This morning I woke up at my usual time and got ready for work. My stomach felt a bit off, but that's normal for me. I started getting more and more nauseous as it was getting closer for me to have to leave for work. I got in the car and had driven only a few blocks and had the overwhelming urge that I needed to throw up NOW. So I turned the car around and drove back home as fast as I could. I didn't end up throwing up, only dry heaving (which I think can be worse at times). Afterward, I was shaking pretty bad. I ended up calling in sick today. I still feel crappy, but not as bad as this morning. I don't know what to make of that.
I messed around with my chart and put it back on the recommended interpretation setting and it's showing I ovulated and am 14 DPO. Considering my low progesterone last Monday, I'm not sure if I believe it. I think I will refrain from testing until after I'm officially late. I'm confused and really have no idea what to think about everything.
I checked my cellphone about a half hour ago and I had a missed call. Apparently it was one of the nurses from my doctor's office and she wanted me to give her a call back. She didn't say anything else, so I don't know what it is about. I guess I'll be giving her a call back in the morning.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Research
I've been doing some research on the Fertility Friends message boards to see what I can do to up my progesterone. I've seen a lot of mention of Vitex, which I am in the process of researching more.
I found this:
http://www.chinese-herbs.org/vitex/vitex-and-women-infertility.html
Vitex and Women Infertility: The Miracle Herb
Quite few people live their lives just to enjoy living. Many more are sure one of our main tasks here is to produce the new life. Therefore, they all want to have babies, but not all succeed.
In the estimated 50% of cases couples cannot have children because of the female infertility. The most common problems in women, which lead to the impossibility to get pregnant, are Ovulatory disorders. Most often they are caused by hormonal imbalances in women. The Ovulatory Disorders include: - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (a condition, when follicles don’t develop properly and an egg cannot mature. This is caused by the imbalance of luteinizing hormone, leading to the excessive production of estrogen. The disease manifests itself through heavy and/or irregular periods.) - Hyperprolactinemia (the excessive production of prolactin by the pituitary gland, resulting in irregular or no ovulation) - Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (a condition of irregular or no ovulation due to the imbalance of the hypothalamus gland work)
Nature is wise – it has remedies against the majority of human diseases, but we are sometimes not smart enough to notice them and use properly. One of the nature’s creations, which help overcome female infertility, is Vitex.
This plant has the ability to regulate human hormonal levels. The extract from the fruit, containing flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids, affects the activity of the pituitary gland, forcing it to produce more luteinizing hormone, which results in the increased production of progesterone. Larger doses of it are necessary to achieve normal and regular ovulation, which, as a result, helps become pregnant. Irregular ovulatory function can be restored by Vitex, since it can prolong the luteal phases.
Vitex also keeps prolactin levels in check, decreasing them if they are mildly elevated. (Prolactin is necessary for milk production during the breastfeeding, but it inhibits ovulation.)
Vitex can also be helpful after discontinuing the use of birth pills to restore normal ovulation.
The extract of the plant has no immediate effect, but multiple trials show that some women, whose infertility is associated with hormonal imbalances, can get pregnant after 3 months of treatment with Vitex preparations (1.8 ml per day of the fluid extract or 35-40 mg of encapsulated powdered plant.) However, the usual treatment period is from 12 to 18 months.
There also exists information, which suggests that Vitex can work increasing hormonal levels in those women, who lack them, and decreasing them in those, who suffer from their excessive amounts. This makes Vitex a kind of a miracle herb, which knows what is better for a woman’s body and can work like an experienced doctor to make the weaker sex happier.
I think this is definately something to look into and possibly try. I just wonder what the effects of taking it with clomid are. Off to do more research....
I found this:
http://www.chinese-herbs.org/vitex/vitex-and-women-infertility.html
Vitex and Women Infertility: The Miracle Herb
Quite few people live their lives just to enjoy living. Many more are sure one of our main tasks here is to produce the new life. Therefore, they all want to have babies, but not all succeed.
In the estimated 50% of cases couples cannot have children because of the female infertility. The most common problems in women, which lead to the impossibility to get pregnant, are Ovulatory disorders. Most often they are caused by hormonal imbalances in women. The Ovulatory Disorders include: - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (a condition, when follicles don’t develop properly and an egg cannot mature. This is caused by the imbalance of luteinizing hormone, leading to the excessive production of estrogen. The disease manifests itself through heavy and/or irregular periods.) - Hyperprolactinemia (the excessive production of prolactin by the pituitary gland, resulting in irregular or no ovulation) - Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (a condition of irregular or no ovulation due to the imbalance of the hypothalamus gland work)
Nature is wise – it has remedies against the majority of human diseases, but we are sometimes not smart enough to notice them and use properly. One of the nature’s creations, which help overcome female infertility, is Vitex.
This plant has the ability to regulate human hormonal levels. The extract from the fruit, containing flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids, affects the activity of the pituitary gland, forcing it to produce more luteinizing hormone, which results in the increased production of progesterone. Larger doses of it are necessary to achieve normal and regular ovulation, which, as a result, helps become pregnant. Irregular ovulatory function can be restored by Vitex, since it can prolong the luteal phases.
Vitex also keeps prolactin levels in check, decreasing them if they are mildly elevated. (Prolactin is necessary for milk production during the breastfeeding, but it inhibits ovulation.)
Vitex can also be helpful after discontinuing the use of birth pills to restore normal ovulation.
The extract of the plant has no immediate effect, but multiple trials show that some women, whose infertility is associated with hormonal imbalances, can get pregnant after 3 months of treatment with Vitex preparations (1.8 ml per day of the fluid extract or 35-40 mg of encapsulated powdered plant.) However, the usual treatment period is from 12 to 18 months.
There also exists information, which suggests that Vitex can work increasing hormonal levels in those women, who lack them, and decreasing them in those, who suffer from their excessive amounts. This makes Vitex a kind of a miracle herb, which knows what is better for a woman’s body and can work like an experienced doctor to make the weaker sex happier.
I think this is definately something to look into and possibly try. I just wonder what the effects of taking it with clomid are. Off to do more research....
Friday, October 26, 2007
And the results are in
I called the doctor's office today to get my blood test results. My progesterone was a whopping .27. So, my clomid will be upped to 150mg. I had them call in my prescription for clomid today so I'll be ready. I will also start the medication I had previously to bring on my period. I really hope this time it works. I'm getting more and more depressed everyday. It seems like everywhere I turn, there's someone who's pregnant or has a newborn. I feel myself getting very jealous. I just have to keep myself occupied and my mind off of the whole trying to conceive thing.
One of my friends from work wants me to work on crocheting them a blanket for their living room. So I'll use that to keep my mind off of things. I have a blanket that I'm working on for my friend who is pregnant, but I don't think I can work on that.
Exspectantes-Thank you for your prayers! I'll be sending some your way.
One of my friends from work wants me to work on crocheting them a blanket for their living room. So I'll use that to keep my mind off of things. I have a blanket that I'm working on for my friend who is pregnant, but I don't think I can work on that.
Exspectantes-Thank you for your prayers! I'll be sending some your way.
Monday, October 22, 2007
And there goes round 2 down the tubes
After entering my temperature in my chart this morning, my cross hairs were taken away. What does this mean? It means I have not ovulated yet. It looks like I tried to, but it just didn't go. I got my blood drawn for my CD 21 blood test. I know it'll be low. I don't know if I want to go another cycle. I had a feeling 50 mg wouldn't work this time. I'll see what the nurse says when she calls back with the results tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday.
So, I guess we'll see what the nurse says and where we should go from here.
So, I guess we'll see what the nurse says and where we should go from here.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Still frustrated
Monday I have my CD 21 blood draw...well it's not really CD 21, I'm hoping it'll be 7 DPO. I still haven't gotten my crosshairs on my chart yet. I'm not really sure if I ovulated Monday the 15th or not. I guess we'll see when I get my blood drawn again.
Nothing else is really going on. I'm still feeling down in the dumps and just want to throw in the towel and say forget it. I really don't know how much longer I want to try and/or take medication. I want to take a break, but I don't want to lose valuable time. I'm all confused. I will have to sit down with my husband (when I can find the time since we're both really busy) and talk about it and see how he feels. I'm sure he's feeling frustrated too.
Well, that's all for now. I'm going to try to unwind from class tonight.
Nothing else is really going on. I'm still feeling down in the dumps and just want to throw in the towel and say forget it. I really don't know how much longer I want to try and/or take medication. I want to take a break, but I don't want to lose valuable time. I'm all confused. I will have to sit down with my husband (when I can find the time since we're both really busy) and talk about it and see how he feels. I'm sure he's feeling frustrated too.
Well, that's all for now. I'm going to try to unwind from class tonight.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Infertility in Scripture, part 3
Manoah's wife though barren conceives and bears a son who will deliver Israel from the Philistines
Judges 13: 2 There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. 4 Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. 5 As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines."
Judges 13: 2 There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. 4 Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. 5 As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines."
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Ah, the weekend
This was supposed to be a great weekend. I usually have Friday's off and my husband took the day off as well. We also both took Monday off. We were going to spend the entire weekend to ourselves and just have some together time since our anniversary is Monday. It's been well over a month since we've had a weekend free. The ony non-together time as been the football game we went to this morning with my husband's family. I was hoping we'd just go to the game then come home and continue our weekend. But now his family is coming over this evening for "movie time".
I'm also getting depressed that I haven't ovulated yet. I think with the way my temperature was today, I might ovulate today. I will have to take another OPK. I'm getting emotionally tired from the TTC journey. We've sort of been on it for 2 years. I'm getting frustrated at the fact that I may never get pregnant. I really want to just give up and stop TTC after this cycle. But I know I'll regret it if I do.
I think I'm just going to try to "grin and bear" it this evening. I'll make some tea and hopefully have a kitty or 2 cuddle with me. And lots of chocolate!
I'm also getting depressed that I haven't ovulated yet. I think with the way my temperature was today, I might ovulate today. I will have to take another OPK. I'm getting emotionally tired from the TTC journey. We've sort of been on it for 2 years. I'm getting frustrated at the fact that I may never get pregnant. I really want to just give up and stop TTC after this cycle. But I know I'll regret it if I do.
I think I'm just going to try to "grin and bear" it this evening. I'll make some tea and hopefully have a kitty or 2 cuddle with me. And lots of chocolate!
Monday, October 8, 2007
I suppose....
I suppose I should write an update..it has been awhile.
My first cycle on clomid was a bust. My period started last Saturday (Sept. 29th). I did up my pills and have taken them for "round 2". I feel this is "old hat" now. I'm not as gung-ho this cycle. I had heard so many stories about getting pregnant on the first cycle of clomid. When I talked to the nurse after my progesterone test she said next cycle they would bump it up to 100mg of clomid. I went to pick up my prescription and it was for only 50mg again. I did have a strong ovulation last cycle so we'll see how that goes.
I've been waking up about a half hour to an hour earlier than my normal wake up time of 5:10am. I've now adjusted my wake time and am now getting up at 4:20am. I started with my ovulation predictor kits today...very faint line so ovulation isn't too far off. I hope I have some ovulation pain again this cycle. It was a nice reminder that it wasn't too far off.
Since I'm not pregnant, I'm enjoying a nice cold beer. So *cheers* and here to a new cycle and new hope.
My first cycle on clomid was a bust. My period started last Saturday (Sept. 29th). I did up my pills and have taken them for "round 2". I feel this is "old hat" now. I'm not as gung-ho this cycle. I had heard so many stories about getting pregnant on the first cycle of clomid. When I talked to the nurse after my progesterone test she said next cycle they would bump it up to 100mg of clomid. I went to pick up my prescription and it was for only 50mg again. I did have a strong ovulation last cycle so we'll see how that goes.
I've been waking up about a half hour to an hour earlier than my normal wake up time of 5:10am. I've now adjusted my wake time and am now getting up at 4:20am. I started with my ovulation predictor kits today...very faint line so ovulation isn't too far off. I hope I have some ovulation pain again this cycle. It was a nice reminder that it wasn't too far off.
Since I'm not pregnant, I'm enjoying a nice cold beer. So *cheers* and here to a new cycle and new hope.
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