Flatmama's Routine

[flatmama]

Thanks! It sounds good. I'll keep an eye on everything...and try to right stuff down so I don't forget. Thanks Again!

[flatmama]

Well, I'm not taking much of anything right now...every now and then I'll take something. I started getting alot of headaches again, progressively worse and I think it was the Fennel. I took the Fenugreek down and still got them. They only went away when I stopped the Fennel. Too bad, I guess. I'm thinking of maybe just sticking with Massage with extracts (vit. E oil and cocoa butter too) for a few months (the winter) and see how that goes. I've still been working out just not as intense. I've started losing a bit of my roll finally. With 2 or 3 miles every night I should be losing something! I'm also not so stressed out and am sleeping better.

Wahaika,
if I just try externals out for the winter do you think just the fennel extract is enough or do you think adding another extract like fenugreek would be good too? I think externals is the best way for me to go right now. I can't handle the headaches every day from the Fennel and Fenugreek drops my sugar down. I think improving my diet would help with the Fenugreek problem so I need to give myself some time to adjust to a better diet first. Then once I get a good handle on my blood sugar levels, I think I'll be able to handle the larger amounts of Fenugreek.

[Wahaika]

FM,

>>"If I just try externals out for the winter do you think just the fennel extract is enough or do you think adding another extract like fenugreek would be good too?"

Usually I think fenugreek is the best thing to use, but I think that you have shown that fennel works well for you.

I would think that externals only would have little if any effect on your blood sugar levels. Try to balance your diet out with protein and low glycemic carbs and maybe some flax seed oil. Eat several (like 5) moderate to small meals during the day to keep your blood sugar levels and insulin levels stable. Keep on exercising. Keep up on your multi (maybe try a prenatal? ) and get some sunlight and see if that is an improvement.

Wahaika

[flatmama]

Thanks Wahaika- I think I'll get some fenugreek extract and try it too....maybe alternate with the fennel. I'll try taking the flaxseed oil again. I do eat several meals a day, I'm just not very balanced with my diet. I'm slowly adjusting it so I don't get any extreme headaches. I still exercisie....actually losing still! That's a nice change with winter here. I'll start taking my multi again. Thanks for the help!

So here's my update, I don't have alot of achiness or really much at all. I guess I get some good strong pains suddenly for a short while. I'm also in the second half of my cycle and don't get alot of sensations during this time anyways. My husband does notice that they are fuller and my bras seem to reflect that. I'm probably just starting pre-AF swelling. Oh well. It's still something. I'm not taking any internals anymore. The fennel was giving me headaches again like before and my diet isn't good for higher doses of Fenugreek at this time. I massage and am working on making this more of a daily routine instead of just whenever I remember. I massage with Fennel extract, followed by Vit. E oil and then cocoa butter. I'm thinking of adding a bit of EPO in there...maybe do the Fennel Extract, EPO, EVOO mixture again. When I get the chance, I'm also going to get some fenugreek extract.....don't know when that'll be yet.
I still haven't measured.....I don't really want to, to be honest. I watched the measuring tape WAY too much before. I'll measure when I buy a new bra, which I'm not expecting to do for at least 3 months. It'll probably be longer since it's winter. Too bad.....maybe I can be different. I know with massage I can probably expect slower results. That's okay. I'd rather feel good while I'm doing BE then be miserable with headaches all the time.

Good luck everyone!

[flatmama]

The last couple of days I've been really good about massaging, at least every night...and I try to in the shower also. Anyways, my point, I've noticed that it's really helping. I've started getting more aches, alot more heaviness and fullness too. My 34B is full right now...it's a pushup so I guess that doesn't say much but still....fully filled up is nice. I'm pretty sure it's just swelling because I think AF is coming sometime in the next week. Swelling is still good. I'm positive I'm nowhere near needing to upgrade to a 34c...that's going to be awhile. I'm just going to try to keep up with the massage and hopefully it'll work out. I'm still losing a bit which is great right now, because I'm usually bloated and such...which I might still be, just not as bad.
So anyways, that's my update...just trying to keep track of what helps and what doesn't.

[flatmama]

I know...posting alot, just need some help here.

I have begun to realize that I get PMS that I and my family could really do without. I get depressed, tired, run-down, apathetic, no appetite, & irritable. I don't want to do anything at all during this time. I've noticed over the last several months but never really hit me until yesterday that I actually get depressed during this time. I've always noticed that I would regularly get depressed but really didn't notice the correlation with my cycle 'til now.

I have considered getting on 'the pill' again but honestly, it scares me. I don't want to get worse, which has happened in the past. I know every pill is different and effects you differently so it's still an option, and I was considering EPO for this too. So I'm just looking for some input on this, what might be best. Thanks

[Wahaika]

FM,

One gram of Borage oil, calcium and magnesium every day.

Get a good multi with plenty of vitamin D and iron. Keep on those blood sugar levels. Make sure you are getting enough protein (like chicken or beef) in your diet. Get plenty of regular exercise and sleep.

You could also try L-Carnatine (like about 800mg per day spread out), wild oats extract (avena sativa), and gingko biloba extract. Greenbush carries the extracts and they are very good.

You might also try some hydrogen boost.
www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Hydrogen-Boost

Good luck!

Wahaika

[flatmama]

Thanks Wahaika, You always know alot to help out.

AF ended a couple of days ago. I started 2g of EPO (still have some left over, will probably switch to borage oil when it's gone) on day 1 and Flaxseed oil (finally) that day too....not so much for BE, just to work on stuff a bit. Bleeding was much lighter starting on day 2. AF still ended up being 7 days long but the last 3 was just light spotting.
I'm also taking Calcium with D and a b-complex vitamin. I should take a multi, just haven't. I'm not as good at massaging regularly as I would like to be, but I'm not too worried about things right now. I'm going to start BE back up later next year.

I still swelled before AF and shrunk a few days into AF. They are starting to fill back up again. I'm still bigger than I was before I started BE. I'm still having sensations, not sure if that is just leftover from the herbs. I get light tingles, heaviness and some sharp pains still. No complaints.

Well that's it for now. Best of luck everyone

[Christa]

Hey FM,
I'm curious how much you have grown since starting BE? I had just quit breastfeeding my son right before I started BE too. It's interesting to see others results. Are you still producing milk? Have you tried anything to dry it up? I heard sage tea helps with that. A cousin of mine had a similar problem for a couple years.

I know what those migraine headaches are like. When I was growing up my mom always suffered from them. It was horrible, she would be in bed for hours crying. I use to think she was just trying to get attention(she is one of those people that have to be the center of attention) and have everyone feel sorry for her. I didn't understand why she was such a big baby until I started to have migraines myself. Luckily, I don't get them very often. I don't blame you for not wanting to take internals anymore. Anyway, I hope you have better luck the next go round!

[flatmama]

Hi Christa,
My exact measurements are on my stats page, but I've gained a cup size since starting. I can't even put an A cup on anymore, even when I shrink after AF. It's nothing significant. I played around too much when I should have just stuck with what I was doing at the beginning. That is when I got my best results.

Yes, I do still produce milk-very little, but still there. I'm not really that worried about drying it up honestly. It didn't seem to effect my BE in any way. After BE I may consider it.

Right now I'm avoiding internals because it is winter and I did start to notice an increase around my hips but especially around my thighs. I was planning on just massaging and such until I start back up February-ish but with the holidays and everything I haven't been very good at keeping it up.

FM

[flatmama]

So I'm getting ready to start BE again. I'm very happy to finally get going again. I've been taking EPO, trying to anyways, everyday. I generally just take 500mg a day. Most of the weight I thought I had gained was from the EPO because when I missed taking it for a few days I lost 3 lbs and some size too. My plan is to take it at night and hopefully minimize those problems. It has been helping me out, so I don't want to stop taking it. My cramps during AF has gone down significantly, AF was shorter this last time, and it's much lighter. I also had minimal cramps during ovulation, very nice. So, hopefully I can keep up taking the EPO with my routine that I hope to start soon.

I am wanting to start my BE routine either at the end of this cycle (About 2 weeks) or after 1 more cycle (6 weeks). I'm going to have to see what I'm feeling. I'm still working on toning up and losing a bit more off my belly. If it is going well, I'll start in 2 weeks, if not, I'll wait the 6 weeks. I am going to start massage again however. My massage, currently, will start with fennel extract, followed by Vit. E oil and then cocoa butter, with about 15 minutes of heat afterward, every night. I might possibly do a short massage in the morning in the shower, no extracts or anything. Hopefully, I will add in Fenugreek extract or alternate it with the fennel, as nothing is pre-mixed.

I'm hoping to start a routine similar to my first routine, as I had good and quick results with it. My plan:
Fenugreek 620mg 4x daily
Saw Palmetto 580mg 3x daily
Wild Yam 400mg 3x daily
Calcium w/D 600mg 1x daily
MultiVitamin w/ b complex
500 mg Vitamin C
Flaxseed Oil (not sure on amount yet)

I will possibly add fennel, but am not quiet sure yet. I seem to get more headaches from Fennel then I do from Fenugreek! If I take any fennel it'll be kept low, about 500mg/day.

So that's my plan....hope it works.

[flatmama]

Update:
I actually started herbs the day of or the day after ovulation. I know this is unusual. I wasn't planning on it but just had a feeling to do it. So I did. The first day I was moody, which isn't really unusual since I'm usually that way around ovulation anyways. The second day I felt good....little headache but easily taken care of my tylenol. Right now I've been able to ramp up to this:
Fenugreek 620mg 3x/day
Saw Palmetto 580mg 3x/day
Today I'm trying to add 1 Fennel (sorry can't remember mg right now) but will not do more than that, if I even keep it in there. I do not want the headaches that Fennel has given me before. I'm actually already starting to experience one.....ugh!

So far, I've actually been experiencing alot of sensations. The first day of the Saw Palmetto I had alot of tingles.....continued to ramp up...still getting sensations. I'm very full (again, about a week before AF so this could be it) but I'm also sore/tender. I haven't experienced that since stopping the herbs....so something much be working. My moods feel very stable right now....actually, I'm quite happy. This is a very unusual occurrence for me, sadly. (My head also seems clearer so I've been able to figure out what I need to do with my life more......so it's good!) The only thing I'm experiencing that I don't like is some cramping in my legs. If I remember right Fenugreek can cause this. I just can't remember what to take for it....is it Horse Chestnut or like Butcher's Broom? Something like that? Please help if you know.

[Christa]

I am pretty sure it's Butcher's Broom. I take Rutin to help with blood circulation and Wen said it is similar to Butcher's Broom.

[flatmama]

Hey Christa, Thanks.....sorry it took me so long to reply!

So an update, agan:
I started AF on monday, only had 3 days of PMS before it instead of a whole week. I've had light cramping these last few days, with some major back problems associated with my cramps. AF started quite heavy also, which is usual...just getting really tired of it. It seems to drain my body, I end up feeling run down. My breasts still feel fuller/meatier right now....I think it's day 4 of my cycle that they normally shrink. They are still definitely bigger than they were....no measuremets.....couldn't find the measuring tape.

So my plan right now is to get into the GYN and get on birth control. All of the problems that I'm dealing with are getting old. I have PMS, Cramping (usually heavy, but not so bad this time), the heavy bleeding, back pain.....the list goes on....associated with AF and then heavy cramping, moodiness, and back pain for a few days with Ovulation. It's like having AF twice a month. They are gradually getting worse.....so I think I need to go in and have it checked out since endometriosis runs in the family. Hopefully I can actually find a doctor this time that will really check instead of just tell me that I probably have it.

I'm thinking of getting on Yasmin...if I remember right, this is good BE? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I have to get some blood work done too, there's some things I want to get checked out. *Sigh* This is going to be fun wtih my insurance......

[flatmama]

Been alittle bit so I thought I'd update.

I haven't made it to the GYN yet, I had to push my appointment back...but am still going. I'm still planning on getting on BC too.
I am currently not taking anything because I want to start BC first and let my body get used to that. I have started working out again....very committed this time, I hope. I have some extra help this time around. My goals right now are to get in shape and make sure my body is healthy all around.
I did start skin brushing again (not for BE purposes) and also started breast massage last night, with just fennel extract and EPO. I'm hoping this will at least help what growth I had stay in place. One benefit though.....I am having all kinds of aches in my breasts today. No complaints.
Well, that's my quick little update. So glad it's started to warm up now!