Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

[chigal]

Rimig must have posted as I was writing...
Thank you so much for sharing your success story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And congratualtions, that is so awesome!! I'm glad you posted here because I felt I brought the other girls down because I had not so great luck with my first INJ cycle. It means more than you know to hear a success story!!! See, guys, it WILL happen!!!!
yeah!!

[kilsby]

Chigal, I feel bad that you regret your earlier post. You didn't bring us down at all, I tend to worry about all aspects of this process and have read so many good & bad stories that my emotions are on a rollercoaster. Thanks for joining the post again, we gals need to stick together!

Rimig - CONGRATULATIONS, that is so great and I'm so happy for you! Thank you so much for sharing your story!

Chigal, yes we're definitely looking to do the injections early next year. I'm not having my HSG till mid September so I'm on Premarin/Provera combo at the moment. I'm definitely going to get the drugs online to save costs and thanks so much for the tip re the pen, it's something that I thought must be true and was going to find out nearer the time so it's good to know.
Regarding stress, it's so weird that not only did my lack of period start with running but also it was my first year of living in a new country, starting new job and I just got married. I think stress may have had some part in it and I'm really trying my best to relax and not stress. If you are stressed Chigal then the accupuncture may help to releive some of this. How come your IVF appointment isn't for 2 months, by choice?

Clem, you weren't insensitive about the selective reduction at all, hell we're talking about periods & drugs & having all kinds of stuff done on our lady bits on here so I'm way past being offended about anything
Re diet, I'm going to make an effort to eat more red meat but do you think this is related to the fat intake that would be increased with red meat intake? if so then I deffo eat enough fat now (about 30% of cals). I really can't face stuffing myself anymore as I've already put on SO much weight and can't get in any of my clothes comfortably. Thanks for the link on soy too and I'll start eating lots of this again as I really enjoy tofu & tempeh. I stopped just coz I read that it can decrease estrogen.

What's so weird for me is that my sister went through a similar thing to me however she was anorexic for years and had no periods. Then she went through Clomid, injections and IVF and none worked for her, she's currently adopting. i know my situation isn't the same as hers but it's still very worrying.. Do any of you have family histories of infertility/gyno problems? It seems like i've always had gyno problems too such as having bad pap smears which resulted in calposcopies, biopsies etc. I don't know if this is all related but my RE doesn't seem to think so.

[kilsby]

Hi girls, been doing some more research on nutrition and it seems that all these factors can lower estrogen levels, some of which I found very interesting:

high fiber diets
diets high in fruit & veg esp. brocolli & cauliflower which has been shown to lower estrogen (??)
whole wheat foods
Vitamin E
low fat
garlic & onions
grapes
olive oil.

I'm not sure how much of this is true but was very disturbed about the brocolli as I eat this every day, and eat a ton of garlic & onions (yes I sure smell good LOL). some of the others are obvious and we've already discussed, like high fiber/low fat.

[clementine]

This is awesome! - It feels so much better knowing we're not alone.

A few things: Sept 20th is my birthday... so, I have this funny feeling that it'll be a successful day for you Chigal - I'm not really superstitious, but at the moment, I'm becoming more so!

Such interesting coincidences: My sister is anorexic/bulimic, and has been pregnant 3 times. Go figure. Her eating habits are apalling.Amazes me she's alive. Her weight is stable now but she'll go for days eating just peanuts and condensed milk (why on earth??) So it makes me wonder about the whole "diet thing" but oh well. Other than that obvious "biggie" - no history of any problems in my family..my mom became pregnant with my brother DURING her period...

As for stress. - eeek!.. I am a basket case. Spoke about that at length with the accupuncturist. I don't sleep, I run to de-stress, I stress if I don't run, I stress if I don't sleep, which stops me from sleeping... I worry about everything!! The accupuncturist said it was all related, and I'm having to drink some herbal tea to encourage fertility and relaxation. I think the warm foods is about "nuturing"... Of course, today I ate ONLY 5 yogurts (!) and 1 cup of ice cream - BUT I did eat a lean burger (for breakfast), and tofu.. and a ton of beets (with goat cheese!). Not sure what dinner will be. More meat?

Actually, the red meat is about blood cells, and iron...you can eat ostrich or bison (virtually fat free)... it just needs to be red (not turkey or chicken). Kilsby, it sounds to me like your diet is very healthy and you seem very aware of "the right things to eat" so perhaps all you need is to sub whatever proteins you eat for lean red meat. I don't think "fat" per se..is the issue. We all seem to be eating enough (calories and fat) - The sources of these calories might need fine-tuning though.

Kilsby - Thanks for reassuring I didn't offend, I am so happy to have found everyone here - and was afraid I'd say something terrible and be banned from the board! I agree that we're all pretty "tough" by now...one never knows what people's sensitivities are... I tend to be very "to each their own"...

I also saw my Gyno today who doesn't seem remotely concerned..seems to think if I stop running for 3 months I'll be fine (which, clearly according to these posts is NOT necessarily the case) but, I'll try it. He's not insensitive, he's just sure I'll get pregnant. Not sure why?The accupuncturist was very informative - I really reccomend it. even just once. She explained the red meat thing, and suggested other "naturally red" foods, (beets, berries)...she admitted it sounded like voodoo but assured me it does work (Something about increasing blood count/flow??). I'm willing to try. She said yogurts, nuts, fish were ok, but I need iron too...

I'm trying to think of other stuff which I think could be a problem (for me). I mentioned I used quite a bit of equal. OBGYN said that didn't matter. He thinks in my case, I am too stressed out (I live in NYC, it's a lifestyle here... ) - and I need to relax, sleep more. I also get heart burn (stress related)... all these things tie in.

The advice from both docs (east and west!) was: you don't need to gain a lot of weight (or any), BUT, you MUST learn to relax. Whatever it takes. seems that's their main concern. I know I mentioned this before, but when I went on lexapro to help me sleep - I ended up sleeping 8 hrs a night (usually I get 5 if I'm lucky) and I got my period within...6 to 8 weeks I think. Worth noting.

We should all start meditating (But I can't b/c I'm too stressed ha ha) I can't sit still...
Thanks ALL OF YOU for being here together!!!
Clem

[clementine]

hey kilsby - we posted at the same time!

eeek! Your food list is a eye-opening. I do like brocc and cauliflower. perhaps 3 times a week maybe more. definitely eat whole wheat everything, and lots of fiber (I actually love fiber one cereal)
This is insane! Sorry - but it's like all the healthy foods are bad! Why aren't proceesed white flours, twinkies, hot dogs, Spam, and mac n cheese on the list???
excuse me, while I go and bang my head against the wall...So THIS is why all those girls who smoke, never go to the gym, and eat at McDs can get pregnant...
argh!!!!

[clementine]

she was very willing to talk to me on the phone, and make recommendations before we met..so perhaps worth a phone call .
I know that financing is an issue in many cases (none of this is low cost, by any stretch)., so perhaps just talking to her can give a sense of reassurance and what to do next, even if you don't get the treatment itself, just a thought. She can explain foods etc. Not sure but perhaps they would send the teas, though I am sure local places offer similar products.
http://www.chi-remedy.com/

[kdods]

Hi Ladies,
I am so excited to have found this post, finally a place where I fit in also.
Here's my situation: I am 5'3" and weigh 112 lbs. I work out 6 days a week - teach spinning 2x's, swim and mostly all other cardio. 2.5 years ago I tried Prometrium and it did nothing for me, so I went to a RE. He gave me Estrodial (sp) for 3 months (yes, 3 months) and then a big shot of progestorone - it worked. I self-med. myself (I know, I know ...) 100mg of Clomid afterwards and IT WORKED. I still can't believe it. My dd is now 18 months ...
Now I am ttc #2, and back in the same boat. I'm on my 3rd round of Clomid, with the first 2 obviously not working. Provera DID bring on a bleed for me, however, so I have no idea what my situation is. My bf was 13% a couple of months ago, but I've since gained about 5 lbs ... I hate it, but like you all figure if I want another baby, it's what I've got to do. I just don't know if I should cut back on working out, or add more calories, or what!! I do have to attribute my recent weight gain to Clomid, sorry to tell you.
I just wanted to let you know that it IS possible to get pg with our situation, and it even worked with just Clomid for me. Now if it would just work again!!!!!

Thanks for a great post ~
kdods

[clementine]

broccoli is rich in indole carbinol, which is a substance that breaks down estrogen, and comes from the phytochemical family. Estrogen is a hormone ....

[clementine]

Check this out girls...
http://www.drlam.com/protocol/diet/e...nance_diet.htm

[clementine]

I'm finding as many sites saying we should eat it, (such as this one)
http://www.mamassecrets.com/estrogen.htm

as there are sites saying we shouldn't.

So far, the only thing I have gathered is that we should smoke and drink because a "damaged liver" promotes excess estrogen production. Ugh... I'm being silly... whatever. Perhaps I need to stop for the day. Frustrated!

ps: welcome Kdods! I'm usually in a better mood