FINALLY A MOM !!!!!

FRIDAY'S DIGEST: Fertility Facts, News and Views - Cancer Treatment and Fertility

2015-03-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Women of childbearing age and men battling cancer, will sadly find that their infertility is affected due to cancer treatment.

Cancer treatment can affect fertility in a number of ways although it largely depends on the age, type of medication used, type of cancer and target area for chemotherapy or radiation.

Infertility can be permanent or temporary although it can never be determined how soon it will be restored.

This is why women and men diagnosed with cancer have been preserving their fertility. Women are freezing embryos, having parts of their ovaries frozen or take a hormone which puts their ovaries into temporary menopause, while men are doing sperm banking, which simply involves collecting a sample of semen and freezing it.

I learnt as recently as yesterday, on a local newscast, that there seem to be a new drug that can be administered to women at the time of their cancer treatment, which also freezes the ovaries until cancer treatment is completed so that later when a woman decides to have children, her ovaries will be unaffected by her cancer treatment, making it possible and safe to conceive.

Apparently this finding is very new because I was not able to find any further information online. I will continue to check, so stay tuned for more on this.

The more we know.....

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GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS - The Power of Growth

2015-03-11T07:02:00.002-07:00

Growth is such a liberating experience and this is why today, I am grateful for Growth.

I remember not so long ago, being affected by everything, if someone gave me a constructive criticism I would see it as a personal attack. I was extremely defensive of my stammer and if I walk pass a group of people and they were laughing and talking, no one could convince me that they were not talking about me (how important would I need to be?). I was so obsessed with seeking people's approval and having everyone like me.

Well, I am so happy to say, I am no longer that person. I no longer seek people's approval and does not care so much what others think or want to say about me. I march to the beat of my own drum and love and embrace all of me - my curves, my edges, my freckles and all my limitations because you know what, our limitations keep us grounded, humble and connected to our source. I don't know about you, but I choose to attribute this liberation to growth.

For those of us who are Christians, growth is equally important and critical to our Christian walk. Growth is how we know that our lives are matching up to God's will. For the pass two weeks, my local Church has being doing a series on 'A time for Celebration' - Walking into our Rest. For their obedience and faithfulness, God promised the Israelites a time of rest and restoration after they settled in the land he had promised them. At that time, they were not to cultivate the land at all but it would still provide for them even though they were doing no planting. He also instructed them to mark seven times of those seven years (every fifty years) as a celebration of Jubilee - a time when they were to rest from their labors, no planting or harvesting and all slaves bought, should be sent back to their families. He also instructed that all properties sold be restored to its original owner. This was to be a year of restoration and rest (Leviticus 25 V 1-32). The account of the Israelites journey to the promised land, did not by any means said it was easy, there were times when they grumbled against God and second guessed His will for them.

In the same way, in order for us to receive our rest, restoration and blessings from our Lord, growth must take place, and this mainly is, being obedient to God's divine will for our lives, this is no easy task, as we see regarding the children of Israel, but He promises to to be with us every step of the way. He so wants to give us rest and bestow blessings on us, but we must show him that we are growing sufficiently in him to handle every good thing that he promises us.

Have a grateful day, and a day being mindful of the power growth.

Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) symptoms improve as a woman gets older.

2015-02-27T07:53:00.001-08:00

As a sufferer of PCOS ( a condition with symptoms including cysts on the ovaries, resulting in very irregular menstrual cycles and infertility), I have been noticing that my symptoms have drastically improved and have also been wondering if this is as a result of age.

Turns out I was totally on point. I am part of a Facebook PCOS support group and I did see it mentioned in a comment thread, that PCOS symptoms do improve as women get older, and so I decided to do my own research.

And so it is, according to research, as a woman ages, her PCOS symptoms do improve. Some sex hormones and menstrual cycles improve and as a result, older women with PCOS find it easier to become pregnant. This evidence also led the researchers to believe that women diagnosed with PCOS goes into menopause later, than those who are not diagnosed.

This is indeed great news. However, there is also not so good news. It is found too, that women diagnosed with PCOS, as they gets older, had greater C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance and these levels seemed to worsen with age. This brought about the conclusion that women with PCOS face life-long health risks, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and metabolic problems. Proper diagnosis and management of PCOS is therefore recommended.

Read more......

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GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS ".....Prayer moves the hand that rules the world...."

2015-02-25T07:31:00.002-08:00

Today I am so grateful for prayers.

I was introduced to prayer at an early age, because as early as the morning was, I would wake up to the voice of my mother praying and just before bedtime, I would again hear my mother praying.

Even though I was young, I could still recognise the passion, conviction and sincerity with which my mom prayed. She got her results and as she still continues to pray, she continues to reap much blessings in her life, to the point where she has been able to bless the lives of others around her.

The other day a very good friend of mine asked me to join her in prayer for some health issues she is being faced with, and I remember in my encouragement to her, said, that prayer is one of the tools we have against issues we are subjected to in our lives. She agreed promptly.

As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that God is just a prayer away and stands only too willing to help us though the many and varied difficulties that we face each day. All we need to do is engage him and watch him work.

As prayers are being offered up on behalf of my friend, we wait with confidence, as God works everything out, according to his promises for his children.

Have a grateful day and do, pray for someone today.

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http://www.bridgepointechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Prayer-web.jpg

Widely available urine-based ovulation tests, more accurate in detecting ovulation.

2015-02-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

For decades now, women have largely used the manual calendar method in detecting ovulation, to help them conceive. I was a slave to this method and it only worked for me after my cycles became more regular.

Researchers say this commonly used method is not accurate at all. What is more accurate is the widely available urine-based ovulation tests sold in drugstores.

The manual calendar method, used by about 35% of women trying to conceive, relies on the length of the previous cycle ( which is known to vary from woman to woman), subtracting 14/15 days, to give an estimate of the day which ovulations occurs. This method is, up until now, subjected to scientific scrutiny.

The widely available urine-based ovulation test on the other hand, is able to cope with varying length of cycles and is able to detect the surge in luteinising hormone (LH) which triggers ovulation . These tests comes with a digital reader and test sticks. These sticks are placed in the urine stream and if your LH is elevated, then the relevant indicator is displayed on the screen of the digital reader.

For women still relying on the calendar method to detect ovulation, this is certainly a more accurate alternative.

GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS - For health and strength........we praise Thy name oh Lord....Amen.....

2015-02-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago, I learnt about the death of a young lady (age 19), whose story I had been following. She was recently diagnosed with a rear form of bone cancer, found mostly in people her age and she died before she could get the appropriate treatment that could have prolonged her life, if only for a little longer. Since her death, I have been constantly thinking about her.

Just moments ago, I learnt about a former co-worker who passed as a result of a heart condition. She took seriously ill recently and sadly, died.

I cannot help but be thankful for my health, and the health of my loved ones and even more, when I hear about cases like these. These are all young people, who have not lived to see old age, they are gone to soon.

Because of the age I had my children, they could have been born with many health issues, but my God is so faithful they have both been born very healthy and perfect children. I am eternally grateful for this and everything else that is good in my life.

Rest In Peace dearest Shakera and Patrice, I personally believe fatal illnesses are fought by the brave.

http://www.tranquilityfuneralservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Funeral-flowers-248x300.jpg
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MONDAY RAMBLINGS - Babies, babies Everywhere....

2015-02-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

This weekend I saw a lot of babies, what is more pleasing to the eyes than cute babies. I heard my husband yelling for me to come and look at something on television. Guess what it was, a cute little girl with natural curl pigtails. Even he was smitten by the cute baby bug.

In Church, it was as if there was a babies convention and I found myself drifting off into babyland, fantasizing about holding a little cutie of my own. I was quickly jolted back into reality though, because my age, physical state and most of all, my finances would never allow having another baby.

I remember saying to a friend of mine recently, that if I found myself pregnant again, I would just walk right into a phsychiatric ward and commit myself. I would not wait for anyone to take me there. I said this only for the above reasons, because if I could, I would want the most, two more to make another even number (4). Why not, especially after such an intense struggle with infertility.

I can see why some women have a lot of children, because we tend to forget the pain and sleepless nights when we see cute cuddly babies.

In my parents days, they had a lot of children, I am the fifth of seven and I personally know of one that my parents lost to stillbirth. Apart from the fact that contraception was not very popular in those days, I am thinking that they were also subject to what I want to call, the 'baby envy syndrome.''

How about you, have you ever been a victim of the 'baby envy' syndrome.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE.

Post image by: http://www.pennapowers.com/babies-everywhere/

The effect of Thyroid Disorder on a woman's fertility.

2015-02-06T07:34:00.003-08:00

When I was struggling with infertility, I was often asked on a few occasions, if my doctor had ever checked my thyroid ,because thyroid disease is a contributing factor for infertility. Maybe he did, I don't know, the subject did not come up so I guess he ruled that out very early for me.

Thyroid disease can have a negative effect on a woman's fertility and for those diagnosed with infertility, a thyroid examination should be done to determine if this is a factor. A thyroid examination should also be considered if a woman is having early pregnancy losses as thyroid disease could be a factor too.

The thyroid produces two hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine which are responsible for growth and development, mainly brain development. When the thyroid does not function correctly there can be great impact on the reproductive function, before during and after conception

Read more about thyroid disease and its effect on fertility.......

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150123081929.htm

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MONDAY RAMBLINGS - Out of the mouth of babes.......

2015-02-02T07:32:00.001-08:00

One thing I have learnt from parenting, and keep learning over and over again, is that we are never completely prepared for what our children dish out to us each day.

With my decade long struggle with infertility, I thought I was so prepared, having had all that time to observe and learn from other parents. Turns out that was not nearly enough preparation.

I have been told on a few occasions that when you have children later in life, they come with very big personalities and man, can that statement be more true. My father has said to me on a few occasions that my kids are incarnated, they have been around through their ancestors and I must say, I totally agree to that.

My children are high energy kids and give them a little sugar you have to call for back up. The other day they were up to their usual selves, I called out to them, asking them to tone it down because we have neighbors below us. My son calmed down just long enough to say, "mom, we are kids and we are going to do what kids do."

I could not respond, I just stood their feeling totally defeated, thinking, 'yes, papa you are so right.' I have just been schooled by a child I thought and so I had no choice but to concede defeat, vowing to remember to choose my battles next time.

HAPPY MONDAY, ALL.

http://www.craigharris.com/PR/cjh_OOTMOB.html
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INFERTILITY NEWS, FACTS AND VIEWS – Getting Pregnant over 40

2015-01-30T07:20:00.003-08:00

More and more women are getting pregnant in their forties. This is due to several reasons, one, infertility (in my case), another we want to secure a career first and yet another, we want to marry that dream husband and start a family.

Sadly, though, because of the fact that at that stage in a woman's body, her healthy eggs are on the decline, it becomes more difficult to get pregnant in our forties. In fact getting pregnant begins getting more difficult as a woman passes the age of 35.

I have been following this blog, ‘Pregnancy over 40’ ever since I began my blogging and the author, Sandy Robertson (who herself had her child over the age of 40), has some helpful information and hints for women trying to get pregnant over the age of forty.

In this particular post, she talks about the law of attraction in getting pregnant – How to attract the things we desire to our lives.

Excerpt from post

……..“As we learn more about using the Law of Attraction consciously in our lives, we become masters at visualizing, affirming, and attracting what we desire. We learn how to infuse our desires with emotion and power, we learn how to raise our vibrations through joyful thoughts and align ourselves more fully with the circumstances we want to bring about……..

http://infertility-fertility.blogspot.com/2015/01/law-of-attraction-and-getting-pregnant.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FjWzXt+%28Infertility-Fertility+Over+40%29

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GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS - ........another chance to get it right.

2015-01-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

In my last post (“still standing”), I should have also attributed my continued step toward acceptance of myself as someone who stutters, to the fact that for a while now I have been trying to become a more grateful person, giving thanks for everything in my life, good or bad (because there are life lessons in the bad), every blessing whether great or small. It is out of this that I started my ‘Grateful Wednesday’ segment on my blog and I know this has been contributing to the happier me.

I have seen the statement.........”another day, another chance to get it right” a couple times and I have even used it myself. I love this statement because I find it so. point on and relevant. In our daily life, we are never at all times satisfied with how we handle things, with how we treat others - I could have been way more helpful to that person in need, I could have listened more to my friend who needed a listening ear, I could have been kinder, more present, more patient and I could go on.

Thank goodness we are given chances to be our better selves or else this life would just not make sense. Some of us sadly, do not use these second chances. I am so grateful that in my small corner, I am doing the best I can.

Have a 'Grateful Wednesday' everyone and be kind to one another.

MONDAY RAMBLINGS – I am still Standing

2015-01-26T07:25:00.002-08:00

This being my first post for the year, I want to give an update on how things have been going with me since I came out on this blog, to the world as a Stutterer.

http://onereachinganother.blogspot.com/2014/09/grateful-wednesdays-on-self-acceptance.html

I did this not to gain anything more than that, I just want to accept myself for who I am, someone who stutters. I tried for years to do this, but I was not at the place on my journey yet to be successful at this. This morning, I came across this statement in my devotional .....”You are at the happiest in your life when you decide that your problems are your own." - David had to own his sin and continously admit his shortcomings for God to use him to become a man after his own heart (2 Samuel 12;13). - Stop blaming others and circumstances.

Not so long ago, I blamed God for causing me to be the only one out of my six siblings that stuttered. I blamed my family for not giving me the validation that I think I needed to better deal with this condition. As for my father, I blamed him the most since he stutters as well. I was angry for a long time. I refused to just accept the fact that this is my problem and I am the one who would have to deal with what it threw at me.

Well, my journey of total acceptance continues and I am happy to report that I find myself speaking more and more fluently now (I do have bad days, when I stumble and even fall, but I get up, brush myself off and keep chuggimg along). More and more each day I find it easier to ask for assistance in a store. In times pass, I would walk until my feet hurt looking for things. I am not as a terrified anymore of standing in a line at a fast food restaurant to order anything. As for just striking up a conversation with a stranger, not too long along ago, the thought of that would give me a full-blown panic attack, Now, I am the one starting a conversation.

This breakthrough for me has been a long time coming and it started from my victory over infertility. I just needed to claim this victory with confidence, and let it work in other areas of my life.

I am certainly at a happier place in my life now and just the other day I was able to post on a comment thread for an online Stuttering Group which I am a part of, that I am no longer stuttering as much anymore and I think it is largely due to the fact that I am at this happier better place in my life.

Being a mom does contribute to this happier space that I am in. Yes I am tired and feel as if I have not slept in three years, but I am over the moon about my role and would not change it for anything else.

Post image by: https://www.pinterest.com/lilwang31/letherbe/

Off My Hiatus Again.

2015-01-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Dont know if you noticed, I have not blogged for a couple months, since resuming last September. With my daughter getting older, and more active and alert, I have been finding no time to devote to my blogging which I love so much.

Good news, she has been going to Daycare these last couple of days and so I will now find time to devote to things that validate and uplift me, like my blogging.

See you for my next post and thanks for not giving up on me.

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http://whitmanelisa.blogspot.com/2014/07/hiatus.html

GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS – When All We Have Left Are The Memories

2014-11-12T10:01:00.002-08:00

My husband and I lost a very good friend over a week ago. We found out when our attention was drawn to her facebook page and we saw the RIP messages. We were in denial for a while as we tried to find out more and was hoping this was all a bad dream. We learnt soon after though that our friend was truly gone. She was our age and my husband’s co-worker, and that is how I met her. We had double dates together - she spent time in our home - I wore her clothes she wore mine. Our hearts are broken.

Migration caused us to drift apart, nevertheless we kept in touch as best we could. The last time we saw her was shortly after our daughter was born when she came by with gifts of clothing for her. My daughter still has a few pieces of those clothing.

What I will be forever grateful to her for, is the fact that we owe the birth of our son to her - we owe our victory over infertility to her. After losing my first pregnancy in 2005, she got us an appointment with a Herbalist she was working for at the time, who specializes in infertility and as soon as I completed the course of treatment that was administered to me, I became pregnant with our son.

We heard she was sick for a while. For some reason, we did not even know that and all we have left are the memories of our dear friend Christine and we are grateful now more than ever for those memories.

Rest in peace friend, you are in a place where there is no more sickness. It was so nice to have met and shared in your life.

You are gone too soon.

INFERTILITY FACTS, NEWS AND VIEWS – FERTILITY AND CHEMOTHERAPY

2014-10-31T08:18:00.004-07:00

I would imagine that many women of childbearing age, who want children and who are undergoing chemotherapy for breast or other cancers, must wonder from time to time how this will impact on their fertility.

Fertility after chemotherapy depend on two factors, a woman’s age and the extent of the chemotherapy treatment, as it relates to dosage and type.

Women who are 30 and younger stands a significantly higher chance of conceiving after chemotherapy, because the ovaries of younger women do in fact produce more healthy eggs. Women who are closer to menopause (51 and over) however, will most likely be in menopause after chemotherapy, thereby limiting their chances of conceiving.

As it relates to the extent of chemotherapy received, it is known that certain drugs administered during chemotherapy treatment, does have more likelihood of causing infertility than others. Cytoxan - chemical name: cyclophosphamide, Platinol - chemical name: cisplatin and Adriamycin - chemical name: doxorubicin carry a medium risk to fertility. It would therefore be wise to do your research, talk extensively with your doctors, to ensure that they will be using those drugs in your treatment, with lesser risk to your fertility.

For more information, please visit the link below:

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/fert_preg_adopt/treatments/chemotherapy

Post image by: http://artprogramal.com/tag/infertility/

GREATEFUL WEDNESDAYS – Thanks For Making My Day!!!!

2014-10-29T08:37:00.002-07:00

Today I am grateful that, as I live my daily humble life, I possess the power of making a difference in someone else's life - I possess the power of making someone's day.

Have you ever said something or done something for someone and be told that you made their day. I have had a few experiences like that, one recently and it feels better than a warm cup of chocolate on a chilly night (mm, you know that is good, so go figure). It feels even better when you did not expect to hear it.

You know in this life we go through so much trials and a kind word or deed is just what keeps us from going over the edge sometimes.

So, won’t you then, go ahead, make someone’s day today.

Post image by: http://blog.floworldonline.com/2013/04/flowersformothersday.html

INFERTILITY FACTS NEWS AND VIEWS – Fertility Drugs and Breast Cancer Risks

2014-10-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

October is being observed as Breast Cancer Month and as such, my Friday posts will largely surround this theme.

When I was taking fertility drugs, outside of the fact that they had such horrible side effects for me, I often wondered what other effects they were having on my body. Was I at increased risks for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, etc.

According to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, women who took the common fertility drug, clomiphene citrate (clomid) as part of their fertility treatment, did not experience increased risk for breast cancer, compared to women who did not take this drug.

Under current practices, clomiphene citrate is limited to three to six cycles with doses up to 100mg. A small group of women who took up 12 cycles however, saw an elevated risk of breast cancer 1.5 times the risks of women who did not take this drug. “This could be a result of persistent infertility rather than effects of this drug,” said Dr. Louise A. Brinton, Ph.D., M.P.H., chief of the Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Md.

'GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS' - Gratitude, The Key To More Life.

2014-10-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."

Melody Beattie

I started this 'GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS' segment on my blog about 2 years ago and today I am grateful that I continue to challenge myself to be grateful. Some days, It takes some effort, because our natural instinct is to feel that we are entitled.

It does not matter how small that which I am grateful for, is, it seem to increase in size when I give thanks. I am using this opportunity to acknowledge my mom, someone with such a grateful heart and because of this, she always has enough and more - more food, more life, more of God's favour and more love to give. What a great heart.

For this I am extremely grateful.

Post image by: http://blog.floworldonline.com/2013/04/flowersformothersday.html

GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS – It is Ok To Say I Am Sorry.......

2014-10-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Today, I am grateful for being able to say I am sorry.

Have you ever felt within your hearts of heart that you are sorry for something you said or did to someone and know that you should acknowledge this and apologize.

Well I know I have been there because I am an imperfect being who struggles each day just to get things right and in this struggle, I do get ahead of myself and sometimes unintentionally cause hurt.

Let me say then, that it is totally alright to acknowledge that you are wrong and even apologize. I know this is one of the hardest things for some of us to do. I am not sure why, though, is it the discomfort that comes with it or the uncertainty of how the individual that is wronged might react?

Do we feel they might gloat. Why do we feel that we are compromising our feelings, when in fact getting to this level of maturity in life, where we can admit we are sorry, only allow us to feel liberated beyond measure.

Let me also say that if you do indeed acknowledge that you are sorry, you apologize and feel worst than you felt before, you did not accomplish anything, as in your heart you are really not at the place of total release. In my humble opinion, I think you should do some self work and try again. Don’t wait too long though.

Are you struggling with saying sorry, put self aside and try it, I can tell you, you will be glad you did.

It is ok to say you are sorry......and that, I am grateful for.

http://codingsense.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/sincere-apologies/
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MONDAY RAMBLINGS – Make Every Moment Count........

2014-09-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

Experts say that the best time for women to have children is in their 20’s and a woman’s fertility peaks at the age of 24. I got married at age 25 so oops, time was already not on my side as I missed that peak.

Many of my peers by now, have children in high school, some even in college and some looking to become grandparents. It seem then, that I am among the few still raising young children. I am not disgruntled at all, as anyone who knows my story, should get by now that I am extremely grateful to God for the opportunity of being a mom to two beautiful children, regardless of my age. The only grey area is when I realize that some days I am just not physically able to keep up with them. Then I am reminded of my age and silently wished I was younger, in my 20’s maybe.

Over the past 2 weeks, I have been to 2 funerals, the last one being the hardest, as the deceased, not an old person by any means, learnt she had cancer earlier this year and died, just months afterwards. Her children were broken. It was so hard to watch. The program facilitated a slide show of stills from the deceased pass and as the images of her went by, the ones with her at the weddings of her daughters’ got my attention, which brings me then to the reason for my post. Since I had my children at such an advanced age, how far will I make it into their development. Will I be around for their college years, their graduation, their marriage. Will I be around to welcome my grandchildren. I often do the maths and it is certainly far from encouraging.

The only thing in my power, that I can do, then, is to make every moment with them count, because, after all, that is all we are given at a time. I know though, that even if their dad and I are not around for them for some of their important milestones, an aunt, an uncle or even a friend will, as God will not have it otherwise, as we know that they are indeed gifts to us, straight from his heart.

http://www.fabu-licious.com/Metal-Signs-Wall-Plaques/Vintage-Make-Every-Moment-Count-Hanging-Wall-Sign

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FERTILITY FACTS, NEWS AND VIEWS –Letrozole May Help Women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Conceive

2014-09-26T09:13:00.002-07:00

PCOS affects 5 to 10% of women of childbearing age resulting in problems conceiving. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility, with symptoms of absent of ovulation, resulting in very irregular are absent periods, weight problems, facial hair and thinning hair on scalp.

A recent article published in Science Daily, reports that a nationwide study led by Penn State College of Medicine researchers, found that the drug Letrozole, results in higher birth rate for women diagnosed with PCOS, over the conventional treatment, Clomiphene Citrate, (a drug that stimulates ovulation), which results in only 22% success rate with up to six cycles of treatment.

The study also found that fewer twin pregnancies were associated with the drug Letrozole, 3.9%, compared to 6.9% on Clomiphene Citrate.

INFERTILITY FACTS, NEWS AND VIEWS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Inflammation during pregnancy

2014-09-19T08:26:00.002-07:00

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition occurring in over 5 million women in the United States, is a leading cause of infertility in women.

Among the symptoms of this condition are, irregular or absent periods, excess weight, facial hair or thinning hair on scalp.

According to a recent article in Science Daily, a study recently published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that pregnant women with PCOS, experience inflammation during pregnancy, more than those who do not have the condition at all. Pregnant women with PCOS usally experience low-grade inflammation, but this becomes more severe during pregnancy.

Other complications that pregnant women with PCOS experience are, the risk of pre-clampsia and gestational diabetes, which according to this study, has a connection with inflammation.

Read more, by following the link below:-

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529131959.htm

http://www.examiner.com/article/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-and-pregnancy-risk-factors

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GRATEFUL WEDNESDAYS – On Self Acceptance

2014-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Today, I am grateful for self acceptance

We are our greatest critics, we try in every way possible to be perfect. Well, news flash, we are not created perfect, ask God, he says we are created imperfect beings. Why then do we cause ourselves unnecessary anxieties and stress, trying to be something that is humanly impossible.

Those of us who know me enough, know that I am far from perfect, I stutter and those who know me more intimately know that this is something I struggle with. A normal day for someone else, see me struggling just to co-op with what some of us find it so easy to do, talk.

As someone who stammers, I carry scars from childhood. From being called names, to being laughed at and ridiculed and not being validated by my family (who I don’t blame one bit, because they did not know better, as they did not possess the tools necessary to deal with a family member that stammers). I remember deciding that I would not talk at all and you know what, I did stop talking for a while, as it made me tired, tired and helpless and I hated feeling that way.

I suffered great injustice in adulthood because of my stammer, some a result of just trying to make a living and so I tried hard to be someone I knew I wasn’t, a fluent person and caused myself a whole lot of anxiety and pain. The thing is, I knew the result would just be more pain and heartache for me and thought many times that it could only be easier to just accept myself for who I am. This I tried numerous times but it proved futile. I became angry with myself, that it drove me into developing a hobby in writing which I am working on to make it a career, because I find I am loving it.

I remember being extremely afraid to attend social gatherings because I just could not carry a conversation and so I would find every excuse to not attend these functions. Not to mention that my self-worth took a hard blow as I found myself struggling with stammering and dealing with the pangs of infertility.

In 1993, I tried therapy because I shuddered at the thought of stammering on my vows. Therapy worked, at least for my wedding, as I only had a minor block on the word ‘impediment’ in the part ( ......”that I know not of any lawful impediment.......”) - how coincidental. After this therapy, however, I had major regression, as I was so certain this would have worked. The thing is, I largely think, to this day, that therapy had only dealt with what could be fixed physically about my stammering, the embarrassment and shame was not fixed.

I am here to say today, that I will no longer be allowing my stammer to define me, Its not too late, is it? I am Annetta, do you know her, yes, the same one who stammers and you know what, I am fine with that, shame and embarrassment, you are on notice for eviction because I know this will still be a journey, as from time to time I will suffer setbacks. Most importantly, I have been getting by and will continue to, now more than ever, because I have finally grasped what it means to truly accept myself for who I am.

After all, I have to do this now, because I have to be imparting to my son who stammers as well, the necessary life skills he needs to cope in an unforgiving world. Skills that I garnered from my tears, mistakes, anxieties and heartaches, on a long, winding and lonely road that persons with certain life struggles find themselves on.

I am grateful then for self acceptance.

MONDAY RAMBLINGS – The Legacy We Leave Behind

2014-09-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

I had such an intense weekend. Occasion, a funeral - the sad part, but the rest, joyful, as I got to meet a whole host of my husband’s family members and saw some that I knew, but had not seen in many years. It was well worth every moment as they got to meet our children and we got to spend some quality time with them.

Having said that, funerals are such sobering events and this is the time when your thoughts wander off to if your life insurance is up to date, if your health is really what it should be and if your kids will have enough to survive off after you are gone. As I sat there and watch the immediate family members of the deceased grieved, my eyes often welled up with tears, as I gave thought to myself in the position. I could not fight back the tears as the family members, overwhelmed with grief and clinging to each other for support, made their way to the casket for the last glimpse of their relative before the casket closed.

It was a great funeral as well thought out tributes were received, but what sobered me even more was when the officiating minister began his exhortation by saying, “From the tributes given here today your loved one was a great person, who left such great legacy. He gave you each other for a time like this.” I could not help but feel grateful to God that he allowed us our own legacy, two children and we are trying to make them into phenomenal individuals, equipped with the necessary life skills, because this is more important than the material things you leave them. I am also grateful that they will have each other for support in the grieving period and beyond, should we go before them.

On the way to this funeral, I was talking to a very good friend of mine, whose Uncle passed recently and the funeral was the same day, she said to me, boy so many deaths. I suddenly felt the need to say to her that, this is why we need to make peace with death, at least I have, because death is sure and no longer dependent on old age. She agreed, but said she would not want to leave her children, (a teenager and younger, about 4 years old) at this stage in their lives. I totally got that, and I would not want to leave mine either, but somehow I knew that since they came to us as such blessing from God, he would make sure that they are alright, if it happens that we should leave them at this tender age.

Post image by: http://www.pinterest.com/gayidle/book-launch-the-wall-around-your-heart/

INFERTILITY FACTS, NEWS and VIEWS – Your Best Sperm Yet.....

2014-09-12T08:07:00.001-07:00

Approximately 40% of couples overall infertility problems, can be traced to male factor infertility.

Many of the studies into male factor infertility focus on the concentration (amount) and motility of sperms, therefore if a man is found to have a high sperm count and active sperms, he was deemed fertile, but there was no way of knowing the quality of these sperms, can they effectively carry out the job of fertilizing the egg.

It is for this reason that a new study developed by Researches at Yale School of Medicine, have discovered a method that looks into the DNA integrity, the best sperms, in an effort to improve male fertility.

This process is similar to the natural fertilization process, where the egg selects the best sperm for fertilization. In the case of invitro-fertilization though, doctors won’t know if they are in fact selecting the best sperm for this process, this would therefore be of great help.

Men, this is indeed good news.