The Hidden Link

Back in college, I got really sick.  Coincidentally, so did my then-best friend.  It was awful.  I couldn't keep anything in me, I lost a lot of weight and had this weird, bloated stomach that looked ridiculous.  She went to the doctor and ended up having her gallbladder removed.  I went to the doctor and never really figured out what was going on.

Eventually, a Gastroenterologist diagnosed me with intestines that were rotting away, gave me some antibiotics and sent me along my merry way.  The meds worked, don't get me wrong.  I've just never been the same again, internally.  I was only 23.

I've learned a lot of lessons in 31 years, but one I'm having a crash course in is heath and wellness.  In my twenties, I didn't really care about organic, fresh, non-processed foods.  We were broke.  Sean worked at Kraft.  We ate a lot of crackers.   We did the best we could, considered a can of green beans our "vegetables" and went on with life.  When we got off birth control and started trying for the babe that would end up being Sawyer, I had no idea what roller coaster I was about to get on.  I had been on BC since I was a teen, trying to cope with nasty cramps and insane periods, but never in my wildest dreams thought I'd have any issues getting pregnant.  And honestly, the first time, we really didn't.  It was six or seven months of trying (and one month I thought we weren't - whoops, BINGO!) before we found out we were expecting our little bundle of crazy town.  A few months later, I popped out the kid.

After Sawyer was born, I knew we'd want to have another baby relatively close together, so I opted not to have the IUD inserted then.  I got back on the pill like I was used to, and really didn't have any problems.  I lost most of the baby weight rather quickly, gained some of it back when Sawyer started eating solids but for the most part hovered around the high 190s.  Not great for someone of my height, but meh - not the worst, either.

And then, all hell broke loose.

We decided to get back off the pill and start trying for another bambino.  It went a little something like this:
Month 1: this should be so easy, I've totally already had a baby - my body will know what it's doing so fast!!

Month 2:  Ok, totally just needed a month to like...you know... get back in the groove.

Month 3-7:  Sexy time!  Whoop Whoop!  Just kidding...I'm exhausted.  Having a 2 year old is exhausting.

Month 8-12:  Maybe I should start charting?

Month 13: Seriously?  It's been officially over a year...it can't be that difficult.  Right?  Look at all of those high school chicks knocked up, its not like they know what's going on.

Month 14-17:  ok.  WTH.  Something is wrong, but too bad I have a doctor that WON'T LISTEN TO ME.

Month 18: Finally scored an appointment with m'doctor.  She tells me not to worry.  THAT I'M YOUNG.  Dumbest excuse ever.

Month 19: Psycho-dialed said dr's office, finally getting Clomid script.  This is without any blood work of ANY kind.  I think she just wants me to shut up.
***Side note, I was also given this prescription without any instructions, and when I called to get more information, I was told to look it up on the Internet.  I can't make this shit up.
****Another side note.  50mg of Clomid ain't enough.  No dice, again.

Month 20-25:  I've had enough.  I've had enough conversations with friends to realize I'm presenting a few symptoms of PCOS and want to get checked out.  Visit Dr. D, who wastes no time with testing both Sean and myself for issues.  We find out I'm the problem child (no surprise, really), got aggressive with testing and procedures and start tracking levels almost daily during my cycles.  We finally found the "cocktail" of meds that worked and our sweet baby E came into our lives after years of trying.

I go through this all because during months 20-25, I buckled down and abstained from alcohol and ate a very clean, healthy diet.  I was willing to do anything to get pregnant, and I fully believe that all of the things I gave up helped me to finally achieve a healthy pregnancy.  I also am starting to connect the dots.

I haven't felt great since I gave birth to Everett.  Besides a tremendous amount of stress that my work put upon me, I just could never really get out of a funk.  I'm not even sure I lost any baby weight, other than what was Everett and his little placenta home.  I opted to have the Mirena IUD, and I have been miserable with that, too. My diet went to hell because trying to chase after two children was more than I could deal with.  I've just felt like the last two years has been a fog.

Tonight I blew my diet.  I had a beer, some flour tortillas and rice, among other things.  My stomach is ginormous!  I texted my friend to see if all of this happens to her when she eats gluten/grains (it does). I decided to look more into things.

K mentioned reading about a link between gluten intolerance and infertility/miscarriage/PMS.  I've already been thinking about the link of Gluten to how my intestines and stomach reacts.  Is this truly the "hidden link"?  Could this really be the game changer I've felt I have needed to find?  I do know my fellow PCOS sufferer is now PCOS-free due to her drastic change into veganism.  That is huge.  I feel like becoming a vegan is a bit extreme, but maybe I need to take this a bit more seriously.  I was never tested for Celiac's when I was so sick years ago.  Maybe I should've been.

Food for thought, huh?

Here is a quick article I found about gluten and the link to the girl problems.  She lists 10 conditions.  I've had eight of them.