Great website for those who suspected low progesterone or estrogen dominance. Does this fit you??
Low Progesterone or Estrogen Dominance
Low Progesterone or Estrogen Dominance
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
I just want to surrender
I really just want to wave the white flag and surrender. Hey, it's a thought!
But if you really know me, I'm not going to. I may feel defeated and torn apart but this is how it goes. I know this, I know this feeling and remember it all too well.
However, after a week to mull this over, I am and was reminded that I still have other avenues. Its just frustrating that I keep going through this only to find dead ends. In fact its discouraging.
So right now my only option is to continue with NaPro and see where that avenue takes us. I may start researching some other specialist just as a back up but I'm pretty sure this is the avenue that will listen to me and follow through. I won't be just another number.
So I know I haven't done NaPro & the Creighton Model justice as far as explaining it and Erin gave me a pamphlet at our most recent appt that says:
I mean I always "knew" when my fertile times were. That wasn't the reason for doing this. The reason for doing this was more to determine biomarkers that could make a connection with my RPL (ie. My last 3 days of my period I usually spot brown which most likely means a progesterone issue and/or LPD).
Erin continues to offer encouragement and support. Assuring me that Dr. Daggs will take me seriously and do the appropriate testing. We are sure she will do a full hormonal work up. I will probably be getting blood taking every 2-3 days to determine all hormonal levels throughout my cycle. So all in all I will have about 10 blood draws in 29 days. Seriously...could anyone else not order this test? :::sigh::: I mean it makes so much sense to me instead of just worrying about what it is on day 3; its the whole cycle that matters.
We may still test NK cells and do not only various blood draws but u/s too. All to see an empty uterus :-/ but it must be done so hopefully some day it won't be empty.
Here is a great chart to see what your hormone levels should be doing on various days.
But if you really know me, I'm not going to. I may feel defeated and torn apart but this is how it goes. I know this, I know this feeling and remember it all too well.
However, after a week to mull this over, I am and was reminded that I still have other avenues. Its just frustrating that I keep going through this only to find dead ends. In fact its discouraging.
So right now my only option is to continue with NaPro and see where that avenue takes us. I may start researching some other specialist just as a back up but I'm pretty sure this is the avenue that will listen to me and follow through. I won't be just another number.
So I know I haven't done NaPro & the Creighton Model justice as far as explaining it and Erin gave me a pamphlet at our most recent appt that says:
"The Creighton Model Fertility Care System teaches couples to recognize, understand and record the changes that occur during the menstrual cycle. These changes indicate whether the reproductive system is functioning normally or not. [...]
FertilityCare Practitioners (FCPs) are allied health professionals, nurses and physician assistants who provide instruction in the Creighton Model. It is FCP who refers clients and couples to the Creighton Medical Consultants when charting of biomarkers indicates a need for intervention with NaPro Technology. NaPro is a new women's health science that is based on the Creighton Model FertilityCare System."I thought it was a better explanation then maybe what I provided before. I just added the Creighton Model link to the side of this blog. Also for backround on the Creighton Model and for pictures of what various cycles may look like click here.
I mean I always "knew" when my fertile times were. That wasn't the reason for doing this. The reason for doing this was more to determine biomarkers that could make a connection with my RPL (ie. My last 3 days of my period I usually spot brown which most likely means a progesterone issue and/or LPD).
Erin continues to offer encouragement and support. Assuring me that Dr. Daggs will take me seriously and do the appropriate testing. We are sure she will do a full hormonal work up. I will probably be getting blood taking every 2-3 days to determine all hormonal levels throughout my cycle. So all in all I will have about 10 blood draws in 29 days. Seriously...could anyone else not order this test? :::sigh::: I mean it makes so much sense to me instead of just worrying about what it is on day 3; its the whole cycle that matters.
We may still test NK cells and do not only various blood draws but u/s too. All to see an empty uterus :-/ but it must be done so hopefully some day it won't be empty.
Here is a great chart to see what your hormone levels should be doing on various days.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Yoo hoo :::waves arms::: Yoo hoo Dr. Corely? Please come back. :::long sigh::: Why is my luck such crap? I'm determined though to focus on the positives too.
So...not crazy "in love" with Dr. Peters...at least not yet. I'm really curious as to what Dr. Corely would do from here. So in short this was our conversation:
The Good:
1) Dr. Peters most importantly listed to me. Which is half the battle with most doctors. He spent 40 minutes on the phone with me.
2) He was informative. A lot of what I've read though so nothing too, too new.
3) Since last speaking with Dr. Corely, the only thing discovered was the MTHFR. He said that is easily treated with extra folic acid. It doesn't seem like he will want to treat the MTHFR with lovenox or heparin. Which I'm totally fine not doing at this point.
4) He wants Mike to have a semen analysis asap!!
5) I'm set up for Sept 20th, to have a fluid ultrasound, NK assay, cervix culture & for Mike to have a SA. We will also have my FSH & E2 blood work completed at this point.
6) He acknowledge that I'm too young to have as many m/c's as I have had.
The Bad & The Ugly: (I'm combining these because I don't know what is what, it all fits)
1) Right away he was talking IVF. At this point there is no reason to go down that road, other then being able to genetically test the embryos before implantation. I mean I'm able to get pregnant. I have one healthy child. Why on earth would I want to do IVF and spend thousands of dollars?
2) My tone totally changed after we talked about this and made me a little disgusted. I asked about what he thought about LPD and explained the whole NaPro thing at this time and what we discovered. He responded 20 years ago he would have said yes its a possibility. However, in 1998 he was part of a huge study on LPD and did 1500 endometrium biopsies on women. Done were proven to have LPD. As you and I know you can put 5 lab specialists (radiologists, doctors, lawyers, vets etc) in one room and not come up with the same diagnosis. He said modern medicine does not believe so much in LPD. He said it may be that we just don't have the technology to discover it yet. (SERIOUSLY?!?!?!) So his suggestion if we do suspect that is we do progesterone no matter what after I ovulate. :::sigh::: Once again here we go treating the symptoms and not looking further into it.
For example, if I have a pt who has knee pain, I don't just treat her knee. Sometimes the knee is from weak hip muscles, poor footwear, poor body mechanics, SI dysfunction, etc....there is sooo much that could be causing that knee pain and I look at all these factors (well the PT does, the doctor should but half the time misses it). If I or the PT overlook these issues and just strengthen the knee musculature sure the knee will get better. More than likely that patient will be back in a year with the same damn problem. Sometimes its appropriate to say ok well if this doesn't work than lets try xyz & if not we'll try abc.
Getting to my point I feel like if they just give me progesterone just because they are only treating the symptom and maybe not the underlying cause. Again let's refer to this article, inciid.org
"Should progesterone levels prove to be low, the temptation is often to "treat the symptom" by giving the patient progesterone supplementation during the luteal phase. In the case of inadequate corpus luteum performance, progesterone support may indeed be the appropriate solution. However, inadequate follicle development may also be causing the low progesterone levels. Thus, it is important to measure midcycle follicle size (via ultrasound) and estradiol levels (via a blood test)."
He was talking how biopsy's are rarely done now due to the inaccurate results. And I get that, I get that they are unreliable. I'm not asking for that. So it may be up to my new ob/gyn, Dr. Daggs to diagnose this properly and see WTH is wrong with my hormones.
3) He doesn't like that Mike is taking T. I don't blame him. But what can we do at this time?
I think that's it for now. Welcome to the good, the bad & the ugly.
So...not crazy "in love" with Dr. Peters...at least not yet. I'm really curious as to what Dr. Corely would do from here. So in short this was our conversation:
The Good:
1) Dr. Peters most importantly listed to me. Which is half the battle with most doctors. He spent 40 minutes on the phone with me.
2) He was informative. A lot of what I've read though so nothing too, too new.
3) Since last speaking with Dr. Corely, the only thing discovered was the MTHFR. He said that is easily treated with extra folic acid. It doesn't seem like he will want to treat the MTHFR with lovenox or heparin. Which I'm totally fine not doing at this point.
4) He wants Mike to have a semen analysis asap!!
5) I'm set up for Sept 20th, to have a fluid ultrasound, NK assay, cervix culture & for Mike to have a SA. We will also have my FSH & E2 blood work completed at this point.
6) He acknowledge that I'm too young to have as many m/c's as I have had.
The Bad & The Ugly: (I'm combining these because I don't know what is what, it all fits)
1) Right away he was talking IVF. At this point there is no reason to go down that road, other then being able to genetically test the embryos before implantation. I mean I'm able to get pregnant. I have one healthy child. Why on earth would I want to do IVF and spend thousands of dollars?
2) My tone totally changed after we talked about this and made me a little disgusted. I asked about what he thought about LPD and explained the whole NaPro thing at this time and what we discovered. He responded 20 years ago he would have said yes its a possibility. However, in 1998 he was part of a huge study on LPD and did 1500 endometrium biopsies on women. Done were proven to have LPD. As you and I know you can put 5 lab specialists (radiologists, doctors, lawyers, vets etc) in one room and not come up with the same diagnosis. He said modern medicine does not believe so much in LPD. He said it may be that we just don't have the technology to discover it yet. (SERIOUSLY?!?!?!) So his suggestion if we do suspect that is we do progesterone no matter what after I ovulate. :::sigh::: Once again here we go treating the symptoms and not looking further into it.
For example, if I have a pt who has knee pain, I don't just treat her knee. Sometimes the knee is from weak hip muscles, poor footwear, poor body mechanics, SI dysfunction, etc....there is sooo much that could be causing that knee pain and I look at all these factors (well the PT does, the doctor should but half the time misses it). If I or the PT overlook these issues and just strengthen the knee musculature sure the knee will get better. More than likely that patient will be back in a year with the same damn problem. Sometimes its appropriate to say ok well if this doesn't work than lets try xyz & if not we'll try abc.
Getting to my point I feel like if they just give me progesterone just because they are only treating the symptom and maybe not the underlying cause. Again let's refer to this article, inciid.org
"Should progesterone levels prove to be low, the temptation is often to "treat the symptom" by giving the patient progesterone supplementation during the luteal phase. In the case of inadequate corpus luteum performance, progesterone support may indeed be the appropriate solution. However, inadequate follicle development may also be causing the low progesterone levels. Thus, it is important to measure midcycle follicle size (via ultrasound) and estradiol levels (via a blood test)."
He was talking how biopsy's are rarely done now due to the inaccurate results. And I get that, I get that they are unreliable. I'm not asking for that. So it may be up to my new ob/gyn, Dr. Daggs to diagnose this properly and see WTH is wrong with my hormones.
3) He doesn't like that Mike is taking T. I don't blame him. But what can we do at this time?
I think that's it for now. Welcome to the good, the bad & the ugly.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
So much CM...
There is not too much to update on. I had another appt with Erin to look over my chart and discussed things that were happening. We were able to better identify my peak day (the day I ovulated) this cycle. During the 2nd half of my cycle whenever I finger test I am to record the 2nd stretch vs the first stretch. Erin believes that I produce so much cervical mucous that the first stretch is much longer vs the second. She's been right, the 2nd stretch has been much less of a stretch than the first. So...hopefully that will help out some.
I have my phone consult with Dr. Peters on Tuesday and I made an appt to see Dr. Daggs at Women's for Center Health who will be my new ob/gyn. That appt is not until Sept 12, due to insurance. I'm ready to get this show on the road! I can finally say we're almost half way there.
Since I haven't been blogging much I've been throwing myself into genealogy. I signed up again for ancestry.com and that has been fun and exciting. Helping to get my mind off of things. I have made a lot of connections not only in the tree itself but with others on ancestry. I've even got in touch with my grandmother's cousin. Crazy? Yea I know and its so much fun! Gives me something to focus on and look forward to doing.
That's it for now. I'll try to update Tuesday after my phone consult. :::crossing my fingers and toes::: that everything goes well and I like this doctor.
I have my phone consult with Dr. Peters on Tuesday and I made an appt to see Dr. Daggs at Women's for Center Health who will be my new ob/gyn. That appt is not until Sept 12, due to insurance. I'm ready to get this show on the road! I can finally say we're almost half way there.
Since I haven't been blogging much I've been throwing myself into genealogy. I signed up again for ancestry.com and that has been fun and exciting. Helping to get my mind off of things. I have made a lot of connections not only in the tree itself but with others on ancestry. I've even got in touch with my grandmother's cousin. Crazy? Yea I know and its so much fun! Gives me something to focus on and look forward to doing.
That's it for now. I'll try to update Tuesday after my phone consult. :::crossing my fingers and toes::: that everything goes well and I like this doctor.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Dr. Corely to Dr. Peters
I e-mailed Lisa, Dr. Corely's secretary over the weekend to get "my ducks in a row". I heard back from another lady, Brenda on Monday. I was finally able to get a hold of her today and she had some unfortunate news. Dr. Corely is leaving SIRM.
WHAT!?! Of course this is my luck. Grr...
Anyway she asked (politely too) if she could transfer me to Dr. Peters. I thoroughly discussed my issues with her and basically told her that no one has taken me serious. I'm 27 y.o. suffering with RPL and feel I have been over looked by doctors in my area. I asked if Dr. Peters would take me serious like Dr. Corely and she said "I think after one conversation with Dr. Peters you will be very happy." I read his little bio on SIRM's website and it sounds like he has enormous experience with RPL. So those two things eased my anxiety.
I have another (free) follow up phone consult, this time with Dr. Peters, on July 12th. :::Crossing my fingers & toes:::
We will discuss my finding on LPD (thanks to NaPro) and if any other farther testing is needed to confirm (other than FSH & E2 on CD3). If he foresees a HSG in my future and possibly get an idea of when that can happen. We will also discuss if he thinks the immune testing is needed since we have found MTHFR & LPD. I'm leaning now towards not having it done. I'm pretty convinced now that we know what caused 3 of my 4 m/c. We'll also review everything Dr. Corely and I discussed and my most recent test results.
Hopefully I'm on my way to getting my ducks in a row before September comes.
WHAT!?! Of course this is my luck. Grr...
Anyway she asked (politely too) if she could transfer me to Dr. Peters. I thoroughly discussed my issues with her and basically told her that no one has taken me serious. I'm 27 y.o. suffering with RPL and feel I have been over looked by doctors in my area. I asked if Dr. Peters would take me serious like Dr. Corely and she said "I think after one conversation with Dr. Peters you will be very happy." I read his little bio on SIRM's website and it sounds like he has enormous experience with RPL. So those two things eased my anxiety.
I have another (free) follow up phone consult, this time with Dr. Peters, on July 12th. :::Crossing my fingers & toes:::
We will discuss my finding on LPD (thanks to NaPro) and if any other farther testing is needed to confirm (other than FSH & E2 on CD3). If he foresees a HSG in my future and possibly get an idea of when that can happen. We will also discuss if he thinks the immune testing is needed since we have found MTHFR & LPD. I'm leaning now towards not having it done. I'm pretty convinced now that we know what caused 3 of my 4 m/c. We'll also review everything Dr. Corely and I discussed and my most recent test results.
Hopefully I'm on my way to getting my ducks in a row before September comes.
H1N1 Vaccine Linked to 700 Percent Increase in Miscarriages
This is an older article from Decmeber 2010. However, I found this interesting and alarming! I am not posting this to get into a vaccine arguement, to each their own, as long as YOU do your research and make an educated decision based on the research. But I'm really not sure how the CDC gets away with these things! Please read and share!
H1N1 Vaccine Linked to 700 Percent Increase in Miscarriages
EDIT - 7/10/10
After posting I realized I should explain a little. Many of you may disagree with me completely and I'm ok with that. All I ask is that you do not judge until you do research about vaccines. Only then can you make an informed decision.
I firmly belief there are 2 sides to every story. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth. I personally believe that we were given a strong immune system to fight off diseases. Unfortantly, 50 years ago many people lost their lives to these diseases. Why, because we didn't have vaccines? No. Simply because they did not have the modern medicine that we are fortunate to have. Things such as strong antibiotics.
How many of you reading trust the current government we have to make decsions? I'm not just talking about the president of the United States or the governer of your state. I'm talking about polotics in a whole. I know I surely don't trust them. And why would I trust them to make a decision mandating vaccines? Last time I checked they aren't medical doctors. Why do we need the government to get involved if vaccines in a whole are so good?
Now do I believe that the miscarriage rate has increased 700% due to H1N1 vaccine. I'm very doubtful. That's a super high precentage! Do I think that H1N1 vaccine has increased m/c rate, I have no doubt that its possible. Again, just my opinion.
H1N1 Vaccine Linked to 700 Percent Increase in Miscarriages
EDIT - 7/10/10
After posting I realized I should explain a little. Many of you may disagree with me completely and I'm ok with that. All I ask is that you do not judge until you do research about vaccines. Only then can you make an informed decision.
I firmly belief there are 2 sides to every story. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth. I personally believe that we were given a strong immune system to fight off diseases. Unfortantly, 50 years ago many people lost their lives to these diseases. Why, because we didn't have vaccines? No. Simply because they did not have the modern medicine that we are fortunate to have. Things such as strong antibiotics.
How many of you reading trust the current government we have to make decsions? I'm not just talking about the president of the United States or the governer of your state. I'm talking about polotics in a whole. I know I surely don't trust them. And why would I trust them to make a decision mandating vaccines? Last time I checked they aren't medical doctors. Why do we need the government to get involved if vaccines in a whole are so good?
Now do I believe that the miscarriage rate has increased 700% due to H1N1 vaccine. I'm very doubtful. That's a super high precentage! Do I think that H1N1 vaccine has increased m/c rate, I have no doubt that its possible. Again, just my opinion.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Crappy Cycle
As I thought, this past cycle was crappy! Refer to image above. I had zero dry days meaning that every day I had some kind of peak type mucous. No wonder this cycle seemed so long!
I met with Erin last night and for this cycle I am going to keep a little notepad with me to record everything I see. Anal? Yes, that's me and its the only way I'm going to remember. Erin wants me to record any changes I see on a day to day basis so we can better determine the day of ovulation and my fertile time. I'm usually fairly confident when I ovulate & my fertile time. I have symptoms during this time but my CM (cervical mucous) just is not cooperating.
We both made an educated guess of when I ovulated and still this cycle shows LPD. I'm almost certain that LPD was the cause of my 2 CP. I mean it only makes sense that my lining wasn't prepared enough and the blastocyte could not implant causing a chemical pregnancy.
So are you looking for an update on whether I exercised or not? BAHAHAHA! There is nothing to update about because I did nothing. I'm going to blame AF. I was ridiculously tired, so maybe this week I can drag myself out of bed to do some kind of exercise.
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