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Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Another reason why I hate Republicans
My father-in-law just expressed his concerns about the health care reform bill encouraging euthanasia. Ever the skeptic, I looked into it and wonder... When will the Republicans learn to GTF over it?! And in particular, Sarah Palin. It will be interesting to see if she can keep her idiotic conspiracy theories to herself long enough to be seriously considered for the Republican nomination in 2012. As much as I would LOVE a woman in the White House, I don't want it to be her.
I read the section in question in which euthanasia is "proposed." The claims made by Palin and her fellow conservatives are really a stretch. So now, Advance Directives and Living Wills are part of the euthanasia movement? Gimme a break! Every time I go to the ER, or go to the hospital for testing, I am given information on Advance Directives. Does that mean the hospital advocates euthanasia? Of course not!
Living Wills and Advance Directives make it very clear to a person's family and caregivers what they wish to happen in the event he/she is incapacitated by illness or injury. This is something EVERYONE should do.
I guess the GOP forgot about the 2003 report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which had recommended and gave detailed guidelines for practitioners for Advance Care Planning. The agency is a FEDERAL agency. This was back in 2003. You know, when W. was in office. Now that Obama is in office, it's called euthanasia?
I could go on forever about this issue, but someone has done a better job of picking apart the lies that the GOP are spreading to create fear in the minds of the sick and elderly. Great post here: Obama wants to kill your grandma
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Quote of the Day
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.
Sidney Harris
A Primer on Soy Isoflavones
I've recently stumbled across soy isoflavones while browsing through infertility websites and forums. I did a little research and here is what I've come up with.
Soy isoflavones are being touted as the natural Clomid. For anyone who is unfamiliar with Clomid, it is usually a first line drug used in the treatment of infertility, specifically ovulatory disorders. The way it works is by tricking your body into thinking your estrogen levels are low. In response, the pituitary gland secretes FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) which in turn stimulates the ovaries to produce follicles which (hopefully) will result in mature, healthy eggs.
Soy isoflavones contain phytoestrogens, which act in the same way as Clomid. You take it in the same manner as Clomid, for 5 days at the beginning of your cycle. The starting dose varies, I've seen 80 mg as a common dose. The most common side effect mentioned is headache.
I bought a bottle at Walmart, the Spring Valley brand which is 40 mg/tablet for $5.83. I will be taking 80 mg on CD 3-7. I figure there is no harm in trying and I've read so many success stories, so it's worth a shot.
Here are some links I found to be useful:
Please note: Do not take soy isoflavones without first consulting your physician.
Monday, August 3, 2009
How to be supportive to loved ones facing infertility
Infertility affects about 15% of the population, so chances are you're off the hook. But if you're one of that lucky minority, most family and friends are at a loss at how to react. We realize everyone means well, but good intentions often aren't perceived that way, especially with such a highly emotional issue. I won't speak for all people facing infertility, as it is hardly an objective experience, but my feelings echo most that I encounter in infertility forums that I frequent.
What not to say: Relax, you're trying too hard
Why: This statement is so incredibly dismissive and one of the most common you hear. Most infertility is caused by bonafide medical reasons, none of which are cured by relaxing. In my case, I had surgery on my pituitary gland twice, which damaged healthy pituitary tissue. I could spend a month on vacation on a secluded island, spending half the day being pampered in a spa... it will not cause spontaneous regeneration of my pituitary gland, thus restoring my fertility. While stress can be a factor, its effects are usually transient and usually not a cause of infertility. Realize that many infertile couples are treated medically and surgically for good reason, not sent on holiday.
What not to say: You're still young, look at (fill-in-the-blank-celebrity). She had twins at 50!
Why: What the gossip rags aren't telling you is that these celebrities are not using their own eggs. Now, that might not make a difference to some, but most people want that genetic link. If a woman desires to use her own eggs and comes to a fertility clinic at age 40+, her chances of conceiving with IVF is only 10%. The rate goes up comparably with that of a younger woman if she uses donor eggs, but that is simply not an option for some. Personally, I have this policy that if it doesn't involve my eggs, my husband's sperm, and my uterus, then it doesn't happen at all for us. Which brings me to...
What not to say: Hire a surrogate or... I'll carry the baby for you!
Why: Again, not an option many will take and even if it is, it's a very complex (and very expensive) situation. There are 2 types of surrogates, traditional and gestational. In traditional surrogacy, the woman is the biological mother of the child. In gestational surrogacy, the woman is not genetically related to the child. Here's a blog about a child born of traditional surrogacy. It will make you think twice about suggesting a surrogate so flippantly. Besides that, most women want to carry their own babies.
What not to say: You can have one of mine!
Why: Not even remotely funny. I want my own thankyouverymuch.
What not to say: It will happen in God's perfect timing
Why: So the baby born to the 13 year old rape victim was? Sometimes, instead of trying to rationalize infertility by invoking a deity's will, just accept it (like we have) for what it is.
What not to say: You'll appreciate your child so much more because it took so long to conceive.
Why: So... we would have abused or neglected our child if it happened on the first try? So that means YOU Fertile Myrtle, take YOUR kids for granted? Doesn't make sense, now does it?
What not to say: I know how you feel, after 3 months of negative pregnancy tests, we were so bummed, but then it just happened!
Why: Yeah... you are so NOT a member of the club. Try at least a year, along with having to lose any modicum of modesty for both men and women, invasive procedures, frequent internal (yes, internal) ultrasounds, frequent blood draws, medications that make you crazy, I could go on ad nauseum. As much as you would like to empathize, even commiserate, unless you have been where we have been, in all the agonizing detail... don't dare to compare. You will lose.
What not to say: You can always just adopt.
Why: There are just so many things wrong with that statement. There is no "just" when it comes to adoption. When it comes to the prospective adoptive parents, it can be very expensive, time consuming and comes with no guarantees. For the adoptees, the ramifications can be astounding for many. Both domestic and international adoption are unfortunately big business, rife with rampant corruption. And adoption from foster care is not for everyone. Those children have been abused and/or neglected and a court has terminated their parents' rights. They deserve more than just to be a quick fix to infertility. Adoption and infertility should not, but often do, go hand in hand. More info here and here.
What not to say: Here, hold the baby!
Why: Some people who struggle with infertility surround themselves with other people's children and take comfort and enjoyment in it. But there are many of them that want nothing to do with babies and will go out of their way to avoid situations involving pregnant women, babies and children. When my sister-in-law gave birth to my nephew in May, going to see her in the hospital was the end of a 3 year hiatus from seeing any relatives' babies. I only went because I had to. It broke my heart to see my husband visibly upset on Father's Day as he saw his brother with his new son, who looks so much like my husband at times. Other people's babies don't always make us feel better or give us hope. It can have quite the opposite effect.
What not to say: It will happen, believe me.
Why: Really Miss Cleo? No one likes false assurance. It may be true that your cousin's husband's sister-in-law's niece's stepsister might have miraculously defied doctors who gave them one in a million odds of ever conceiving, but it's a fact, some people, despite years of treatments will never conceive. It sucks, but it is what it is.
In short, if you know someone struggling with infertility, for the love of God, please take this advice to heart. More than anything, just acknowledge the grief and loss that sometimes comes with infertility and listen. That's all.
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