Quick Timeline (Well, not so quick..)

January 2011 – Married

April,May 2011 – Period stops for 2 months.

June 2011 – Go off birth control. Regular periods commence.

Septemer 2011 – TTC Month 1, failed. Regular period.

October 2011 – TTC Month 2, failed. Regular period.

November 2011 – TTC Month 3, failed. No period. Positive OPK for over 2 weeks.

December 2011 – Periods stop. Acne Breakouts on face and back. Tentative PCOS Diagnosis. (FSH 7.1 LH 17.5 Testosterone 86)

January 2012 – Start Acupuncture instead of Provera:

• Week 1: Deficiency in Yin and Yang energy. Diet modification to cut out soy, alcohol, coffee, ice and cut down sugar and dairy.
• Week 2: Electric stimulation of acupuncture points. Reflexology. Herbs prescribed. Lower back pain subsiding.
• Week 3: Moxa (herb burning + acupuncture). Reflexology. Cut out all caffeine and sugar.
• Week 4: Regular acupuncture. Reflexology. Cut out white flour, white rice, potatoes – high GI items. Increased energy, despite removal of caffeine. PMS-like rumblings in my abdomen. Regular bowel movements. Reduction in stress level. Switched to Agave.

February 2012

• Week 5: Regular Acupuncture. No reflexology. Acne on face and back clearing up. Stress reduction.
• Week 6: Regular Acupuncture. No reflexology. Reduction in stress level. Spiritual centering.
• Week 7: Regular Acupuncture. Reflexology. No change physically. Backwards spiritually. Endocrinologist appointment (PCOS certain. Must give blood and will evaluate use of Metformin.)
• Week 8: Acupuncture with moxa. Reflexology. Constant cramping and abdominal pains (ovulation pains?), change in abdominal “density” (per massage therapist)

March 2012

• Week 8.5: BBTs start to rise to high 97s and 98s. (Significant because this hasn’t happened in months. My average is low 96s)
• Week 9: Regular acupuncture. Herbs. Reflexology. Possible (likely) ovulation. BBTs over 97.7 for a week for the first time in four months. (Body is producing progesterone!)
• Week 9.25: Endocrinologist says I do not have a glucose intolerance. Testosterone levels have increased to 100. Calls in a prescription for Metformin for me to take after next week, to help reduce testosterone and regulate period if I am not pregnant from the ovulation in week 9.
• Week 9.5: Waiting for my period or a positive pregnancy test. Not that it  matters which one…(AKA dying of anxiety…)
• Week 10: Regular acupuncture. Herbs. Reflexology. Ovulation. Possible fertilization. Waiting for my period or a pregnancy test. Backwards emotionally/stress-wise.
• Week 11: Regular acupuncture. First period in 3 months, naturally, with NO meds! No PMS pain, and it’s healthy red blood. (Gross, I know…)
• Week 12: Regular acupuncture. Aggressive herb regimen to promote ovulation. Got through successful period.

April 2012

• Week 12.5: Painless ovulation on my own on CD19. Nuff said. Possible conception? Two week wait begins.
• Week 13: Regular acupuncture. Waiting.
• Week 14: POSITIVE MOTHERFUCKING HPT!!!
• Week 14 (Part 2): Advised to take Metformin to guard against miscarriage. Declined. Will use acupuncture and diet instead.
• Week 15: 5 weeks pregnant. Regular acupuncture appointment. EXCELLENT progesterone levels. Testing testosterone levels at next appointment to monitor for miscarriage.

May 2012

• Pregnancy Week 7: first OB appointment, saw ultrasound of fetus with heartbeat, everything looks perfect
• Pregnancy Week 8: no morning sickness, moderate energy, TSH 3.43 (a little high), but all else normal. Continuing acupuncture.
• Pregnancy Week 9: still no morning sickness, moderate energy, continuing acupuncture. Starting on 25mcg of Synthroid for hypothyroid issues due to suspected Hashimoto’s.
• Pregnancy Week 12: still no morning sickness, moderate energy, continuing acupuncture. Still taking Synthroid.