Thursday, February 7, 2013

some thoughts about the luteal phase

... or as it is known by those in the know: The Two Week Wait.

- Is it just me, or are you always starving during the 2WW, too? I find dieting so much easier during the first two weeks of my cycles. But as soon as I ovulate, it's like I need all the food, NOW.

- my temperatures are still really low, with no thermal shift. This would seem to indicate my body is not responding to the increase in progesterone. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, my progesterone numbers are considered normal. Perhaps on the low end of normal, but normal enough to indicate I am ovulating. Should I just ask for progesterone?

- I asked Dr. Google how I could naturally bump up my BBT numbers, thereby hopefully increasing progesterone, and wow. Talk about mixed messages. Never trust Dr. Google.

- For example, there's one dude who says you should eat more sugar, and eat lots of whole foods, to the point that you are overeating, and you shouldn't exercise. I'm like: Hey. I am a living example of why that particular "method" doesn't work. Also, it's a little scary when people who aren't doctors dispense medical advice on the internet.

- The rest of the internet thinks I have a thyroid problem. Multiple tests have shown that, clinically, I do not.

- Plenty of internet geniuses think I should cut out gluten. I don't even know, you guys.

- Making Babies is not helping me the way I want to be helped right now. It alludes to a possible luteal phase defect. And the book and my doctor seem to disagree about what adequate levels of progesterone are ... I'm leaning toward simply asking for the progesterone supplement once this cycle is over.

- Mostly I just want to stop thinking about this forever.

2 comments:

  1. Oh I feel your pain! I have just started the process of getting my blood work done (low in both estrogen and progesterone)and have an appointment with a fertility specialist in May (which terrifies me, yep I'm a wuss). I know all about Dr. Google and how even as you are typing in your search and your brain is telling you it's a bad idea because you will end up even more confused than you strated, your fingers cannot control themselves from typing...gaaaah! Your line at the end of this post "Mostly I just want to stop thinking about this forever" sums it up perfectly. Thanks for this blog, even though I am sorry you are going through this experience, it is a relief to know I am not alone in my obsession that this has become. You also provide some much needed humour which is the icing on the cake. I will be cheering you on the whole way!!!!

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    1. Seriously, if I could stop thinking about it, then maybe I would at least be adhering to Rule No. 1 for Infertiles: Do not stress. Yeah, the next genius who tells me to stop stressing is going to get an earful. Good luck to you! Seeing a specialist is a good idea. If you're just low in hormones, they might be able to solve your issue with a simple pill!

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