My Journey from Sugar Burner to Fat Burner - jenn26point2's Primal Journal page 197

[jenn26point2]

TMI warning for any gentlemen who read

Ok, it's official... my reproductive hormones are jacked the hell up. Since discontinuing the birth control at the end of September, I have had 4 periods... yes, 4. The first was about a month after the shot "expired" (about Halloween timeframe) and they have come very two weeks since then. I just had bleeding the week before Thanksgiving, then the week after Thanksgiving, and then again starting yesterday... it's VERY light, and flowing very slowly - more like spotting than anything. But the cramps are enough to drive me nuts. It's like I get all the cramping and none of the bleeding... Surely I'm not producing so little endometrium that there's nothing to shed. Not considering the way it used to be.

I'll give it to the end of January. If it's not "normal" by then, I'll consult my doctor. I know that it can take time for things to right themselves after discontinuing birth control, but I've never had a recovery period like this before. Every other time I have stopped using birth control, things went back to normal relatively quickly - like within a couple of months. Just seems odd that it's so different this time around. Makes me worry that there could be a potential problem or something.

[namelesswonder]

I think it's common, what you're experiencing. I've heard of it taking people 6 months to a year to adjust after the BC shot. Is this the first time you've discontinued the shot, I mean as opposed to other types of BC, like the pill?

It may be tricky to sort out when to get it done, but if you can get hormone testing done like I did (one week before scheduled period, or 3 weeks into cycle), you can see how your levels are doing. That's when progesterone is supposed to be highest, and mine was quite low, so I started the Vitex. Dong Quai is another favored low progesterone supplement around here.

[jenn26point2]

I have stopped using the shot before, but followed it with pill birth control, so maybe this is normal for shot cessation. My other experiences (twice total) were from birth control pills, so I'm comparing apples to oranges, I guess. I just know it's super annoying. It's like I'm perpetually PMS-ing. The cravings came back when I stopped using the birth control too, so I've had that to contend with as well.

I'm REALLY hoping a 21 DSD will help.

Oh, and speaking of which... I read the "book"... it was less of a book and more like a 71 page info packet. And it was all stuff we already knew from reading Mark's, Robb's or Loren's books. So... *shrug* At least I didn't pay for it. The food list will be handy though... it's basically 100% primal or whole30 depending on what level you want to start at. Level 1 allows for limited grains, though, for those who are transitioning. Level 2 is 100% primal (no sugar, limited fruit options) and level 3 is Whole30 with limited fruit options. I'm going in with level 2 b/c I don't want to give up dairy. Level 2 allows for butter and full-fat version of cheese, milk, plain yogurt, kefir, etc. I'll do level 2 for the buttah...

[jenn26point2]

How hypocritical would it be for me to apply for (and hopefully win) a job at John Deere? If you're completely unfamiliar with anything outside of urban living, John Deere is an agriculture machine building company - tractors, planters, combines, etc. The job I would be apply for would be based in the Construction and Forestry plant, but still - it's John Deere - an agricultural vehicle manufacturer...

[tomi]

I don't think it would be hypocritical at all. I'm sure some of that equipment is used on veggie growing farms A job doesn't define you - if it would be a more pleasant to spend your days and make a living then go for it!

[June68]

Yeah, I say go for it.

[Judg]

Go for it. I was bewildered by the question to begin with, to tell the truth. It wasn't till I saw the answers that I saw where the question was coming from. I am quite sure that even the best organic farmers use equipment, you know. It's not just wheat farmers.

[jenn26point2]

Good point. I didn't think about veggie and/or organic farms mass producing crops. *facepalm*

[naiadknight]

Pfft. A job's a job. Unless you directly work for Monsanto, I wouldn't freak.

[Judg]

Well, there you are. One less thing to worry about. Although there is admittedly a lot of John Deere equipment specifically geared toward wheat. I was raised in Canada's bread basket. We always lived on the edge of town, sometimes literally across the street from a wheat field. So, city slicker or no, I couldn't help but know a thing or two about it. Saskatchewan's biggest industry is wheat farming.