Where's Flo?

It's a weird thing, my body's sense of humor...

We wanted to wait until March to officially start TTC. That way I was 3 months "clean" off my old medicines... plus, we want a girl again... and, as silly as it sounds, I really trust the Chinese birth chart. (I've tested it against everyone I know, and it's never been wrong... it's crazy.) And, according to the Chinese birth chart, February with my age would have been a boy... but March and April will produce a girl.

(Disclaimer: We are not against having a boy. Once we're pregnant and would find out it is a boy, we will love him just as much as a girl. We only want another girl because we KNOW girls. We already have one... we already have what we need for one. So, if in several months down the road we find out we're toting a boy, don't go thinking our hopes and dreams have been crushed... because they wouldn't be. Not even a little.)

Anyways.

Back to the weird sense of humor my body has...

So yeah. I've had a regular cycle for months. A bit longer than the typical 28 days, of course... but regular. But as soon as March kicked in... my cycle kicked out. I even tried drinking some parsley and ginger tea to get it going... but, nope... nada.

So... I wait again. *le sigh*

I have a theory.

I think I might have an idea on why I've still not started my next cycle. (Yes... still nothing... and we're on day #45 now.)

When we are under stress, regardless of the source (danger, personal relationships, work, environment) our adrenal glands are designed to secrete the hormone cortisol. Cortisol has a direct impact on the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA. Eating disorders, dieting, drug use, and reliance on stimulants like caffeine and alcohol are also interpreted by the body as kinds of stress. Poor nutrition seems to physically change the proteins in the brain so they can no longer send the proper signals for normal ovulation.

I found that here.

And that all makes sense. Right around the time I was due for my period, my doctor suggested I start a diet to shed some extra pounds I'd put on over the past year. It was really stressing me out because I dropped down to 1200 calories a day... which was a huge drop from what I was use to intaking during a day.

Also around that same time, I started my summer classes... which also stressed me out. I had two classes... one that ran 5 days a week for two weeks (and had 3 major tests during those two short weeks!).

AND. As if those two things weren't enough already... I lowered my medicine dosage, too.

I'm thinking that was enough stress to cause a cycle skip.

But, of course, there's no real way to know for sure. I'm just making an educated guess. I figure, if my theory is accurate, that I'll get my next period anywhere from day #56-#60. I'm really hoping it doesn't go up to day #70... because that'd just be insane. (And make me insane in the process.)

So I just wait... impatiently, I assure you. I hate not understanding my body.

Day #44...

... and still nothing...

*le sigh*

And I'm not having a good day today. I'm frustrated... I'm irritated... I'm agitated... I'm all kinds of blah.

It's like I'm suffering PMS... without the M part ever showing up.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better and make more sense.

Potentially a TMI post...

I'm so frustrated.

So I started temping back on June 27th (which was cycle day #33!). I temp every morning around 6:30-6:45 when I wake up Mr. H. for work.

My temps have been nice and consistent... staying in the range of 97.0 to 96.8. (With the exception of the first two days where they were 97.3 and 97.2, respectively.)

When I started temping, I expected to get my period that day or the next day... since my cycle is typically 33 to 35 days in length. So day #33 came and went... as did #34... and #35... and #36...

And today, on day #42, I still have nothing to show for it. How am I suppose to get a feel for my cycles and ovulation and all that jazz if I never get a fresh cycle started?

*le sigh*

And no... I'm not already pregnant. Even though I knew I couldn't have been, I took a test anyways ... and got a negative, of course.

But seriously... it's driving me insane. I am wondering if it has something (anything!) to do with me cutting down my dosages on my medications...? (I dropped my dosage on cycle day #35...)

I just... don't know.

*grumble*