 what does it take to heal?!?!
This is so depressing...
I feel like I am at my utter limit of frustration. Two weeks ago I switched from Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo to Ortho Cyclen because I felt it was making my skin cystic and oily, even though aside from my cheeks my entire body/face was clear as a bell.
However, when I got dressed yesterday, I noticed the dreaded pieces of new hairs pushing up through my chest as well as all the blackhead-type things I get clogging the active hair follicles. I picked it and had the red "tweezer rash" for the first time in months. I was looking so good all winter-- now I feel like half my wardrobe is out of comission and I have to start doing all the damage control we do so that we can feel comfortable out in public.
I'm so sick of this. I don't know how to make it through another summer walking around pulling my shirt up to hide my chest and then down to hide my belly. And this is after many (admittedly very successful) laser treatments. I feel like my body is a whack-a-mole game where as soon as I get something under control, something else spirals out of control.
I go to acupuncture and my TCM practicioner can get me to ovulate pretty easily. My problem, which I have learned through this last setback, is the progestin (also natural progesterone). A little bit of it completely sends me off the deep end. I don't know what that ultimately means or how to manage the problem in the meantime except to go back on the pill that has lower progestin and then try and up my estrogen with supplements so that I have adequate protection again cystic acne on my face. I am going to see a naturopath tomorrow and I have some desperate hope that she'll be able to help me. I have been through the wringer with the Western doctors telling me "oh, you'll probably have to be on some sort of medication for the rest of your life." I can't think of anything more depressing.
Yesterday my acupuncturist said that my hormonal imbalance is extremely deeply-rooted and is holding on to me with a death-grip. I feel like I'm strapped into a roller coaster that I have no control over and no ability to get off of. Today is a beautiful day and I was just taking a walk outside, looking for a reason to rip someone's head off because of my wacky hormones. I feel like a mutant blob and I know I'm not. I take good care of myself: I eat extremely well and am taking licorice root, NAC, a B-Complex, and Flora-Balance (that stuff is a miracle).
I wish I could feel better about the progress I'm making in caring for myself but today I just feel awful so I'm going to take a little faith from all of your posts. You ladies are a huge inspiration and we're all lucky we have somewhere to go for support.
Thanks! | 
