So, I've been reading this book called "The Infertility Cure" by Randine Lewis. My verdict? FANTASTIC! I highly recommend it to any couple dealing with the pain of infertility. This book will give you so much hope as long as you are willing to keep an open mind.
The premise of this book is using traditional chinese medicine (TCM) to cure infertility. You may be thinking...CURE?!? There is no cure, if there was, my doctor would have told me about it!
But, truth be told, Western medicine beleives in treating symptoms, not treating the body so that the both can restore itself. In TCM, they believe that once you balance out your body and it's organs, your body, mind and soul will be able to function just as nature intended it to.
Yes, sometimes it can seem a little hokey that sticking some needles in your back or taking various herbs can cure something that modern doctors believe is incurable. But what I keep reminding myself is that TCM dates back to 6000 BC! If it has been used for all of these years, you'd think there must be a reason! (success!)
So - I'm willing to give it a shot. And to be honest, I've had my fill with doctors, medicine and drugs. I want to try the natural approach. If it works - OMG GREAT!. And if it doesn't - At least I didn't drop thousands of dollars and take multiple drugs with 'side effect' lists longer then The Great Wall of China. I'd rather try natural first, then drugs second.
Anywho - if you haven't read the book...go to Chapters right now!
Kris
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Getting there, one step at a time...
Finally! I got an appointment to see the RE. I pushed and pushed and the receptionist finally went and spoke to the doctor who said "of coarse I will take her as a patient". So HA!! to the receptionist.
I got an appointment this Friday :), which makes me really happy because I don't want to wait any longer.
I also went to see my GP today to get the results of my Karyotype. Unfortunately my blood was withdrawn into the wrong tube so the lab couldn't process it. I'm going back tomorrow to get the blood work done again. No wrong-doing by the doctor, she is a young doc who is learning and she has helped me WAY more then any other doctor I have ever seen. Plus, she doesn't normally do Karyotype’s, she did me a favor.
Anywho, I am anxious about those test results. It would be wonderful if I could rule out genetics. Personally, I think it’s autoimmune.
I'll keep you posted! (No pun intended).
K
I got an appointment this Friday :), which makes me really happy because I don't want to wait any longer.
I also went to see my GP today to get the results of my Karyotype. Unfortunately my blood was withdrawn into the wrong tube so the lab couldn't process it. I'm going back tomorrow to get the blood work done again. No wrong-doing by the doctor, she is a young doc who is learning and she has helped me WAY more then any other doctor I have ever seen. Plus, she doesn't normally do Karyotype’s, she did me a favor.
Anywho, I am anxious about those test results. It would be wonderful if I could rule out genetics. Personally, I think it’s autoimmune.
I'll keep you posted! (No pun intended).
K
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Don't let anything stand in your way!
These past few days have been difficult. I've been feeling really frustrated but for no particular reason. So I’m guessing its hormones...what a pain.
I can't wait to begin getting some sort of treatment for my hormones and symptoms. Right now, I'm not on any hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because I'm waiting to see a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) - whom I was referred to by my gynecologist. Unfortunately, this office - Isis Fertility Center- feels that my 'situation' isn't as 'pressing' as others because I’m young so 'it's not a fertility issue'.
Can you believe it? In my mind, there are several problems with this:
1) Its outrageous for them to assume that just because I’m 20 I'm not thinking about children. I'm in a VERY different situation then most women my age and when you find out you have a 5-10% chance of conceiving naturally and your odds are only declining with age...THE SITUATION CHANGES!
2) Whether my 'situation' is more 'pressing than another woman is none of the receptionists business. Nor is the reason why I’m going to see this doctor - can you believe she asked me "is this a gynecological issue or a fertility issue" - NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! WHY DOES IT MATTER?
3) Obviously this receptionist doesn't understand what POF is. In fact, my situation is more 'pressing' then most women out there. Why? Because I’m 20, and the age in which your bones stop growing is 21. That combined with the fact that I am at EXTREMLY high risk of osteoporosis from POF, combined with the fact that I haven't been on HRT for 6 months, combined with the fact that 2 years ago I was hit by a car while crossing the street (and I'm still recovering) HUGELY increases my risk of osteoporosis. So yes, it is a pressing need...I don't want to break my bones from a simple fall!!!!
As you can tell, this receptionist has made my "experience" terrible so far. My solution? Go to a walk in doctor and begin requesting the tests I feel I need...and stop waiting around. So that's what I did.
Yesterday I went to the walk in doctor about my EXTREMLY itchy feet and hands (which I think is from lack of hormones) and while I was there I requested that she "throw in a Karyotype" (a blood test used to evaluate my genes - it will look for any abnormalities such as Fragile X syndrome which may have caused my POF). From all of my research, I know I have to rule out a genetic problem first before I can move forward. So, why wait? This way, when I do eventually get in to see an RE I will have a bunch of blood work already done.
Anyways, if there is anything I've learned from this it's that you have to keep pushing - after all, if I hadn't pushed for my diagnosis I probably would still be clueless.
Hopefull & positive,
K.
I can't wait to begin getting some sort of treatment for my hormones and symptoms. Right now, I'm not on any hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because I'm waiting to see a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) - whom I was referred to by my gynecologist. Unfortunately, this office - Isis Fertility Center- feels that my 'situation' isn't as 'pressing' as others because I’m young so 'it's not a fertility issue'.
Can you believe it? In my mind, there are several problems with this:
1) Its outrageous for them to assume that just because I’m 20 I'm not thinking about children. I'm in a VERY different situation then most women my age and when you find out you have a 5-10% chance of conceiving naturally and your odds are only declining with age...THE SITUATION CHANGES!
2) Whether my 'situation' is more 'pressing than another woman is none of the receptionists business. Nor is the reason why I’m going to see this doctor - can you believe she asked me "is this a gynecological issue or a fertility issue" - NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! WHY DOES IT MATTER?
3) Obviously this receptionist doesn't understand what POF is. In fact, my situation is more 'pressing' then most women out there. Why? Because I’m 20, and the age in which your bones stop growing is 21. That combined with the fact that I am at EXTREMLY high risk of osteoporosis from POF, combined with the fact that I haven't been on HRT for 6 months, combined with the fact that 2 years ago I was hit by a car while crossing the street (and I'm still recovering) HUGELY increases my risk of osteoporosis. So yes, it is a pressing need...I don't want to break my bones from a simple fall!!!!
As you can tell, this receptionist has made my "experience" terrible so far. My solution? Go to a walk in doctor and begin requesting the tests I feel I need...and stop waiting around. So that's what I did.
Yesterday I went to the walk in doctor about my EXTREMLY itchy feet and hands (which I think is from lack of hormones) and while I was there I requested that she "throw in a Karyotype" (a blood test used to evaluate my genes - it will look for any abnormalities such as Fragile X syndrome which may have caused my POF). From all of my research, I know I have to rule out a genetic problem first before I can move forward. So, why wait? This way, when I do eventually get in to see an RE I will have a bunch of blood work already done.
Anyways, if there is anything I've learned from this it's that you have to keep pushing - after all, if I hadn't pushed for my diagnosis I probably would still be clueless.
Hopefull & positive,
K.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Happy birthday POF blog - you're 0!
Welcome!
First, I should introduce myself. My name is Kristen Adamson, I'm 20 years old and I was recently diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (about 1 month ago). I'm guessing, if you're reading this blog, that you either have POF, know someone who has it, or think you may have it... but I will tell you what it is anyways.
What is POF?
POF is a term used to describe a stop in the normal functioning of ovaries in women under the age of 40.
POF also known as POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) is most commonly referred to as “Premature Menopause” because fertility levels decline significantly and menstrual cycles become irregular before the age of 40.
However the term “Premature Menopause” is incorrect. Women who have gone through natural menopause will rarely ever experience a natural period – but a woman with POF is much more likely. Similarly, women experiencing menopause have virtually no chance of conceiving naturally, but a women with POF has a 5%-10% chance.
For those of you who have it, I'm sure you can relate when I say it can be rather emotionally exhausting. What people fail to realize is that POF is not just an infertility issue, it is an emotional and physical issue as well.
Emotionally it has made me feel less of a women (at times) and quite frankly....useless. Sometimes I feel like crying and other times I feel angry or jealous - that doesn't even include the emotional mood swings that POF has blessed me with.
Physically, it makes me tired, it can weaken my bones and it can cause breakouts, dry skin etc. Overall though, i think i'm taking my diagnosis well. What I keep reminding myself is that everything happens for a reason....maybe i'm meant to adopt or maybe i'm meant to help spread the word about POF.
Who knows...?
K.
First, I should introduce myself. My name is Kristen Adamson, I'm 20 years old and I was recently diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (about 1 month ago). I'm guessing, if you're reading this blog, that you either have POF, know someone who has it, or think you may have it... but I will tell you what it is anyways.
What is POF?
POF is a term used to describe a stop in the normal functioning of ovaries in women under the age of 40.
POF also known as POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) is most commonly referred to as “Premature Menopause” because fertility levels decline significantly and menstrual cycles become irregular before the age of 40.
However the term “Premature Menopause” is incorrect. Women who have gone through natural menopause will rarely ever experience a natural period – but a woman with POF is much more likely. Similarly, women experiencing menopause have virtually no chance of conceiving naturally, but a women with POF has a 5%-10% chance.
For those of you who have it, I'm sure you can relate when I say it can be rather emotionally exhausting. What people fail to realize is that POF is not just an infertility issue, it is an emotional and physical issue as well.
Emotionally it has made me feel less of a women (at times) and quite frankly....useless. Sometimes I feel like crying and other times I feel angry or jealous - that doesn't even include the emotional mood swings that POF has blessed me with.
Physically, it makes me tired, it can weaken my bones and it can cause breakouts, dry skin etc. Overall though, i think i'm taking my diagnosis well. What I keep reminding myself is that everything happens for a reason....maybe i'm meant to adopt or maybe i'm meant to help spread the word about POF.
Who knows...?
K.
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