| Image by MONICA Reyes via Pinterest |
To say I am impatient is a bit of an
understatement. When I want to do something, I want to do it yesterday. My dad
used to say to me:
“Lou Lou*, there’s no doubt about it –
you’re a doer!”
you’re a doer!”
*My middle name is Louise. Although, he
often now calls me Luci. Pretty sure it has nothing to do with my middle name.
Should I be offended that Luci is the name of our dog?
often now calls me Luci. Pretty sure it has nothing to do with my middle name.
Should I be offended that Luci is the name of our dog?
My amazing husband is also very cognizant
of my “need-to-do-this-right-now-or-else” attitude. Although he often takes the
approach of:
of my “need-to-do-this-right-now-or-else” attitude. Although he often takes the
approach of:
“Patience, my love. Patience”
Whatever. I’m a doer! My daddy told me so!
And so when it came to baby-making, I applied the same amount of “OK, let’s do
this” attitude, thinking if we start trying now (June 2013), then the baby will
arrive around March next year, so I will be well and truly clear of university
responsibilities. I apologized to my best friend – there was a high chance that
I would either be pregnant or with child on her 30th birthday (9th
March 2014). How lovely it is to dream….
And so when it came to baby-making, I applied the same amount of “OK, let’s do
this” attitude, thinking if we start trying now (June 2013), then the baby will
arrive around March next year, so I will be well and truly clear of university
responsibilities. I apologized to my best friend – there was a high chance that
I would either be pregnant or with child on her 30th birthday (9th
March 2014). How lovely it is to dream….
Now, as you may know (if you have read my
previous posts on the matter HERE, HERE and HERE), there was one minor glitch
in this lady’s plan – a menstrual cycle that had been M.I.A for quite some
time.
previous posts on the matter HERE, HERE and HERE), there was one minor glitch
in this lady’s plan – a menstrual cycle that had been M.I.A for quite some
time.
“That’s OK”, my friends would say, “I know
a girl who had a cousin who dated a girl whose mother conceived when she didn’t
have a period”**. Sweet. Back on track.
a girl who had a cousin who dated a girl whose mother conceived when she didn’t
have a period”**. Sweet. Back on track.
**May or may not be an accurate
recollection of the conversation. Admittedly, quite a few friends mentioned
that you could indeed ovulate without menstruating. I have since done the
research and they were correct! Yay!
recollection of the conversation. Admittedly, quite a few friends mentioned
that you could indeed ovulate without menstruating. I have since done the
research and they were correct! Yay!
However, I knew it wasn’t ideal. I knew the best
plan of attack would be to get my menstrual cycle regular – then I would truly
back on fertile grounds.
plan of attack would be to get my menstrual cycle regular – then I would truly
back on fertile grounds.
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| Image by Erin Karolchyk via Pinterest |
As I mentioned in my previous post on the
matter, my first period in 2 years returned in September last year while I was
in Broome. Then I returned home to Sydney apparently leaving my monthlies back
in Western Australia. It was a little disappointing, but part of me expected
it, for some reason.
matter, my first period in 2 years returned in September last year while I was
in Broome. Then I returned home to Sydney apparently leaving my monthlies back
in Western Australia. It was a little disappointing, but part of me expected
it, for some reason.
We moved to New Zealand on Christmas Eve. Over
the new year period, I partied like it was 1999 (only this time I was legally
old enough to drink) – I was fed up with being “good” all the time, getting no
evident results on the lady-time front. Early January this year it returned – I
was pretty excited! So was my husband. And my family. Yep – everyone heard
about it! It probably sounds odd to hear someone say they are excited about
getting their monthlies –a time when your skin breaks out, you become a bit of
an irrational, short-tempered bitch, your tummy cramps and bloats and youcan’t
don’t want to have sex. Sounds pretty shit, right? Any guys reading this are
probably squirming up their face right now. Have you ever noticed that most
males freak out when you say “period”. Try it – it’s fun! Anyway, the whole
thing is exciting if you’re in my boat – it signals that things are starting to
work again. And when you want a baby, there is nothing more important than the
baby-maker. That’s not rocket science.
the new year period, I partied like it was 1999 (only this time I was legally
old enough to drink) – I was fed up with being “good” all the time, getting no
evident results on the lady-time front. Early January this year it returned – I
was pretty excited! So was my husband. And my family. Yep – everyone heard
about it! It probably sounds odd to hear someone say they are excited about
getting their monthlies –a time when your skin breaks out, you become a bit of
an irrational, short-tempered bitch, your tummy cramps and bloats and you
don’t want to have sex. Sounds pretty shit, right? Any guys reading this are
probably squirming up their face right now. Have you ever noticed that most
males freak out when you say “period”. Try it – it’s fun! Anyway, the whole
thing is exciting if you’re in my boat – it signals that things are starting to
work again. And when you want a baby, there is nothing more important than the
baby-maker. That’s not rocket science.
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| Image by Joanna Rodarte via Pinterest |
OK let’s back-track a little.combination of factors: low carb diet, high intensity exercise, high
stress life….. It’s really not surprising that my thyroid shut up shop! When
you have low thyroid, you can experience a number of symptoms:
- Low energy (tick – always loved my coffee
to get me going) - Cold hands and feet (my husband can vouch
for this one) - Dry skin (like a crocodile. Sexy, right?)
- Weight gain (well, I had been trying to
gain weight, but it did seem to happen at a pretty rapid rate) - Low basal body temperature (mine was frequently dipping into “hypothermia”)
- Menstrual cycle problems – BOOM!
There are others, but I’m sure you know how
to use Dr Google.
So I had a thyroid problem. The solution?
Medication. I don’t like pharmaceutical drugs. I think they mess with our
system and are too often handed out like lollies. However, if I wanted my body
to start functioning properly, something had to be done. Luckily, I could be
put on thyroid extract – dessicated pig thyroid! Yummy! Thyroid extract has the
advantage of providing everything your thyroid requires, rather than just T4
(thyroxine), the inactive form of thyroid hormone which needs to be converted
to the active form, T3 (triiodothyronine – try saying that 10 times fast!).
Medication. I don’t like pharmaceutical drugs. I think they mess with our
system and are too often handed out like lollies. However, if I wanted my body
to start functioning properly, something had to be done. Luckily, I could be
put on thyroid extract – dessicated pig thyroid! Yummy! Thyroid extract has the
advantage of providing everything your thyroid requires, rather than just T4
(thyroxine), the inactive form of thyroid hormone which needs to be converted
to the active form, T3 (triiodothyronine – try saying that 10 times fast!).
Anywho, a few weeks ago I had to go to a
local NZ doctor to get a new script for my pig pills. She sent me for some
blood tests to get a baseline of where my thyroid hormones are at. For shits
and giggles, I thought:
“While you’re getting some blood, let’s find out if I’m
ovulating”….
ovulating”….
The results came back –
Dr: “Your progesterone is very low, which
means you aren’t ovulating, which I guess you already knew….”
means you aren’t ovulating, which I guess you already knew….”
Me: “Mmm hmmm. Yes, I guessed that was the
case” – I lied, smiling on the outside, but dying a little on the inside. (For some reason, if you work as a health practitioner and you know about biochemistry, you somehow don’t require the usual bedside manner)
case” – I lied, smiling on the outside, but dying a little on the inside. (For some reason, if you work as a health practitioner and you know about biochemistry, you somehow don’t require the usual bedside manner)
I’m not great with emotions, so I didn’t
cry then and there. Or on the 40 minute drive home. It wasn’t until my
mother-in-law’s dog chewed my sports bra that everything came unstuck and I
threw a massive tanty. Why, when I have done everything right, was this
happening to me? For more than 2 years I have tried pretty much everything to
make myself fertile. What have I tried, you ask?
cry then and there. Or on the 40 minute drive home. It wasn’t until my
mother-in-law’s dog chewed my sports bra that everything came unstuck and I
threw a massive tanty. Why, when I have done everything right, was this
happening to me? For more than 2 years I have tried pretty much everything to
make myself fertile. What have I tried, you ask?
- Acupuncture
- Acuenergetics
- Ayurvedic massage
- Chiropractic
- Kinesiology
- Reflexology
- Chinese Medicine
- Raw food
- Cooked food
- More carbs
- More fat
- More protein
- More food in general
- Weight gain
- Less exercise
- Different exercise
- Herbal teas
- Naturopathy
- Herbal medicine
- Vitamin and mineral supplements
- Desiccated adrenal gland
- Desiccated testicle – yep, you read right –
bull’s balls. Check them out below - Abstaining from caffeine
- Abstaining from alcohol
- Sleeping in a pitch black room – I card-boarded
up my windows to block out the light - Crystal healing
- Ayahuasca
- Shamanism
That’s just what I can remember off the top
of my head. I am sure there’s more. Long list, right? Sometimes it is tempting
to just give up and go down the medical route. But that’s not what I am about.
I am determined to fix this the natural way – not just for me, but for all of
the other females in my position. If I can fix myself, then I am in a much
better position to be able to help others, right? I am slowly working through a
truck-load of scientific literature. I say slowly because the studies I am
reading are pretty technical and full of “science-ese” (as Denise Minger would
call the language of science). But I will get there. And when I do, I will be
sure to share what I have learnt. I’ve got your back, ladies!
As we speak, I have my period. That’s two
in two months! The last was a 38 day cycle – verging on regularity (ideally
they should be 28-35 days long). It has taken me this long to get my period
back. I’m guessing it will just take a little longer for ovulation to kick back
in.
in two months! The last was a 38 day cycle – verging on regularity (ideally
they should be 28-35 days long). It has taken me this long to get my period
back. I’m guessing it will just take a little longer for ovulation to kick back
in.
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| Image by Tina B via Pinterest |
So stay tuned, friends – these things take
time, but we are making progress! Thank you all for your continued support – it
means a lot! xx
