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I have hesitated to share my news with the group, as I know how receiving someone else's good news feels. However, I believe my struggles and success may help others andtherefore I share with you today. I am almost 9 weeks pregnant. (Laura gave birth to ababy girl in September 2000) If you bear with me, I'll share my story as best I can.
We apologize for the inconvenience. Please visit our blogging site instead for the most uptodate version of this page: http://infertilityworkshop.com/blog/lauras-testimony/
My dh and I are both 35 now and have been ttc #1 for 2 years. We have/had unexplainedinfertility. I did see an infertility specialist (RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist) after6-9 months without success. When I first starting seeing the RE I had little knowledge ofmy own body or general reproduction. I am in the health field (dietitian), however andtherefore understood basic medicine. We did the usual tests.
Hormones, checked for anemia, thyroid and other unusual labs. Everything was normal. Mydh also did a standard sperm analysis and this, too was normal. It was then suggested wedo an HSG (dye test to see if my tubes were clear). We did it and it, too was normal. Mycycles were deemed regular (29-31 days always) and from best of my knowledge I alwaysovulated. My weight has always been good, I routinely exercise. I eat a generally good,mostly vegetarian diet.
So, it was then determined that we had unexplained IF. At this point, my RE suggestedClomid. I asked why and she said, it could boost my ovulation, provide a stronger egg(s).I hesitated, but decided to try. First cycle, nothing. So, then the RE upped the dose thesecond month and I began to have my doubts. But, combined with this second cycle, my REthought that an IUI (Intrauterine insemination) would be worth a try. She had determined Ihad a slightly narrow cervix and possibly giving the sperm a push (they inject with asyringe) may help. This, too didn't work.
Third cycle of Clomid, we did another IUI and this too, produced no results. This wasreally weighing on me now, as I really doubted the effects of Clomid, since I ovulate onmy own and that's it's main purpose (to produce ovulation). I admit I did not pray enoughabout this course of treatment. But, after three trials I new I would do no more. I beganmy research and realized the potential long term consequences of Clomid and I wished I hadnever tried it. We ended up completing 5 IUI's (three with Clomid, two without). None ofthem ever worked. This in someone that should not have problems getting pregnant.
At this point, the RE began to lose options. She said, the next option would beinjectibles (strong fertility drugs) or In-vitro fertilization. She said, I don't knowwhat to do for unexplained IF. This is when I/We said, enough. This is not the way for usto go. We prayed and I said, there has got to be a better way. I told my RE I needed abreak and didn't really go back, except for an annual pap.
This is when things began to change. I still do not know how I found this list andBrenda (I believe it was divine intervention), but nevertheless I did and it has made allthe difference. Brenda doesn't ask for praise and actually down plays it when it happens.But, I must say, she and her knowledge led me to take charge, research on my own, discussoptions and keep trying. She has been my teacher, my cheerleader, my motivator, my friend,my prayer partner and I can only thank God for her. Ladies, listen to her, God worksthrough her. She's a blessing to me...........
Now, to what I learned and did. Despite my diet, I struggled with constipation. Shestarted me on Herbal Fiberblend™ and this is a wonderfulproduct that did a great cleanse for me and regulated my bowels. Can't speak highly enoughabout it. It doesn't taste great, but mixed in a morning smoothie and you hardly know it.Next, I added Barleygreen™. I drink this every morningfirst thing (3T). I reduced my white flour and sugar content even further and kept addingmore live food on a daily basis and this too aided the constipation and overall health.
I also added better fats to my diet through nuts, seeds and flax oil. These EFA's are critical. I also began juicing,carrots especially and can't sing these praises enough. Somewhere along here I added mysoy/fruit shakes daily in the AM, as I've mentioned in the past. I also, found the bookTCOYF (Taking Charge of Your Fertility)and this educated me completely on the reproductive system and helped me learn about myown body. Buy it. I had already been taking my temp and tracking my cycles, but Icontinued to do so. (Very important--do it). Through this, I confirmed that I indeed ovulatedevery month, but noticed I had a delayed thermal shift. Took a few days to for my temp torise after ovulating. I also, noticed that my cervical fluid was not as it should be. Thebook explains all this.
I'd like to say, I didn't figure all of this out at the same time. Just when I'd thinkI figured something out, try to fix it, I only then realized maybe it was something else.This was the biggest struggle for us. We just could not pinpoint the exact problem, inessence we had no problems, yet I couldn't get pregnant. The more and more I read, andtalked with Brenda, we couldn't quite figure it out. So, we tried different things, onlyto wonder if I was jumping around too much from one regimen to another. I tried herbs suchas Vitex, vitex elixir and dong quai. I'd like to add, Brenda was not the one trying tojump me around, I was the one seeking the knowledge, attempting to try. I can say, I feelI have been fairly patient throughout this ordeal, otherwise I would have jumped morestrongly on the medical route with the doctor.
I/We stepped back and slowed down. Yet, in reflection, there were moments I was lesspatient than I could have been. I even tried an estrogen patch that worked for someoneelse in the group (since gone) and this was horrible as it messed up my cycle. I do notrecommend this course and it's not natural, but not as medicinal as clomid. But, ladies,use my experience and avoid it. I wont' even go into the reasons I tried it, they ended upbeing wrong. I admit, I have made mistakes along the way, but through prayer and betterknowledge, I waited my turn and I/We were blessed.
To help the CM: I tried B6, bee pollen, Robitussin, beta carotene supplements,gaia brand of licorice root. I can tell you, FOR ME, none ofthese worked. I continue the bee pollen due it's complete protein content but not for theCM. What ended up helping my CM was black and blue cohosh, that helped M (doesn't want hername mentioned but you can see her testimony), too. But, again, talk to Brenda beforetrying.
To help my overall cycle, even though it was regular, I did straight vitex. I dobelieve this helpful for me, rather than the elixir. I think it may have helped withmaking the ovulation stronger. Since, I noticed the delayed thermal shift, we felt thevitex may help, since a weak ovulation may make it harder for the temp to rise. Again,this is a theory, there is very limited, more like nothing, written on 'delayed thermalshift'. I also added red raspberry leaf tea (this great advice came from Linda, whom hasleft the list but wanted to give her some credit. She helped me a bit a few months ago).This I drink cool everyday to help relax my uterus. To also help the thermal shift, I woreeye blinders during my cycles except for days 13-15 when ovulation was due. Too much lightearly in your cycle may disrupt ovulation. So, when ovulation was due, I took off theblinders and either slept with the curtains open to let in the moon or used a night light.This is when you DO want light. I think this may have helped, too.
I went through periods of trying many different vit/min combinations, only to feel Iwas the pill queen. I've gone back and forth on their worth. The processing is the key.Most are junk. I believe the best are made from wholefoods. But, for the most part, I takevery few now, even prenatals, as I drink BG (Barleygreen™) and use nutritional yeastand bee pollen in my AM shake and eat and juice well.
So, in the end, I used straight vitex, black and blue cohosh, eye blinders, BG,HFB, rawjuice, Soy/fruit/flax/yeast/bee pollen shakes and red raspberry leaf tea. My successfulcycle had the best thermal shift ever (day after O as it should be), however it wasn't thebest CM I ever had, but enough to do the trick. I can't say I can pinpoint exactly whatworked this particular month as it's not that clear cut, but I do feel this regimencreated the most beneficial situation for me.
Also, I must give the most credit where it is due. My Lord, Jesus Christ can make allthings possible. And, throughout this period I gained comfort in this. This was VERY hardmost of the time and I/We do not deny it. But, I/We just kept praying, elicited others topray for us and kept the faith. But for some reason, we were meant to have this trial andit has made us stronger. Brenda's and others faith helped us as well. The more and more Iresearched and studied with Brenda, the stronger I felt about utilizing God's naturalways.
And, I AM PROOF THAT IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!! Ladies, it can. It's easy to go thetraditional/medical route, but believe me it doesn't always work. Really, it only works30-40% of the time and the numbers go down fast after age 30 and dramatically after age40. Don't let the Docs make you think otherwise. Reality is, it doesn't work more oftenthan it does. That's no matter what course of action you try. Besides, you could try itwith no luck and still end up with cancer down the road. Or worse, it works, you have ababy and then die 10 years after he/she is born. Seems dramatic, but I'm not convinced I'mfar off the mark. God led me to this verse and I held tight to it. Philippians 4:6"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs anddon't forget to thank him for the answers." Right there, was the answer all along. Mreminded me of this on a few occasions. She'd say to me "Don't worry, remember Godtold you". Yes, I had my doubts, I am human, too. But, I thank the Lord, he hasblessed us fully. And, you bet, I'm proud I did it naturally. I went in to my RE a fewweeks ago and she confirmed with a blood test, that I indeed was PG. and she said"you're trying to make me look bad". But she chuckled and you know what? Shesaid.........send me your info on vitex and your other herbs!!!........ I call thatPOWER...........more like Brenda power!!! Blessing to all you ladies.........I carry yourburdens. Please hold strong to what YOU think is right. I'm glad I did. Laura
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