I took a pregnancy test and....

Thank you to everyone who posted a reply below!

I did take a pregnancy test today and it was a big fat negative. I was so disapointed. Again, I had gotten my hopes up that I was pregnant. After taking the test and seeing the BFN result though, I re-read the directions of the test. Guess what it said? Drinking a lot of fluids before taking the test can affect the result. Well, right before running over to the store to buy the test I drank about two bottles of water. Oops!

I still have this feeling that the test result was correct and I'm not pregnant though because the only symptom I have is the absence of my period.

The question is, how do I chart this on my Creighton chart? Green stamps through the rest of the cycle and the next line on the chart too until the period decides to show up?

Also, if you don't have a period one cycle does that mean I'm probably not going to ovulate this cycle? And I probably won't ovulate again until after the period arrives?

Do you think I should call my Napro doctor and tell them my period never showed up? Yeah, now I fear that it might never return. When I signed the permission papers for the two procedures I remember reading that there were certain risks to the surgery and this was one of them.

If this isn't a pregnancy, I really hope and pray that the period will return next cycle! Gee, did I really just type that? LOL! I have to admit that in one way it's nice not getting a period and having to deal with the pain, fearing the endometriosis might return again, more endometriomas might form, ect. But darn it, I do need that period to return if I ever want to get pregnant and have a baby!

I guess I will just have to do what I always do: continue to pray, trust in God, and have faith! Now where did I put my rosary beads? That's what I do when I'm nervous, worried, or upset about something. I pray the rosary. It really helps me, gives me such peace, and comfort.

Thanks again everyone!

May God Bless you.
MT :)

normal not to get period after laparoscopy? Or Not?

I am feeling a little bit confused right now. I have a question for everyone.

Is it normal after having a laparoscopy (I had one on April 1st 2009)for your period not to come or to be late? I've always been regular. My periods always come on time. They have always averaged around anywhere from 24-28 days. Well today is day 29 and guess what? No period! I'm shocked and yeah, a little confused. Is this normal? Has this ever happened to any of you?

And yes, there is a chance we could be pregnant. We did TTC a few times during my recovery time. But I have no signs (a week ago on Sunday I did feel a little sick once in the morning, but nothing since!)or symptoms.

Last year when I had the first surgery, a lovely laparotomy, my period arrived the day after. Again, I've always been regular. It has always arrived on time.

Thanks!

Love,
MT

St. Gianna Novena Begins Today - Will You Join us please? :)

St. Gianna's Feast Day is April 28th.

Please join us in praying this novena from April 18th until the 27th.

Thank you so much!

Novena To Obtain Graces Through Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters.

Glory be …

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You.

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

Glory be…

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.

We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

Glory be…

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for …………. and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others.

Hail Mary…

My New Anti-endometriosis Diet

It's now been almost two weeks from the laparoscopy and I'm feeling pretty good. The pain from the three incisions are just about gone. They are healing nicely. I'm not spotting anymore and feeling like raw hamburger meat inside. I think the worst side effect from the laparoscopy was the painful gas attacks especially when I needed to ahem, make a visit to the bathroom. But I was told by husband after the procedure on April 1st that the surgeon told him I had a lot of endometriosis stage four as well as adhesians and he did a lot of cleaning out. I have a strong suspicion that the surgeon found some endometriosis near my bladder and bowels and did some cleaning out there, which explains the painful gas attacks whenever I had to go number two. I will have a chance next week on Tuesday April 21st to ask him this and many other questions when I have my post op appointment.

I'm also wondering, is it common to lose weight after surgery? I have lost six pounds since the surgery! My husband seems to think that it's from all the endometriosis and adhesians being removed. It could be my new anti-endometriosis diet. I bought a whole bunch of books on endometriosis before my surgery. The most helpful ones and the ones I highly recommend to others suffering from endometriosis are the following:

Alternative Medicine Guide: Women's Heath Series Volume 1

Natural Treatment Of Fibroid Tumors and Endometriosis

Fibroid Tumors & Endometriosis Self Help Book

Recipes For The Endometriosis Diet

Reclaim Your Life ...Your Guide to Aid Healing of Endometriosis

If you can only purchase a couple, I especially recommend the last two books!

Basically the kind of diet recommended for endometriosis is a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Eating meat especially ham and red meat, dairy, wheat, eggs, sugar, and caffeine is NOT recommended for those of us with endometriosis.

If you are interested and want to find out more about this diet, I recommend visiting the following website, which has been very helpful to me. On a side note: the owner of this website is the author of the last two books listed above.

Endo-Resolved

The challenge for me is I will be returning to work in a few days. I am a teacher at a pre-school. I have been teaching for almost twenty one years now (Not in the same place. Nineteen years at a pre-school in my hometown before marriage and almost two years at a new pre-school in my new city where I moved to after getting married on June 16th 2007.)and the pre-school where I work serves a hot lunch every day, which always includes dairy and meat. The teachers are encouraged to eat with the children. I am resolved to stick to this anti- endometriosis diet to try to prevent it from returning (Believe me, having to undergo a surgery every year does NOT appeal to me at all!). However it looks like at work I will be drinking water, Chrystal Light, and fruits and vegetables. I might have to bring food from home in case I get hungry. Also, I wonder is popcorn okay to eat? I LOVE popcorn! I will have to look that up in the book. I suspect popcorn is okay because of the fiber content.

Okay, so that's what I am doing now. My Napro doctor wants me to continue eating healthy, take the Naltrexone every night, Vitamin D, Magnesium, exercise, and try to lose some weight. My goal here is to be healthy, heal my body, try to do everything I can to prevent the pain and endometriosis from returning, and try to conceive.

Two questions:

1) What liquids do you recommend? I am not a fan of plain water. I like the flavored kind. Any suggestions on healthy things I can add to water? Any recipes for healthy drinks? I'd love to hear what works for you! Thanks!

2) Hubby and I are usually out and about on the weekends. I'm ashamed to admit it, but McDonalds used to be a favorite place for us to stop at for lunch on the go. What can I purchase at a fast food place that is healthy and filling, which won't deter from my anti-endometriosis diet? Again, hamburgers and soft drinks are a big no-no according to this diet. If anybody has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Thank you so much!

May God Bless you.

Love,
MT :)

St. Gianna's Feast Day April 28!

Would anybody be willing to join me in praying this novena from April 18th to April 27th for all of those of us wanting to be Mothers suffering from endometriosis, pcos, infertility, ect. to be blessed with children, if that is God's will for us? Please? It would really mean so much to me! Thank you so much!

Novena To Obtain Graces Through Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters.

Glory be …

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You.

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

Glory be…

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.

We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

Glory be…

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for …………. and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others.

Hail Mary…

update on my surgery

The surgery went well yesterday. The most difficult part was the fasting from solid foods the day before, but I have a wonderful husband who went out and bought me some broth, jello cups, and these delicious fruit Popsicles. There was a bit of a wait before they did the surgery (the surgery was supposed to be scheduled at 12:30), but the nurses and doctors kept checking in on me and gave me excellent care. When it came time for them to wheel me down to the operating room thanks to the anesthesia I was already out.

When it was over it was about 2:45 and they wheeled me to the recovery room to doze off a little. When I was more awake around 4:30 they gave me some delicious apple juice and buttered toast. Then they told me I should try getting up and getting dressed. I felt like I was half asleep when I stood up on my two feet, but I managed okay. They told me they called my husband Ed to park the truck right outside the day surgery door and call after he did that. But no call ever came. Finally at 5:30 I told them "I think my husband is waiting for me in the waiting room." The nurse told me she would bring me there, grabbed a wheelchair, and I was off to the waiting room. It turned out I was right. Ed was waiting for me there and our truck was right outside the door. As we were heading out to the truck I learned that the nurse who was pushing my wheelchair had endometriosis too. She told me she knew a lot of women who had it.

When we were driving home I asked Ed if the surgeon spoke to him because he didn't come and speak to me (The surgeon told me before the surgery that if he spoke to me afterwards I wouldn't remember anything he said, which is true!). Ed told me that the surgeon reported I had no endometriomas (cysts on my ovaries), but I did have a lot of endometriosis and adhesians. The surgeon said that he took an "aggresive" approach to getting it all. The surgeon also reported that my ovaries looked fine and my fallopian tubes were clear, not blocked! I was very surprised to hear that. I really thought he was going to find more endometriomas and my tubes were blocked. I had also been afraid that the surgeon would have to perform open stomach surgery again like I had for my first surgery on February 12th 2008, but no he was able to perform the keyhole surgery through my belly button. Best of all, I didn't have to stay overnight in the hospital and was able to leave the same day.

I am at my Mother's house right now until Saturday when Ed is coming back to pick me up. He wanted someone here with me while I recover in case I need them. I am doing pretty well. I was able to get a good night's rest, I am up and moving. I have some pain, but it's not that bad. I am feeling thankful that this second surgery is over and relief that it went well. I am looking forward to feeling no more pain hopefully from this endometriosis. I am also committed to doing all I can to try to prevent the endometriosis from returning by eating healthy, staying away from dairy and meat, and drinking more water. No more soda for me!

I have God and the Blessed Mother through her rosary to thank for leading us to this surgeon, that the surgery went well, and for this good recovery. I also have my wonderful husband to thank too for his love and support through this. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Today I need to call the surgeon and schedule an appointment to see him to discuss my surgery and see the pictures he took from the surgery. Meanwhile I will be out of work for about two weeks.

Thanks everyone for your prayers, encouragement, and kind thoughts!

I really appreciate it all!

May God Bless all my family and friends on here.

Love,
Maria :)

Today is the day of my 2nd surgery!

Today is the day of my 2nd surgery!

I am going to have a laparoscopy to remove the rest of the endometriosis that might still be lurking around, get rid of any cysts that might be hanging around, and zap those adhesians. They are also going to check my fallopian tubes to see if they are blocked and if they are, they will unblock them.

I can't wait to get rid of the pain and discomfort from this endometriosis stage 4, which not only affects me during cycle time, but other times of the month too like ovulation time.

Now after they rid me of the endometriosis today, my goal is to do my best to prevent it or slow it down from returning. I plan on achieving this goal through diet, exercise, and supplements. If anybody has any tips, suggestions, ect. I'd love to hear them!

My husband Ed and I are praying for a successful surgery, that everything goes well, to receive a good report from the doctor, for me to be pain free and healthy, to be healed of the endometriosis and infertility if it's God's will, and also if it's God's will for us after I heal, for us to be blessed with a child. Of course that totally is up to God and His will for me. On a positive note though, I did ask my surgeon who is an endometriosis specialist how old is his oldest patient who was able to have children after surgery and he told me he had a patient who was 47 with endometriosis who was able to have a child. Wow, how blessed that lady is whoever she is! That is totally awesome!

My husband Ed has been so wonderful and encouraging through this. Yesterday when I had to fast from solid foods, he made me some delicious chicken flavored broth. He also went out and bought me some jello cups and orange Popsicle made out of real fruit. After spending a whole day not being able to eat, they tasted fabulous! Thank you Honey, love you!

May I please ask for prayers? Maybe someone would pray a rosary for me? As you might know, the rosary is my favorite devotion!

Thank you so much everyone for the kind comments, encouragement, and especially the prayers! I really appreciate them all!

May God Bless you all.

Love,
Maria Therese