Cruising along in the two-week wait at 6 dpo...
Question for those of you who have taken progesterone supplements: What did the abdominal cramping feel like? I'm assuming the cramping feelings I'm having are due to the progesterone, but the sensations vary. Yesterday evening and another time or two I had pre-menstrual type cramps - not intense but somewhat uncomfortable. Also, some backache. This morning, I had more of the twinge type cramping - based in a specific spot and would come and go in shorter bursts. It was mainly on the right side, but a couple on the left, as well. I'm hoping to compare my feelings to what others felt.
Overall, I'm pretty much chalking any and all "symptoms" up to the progesterone. My boobs have definitely been quite sore, actually a little less today than yesterday. On that note, I wonder if your body "adapts" to the progesterone somewhat? I've also been feeling nauseated in the morning, as well as in short waves during the day. Bloated and constipated, check.
Oh, and honey, the mood swings! ha! A friend mentioned she was a "weepy mess" on progesterone, and I definitely flashed back to that comment yesterday! I've been Sky.ping for a couple weeks with a guy from Great Britain (I met him on the dating site Spir.itual Sin.gles), and yesterday I broke down in the middle of our call. Everything. just. seemed. so. awful. It was like there was this pool of sadness just under the surface, ready to come out, whether I wanted it to or not! After sobbing for a bit, I took a few deep breaths and felt relatively fine. Luckily, he knows - and surprisingly accepts - what's going on with me, so I didn't have to try and cover it up.
I do wonder if there is any symptom, beyond a positive HPT, that could be trusted to mean something when on progesterone. Probably not!
Good news on the additional work search front: I got the "International Coordinator" position! I'm not sure I mentioned it here... basically there's a company that facilitates international students coming to the U.S. to attend High School, and many of them hope to go on to American colleges. I would help the students and their families move through the application process, recruit host families, support the students with monthly meetings and/or phone calls, and put out any fires such as needing to change host families, etc.
The potential downside is that it's on a commission basis, according to how many students you place and have on your roster, but it seems that they help quite a bit with host family recruitment. There is a regional coordinator who I interviewed with, and she is very positive and supportive. So, fingers crossed!
I'm also waiting to hear back on a part-time counseling position at a different community college quite close to where I live. I called the career center contact a week or two ago, and, after talking to me for a while, she suggested there might be an opportunity and that I email the woman who oversees counseling. I did this at the end of last week. Not sure why I haven't heard back yet, but I'm still hoping.
Showing posts with label side effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label side effects. Show all posts
6/20/2012
1/06/2012
Finally, a Good Mood
I've been in a good mood today, believe it or not. The first true good mood in several weeks, if not longer, it seems.
Possible reasons include cutting back on the supplement DHEA, which I think may be helping. In addition, I'm on what I call my "hormonal upswing," a few days into my cycle, and I had a really big, ugly cry on Monday (and a smaller one yesterday), which released some grief.
During my Monday cry, I became clear that I'm aching to fully love someone - that I hadn't been able to do that with S and felt deeply sorry about that fact. It sounds fairly simple but felt like a significant insight and shift from feeling despairing and wounded. I still have sadness and am constantly getting triggered by memories and seeing emails or event announcements for things we did together in the past. I looked at his Facebook page today. So, clearly I'm still thinking about him, but the feelings don't seem as raw.
As a result of talking about my insight with my housemate, he ended up loaning me a copy of the book he's working through with his (sort of) girlfriend, called Undefended Love. It's about the balance between the polarity of deeply connecting with yourself and deeply connecting with another person. And about true intimacy coming from directly facing your fears/vulnerability and being present with whatever is happening, versus automatically reverting to old, well-worn defenses that feel safe and familiar. I guess there are some exercises further along in the book. I'll let you know how it goes.
Did I mention I rejoined Mat.ch.c.om? Initially, it was a move to soothe my ego and gain some equilibrium in the situation with S. Maybe some of that is still true, but I'm also feeling like it's a healthy thing for me to be "out there" interacting with people. I've only been on the one date so far before Christmas, which didn't have much chemistry. . . and I was still pretty deep in the grief at that point too.
In the last few days, I've been emailing with a recently retired (he retired early to receive his full pension or something; he's only a few years older than me) cop from a nearby town. I like him a lot and he's funny, but he still seems to have some grief going on of his own from his divorce. Maybe we're perfect for each other right now! lol
Finally, school started back up this week. I'm teaching two days a week, covering my co-teacher's (who quit) days, as well as my own. This is supposed to be the "worst" school, but I'm generally liking it so far, knock on wood. The teacher is very supportive of our program and involved with activities, so that's making a huge difference. There's the one rowdy period, of course, who get on my last nerve, but it's not intolerable so far. We're not sure if we have a school lined up after this one, so my fingers are crossed. I'm skating on financial fumes after the holidays and cannot wait until payday on Tuesday!
I have been reading other blogs and appreciating hearing others' feelings and experiences as the year turns. It makes me feel less alone. I truly wish that you all receive the dreams of your heart (and more) in 2012!
Possible reasons include cutting back on the supplement DHEA, which I think may be helping. In addition, I'm on what I call my "hormonal upswing," a few days into my cycle, and I had a really big, ugly cry on Monday (and a smaller one yesterday), which released some grief.
During my Monday cry, I became clear that I'm aching to fully love someone - that I hadn't been able to do that with S and felt deeply sorry about that fact. It sounds fairly simple but felt like a significant insight and shift from feeling despairing and wounded. I still have sadness and am constantly getting triggered by memories and seeing emails or event announcements for things we did together in the past. I looked at his Facebook page today. So, clearly I'm still thinking about him, but the feelings don't seem as raw.
As a result of talking about my insight with my housemate, he ended up loaning me a copy of the book he's working through with his (sort of) girlfriend, called Undefended Love. It's about the balance between the polarity of deeply connecting with yourself and deeply connecting with another person. And about true intimacy coming from directly facing your fears/vulnerability and being present with whatever is happening, versus automatically reverting to old, well-worn defenses that feel safe and familiar. I guess there are some exercises further along in the book. I'll let you know how it goes.
Did I mention I rejoined Mat.ch.c.om? Initially, it was a move to soothe my ego and gain some equilibrium in the situation with S. Maybe some of that is still true, but I'm also feeling like it's a healthy thing for me to be "out there" interacting with people. I've only been on the one date so far before Christmas, which didn't have much chemistry. . . and I was still pretty deep in the grief at that point too.
In the last few days, I've been emailing with a recently retired (he retired early to receive his full pension or something; he's only a few years older than me) cop from a nearby town. I like him a lot and he's funny, but he still seems to have some grief going on of his own from his divorce. Maybe we're perfect for each other right now! lol
Finally, school started back up this week. I'm teaching two days a week, covering my co-teacher's (who quit) days, as well as my own. This is supposed to be the "worst" school, but I'm generally liking it so far, knock on wood. The teacher is very supportive of our program and involved with activities, so that's making a huge difference. There's the one rowdy period, of course, who get on my last nerve, but it's not intolerable so far. We're not sure if we have a school lined up after this one, so my fingers are crossed. I'm skating on financial fumes after the holidays and cannot wait until payday on Tuesday!
I have been reading other blogs and appreciating hearing others' feelings and experiences as the year turns. It makes me feel less alone. I truly wish that you all receive the dreams of your heart (and more) in 2012!
11/14/2011
More Thoughts on DHEA
I wanted to share more side effect information about DHEA, which I don't think I've shared fully.
In retrospect, I feel I was a bit cavalier in my attitude when I first started taking it. I only took in the positive benefits I was reading and didn't look deeply enough at the potential side effects.
For me, I believe 75 mg is too high a dosage. I started at 50 and went up to 75 about a month ago because this was the dose used in the successful oft-quoted fertility study (the only major study done so far, I believe, so it's not been shown that high of dose is needed). And part of me was also probably just wanting to increase my chances any way I could, after several months of BFNs.
But my body did not like the higher level. This was the worst month of PMS I've ever had, and I've definitely been more tired and irritable even outside of that. Acne, yep, increase in that too.
So, I'm lowering back down to 50 and plan to talk to the doctor about it as soon as possible. I don't want to stop and lose the gains I've built up the past three months, but I want to respect the impact it has on my body. The higher pregnancy/lower miscarriage rates are nothing to sneeze at but neither are the side effects:
One of the more common side effects of DHEA supplements is acne. Other side effects includeinsomnia, fatigue, oily skin, abdominal pain, hair loss, nasal congestion, rapid or irregular heartbeats and heart palpitations.
DHEA supplements may alter liver function, so people with liver disease shouldn't use the hormone. People with mood disorders (such as depression) should only use DHEA under the supervision of their healthcare provider, as DHEA supplementation may worsen mood. High levels of the body's natural DHEA has been associated with psychotic disorders, so people with or at risk for psychotic disorders shouldn't use DHEA unless under the supervision of their healthcare provider.
Since DHEA supplements may influence the production of male and female hormones, acne, greasy skin, facial hair growth, hair loss, weight gain around the waist, a deepening of the voice and other signs of masculinization may occur in women.
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