Achy ovaries after clomid and trigger

Total Hysterectomy Questions

2024.05.14 08:17 Top_Sky_4731 Total Hysterectomy Questions

So I am about 75% sure I eventually want a total hysterectomy - uterus, ovaries, everything yeeted - but I have not begun to pursue anything yet with my doc because I’d like to be more sure than that before I do it. I’m a relatively healthy dude in my late 20s so I’m thinking I should probably pull the trigger sooner rather than later, because the older I get the longer and harder recovery is gonna be. I just have a few questions for people who have been through it.
  1. What was recovery like? How long, how difficult, how painful?
  2. Did you notice any additional physical changes after getting your ovaries removed? I’ve seen studies showing evidence that testosterone increases and estrogen decreases after oophorectomy and I’m honestly wondering if still having my ovaries is part of the reason I didn’t physically transition that much despite being 8 years on T (voice still gets me ma’amed on the phone and I look like a 16 year old boy ffs). For anyone that did notice changes after, how long had you been on T when you had the surgery and when did you see changes?
  3. Did you feel better after? Worse? The same? Again, mostly wondering if the hormonal difference is significant enough to be noticeable, but also just in general - did it improve your life/mood/dysphoria/etc? My husband is also trans so I would not be doing it as a means of birth control and would be interested for the other benefits only.
  4. Do you still take T? If you stopped taking it after the hysterectomy did you notice any difference in your mood/body/etc?
  5. What was the process like getting approved for the surgery? How long did it take/what did you need to do? Did insurance cover it?
Any other input is also appreciated, I don’t know much at all about this since the only major surgery I’ve ever had was top and that only touched soft tissue.
submitted by Top_Sky_4731 to ftm [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 04:41 cola_zerola Has anyone seen an increase in follicles after 7 days of stims?

Hello! I am 35 years old, AMH 0.86, and on my first egg retrieval (Follistim/Ganirelix/Clomid protocol). This morning I had my second monitoring appointment on day 8 and after completing 7 days of stims (started Ganirelix on day 6). I currently have 8 total follicles ranging from 8mm to 19mm. The biggest one (19mm) is way ahead of the pack and we will probably be letting it go. The clinic guesstimates my retrieval may be Friday (today is Monday) but we will know more later this week. My question is, could I still end up with more than what they’re seeing now? During my ultrasound I asked the technician if there could be more that are hiding and she said she didn’t think so because my ovaries are easy to see, but I’m always reading stories here of people who got happy surprises on retrieval day. Anyway. Thank you all!!
submitted by cola_zerola to IVF [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 21:19 doesitmatter_no The Endo Survival Guide

Several people have approached me that they might have endometriosis. Lifelong warrior so thought I would share my tips and tricks I put together for my friends and family to share with you :) Hope this helps someone!
ENDOMETRIOSIS SURGERY FACTS
ENDOMETRIOSIS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (WHAT TO EXPECT)
PRE-SURGERY
POST-OP PREP
SPACE PREP
  1. Make sure your bed or couch is prepped. I stayed on the first level for the first 2ish days before feeling well enough to stay upstairs.
  2. I used a pregnancy pillow on the bed to help me stay on my back while sleeping and help you feel cozy.
  3. Stock the house with foods that will be light for your stomach. Think soups and casseroles! Saltine crackers, broths, rices etc..
  4. If you have a raised bed, get a step stool to assist. It’s best to sit on the side of the bed and slowly lay your upper body down while bringing your knees up and over to your back. You will need to use arm strength the first couple of days to get you up and over since you can’t use the abdomen.
  5. Water and Beverages stocked at all times. I have a reusable water bottle and avoid carbonated beverages for the time being. They fill you with gas for the procedure so it may make those symptoms worse.
  6. Netflix, Kindle, Puzzles, Craft Projects…visits with friends. Whatever makes the time pass, set it up ahead of time so it’s handy.
  7. Items to Keep on Hand: Baby Wipes, heating pads, pads/diapers, candles, essential oils, things that smell good haha
BOWEL PREP
This is dependent on the type of surgery you are having, but its good to have Gatorade, Magnesium Citrate (liquid), laxatives and enemas on hand just in case you need these.
ON SURGERY DAY
It’s important to follow the instructions on what to stop taking and/or eating/drinking prior to the surgery. Wear comfy clothes (wide elastic waistband) and slides with cozy socks. Double check your to go bag and breath.
AT THE HOSPITAL
  1. Do your check-ins and keep your people with you as long as you want.
  2. Make sure to read all the consent forms and ask any questions upfront. Make any advance directives clear.
  3. Just try to remain calm as there’s a lot of down time while they do intake. It is about 2 hours of prep before they bring you in for the surgery itself.
  4. They will ask you the same questions over and over again, that’s normal and trust me, you want to confirm it’s all being done properly.
  5. If you need something for anxiety, they will be sure to give you something if you ask :)
  6. You will be wearing a gown, socks, funky underwear and a cool hair net haha wear the gown backward so you keep warm and keep the butt covered.
  7. Vitals will happen and the anesthesiologist will come and speak with you to make sure they prep the right meds beforehand. Bring up any concerns here with them!
  8. You may be wheeled or walked into surgery. I’ve only ever walked in and laid on the table myself.
  9. They will then put the IV in your arm and sometimes will put on a mask, they will then ask you to count backwards and before you know it, you will be awake again!
RECOVERY
ENDOMETRIOSIS MAINTENANCE
Here’s the tips and tricks I found helpful for maintaining my pain and symptoms (GI and back pain related):
  1. Pelvic Floor Therapy: This is important for keeping the muscles in your pelvis healthy and strong to maintain your structure and also help manage pain. Consult with your doctor on whether this is right for you.
  2. Physical Therapy: I do PT for my back and pelvic floor since it’s all related. We focus on Myofascial Release Therapy to help break up the adhesions and give me more mobility. This helps with temporary pain relief (reduction in number), but that is always welcome :)
  3. Acupuncture: I swear by Acupuncture. I don’t know what it does or why, but it works. It’s not a cure by any means, but it's great for relaxation, fertility, digestion, endometriosis, sleep, etc.. I can go on, but it’s not covered by insurance plans all the time so you will need to check and see what you’re able to take on.
  4. Diet/Exercise:
    1. Eating high protein, lower fat/carbs (not none just low) helps your body, but overall learn your trigger foods! This will go a long way.
    2. Ginger, turmeric and fennel all help with bloating. I like to drink them in tea form when I’m feeling particularly hard stomached as it’s a good natural way to decrease the bloat. Peppermint also works for some, for me it irritates my GERD.
    3. Chamomile for relaxation
    4. Walking and movement are important. I cannot do anything high impact due to my sacroiliitis diagnosis, so I stick with light yoga and walking.
  5. Alcohol/Other Substances: Don’t do it. Don’t touch it. You’ll thank me later on this point.
  6. Sleep: Insomnia is a very real thing. I think I went 2 or 3 days at its worst one time and I cannot say enough how important trying to keep the same sleep schedule will benefit you. Waking and sleeping around the same time each day will still feel exhausting but at least you know your body is getting the most sleep it can get.
  7. Medications/Supplements:
    1. Ibprofuern: This does NOT work for me. I have GERD and ulcers so I cannot take NSAIDs, but with that in mind, NSAIDs are supposedly the best pain medication over the counter to help you manage it.
    2. Pain Killers: These are AS NEEDED. I try to refrain and leave these for the TRULY bad days which I try to spread out. Not even worth it sometimes, because I don’t like how I feel and sometimes vomit after taking them. But they do help the pain!
    3. IUD/Orilissa: An IUD will NOT do anything. If you are diagnosed, ask your doctor about Orilissa or similar medicines instead of birth control methods. This will not stop the growth, just suppress it. There are side effects and it is only a short term solution.
    4. Linzess: This worked well for me for constipation symptoms when they got severe. Definitely recommend bringing this to your doctor if you’re truly suffering and they have not yet mentioned. I also resorted after trying magnesium citrate
    5. CBD Lotions/Salves: For my pelvis, I use Healing Rose CBD Salve in Orange and Lavender (https://www.thehealingroseco.com/product/orange-lavender-with-chamomile-herbal-salve-300mg-cbd/). For my back, I use a medical grade CBD lotion with menthol (https://cbdclinic.co/clinical-strength-series/). I also use a CBD massage oil from Healing Rose of the same scent when doing myofascial release at home. I also use Somedays Cramp Cream (https://somedays.com/products/period-cramp-cream?variant=42062153842853).
  8. Heating Pads and Ice Pack: I have several varieties of heating pads. A cordless travel heating pad (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FPTJL4G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details), a plug-in heating pad (lhttps://www.hsn.com/products/pure-enrichment-purerelief-xxl-heating-pad-with-9-cord/22188460) and stick on patches (https://www.thermacare.com/ - I use the back patches but reverse them to the front for better coverage). For hot flashes and night sweats (also if you need to relax while anxious) place an ice pack over your chest to help cool or calm down.
  9. Self-Care: No joke, massages, facials, epsom salt baths, sound baths, reiki….anything that you find relaxing. Do it. Try it! They also make CBD bath bombs Ive been wanting to check out.
  10. TENs Machine: I really want one, don’t have one, but people swear by them (the heating pad linked to MyObi has a TENs version - https://myobistore.com/en-us/collections/my-obi-belts/products/apollo-2-0).
  11. Pregnancy Pillow: This one sounds so lame, but I bought a pregnancy pillow for my first endometriosis surgery since I’m a side sleeper to help keep me on my back during recovery. It changed by life! It helps my anxiety and makes me comfortable while sleeping. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YYVRXLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)..
  12. Heated Blankets/Cozy Blankets: Make yourself feel better with a cozy blanket. Do it, I dare you!
  13. Endo To-Go Bag: Includes heating pads (travel, plug-in and patches), medications, balms/salves, essential oils and pads/protection items, change of clothes, wet wipes.
  14. Sex Life: I’m single, I don’t have a partner to worry about communicating this issue with at this point, but go slow and communicate given eventually this will have to be a conversation. What I have learned is that if you do have sex and feel pain. Immediately stop! If you associate sex with pain mentally in that moment, it may cause fear in doing so down the line so it’s best to stop the moment you feel any pain occur.
  15. Work Life: I work a demanding job so it was not working with the appointments and care I needed to manage pain. Always get FMLA from your doctor for intermittent leave based on your company's policies. This protects you from flare-ups and appointments. Short Term Disability is based on your situation with work so talk with them about any leave of absence for surgery and recovery and ensure the medical providers fill out the paperwork appropriately.
  16. Friends/Family: This one is the worst. I have to cancel and make plans all the time based on how I feel. I like to line up a bunch of plans for three months out and do my best to make them happen at the beginning of the month when I know I’m most likely to feel good. I just say I’ll make things up to them when I get better and those who have stuck around have been truly amazing friends, but don’t be upset that some might be over the day in and out of what you’re going through. It’s hard for you and sometimes others and it’s just a part of the relationships we’re meant to experience in life. Most people (unless they have endometriosis) don’t understand it so it can feel isolating, but there’s others out there who know what you’re going through and are willing to chat. Just gotta find them and reach out on social media, online etc..
  17. Journaling Symptoms: Guilty of not being the best at this always, but it's good to track your symptoms to see how they work and operate. It helps not only you plan for it, but also your doctors in how best to handle your care. Take photos of things that make sense to show your doctors! Discharge, bowels etc..can sometimes help diagnose or judge with the images.
  18. Next to Bed Kit: Make sure your nightstand is stocked with the essentials for your bad days. Makes it easier to access the items you need when you just can’t get up and get it.
  19. Squatty Potty: Another thing that is majorly life changing on constipation days! Get one or you can make your own :) Take a stack of books and stack them at equal heights on each side and put your feet up. The trick is making sure you’re in a squat with your knees high to your ears.
  20. Clothing: Dressing for this is key but you still want to look cute! Joggers with a stretchy waist are my go to pants, but wide leg trousers with a stretchy waist help with ease of removal but also comfort and brings some style to the look.
  21. Pads: I wear Always Discreet vs. pads. I find when you need to wear them full time for incontinence it just makes it more comfortable. They have different cuts and styles so definitely check them out!
submitted by doesitmatter_no to endometriosis [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 21:18 doesitmatter_no The Endo Survival Guide

Several people have approached me that they might have endometriosis. Lifelong warrior so thought I would share my tips and tricks I put together for my friends and family to share with you :) Hope this helps someone!
ENDOMETRIOSIS SURGERY FACTS
ENDOMETRIOSIS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (WHAT TO EXPECT)
PRE-SURGERY
POST-OP PREP
SPACE PREP
  1. Make sure your bed or couch is prepped. I stayed on the first level for the first 2ish days before feeling well enough to stay upstairs.
  2. I used a pregnancy pillow on the bed to help me stay on my back while sleeping and help you feel cozy.
  3. Stock the house with foods that will be light for your stomach. Think soups and casseroles! Saltine crackers, broths, rices etc..
  4. If you have a raised bed, get a step stool to assist. It’s best to sit on the side of the bed and slowly lay your upper body down while bringing your knees up and over to your back. You will need to use arm strength the first couple of days to get you up and over since you can’t use the abdomen.
  5. Water and Beverages stocked at all times. I have a reusable water bottle and avoid carbonated beverages for the time being. They fill you with gas for the procedure so it may make those symptoms worse.
  6. Netflix, Kindle, Puzzles, Craft Projects…visits with friends. Whatever makes the time pass, set it up ahead of time so it’s handy.
  7. Items to Keep on Hand: Baby Wipes, heating pads, pads/diapers, candles, essential oils, things that smell good haha
BOWEL PREP
This is dependent on the type of surgery you are having, but its good to have Gatorade, Magnesium Citrate (liquid), laxatives and enemas on hand just in case you need these.
ON SURGERY DAY
It’s important to follow the instructions on what to stop taking and/or eating/drinking prior to the surgery. Wear comfy clothes (wide elastic waistband) and slides with cozy socks. Double check your to go bag and breath.
AT THE HOSPITAL
  1. Do your check-ins and keep your people with you as long as you want.
  2. Make sure to read all the consent forms and ask any questions upfront. Make any advance directives clear.
  3. Just try to remain calm as there’s a lot of down time while they do intake. It is about 2 hours of prep before they bring you in for the surgery itself.
  4. They will ask you the same questions over and over again, that’s normal and trust me, you want to confirm it’s all being done properly.
  5. If you need something for anxiety, they will be sure to give you something if you ask :)
  6. You will be wearing a gown, socks, funky underwear and a cool hair net haha wear the gown backward so you keep warm and keep the butt covered.
  7. Vitals will happen and the anesthesiologist will come and speak with you to make sure they prep the right meds beforehand. Bring up any concerns here with them!
  8. You may be wheeled or walked into surgery. I’ve only ever walked in and laid on the table myself.
  9. They will then put the IV in your arm and sometimes will put on a mask, they will then ask you to count backwards and before you know it, you will be awake again!
RECOVERY
ENDOMETRIOSIS MAINTENANCE
Here’s the tips and tricks I found helpful for maintaining my pain and symptoms (GI and back pain related):
  1. Pelvic Floor Therapy: This is important for keeping the muscles in your pelvis healthy and strong to maintain your structure and also help manage pain. Consult with your doctor on whether this is right for you.
  2. Physical Therapy: I do PT for my back and pelvic floor since it’s all related. We focus on Myofascial Release Therapy to help break up the adhesions and give me more mobility. This helps with temporary pain relief (reduction in number), but that is always welcome :)
  3. Acupuncture: I swear by Acupuncture. I don’t know what it does or why, but it works. It’s not a cure by any means, but it's great for relaxation, fertility, digestion, endometriosis, sleep, etc.. I can go on, but it’s not covered by insurance plans all the time so you will need to check and see what you’re able to take on.
  4. Diet/Exercise:
    1. Eating high protein, lower fat/carbs (not none just low) helps your body, but overall learn your trigger foods! This will go a long way.
    2. Ginger, turmeric and fennel all help with bloating. I like to drink them in tea form when I’m feeling particularly hard stomached as it’s a good natural way to decrease the bloat. Peppermint also works for some, for me it irritates my GERD.
    3. Chamomile for relaxation
    4. Walking and movement are important. I cannot do anything high impact due to my sacroiliitis diagnosis, so I stick with light yoga and walking.
  5. Alcohol/Other Substances: Don’t do it. Don’t touch it. You’ll thank me later on this point.
  6. Sleep: Insomnia is a very real thing. I think I went 2 or 3 days at its worst one time and I cannot say enough how important trying to keep the same sleep schedule will benefit you. Waking and sleeping around the same time each day will still feel exhausting but at least you know your body is getting the most sleep it can get.
  7. Medications/Supplements:
    1. Ibprofuern: This does NOT work for me. I have GERD and ulcers so I cannot take NSAIDs, but with that in mind, NSAIDs are supposedly the best pain medication over the counter to help you manage it.
    2. Pain Killers: These are AS NEEDED. I try to refrain and leave these for the TRULY bad days which I try to spread out. Not even worth it sometimes, because I don’t like how I feel and sometimes vomit after taking them. But they do help the pain!
    3. IUD/Orilissa: An IUD will NOT do anything. If you are diagnosed, ask your doctor about Orilissa or similar medicines instead of birth control methods. This will not stop the growth, just suppress it. There are side effects and it is only a short term solution.
    4. Linzess: This worked well for me for constipation symptoms when they got severe. Definitely recommend bringing this to your doctor if you’re truly suffering and they have not yet mentioned. I also resorted after trying magnesium citrate
    5. CBD Lotions/Salves: For my pelvis, I use Healing Rose CBD Salve in Orange and Lavender (https://www.thehealingroseco.com/product/orange-lavender-with-chamomile-herbal-salve-300mg-cbd/). For my back, I use a medical grade CBD lotion with menthol (https://cbdclinic.co/clinical-strength-series/). I also use a CBD massage oil from Healing Rose of the same scent when doing myofascial release at home. I also use Somedays Cramp Cream (https://somedays.com/products/period-cramp-cream?variant=42062153842853).
  8. Heating Pads and Ice Pack: I have several varieties of heating pads. A cordless travel heating pad (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FPTJL4G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details), a plug-in heating pad (lhttps://www.hsn.com/products/pure-enrichment-purerelief-xxl-heating-pad-with-9-cord/22188460) and stick on patches (https://www.thermacare.com/ - I use the back patches but reverse them to the front for better coverage). For hot flashes and night sweats (also if you need to relax while anxious) place an ice pack over your chest to help cool or calm down.
  9. Self-Care: No joke, massages, facials, epsom salt baths, sound baths, reiki….anything that you find relaxing. Do it. Try it! They also make CBD bath bombs Ive been wanting to check out.
  10. TENs Machine: I really want one, don’t have one, but people swear by them (the heating pad linked to MyObi has a TENs version - https://myobistore.com/en-us/collections/my-obi-belts/products/apollo-2-0).
  11. Pregnancy Pillow: This one sounds so lame, but I bought a pregnancy pillow for my first endometriosis surgery since I’m a side sleeper to help keep me on my back during recovery. It changed by life! It helps my anxiety and makes me comfortable while sleeping. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YYVRXLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)..
  12. Heated Blankets/Cozy Blankets: Make yourself feel better with a cozy blanket. Do it, I dare you!
  13. Endo To-Go Bag: Includes heating pads (travel, plug-in and patches), medications, balms/salves, essential oils and pads/protection items, change of clothes, wet wipes.
  14. Sex Life: I’m single, I don’t have a partner to worry about communicating this issue with at this point, but go slow and communicate given eventually this will have to be a conversation. What I have learned is that if you do have sex and feel pain. Immediately stop! If you associate sex with pain mentally in that moment, it may cause fear in doing so down the line so it’s best to stop the moment you feel any pain occur.
  15. Work Life: I work a demanding job so it was not working with the appointments and care I needed to manage pain. Always get FMLA from your doctor for intermittent leave based on your company's policies. This protects you from flare-ups and appointments. Short Term Disability is based on your situation with work so talk with them about any leave of absence for surgery and recovery and ensure the medical providers fill out the paperwork appropriately.
  16. Friends/Family: This one is the worst. I have to cancel and make plans all the time based on how I feel. I like to line up a bunch of plans for three months out and do my best to make them happen at the beginning of the month when I know I’m most likely to feel good. I just say I’ll make things up to them when I get better and those who have stuck around have been truly amazing friends, but don’t be upset that some might be over the day in and out of what you’re going through. It’s hard for you and sometimes others and it’s just a part of the relationships we’re meant to experience in life. Most people (unless they have endometriosis) don’t understand it so it can feel isolating, but there’s others out there who know what you’re going through and are willing to chat. Just gotta find them and reach out on social media, online etc..
  17. Journaling Symptoms: Guilty of not being the best at this always, but it's good to track your symptoms to see how they work and operate. It helps not only you plan for it, but also your doctors in how best to handle your care. Take photos of things that make sense to show your doctors! Discharge, bowels etc..can sometimes help diagnose or judge with the images.
  18. Next to Bed Kit: Make sure your nightstand is stocked with the essentials for your bad days. Makes it easier to access the items you need when you just can’t get up and get it.
  19. Squatty Potty: Another thing that is majorly life changing on constipation days! Get one or you can make your own :) Take a stack of books and stack them at equal heights on each side and put your feet up. The trick is making sure you’re in a squat with your knees high to your ears.
  20. Clothing: Dressing for this is key but you still want to look cute! Joggers with a stretchy waist are my go to pants, but wide leg trousers with a stretchy waist help with ease of removal but also comfort and brings some style to the look.
  21. Pads: I wear Always Discreet vs. pads. I find when you need to wear them full time for incontinence it just makes it more comfortable. They have different cuts and styles so definitely check them out!
submitted by doesitmatter_no to Endo [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 16:02 Last-Estimate-8439 I feel broken

Im writing this post because I am honestly at the end of my rope… I’m a 23 year old female and I’ve been in therapy for a year now. I’ve talked with my therapist about majority of the things I am going to discuss and over time I did see some improvement but now I’m back at square one. Recently something happened that completely triggered me and now I just feel hopeless. Last month I had surgery and I was supposed to have an ovarian cyst removed from my ovary but the surgery did not go as planned and I ended up losing a fallopian tube and diagnosed with stage 3 endometriosis. I was told that I may still be able to have children but there will be some difficulties. And unfortunately, a month later I already feel as if I can feel another cyst growing because my ovaries constantly throb and feel swollen. Having children is very important to me, I’ve always dreamed of one day being able to have my own family that I will love and they love me in return. Finding out there’s a possibility I might not be able to have children has completely shattered me. I feel as if this event has confirmed the fact that I am unlovable. It seems as if anything involving “love” it gets ripped away from me or I’m completely rejected from it. My therapist thinks I shouldn’t just accept the fact that I can’t have kids but still remain hopeful because there is some possibility I could but that’s honestly too painful. If I keep that hope alive and it doesn’t happen, it will destroy me mentally and emotionally. It’s the same as dating, I’ve always told myself that one day I’ll find someone who loves and cherishes me but in the end I always get left or abused. There is no one for me, it’s just wishful thinking and I get disappointed every-time. Right about now I feel broken in entirety, I was honestly doing very well for myself. I brought my first vehicle cash, I graduated last May with a bachelors, I just started working in a job within my professional career, and I was planning to go back to school next fall to obtain my masters. I felt happy and stable for once and now I’ve fallen on my face. Apart of me wants to just throw in the towel and be done but another part of me feels as if I need to keep going because I do deserve to live I just want to experience something new instead of being hurt all the time. I know life comes with good and bad but I just want a moment of time where I can finally experience more of the good. So I guess what I’m asking is, could anyone give me some advice or tips on healing? I don’t want to give up yet I just feel broken. This will probably be a very long post so I’ll break everything into sections that I would like to address.
Homelife/sexual abuse
I come from a dysfunctional family. If you asked, my family would tell you that we all love each other and we are one perfect family but that is delusional. We all love each other but it’s a toxic love not pure. For starters, at age 4, my father started exposing porn to me. The first time it happened, I had woken out of my sleep and looked over at the tv and there was porn up there and my dad was asleep. For a very long time, I just dismissed it because I felt like he had done it accidentally and just fell asleep. However, looking back he had watched porn while I was in the room or close by enough to see on multiple occasions as a little girl. He never made an effort to even change the channel when he would be watching this stuff so I know it was intentional. Soon after he began exposing me to porn, I became hypersexual. I never really knew what I was doing but more so copying what I had been shown. One day, there was an incident with a cousin of mine and I got in trouble by my mom for kissing him. My mother beat me and began asking me if anyone was touching me. And naturally, I responded no because my dad wasn’t molesting me or touching me inappropriately or atleast not in a way that four year old me could identify. I never thought to mention this to my mom because I didn’t know he wasn’t supposed to be watching it around me. I didn’t know what sex was. Overtime my behavior worsened and my mom immediately began to point fingers at my dad, yelling at him and saying that he was molesting me. My dad always denied and eventually my mom left it alone but decided to just start beating me everytime I behaved in a sexual manner.
It wasn’t until I was about 7 years old, when I had gotten in trouble at school for behaving sexually inappropriate with another little girl in the schools bathroom that my dad stopped showing me pornography. He suddenly became very “concerned” with making sure all content in the household was kid appropriate but now looking back he just didn’t want to get caught because there was investigation going on with both families of the children involved and he knew that I had gotten older and might be able to articulate that I had learned those behaviors from him. Eventually, after he stopped showing me, I stopped being so overly hypersexual and actually behaved like a normal child. But at age 9, my brother began molesting me. The molestation lasted from around 9-11 but I never told anyone because I was afraid I would be blamed or that I might be accused of lying. I just swept it under the rug and for years I’ve always just told myself he was also a child as a way to cope but it doesn’t take away the fact that I felt used and violated. I understand that he may have been abused as well but still till this day he behaves in an inappropriate manner. He doesn’t touch me anymore, but he’s always staring at my breast and butt and it’s creepy.
After my brother began molesting me, for some odd reason my dad completely stopped talking to me. Despite his behavior, my dad and I were very close but immediately after the molestation began he kind of just started treating me like I didn’t exist anymore. Even my mom noticed and talked to him about ignoring me multiple times. I never realized that what my dad was doing was sexual abuse, I just always pushed it aside, it wasn’t until college where I took a class on child welfare and child abuse that I learned knowingly exposing children to porn is abuse.
Bullying
Meanwhile I was being sexually abused in my household, I also have an older sister who was my very first bully. My sister is ten years older than me and for as long as I can remember she has always been my biggest critic. Anything I did as a child whether good or bad she had a negative comment. She has always used her age to push me around and. As I’ve gotten older, she gotten worse. Over the years, she has body shamed me, made jokes about my mental illness, called me all sorts of sluts and whores and just plain berated me. Anytime I have ever tried to stand up to my sister, she speaks over me and yells and I just shut down. My family always takes her side and just says to ignore her but it’s hurtful.
Not to mention, when I was 14 years old, freshman in high school, someone decided that it would be fun to circulate a rumor around the school that I was a “whore” and slept with everybody. Now I understand the stereotype that every person who has been sexually abused is hypersexual but that wasn’t the case for me. I battled hypersexuality as a very young child but once I learned what sex was and that it was for “adults” I pretty much moved forward and just didn’t give it second thoughts. These rumors lasted my whole time in high school, even teachers joined in on the bullying. I was told that I would never amount to anything more than a whore or that I would get pregnant and drop out. So many people told me that no man would ever love me or date me because I was known as just a slut. And honestly all of this broke me. I’ve always wondered what I did wrong to deserve it. I was very quiet in school, never dressed inappropriately, and didn’t even talk to boys. I was still a virgin then and still a virgin now at 23.
Even though my parents were strict and I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere but to school and back my mom still thinks I’m lying and was actually sleeping with multiple people at my school. And I would like to note my mom was a stay at home parent so she home with me 24/7 yet her speculation is that I would have sex at school. And anytime I have ever cried about this situation my mom would yell at me and say”that’s not trauma get over it.” And this is where I’ve learned to face the fact that maybe I am unlovable. I feel like everybody thinks I’m only good for sex my own mom always told me men would only want sex from me. If my own father and brother couldn’t love me in a pure way why would anyone else? And because of that I have a big fear of sex and won’t give my body away to anyone because I’m afraid of being used. I seem to be rejected from everyone. My family mistreats me, I have no friends, all of my previous relationships have been dysfunctional or abusive… there is no one who loves me. I know it’s easy to say “love yourself” but when you’ve been through so much abuse sometimes you just want a support system or even just a hug. I now suffer with anxiety and OCD and honestly I never feel safe I’m constantly waiting for something or someone to hurt me. I just don’t get why I’m unlovable.
How do you heal from this? What do I even do to move forward? Like I’m at a standstill..
submitted by Last-Estimate-8439 to stories [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 03:00 PriorityKey5499 Ectopic? Early miscarriage? Scared.

Trigger warning for potential loss-
Hi all,
For some background, my period is irregular since getting off of the pill. I had my last period 3/14-3/18 (still on the pill during break week) and stopped taking my pills on 3/19 at the start of a new cycle. I did not get my period at all since getting off the pill. This is also my first pregnancy.
This last Wednesday (5/01), I took a pregnancy test and there was VERY faint lines. I followed this up a few days later (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) and the lines continued to darken. I made a doctors appointment for this past Tuesday (5/07). They gave me a urine sample mid day (came back positive) and gave me a blood test. They additionally had me get an ultrasound since I had some light spotting and cramping around the time I took the initial test. The results of the Beta test came back with a HCG of 555 and my ultrasound did not produce anything (nothing out of the ordinary, ovaries and everything looked fine). They stated it was likely way too soon to tell since I just began testing positive. On (5/09), they had me redo my Beta test and it came back with my HCG being 725, which is not in the “double range”. I took both HCG tests about 45 hours apart (due to timing of appointments).
Fast forward to this past Friday (5/10), I was at the hospital because I noticed some heavier and actual red bleeding and some pains and discomfort all around my stomach and into my chest area. The pains more so occurred underneath my breast, not near my pelvis area. I also felt like I had some shoulder discomfort from my chest. I’ve been struggling with BAD indigestion and reflux for the last two weeks or so. After they ran blood test and an EKG, I was ruled out for any concerns regarding blood clots, heart and lung functioning. They also ran my HCG (about 24 hour difference from 5/09) and my levels came back at 800. They advised me to follow up with my OB, which I have another blood draw in the morning (5/13). They stated it may be a threatened miscarriage, but they are unsure. They gave me some medication for the indigestion, which seems to be helping overall.
Today, I continue to notice heavier red bleeding, what I would describe as a light period, but heavier than it’s been since I tested positive. I also still am having some discomfort in my stomach and some gas and burping. I took two strip pregnancy tests today as well and they both came back noticeably more faint than a few days before. I’ve noticed as well the last couple days that I haven’t been feeling as nauseous and a few of the other symptoms that made me test previously.
Does this sound like an ectopic pregnancy? Or an early miscarriage? I’m currently in the worst game of waiting and just need some sort of feedback or any experiences you have with this. I’m genuinely scared and not sure what is going on. Thank you in advance for any responses or support.
submitted by PriorityKey5499 to pregnant [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 02:15 SubstantialTutor8274 Suspect IC/what to do next?

It started with a UTI 3 weeks ago when I started experiencing pain/urgency in the bladder. Consistently the pain has been a feeling of urgency and burning sensation with some relief during urination but the symptoms get worse after urination (within 15-minutes) and the pain gets much worse at night. There has never been blood, though I have noticed some sediment in my urine and stuff in my urine. Sometimes there is cloudiness in the last few drops after I pee
I first went to urgent care and the PA said the rapid test did not show a positive results but I had the symptoms of a UTI, so she prescribed me Macrobid for 5 days and in parallel ran a cell culture test. The symptoms got better for the next day or so, but came back towards the end of the treatment. The cell culture results came back as "mixed urogenital flora" which was puzzling considering the extent of the pain. I went to a different GP and they also did not find anything in the rapid test and they said the urine analysis didn't indicate any infection or kidney disease. They suggested IC and referred me to a urologist but it would take at least 2 weeks to get an appointment! The next week was hell with managing the pain. I ended up in the ER where they ran blood tests, urine tests, and CT scan and found nothing. Finally about a week later, reached out to me saying that they found a bacteria called klebsiella aerogenes (I guess they had been running the cell culture all along and did not tell me). They prescribed Bactrim for 2 weeks since Macrobid is not as effective in treating this strain. Immediately after starting the Bactrim I started feeling better but 5 days in it took a turn for the worse and the pain came back with a vengeance. At that point I also started getting a fever, GI symptoms, chills, achy and just feeling really sick. My GP agreed that it was not normal and expedited my visit with the urologist. The urologist ran another cell culture to rule out the possibility of another infection. The results were negative and they said the infection was gone, so to stop the Bactrim at 7 days. The fever, chills, and achiness went away after 2 days of stopping the antibiotic.
However, the pain/urgency have not gone away after 3 weeks. The urologist said that in some people with OAB (overactive bladder), there can be residual inflammation after an infection which can cause pain, so in the meantime he prescribed me Oxybutin to treat the urgency. However, this broke me out into a rash. After 2 days of being off the Oxybutin, I am starting Myrbetriq today. Yesterday the symptoms were much more manageable even at night, but today they have come back throughout the day so I am really worried about tonight.
The things that have helped me find some relief are walking, yoga but the pain always comes back. It's really hard to tell what triggers the pain and to manage it. I'm avoiding doing a lot of things that will trigger the pain and I'm not sure what triggers it or if it's really IC or another infection or what is happening. I have been in agony and just need some relief. Please if anyone has any suggestions of things to try that have worked for you in a similar situation? I am also just really scared that this is never going to go away. I am so afraid of spending even another week with this pain and need to find some relief while we figure out what is going on. I hope the Mytrebiq will work temporarily but need a back up in case it doesn't. Thank you!
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submitted by SubstantialTutor8274 to Interstitialcystitis [link] [comments]

2024.05.12 09:48 AnnaTai 10 Common But Unspoken Causes of Weight Gain Your Doctors, or Dietitians Don't Talk About

If you’ve been eating less than 1000 calories every day and exercising an hour every day, tracking every calorie you eat and burn, and are 100% sure that you’re eating a calorie deficit diet, and yet you are not losing weight, you know something's not right.
And it is not your calorie calculations. I’m sure your calorie calculations are on point, knowing that this is likely your thousandth dieting attempt.
What this shows is that calories are not your enemy. In fact, calories are never your problem because the human body does not “burn calories.” There is no “burning” happening in the body. The human body is not a furnace. The human body turns food we eat into nutrients through an intricate biochemical process, and then these nutrients are turned into energy that the body can use called “adenosine triphosphate” (ATP) through a delicate system called the Kreb Cycle or Citric Cycle. And it is ATP that our body uses to keep us alive and allow us to do amazing things, not calories.
Also, nothing is burning in the human body. It is not a furnace or BBQ grill.
Enough of the mini biochemistry lesson….
So, what’s your real problem or problem(s)?
From my experience, weight is never an issue with only one single cause, such as calories in calories out imbalance like most weight loss expert wants you to believe. In fact, your weight often is not even the problem. Your weight gain is often the '“symptom” or “manifestation” of what lies underneath skin deep. Weight issue is usually a multi-faceted, convoluted, intertwining problem that requires a delicate holistic approach to untangle each knot one at a time.
Here are 10 common but unspoken causes of weight gain in women struggling with weight loss or weight issues I see in my weight loss clients:
1. Yo-yo dieting: From my experience, many women struggling with weight loss are also suffering from disordered eating behaviors because of years following “diet culture” advice of “eat less, burn more,” “drink water when you’re hungry,” “eat low-calorie food to fill your belly,” “eat in calorie deficit,” “tracking every calorie you eat and burn,” “weight yourself daily,” etc. Unfortunately, these tactics may result in some initial weight loss, but most people revert back to their old eating habits once they hit their goal weight or events that require you to be at a certain weight. This yo-yo dieting and weight gain and weight loss cycle messes up your metabolism over time, making it harder and harder to lose weight with each subsequent weight loss attempt. But you put the blame on yourself for “not working hard enough,” “not motivated enough,” and “not diligent enough with your calorie deficit or exercise routine.”
2. Emotional binge eating: Starvation-restrictive dieting is often one of the major causes of binge eating. With my unique holistic nutrition therapy approach, I am able to help women achieve the significant weight loss they'd never seen in years. And yet, everyone eventually reverted back to their old eating habits after 2-3 months. It took me a while to realize that these women are actually struggling with emotional eating disguised as “I have a sweet tooth,” “I love junk food,” or “I love sweets,” and using food as therapy for their stress, anger, resentment, sadness, boredom, etc.
3. Poor digestion: When you restrict or deprive your eating in any way, your body flips into starvation or survival mode, trying to conserve energy for survival by shutting down non-essential organ systems, such as digestion, fertility, and immune systems. Starvation mode is an evolutionary and biologically driven physiological mechanism that keeps you alive. Poor digestion disrupts nutrient absorption and metabolism, potentially leading to overeating to compensate for nutrient deficiencies. Provides temporary comfort during stress or emotional distress, leading to excessive food consumption and weight gain.
4.Food sensitivity: Food sensitivities can contribute to weight gain through inflammation in various ways. When individuals consume foods they are sensitive to, their immune system may trigger an inflammatory response, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation in the body. This inflammation can disrupt metabolic processes, insulin sensitivity, and fat metabolism, making it harder to lose weight. Food sensitivities can also contribute to leaky gut, allowing undigested food particles and toxins to enter the bloodstream and trigger further inflammation. Chronic inflammation resulting from food sensitivities can also disrupt hormonal balance, leading to increased appetite, cravings and overeating, insulin resistance, and promotion of fat storage, particularly visceral fat around the abdomen. Identifying and addressing food sensitivities through elimination diets and allergy testing can help reduce inflammation, support weight management, and improve overall health.
5. Chronic stress: A little stress in life is normal and healthy, but when stress is chronic and persistent, it becomes a problem. Chronic stress contributes to hormonal changes by increasing the fight-or-flight response stress hormone cortisol, which often leads to increased appetite and cravings for calorie-dense foods as the body prepares for the imaginary need for a fight-or-flight response. Elevated stress hormone levels are also associated with increased belly fat, which is linked to numerous chronic health conditions.
6. Not eating enough: Severe caloric restriction or skipping meals can lead to intense hunger and cravings, making it more likely for individuals to engage in binge eating episodes. When food is eventually consumed after a period of deprivation, it's common for people to overeat, particularly on high-calorie, high-sugar foods, which can result in consuming more calories than they would have if they had eaten regularly.Secondly, chronic under-eating can disrupt the body's metabolism. When the body is consistently deprived of adequate calories, it may respond by slowing down metabolic rate to conserve energy. This adaptive response is the body's way of surviving during periods of food scarcity. However, when normal eating patterns resume, the slowed metabolism can lead to more efficient calorie storage, making it easier to gain weight, especially if calorie intake exceeds the body's reduced energy needs.
7. Hormone imbalance: High-stress hormone or cortisol levels promote cravings for sugacarbs and fat storage, particularly in the belly area, contributing to weight gain. Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, and imbalances in estrogen levels can affect metabolism and fat distribution. Lower estrogen levels, particularly during menopause or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can lead to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. Estrogen helps regulate metabolism and insulin sensitivity, so decreased levels can result in reduced metabolic rate and impaired blood sugar regulation, promoting fat storage.Progesterone, another female sex hormone, also influences metabolism and weight regulation. Low progesterone levels relative to estrogen, such as during certain phases of the menstrual cycle or in conditions like PCOS, can contribute to weight gain. Progesterone helps counterbalance the effects of estrogen and has a calming effect on the body, so its deficiency can lead to increased stress, cortisol production, and subsequent weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. Thyroid hormones, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), play a crucial role in metabolism regulation. Imbalances in thyroid hormones, such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), can lead to weight gain, fatigue, and sluggish metabolism. Thyroid hormones influence the rate at which the body burns calories and converts food into energy, so disruptions in thyroid function can result in weight gain, even with normal caloric intake.
8. Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is a condition where cells in the body become less responsive to insulin, causing intense sugar cravings and fat storage that hinder weight loss efforts. This resistance impairs the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels effectively, promoting higher insulin production and hyperinsulinemia. Consequently, insulin resistance promotes fat storage, particularly around the abdomen, as excess glucose is converted into fat in the liver and stored in adipose tissue. Also, insulin resistance disrupts appetite regulation, leading to increased hunger and cravings for sugary and high-calorie foods, perpetuating a cycle of overeating and weight gain. Ultimately, insulin resistance contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
9. Not sleeping enough: Not having enough sleep disrupts your hunger hormones and metabolism, increases cravings for high-calorie sugary foods, and reduces energy expenditure, leading to weight gain. It disrupts the delicate balance of appetite-regulating hormones, leading to increased feelings of hunger and reduced sensations of fullness. Ghrelin, the hunger hormone, rises, while leptin, responsible for signaling satiety, decreases, prompting individuals to consume more calories than necessary. Also, not having enough sleep skews your food preferences towards more high-calorie, high-carbohydrate options, as it influences the brain's reward centers, intensifying cravings for sugary and fatty foods. Not having enough sleep also impairs the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels effectively, promoting fluctuations that trigger additional hunger and cravings.
10. Past trauma: Trauma survivors may struggle with emotional regulation, finding it challenging to cope with intense feelings and flashbacks. Binge eating can be a maladaptive attempt to self-soothe and regulate emotions. The temporary pleasure derived from consuming food can serve as a means of seeking comfort and control in the face of overwhelming emotional distress. Unaddressed trauma can lead to emotional eating or food addiction as a protective or coping mechanism, making weight loss challenging. Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden recently conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies, which included a total of 112,000 participants, and concluded that having been subjected to trauma and abuse during childhood leads to a marked increase in the risk of developing obesity as an adult.
Can you see why eating like a toddler (1,200 calories a day) won’t shrink you down to a mini-me? It just sets off your body's starvation alarm and wakes up your inner hungry toddler screaming with a raging tantrum for junk food. Instead, put back on your big girl pants and eat like a grown-ass woman who takes care of her body with love and respect.
submitted by AnnaTai to u/AnnaTai [link] [comments]

2024.05.11 21:11 Canada_8104 Best Decision Ever

Hi everyone, I'm here to give an update on my 15 day Post operation, fibroid removing hysterectomy and first off, I want to say it was the best decision ever in regards to my fibroid journey. I'm two weeks post-op and feeling great. Like many of you, I was very anxious in the weeks leading up to my surgery to remove two fibroids that had been assessed at about grapefruit and orange sized 6 months previously. I was on Lupron to stop my periods, which only exacerbated my anxiety. My doctor prescribed add-back hormones, which helped tremendously with the volatile emotions, and Zopiclone to help me sleep, as that was also disturbed by the Lupron.
On the day of the surgery, I was at the peak of my nervousness. The nurse helped ease my fears by giving me a low dose of Ativan, which definitely helped as I went through the motions of talking to the anesthesiologist, my doctogynecologist, and the attending surgeons and nurses. I made it very clear to my doctor that I don’t do well with pain and I didn’t want to endure any unnecessary discomfort. I was brought to the surgical table and got through the anesthesiology needle poke pretty easily with the aid of the Ativan (I hate needles!) and before I knew it, I was slumping into that glorious sedation daze and within what felt like seconds wheeled to my room for my overnight stay. During surgery, I was administered generous amounts of nerve blockers and Fentanyl, so I woke up literally feeling nothing in my body and feeling quite euphoric.
I live in a wonderful small community in Canada and received the most exceptional care on the women and children’s floor. A few notable aspects of that overnight stay: the pain from the gas they used to expand your chest to get into your abdomen is no joke. I could feel it across my shoulder blades each time I breathed. The apparatus they provided me to test blowing air out of my lungs was uncomfortable but manageable and really helped to get movement within my internal torso, which is super important as you need to get the gas flowing so that it exits out your butt. I happily took the Hydromorphone made available to me every three hours, as well as the Tylenol and Advil, which they cycled every three hours as well. I certainly felt some discomfort, and again, the gas passing was painful but everything was manageable and the addition of the opioids during my stay made everything quite happy and pleasant.
I had a catheter attached to me, which was a new experience, as you go pee without any effort. I had four bandages on my abdomen indicating where my doctor had gone in laparoscopically. There was some overall tenderness and achiness which I attribute more to the positions I'm sure I was manipulated into while under , so the surgeons could get in via different angles. I was admitted into the recovery unit in the evening because my surgery was over four hours (about eight hours altogether end to end from my 11am admission)and there was no meal service available. Thankfully the wonderful nurses procured a sandwich from the cafeteria. I was absolutely famished and ate it quite voraciously. I was quite high at this point, so I thought it was the best thing I’d ever tasted in my life (it was a pedestrian tuna sandwich on plain bread).
Sleeping was more difficult, between the opioids and just general discomfort in my body. Oh, and the gas—the gas exiting your body does hurt as it makes its way through your tender digestive system, but it's very satisfying when it leaves. I know I kept the poor woman recovering in the adjoining section up all night with my flatulence, but the nurses assured me that it was encouraged to get it all out. I did wake up a number of times with some sharper pain and took advantage of the drugs on offer. My sleep was not deep nor necessarily restful, but it was enjoyable because I was pretty hopped up and happy. The hospital had affixed circulating airbags onto my legs to help prevent blood clots, and I found them to be quite relaxing.
I managed to sleep a few hours. When breakfast was served, I was happy to eat it. My doctor came to give me my surgical report and advised me that she had removed TWO grapefruit-sized fibroids along with my uterus and a dozen or so more little fibroids in the mix. One of the fibroids had necrotized. She showed me pictures of all the pieces and tissue. I don't do well with anything medical-related, but it was actually quite satisfying to see what had amounted to about the size of a bowling ball removed from my body. I had my uterus, fallopian tubes, and of course fibroids removed but my ovaries left intact. She said the total mass of the removed organ and bits was about 4 to 5 lbs. I'm very happy she was able to do it mostly vaginally with some assistance through the four small incisions on my belly. After receiving the all-clear from my doctor, the nurses removed my IV, which had been hooked up to dispense electrolytes and vitamins. Then they removed my catheter. I was really nervous about having my catheter removed because I didn't understand the mechanics of how it was attached, but it was just a quick little pinch and then it was gone. Another thing I had to demonstrate before being discharged was that I could pee on my own. It felt odd because I was activating muscles that were still tender, and I was uncertain about what was going on down there, but after being filled with various intravenous fluids as well as the juice and water I had been drinking, it was pretty easy to just sit back, relax, and let it flow. My partner came, wheeled me out in a wheelchair, and took me home where she had configured the bed with a variety of adjustable wedge pillows to ensure I was comfortable.
I was also sent home with a prescription for 15 additional Hydromorphone tablets, and I diligently took those every three hours because I had no desire to be a hero and endure any pain. The doctor prescribed one to two every three hours; I took one every three hours and that was sufficient, cycled with one Tylenol and one Advil every three hours. Getting out of bed was pretty easy; it just felt like I had had a rigorous ab workout and was a bit tender.
The worst part was trying to compel a bowel movement. The opioids are a bit of a double-edged sword in that they really enhance the healing experience, but they also cause constipation at a crucial time when your bowels are already quite shocked and don't need any more discouragement. I started on doctor recommended Colace pills and Restoralax on day one. By day four, I still hadn't had a BM and was starting to feel quite bloated and heavily constipated. What worked for me was a combination of warm milk of magnesia and prune juice. I downed a large glass of that and within about three to four hours, I had explosive diarrhea, which wasn't as bad as it sounds as it was a relief to finally get things moving. I had to endure about a day or two of just expelling liquid but still feeling like I was constipated. I continued to take the Colace and then added in Senokot (which I wouldn't recommend until you've had that first explosive movement) and have been taking that combination now for about a week, and finally, two weeks post-op, I had my first normal bowel movement today.
I ended up refilling my prescription for another 20 Hydromorphone pills about four days after the first. Near the end of that prescription, I started tapering down my dose, which I think helped significantly with the discomfort of weaning off. I've struggled with substance abuse issues in the past (five years sober this month!), so of course, the prospect of using potent drugs for the surgery and recovery was concerning to me and my family, but I can tell you that I was able to ease off without relapsing. I got through the whole experience with minimal pain and suffering. If you can get access to the drugs, do yourself a favor and don’t try to be a hero—take them! You’ve already been a hero dealing with these alien tumors disrupting your body for so long. Honestly, I think the fact that I don’t drink alcohol has probably helped my recovery significantly.
Yesterday, my partner helped remove the steri- strips. They did not fall off on their own as I had read, but they came off easily with just a little bit of pinching. I now see the faintest scars you’d expect from a super minor cat scratch.
My body definitely looks different, and everything just feels better. I always felt that I had an unsightly paunch, but the reality was I had a massive collection of fibroids the size of a bowling ball, and having them removed has made me look quite svelte, and there's still some swelling reduction to happen.
I feel like I could run a marathon, but my partner keeps reminding me to take it easy and to stick to walking only for exercise for the full six weeks. It’s a small investment to make for lifelong health. All in all, my experience was as good as it could be, and to top it off, I got the call from my doctor that my biopsy came back all clear from cancer. Let me know if you have any questions , happy to help you with your journey!
submitted by Canada_8104 to Fibroids [link] [comments]

2024.05.11 08:21 peachyglw Poor responder during stims, low amh, high fsh looking for priming or new protocols

Looking for advice of priming cycles and protocols for DOR. I am feeling so disappointed in myself and defeated at my progress.
I am 34, with a low amh 9 pmol/l or 1.2 ng/ml and FSH 16. My AFC back in January was 16 but when I did my baseline in April, it was 7. I also have a large dermoid ovarian cyst (9cm) on my right ovary which caused significant pain during stims. They ended up retrieving 3 eggs, 2 mature. I was advised by multiple obgyns to freeze my eggs before the cyst removal surgery.
I had my first egg retrieval for freezing 2 weeks ago. The procedure itself was fine but the whole experience of stims was one of the worst experiences of my life. My monitoring appointments went from 3 to every day for 9 days. The nurses were dismissive and would provide little information or insight during my appointments, and I could never speak to a doctor. I had no idea what was really going on until more than midway through when I broke down with a new nurse during an appointment. They told me there was an extra $3k fee if I were to cancel my cycle. I still haven’t heard from them post-surgery and it’s been 2 weeks, but keep being told someone will contact me as the admin staff can’t disclose information over the phone. Needless to say, I am looking for another clinic.
My protocol was menopur 150, gonal f 300, and clomid and an HCG trigger with a 9 day cycle. I was a poor responder even though I had side effects and pain. I’m surprised that my AFC went down by over 50% in a couple of months, is this normal? I read it does fluctuate but I feel like mine was a significant drop. I have been taking supplements: ubiquinol, vitamin e, vitamin d, omega 3 (with dha) and am feeling defeated at my results. I have recently added wheatgrass this week. Should I be adding a prenatal or NAC?
I went for a consultation at a new clinic and the doctor suggested the following protocol. She says she’s more concerned about my high FSH. Has anyone primed similar to this, or can share any of their protocols who have similar profiles to me?
Priming:
Lupin-estradiol, Promentrium, Testosterone Gel
Protocol:
Puregon, Menopur, Clomiphene Citrate, Orgalutran, Decapeptyl, Pregnyl
I’m really trying to be proactive this time especially with my poor experience the first time around. I am in Canada but would have love to have done this overseas if I didn’t have the cyst, as it has already cost me almost $20k. This experience has been really emotionally taxing on me, especially with the cyst which has been physically painful and continues to be while I’m recovering.
submitted by peachyglw to eggfreezing [link] [comments]

2024.05.11 03:06 Plane-Ice-1828 Everything I did to glow up in 2 years

Warning this will be a long post, it has everything I've learnt in the past couple of years from hair growth, to styling, to weightloss, to nervous system regulation and more.
I'm in my early 30s, I have 3B hair, tall, two years ago I was obese, prediabetic, I had anxiety problems, now I'm just a tall [seemingly ;) ] effortlessly pretty black girl and I want all my beauties on here to have my beauty secrets.
Topics discussed:

Hair

I have PCOS so it affects my hair growth and causes hirsutism, basically male patterened facial hair and male patterned baldness.
Hair Growth: Here is the true secret sauce to hair growth, stimulating your scalp. I do daily scalp massages with a bamboo brush (even the bristles are made of rounded bamboo) very gentle. This is the one I use: Golab Beauty I do short strokes which prevents any tangles. Morning and Night. I then go in with a scalp serum, I use The Oui scalp serum but it costs a pretty penny. In the first yearish I used (The 'Ordinary' Haircare Growth Set Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density) which worked wonders and was cost effective. At nights I seal with any scalp oil that has rosemary oil. Sadly Mielle's formula no longer works for me, but As I Am rosemary oil has been working, I also like the Camille Rose Rosemary Oil Strengthening Hair and Scalp Drops. For Washing my hair I suffer from sebaceous dermatitis which causes scaliness. Paradoxically my scalp is so oily which is what triggers the ezcema and develops the dry patches. Reversing my PCOS symptoms fixed this but what also helped was the Nizoral shampoo with 1% Ketoconazole. It's harsh so I do it once to twice a month at most and I always follow up with a moisturizing shampoo, and of course finish with a wash out conditioner & leave in conditioner.
Hair Retention: This is the info we all know about preventing breakage but I'll include just in case. Hair growth happens in the scalp like said before but to retain that growth it's important to wear protective hairstyles (especially while asleep), a silk/satin bonnet or wrap, silk/satin pillowcase, do not let your hair air dry at night. There is debate about this but I've seen hair specialists and scientists say our hair is especially fragile when wet (especially curly/kinky hair). Therefore, we are much more prone to snags and breakage while our hair is wet. So going to bed make sure your hair is dried. If you're air drying your hair during the day try not to touch it too much - as little manipulation as possible. Personally choose to diffuse/blow dry my hair and this has prevented most of the breakage I was previously experiencing. Lastly, moisturize and oil your ends. I won't pretend like I know which order is best or even if it's important but I've found that using hair moisturizediluted leave in conditioner then hair oil works best for me.
Hirsutism/Facial Hair: Spearmint essential oil. I add 1-2 drops of the oil to my moisturizer each time I put on my moisturizer and it helped A LOT with reducing my facial hair. I also drink a lot of spearmint tea. Spearmint specifically has been proven to lower androgen/testosterone levels which is why it helps. I also took supplements which I'll include at the end because they served multiple purposes. Be sure not to add the oil to the entire bottle because that will ruin your moisturizer's formula. Just add the drops in your palm/finger tips and mix in your face cream each time you moisturize your jawline, chin, underneck. Also, do this after moisturizing the upper part of your face without the oil because it's harsh and the scent can be irritating to your eye area.
Body hair: Personally I sugar wax my arms and legs, the hair has grown back so thin now. I make it myself and follow tutorials from abetweene on youtube.
Hair colouHairstyle: This will depend on your face shape and color season. I'm a dark winter colour season and I have a heart face shape. I used the Dressika app to discover my color season before I could afford to get myself professionally assessed and I got the same results. Just be sure to use natural lighting, like by a window. Once you have your colour season you can choose hair colours that work best for you (although natural almost always works best). For my hairstyle I try to choose styles that compliment my heart shaped face. I used the youtube channel Dear Peachie to help me with figuring this out.

Style

I think most of us know about Kibbe and colour seasons. This was how I upgraded my wardrobe. I'm a soft dramatic so I wear things that work for my tall height and accentuate my waist.
This was the game changer with colour seasons. Most of us know about our true seasons, but it can get restrictive. Sister seasons and colour dissonance is also helpful to know.
My colour season is dark winter, so my sister seasons would be dark autumn and true winter. Thid gives me more wiggle room to style myself.
Dissonance are colours that are outside your true season and your sister seasons, you sprinke this in to add interest. Think of an outfit that is extremely matchy and cohesive but has that one accessory or item that stands out and adds interest. It's really fun in art and in fashion.
For my shoes I've started wearing dancing heels which help my flat feet lol and look stylish. Heel insoles help too, as well as the product Shoe Gummi. I still can't last more than 2, 3 hours at most but it's definitely bearable compared to before.
Matching pajamas and loungewear. You just feel so luxurious dressing up at home and they can (should) be comfy :)
Accessories:

Makeup

I used the youtube channel Dear Peachie to help me with finding eye looks, brows, blush placement for my face shape
I have a low visual weight face and I am a romantic ingenue, because of this I go for more subtle looks that emphasis two facial features maximum at a time (eyes, lips, cheeks).
Don't get me wrong I love glam bold makeup but soft and subtle makes me glow, I turn heads when my makeup is done like this.

Teeth

Skin

Skincare. This was something that took me a while to work on because of my PCOS, age, weight and etc.
Facial Care: The basics includes chemical exfoliation, retinol, moisturizerecover. I cycle my nightly skincare routine with this in mind and always keep the same morning routine. Mornings look like this (Jojoba oil to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, vitamin c/peptide serum, moisturizer with a drop or two of glycerin, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, finish with sunscreen).
My nights I alternate these routines in this order
Night 1 - Chemical Exfoliation (Oil cleanser to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, glycolic/lactic acid, moisturizer with a drop or two of glycerin, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, castor oil on lashes and brows)
Night 2 - Retinol (Oil cleanser to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, retinol, moisturizer, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, castor oil on lashes and brows)
Night 3 - MoisturizeRecovery (Oil cleanser to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, retinol, moisturizer with a drop or two of glycerin, rosehip oil as sealant on entire face, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, castor oil on lashes and brows)
Repeat Night 1 - 3 (sometimes I need more days to recover if my skin is sensitive or acting up, do what works for you personally)
Other things that I've done/used to help: red light therapy (helps with both hair growth, so I use it on my scalp, and with stretch marks so I use it on my face and body), Microcurrent device (helps with collagen production and stretchmarks) - I use the brand NuFace & NuBody, Volufiline (a skin serum I mix with eye cream that helps with hollowness under the eyes, Kigelia Africana Skin Cream (I use the brand Maelys B-Perky which contains this ingredient and helped to tighten my chest area and my loose skin on the area), face yoga and myo fascia face massage, these help with the tautness of my face (basically everything else helps with wrinkles, these exercises and the microcurrent helps and prevents, sagging especially jowls). I follow tutorials I search for from youtube.
Body Care: Similar to facial care body care includes exfoliation, retinol, moisturizerecover
Night 1 - Physical Exfoliation (Dry brush/Body Scrub, Hydrating lotion with a few drops of glycerin, rosehip oil as sealant on entire body)
Night 2 - Retinol (Jojoba oil to help while I use my gua sha, retinol body wash, retinol body lotion)
Night 3 - MoisturizeRecovery (Jojoba oil to help while I use my gua sha, Hydrating lotion with a few drops of glycerin, rosehip oil as sealant on entire body)
Again, repeat Night 1 - 3 use more days for recovery if needed
Stretch marks/loose skin: Whether due to weight gain, pregnancy, etc. we can't ever truly get rid of loose skin or stretch marks but moisturizing the skin and derma rolling can help with the appearance. Especially derma rolling. Do NOT derma roll while pregnant but you can do so after when you’ve recovered and talk to your doctor (if you've had a c section you have to wait before derma rolling). I used this video as motivation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChG8aSvEU6A
For the body I never went beyond 1.5mm it worked for my deepest stretch marks. If this is too aggressive 1.0mm still works just as well. Make sure you use 70% alcohol as this is what experts say is better at disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria. The disinfecting power of rubbing alcohol drops at concentrations higher than 80%-85%. Make sure you disinfect the derma roller before and after use, and make sure you disinfect your area of contact before rolling as well. Do not do heavy workouts workout or sweat inducing activities for at least 3 days after and avoid harsh products.
I started derma rolling while working on losing weight (at the beginning of my journey while still obese) and continued a year after losing 130lbs. Derma rolling works by causing micro tears, the skin heals the area and in the process of doing so develops more collagen - leading to thicker skin, lighter stretch marks and tighter skin. Since I did this before losing the weight it helped my skin adapt a lot. I won't pretend like I have 0 loose skin or stretch marks but it's barely visible. Someone has to be intimately close to notice. Obviously genetics, how slowly you lose the weight, diet, and moisturizing the skin helps but my PCOS contributed to low collagen (thin skin) and so the derma rolling really helped.

Weight loss vs Fat loss

Tons of info here but I promise if you read through it helps to know this stuff.
Weightloss comes down to calories in versus calories out. I know that's rudely simpliflied and not that easy, but it truly is the answer to weightloss (which may be fat, water, or muscle). This is why people can eat barely nothing, lose weight but their shape stays the same (basically skinny fat). It's also why fasting or going low carb works so fast (water weight is the first to go).
Fatloss on the other hand is more complicated. This involves our TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure).
TDEE includes: Resting/Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), Metabolic Equivalent of Task or Exercise activity thermogenesis (EAT), Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), Thermic Effect of Food (TEF), and Adaptive Thermogenesis (AT).
BMR (~70% daily energy) the energy taken to exist, so tasks like breathing. Your sex, body composition (muscle to fat ratio), age, and genetics play a role in this EAT (~5% daily energy) the energy taken for exercise weight lifting, swimming, high intensity walks, etc. NEAT (~15% daily energy) the energy taken for non exercise movements like walking, fidgeting, showering, standing, etc TEF (~10% daily energy depending on the macronutrients of your meal) the energy taken to digest, protein has the highest TEF of all the macronutrients, Carbs have a TEF of around 5-10%, while Fats have the lowest TEF, around 0-3%.
Adaptive Thermogenesis (AT) is the changes in energy expenditure (energy used) that occur in response to changes in energy balance. For example when you eat more food than you need, your body may increase energy expenditure to prevent weight gain eg. move more, eat less the next day, etc.. On the other hand, when you eat less food than you need, your body may decrease energy expenditure to conserve energy and prevent weight loss eg. less movement, eat more the next day.
Other things that affect AT include diet composition (eg high/low protein, high/low carb, calorie dense foods, etc), physical activity (eg. weights vs. cardio), and environmental factors such as temperature and altitude.
Things that influence AT can make weight management challenging, as it can lead to plateaus or rebounds in weight loss efforts. This is why lack of sleep, hormonal issues, aging, etc. makes weightloss harder.
Here is a clearer example of this
Things that affect calories in:
Things that affect calories out:

Healthy Fat loss

So to lose fat in a healthy way you need to:
  1. Get enough sleep (8-9 hours per night)
  2. Manage your stress levels/nervous system regulation
  3. Look after your gut health
  4. Manage inflammation
  5. Increase your daily steps (8-10k per day)
  6. Weight lift
  7. Eat high protein (protein takes the most amount of energy to digest).
  8. Manage your insulin resistence
  9. Eat in a caloric deficit (make sure your calories in do not exceed calories out).
Futher information about the bold items in the list is included below. Also, I know this all seems overwhelming but keep in mind you are creating a lifestyle change. This is not a quick fix.
To manage your insulin resistance (info from the book Glucose Goddess by Jessie Inchauspé):
To eat in a caloric deficit, calculate your TDEE and subtract 200-500 calories from that number. I like using this calculator. https://tdeecalculator.net
Eg. If it's calculated to be 2000 calories, you subtract 200, so 1800 should be your daily calorie intake. For the activity levels make sure you do not oversell yourself. Here is a general guide:
As you lose weight your body adapts so after a while you may need to recalculate your TDEE and deficit. Once you are at your ideal weight, you no longer subtract the 200-500, you simply eat the TDEE amount to maintain but you do this gradually. After I lost the weight I came out of the deficit by adding 50 calories to my daily intake per week, till I was at maintenance/my TDEE. This prevented me from gaining fat or water weight.
Lastly, muscle mass (increase in muscle raises your metabolic level, meaning you burn more calories at rest). This is ideal and is also how you'll see someone who is short, seemingly small but weigh more than you imagined. Muscle density weighs more than fat. Think of a 50 pound dumbbell versus 50 pounds of feathers, you would need a whole lot of feathers to match the weight. Same difference, you need a larger volume of fat to equal to the same amount of muscle. Therefore, lifting weights is ideal because you will become more toned, burn more calories at rest, be able to eat more even when you've lost the weight to maintain your phisique, you'll be more insulin sensitive, and you will have stronger and higher bone density (really important for women, we lose up to 5% of muscle mass per decade after the age of 30).

Body Recompositon: Weightlifting for health (and aesthetics), lose fat & gain muscle

It is possible to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. I followed Huskular Goddess and and LexiiGettingFit for inspiration and they were really the ones that opened my eyes to the concept of body recomposition (gain musle while losing fat).
The benefits of this is as you're getting smaller your TDEE is increasing. This means by the time you lose the weight you'll still be eating an adequate amount. The other benefits include insulin sensitivity versus insulin resistence, higher metabolism, and a improved body composition like I mentioned before in the dummbell versus feather example. The downside is the number on the scale won't have a dramatic shift while your clothes will be fitting looser. Again, weight density plays tricks on us and it's easy to get caught up in body dismorphia but I promise it works.
In order to sustain and build muscle while losing fat, you need to be consuming enough protein while remaining in a caloric deficit. So 60-80g of protein per day minimum to lose 1-2lbs per week. Ideally it should be 0.8-1g of per pound of lean body mass. Eg, someone is 300lbs and they want to get down to 150lbs. They would eat 120-150g of protein per day. If this is too much, try to get at least 60-80g like I mentioned before. Remember even though 1-2lbs per week sounds small, the changes are significant because of the muscle gained. You will look and feel smaller.
Weightlifting for a rounder booty (I reshaped my glutes by weightlifting. Hormones can actually affect the shape and my PCOS did a number on me. I developed a V shape over the years. Round, square, heart, A shapes are all based on your bone structure and fat placement. Some of us just have those stubborn fat deposits in certain areas that are genetic, even when we lose the weight, it's a smaller version but the same shape. V shape on the other hand is largely seen in older women post menopause and in younger women with hormonal disorders. This is becuase the hormonal imbalances also causes muscle imbalances. Regulating your hormones helps but it won't grow the muscles for you, so I used Fit With Emely's glute guide based on your glute shape (completely free, I watched all her videos to get this info and it took me two years to go from a V shape to a round shape.
Here is the guideline for each shape:
Glute Maximus - Everyone should be working on glute maximus. It builds the shelf and overall size. Step ups (all variations), hip thrusts (all variations), lunges, rdl, leg press, all squat variations Glute Minimus - (V and Square shapes), this muscle fills in the middle between the top and lower glute. Hip abduction, single leg bridge, Standing hip abduction/cable raises Gute Medius - (Heart, Round, and A-shaped) this muscles builds a longer hip for top portion of the glutes. Eg. Single leg squat, Single leg deadlift, Cable clamshells, Reverse lung, step ups Underbutt - Everyone should be working on underbutt but this is especially useful for V shaped folks. It works the hamstrings and lower portion of glutes. Good mornings, single leg rdl (also works minimus), single leg hip thrust (also works maximus), hip abductors (also works minimus)
How to structure workout:
Keep in mind that you only need to work on a muscle group 2-3 times a week. So I only do glutes Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Also keep in mind while I work the lower body I am also working my upper body (eg. while doing rdls I am lifting the weight with my upper body), which is why I don't have tailered upper body days, this is for aesthetic reasons, and because weightlifting more than 3 days per week is not feasible with my PCOS.
My full routine is:
I also used primarily resistance bands in the beginning because gym equipment intimidated me (not anymore :) ). I started with 25lb resistance and went up to 125lbs. I use the product BandBar which allowed me to use the resistance bands like a barbell at home. This isn’t the only option and you can definitely buy resistance bands and do it without the bar. BandBar
For the ab separation from being obese, I did this workout 3 times a week (also helpful post pregnancy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smiGsW-mQX0
For my chest to help with getting perkier boobs (the derma rolling was what made the biggest difference, but this exercise helped as well though it took 6+ months for the changes to be significant. Women tend to take longer to grow chest muscles): https://youtu.be/hg7_R29jGIE?feature=shared
I also did workouts to help with my posture and mobility 3 times a week (any I could find online)
The last thing I will say is be mindful that you may gain weight initially when you start lifting weights. This is due to slight inflammation/water gain from foreign tension, which will last about a month or two before you adapt BUT your body will adapt, I promise. Keep in mind if it's days before your period or if you are on your period. It's not if, but when, our weight fluctuates. As long as you are in a deficit and doing everything right, the number will go down. Do not get discouraged!!!
Here is the edit to this post which includes my supplements, how I managed my inflammation, and how I improved my gut health. I also edited the information I shared prior to include a few more tips and lifestyle changes I made, and included a few more details. I also rearranged things so there is a separation between style/haiskin and health information. The post is getting really long so I may create a separate post for personal development/mindset tips.

Inflammation

In my case my inflammation was caused by my PCOS, insulin resistence and my obesity, but it can be caused by chronic stress, other autoimmune disorders like IBS, Crohn's disease, etc, smoking/alcohol, age related diseases, environmental toxins, diets high in processed foods, sugars, trans fats & high omega-6 fatty acids.
In my case the inflammation from the PCOS led to gut inflammation due to the high levels of coritsal (stress hormones) in reaction to the high testosterone and insulin resistence. I also experienced metabolic inflammation (non alcoholic fatty liver disease), skin inflammation (as I mentioned earlier the ezcema on my scalp, alopecia, and hirsutism), adipose tissue inflammation, chronic low grade inflammation (this led to edema or fuid retention -> insulin resistance and my high testosteron/androgen levels also exacerbated this).
To fix this these were the thin I added to my life:

Gut Health

Your microbiota needs the right bacteria in the right amount to perform its hormone regulating functions properly. When the type or number of bacteria gets disturbed by events such as stress, or poor diet, or your gut can no longer accomplish its job meaning you'll have inflammation, increased risk of chronic disease, skin conditions, mental health issues, weakened immune system, nutrient absorprion problems, and weight management challenges.
For weight loss issues, gut microbiomes influence hormones in producing and signaling leptin and ghrelin (these hormones regulate hunger and fullness signals). Inflammation and insulin resistence is also associated with gut health problems as mentioned before. Energy extraction from foods, certain gut bacteria are more efficient at extracting energy from food, particularly carbohydrates. When there is an imbalance, more calories can be absorbed from food leading to difficulties gaining or losing weight.
Things I did to improve gut health/intestinal permeability:

Lower androgens/testosterone

Nervous System Regulation/ Stress Management

Stress is one of the things that age us the most, and people with PCOS already have higher levels of cortisol so these are the things I do to manage my stress levels:

Tea cycling

The best teas for PCOS

Seed Cycling

What is seed cycling? Seed cycling refers to the consumption of specific seeds at different times of the month in order to improve the production and levels of sex hormones, specifically estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Seed cycling divides the female menstrual cycle into two parts:
  1. During the first half of the menstrual cycle, or days 1 through 14, seed cycling encourages daily consumption of flax and pumpkin seeds.
  2. During the second half of the menstrual cycle, or days 15 through 28, seed cycling encourages daily consumption of sunflower and sesame seeds
Results from seed cycling will not happen overnight. Normally women observe improvements after approximately three months of seed cycling adherence. It took me about 4ish months.
The Benefits of Seed Cycling: Support hormonal balance, alleviate PMS symptoms, decrease hormonal acne, alter irregularity of menstrual cycles, and fight stomach bloating and fatigue.
submitted by Plane-Ice-1828 to vindictapoc [link] [comments]

2024.05.10 21:51 KGforthree16 Low egg maturation rate

I had my egg retrieval on Thursday and I was not prepared for the low percentage of mature eggs I received-I feel blindsided by my early attrition of eggs. Protocol/results are as follows:
Baseline AFC: 24, Age: 33
Protocol: 150 IU Menopur; 300 IU Gonal-F, 2 Clomid, dexamethasone
Trigger: Day 9, dual trigger: 5,000 IU of Novarel 35 hours before retrieval, Lupron dose 1 hour after Novarel, and a second Lupron dose 12 hours after the first. Retrieval was a running a bit late so had ER about 35 1/2 after initial trigger shot.
Follicle sizes day of trigger:
Eggs retrieved: 16
Mature eggs: 6
Fertilized eggs w/ ICSI: 5; they are going to see if any eggs mature overnight and if so, they will try and fertilize those as well.
Throughout my stims, I kept getting positive feedback from the ultrasound technician of how I had a lot of follicles and she even said "I think we are going to get good results out of you." I asked my nurse on trigger day if I should be worried about the varying size of follicles and she said no. Based on that, I was thinking I would have the standard 80% maturation rate so I am really disappointed with the maturity level of the eggs.
Have others had this issue? If so, what changes did your doctor recommend for future cycles and did you find better egg maturity with those changes? I would like to have a productive conversation with the my doctor about how to improve future egg maturity but I am not finding a lot online specific to low egg maturity levels that would help me have this conversation.
I feel so deflated after these initial results, I went from feeling very confident about this cycle to mentally preparing myself for another one.
submitted by KGforthree16 to IVF [link] [comments]

2024.05.10 03:30 anon12121937 Luteal vs Estrogen Priming, cysts, postponed cycle, frustration, confusion

Backstory: I (42, AMH 1.2) am on my third and final cycle.
First cycle: month of birth control, 8 follicles at baseline, ended up with about 16, 6 eggs, 5 mature, one blast, euploid.
Second cycle: long Lupron, 1 follicle at AFC, almost canceled because it looked like only 3 follicles at trigger, ended up with 5 eggs, all mature, 2 blasts, both aneuploid. Added growth hormone.
First cycle, doc said the follicles were growing at different rates, so Lupron was meant to suppress so all would grow together, but she thinks it oversuppressed me.
THIRD CYCLE: we were deciding between an estrogen priming or luteal start, but doctor gave edge to estrogen start + clomid and growth hormone. I came in for a visit during luteal phase to confirm I’d ovulated and had a cyst on my ovary, they counted 8 follicles. I started the estrogen and then came in for my baseline a week later (May 3) and the cyst was still there and they only saw 4 follicles (all on the side without the cyst). They said it was best to postpone and to stop taking the estrogen.
RANT: This is all happening while both my regular doctor and nurse are on vacation. The nurse didn’t seem to think I’d be doing the estrogen priming for the next cycle and I asked for someone to walk me through the thinking. I also asked if anyone had revisited the idea of a luteal start now that they had seen my luteal scan vs baseline.
I reported that my period came Monday and they asked me to come in on Wednesday to look at the cyst and assess next steps. It had shrunk in half. I got a call later that day that if I wanted, I could start stimming that night, or wait.
This was frustrating! They did not indicate that I might still be starting this cycle and was really not mentally prepared. They confirmed I would do estrogen priming again.
I asked what the thinking was about the estrogen protocol vs luteal and if they had learned anything from this latest round of scans. I was told at this point, since I wasn’t going to start stimming that night to wait until Monday until the doctor returned from vacation.
QUESTIONS: is it typical to have more follicles at on a luteal scan?
Could the estrogen be what caused the cyst to remain? Will this be a problem with estrogen priming?
What would you do in my situation?
I have a good feeling about the luteal start, but I’m also desperate for this to be over.
submitted by anon12121937 to IVF [link] [comments]

2024.05.09 23:22 MooshuAwaken Trigger shot tonight - any cycle buddies?

I finally got the go ahead to trigger tonight, I’ve got one dominant follicle on my left ovary measuring 24.5 mm (hoping it’s not too big but my doctor and nurse assured me it’s fine soo). I feel like it took me ages to get to this point, so I’m really hoping this is the one! I did 150 Clomid and 5 Letrozole CD3-7, came in for monitoring on CD 12 and nothing happened, so they stair stepped me to 300 Clomid and 7.5 Letrozole CD(lol I’m surprised my ovaries didn’t explode, that seemed like so much medication) CD 12-16 and brought me in on CD17 I had one follicle at 18 mm! They had me do 75 units of Follistim injections CD 17, 18, 19, and I went in today (CD 20) and they told me I’m ready! I had a thin uterine lining on CD 17 (only 3.6) so they’ve had me on Estrogen suppositories too for the last few days. It’s helped and my lining was almost at 8 mm today. Hoping for a successful trigger and some good news at my beta test in a couple weeks. Anyone going to be joining the two week wait with me? Feeling cautiously optimistic!
submitted by MooshuAwaken to TTC_PCOS [link] [comments]

2024.05.09 18:53 Moneyhungry6220 I would not wish TN on anyone

I was given the TN diagnosis 2 years ago. The pain started out as a soreness/ache in my upper left inner cheek and in the gums just above the last 3 upper teeth on the left side. About a week of the soreness and then once a day a wave of pain hit. The pain wave started in my upper left cheek area and bloomed up and down the left side of my face and head. Thankfully if I took a sip of ice water and directed it towards my inner left cheek, the wave of pain was instantly stopped. When the pain wave hit and I tried holding off on taking a sip of ice water, the pain was so intense- 20 on a scale of 1 to 10. The pain felt like the pain from a dry socket but 10 times worse. The pain wave hit me once a day for about a week and then starting to hit me every couple of mins. I went to a dentist first to make sure it was not a tooth/gum problem. Then I went to the ER and after a scan and the fact that fentanyl didn't help the pain, I was given the TN diagnosis and a neurologist referral. The MRI showed no indication of the case and the twice daily oxcarbazepine pills have kept the main nerve pain away. I still have mild soreness/ achy pain in the upper and lower branches of the nerve every day since it started. I am thankful the pills are working and so glad the ice water helped me when that main nerve pain hit. I live in fear every day that the main nerve pain will hit me again. I worry that one day, my pills will not work, I worry about the pain hitting me while driving. The only thing that helped me when the main pain hit was the ice water and hydrocodone but the hydrocode can take 20 mins to work. I only survive by trying to not think about TN at all and by holding onto hope that the cause of my TN can be found or will go away. On my next doc appt, we are doing another MRI.
I have read that stress/mental illness can cause TN and these have been the worst 4 years of my life, the TN hit me shortly after my mother was diagnosed with cancer. so that could be a factor. I also read that sinus problems can cause TN and I had developed sinus issues back in nov of 2019. MS can be a cause as well and my grandmother had MS although the doctor said so far the blood work and first MRI showed no signs of it.I just turned 47 and sometimes MS is not diagnosed until a person is in their 50s. I recently found out that the last tooth on the upper left side of my mouth was infected. I had a root canal done. The infection from the tooth had reached my sinuses and could have been there a while but since i already had a crown on that tooth, i had no signs anything was wrong. So now that the tooth is taken care of, maybe just maybe that at least was a factor for the TN. Every case is different and I feel so bad for others who have triggers and have pain that feels like electrical shocks in their face or people who have the pain and nothing seems to help. No one deserves this burden in life. I just encourage everyone to explore every possible cause if none are initially found. Thanks for letting me share my TN story. Stay strong my fellow TN warriors.
submitted by Moneyhungry6220 to TrigeminalNeuralgia [link] [comments]

2024.05.09 17:08 jumbledmutt Can kidney stones last for years?

Just to say I do have a uterus and ovaries but I use he/him pronouns. I’m so sorry if this isn’t allowed I’m just losing it I don’t know where to go. Sorry for so much information I just don’t know what’s important to include
I have been dealing with pain in my lower left abdomen and lower back for about 3 years. I’ve thought it was period pains or a cyst as I’ve had a fairly large one (8cm) previously, had it removed but the pain persisted. I have been on testosterone for about a year and stopped getting periods, but a few weeks ago I got one completely randomly followed by spotting. This was after carrying something heavy up a hill, heavy lifting and walking up hills usually triggers this abdomen pain and sometimes spotting too, this is what’s making the docs think it’s a gynae issue.
2 days ago the pain woke me up at 6am, I was curled up in a ball crying. This is the third time I’ve ended up in a ball because of the pain. Took some naproxen, co-codamol and gabapentin which helped somewhat but not totally. I’ve been prescribed tramadol since then and been advised to go to the hospital if it comes back, which I have done, and I’m waiting to be referred for a CT scan.
The pain sometimes feels like it’s coming from the same place in my right side but way less often, it almost feels like it’s sending the pain over to my right side when it does happen, but the worst pain is on and stays on my left side even when it travels. I have never passed anything and the doctors all seem kind of confused. I know peeing is an issue sometimes with kidney stones but I dont feel like I have massive problems there, they did detect blood in my urine but said this could be due to spotting. Like a couple times a year maybe I’ll have to strain to pee but that’s it.
The doctors either think this is a gynae issue or kidney stones but they’re running out of options and are pretty stumped. The bleeding and type of pain is throwing them off. I have a 5 month wait for an ultrasound and probably about the same for a CT scan, so I just want to get other opinions in the meantime. This sucks and the pain is near constant but usually only around a 4 on the pain scale, sometimes spiking up to a 7/8 I know it could be worse but even tramadol doesn’t totally solve it. It’s driving me fucking insane
submitted by jumbledmutt to KidneyStones [link] [comments]

2024.05.09 05:44 nightmarishmanner3 More Symptoms?

Edit:
I will be creating a survey instead for this prompt, so be on the lookout. In the meantime, give this survey a look:
https://ll0090zq2l6.typeform.com/to/VXByqGNA
It is assesses any patterns in PCOS regarding Menstruation, Birth Control & Pregnancy, and Physique.
......
For those who have been oficially diagnosed with PCOS OR fall under at least 2 of 3 Rotterdam Criterias (Hyperandrogenism/ Polycystic Ovaries/ Oligomenorrhea), what other symptoms --past, recurring, returning, and new-- have you experienced?
Examples: Fatigue; Insomnia; Painful Bloating; Brain Fog; Fluctuating Weight; Sudden Weight Gain/Loss; Cystic Acne; Feeling Faint or Fainting; Seeing Stars; Nausea; Anxiety; Depression; Sudden Bursts of Energy; Heart Palpitations; Muscle Spasms; Unexplained or Easy Bruising
Leave your age above if comfortable. Also, mention any other disease(s) you may suffer from.
If you can recall when each symptom showed up, leave the following abbreviations:
Feel free to add any necessary context such as diet/lifestyle changes or traumatic events (Competitive athletics/Increased drinking/death of loved one/accidents/high stress environment or situations)—you do not have to go into detail.
Why am I conducting this survey?
Understanding the breadth of symptoms and their timeline can aid healthcare professionals in more accurately diagnosing PCOS, especially in cases where symptoms may not be immediately evident or where there's uncertainty. Any patterns or common triggers for certain symptoms could provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of PCOS and potentially uncover new avenues for treatment or symptom management.
If there is a strong preference for this survey to be completed anonymously, I'm more than happy to make that available.
submitted by nightmarishmanner3 to PCOS [link] [comments]

2024.05.09 00:26 SnooPeripherals2324 Favorite pre and post climb MEALS

So I’ve been struggling lately with my fueling - partly because I’m trying to identify a trigger and cutting out lots of foods (gluten, lactose and corn) from my diet which means it’s just harder to eat and partly because I’m just not used to having to eat this much. I know I need to do a better job especially on the post-climb side of things, because within an hour I often I start to feel tired, achy, fatigued, even flu-like symptoms.
What are some of our favorite ways to house a shit ton of calories?? And I’m not talking like a protein bar or shake, I mean real fill you up kind of meals but especially those that might be easy to keep on hand/prepare quickly.
I’ll get the ball rolling. My pre-climb meal is either oatmeal, berries, lactose free yogurt and almonds if I’m climbing in the morning, or just plain ol white rice with furikake and soy sauce if I’m climbing later in the day. I make a big batch of rice at the beginning of the week for exactly this purpose.
Post climb is where I really struggle. Peanut butter toast maybe? Or tuna and crackers? I need some things I can keep both at my house and at the kitchen at work since I often go back in right after a session. This is where I’ll really get into trouble because then it might be a few hours until I go home for lunch or dinner! I’d honestly like to house a full burger and fries right after most climbing sessions and I’m tired of feeling constantly hungry!
submitted by SnooPeripherals2324 to climbergirls [link] [comments]

2024.05.08 16:29 Ambitious_Doubt3717 Ideas for next steps after 4 failed FETs.

Hi all. Thanks to the mod team for approving a standalone, the support means a lot.
I'm a bit out of ideas for next steps after our last failed FET of a euploid donor embryo. Any and all thoughts welcome. I've tried to describe this as succinctly as possible below so here goes:
Me: 42F, male partner 44. Diagnosis of endometriosis, no symptoms other than an endometrioma on one ovary. Male factor infertility as well. TTC since 2018.
2 CPs trying on our own.
ER#1 - 2021: resulted in one aneuploid embryo. Poor response to meds, decided to move to donor eggs.
DE cycle #1: created 5 embryos with 26yr old donor eggs and partner's sperm.
FET #1: standard medicated protocol with estrace, prometrium and PIO every third day. Strong initial beta resulting in a slow heartbeat at 7 week ultrasound; no heartbeat at 8 weeks. Took Misoprostol, could not test POC as there was not enough tissue. RE hypothesis was that it was an abnormal embryo, still possible with a young donor.
FET#2: standard medicated protocol exact same as FET #1.
Was started on Synthroid as TSH was over 4 at beta. Was referred to an endocrinologist in a prenatal program at a women's hospital and I'm still seeing them to monitor my TSH.
Pregnancy developed well, no issues on ultrasounds, anatomy scan, NIPT. Sudden stillbirth at 25 weeks, noticed due to lack of fetal movement. Pathology indicated it was due to fetal vascular malperfusion, a placental issue. C-section needed due to placenta previa. Full RPL blood panel was run by the hospital on me and spouse, no clotting or other issues found. MFM thought it might just be an unfortunate one time event.
Switched clinics as my RE had left anyway and the patient care there wasn't great. Moved three remaining embryos to new clinic.
I had been taking 20mg of escitalopram for FET#2. After the stillbirth, this was upped to 25mg, higher than the max dose.
New RE did some tests: EMMA ALICE (normal) Anti phospholipid antibodies (normal) Lupus (normal) SIS to look at c-section scar; it was normal (no fluid, etc)
FET#3 - RE wanted to try ovulatory FET due to linkage between fully medicated FETs and placental issues. Ovulatory FET with trigger and progesterone support and aspirin. No implantation.
FET#4 - ovulatory FET without trigger; progesterone support and aspirin. No implantation.
Hysteroscopy done after FET#4. Normal.
FET#5 - decided to do two months of Lupron Depot as it was the last embryo. Standard medicated protocol with estrace, prometrium, PIO every third day, aspirin. No implantation. **I feel it's relevant to mention that this was a day 7 3CB embryo, so lower chance of success.
DE cycle #2 - Semen analysis tests were worsening and we didn't want to risk it, so we created 3 euploid embryos using donor sperm and donor eggs. Egg donor was different than the first. Both donors are proven donors.
In the meantime my RE referred us for a second opinion at another clinic with an RE who specializes in RPL and immune issues. He did a full physical exam, reviewed my history, and said I'd had a full workup already and he couldn't detect any reason why the FETs hadn't worked. He said he felt our chance for success was good. He did one blood test, I can't remember what it was but it came back negative. He suggested to my RE that we repeat an SIS, add steroids and Lovenox just to try something new.
SIS was repeated. Found to be normal except one tube seemed blocked, my RE said she thought this was a technical issue rather than a true blockage. Tried to remove a cervical polyp too but could only get part of it off.
FET #6 - ovulatory FET with Letrozole (as it is supposed to suppress Endo), Ovidrel trigger, vaginal probiotics because why not, Medrol for 5 days starting two days before transfer, Lovenox starting two days before transfer until beta, prometrium 600mg a day, PIO every third day, aspirin. No implantation.
I'm at a loss here TBH. My regroup with my RE is next week. We have two euploid donor embryos left and after that we are done.
I'm still on Synthroid and my TSH hovers just under 2.
One thing I asked her about was my 25mg escitalopram. Max dose is 20, many people take 10. Google says this med can raise prolactin. My clinic has not tested my prolactin. I don't have any symptoms such as lactation. I'm maybe grasping a bit with this but it's one thing that changed between FET #2 which implanted and FET #3-6 which did not. The nurse messaged my RE about this yesterday, and she said she'll test my prolactin, but that the extra progesterone support should counteract any prolactin issues, so this likely did not affect the last FET. Regardless I'm going to ask my psychiatrist to lower my dose to 10mg, the side effects at 25mg are bothersome and this was only supposed to be a short term dose increase.
Things I'm going to ask my RE about: - an HSG? I've never had one. - repeating EMMA ALICE? - doing three months of Lupron Depot, or Orlissa? Maybe the FET we did after LD failed because of an embryo issue? - lap surgery? The wait for this will be at least a year. - more extensive thyroid testing? My TSH and T4 free is tested regularly. Not sure if there are other elements to test. - testing progesterone during a FET? This is not routinely done in Canada. - I don't want to do ovulatory FETs anymore. I was only able to get implantation with a medicated FET so I'd like to go back to those.
My RE is very collaborative and will listen to any suggestions I have so I'm hoping to develop a good list.
I hope this isn't too hard to follow. It turned into a novel 🫠
submitted by Ambitious_Doubt3717 to infertility [link] [comments]

2024.05.07 23:00 jinnjer_ 1 year PP- is this PFD or nerve related?

I have a mild burning/ irritation feeling that came about around 6-7 weeks post partum. Before I noticed this symptom, I started with an itchy feeling vaginally after a walk. I figured it was a yeast infection. Then a couple days later the burning feeling came about.
I got tested and it was a yeast infection, treated it and the itchy part was gone but the burning remained. Now 12 months pp and the burning sensation still happens off and on. It feel like the roof of the vagina like behind the clit urethral area? Somewhere deep inside in there.
Sometimes I get different sensations around the butt crack area, it’s almost like the symptoms ping pong. But 96% of the time it is in that specific area I described at the beginning. Pfpt pressed inside but it doesn’t mimic the burning. After she’s done I can feel it. And sex sometimes doesn’t trigger it or sometimes it does but it remains same level. Pain ranges from 1-4 consistently. I’ve noticed after a period things feel the most calm. I can sit and everything, but sitting sometimes I just get achy around tailbone and butt area. This is just random when it happens off and on. Urogynos think it could be irritated nerve, but did not diagnose as pudendal neuralgia. I had a nerve block didn’t do anything, gabapentin didn’t either.
I had a traumatic birth- 5 hours pushing, one time gentle vacuum assist and a slight mediolateral episiotomy. The urogynos say no prolapse, and can’t seem to give me answers as to why I’m feeling this. :/
submitted by jinnjer_ to PelvicFloor [link] [comments]

2024.05.07 21:45 CarelessVariation728 Low AMH - considering IVF and Clomid

Hi All
Long story short, I got off my HBC after being on for 10 years. It's been 5 months and I have not gotten my period. Went to RE for testing, and was told I have 6-10 follicles and an AMH of 0.49, which is extremely low for my age of 29. I am married, but we were hoping to wait 2-3 years to conceive. Doesn't seem like that is an option now. Doctor is adamant about freezing embryos ASAP. I'm super stressed about not getting enough eggs/embryos to have 2 babies in the future. The dr. also said we could try triggering ovulation with Clomid and try "naturally", but DEFINITELY wants us to do freezing ASAP since time is of the essence. Has anyone had a similar situation and seen success from either IVF or Clomid? I've been sobbing all day and cannot understand how this happened to me. I'm healthy otherwise and young :'(
submitted by CarelessVariation728 to DOR [link] [comments]

2024.05.07 18:51 gregarious8 DOR friends!! What was your mini-IVF protocol?

If you did mini-IVF, what was your protocol/dosage amounts? How did it work for you? How did it compare to prior standard cycles if you've done other protocols?
I've done 2 retrievals with what my clinic considers "min-stim", which was Clomid 150 CD 2-6, and Menopur 225 CD 4-trigger. I used Cetrotide to prevent ovulation and a Novarel trigger. I got 2 eggs each round. 1st retrieval was straight forward, 2 follicles responded, 2 eggs retrieved. 2nd was more complex, I had 2 leads, but a cohort of 6 or so smaller ones behind it and my clinic convinced me to go for the second cohort (bad decision as it turned out) and the smaller ones took a really long time to grow... when I went in for my retrieval I had 11 follicles, but expected to get 5-6 eggs... and we got 2, the doc told me I must have ovulated the rest before retrieval. From each round I got 1 good graded blast - 1st round was euploid but it didn't implant, 2nd round was aneuploid.
I'm probably switching clinics for a variety of reasons, one of them being that my clinic seems pretty rigid with protocol. We were about to start our 3rd retrieval without a single change to protocol. I talked to my doc about mini-IVF and when I told him I had seen a lot of anecdotal evidence of women getting good results from doses between 50-150, he told me that those results were exactly that- anecdotal- and the lowest dose he'd consider is 150. He straight up said no to micro-Lupron flare because it's "not for women with DOR" even though I've read so many stories of it working for us. My clinic has high SART scores, so I'm sure part of it is protecting the clinic, and I'm sure they'd rather me go elsewhere than stay and hurt their stats.
I'm getting new bloodwork in a few days, but last May I had AMH .58, FSH 13.3 (brought down from 16.8 after using wheatgrass), and AFC 4. I turn 40 this summer, and I'm on alllll the supplements, and also do acupuncture.
(Also posted to DOR.)
submitted by gregarious8 to IVF [link] [comments]

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