Changes

Since I’m putting my body through Clomid, I thought I should try and do whatever else I can to make my body as good as it can be so that maybe a pregnancy will stick.

I bought the book “Making Babies” a couple of months back and read through it but never really put anything into action.  It’s a really good book full of excellent ideas.  They have sections on figuring out what your type is, but if you go here and take the quiz it will tell you exactly what you are.  I ended up being a combination of two types.  I’ve listed the blurbs about them below.  Not all of the info was accurate, but quite a bit of it was me exactly.

So I’m really trying to work on my diet and eat the things that I know are good for me.  A few years back I had gone to a Naturopath and he did some blood allergy testing and found that I am allergic to milk, wheat and eggs and even some vegetables.  So that means just about everything.  I’m not going completely extreme yet as I know that my motivation levels are not always great.  I can go gung-ho on a new diet for a week or two then it fizzles out and I end up eating worse than before.  So I’m making small changes and gradually cutting out things so that I can make it a lifestyle instead of just another diet.  

I asked my RE if he thought that food allergies had a part to play in fertility and he said no, it had nothing to do with it.  I kind of disagree, I’ve read a lot of articles about it and it seems that if you do have allergies that your body can produce a lot of antibodies which can then in turn affect fertility.  Anyone know anything about this?  At any rate, eating better will just be better for me all round, regardless of anything else.

Phew this was a long post….thanks for following.  If you still feel like reading take a look at my types below.

Tired

SYMPTOMS:
Often feels weak or lethargic
Prone to getting sick
Gets out of breath and sweats easily, gains weight
Poor appetite
Prone to bloating, gas, and loose stools
Low sex drive
Short luteal phase
Feels cold: hands, feet

WESTERN MEDICINE:
Hypothyroid
Low progesterone
Luteal phase defect
Metabolic disorders

TCM PERSPECTIVE:
This type is called kidney “yang” deficiency in TCM, and reflects a broader hormonal imbalance going beyond reproductive hormones and encompassing the thyroid, adrenals, and pituitary gland. Weakness in these systems affects metabolism, circulation, and thus reproduction.

ADVICE
More animal Protein
Avoid raw and cold foods
Alcohol in moderation
Consume warming soups and stews, and spices: cinnamon,
ginger, cayenne, turmeric, cardamom, cloves, cumin
Regular moderate exercise

SUPPLEMENTS:
Royal jelly
Wheat grass
Chromium (boosts metabolism by enhancing the action of insulin)
L-arginine
Chasteberry (helps sustain post-ovulatory progesterone)

Stuck

SYMPTOMS:
Stressed out, easily angered
Tension headaches, nervous stomach, high blood pressure, or muscle tightness
PMS Symptoms including breast tenderness and mood swings, painful periods, irregular cycles, clotted menstrual blood.

WESTERN MEDICINE:
Endometriosis
Fibroids
Uterine polyps
PMS
Mittelschmerz (pain during mid-cycle)

TCM PERSPECTIVE:
The tightness of the Stuck type stems from poor energy and blood flow throughout the body, or what is referred to as qi and blood stagnation. Over time, it can lead to stagnation in the reproductive system, which can cause ovulation problems and inflexible fallopian tubes. Blood stagnation can cause painful or stop-and-start periods, and can lead to reproductive system obstructions such as endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, and cysts.

ADVICE
Regular aerobic exercise
Plenty of fiber
Stress reduction
Hot water with lemon in the morning
Complex carbohydrates
Avoid soy products
Avoid alcohol

SUPPLEMENTS:
Zinc (especially premenstrually)
B-complex vitamins
Magnesium
Calcium