My TTC break update

So, I’m doing pretty well. Some moments, I feel very impatient to get back to TTC. Other moments, I feel happy that I have this time to relax. I’m on CD 23, so it’s been almost 3 weeks on birth control pills now. Normally, at this point in my cycle I’d be POAS and obsessing. It’s great not dealing with that for awhile, lol. 🙂 I did actually POAS just to make sure, because you never know with me – and people have conceived on BCPs. It was totally negative though, as I expected. I don’t think I have any follicles growing right now, which is a good thing. The BCPs should be suppressing everything. And hopefully shrinking that darn cyst by now!

I am drinking apple cider vinegar each day – a couple tablespoons in a large glass of water 1 x per day. It tastes pretty strong and yucky, but I try to chug it quickly. There are actually a ton of benefits from ACV. It is supposed to help balance the body, among other things. I’m also doing castor oil packs/heating pad treatments for 1 hour…I guess at least 3 times a week is good for that. I ordered some special castor oil that is for external use, then I just used an old t-shirt to saturate with the oil. I wrap that around my lower pelvic region and apply the heating pad. It feels wonderful! Very soothing. It takes away all my pain. That cyst hurts, and the past few days I’ve been getting strong cramps. Castor oil is also supposed to have many benefits – pain relief, cyst reduction, and improves circulation. If you have Endometriosis or just mean AFs, you should try it!

**Click here for info about castor oil packs**

**Click here for the product I bought on amazon.com**

I’d like to do some Epsom salt baths or maybe ACV baths? I don’t know exactly how you do it. I’ll have to research. I’ve heard the baths can help detox your body and balance things out. It can even improve your CM because it neutralizes your pH levels. It’s pretty cool what all natural stuff can do for your body. Instead of taking a bunch of pills and synthetic potions, lol. I haven’t been very strict on my supplements right now. I mean, other than the meds that Dr. Kwak-Kim prescribed. I’m totally diligent with those.

I’m not super strict on my gluten-free diet, either. I’ve found that I feel better cutting MOST gluten out, but not all. So it’s definitely possible that I simply have a slight sensitivity to it. I’m still being healthy, exercising, doing yoga, etc. I’ve lost 18 lbs now, but I have stalled out since being on BCPs. They make my appetite increase a lot! Boo! I’m trying to be careful not to gain my weight back. My “idea jar” isn’t working out very well. I still didn’t “master” the first task of drinking 8 – 8 oz glasses of water per day. Darn it! I’m going to continue working on that for awhile, and then we’ll see about adding a new task. 🙂

So, just chillin’ until I go back on the 9th for my cyst re-check! We are having fun with BD 😉 If you recall, hubby was kinda mad that it had become so blah and planned. We have been working on that hehe. 🙂 Oh, and I’m not going to even bother with more allergy testing for awhile. I’m going to avoid the things I’m allergic to, because I’m pretty certain that the steroids would interfere with my results/reactions.

Just a quick crappy update :-(

I still have a large cyst on my left ovary. I knew it would still be there. I’ve been feeling more pain the past few days, but I was hoping it would be gone anyhow. Bummed 😦 Have to keep taking BCPs and re-check on 11/9/12. I have been enjoying my break, but I’m ready to start TTC again. Darn it. Any tips of getting rid of cysts?

Preggos Paradise

Okay, LOL. This is a silly song I just wrote at work because it’s Friday and I’m bored!! Enjoy! 🙂 🙂 🙂

**To the tune of “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio”**

“Preggo’s Paradise” – by Lisa Bailey

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there’s not much left
Cause I’ve been peein’ on sticks so long that
Even my DH thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain’t never turned down a tweak
Hopin’ I see 2 lines when I steal a peak
You better watch how you talkin, and where you walkin
Or you and your fertile homies might set me off
I really hate to trip, but I’m on a bunch of drugs
Clomid, progesterone, steroids – actin’ like a thug
I’m the kinda crazy infertile you don’t wanna be like
On my knees in the night
Sayin’ prayers in the street light

Been spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise

They got the situation, they got me facin’
I can’t live a normal life, I’m infertile
So I gotta be down with the RE
Too many preggos, they got me chasin’ dreams
I’m an educated fool with babies on my mind
Got my OPKs in hand and a gleam in my eye
I’m a loc’ed out infertile, set-trippin banger
And my homies is down, so don’t arouse my anger, fool
A BFP ain’t nuthin but a heart beat away
I’m livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say?
I’m twenty-nine now, but will I conceive before thirty?
The way things are goin’ I don’t know

Tell me why are they, so blind to see
That the ones infertility hurts, are you and me

Been spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise

The TWW is torture
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody’s hopin’, but it’s hard for me
What’s goin’ on with my precious embies
The fertiles say I got ta learn, but their advice aint gonna teach me,
If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?
I guess they can’t; I guess they won’t
I guess they front; that’s why I know my fertility is outta luck, fool!

Been spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the preggo’s Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the preggos’s Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the preggos’s Paradise

Tell me why are they, so blind to see
That the ones infertility hurts, are you and me
Tell me why are they, so blind to see
That the ones infertility hurts, are you and me

Allergy appointment – say what?!

My allergy appt was yesterday afternoon. Much to my chagrin, they wanted to do another skin test – not blood test. The doctor had good reasoning. He said a lot of people may have sensitivities, but not necessarily allergies…so a blood test would not show true results. The skin test shows you immediately what you have the strongest reactions to.

I believe they tested for 40+ allergies. I’m not sure. They did 4 rows on my back, with at least 10 little dabs in each row. Could have been more like 15-20 in each row. It included all the things I was previously tested for (about 3-4 years ago), plus some more. All pretty much common allergies, foods, etc. I don’t remember them doing very many the last time.

At my last allergy test, I felt major burning and tingling. I got big lumps all over my back. This time, I didn’t feel very much going on. My back was burning a little. He came back in, glanced at my back, and said, “You have NO allergies”. Say whaaaatt?! Believe me, I do NOT want allergies, but how could so much have changed since my previous test? I know allergies can change over time, but that much?

I told him I felt my back burning, but he said the spots weren’t large enough to be considered allergies. I went home and looked, and my back was covered with bumps – like mosquito bites. I agree, they definitely weren’t as big as before. There was definitely something going on – in every single spot they dabbed.

I told the doctor I was on immune treatment, but not at the moment. (Can’t take it with my cyst issue.) I had taken steroids and Lovenox less than 2 weeks prior. All they told me was not to take any allergy meds for 3 days prior to the appt. I wonder if these drugs may have affected the test. Crap. Waste of time, I guess. I don’t know. I suppose I should ask Dr. Kwak-Kim. I’m probably not going to be able to get an accurate reading with how often I take these meds.

I really really really want to eat some fresh strawberries now! 😀 I’m scared that I’ll still have a reaction though. 😦 Also, I have missed honey so much! But that one scared me. I even had to go get a shot at the doctor when I had a reaction to it. I don’t want to risk anything. I do have an Epi pen and other allergy meds. Maybe I should try a tiny amount of the things I’m “supposed” to be allergic to?

Anyway, he wants me to come back in 4 weeks to do intradermal needles then. I don’t think I will. At that point, I should be cycling again. I don’t really care that much – I just want to make sure I’m healthy and not exposing myself to potentially harmful things. It’s pretty freaky when you have an allergic reaction. Plus, my stupid GI issues. Maybe the next stop is the GI doctor. I’m tired of doctors and testing though LOL!!!

I also wonder if my reactions and what-not are getting better due to the immune treatment. I haven’t been sick in over a year, and I used to get sick constantly (especially sinus infections). What’s weird is that Dr. KK’s testing showed my immune system is compromised – I’m deficient in IgG and IgA, so I’m more susceptible to getting sick. It also showed that my body is kind of in attack mode, with all the inflammatory markers. I guess it’s balancing itself out? That doesn’t seem good though, at least not for fertility. The body is a strange and amazing thing. I don’t understand it really.

My cyst re-check is Monday!! I’m curious to see what’s going on in there. I think I still feel it there… 😦 I also feel something on the right side. I hope it’s not bad. Oh well, this break has been good. I just don’t want to wait forever, ya know.