Good luck charms...

Rockin' my St. Rita and Chakra bracelets today!

St. Rita is the patroness of impossible cases and in my support group she is our mascot!!

The orange Chakra bracelets (made by my mom)  represent the second chakra, which is the sacral chakra located at your sacrum or tailbone and its function is desire, pleasure and procreation. Its color is orange and its celestial body is the moon. Balancing this chakra is associated with sexual vitality, physical power and fertility!

Chakras are each of the centers of spiritual power in the human body, usually considered to be seven in number.

Update: February is the shortest month but it has been dragging FOREVER!

So goes the saying...you won't realize the distance you walked until you take a look around and realize how far you've been.

I am still on this journey and was thinking about all of the other women I know who are also on this journey to motherhood and how far all of us have gone and how slow this journey feels. But still, we wake up in the morning and still say, we will try again.

I have been on this baby journey for more than four years...it has not been four years of major procedures (although we have done a couple) but of a re-vamp of my life, an evolving and changing life, one that had lows of depression and highs of just happiness for being alive and grateful for what I already have.

I am getting ready to see a new fertility doctor on Feb. 29. I am excited and nervous but also don't want to put too much on just one person to "fix" my situation. I haven't been to a fertility doctor in about 2 years...since that time I had a lot of life changes that needed to happen. Timing is everything and although I HATE to say that and accept it, it was the case for me. (it doesnt mean I didnt kick and scream for a lot of it :)

In all of the testing we have done in all these years, there has been no definitive answer as to why I have not gotten pregnant, not once. In my gut, though, I always suspected it may be an immune issue.

Recently, I had a Lyme disease test that came back as borderline...which is even more frustrating. I have been exposed but no one can say for sure if I had a mild case of it, if that's even possible.

As a precaution, my family doctor put me on 21 days of antibiotics, the same thing we did to treat my dog when he had Lyme.

I wouldn't think too much of the Lyme test but I have an unexplained joint pain for about two years and joint pain in a symptom of Lyme. Around the same time the joint pain started, I was living in PA in a wooded area with lots of ticks. Also my mom has Lyme and is still being treated for it.

After Googling things, which we all know can be a bad idea, I read that you can pass Lyme to a baby if pregnant. So I am freaked out.

I found a doctor who treats Lyme in NYC and tried to figure out all of this with him. He re-tested my blood, sending it to the Stonybrook Lyme Lab and then had me repeat an MRI on my left wrist, which is the source of my joint pain.

The Lyme test showed that I was exposed to Lyme, but according to the CDC guidelines, I didn't test positive for Lyme. My MRI showed a swollen bone in my hand  and fluid in my wrist (same as the MRI did that I had in 2010). But really, no straight forward answer as to why I have the pain. I wasn't in an accident and had no trauma to my wrist.

Another test my doc did was the Antinuclear Antibody test, or ANA, which is the first test done to see if you have an auto-immune disease. Mine was at the top of the normal range.

Your immune system normally makes antibodies to help fight infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. In contrast, antinuclear antibodies often attack your body's own tissues - specifically targeting each cell's nucleus.

In most cases, a positive ANA test indicates that your immune system has launched a misdirected attack on your own tissue -- in other words, an autoimmune reaction.

In the past I've had an NK cell test, which tests for natural killer cells, and it was pretty high. This test was done when I went to the Sher Institute in PA in 2010. The thinking is that your body attacks an embryo as if it were a foreign object in your body. (**This thinking is pretty controversial in the fertility world and I found Sher Institute when I was researching immunity/infertility. So not all REs agree with this.)

So several questions remain about my Lyme and ANA tests...is the borderline Lyme test causing a high ANA reading? Is the joint pain a symptom of the Lyme or is the Lyme exaggerating something that was already there? Is the high ANA reading a cause of my infertility? Do I have another autoimmune disease that I am not aware of yet?

I am hoping to get closer to answering these questions next week...on Tuesday I am seeing an infectious disease doctor about the Lyme test then on Wed off to the Sher Institute in NYC to see if Dr. Tortoriello can put it all together for me.

I am not sure if I am more confused now than before, or if I am getting closer to understanding the cause of my infertility.

Only time will tell...in the meantime I am heading to Vermont this weekend to make this month, which has been the slowest damn month ever, move along nicely and do some relaxing (and drinking) before I get serious next week.
Will keep you posted!
xoxo

Keep your Valentine healthy...

Just in time for Valentine's Day (or any day for that matter)...the Environmental Working Group is making sure your honey-bunz is not inhaling harsh chemicals on this day of love.

Here, EWG breaks down in detail about the hidden chemicals in "fragrances" and how a loophole in a federal law allows fragrance manufacturers to hide potentially hazardous chemicals. They also list products that made the  grade when it comes to your health and wellness

Don't let your lover be exposed to harmful things...make sure if it smells good, it comes from a good source!

Hormone disruptors....air fresheners and fake fragrances

If you like the smell of vanilla wafting through your house...you might want to consider what that lovely fragrance is made of. 

Not to throw a wet towel on anyone's burning scents but you might want to think twice about what is in your favorite candle or air freshener since synthetic-fragrance ingredients,  researchers say, can interfere with reproductive hormones. And we all know that messing with your reproductive hormones is a BAD, BAD idea.


Hormone disruptors, otherwise known as endocrine disruptors, interfere with your hormone system and can cause a host of health issues from tumors to development disorders. And to be specific, the critical time between the transition from a fertilized egg into a fully formed infant, can also be adversely effected by these endocrine disruptors.


Here are some of the most well-known offenders:

Bisphenol A is commonly found in plastic bottles (including many baby bottles), plastic food containers, dental materials, and the linings of metal food and infant formula cans. Another exposure comes from receipt paper commonly used at grocery stores and restaurants, because today the paper is commonly coated with a BPA containing clay for printing purposes

Phthalates are found in some soft toys, flooring, medical equipment, cosmetics and air fresheners. They are of potential health concern because they are known to disrupt the endocrine system of animals, and some research has implicated them in the rise of birth defects of the male reproductive system.

If you are into making your own candles/scents..check out this article from Rodale on 4 all-natural air fresheners. Or try using soy-based or beeswax candles with natural fragrances...just remember to read the labels! If you cannot pronounce it, then move on!

Drink until you see Pink...

I met a group of awesome ladies at a support group meeting a few weeks ago and one of the girls said that funny line and I am most certainly living by it!

Little Ruby and a lovely bottle of wine

A little vino before bed, with dinner, with lunch, after lunch, before dinner, during the day just for kicks, when I shower..ok, ok just kidding. I am not developing an addiction but am happily doing things that I can before I cannot for 9+ months :)

I am keeping the optimism going...although sometimes I get weighed down by time going so slowwwwww. I am uber excited for my doctor appt at the end of February but it feels like it's years away. My patience is being tested, again, as it has been for more than four years of all this waiting and waiting and more freakin' waiting. I also calculated that when I go to see the RE doctor at the end of Feb, I will be on day five of my cycle so the month of March (when I turn a year older..ugh!) will be a wash. I am a little down in the dumps.

So I will instead indulge in things I cannot do while pregnant like eating sushi, drinking alcohol...jumping on a trampoline (well maybe just my bed instead), break dancing and eating moldy cheeses.

Supplements and other goodies...Swanson Vitamins

I am not a paid spokesperson (sometimes I wish I was..so if anyone wants to throw some money my way...I will not refuse :) BUT I like to share any and all things I am doing with my health and wellness to all of my readers :)

I've been ordering my vitamins from Swanson Vitamins and have been really happy with their quality and prices of their own brand as well as the others they offer that I use like New Chapter Organics.

I've ordered everything from vitamins and shampoo to spices. I just put an order in today. So there's no better time to let you know my daily regimen:

Here ya go:
-Vitamin D-3 (10,000 IU/day - liquid)
-Vit B-12 (sub-lingual)
-Fish oil (omega 3, 6, 9 in liquid)
-Folate (lots of times your pre-natal vitamins doesn't have enough of these things)
-Magnesium citrate (calms me down and helps me sleep)
-Vit C
-Probiotics
-Ubiquinal (CoQ10)
-Pre-natal-multi
(I also just ordered some Maca for my hubby, who is also taking a man's multi, saw palmetto, l-carnitine and ubiquibal)


Some other good supplements to take to boost your fertility are:
-Chaste berry (400 gm 2x/day) (boosts progesterone, which is key in maintaining a pregnancy)
-Red raspberry leaf (strengthens your uterus and can be taken in tea form)
-Evening primrose (helps maintain hormonal balance..if you have too much or too little it helps even that out)
**Of course these herbs/supplements could interfere with fertility treatments/drugs so always check with your doctor first if you are in treatment**

One more thing I wanted to mention...

Ladies, if you are not using organic cotton tampons/pads...you need to make that change ASAP. There are several types that use organic cotton, with no chlorine, no perfumes and no synthetic materials. They are a fraction of the cost on Swanson when compared to Whole Foods and Wegmans. Also, you can almost always get coupon codes for Swanson for free shipping, etc so what are you waiting for???? Our insides need to be happy too :)

Ducks in a row...

Some things have been on my mind and I like being able to finally tackle them... especially as I prepare to go back to the RE and have a new look at my fertility.

First - I've had pain in my left wrist for about three years. Had an MRI and went to a wrist surgeon about 2 years ago. He said I had some fluid in my wrist and told me to just "stop doing yoga." He was, and I am sure still is, a moron. He gives doctors bad names, a few of which I would have liked to have called him. 

I suppose if you can't "fix" my issue without surgery then you just can't help me. Thanks Pal!

Anywho...I was concerned the pain/weakness may have to do with an autoimmune disease and also might be affecting my fertility (when you have this much time to think about things...well, your mind wanders). Turns out, I do not have an autoimmune disease so that's a relief since I have been worrying for a while that I may have lupus. 

I am still waiting on a Lyme Disease test and one for celiacs (just cause I am a worry-wort these days). I'll know by Monday. 

Second, as you know if you have read earlier posts, I have constant sinus issues that goES from bad to worse in a short time. I went to an allergist and after poking my arms 38 times then re-doing about 28 of those with syringes, I am allergic to the follow:

-Dust mites

-Several trees (mainly that pollinate in the spring)

-Grass (the kind on your lawn, not the kind you smoke :)

-One outdoor mold (again, something that comes out in the spring)

-Cats (this wasn't a huge one but still there and given that I have two cats, well not so great for me. But the cats are 11 and I will not be giving them away, so I'll have to deal with those cute faces).

So basically I have seasonal allergies, which I already know about. The cats, not so much. The doc gave me some nose spray and allergy pills, which turn me into a walking zombie even though I take them before bed.

I am making some headway on this issue but still not much has changed in terms of my symptoms. I am going back to the allergist in a couple of weeks and should know more then.

All in all, I want to go back to the RE knowing that I don't have any other lingering issues that I need to deal with. It's spring cleaning for your body!

Paula Deen is a bad example for everyone

This article on MINDBODYGREEN sums it all up. 

Paula Deen, you are an excellent example of the many things wrong with our society and a poor role model. Take your twinkie cake and shove it.


4 Reasons Why Paula Deen Totally Blew It

By Jason Wachob

You've probably noticed that we avoid negative posts here at MBG. But with Paula Deen's recent Type-2 diabetes announcement (which she hid for three years while she promoted the very food responsible for her illness!) and subsequent deal with a diabetes drug company -- well, that was just too much to ignore.

Why is this so upsetting?

More...

Breakfast of Champions...green juice

I started my day off with a green juice to get my own juices flowing. I've had a nasty sinus/chest infection since Saturday and I am not a happy camper!

Today's recipe:

Kale (of course!)
Dandelion
Cucumber
Green apples
Celery
Lemon
Beets
(I ran out of parsley, which I've been adding to this one!)

According to juicing/wellness warrior guru Kris Carr of Crazy Sexy Life, juicing is freaking awesome!! See what she has to say below:

Hands down the best way to increase our alkalinity and detox our purdy bodies is to consume a diet full of sunlight aka liquid chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll contains a powerful blood builder that’s said to increase red blood cells, improve circulation, ease inflammation, oxygenate the body, and counteract harmful free radicals. By eating (and drinking) a diet high in chlorophyll (raw fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens), we dine on liquid oxygen, the very substance we need to stay alive and thrive.

To read more about Juicing vs. Blending...go here!

May the juice be with you my fertile readers!
xoxo

Health update...

Here is a little background on what I did in 2011...

MAY: We went to see a naturopath to do a fertility work-up. It resulted in some blood work and tweaking but nothing too major on that end. My hubz was checked for a varicoscele (see definition here), which he did not have and is A-OK.

As for me, I had a low Vitamin D level (29) and some other minor things like an elevated homocysteine level. It is an amino acid, which, when elevated may be associated with a number of health problems including heart disease and infertility. I wasn't out of the range of normal but a little too high for my naturopath's liking. High homocysteine is associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12, and folate. My CO-Q10 levels were also on the low side.

I was given some supplements including: adrenal support (for energy), Vit-D3 (10,000 IU/day), Homocysteine support (which is a combo of vitamin B6, 12, folic acid and betaine) and ubiquinol (CoQ10).

After that, not much really happened...just checking in with the naturopath and talking. Finally, my naturopath said to me that she believes that I had convinced myself that I could not get pregnant. While I agree with that, I don't think it's the only reason why I have not gotten pregnant in almost five years of trying. But like I said...going down a road leads you to another. She sent me to my current doctor/wellness guru Dr. Vastola and that was a great move!

AUGUST: Here is what began a new look at my life. I did biofeedback with Dr. V along with EFT (see previous posts), therapy, releasing of energy and work that got me back on an airplane without being drugged. I removed a lot of weight from a very heavy backpack and left feeling lighter.

Dr. V also upped by Vit D-3 supplement to 30,000 IU/day (liquid) and also added liquid vitamin K&D. He also added some Bach Flower remedies to my regimen, which is liquid you drop into your drink and it helps balance emotional issues. I am using Rock Rose, which adds courage and presence of mind in the face of terror or extreme fear. Honeysuckle, which helps put memories of the past into proper perspective if you are feeling homesick or overly nostalgic and also Oak, which allows the naturally strong to take a break rather than struggle on without rest.

SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER: During this time I was taking my supplements, doing EFT with Dr. V as well as other emotional release techniques. He was also doing the biofeedback with a cold laser. Also, I was gearing up for a flight to Chicago for business. I am NOT a good flyer and seemed to be getting worse an worse. Let's just say on a flight to London over the summer, I was highly medicated and a little drunk...meaning I was barely conscience when I got on the plane at JFK. The way back was no better, plus I was alone on that flight. At least on the way to London I could freak out in the presence of a friend :).  Anyway, before going to Chicago I worked hard with Dr V and really got to the root of my flying fear and can say I went on my flight WITHOUT meds or drinking. My husband was there to witness it and I did even better on the flight back to NY. WOO HOOO!!

Also during this time my husband and I both started going to acupuncture regularly and it's been a really good experience and something we will definitely continue to do.

DECEMBER: Just chilled out this month. Just for kicks we bought a fertility monitor. It's by Clearblue Easy and its one that gives you a great reading of your fertile days. So we've been following that.
I also did another blood test to update from April.
Vitamin D levels moved from 29 to 70 so that's awesome! Everything else looks great too. My thyroid is working nicely and all else was groovy.

And now into 2012:

JANUARY: I decided to make an appt with Dr. Tortoriello at Sher Institute in NYC. I've been to Sher before in the Lehigh Valley and saw Dr. Peters who I really liked, but we moved out of that area (went on a break) and never did any treatment with him. But I want to move forward and see if there is anything else that Dr. T can shed light on with my unexplained infertility. So the appt is set for February 27!
Wish me luck!

xoxo

In with the new...a year of living life to the fullest!

Happy Fabulous New Year to my  fertile readers!! I want nothing but happiness, health, joy and much love to all of you and your loved ones!

There is no better time than now to reflect on a year past and put out goals for a fresh, new one!

Here are a few things I learned this year:

1. When dealing with forgiveness, take time to also forgive yourself
2. Friends can be the best support group in the world and a support group can be your closest friends
3. You can never have enough patience and it's ALWAYS being tested. Stop fighting it and just let it be.
4. Be your biggest advocate and be in control of your health and wellness
5. Unconditional love from animals can cure bad moods
6. Meditation will keep you sane, so will EFT
7. Even if a road on this path seemed like the wrong one, it will take you to another, so keep the faith!
8. Making new friends who are awesome is an amazing thing and something to be cherished.
9. Crying is A-OK...get it out and take another load off of your back
10. Look your fears in the face, stick your tongue out at them and kick butt!
11. Dancing around your house like no one is watching is revitalizing!
12. Check your control at the door. I know, easier said than done but understanding that you cannot control the world, takes the weight off your shoulders...so be lighter my fertile-grounders!!!

My goals, hopes and dreams for 2012:

1. To write a book and start a health revolution that will take my career on a new path
1. To have more patience. Did I mention that one already? Well it must be important
2. To juice more!
3. To help someone else realize their dreams
4. To realize my own dreams (I will be pregnant this year! I am not giving up!)
5. To be more understanding, smile more and give more hugs
6. To get one person to look at health and wellness differently, with new eyes
7. To keep reading, researching and talking to people so I can pass on the knowledge to live a healthier life, with YOU in the drivers seat.
8. To be healthier...I talk the talk and need to keep walking the walk
9. More random acts of kindness (thanks Dr V!)
10. To spend more time with my pups...they get me through hard times and deserve more belly rubs and runs in the park!
11. To love harder and kiss my hubby more, just for the fun of it.
11. To live for today!

So cheers to that!! Here is to a new year filled with the potential to be extraordinary!!

I am toasting with some green juice...the elixir of the gods :)

Get your Kombucha on....

It is a strange smelling, weird looking drink but many say the benefits outweigh any doubts about drinking something that has floating gooey stuff in it.

It's called Kombucha and it's a tart sparkling fermented tea with roots in the Himalayas that began one hundred generations ago (although some debate that).

Ok, don't get grossed out...it is only fermented tea. Yes, fermented. But it's good, I swear! Although --- full disclosure -- not all agree.

But today I am going to do it...I am drinking the green one:

Don't get me wrong, I like my greens. I probably am more tolerant than the average person but still, it looks daunting. I am used to my kale, beet, cucumber, apple, lemon and carrot concoction I make in the morning...so this should be a breeze with its blue-green algae and spirulina!

Ok so here is the breakdown of what kombucha supporters say the benefits are of this ancient brew:

*Probiotics – healthy bacteria


*Alkalize the body – balances internal pH

*Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood

*Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine

*Improve digestion – keep your system moving

*Rebuild connective tissue – helps with arthritis, gout, asthma, rheumatism

*Cancer prevention

*Alleviate constipation

*Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue

*Reduce blood pressure

*Relieve headaches & migraines

*Reduce kidney stones

*High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer

*High in polyphenols

*Improve eyesight

*Heal excema – can be applied topically to soften the skin

*Prevent artheriosclerosis

*Speed healing of ulcers – kills h.pylori on contact

*Help clear up candida & yeast infections

*Aid healthy cell regeneration

*Reduce gray hair

*Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating

According to the Mayo Clinic, health benefits attributed to kombucha tea include stimulating the immune system, preventing cancer, and improving digestion and liver function. However, there's no scientific evidence to support these health claims.
There have, however, been reports of adverse effects such as stomach upset, infections and allergic reactions in kombucha tea drinkers. Kombucha tea is often brewed in homes under nonsterile conditions, making contamination likely. If ceramic pots are used for brewing, lead poisoning might be a concern — the acids in the tea may leach lead from the ceramic glaze.

So be careful if you are brewing at home!

If you want to check out many sides of the story read A Strange Brew May Be a Good Thing By Malia Wollan of the New York Times.

She quotes Dr. Andrew Weil, a doctor and leader in alternative health from his Web site: “I don’t recommend kombucha tea at all. I know of no scientific studies backing up the health claims made for it.”

 He goes on to warn of home brews contaminated with aspergillus, a toxin-producing fungus, and cautions pregnant women, the elderly, children and anyone with a compromised immune system against drinking it.


So do your homework first! As for me, I am happy with buying it at the store.

Off I go to drink the green machine....

The V-Steam....if you know what I mean

I am willing to try anything....and in the spirit of trying new things I am sharing a recipe with you, albeit an unconventional one.

It's a steam for your lady bits and it's quite soothing. So thank you to LC for sharing it with me.

The point, ladies, is to pull all the bad toxins from your uterus and help strengthen the lining of your uterus! In other words, it helps to get rid of the old blood and make room for the new! If you notice when you start your period it is very dark, that is left over from the previous month.

It's called the V-steam and it's just that time of the month for me to try it out again (I am feeling slightly blah so I know my lovely period is coming).

So I share it with you!

The "V-steam" directions!


Take 6-8 cups/handfuls of fresh herbs and steep in boiling water. Dried herbs work just as well.

Place about 3 cups of this "tea" into a small bowl and place it into the toilet bowl. The small bowl will sit in the toilet  and the water will cool it.

Make a skirt or tent and cover yourself as you sit on the toilet for 12 minutes. The steam will gently rise up in gentle, comfortable waves- very relaxing actually!
Word of caution!  Do NOT sit on anything that feels too hot! This is certainly not worth burning your privates over! It should feel relaxing. Repeat this twice in one sitting...and rest.

It's best to do it a few days before and after your period!

Happy Steaming!!

Stick a pin in it...

The hubby and I have been going to acupuncture for about a month now...I really like my acupuncturist...her energy is healing and soothing and you can tell how much she cares for her patients.

Beyond treating us for fertility reasons she is working on both our backs and my sinuses of course.

The ongoing battle of my nose continues...is it a food allergy? Is it amplified hay fever? Am I just snotty? I don't know at this point but I am going to try as many things as I can.

It has been well documented that acupuncture, when done in conjunction with an assisted reproduction technique, can increase your chance of success.

According to my acupuncturist at Art of Acupuncture, acupuncture increases infertility and IVF success by 40-60%.

Chinese medicine can help improve the success rate of IVF in a number of ways:

-Improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs

-Regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles

-Increase blood flow to the uterus and increases the thickness of the uterine lining

-Relax the patient and decrease their stress

-Prevent the uterus form contracting

-Lessen the side effects of drugs used in IVF

-Strengthen the immune system

-Improve semen to create better quality and quantity of embryos

-Decrease chances of miscarriage

Approximately, four to six months prior to the IVF procedure (or without IVF), it is recommended that the patient receive acupuncture and herbal treatments to regulate the body’s functions and make IVF more successful. Sometimes after just four months, the patient regains a normal menstrual cycle and is able to become pregnant naturally.

After the Thanksgiving Feast...balancing the body

Here are some tips for balancing your blood sugar:

4 Top Ayurvedic Herbs for Balancing Blood Sugar

By Dr. Isaac Eliaz

 

Ayurveda refers to the traditional health and healing system of India. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words ayus, meaning "longevity," and veda, meaning "science" – together meaning the "science of life." The core philosophy is guided by in-depth understanding of the five great elements as recognized by Ayurvedic teachings: air, space, fire, water, and earth. Achieving balance and order in connection with these elements is considered crucial to health and wellness on all levels of being - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

 

Click here to read more

 

 

EFT...it's emotional freedom baby, yeah!

Tap, tap tap it away....

The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments but without the use of needles.

Instead, tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the head and chest while you think about your specific problem - whether it is a traumatic event, an addiction, pain, etc. -- and voice positive affirmations.


I've been doing ETF now for more than a month as I move along on this health and wellness journey that WILL end with a baby!!
It's been an interesting experience that I have been doing with my new doctor...a wellness consultant/chiropractor/therapist/nutritionist...he is a master of many trades. My naturopath, Dr. Pina, sent me along to my new doctor, Louis Vastola, cause she thinks I have some emotional elements going on that needed to be addressed...and she was right.

Since starting EFT and delving into all of this I feel like I am taking off some heavy backpacks filled with emotional stuff that has been dragging me down...like the fact that I feel like many of my friends were moving way ahead of me in life and I was getting left behind at the starting line.

It's funny bc the image in my head and how I have described it to friends was like a race and it seemed like me not "winning" was really bothering me. This realization is also a lesson in humility and about not always having to be the first, best and always right about things. I am open to many more possibilities now.

I was a runner in high school and was pretty good at it...i didn't realize how much I liked to compete until I joined track and field and won a bunch of races...it was all I wanted to do. I wanted to medal and even ended up breaking a school record for the 300M hurdles.

So when I looked at my life in recent years, losing my job and struggling to find a new one (thank god I have one now!), and trying to conceive, while my friends were having babies and those babies were having birthdays and they were moving on with their lives, I was at a loss.

I told Dr. V all about this at a recent visit and doing ETF with him about this issue made it roll off my back so much so that even when I talk about it, I can't even remember the feelings of sadness I had when I was feeling so left behind.

I seriously left that backpack at my doctor's office and walked out feeling lighter.

I know this may sound wishy, washy but I don't doubt the power the mind has over the body.
Things EFT can do:
--Remove Negative Emotions


--Reduce Food Cravings

--Reduce or Eliminate Pain

--Implement Positive Goals

There are other issues I am still dealing with that didn't end after the first round of tapping out the problem....like forgiveness. That's a hard one but when it comes up...I know have the tool to deal with it.

Below is a video on the points that you should tap and how to do it:



Happy Tapping!!

Vitamin D...not just for sun tanning

I can't believe I have been away from this blog for sooooo long! The summer was a blur but I am back in the saddle and more focused than ever on getting on the baby train.

I am going au-natural and sticking to my guns and keeping on the path to be heathier first and then see what comes after that.

I started to see a naturopath in May who put me on some supplements to tweak a couple of things she saw that were of concern in my blood work.

First, low vitamin D. There is so much out there about how low vitamin D levels are the root cause of SO many things. It is needed to produce sex hormones and also improves fertility rates, as well as reduces cancer risks, creates strong teeth and bones, and treats depression naturally.

Yale University School of Medicine conducted a study of 67 infertile women, where it was discovered that a mere 7% had normal Vitamin D levels. The remainder of the women either had insufficient levels of Vitamin D or they had clinical deficiency of Vitamin D in their bodies.


One of the researchers at Yale, Dr. Lubna Pal, who is also the Director of the Program for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) at the Yale Fertility Center, said:

“Of note, not a single patient with either ovulatory disturbance or polycystic ovary syndrome demonstrated normal Vitamin D levels; 39 per cent of those with ovulatory disturbance and 38 per cent of those with PCOS had serum 25OHD levels consistent with deficiency.”

“Given the pandemic of Vitamin D insufficiency, if indeed our observations are substantiated, aggressive repletion with Vitamin D may emerge as an alternative approach to facilitate ovulation resumption with minimal to no risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or multiple pregnancies.”

Based on this study nearly 40% of the women who had ovulatory dysfunction also had a clinical deficiency in Vitamin D. So it goes to show how important Vitamin D is to a woman’s fertility.

I am taking 30,000 IUs of Vitamin D daily in liquid form and just dropping it in my morning juice. You can also get vitamin D by eating eggs, fatty fish, and dairy, as well as taking cod liver oil.

The Dirty Dozen...and Clean 15

Check it out ladies and gents....a list that will do you well!

The Environmental Working Group (yes, I heart them) is working to keep you healthy and your exposure to toxic pesticides down. So they have compiled a list of fruits and veggies with the highest levels of pesticides (which means you should go organic on those) and those with the least amounts of pesticides.

FYI:  Pesticides are toxic by design. They are created expressly to kill living organisms -- insects, plants, and fungi that are considered "pests." Many pesticides pose health dangers to people. These risks have been established by independent research scientists and physicians across the world.

As acknowledged by U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, including:

--brain and nervous system toxicity
--cancer
--hormone disruption [We don't like that term 'round here]!
--skin, eye and lung irritation



To view their comprehensive shopper's guide click here!

EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce


Dirty Dozen
Buy these organic
1 Apples
2 Celery
3 Strawberries
4 Peaches
5 Spinach
6 Nectarines– imported
7 Grapes – imported
8 Sweet bell peppers
9 Potatoes
10 Blueberries – domestic
11 Lettuce
12 Kale/collard greens

Clean 15
Lowest in Pesticide
1 Onions
2 Sweet Corn
3 Pineapples
4 Avocado
5 Asparagus
6 Sweet peas
7 Mangoes
8 Eggplant
9 Cantaloupe - domestic
10 Kiwi
11 Cabbage
12 Watermelon
13 Sweet potatoes
14 Grapefruit
15 Mushrooms

Be safe...in the sun

I have written about this before so it's just a little update for your viewing pleasure (Check out my previous post). When you are in the sun you should be protected in more ways than one.

You put on sunscreen to protect your delicate skin (the largest organ in your body) from harmful rays that can cause cancer but you really need to know what you are putting on your skin to protect it.

In today's news, the FDA unveiled new rules about sunscreen claims (after thinking about for some 33 years), that will go into effect in a year and specify with sunscreens protect against the two most dangerous types of sun radiation, UVB and UVA. The rules will also ban sunscreen manufacturers from claiming waterproof and sweatproof products because most are -- wait for it -- FALSE!

Its nice to see the FDA FINALLY get on board about this. To read the full story click here.

Even while the FDA was taking its good old time looking into sunscreens, The Environmental Working Group, was already ahead of the game and working hard to bring you good, solid information and research on sunscreens, among other things.

The EWG called the FDA's proposed rules "Too little and VERY late" stating:

The federal Food and Drug Administration’s new sunscreen rules, released today after nearly 33 years of deliberations, fall short.


“FDA's action offers some noticeable improvements for consumers, such as limiting misleading claims” said David Andrews, Ph.D, a senior scientist with Environmental Working Group. “However, it is clear that FDA caved to industry and weakened its safety standards. Its earlier draft proposed stronger health protections.”

According to Andrews, the agency’s final rule for UVA protection has been substantially watered down from a draft circulated in 2007.

But never fear, the EWG has a very comprehensive list of sunscreens and their health score cards, citing the best and worst of the bunch! Check it out here.

Summertime....Child, your living's easy

A little nod to my girl Janis Joplin and my favorite summertime song...

Just trying to take it easy and focus on having fun and going to the beach as much as possible!! Also per my doctor's instructions, we are having "fun" sex and not the kind where I have to schedule it and then lay with a pillow under my butt for 20 mins. So far, so good!

Our appointment at the naturopath last month went well but the follow-up appointment this month should really give us a firm plan to stick to. What I like most about taking this route is that her first priority is getting us to a better level of health overall and then working on getting pregnant. I am fine with that and would like to ease back into all of this!


FERTILITY MASSAGE

Her first homework assignment for me, which was AWESOME, was getting a fertility massage (See my previous post on the Mayan fertility massage). It was a full body one and it was fabulous!! The point was to see where my uterus was sitting...well that little lady appears to be tilted toward my sacrum (tailbone) and that's not the normal place for it. My periods always start off dark, meaning that some is left over from my last one. That old lining can build up in your uterus and then the new lining will build on top of that...in some cases it could lead to the embryo having trouble implanting. Who knew?

One thing about having fertility issues is that you really find out how your body works. So my massage therapist worked on me for an hour and half then asked me to do some things at home to get the "old" stuff out of my uterus and allow for a new, fresh lining.

The timing of the massage should should be a week before the start of a new cycle, (I am scheduled to get my second one this Saturday). The point is to flush out the old stuff so if we are actively trying to get pregnant while I am getting these massages then it will just flush out the embryo. So, like I said, just fun times with no stress for now!

She did warn me that I could be overly emotional (more than usual) during the time leading up to the first day of my cycle and she was right...PMS was a bitch that week!


CASTOR OIL PACKS

My uterus is the focus for now so I am also putting castor oil packs on my abdomen every night, with heat, for about 15-20 mins. It pulls the toxins from the uterus and helps to move my uterus it back into its rightful place. My mom told me years ago to use castor oil packs for my cramps....it's definitely helping my cramps now, so there is something to these holistic remedies!

One thing to note when doing the pack, use heat from a water bottle or one of those pillows with the seeds that you put into your microwave, DO NOT use a heating pad. I am not sure why but that was per my doctors instructions. Also castor oil packs are useful for lots of non-fertility related things so check out the links below!

Here are directions on making a castor oil pack, or you can buy disposable ones from Edgar Caycee here.