Chris Sarles

A Ram wrote:I just turned 50 and I’m doing just fine. I contribute more as a functional medicine practitioner. Your ability to detoxify estrogen is probably the main factor in having a healthy transition. This has to do with liver and adrenal function in equal measures, and therefore, with gut function.  In general, people who have been healthy — and have no history of hormonal disfunction — tend to have an uneventful transition whereas those with significant health issues— and/or those who carry an unmanageable load of stress— well, the transition gets tougher. In my 20 years of experience, over 50% of the clients I worked with were perimenopausal. Peri is the time to stop taking BS from anyone and get real with priorities. I’ve been fortunate to witness incredible transformations.

(I have a background as a Clinical Research Professional)

I will attest to finding loads of data on poorly functioning liver and kidneys. Although, excessive coffee drinking may also be a factor for some. An increase of magnesium and zinc were found highly beneficial in that case while Stinging Nettle, Dandelion Root and Lemon Balm teas supported the liver and kidneys.

I didn't go for labs (yet) to figure out my root issue. But I found that my acne immediately cleared after taking the list of herbs I mentioned in my earlier post but I did add the above mentioned supplements and started drinking detox teas daily.

Jane Mulberry wrote:Chris, I'm sorry you went through a miscarriage, and hope you're successful in achieving baby #7.

It feels to me like it might be important to let yourself grieve the pregnancy loss. Just speaking from my own experiences here, after each miscarriage I jumped straight back into trying to get pregnant again, doing everything "right" as if somehow I could control the outcome. Unfortunately, some things we can't control. I ended up with bigger health issues due to that bottled up grief.

Herbs and diet can definitely make a big difference to one's health. But there's also an element of genetic lottery and things in people's upbringing they were powerless to change at the time that affect health, and it's so important not to blame anyone for their health issues. That involves you, as well. Menopause will happen to you at some stage no matter what you do to try and stop it, and hopefully you'll get that longed for baby first.

Agreed. We grieved rather quickly and perhaps it's more or less due to having a farm, we understand the gentle cycle of life. We have seen many births and many deaths, each one feeling as though they were ours but being grounded by God and knowing, it's all okay.

I didn't tell my 6 kids we were expecting so we grieved rather quietly together. Im usually busy between all of life but had taken a couple of weeks off to get it together and find a way forward. After a rather bratty argument in my head with God about how I was going to drive myself crazy if He didn't give me a sign as to whether this was my fault, a chromosomal mishap or whether this was the call for me to stop having kids, my fourth daughter, 7 years old walks into the room with me. Almost as soon as she walked into the room she asked me if I knew what a rainbow baby was. I nodded yes and proceeded to give her a short explanation - a digestible one but also assured her that while that was sad and we did wish we didn't have these horrible losses that it didn't mean we couldn't have kids. I then explained that my first child (now 21) and my third child (now 13) are both rainbow babies, We were still blessed to have all of the kids in between and after our loss. So while not a direct "sign", it was a peaceful way for me to remember that God has a plan and trust that plan. If it's meant to be, it will be. It's not a punishment.

I know that currently my hormones are out of whack based on my symptoms and while there's a lot we can do to ensure another baby, we will continue to take a course of action with the primary focus of getting my hormones balanced. We will continue to enjoy the intimate moments of trying for a baby and if we are surprised with a birth wonderful but if we don't naturally conceive this year, we will likely take more cautious actions towards not accidently conceiving later. I don't think we want to be in our late 60s with a teenager. No matter how fit and energetic we are. Lol.

So there's not an extra amount of pressure on the outcome only a desire to be healthier and feel more like myself. Truly after raising kids for 21 years now, it's okay if God says - let's focus on our next role as a grandparent. I've certainly called upon him a lot to have been given these 6.

Ah yes thank you Nina! I am now taking flax seed, sunflower seed and pumpkin seed. I found a method to taking them during certain cycle phases, Im currently on the "take everything and sees what sticks" method but I'll calm this down to an actual routine.

Thank you for your kind words!

Im in my mid-forties and was trying for baby number 7. Yes, I am crazy. So is my husband. But regardless, my fertility was never an issue. Each kid took us a month or two of trying to conceive.

Six months ago, I had a miscarriage within the first trimester. Around 8 weeks. No fetal pole established. It happens. I've had it happen before. We immediately tried again and with each passing month, I began questioning my whole life. Now while this with a large family, farm and full time job could induce a wild amount of stress, it really doesn't. You learn to gauge what is within your control and ability and let it go much easier. Not everything that you want to happen can happen. But I was getting really angry. Like...ready to take everyone out and no longer being oversensitive about how and what I say to people. My husband tried to gently plant the idea that maybe I am going through menopause. Gently to a rabid bear. I then noticed my periods which were always 28 days for 6 days get all weird. Spotting in between and much more painful and shorter.

Okay fine. I have to have a hormonal imbalance. I work for pharma and while it has its place, it's a last resort for me. I found a host of herbs to take that IMMEDIATELY resolved my teenage breakouts and relaxed my mood (somewhat). Currently knee deep in not only keeping the balance but increasing fertility chances for this last (i've said that before but I mean it this time) baby.

Some helpful herbs:

Chasteberry
Black Cohosh
Ashwagandha
Maca
Wild Yam

And....
Magnesium
Zinc

But I've got several clinical trials I am reviewing that have a series of other herbal treatments that have been proven to improve our health as well.

In a nutshell, I don't think we actually should be going through all of these imbalances. There's a host of foods we probably should be eating that we no longer eat. What I am reading in many of these responses being a result of the hormonal imbalance but also including cancer and autoimmune diseases I believe can be avoided. I hope to not only address my fertility but restore my body to its peak performance.

As a current Jersian (born and raised) - I too, look greatly towards leaving this "garden" state. The pandemic shifted our minds in how we care for our 6 kids; what we feed them, what they are exposed to both medically and socially. We are greatly looking to move and have begun our journey on a little over an acre of land - chickens, goats, rabbits and the domestic animals as well (cat and dog).

The journey is never over until it's over. Keep faith and find that happy place among the unhappy places we are too often thrown in.

Definitely interested. We are in Jersey and had been looking to move to NH/MA area. We are large family and have goats, chickens and angora rabbits.