some herbal info

I was supposed to get my period on Friday, it has not come. Well I spotted for like half a day and that was it. I think the Clomid messed me up because I usually am VERY VERY regular with my period and I know exactly when it is going to come. I am not pregnant. The progesterone test proved that and I also took a pregnancy test the day I should have started, just to be sure. I will see Dr Sawyer on August 26th. She called in more Clomid for me to start this past Monday at 100mg, but I did not take it because obviously it messed with my hormones more than they already were "messed up". We are moving to New York in about 8 weeks, so I think I am done messing with this and Drs here. I will see her and see what she says, but I don't think there is much to do in a short amount of time. I have been looking into natural supplements and herbs to help with the PCOS and fertility, and that brings me to the next subject of this blog entry.

The night I got my progesterone test back, I could not sleep. I spent 6 hours researching herbs and supplements. It wasn't the first time I had looked into these things, but I became more interested after the Clomid failed and the awful side effects I had. I have read nothing but amazing things about these herbs, so I decided I would give them a shot. I have bought almost everything, but have not started them yet as I am trying to work them in with my day, meals and other medications I take for other things.

I have yet to purchase Soy Isoflavens, they are supposed to be "nature's clomid". You take them just like Clomid, days 5-9 of your cycle at 100mg. I have gotten Vitex, B 100 complex vitamins, Evening Primrose Oil, Red Raspberry Leaf, and Royal Jelly. In a minute I will tell you a little about each of them, but first I want to insert a quick memo:

*NONE OF THIS IS MEDICAL ADVICE AND IT IS BEST IF YOU SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. IF YOU TRY THESE THINGS, YOU ARE DOING AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. I AM ONLY SHARING KNOWLEDGE*

Vitex is a plant also known as Agnus Castus (Chaste tree). Many women claim it has helped them become pregnant and/or balance hormones (progesterone). Many women from child bearing years to menopausal years take it. I have read it's been taken for centuries to help cure infertility and regulate female hormones. The only bad thing I have read about it, is that a woman that has a regular cycle, may have an irregular one for the first few months of taking it. It hasn't helped everyone woman get pregnant who has taken it, but I see way more that have than not. Nothing is a miracle, but some people call it that. This comes in pill or tincture form.

B vitamins just help with energy, period. This comes in pill form.

Evening Primrose Oil is said to help you produce health cervical mucous. If using it to do so, you are supposed to take it the first 2 week of your cycle and stop when ovulation should occur and then continue again the first day of you next period for 2 weeks and so on. As far as I know, this is only in pill form.

Red Raspberry Leaf comes in pill, tea, and tincture form. When I went into an herbs shop, the woman said most people buy it in tea form and people say it is the most effective, so that is what I bought. It is said that it will stregthen the uterus and also regulate hormones. I have also read that many women continue to drink it through pregnancy or even start it during pregnancy with a rule of a glass a day per trimester. (I think I may have worded that wrong) But 1 glass every day of the first trimester, 2 a day the 2nd and 3 the 3rd. Again, all I read are great things!

Royal Jelly is made from queen bees. It is supposed to improve egg quality and the quality of the reproductive organs. It comes in pill/capsule or you can get it in jelly form, I believe.

I think I am going to start these the next time I have a period again. I am going to start them gradually. I am still looking into what therapeutic dosages should be. I have been put in touch with an herbalist, but have not gotten a reply back from her just yet.

The other medications I take are 850mg of Metformin twice daily (for PCOS), 40mg of Nexium once a day (Acid Reflux), a prenatal vitamin, and 0.5mg of Klonopin as needed (Anxiety). I recently tried to get off Klonopin altogether, but had a very serious panic attack about 5 days ago. I think I was coming off too fast and my body freaked out on me, so I am going to wean off slower...another reason to postpone trying anymore, because you cannot take Klonopin and be pregnant. I mean I guess you can, but it is not recommened nor safe at all!

Well that is all I have for now, I may have a guest blogger coming up soon =) and I will continue to keep you all updated on any reseach I hear and any part of my personal story. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!!!!