A Tome in Four Parts
Can I just say once again how much I LOVE FAM [fertility awareness method]? I Love it. I do I do I do.
Wherein I thought I was pregnant
I just finished my third full post-pill cycle, which was an exceptionally long cycle. I was actually concerned that I'd gotten pregnant, which wouldn't be a travesty at this point, but it would still be a bit earlier than I'd like. But I'm not pregnant nor was I. How do I know this? Through the miracle that is charting.
Because I was really stressed out earlier this month, my ovulation was delayed by several days and then I had a 15-day luteal phase for a total of a 34 day cycle, which is 5 days longer than is typical for me.
I spent the past 5 days wondering whether I could be pregnant and thinking 'no, that's impossible! Right?! Maybe... I don't know. No. That's really impossible. [ad nauseum]' Yes, I'd had sex during ovulation, but it was protected and no, the condoms didn't break. And then I'd had unprotected sex (yay! we can do that now!) seven days after my temps were up, just to be extra careful. The usual rule is the evening of the third day of high temps.
So when I didn't start when I thought I was going to, I kept pouring over my chart and Weschler's FAM book, trying to figure out whether pregnancy was a possibility at all. Yes, my temps were high for 7 days before the unprotected sex, which means no way for baby. But then, my cervical fluids were still in the fertile range and my cervix had stayed open for much longer than is typical for me and had only just closed the day before, so maybe... maybe? No way. Know why? Because an egg only lives for a day, two at most, once it's released from the ovary. Seven days of high temps, even with the possibility of the temps rising a day or two before ovulation, still gave me the three required days of high temps.
I still felt in limbo for a day or two because nothing was happening. Well, let me correct that. Everything that usually happens during my period was happening except for the actual bleeding part. I've had cramps and a sore back for about a week now. ugh. But now that I'm finally visiting with Aunt Flo, I should be feeling with it again very soon. Today really hit me hard, though. Mega-ugh.
Wherein I laud the powers of Vitex and other plants
One of the things that charting my cycles has really shown me is that taking the Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) tincture is really having a positive effect on my hormone levels.
My temperature levels have really evened out, and while they're not completely ideal, they're WAY better than they were three months ago. Generally speaking, my Basal Body Temperature is a bit on the low side (low 97s/high 96s - high 97s/occasionally low 98s), and short of getting some sort of thyroid work-up, I'm not entirely certain how I can change it. I'd be more comfortable and confident if my pre-ovulatory temps were mid-high 97s and post-ov temps were mid-high 98s. I don't really know how to get there, but I am Research Queen so I will find out.
Pre-Vitex, my pre-ov temps were low-mid 97s and my post-ov temps were mid-high 97s. So that's a definite change in hormone levels. (The different hormones that a woman's body releases during the course of her cycle are responsible for the difference in temperature levels. Pre-ov temps are usually reflective of the Folicle Stimulating Hormone [I think -- it may be the Luteinizing Hormone], and the post-ov temps are reflective of Progesterone levels.)
So yes, that $13 bottle of Vitex tincture has definitely been worth it. I'm more than half-way finished with the bottle, and I hope to be able to completely use it up this cycle, which I should easily be able to do if I keep with the suggested dosage.
I love plants. They're so awesome. And I think I'll be turning to plants for the thyroid work, too. I know there are certain herbs that are reputed to be helpful for normalizing thyroid-hormone production, so I'll be looking into that later tonight to see what I can come up with.
I purchased Nettle tea (that's Nettle, as in Stinging Nettle, not a mispelling of Nestlé *g*) for iron content, as I'm a bit low. I've never had it before, so I have no idea how awful it may taste. I really should be drinking my Red Raspberry Leaf tea right now, since I'm all crampy, but it's in the other room and I'm writing. I need to get more, as I'm running low.
I've been keeping up with my psyllium/bentonite concoction nearly daily for a slow, gentle detox. Plus, I have cut WAY back on dairy and have both lost a few pounds as a result and feel less yeastie overall. I can't go all out and do the proper Candida diet because I can't handle such a restrictive diet. Life is difficult enough. But cutting down on the things that build up and cause problems seems to work well enough for me. If I had more serious issues, I'd take more drastic measures, but I don't, which is a good good thing. Doing this sort of detox on an annual basis seems like it would be a good thing for me. Especially around October, what with the death of the year and all that. It works in my mind, and that's what matters most.
Wherein I praise Omega 3s, especially DHA
I realised on Saturday that the reason why I was as fucked up as I was on Friday, with the bitchiness, moodiness, depression and tears, was a quadfecta of issues: low blood sugar, hormones, stress from Miko's death, and lack of Omega 3s for over a week. This was a recipe for making me feel as horrible as I did back when I was majorly depressed -- and I'm talking about the good, pleasant days. Friday's outburst of ick was scary for me for so many reasons. I've worked really hard not to be that person and I don't like it when I start acting that way again. Thankfully, I'm pretty self-aware and know my body well enough that I am usually able to figure out what the problem is.
This always happens with Omega 3s. I have them steadily for two months and then I run out, forget the good that they do me, freak out, and then realise a day or two later the likely reason why (lack of 3s). I love what fish oil does for me and I will hopefully always be able to get it. I cherish the natural anti-depressant nature of the DHA and EPA and the fact that my brain just works better when I consume these essential fatty acids in adequate amounts. It's too bad that I can't get them as easily from eating fish, what with the mercury toxicity and all. Ugh. But I have my Pacific Wild-Caught Salmon every once in a while, in addition to my daily supplements, and am happy enough.
Wherein I figure out what to do about the badness of the bedroom
Lynx and I have decided that it would be best to switch rooms. Her office will be where our bedroom is and our bedroom will be where her office is. She will have to share her office with me, as I need a space for creative, non-computer work. This sharing thing will, I believe, be a good thing for our relationship, as I currently have no reason to be in her office except to bug her about something. Since she's in her office a good 60-80% of the day, I don't get to spend as much time with her as I'd like, and vice versa.
Changing rooms will also help me feel more comfortable about where I sleep. I need to be in small, cozy spaces. Our bedroom is quite large (something like 9'x14'), so I feel adrift at sea with all that space, instead of anchored and safe. We won't be able to have our king-size bed, like we had hoped for, but we can definitely fit a queen-sized bed in there, which is better than our current full-size bed that the three of us have no hope in hell of spending a comfortable night together in.
I have no idea what we'll do when it comes time to get a rocking chair (which I so desperately want!). Maybe we can find a place for it in the living room. Maybe. Idunno. It'll be a little while yet before that becomes a priority, anyhow, so I'm not terribly worried.
N and I went to Home Depot and Canadian Tire this weekend to look at paint chips. I brought home A LOT. Lynx picked three colours, which I also really liked, and we managed to find a use for all three of them. One for the back room, one for the now-office/soon-to-be-bedroom, and one for the living room. Acquiring the paint and painting will be the first step, which I hope to begin early next month. I really want the rooms switched before solstice. Lynx needs more light to work by than she's currently getting. Switching rooms will help that immensely.
She's looking forward to switching rooms. Not the actual moving part, mind you, but the part where everything is settled and wonderful in its new home. I'm really looking forward to it too. I think it'll be a really good thing.
Glad I had my fit on Thursday night/Friday morning, else this might not be happening.
Go, go silver lining.
Wherein I thought I was pregnant
I just finished my third full post-pill cycle, which was an exceptionally long cycle. I was actually concerned that I'd gotten pregnant, which wouldn't be a travesty at this point, but it would still be a bit earlier than I'd like. But I'm not pregnant nor was I. How do I know this? Through the miracle that is charting.
Because I was really stressed out earlier this month, my ovulation was delayed by several days and then I had a 15-day luteal phase for a total of a 34 day cycle, which is 5 days longer than is typical for me.
I spent the past 5 days wondering whether I could be pregnant and thinking 'no, that's impossible! Right?! Maybe... I don't know. No. That's really impossible. [ad nauseum]' Yes, I'd had sex during ovulation, but it was protected and no, the condoms didn't break. And then I'd had unprotected sex (yay! we can do that now!) seven days after my temps were up, just to be extra careful. The usual rule is the evening of the third day of high temps.
So when I didn't start when I thought I was going to, I kept pouring over my chart and Weschler's FAM book, trying to figure out whether pregnancy was a possibility at all. Yes, my temps were high for 7 days before the unprotected sex, which means no way for baby. But then, my cervical fluids were still in the fertile range and my cervix had stayed open for much longer than is typical for me and had only just closed the day before, so maybe... maybe? No way. Know why? Because an egg only lives for a day, two at most, once it's released from the ovary. Seven days of high temps, even with the possibility of the temps rising a day or two before ovulation, still gave me the three required days of high temps.
I still felt in limbo for a day or two because nothing was happening. Well, let me correct that. Everything that usually happens during my period was happening except for the actual bleeding part. I've had cramps and a sore back for about a week now. ugh. But now that I'm finally visiting with Aunt Flo, I should be feeling with it again very soon. Today really hit me hard, though. Mega-ugh.
Wherein I laud the powers of Vitex and other plants
One of the things that charting my cycles has really shown me is that taking the Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) tincture is really having a positive effect on my hormone levels.
My temperature levels have really evened out, and while they're not completely ideal, they're WAY better than they were three months ago. Generally speaking, my Basal Body Temperature is a bit on the low side (low 97s/high 96s - high 97s/occasionally low 98s), and short of getting some sort of thyroid work-up, I'm not entirely certain how I can change it. I'd be more comfortable and confident if my pre-ovulatory temps were mid-high 97s and post-ov temps were mid-high 98s. I don't really know how to get there, but I am Research Queen so I will find out.
Pre-Vitex, my pre-ov temps were low-mid 97s and my post-ov temps were mid-high 97s. So that's a definite change in hormone levels. (The different hormones that a woman's body releases during the course of her cycle are responsible for the difference in temperature levels. Pre-ov temps are usually reflective of the Folicle Stimulating Hormone [I think -- it may be the Luteinizing Hormone], and the post-ov temps are reflective of Progesterone levels.)
So yes, that $13 bottle of Vitex tincture has definitely been worth it. I'm more than half-way finished with the bottle, and I hope to be able to completely use it up this cycle, which I should easily be able to do if I keep with the suggested dosage.
I love plants. They're so awesome. And I think I'll be turning to plants for the thyroid work, too. I know there are certain herbs that are reputed to be helpful for normalizing thyroid-hormone production, so I'll be looking into that later tonight to see what I can come up with.
I purchased Nettle tea (that's Nettle, as in Stinging Nettle, not a mispelling of Nestlé *g*) for iron content, as I'm a bit low. I've never had it before, so I have no idea how awful it may taste. I really should be drinking my Red Raspberry Leaf tea right now, since I'm all crampy, but it's in the other room and I'm writing. I need to get more, as I'm running low.
I've been keeping up with my psyllium/bentonite concoction nearly daily for a slow, gentle detox. Plus, I have cut WAY back on dairy and have both lost a few pounds as a result and feel less yeastie overall. I can't go all out and do the proper Candida diet because I can't handle such a restrictive diet. Life is difficult enough. But cutting down on the things that build up and cause problems seems to work well enough for me. If I had more serious issues, I'd take more drastic measures, but I don't, which is a good good thing. Doing this sort of detox on an annual basis seems like it would be a good thing for me. Especially around October, what with the death of the year and all that. It works in my mind, and that's what matters most.
Wherein I praise Omega 3s, especially DHA
I realised on Saturday that the reason why I was as fucked up as I was on Friday, with the bitchiness, moodiness, depression and tears, was a quadfecta of issues: low blood sugar, hormones, stress from Miko's death, and lack of Omega 3s for over a week. This was a recipe for making me feel as horrible as I did back when I was majorly depressed -- and I'm talking about the good, pleasant days. Friday's outburst of ick was scary for me for so many reasons. I've worked really hard not to be that person and I don't like it when I start acting that way again. Thankfully, I'm pretty self-aware and know my body well enough that I am usually able to figure out what the problem is.
This always happens with Omega 3s. I have them steadily for two months and then I run out, forget the good that they do me, freak out, and then realise a day or two later the likely reason why (lack of 3s). I love what fish oil does for me and I will hopefully always be able to get it. I cherish the natural anti-depressant nature of the DHA and EPA and the fact that my brain just works better when I consume these essential fatty acids in adequate amounts. It's too bad that I can't get them as easily from eating fish, what with the mercury toxicity and all. Ugh. But I have my Pacific Wild-Caught Salmon every once in a while, in addition to my daily supplements, and am happy enough.
Wherein I figure out what to do about the badness of the bedroom
Lynx and I have decided that it would be best to switch rooms. Her office will be where our bedroom is and our bedroom will be where her office is. She will have to share her office with me, as I need a space for creative, non-computer work. This sharing thing will, I believe, be a good thing for our relationship, as I currently have no reason to be in her office except to bug her about something. Since she's in her office a good 60-80% of the day, I don't get to spend as much time with her as I'd like, and vice versa.
Changing rooms will also help me feel more comfortable about where I sleep. I need to be in small, cozy spaces. Our bedroom is quite large (something like 9'x14'), so I feel adrift at sea with all that space, instead of anchored and safe. We won't be able to have our king-size bed, like we had hoped for, but we can definitely fit a queen-sized bed in there, which is better than our current full-size bed that the three of us have no hope in hell of spending a comfortable night together in.
I have no idea what we'll do when it comes time to get a rocking chair (which I so desperately want!). Maybe we can find a place for it in the living room. Maybe. Idunno. It'll be a little while yet before that becomes a priority, anyhow, so I'm not terribly worried.
N and I went to Home Depot and Canadian Tire this weekend to look at paint chips. I brought home A LOT. Lynx picked three colours, which I also really liked, and we managed to find a use for all three of them. One for the back room, one for the now-office/soon-to-be-bedroom, and one for the living room. Acquiring the paint and painting will be the first step, which I hope to begin early next month. I really want the rooms switched before solstice. Lynx needs more light to work by than she's currently getting. Switching rooms will help that immensely.
She's looking forward to switching rooms. Not the actual moving part, mind you, but the part where everything is settled and wonderful in its new home. I'm really looking forward to it too. I think it'll be a really good thing.
Glad I had my fit on Thursday night/Friday morning, else this might not be happening.
Go, go silver lining.