HELP! No AF and taking Vitex, Dong Quai and NPC...

Gigi Lewis · 04-24-2003, 03:41 PM

Hello cysters! I need your help, PLEASE!

I have been taking Vitex, Dong Quai since January and NPC for over 2 years but just started taking it 14 ON & 14 OFF in January compared to the 3 weeks ON 1 week OFF I was doing before.

I had AF February 26th - March 2nd and haven't had another one since?????

I watch what I eat and exercise at least 3 days a week (walking or swim aerobics). I take my temps and use Fertility Friend but it does not show that I'm Oing and is confusing because my temps go up & down with NO trends or patterns!! I am 5"9 and weigh 178.

I take the following in the AM...dong quai, vitex, NPC, multi vitiman, flax seed, patissum, aloe, vitiman E

At lunch I take milk thissle

I take the following in the PM...dong quai, vitex, NPC & (4) drops of Progest liquid under tounge

Does anyone have any thoughts you could share with me, PLEASE???????

Any help is appreciated! THANKS!!!!

Lori74 · 04-24-2003, 05:40 PM

It sounds to me like your body was used to the pattern that you had set up and was probably accustomed to it -- did you have regular AF before you changed to the 14 day on/off? I did NPC 14 day on/off for almost a year and a half and then decided when I had a semi regular cycle to let my own body do it's thing and now I sometimes use it around days 16 - 20 only. When you've used it for so long and it can build up in your tissues, sometimes your AF will be delayed (found that out through trial and error). Hmmm...have you stopped using it? That might bring AF on. After this cycle, I might go back to your old pattern or just reduce the days on it. good luck to you!

Gigi Lewis · 04-24-2003, 05:50 PM

for your reply, I appreciate your suggestions!

I do not have regular AF by any means. Last year I only had 3 AF one in January, May and August!!! This year I've only had the one in February!

I see a herbalist who seems to think that the more progesterone the more chances I have in having an AF??? That is why I've added the Progest drops along with the cream. In February I was on Day 9 of being ON and started AF! Sunday (4/27/03) is my last day ON then I go for 14 days OFF so we'll see what happens???

I have absolutly NO idea what to do and I'm getting frustrated!

If you or anyone else can think of anything else that I may need to change PLEASE let me know!

Again thanks for your suggestions!!

Lori74 · 04-24-2003, 06:07 PM

gosh, I *so* know how you're feeling right now...you just want AF so badly you'll do anything to feel normal -- and you're confused because your body is confused. Sometimes I have to stop everything so that my body can just concentrate on getting to point where AF can start (again, through much trial and error!). I usually stop taking everything around day 24 so that all my levels will lower enough for a 30-34 day cycle. I'm trying to get my body trained to do it's thing instead of relying on my herbs and npc. Wow, I'm just stumped in your situation....are you under a particular amount of stress right now? maybe the frustration you're feeling in just wanting your AF is too much stress and that's throwing you off? have you seen an endo to get some bloodwork done? you're in Michigan too right? I just saw a great endo in Ann Arbor yesterday who told me that I might have congenital adrenal hyperplasia in addition to PCOS -- I wouldn't have known that unless I saw her.

Sometimes when I give up the mental attachment to starting AF, then I get it! Sometimes I think my body is teaching me to just relax and when I do it will function how I need to function.

hmmmm....

maybe only take the dong quai in the first half of your cycle and the vitex after you've o'ed? and then only npc for after you've o'ed until like day 24?

maybe some magnesium and chromium for insulin?

are you trying to lose weight? I had to drop down to about 1200 total calories/day to initially start losing -- my AF then became semi regular, but that was the only way

are you drinking enough water and getting enough fiber? I know when I'm drinking more than enough water my AF is more regular.

does your herbalist have any idea why your cycles are so incredibly long?

Gigi Lewis · 04-24-2003, 06:46 PM

this is great to have someone really sit down and try and figure this out with you step by step! I so appreciate your time in working with me on this!

Well last year I was only taking NPC and that wasn't working, obviously with only 3 AF's last year! I had a D&C in October 2001 and another one last year July 2003 (plus a Lap) and I don't want to have one again when I go back for my annual pap in June!!!

Funny thing is in February when I had AF it was the day I left to go to Florida for vacation and I didn't want it to come that week but it did! Now that I'm home with nothing but the usual going on it doesn't come! I don't feel stressed and I don't really focus on "must have AF" but I just know that 2 months ago around this time I got AF so this week I'm thinking about it more because I want my body to work right since I feel like I'm doing everything I can to help it!!

I have a GREAT OB/GYN/Endo who is very willing to learn all she can to help me within the medical field...not so much in the herbal field. In fact when she did my Lap last year she said that my ovaries weren't as bad as she expected. Yes they are larger than normal due to many small cysts but that is to be expected with PCOS. I have had many labs of blood work done and everything comes out okay except my hormone levels which are all realted to PCOS.

Last summer I lost 10 pounds before having back surgery at the end of August but I still didn't have AF till recently in February! I drink ALOT of water, in fact that's pretty much all I drink, except for 1 glass of orange juice in AM and 1 glass of juice or Vernors in PM. I eat a bowl of Kashi cereal with soy milk in AM with bananna, I bring a lunch everyday with a protein and steamed veggies and a fruit then in the PM I eat a protein with a green veggie, cottage cheese and a fruit and sometimes a popcycle. My mom is a HEALTH NUT and has really taught me alot about eating right using fresh and organic as possible things which I do.

My herbalist took hair samples (which are suppose to be better than blood) last year to measure the vitiman levels and toxins and there were some inconsistancy but he just redid them in March and they came back 95% better this year! I did a slyvia (again suppose to be better than blood) test for hormones last year and those showed my progesterone, testosterone and estrogen levels which were WAY out of wack so I'm thinking of asking him to retake those to see if they've changed any??

Well there is ALL is! Thank you soooo much for ALL your help and suggestions I will definatley look into and try some of them!!!

P.S. I know Ann Arbor is the BEST of the BEST when it comes to doctors! Good for you in going there! I use Bomont and St. John Hospital doctors!

GOOD LUCK to us BOTH!!!!!!!