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Cindy B's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 6/8/01 -------------------- 5/24/01 5/15/01 5/8/01 4/1/01 3/17/01 2/16/01 2/4/01 1/24/01 1/19/01 1/8/01 1/2/01 12/18/00 12/12/00 12/5/00 11/28/00 11/21/00 11/13/00 11/7/00 11/4/00 10/31/00 10/24/00 10/17/00 10/10/00 10/5/00 9/28/00 9/20/00 9/9/00 9/3/00 7/30/00 -------------------- Cindy B's Introduction

November 28, 2000

This week has actually been eventful. First of all, Stefan and I were in Fulda for the weekend for a baptism and a family reunion (these were held by two different sides of the family). The party after the baptism was much more fun than at the family reunion. For one thing, the two sides are totally different. The family from Stefan’s grandmother is so nice and young and interesting, whereas the other side of the family (from Stefan’s grandfather’s side) is really dull and basically filled with workaholics that smoke and drink. Luckily we have more contact with the nice side of the family.

OK, enough of that. About work ... I work at a logistics/freight forwarding company, basically as a paid internist, until the end of January when my contract runs out. At that time a lot of the companies hire on the internists as full-time employees and the decision is usually made in the early fall. WELL, my boss kept putting off the decision and told me that I need to wait until about the time I’m done with my internship before he makes a decision. But that would mean that if he decided not to hire me on, then on the 1st of February I would be sitting there without a job. Soooo, I sent out my resume and have a job interview on Friday at a logistics company across the street from where I am now. From what I’ve heard about this position, I would be in a higher position than where I would be if I were to be hired on at the company where I am now, and it would be more fun. So cross your fingers for me that this works out. I’ll report next week how everything turns out.

I’ve increased my dosage of Dexamethasone from 0.25 mg per day to 0.50 mg. I didn’t notice a difference when I started the meds, but I really notice a difference with 0.50 mg. I feel like I’ve drunk two cups of coffee. This was mentioned as one of the side effects, but I didn’t think that it would be so strong. But I think my body is getting used to it. My OB said that I would probably need to take the meds for a while before I notice any change in my hormone levels. Unfortunately, hormones don’t change as quickly as I think they should (impatience!!). I’m on day 48 and haven’t O'd yet, but I think it just might take a while. I have to go back to the doctor soon anyway, since he prescribed me only 20 tablets and I only have seven more. I hope he cuts it to the chase and gives me Clomid while I’m there.

The OB suggested that I lose at least 20 pounds, too. I wouldn’t mind losing more. He said that it would probably help with the PCOS. Even if it doesn’t go away completely, it might help. Since I moved to Germany I have put on about, actually, I don’t know how much, but I’m three sizes bigger. I hate it too. The food here is so rich and full of fat, pork sausage and did I mention fat? I’ve been here about three and a half years and I guess that’s about a size a year!! Wow.

So, all the way back in September I asked my mom to send me a book called Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo. The theory behind the book is that different blood types need different types of food. I have A-type blood and according to the book I should basically stop eating meat except for fish and a little bit of chicken and turkey. And I should eat lots of whole grains and vegetables. There are food lists with which foods are best suited for the A-types, etc. I didn’t want to mention anything about this until I was sure that it would work. I’m not following the book religiously (there’s no taking me away from the German chocolates), but I use it as a guideline. I don’t know how much weight I’ve lost -- I put off the diet during my finals, too much stress, but I started up again on the next day -- but I am beginning to fit into the next size smaller! This is really encouraging.

Kimmberli and I have decided to be diet buddies, too. I really think it helps to know that we’re not alone and to be able to report our progress. Stefan and I have also started taking “fertility walks.” Hopefully it will help. If it doesn’t help with fertility, at least we spend a little more time together. I never knew that weight could affect fertility. Who knows, maybe after I shed the pounds I will still have trouble with PCOS. Before I moved here and was pretty much at my ideal weight, I never really knew if I O'd or not since it never interested me. I only know that my periods were always super irregular and still are.

I hope everyone has a ++++ week!!

Cindy