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Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

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Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

Hello,
I went off Yasmin last summer after ten years on different kinds of BCP. The pills were making me depressed, irrational, and destroyed my libido and nearly my marriage. 10 months later, I still cannot have a period unless I'm on spironolactone, which my derm prescribed for the hideous cystic acne that I now have all over my face. My sex drive is still null. My gynecologist did a hormone test that came out normal, but I know I have some kind of hormone problem! Walt, I've been following this site for years...I take EFAs in the proper ratio and doses; I exercise regularly; have tightened up my diet over the last few months from a liberal whole foods diet to a perfect 100% whole foods diet full of veggies and free from dairy, sugar, etc. I'm working on SR and am seeing a specialist who is helping me with my stress and anxiety. Bottom line: I would do anything to get my life back. The cystic acne is painful on so many levels, but the lack of sex drive is threatening my marriage to a wonderful man who is finding it hard to understand why I'm just not interested.

Today, I read this article and it just wiped out any hope I had left. Walt, can you tell me if you think birth control has ruined me forever - as this article suggests - or can I heal myself by continuing with the 3-legged stool? Are there any other BB followers that can give me a testimonial on this matter?

I am desperate for hope right now. Every doctor just wants to put me back on BCP, but I want to heal myself. :(
Thanks,
Hillary

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Charles [448.2996] on June 01, 2009 at 20:42:34:

In Reply to: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

Have you tried Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to see if it will draw your acne out?

Your sex life probably won't get better until you are able to get some of the other things in your life straightened out.

Hard to keep your mind on sex when the world is falling apart all around you. :)

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 02, 2009 at 07:31:26:

In Reply to: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

Hi, Hillary.

I hope that everyone thinking of getting on the "slippery slope" you have been treading for a while will read your testimonial. Well, now that you are here, let's see if we can map a path for you to get out.

First, I need to know EXACTLY how you have been doing your exercise and for how long.
Second, I need to know how you plan to certifiy your SR method.
Third. Your diet sounds good but you must know that, to reverse something like this you will need to have been on whatever diet is effective for YOU for at least a year--faster if you can clean up the other 2 legs of the 3LS.

This definitely is reversible but it will take patience and becoming a real functional student of the 3LS.

Hope this helps. Keep in touch. As you continue putting progress notes and questions on the BB, we all will be coming out of the woodwork to help you with various aspects of your journey.

Walt

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Juli [10060.7650] on June 02, 2009 at 07:51:56:

In Reply to: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

Get the book by Dr. Lee, What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause---his focus is on using natural progesterone cream to heal estrogen dominance, check it out. He also talks about the danger of synthetic hormones.

Also, you may not agree with this or want to hear this, but you said your husband is a wonderful man---make love with him even if you don't feel like it--do it for him--sometimes we do things even though we don't want to for others--it really is not a big deal and trust me, the flame will flicker again---when I was married, I often refused because I did not feel like it--this was immature and wrong--at the end of our marriage I had sex whenever he wanted to and a lot of the times it actually became enjoyable once into it--however, the resentment he felt over all those years really took a toll on our marriage and it was too late to make up for it---my ex husband had a very high libido, wanted it everyday, I thought 3 days a week was enough, but looking back, I should have let him everyday, that is part of marriage....

Juli

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Trish [296.2857] on June 02, 2009 at 09:33:06:

In Reply to: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

Could you do something to nurture your spiritual side a little more? It sounds like you're doing everything else right, so maybe that's what's missing? (Not preaching here, believe me!)Also, til you get your libido back, do some sweet things for your husband to let him know you love him; like maybe cooking a fantastic meal or buying him something cute. Sorry if this advice sounds too simple, but I do hear your pain.Maybe 10 months is a little too soon to heal from 10 years of BC. Be patient with the process.

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [1438.7656] on June 02, 2009 at 10:19:34:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 02, 2009 at 07:31:26:

Walt,

I hope you will archive this one.

Best wishes,
Jan

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 02, 2009 at 18:01:44:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 02, 2009 at 07:31:26:

Hi Walt,
Thank you for your response! Seeing the word "reversible" is so encouraging. In response:

1. Exercise:
I alternate cardio and weight training. My usual goal is 6x/week (3 days of cardio, 3 of weights), but has been closer to 4-5x/week (usu. 3 days of cardio, 1-2 of weights). I've been on a variation of this routine for five years.

Cardio is 20 minutes, high-intensity intervals, running on a treadmill or elliptical machine. (I also take brisk walks daily on my lunch breaks for an hour or so if the weather is nice, and walk my dog 1-2 times a day. This is obviously lower-intensity cardio than the 20-minute sessions though.)

Weights: About 40 minutes, full-body workouts including squats, lunges, lat pull-downs, pushups, etc. If you need more detail, I can give it to you.

2. SR certification ¡V I am seeing a specialist who is a psychologist by trade, but focuses on stress reduction. He uses the method of biofeedback that tests the relaxation response in the skin. We¡¦re still in the tell-me-about-your-mother phase, but I hope to be focusing on skilled relaxation in the next few sessions, including biofeedback testing to make sure I¡¦m getting to the right brain waves.

3. What do you mean effective for me? Based on my dermatologist¡¦s recommendations, I¡¦ve eliminated dairy, caffeine, white flour and sugar (both no-brainers), as well as citrus and tomatoes. I also am working hard to get more vitamins through my food (veggies, sea vegetables, nutritional yeast, hemp protein, etc.) rather than through supplements, and I don¡¦t really like eating meat other than eggs, and occasionally fish or chicken. So far, I¡¦ve accepted all of this as a permanent lifestyle change ¡V with the exception of alcohol, which is a weakness on the weekends. If drinking once a week (wine, beer, or spirits, depending on the night) is going to make everything else ineffective, I will give that up as well.

I¡¦ve also scheduled appointments with an endocrinologist (although, to be honest, I¡¦m so disillusioned with doctors that I don¡¦t expect much) and a chiropractor. I¡¦ve been saving up money to go to the Mercola Natural Health Center here in the Chicago area if necessary. Have you heard of this place and if so, do you think that would be helpful/necessary?

As noted, I am on spironolactone which helps with the acne, but I do wonder if it may also be impacting my sex drive since it limits the impact of testosterone. I hate being on drugs and tried going off for a few weeks, but the cystic acne came back with a vengeance and scared me back onto it ƒ¼ (If I¡¦m a hideous acne-covered mess, I don¡¦t really feel like having sex either.)

To the other posters:
Juli ¡V Thank you so much. I bought that book on my lunch break. And you¡¦re absolutely right ¡V my husband and I do have sex on a regular basis. The marriage problems arise more from the fact that I am not particularly enthusiastic ¡V I try, but I can only fake so much and my body is just averse to anything remotely sexual (it¡¦s sad!). Nonethless, we¡¦ve come to a point in the last few days where he is starting to understand that it¡¦s not him, and he¡¦s very supportive of me trying to fix it through all these ¡§weird¡¨ methods. We¡¦ll be okay. ƒº

Charles ¡V I¡¦ve never heard of Vaseline as a help for acne. How does that help draw it out? My derm has me on a number of topical prescriptions that help to some extent, but can¡¦t seem to prevent the big cysts from constantly popping up.

Trish ¡V I appreciate your sentiments. I¡¦m not sure exactly what you mean, but I¡¦m spiritual in my own way.

Thank you all so so much. I feel a million times more encouraged right now than I did last night. :)
~Hillary


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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope -- Archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 03, 2009 at 08:11:48:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [1438.7656] on June 02, 2009 at 10:19:34:

Yeah, Jan. Probably a good idea.

I just get so sick of what I see my allopathic buddies are doing to their poor unsuspecting patients (in my opinion), I just could cry--and have many times.

Walt

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope Archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 03, 2009 at 08:13:11:

In Reply to: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

NMI

Walt

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control looking for hope--Archive in acne

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 03, 2009 at 09:02:22:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 02, 2009 at 18:01:44:

Thanks, Hillary.

Wonderful description!

Comments:

1. Wonderful exercise program. Even though it is a bit more time consuming than I would have recommended. If you will be able to incorporate the changes suggested below, without changing the time you spend on exercise, more power to you. If not, perhaps you can slice a little of the excess time you are presently doing on exercise to accomplish those changes.

Remember that these changes will not be forever--just until about 6 months after you see the results that will satisfy your standards.
2. I would definitely let your "psych guy" know that you are straining at the bit to get started on the SR and, after 2 weeks of practice, a monitoring session with the biofeedback. The sooner we can get this going the better.
3. From your comments about diet, I believe you still do not understand how the total elinition of refined carbohydrates works. So long as you keep up what you are doing, you are sabotaging the rest of your program and making it harder on yourself. See Beth Loiselle's book and reread the RYH (recover your health) book.
4. I am not, personally, familiar with Dr Mercola's center. However from the many internet postings by him, I am sceptial that it is anything more than a fancy way to cost you a lot of money--in my opinion. It is certainly a waste of your time and money to see an endocrinologist--also, in my opinion. You can always do this kind of stuff later if you think it necessary.
5. I agree about the "spirituallity" (Trish). However, in my clinical experience that will inevitably take care of itself once you get your "temple" in order.

Please keep in contact with any questions you may have about this. I have yet to see a case of this that was not reversible.

Walt


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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope -- Archive.

Posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [1438.7656] on June 03, 2009 at 10:25:06:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope -- Archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 03, 2009 at 08:11:48:

Thanks, Walt.

Yah, it's sad and bad.

I'm working on grant proposals for the Foundation now, and the interesting part is learning the language the funders use. I think I'm getting better at articulating what we're doing in a way that they can relate to. What do you think about this:

The Stoll Foundation for Holistic Health focuses on working with the uninsured and all chronically ill people -- including people who fall through the health care safety net, people who can't get a diagnosis, and people who are not helped by conventional medicine or by evidence-based approaches. We have experienced that health care is not one-size-fits-all, and many people fall through the cracks in the health care system for various reasons. Our approach is to provide self-help education and low- and no-cost resources to help people help themselves reverse their chronic conditions and symptoms through self-awareness and lifestyle changes.

Namaste`
Jan

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope -- Archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 03, 2009 at 15:28:36:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope -- Archive. posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [1438.7656] on June 03, 2009 at 10:25:06:

Thanks, Jan.

Good! It certainly is true.

Namaste`

Walt

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Hillary [12570.7523] on June 22, 2009 at 16:15:52:

In Reply to: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [5089.7523] on June 01, 2009 at 17:19:43:

Walt, thank you for responding so quickly!
I will act on your suggestions immediately. I talked to my "psych guy" about splitting our session into two parts - so at least half is focused on skilled relaxation. However, I think I may have misunderstood when I ask about his biofeedback technique as it appears that all he does is measure one's breathing. If I understand correctly, that alone will not certify that I'm hitting the right brainwaves. Does anyone have any recommendations for finding a means of certifying SR in Chicago? I had a heck of a time even finding this guy, and now I don't think he can help me in that manner, although he is helping me to learn how to relax and breathe more correctly.

I will reread your book and get Beth Loiselle's asap as well. I will be starting a liver cleansing regimen with my chiropractor's guidance that will help me temporarily eliminate and then reintroduce foods to identify possible allergic reactions.

I also cancelled my appointment with the endocrinologist, and have decided not to pursue Dr. Mercola's center, mainly because I do feel strongly now that it is unnecessary. I also read Dr. Lee's book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause" (thanks Juli!!) and found it very helpful. I've been implementing natural progesterone therapy and am taking the herb vitex hoping it will at least help get back to having periods.

Unfortunately, I had more bad news...my dentist referred me to an oral surgeon for a CT scan because the bone density on the right side of my jaw is less than that on the left, suggesting some sort of potentially serious problem. I'm hoping it's nothing, but until the results come back, it is stressing me out a bit. I'm guessing that's why I now have seven cystic eruptions on my chin. SO attractive...and definitely not helping my libido. Sigh.

I will update you on my progress.
Many MANY thanks again.
Hillary


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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.7645] on June 23, 2009 at 07:15:12:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [12570.7523] on June 22, 2009 at 16:15:52:

Thanks, Hillary.

In my opinion, any counslor who does not have at least a passing knowledge of biofeedback techniques, along with at least a simple GSR in his office, is WAY behind the curve of what he should offer. Just monitoring breathing is NOT sufficient.

You would probably get more good out of reading a book about breathing techniques (library reference section--the librarian can find you a copy) just so you could try many differing techniques. Also the "Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook" for other non breathing techniques.

Hope this helps.

Walt

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Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope

Posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [7244.7756] on June 23, 2009 at 22:33:46:

In Reply to: Re: Question about discontinuing birth control...looking for hope posted by Hillary [12570.7523] on June 22, 2009 at 16:15:52:

Hi Hilary,

Beth's book is temporarily out of print while she is revising it. You can get a copy through interlibrary loan.

Best wishes,
Jan

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