Test results at last

I finally got copies of my blood work from the PCOS / Acupuncture study done at the UVA in 2008.  These blood draws were taken on April 8, 2008 which is day 53 out of a 77 day cycle.

Vitals
Blood pressure - 137/81 and later 99/67 (normal 120/80))
Pulse - 95 and later 80 (normal 60-80)
Respiration - 18 and later 16 (normal 12-18)
Temp - 95.7 and later 98.1 (normal 98.6)

Oral glucose tolerance test
Fasting - 87 (normal 60-100)
1 hour - 128 (normal less than 200)
2 hour - 129 (normal less than 140)

Hemoglobin A1C

Click word to go to wikipedia definition.

Result - 5.0% (normal 4-5.9%)

DHEAS
Result - 287.0ug/dL (normal 35-430ug/dL)
Women with PCOS often have levels over 200.

Testosterone
Result - 93 (normal 6-86)
Women with PCOS have elevated levels of testosterone.

17-Hydroxyprogesterone
Result - 149.00 ng/dL (normal follicular phase is 15-70, luteal phase is 35-290)
Since I have no idea which phase of my cycle I was in or whether I ovulated that cycle, this seems difficult to understand how it my relate.


TSH
Result - 1.64 uIU/mL (normal 0.4 - 4.0)
PCOS women usually have normal levels, this was tested to rule out a thyroid problem - very good news!)


Prolactin
Result - 5.0 n/mL (normal 2-29)
PCOS women usually have normal levels, this was tested to rule out a pituitary tumor or other problem).


That's it!  I was hoping there was an FSH/LH reading in there somewhere and maybe some more hormone levels, but good to finally get these!

Fresh Fig and Greek Yogurt pie recipe

Fresh Fig Pie  (adapted from here)

2 cups Greek-style strained yogurt
up to 2 tablespoons raw, unfiltered honey
6 to 8 ripe Mission figs, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 8-inch almond flour pie shell
additional honey, if desired

Fold up to two tablespoons raw honey into two cups strained Greek-style yogurt. Stir well so that the honey is fully incorporated into the yogurt.  Spoon the yogurt into an almond flour pie shell. Gently place the sliced figs over the yogurt.  Drizzle the sliced figs with additional honey, if it suits you.

October 7

My first appointment is set!  I am excited and nervous to move on in this journey.  My 60 days of initial charting will be up on September 29 and my appt with Dr. Yeung is a week later.  I will continue to chart using the Creighton Method and send it to the Dr, but this gets enough to hopefully give him a decent picture of what is going on with me and where to go next.  My wonderful teacher, LaDean Barnes is preparing my referral letter and gathering all my data for him.  My hope for this appt is to have a good consult with the Dr, to get some initial exams and tests done or labs ordered, I also am hoping for a prescription for Metformin as it will often help by stabilizing any insulin resistance and lowering testosterone.

Please keep us in prayer as we will have many decisions to make - pray for answers and clarity.  Thank you all!  :-)

Painful cycle

 I am in lots of pain today.  I get this way every few months, so far this year has been December, January and April and now today.

I am on CD 21, taking no medications currently.  My ladycomp says that I ovulated on CD 16 (not sure why) my temp has been up the last 3 days.  According to my mucus symptoms, I would guess maybe an ovulation on day 18, but not quite certain.  I am still trying to learn how to tell the difference between semen and my mucus.  I had right abdominal pain/twinges  for the past 4 or 5 days.

Today, I have lots of lower back pain and sciatica pain, my legs are achey, I have this very irritating itchy feeling inside my right hip (nerve being pressed on? - can't scratch it!), I was very hot during the night last night and have slept restlessly the last couple of nights, I have joint pain and a slight headache today, I am SO tired... with the pain and exhaustion, I have been in bed for most of the day today, sleeping for 8 hours of it.

Not sure whether to associate it with actual ovulation, attempted ovulation, enlarged ovary, ovarian cyst, endometriosis, what???  I have 3 weeks until my appt with my specialist, but meet with my charting instructor next Thurs and will ask her if other clients have had this too... very curious and painful... wondering where it fits into the puzzle.

Blessings and update

Thought I would do a quick update here.  We are now on day 23 of charting with CrMS and all is going well so far.  We can tell there is definite low progesterone happening so far.  We meet with LaDean again on Thursday and will learn some more parts of the charting and evaluate everything so far.  I really look forward to our visit, she has blessed us in immeasurable ways already.

I am currently searching for a local care provider that would be willing to work via Dr. Yeung so that we don't have the expense of traveling to see him in NC.  I have some leads, but nothing definite yet.  Hoping to talk with a couple more possibilities tomorrow.  We will make the trip if we have to, but he has offered this as a way to reduce our costs and I am so very thankful.  Please pray that someone would be willing to work with us in this way!

Another unexpected blessing was a LadyComp given to us by our very good friends along with their prayers for our fertility.  I had lots of fun getting it set up this afternoon and can very easily temp my bbt each morning and the computer tracks and evaluates it.  Since my cycles are irregular, it will take a while for it to be able to predict ovulation and menses, but it should help to confirm my other charts and eventually as I stabilize my hormones it should be very helpful.

I have been feeling pretty well.  Thankful my cycle was not longer than 41 days this time.  I have been eating well for the vast majority of the past 6 weeks and have lost a few more pounds, but seem stalled.  Tom and I had decided to start running on the Couch to 5K program and really enjoyed it, but I ended up with a knee injury a couple days after our 2nd run.  :-(  I spent about 10 days in bed but am much improved now.  I was able to walk 1/4 mile this morning while Tom ran and will build up to longer distances eventually.  I am planning to get back to T-Tapp on the other 3 days a week.

So, that's about it for now.  I have some studying to do before our next class and many other pressing matters about the home here.  I will update again in the next week or two.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

Tropical smoothie recipe

A friend shared this recipe with me and Tom and I have enjoyed it, so wanted to share with you.

Tropical Smoothie
1 can frozen, unsweetened pineapple juice
1 can coconut milk
1/2 lime, squeezed
ice

Put cans in blender, add lime juice and fill with ice.  Blend well and enjoy!

Video talking about the Creighton Model that I am learning

My teacher, LaDean Barnes and her son put these videos together.  It includes couples and doctors that she works with.  Dr. Yeung is the doctor I will be seeing.