About to Enter Phase Three

May 10, 2014

Well, good news. I'm "normal." My pulse is within the range of a normal, ovulating and menstruating, healthy woman.

My doctor was back from China, a bit jet lagged as she got home last night, but delved right in. I had printed off my two charts for her so she began analyzing them while she took my pulse. My first chart (remember, I was cut off when I hit 180 days so I had to start a new one, and even that one was over 60 days) showed the 5 day LP. My second chart, looked actually quite a bit more promising showing a good thermal shift and showed the 8 day LP. So, really, I guess I've only had one "true" cycle to base things off of, but we analyzed them both because we are really looking at the LP right now.

She said my cycles were too short, which I was already aware of, but did agree the three additional day LP was a step in the right direction. The "first" cycle I also only menstruated for two days. This cycle I'm on day three. All very light bleeding, but that is also a step in the right direction.

She started writing with a fury on my chart. She took note of the severe abdominal and back cramping and went through various other symptoms, the color of the blood, the amount, if there were clots, etc. Red. Light. No clots.

I asked about egg health and she said that is one of the goals now. To improve egg health and lengthen my cycles. She told me to begin taking the royal jelly, but only one capsule, once a day. She doesn't like many supplements (ironic because of all that I am on) but said to take the minimum dose as it should help my eggs.

I counted 29 herbs in this concoction. I have yet to drink it. I will tonight, but when I smelled it, it was sweeter. It didn't have an overly bitter smell to it like some past mixtures have.

She discussed with me their plan for phase three. Phase one was acupuncture while I was in the process of weaning my son. Phase two was the herbs to regulate my hormones and nourish my blood and organs. Phase three will begin most likely after this cycle with the hopes it will extend a bit. Phase three will be a two part acupuncture cycle. The first part will be a "wake up" call to my reproductive organs and uterus. The second part will prepare me for pregnancy and to carry a baby.

How it all works, I'm not quite sure, but I usually go armed with questions so hopefully I will get some answers. My mom, also brought up a point about my previous pregnancy to discuss with them. I had a very healthy pregnancy, but around 36 1/2 weeks I had to go to the hospital for possibly induction because I had low amniotic fluid. With minimal bed rest, a huge intake of water, and daily, then every other day NST (neonatal stress test) and AF (amniotic fluid) tests I was cleared until almost 41 weeks. My doctor had told me because of the low fluid at 41 weeks she would induce me and at 40 1/2 weeks my amniotic fluid dropped to dangerous levels. I was sent to the hospital and immediately induced. 

It was a miserable and painful labor. I'd sworn I'd go natural with no meds but after over 25 hrs, the nurse ran in to stop pitocin because I was just having one LOOOOOONG contraction with no breaks and they feared my uterus would rupture. I gave in and got an epidural when talk of a possible C-section was brought up. That is a story for another day.

I wonder if they could better prepare my body in some way to avoid that the next go round? I'll ask. If not, if there is any talk of an induction for a future pregnancy, I'll me giving them a holler to possibly stimulate my body through acupuncture to get labor in motion naturally. No more of those synthetic drugs!

Anyway, I digress. I feel pretty happy. This cycle, we hope will elongate. The herbs will continue to nourish and aid my hormones to their appropriate levels. It will also help my egg health. As discussed previously, egg health is really determined the last three months it's growing before it's released from a follicle. I've already been helping it along with the herbs and the supplements I'm taking, but this will step it up a notch.

I'll keep you posted how this cycle goes and when acupuncture begins. I feel so calm right now. Instead of hoping for a positive pregnancy test this month, I've completely allowed myself to let go and let God heal me. The positive will come, and come soon, when the time is right. I can only prepare the field and trust.

Overall, I'm feeling very optimistic. My body is responding well to treatment. And, the beautiful thing is, the "treatment" is not interfering with my own body's hormones. It is gently assisting them by making me healthy. Isn't that cool? Our bodies are miraculous!

God bless!