http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/blog.php Fertilicare is an online infertility support forum dedicated to the care and support of individuals struggling through the trials of not being able to conceive without medical intervention. en Fri, 18 May 2012 19:52:34 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/blog.php http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?8-Stretch-out-before-you-exercise Thu, 17 May 2012 04:40:08 GMT It’s a miracle-you really have one hour of free time ahead of you in which you can finally get that exercise in you’ve been promising yourself you... It’s a miracle-you really have one hour of free time ahead of you in which you can finally get that exercise in you’ve been promising yourself you would do. Your first tendency might be to jump on the treadmill and take off, burning calories as fast as your legs can go. However, research indicates that if you do not stretch first, you risk of injury is dramatically higher than the risk of those who do stretch. In fact, according to Reuters, “experts say . . . stretching can help you hone your performance, stave off injury, perk up your posture and even improve your mood.” Get more info here: Stretching: An important part of your workout routine

Static vs. Dynamic

Stretching doesn’t have to take up your whole workout time-just try to fit in at least five minutes of stretching before and after your regular workout. There are two kinds of stretching to pick from, according to Reuters, who explains, “A static stretch is essentially a stretch held in one position; dynamic stretching involves active movements.” For instance, a static stretch can be a toe touch held for 30 seconds while a dynamic exercise may be jumping jacks.

Safety during stretching

A word of caution for your stretching: don’t push your body too far. Jessica Mathews of the American Council on Exercise claims for stretches to be “safe and effective, they should be held only to the point of tension-never to the point of pain.” And whenever you do your static stretching, do not bounce, claims the Mayo Clinic, this can cause small tears in your muscles which will lead to further stiffness. And when you have any injuries or chronic pain, talk to your doctor about what stretches would be best for you.

Sources
Reuters
Mayo Clinic ]]> LouiseJane http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?8-Stretch-out-before-you-exercise http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?7-Life-Changing-Forever Sun, 13 May 2012 08:40:48 GMT I think everyone starts with saying - this is my first time blogging. In truth this is my first time sharing anything really personal on any kind of... I think everyone starts with saying - this is my first time blogging. In truth this is my first time sharing anything really personal on any kind of technology - on Facebook I only add quotes, some photos and more 'Like" than anything else. After some deliberation, I have decided to share!

I had an extreme 2011 and I think most of us (generalizing) out there did not experience 2011 as the best year of our lives :).

It started with having my gallbladder removed in April 2011 (normal procedure -right). I subsequently had a hematoma in the place where they removed the gallbladder and on top of that I got Pulmonary Embolisms in both my lungs. I think I new something was extremely wrong when I couldn't breath :) I was treated and lucky to be alive. Because of being such an A-type personality, I went cold turkey on no more smoking, left all and any medication I was on for years for treating other stuff and tried to stay alive. Just a heads up…. Smoking and taking contraceptives can cause PE….

I think only after being in hospital for a few days, I realized what really happened – that I could have died - it really shook me as my husband (newly married 8 months) would have been alone to deal with everything and realizing that if something happened to him, I will be alone (you get the drift) not having anything of him around, just made it unbearable. Just to create some background, when my husband and I met, we were totally comfortable with not having children - he anyway had a vasectomy, (in my head I went JIPPIEEE as I didn't want to have any kids). For years and years my introduction to conversations around children was I am comfortable not having children, I am focused on my career and loving the time alone with my husband. YEAH RIGHT! O! and that I totally looked down on people with children, feeling sorry for them…MMMMmmmm

My one lecturer always said – “I am a plural – therefore I am allowed to change my mind” and that I DID - whilst trying to breath through an oxygen pipe, being on liters of antibiotics and being pumped full of warfarin - I changed my mind. I told him – bursting into tears – I WANT A BABY… My husband fell of his chair taking 2 days to recover...the next morning he came back and said – are you really really sure, and I said - ABSOLUTELY !and from there our journey started! Also being glad that my newly wed husband is still around! If you know my husband you will understand, when he gets something in his head, he runs 360 km per hour and within a week, he named our baby girl Zoe (meaning life) and bought her some clothes (Zoe, not being there yet, has got a box with her name on it (naturally or adopted, she will be called Zoe).

Subsequent to my first 2 visits, I visited Milpark hospital (my home away from home) twice after this happened. I was bitten in my mouth by our dog on the 16th of June, had plastic surgery, looked like Angelina Jolie for a few weeks, and then booked myself into Milpark again (You know that when the emergency staff greats your husband on his name, that we are earning quite a lot of frequent flyer miles – I however burst out in tears when this happened) on the 28th of August for kidney stone. Yes, on our wedding anniversary…. Please take note my husband is still around! He said he should have done a due-diligence on my health before getting married…

We have seen quite a few doctors and our journey took us to Vitalab – I think most roads leads to Vitalab (in our case, anyway). We had to go through a few hurdles, but decided from the first blood test, that if we cannot do this naturally, we will adopt. We passed the first 5 hurdles. Please note that my husband had a vasectomy 15 years ago – so a reversal will not be considered- the poor guy had to go through a extraction to see if the little buggers were still swimming and well formed – he passed and obviously very chuffed with himself that after all these years they still worked. I didn’t think anything else, as you see, we are total opposites, he is the sporty active, outside type of guy and I am… as he always says “ I AM BUILD FOR COMFORT AND NOT FOR SPEED!” We had to wait for 4 months for him to heal before continuing with the process. In March we connected with Vitalab again and I went over my HSG X- ray hurdle and all came out 100%.

So after months of counting down the days HERE WE ARE. We started with the ICSI / IVF journey yesterday, 12 May 2012.

Nervous, headachy, emotional, moody, chocolaty, bloaty….. Knowing that this could be a life changing experience FOR EVER….

I just wanted to share and say, good luck with everyone out there also starting on their journey, or still in the process of their journey and congratulations for those how succeeded and I am really sorry for those who didn’t. A big thing for me is to try this before I turn 39 (Jip….)

Will keep you updated on the progress! ]]> Zee08 http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?7-Life-Changing-Forever http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?6-Dukan-Diet Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:05:34 GMT Hi all,

First time blogging as well. I'm joining the other newbies on whether I'm doing it right.?

First time blogging but no new hand at fertility treatment. I've been through 3 IUI's, i horrbly failed IUI turned IVF and 1 IVF. After a year and a half on fertility treatment, I'm rocking where it comes to self inject and keeping time. Unfortunately the self esteems is gate crashing a bit. I've picked up 9 kg's despite doing the Low GI diet and excercising keeping my hart rate within the fat burning zone (invested in a Polar). Since I've got PCOS, I'm considering going on the Dukan diet for the following reasons:

1. Loose weight! I was borderline BMI starting this process, and some google research suggest that weight play a role when ttc.
2. Burst of self-esteem is desperately required.
3. Reduce Carbs to minimal since PCOS.

Has anyone ever done the Dukan diet or discussed going on the Dukan diet with their FS?

Thanks!

G ]]> Gravity http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?6-Dukan-Diet http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?5-Waiting-in-anticipation... Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:44:30 GMT Hello all, I am in recovery after my second Laparosopy and Hysteroscopy done on Thursday 15 March. Doctor did his rounds as per usual after the... Hello all,

I am in recovery after my second Laparosopy and Hysteroscopy done on Thursday 15 March. Doctor did his rounds as per usual after the op and we were told they corrected a uterine septum I didn't even know I had. What is that even?
As I am one that loves to google all these interesting medical topics the doctors are dishing out at us a a slow but steady rate, I did just that..I found that septum is often the cause of miscarriages and even infertility?

We are seeing the FS on 23 March and will probably hear more from him on this, the ICSI and endometriosis, was just curious to hear from any ladies out there who might have some more insight on this?

God Bless.:) ]]> Keeping the Faith http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?5-Waiting-in-anticipation... http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?4-Just-starting-our-Infertility-journey... Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:20:23 GMT Hi Ladies I have been following your site for a few weeks now and have finally decided to join, its so wonderful how you are all there for each... Hi Ladies

I have been following your site for a few weeks now and have finally decided to join, its so wonderful how you are all there for each other 24/7.
As you can see from my profile if you can see it - still figuring this out, we have TTC for 1.5 year. Went to an FS 2 months ago and did all the tests, turns out DH is 100's (this whole time I thought it was him as he is 13 years older than me and Type 1 diabetic) anyway it turns out Im the one will all the issues as you can see below.
After being told I needed a lap and hyst after my PC Test apparently hostile CM is a sure sign of endo, we decided to go for a 2nd opinion and told it wasnt necassary yet :( what to believe?? Does anyone have any advise on this? Been through something similar with a Post Coital test result?? Anyway POA is waiting for AF then a HSG Xray and timed cycle with Ovidrel and Femara. Also 1st FS said I had mild PCOS and thin lining and put me on Glucophage and 2nd FS said its not necessary. I secretly wish I didnt go for a 2nd opinion but DH insisted as I have never had any Endo symtoms.. Anyway going with my gut with number 2 and just wanted to hear your thoughts if any...

Thanks Ladies ]]> TTCTaz http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?4-Just-starting-our-Infertility-journey... http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?3-First-time-blogging Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:53:44 GMT Hi everyone this is my first time blogging! Did I get it right I wonder?:cool: Hi everyone this is my first time blogging! Did I get it right I wonder?:cool: ]]> Ems http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?3-First-time-blogging http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?2-A-letter-to-my-Family-amp-Friends Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:33:35 GMT Dearest Family and Friends If I have not yet informed you in person I wish to apologise. Stefan and I are not going to have a baby. Our second... Dearest Family and Friends

If I have not yet informed you in person I wish to apologise. Stefan and I are not going to have a baby. Our second IVF attempt was unsuccessful.

I would like to make use of this opportunity to thank you for your support during the past four weeks. If you have not been through it yourself, you will never begin to understand the emotional and physical pain one experiences throughout the treatments. One moment you feel on top of the world and the next, all you want to do, is end your life in the quickest way you can think of, regardless of whether you will experience agonising pain or not. Regardless of whether the treatment might be successful or not.

Having found out that we had six fertilised embryos gave me a glimmer of hope even though they were Grade 2 (Grade 1 is the worst quality with Grade 4 the best quality). Three days after the embryo transfer we were informed that the remaining three embryos died. That was the first sign of doom. My heart was broken because, with those embryos died our hope of one last chance if this cycle was not successful. With that came the obsession of making my body the best possible incubator. I quit smoking ‘cold turkey’. Stopped drinking caffeine. Drank 3 litres of water a day. Kept my life stress free by sleeping more than 16 hours a day, in the process neglecting my business causing my work to lag behind deadline. But I did not care. I all I cared for were those three embryos that must simply grow inside of me.

When not sleeping I spent my time researching the process of fertilisation and embryo implantation in great detail. I think I will now be able to do my PhD in the field in record time.

On day 12 after embryo transfer I just knew. You know, that gut feeling one gets? As I walked into the pathology waiting rooms yesterday morning tears were shamelessly streaming down my cheeks. I knew what the test results would be. I were totally devastated nonetheless. Has all the years of selfishness, not wanting to give up my lifestyle for children, eventually caught up with me? Now that I desire a baby, is it being kept from me because I were selfish? Because, as a teenager already, I told everyone that I never want children because they take away your youthfulness? Because they make you fat and ugly? Because children are the reasons couples drift apart and get divorced? Because children will take away your freedom? Because children are a financial burden?

I might have told you that I am okay but in all truthfulness, I am a wreck.

My business has suffered tremendously. It is going to take me weeks to catch up on all the work that is now lagging behind. All I can do is pray that my clients will understand and give me the opportunity to prove that I can indeed pull myself together after this and continue to deliver exceptional standard work.

I don’t think I have any emotions left inside of me. I feel dead. All the crying has left me drained. I try to smile and I try to be friendly and accommodating but it takes so much effort that I fall into bed exhausted every night. What makes it worse is that sleep is restless and filled with nightmares.

Without my dearest, loving and supportive husband I would not have made it through this process. I admire his courage throughout this entire process. I cannot begin to understand the excruciating physical pain he must have experienced for more than two weeks, all the while being there for me, holding me tight when I needed it. “Bossiekop, ek het jou met my hele hart lief. Vir ewig en altyd. Hierdie leeftyd en al die wat daarop volg.”

That any couple can walk away sane after IVF is a miracle in itself!

I cannot begin to imagine how much of a monster you must have seen me for over the past couple of weeks. I pray that you will accept my most humble apologies for neglecting you. For not being there when you needed me. For my lack of interest in your well-being. And for being selfish, only caring for my own situation.

Stefan and I have decided that we will not go through another IVF procedure, ever. Perhaps the universe has bigger and better plans for us. It does not make closing this door any easier and I beg of you to understand that the healing process is not a packet of 2-minute noodles. In fact, in my current emotional state it might be more of a fossilisation process. And whilst fossilisation occurs I will be prejudiced towards my husband, my pets and my business (in that order).

This means that, if I decline an invitation it is not because I don’t like you anymore. If I do not spend as much time with you as I used to in the past it is not because I enjoy your company any less. If I do not give you the emotional support I used to in the past it is not because I don’t care for your feelings. If I do not respond to your SMS or e-mail it is not because I am ignoring you. If I forget an appointment with you or cancel a scheduled one, it is not because I don’t want to see you. It is simply me giving myself, my husband and our relationship a chance to survive this storm we’ve been through and to come to terms with your decisions about the way forward.

Given time, understanding and, at times, distance I will eventually heal and be myself again.

To my friends who are currently pregnant, may the universe bless you with a bundle of joy to share with Stefan and I as our own. And please I beg of you to share your pregnancy experience with me in as much detail as you care for because that is my only chance of ever experiencing it.

And last but certainly not least, to my bestest friend in the world, Bronwenn: “I love you with all my heart and you mean more to me that you can ever imagine. You, Jacques and little Lulubelle are special in so many ways.”

eM xxx ]]> MarisaLouw http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?2-A-letter-to-my-Family-amp-Friends http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?1-Give-up-or-go-on! Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:50:39 GMT So its been a number of years since setting on this journey. Not exactly a successful one to say the least. We have done all the treatments we could... So its been a number of years since setting on this journey. Not exactly a successful one to say the least. We have done all the treatments we could afford - assisted cycles (clomid, injections, supplements) - no IVF or any kind of those. Unfortunately we have not been in the position to resort to those kinds of treatments. I have not seen a doc in over 2 years and am going on monday for a normal
annual check. Having this appointment around the corner has been raising some things you see.
Why - well for over 2 yrs I have basically ignored the fact that we want a baby. Yep - I shut it down, ignored the feelings, cancelled all hope and avoided any and all thoughts and conversations. Which has suited me just fine up till now, but now I feel like I need to
make a choice, go on and maybe start to have a shred of hope, or get over it and go back on the pill as it will be better for my body in the long run. But - the big but: am I really ready to give up - I Do Not Know. what does my DH think - I do Not Know. we don't talk about
this issue at all anymore. We touched on the adoption option a few times, but it seems like that options is also as limited as my
reproductive system. I suppose its one thing to have all the resources to try every option, not leave one stone unturned. BUT,
should
you not have those resources, what do you do, Do you draw a line somewhere? My head says Yes, my heart is not
sure about anything.
So the only thing I can think of now is to talk it out with my doc, and see where it goes. But can my heart cope
with a dissapointment
every 28 days - well the answer is NO I dont think so - which is why i have been shutting all of these little things out for the past 2 years.
So we will re-evaluate, no matter what I suppose I will get out on the other side, its
not as if I have a choice, we have to keep walking. ]]> Blommetjie http://www.fertilicare.org/forum/entry.php?1-Give-up-or-go-on!