it nourished in the womb, and disposal is handled as more of a ritual then just throwing in the trash…leave it to Americans to heave part of every citizens spiritual being into the trash right after birth. Welcome to America we are going to take away part of your soul but don’t worry you will never miss it. If you are lucky, a star might rub part of you all over their face!!! Back on topic… In Peru the father of the newborn child is required to bury the placenta in a safe place and deep enough so that no animals or people will accidentally discover it. Otherwise, if the placenta is disturbed the belief is that it might become "jealous" of the attention paid to the baby and may take revenge by causing an epidemic (I am picturing a cartoon placenta with arms and legs running towards a village) Some South American Indian cultures believe that a child's life can be influenced by objects that are buried with its placenta. Boys' placentas are frequently buried with a shovel or a pick, and girls' are buried with a loom or a hoe (I would want mine buried with diamonds, a symbol of good fertility and a symbol of good fortune…not sure what the diamonds what be for except that they are always a girls best friend so it couldn’t hurt right?). In the Philippines some bury the placenta with books as a way of ensuring intelligence. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs' placentas were wrapped in special containers to keep them from harm (I am wondering if they were kept on a shelf in each indivuals home? Was it something that went with them when they moved out and went out on their own? Was it something people compared? Mine is dark red but look how big yours is!). Traditional Vietnamese medicine uses placentas to combat sterility (if they think this, maybe it is true?). In India, touching a placenta is supposed to help a childless woman conceive a healthy baby of her own (yes I am thinking about where I might be able to find a placenta to touch… I know can you say DESPERATE. Maybe I could just wait outside someone’s room who is giving birth and ask to touch her placent…would that be to creepy? ..um yes). In China, some believe that breastfeeding mothers can improve the quality of their milk by drinking a broth made of boiled placenta. To top of the placenta discussion here are ten things you should know human placenta use in cosmetics courtesy of http://www.urbanhillbillyorganics.com/.


1. Hospitals do sell unclaimed placenta to pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies.

2. Eventhough many companies have reported their use of placenta in cosmetics, most are afraid to advertise this because customers are "squeamish" about the idea.

3. Collagen, a common ingredient in many popular lotions and creams, is often extracted from placenta.

4. For some groups, the use of products containing placenta - according to recent study - may be linked to premature sexual development.

5. Hormones extracted from placenta can be very effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

6. In Hong Kong it is admitted as a new trend that human placenta ingredients, as well as others from aborted fetuses, are used in beauty supplements.

7. Placental cosmetics, first used as injections in the 1930's that cost up to $10,000 per treatment, were pioneered by Dr. Paul Niehans as a luxury reserved for the rich & famous.

Your welcome, hope you are able to use your face lotion tonight. Isn’t it funny how you have never considered what is in your miracle cream until now??? And now an update… I had more clear CM over the weekend and noticed some cramping on the lower left side of my abdomen yesterday. I also noticed that I am not hungry as often as I used to be. Could it be because my colon is able to absorb more nutrients since the last cleanse?? Mrs. W told me that happened to her so I am thinking that is exactly what is going on. Yeah! I am not going to eat as much anymore, bikini season is almost underway so hopefully this continues. The baby shower was fun and I was able to spend the afternoon with my two very best friends and then work on the plans for a baby shower I am co-hosting in a few weeks. I was able to go home and enjoy the evening with my hubby with no ill feelings (after a ranting session with my mom..sorry mom someone has to hear it). I wanted to get rid of the “feeling sorry for myself mood” before I got home and I did (Man do I owe my mom a good present for Mother’s Day, she is always there for me). When I got home from the baby shower festivities, my husband was watching a movie and looked at my face to see if there had been a “disaster” while I was out. He seemed surprised when I walked up, gave him a kiss and went upstairs to change. Encouraged that I didn’t have a drama for him to talk me through, he met me in the kitchen and helped me make fertility friendly fish tacos and then we watched Police Academy while we dined. It was a very nice night and I am happy he is trying to eat my fertility food concoction. I of course didn’t drizzle flaxseed oil over his tacos but he doesn’t need estrogen, I do. Well hi ho hi ho it’s off to work I go. Happy Monday!