Monday, January 30, 2006
What the F*#$?
In my last post I was mentioning that PCOS seemed to be coming back and I was resigning myself to enduring the joys of the disease... fattening body, no periods, random hairs, skin tags, INFERTILITY. Well, today was a typical Monday at work and I didn't get to visit the little girl's room until lunchtime. My body did feel a little weird today (I can't explain why, but weird) and I pull down my pants and there it was, BLOOD. I felt like a 12 year old girl getting her period for the first time. I have not had a "natural" cycle in over 18 years. I have either been on the pill, fertility drugs or not ovulating (no period) for all of my adult, over 18, can see R-rated movies life. Thinking back I was kind of achy in my nether regions the last week and had been kind of B^#tchy also.
Of course, tonight I googled "PCOS, period after pregnancy, ovulation postpartum, etc." and found this hopeful statement.
*********After pregnancy, many women with PCOS develop normal menstrual cycles and find it easier to become pregnant again.*************
Is it too much to hope? Or am I just being teased?
Of course, tonight I googled "PCOS, period after pregnancy, ovulation postpartum, etc." and found this hopeful statement.
*********After pregnancy, many women with PCOS develop normal menstrual cycles and find it easier to become pregnant again.*************
Is it too much to hope? Or am I just being teased?
Saturday, January 28, 2006
I am not a desperate housewife
Part of this post is also a comment on RE's Muse about how mothering has affect life as we know it and the way some moms seem to have it all together...i.e. thin, well dressed, energetic, etc.
I still get stressed out about how my life is now compared to before I became a mother and have dealt with it by cutting back my work, looking at the mirror and going "good enough" (but wonder when my hair is finally going to stop falling out... good news, some hair seems to be growing back in), my clothes fit differently, my boobs are a strange consistency (I finally weaned last month), and wonder how on earth other moms, especially the ones I see with more than 1 baby do it. Exercise is a distant memory and I made a new years resolution to make it to the gym or walk ONCE a week...so far have not kept it...so on and so forth.
I am not a size 4 desperate housewife, and my body seems to be going back to its PCOS state with a vengence.
At least my kid is well-dressed and cute!
I still get stressed out about how my life is now compared to before I became a mother and have dealt with it by cutting back my work, looking at the mirror and going "good enough" (but wonder when my hair is finally going to stop falling out... good news, some hair seems to be growing back in), my clothes fit differently, my boobs are a strange consistency (I finally weaned last month), and wonder how on earth other moms, especially the ones I see with more than 1 baby do it. Exercise is a distant memory and I made a new years resolution to make it to the gym or walk ONCE a week...so far have not kept it...so on and so forth.
I am not a size 4 desperate housewife, and my body seems to be going back to its PCOS state with a vengence.
At least my kid is well-dressed and cute!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
#1 Killer of Women over 25
After the other post on Ovarian cancer, I wanted to post something that really IS A PROBLEM for women...
Go Red For Women … on National Wear Red Day
On National Wear Red Day, Go Red in your own fashion to show your support for women and the fight against heart disease.
Let your heart shine … and help save women’s lives.
Go Red For Women is a nationwide movement to empower women to love—and save—their hearts through lifestyle choices and actions. By joining together with hundreds of other companies and organizations across America on National Wear Red Day, you’ll help the American Heart Association support the ongoing research and education about women and heart disease.
National Wear Red Day for Women, February 3, 2006, has its own dress code. On this day, you’re free to Go Red in your own fashion. Wear your favorite red clothes or accessory—a red blouse, a red dress pin, red lipstick—carry a fabulous red handbag or sport a red tie and red socks … and show some heart for heart disease prevention.
Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women—and of men—but the good news is that heart disease can largely be prevented. Spreading the Go Red For Women message—Love your heart—raises awareness of heart disease and empowers women to reduce their risk. And as you encourage everyone in your organization to wear red on Wear Red Day, you’ll be sharing with them the tools and information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.
National Wear Red Day is a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and improve women’s heart health. It’s easy to participate. Everyone (men too!) can support the fight against heart disease and stroke by wearing red on Wear Red Day. Companies can offer an additional incentive for employees to participate by allowing them to wear red and jeans to work on Wear Red Day in exchange for a $5 donation to the American Heart Association. Participants also may wear a red dress sticker (the symbol for women’s heart health—available on this Web site) to show the world that they “take heart” in women’s health.
Put your hand on your own heart … and make your own promise to be heart healthy. Make red the color of a pulsing, vibrant life. That’s the message for Wear Red Day. If everyone can make a promise to be heart healthy, we can wipe out heart disease.
For information on how your company can participate in Wear Red Day:
• Contact your local American Heart Association.
• Call 1-888-MY HEART.
Go Red For Women … on National Wear Red Day
On National Wear Red Day, Go Red in your own fashion to show your support for women and the fight against heart disease.
Let your heart shine … and help save women’s lives.
Go Red For Women is a nationwide movement to empower women to love—and save—their hearts through lifestyle choices and actions. By joining together with hundreds of other companies and organizations across America on National Wear Red Day, you’ll help the American Heart Association support the ongoing research and education about women and heart disease.
National Wear Red Day for Women, February 3, 2006, has its own dress code. On this day, you’re free to Go Red in your own fashion. Wear your favorite red clothes or accessory—a red blouse, a red dress pin, red lipstick—carry a fabulous red handbag or sport a red tie and red socks … and show some heart for heart disease prevention.
Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women—and of men—but the good news is that heart disease can largely be prevented. Spreading the Go Red For Women message—Love your heart—raises awareness of heart disease and empowers women to reduce their risk. And as you encourage everyone in your organization to wear red on Wear Red Day, you’ll be sharing with them the tools and information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.
National Wear Red Day is a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and improve women’s heart health. It’s easy to participate. Everyone (men too!) can support the fight against heart disease and stroke by wearing red on Wear Red Day. Companies can offer an additional incentive for employees to participate by allowing them to wear red and jeans to work on Wear Red Day in exchange for a $5 donation to the American Heart Association. Participants also may wear a red dress sticker (the symbol for women’s heart health—available on this Web site) to show the world that they “take heart” in women’s health.
Put your hand on your own heart … and make your own promise to be heart healthy. Make red the color of a pulsing, vibrant life. That’s the message for Wear Red Day. If everyone can make a promise to be heart healthy, we can wipe out heart disease.
For information on how your company can participate in Wear Red Day:
• Contact your local American Heart Association.
• Call 1-888-MY HEART.
Ovarian Cancer Email
There has been an email that has been circulating concerning Ovarian cancer and how every woman should march into their doctor's office and demand a CA-125 test yearly. It is the story of a "Kathy West." I don't know if it is true, but it seems to be scaring a lot of women that I know as I have received this email several times in the last 2 weeks. As a physician, I have had to reassure and educate (not unusual in my job) my friends and family. Ovarian cancer strikes less than 2% of women. It is one of the MOST DIFFICULT cancers to diagnose. There is NO reliable SCREENING test available at this time YET. The CA-125 may be elevated in other diseases, not only this one. This lady's particular case is rare as she had no ovaries (removed with a hysterectomy) so it was EXTRA difficult to diagnose. The point is, that IT WAS DIAGNOSED by her doctors and she is currently getting treatment. How this relates to infertile people, is that is IS KNOWN that people who have taken infertility drugs MAY have an increased risk for this type of cancer.
The following is more information on CA-125
CA-125 is a substance shed by cancer cells, also made by inflamed normal cells that line body parts. This substance is shed in body fluids and finds its way into the bloodstream. CA-125II is a new assay that has less variation from day to day. Since the original CA-125 test kits are no longer sold to laboratories, it is believed that few if any old plain CA-125 tests are being given in the United States since Nov. 1996. CA-125 is a test done on a blood sample drawn in a laboratory. A blood sample is drawn, just as for a variety of other laboratory tests. The assay (analysis) assesses the amount of an antibody that recognizes an antigen in tumor cells.
The CA-125-II blood test is best used for observing the trend of an ovarian-cancer patient's results over time, according to one of the test's co-developers.
"The key is that the absolute value of CA-125-II is not very helpful," says Robert C. Bast Jr., M.D. "It's probably not helpful to compare one patient's results with another's."
The results can be:
True Positive. Approximately 80 percent of women who have ovarian cancer will have an elevated CA-125 in the serum portion of their blood at the time of diagnosis.
False positive. The rate of "false positives" with CA-125 makes it inadequate for use by itself for screening of high-risk or healthy women. Premenopausal women are more likely than postmenopausal women to receive a "false positive" CA-125. It should be supplemented with transvaginal sonography and a rectovaginal pelvic exam all done at the same time.
False negative. Again, the rate of "false negatives" also makes it important to use the test as part of a regimen that includes transvaginal sonography and rectovaginal pelvic exam.
True negative. Women should repeat the test to observe a trend. You will need to ask your doctor to arrange this.
When a CA-125II returns elevated, it can mean any of several benign conditions, or a "false positive" (especially in premenopausal women), or ovarian cancer or another type of cancer.
A physician specifically experienced in the interpretation of CA-125 results can best assess this for the individual patient. Every woman should:
Have the test repeated several times if there is any doubt about her symptoms or diagnosis or risk factor (family history of ovarian cancer and other factors elevate risk significantly).
Please Note: Approximately 20 percent of women who have ovarian cancer do not ever have elevated CA-125. That is why it is critical to use CA-125 only as part of a diagnostic regiment that includes transvaginal sonography and a rectovaginal pelvic exam.
Now that I have hopefully explained and educated, I will point out a topic that is even more deadly to women, actually the #1 KILLER OF WOMEN over 25 in the country, HEART DISEASE. I will add a post with more info later.

The following is more information on CA-125
CA-125 is a substance shed by cancer cells, also made by inflamed normal cells that line body parts. This substance is shed in body fluids and finds its way into the bloodstream. CA-125II is a new assay that has less variation from day to day. Since the original CA-125 test kits are no longer sold to laboratories, it is believed that few if any old plain CA-125 tests are being given in the United States since Nov. 1996. CA-125 is a test done on a blood sample drawn in a laboratory. A blood sample is drawn, just as for a variety of other laboratory tests. The assay (analysis) assesses the amount of an antibody that recognizes an antigen in tumor cells.
The CA-125-II blood test is best used for observing the trend of an ovarian-cancer patient's results over time, according to one of the test's co-developers.
"The key is that the absolute value of CA-125-II is not very helpful," says Robert C. Bast Jr., M.D. "It's probably not helpful to compare one patient's results with another's."
The results can be:
True Positive. Approximately 80 percent of women who have ovarian cancer will have an elevated CA-125 in the serum portion of their blood at the time of diagnosis.
False positive. The rate of "false positives" with CA-125 makes it inadequate for use by itself for screening of high-risk or healthy women. Premenopausal women are more likely than postmenopausal women to receive a "false positive" CA-125. It should be supplemented with transvaginal sonography and a rectovaginal pelvic exam all done at the same time.
False negative. Again, the rate of "false negatives" also makes it important to use the test as part of a regimen that includes transvaginal sonography and rectovaginal pelvic exam.
True negative. Women should repeat the test to observe a trend. You will need to ask your doctor to arrange this.
When a CA-125II returns elevated, it can mean any of several benign conditions, or a "false positive" (especially in premenopausal women), or ovarian cancer or another type of cancer.
A physician specifically experienced in the interpretation of CA-125 results can best assess this for the individual patient. Every woman should:
Have the test repeated several times if there is any doubt about her symptoms or diagnosis or risk factor (family history of ovarian cancer and other factors elevate risk significantly).
Please Note: Approximately 20 percent of women who have ovarian cancer do not ever have elevated CA-125. That is why it is critical to use CA-125 only as part of a diagnostic regiment that includes transvaginal sonography and a rectovaginal pelvic exam.
Now that I have hopefully explained and educated, I will point out a topic that is even more deadly to women, actually the #1 KILLER OF WOMEN over 25 in the country, HEART DISEASE. I will add a post with more info later.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Pictures of children
I really understand the baby picture thing now. In the past friends, family would email/ send me their kids pictures and I would go, oh, how cute! Now I look at them and feel the love of a parent for their children. I know the sleepless nights and crying spells, and how long of a struggle it was to get them cleaned and dressed for the picture or how wonderful it was to capture that particular moment on film/ digital pixels. Myself, I have really gone to town with the digital camera. I have take over 500 shots of my kid since her birth. Now, granted many of the shots were not "usable" in terms of the professional photographers, but so many were amazing.
