So, we went through the appointments and the shots (many, many shots) in anticipation of our IUI procedure #2. My follicle was slow developing so the doctor had given me a pen shot thing of a different drug that I had to take 3 nights in a row. Friday, April 1st I went in to the Dr. and was proclaimed ready. My follicle was mature. So they gave me (another shot) a shot of Ovidrel to make my egg release. A few hours later my stomach began to hurt. I wondered if I reacted to the shot this time - although I've had it twice before. I ate lunch and still my stomach hurt and I was hot. As the day progressed I felt worse and worse. I kept drinking water but it didn't help. We were having rehearsals for our big kindergarten spring concert the next day. The concert was at 10 am on Saturday, April 2nd and our IUI was scheduled for noon that same day. Needless to say I was busy! I made it through the school day (with much prayer) and went to tutor. I tutor a 5th grade girl for English and reading from 4:45-5:45 on Friday's. During tutoring I really began to feel nauseous. I continued to drink water but it didn't help. I made it home and started feeling achy almost immediately. I couldn't eat and so went straight to bed at about 7pm. I got cold - I was shaking and had dear hubby run me a hot bath. I soaked in that wonderful hot bath and the aches went away but I got even more nauseous. I decided to get out of the tub and almost as soon as I got my clothes on I threw up. I had a fever too. That was about 8 pm. I threw up and dry heaved most of the night and also around 9pm my husband started throwing up. We were a hurting mess. You'd think it was food poisoning except I had a student who got a temperature and threw up on Thursday afternoon so there you go. My stomach somewhat settled by 4am and I HAD to go to the concert. No-one else could lead my class in their songs! Ernie wasn't even getting out of bed. I had to call the doctor and explain we had fevers and were throwing up and couldn't do the IUI that day. Soooo disappointing! They wanted us to try to have intercourse that day or night and I tried to explain that the equipment just wasn't going to work. Anyway, with my fever I crawled downstairs (I currently live in staff housing in the school) to the theater and with lots of help, both divine and not, I got through the concert. I crawled back upstairs and spent the next few days in bed. It was clear to me that it was NOT meant to be at that time. In a way I'm kind of glad due to what I've learned since then. My doctor told me that this was my last chance before having surgery to remove my fibroid. It's obstructing my right ovary and could be stretching my tubes and is affecting my bladder and tilt of my uterus. So, knowing that there's nothing I can do at the moment, I began reading. I read this natural fertility newsletter a friend had led me to and I learned that many of my issues stem from hormonal imbalance. Fibroids, high FSH levels and other things. Doctors give you more hormone altering medication to try and force your body to do something it's not doing naturally. So all my efforts have turned to getting myself balanced and in great health. What steps have I taken? The first thing I did was track down the supplements I want to take. I did a lot of reading about Royal Jelly, flaxseed oil, fish oil, Maca root and Chastetree Berry. These supplements support and nourish your reproductive system and bring it into balance without adding additional hormones. I found everything except the Maca and Chastetree Berry but I have a friend who's family is going back to the states and hopefully can get it for me. Also, getting a lot of greens in your diet is good for fertility. I've been making homemade kefir for a while and my friend says she blends spinach right into her smoothies and you can't even taste it. She noticed an improvement in her last cycle temperatures by doing just that. So I've been doing that pretty faithfully as well as adding whey protein powder which is great for growing healthy eggs. The next big step I have taken is in my feminine products. I cannot believe the toxic components in pads, pantyliners and tampons. Plastics and chemicals giving off gases in and up against my most important areas! Also, tampons can cause small tears in your cervix from the fibers and cause blood flow back up which can lead to fibroids, cysts and clotting. Huh - really? But the advertising seems so good and the packaging so pretty and convenient. A dear friend and I undertook the project of sewing our own feminine products this month from 100% cotton flannel baby sheets and a crib protector pad. It was fairly easy and it's working!!! Yes, it's a little bit more work as I have to wash them out now but so far so good. Comfortable too and more absorbent it seems. Now the crib protector does have some plastic in it but it's well covered by layers of flannel. It seems okay and only for the heavy days. We're pretty proud of ourselves. I'm taking charge of my health and well being and being green at the same time. Win, win!
I've been baking my own bread and today I made some strawberry jam. I bought some more glass containers. I got rid of all my scented lotions and facial products. I can't even begin to share the depth of what I've been learning but it all boils down to the fact that there are sooo many chemicals in all the products out there that can dramatically effect your hormones. I'm taking it one step at a time and it's hard to find the key ingredients I need here overseas to make replacements but God has been good and slowly but surely I'm getting it done. There are recipes I've found for natural deodorant that's supposed to be as good as store bought but way better for you and there's a method of washing hair using using baking soda called no 'poo and I have a friend who does that. Brushing your teeth with baking soda and using hydrogen peroxide to whiten and as a mouthwash. I'm determined to do all I can to be frugal, healthy and green and to raise my future family that way. To make good choices and not be taken in by pretty packaging and ads that promise things that aren't true. Be informed, do your research and take charge of your health! Happy reading and praise God for He is sooo good!
Here are some links to some helpful blogs and site I've been enjoying:
http://www.diapersewing.com/clothpads.htm (what we used to make our pads)
http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com (my favorite site so far)
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/
