Living Jenn

A LIFESTYLE BLOG ABOUT MARRIAGE, INFERTILITY, AND LIFE

It’s All About Balance

The first thing I’ve learned about this trying to conceive journey (TTC) is that everyone has an opinion on what supplements you should take and what you should or should not eat. Now, before I begin, these are my thoughts and what I learned about a diet I was on I’m not saying I’m right or wrong; I just found what works for me.

For three years before trying to conceive, I was a strict vegetarian, and I was the unhealthiest I have ever been. My skin looked awful; I was constantly sick; I had very low energy; I also gained weight I was the heaviest I had ever been. I’m still struggling with the weight I gained. I was a bad vegetarian.

I would crave meat protein but would deny myself it because I had it stuck in my head that it was horrible for me, but in actuality, it was my diet that was horrible for me. Don’t get me started on all the juice cleanses or juice-only days I did oh, I could kick myself! Because I was not getting enough nutrients and protein, I craved sugar and carbs so much, so it made me pre-diabetic, and all the sugar in all the juices I was drinking didn’t help. My digestive system was also out of whack, which made me feel stuck and sluggish.

After a routine checkup and blood work, my doctor called to tell me I had several vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and that’s when she explains to me the diet I was restricting myself to was doing more harm than good. She also told me she suspected I had developed leaky gut syndrome because she needed me to see a few specialists.

It’s All About Balance
I now eat balanced meals, skip gluten as much as possible, and say no to juice cleanses. When I went back to eating a limited amount of meat, my cravings for sugar and carbs disappeared, and I regained my energy. Eastern medicine, as well as many other cultures, believe that balance ‘cold’ foods lowers your blood flow and ‘warm’ foods increase it; optimal health is associated with free-flowing energy when you’re blocked, this can’t happen. Non-Western Medicine believes our power is centered in our middle, and it must be working correctly for everything else to be working correctly. I think feeling stuck had a lot to do with my diet.

Here are a few ways to increase your blood and energy flow:
Acupuncture
Massage
Maya/Arvigo massage
Chiropractic Care
Walking
Yoga
Swimming
Stretching
Mediating
Whatever diet you prescribe to make sure it’s the right one for you.

XOXO

 

 

 

Novemeber 13, 2014

 

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Last Friday, Kevin and I met with our Fertility Specialist, but first, let me tell you how we came to know him. After my gynecologist confirmed we would need reproductive assistance, I started Googling clinics in our area; if anyone has ever tried to look for a doctor of any kind, it can be overwhelming! We let it go and kept praying about it.
Kevin and I met with a doctor who was suggested to us, but we didn’t feel 100% ok with her. We decided to keep looking, but really, we stopped looking and kept praying. A few months later, I started following a fellow TTC Sister (TTC stands for Trying To Conceive) on Instagram. She recommended a clinic I had looked at several months earlier. I made an appointment to attend one of their seminars. The seminar was informative. I finally had a better understanding of our form of infertility.


We met last Friday with Dr. Tourgeman; he was the fertility doctor that conducted our seminar; the appointment couldn’t have gone any better. Dr. T confirmed what we already knew my labs were good, but I have fibroids, polyps, and a bad fallopian tube that all should be removed before we proceed. He did an ultrasound and said, “look at those beautiful ovaries with all those follicles in the” I cried a happy cry. We had finally got good news after feeling so hopeless for so long. Before we left, our next steps were laid out. I couldn’t believe this is happening as we walked out; I said, “this was too easy.”


Today we officially begin our journey to IVF and a baby of our own now; it’s about counting days, taking meds, labs, ultrasounds, surgery, so on and so on. This is the day I have prayed for. I have no fear or worry my heart is wholly settled. I know God is with us, guiding us. I’m thankful for all the people who God has placed in my life, especially @stillwaiting4baby. Please pray for Kevin and me and all the other couples dealing with infertility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always Listen to Your Intuition

When Kevin and I decided to try to conceive almost a year ago, I just knew we would end up seeing a fertility specialist. I had this feeling in my gut and intuition that wouldn’t go away. Four months later, I was sitting in my doctor’s office explaining my situation when she sarcastically said,” why did you wait so long to try to have a baby? Followed by “do you have thousands and thousands of dollars for fertility treatment? You’ll probably have to use donor eggs; do you want that?” She ended by saying, “why don’t you get healthy? If you get pregnant, you get pregnant if you don’t.” I was reeling. I asked if she would refer me to an OB/GYN she said, “there is nothing a gynecologist can do for you.” I ran out of her office crying.

“Intuition will tell the thinking man where to look next.” Dr. Jonas Salk

I drove to Target never got off; instead, I cried. I cried so much I cried myself to sleep. I woke up looking at the time and realized my spin class was starting soon, and I thought, what better way to clear my head than a good ride. After class, we talked; I was telling them about my doctor visit when one of the ladies told me her daughter was going through IVF. She told me, “I know exactly what you are going through.” The ladies gathered around me. I asked, “why won’t God answer my prayers?” One lady sarcastically said, “maybe He has” I remember looking at her and thinking maybe He has? What are you talking about? I told her I wasn’t praying to have infertility.
“Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ”
Isaiah 30:21 NIV

All that week, I prayed for God’s discernment that Friday I kept hearing, “call the insurance company, call the insurance company over and over again.” My doctor’s office warned me that my insurance would not cover anything related to infertility, so I was a bit apprehensive about calling.

I worked up enough courage and made the call. I explained to the man who answered everything that happened. He put me on hold, came back, and said, “ok, I have a plan for you” he figured out a way to get me into an OB/GYN without going through my doctor for a referral. He recommended a doctor to me. I hung up, called, and got in right away.

After going over everything with the gynecologist, she looked at me. She said, “you are not too old, and why don’t we start at the beginning testing you for everything before you see an infertility doctor.” She called out all these acronyms and started filling out the paperwork for tests. I left the office full of hope. I just knew this is where I was supposed to be.

Since the beginning, we have prayed and asked for God to lead us, and He has. Some of us have, including me, following where He leads and trusting Him completely. This is a testimony to praying without ceasing and letting God take care of everything, not just some things.

XOXO