11-10-2009 - Soy Isoflavones Experiment

My mood while writing this blog: experimental

Hello lovely ladies :) seeing as im not trying this cycle i decided i would partake in a little experiment of my own with soy isoflavones to see what effect it will have on my cycle. I have been TTC since february so about 8 months, and i have not once ovulated the same day in all 7 cycles, so i have come to the conclusion that i have irregular cycles varying from 29-39 days depending on when i ovulate. From what i have been reading soy should help regulate my cycles by making me ovulate earlier and stronger. Since soy can be taken starting at and day 1-5 during the cycle i picked CD3 because its in the middle. I am CD3 today so i will begin my first dose tonight. I have a bottle of soy isoflavone COMPLEX which is in total 50mg but theres only 40% soy isoflavones which is 20mg. I have decided i will take 80mg (4 pills) straight through days 3-7.

80mg of soy is equal to about 50mg clomid (clomid is stronger therefore u need less). I will be using this blog as a 'journal' to log my daily symptoms and how my cycle progresses so anyone who wishes to try soy may see how it effects someone with cycles like myself. Do remember though that soy does effect everyone differently and you should advise your doctor you are taking it because it can interfere with a number of medications and or diseases/conditions.

I have done alot of reading over the past couple days, reading all forums on soy isoflavone use to try and gain some perspective on how it has affected others. I have read that it helps your progesterone surge after ovulation and if this is true i will not need to take progesterone after ovulation so i have decided to go in for bloodwork after i ovulate (depending on when that is) to see what the numbers are, im not trying this month so im not goin to take my prometrium tablets after ovulation.

Other things i have read -->

*After u take soy, the stronger your ovulation therefore making your hormones go crazy and making your 2ww symptoms more prominent. Since PMS and early pregnancy signs are a lot alike this can fool a lot of people.

*The earlier you take soy the better chance you have of having multiple births. This is because the soy blocks estrogen receptors causing your body to think it has none which in turn creates more, and by takin the soy earlier theres a better chance for more then one follicle to fully mature.

*It is recommded that you dont take soy with vitex and or any other herbs because they can negatively effect and cancel each other out. This is because vitex works like a herbal alternative to clomid (it just takes longer to see effects and clomid works pretty much instantly).

*It has been noticed that soy (unlike clomid) actually HELPS the CM production instead of drying you up.

Symptoms during the usage of the soy (CD1-9 depending on when you start): Hot flashes, headaches/migraines, moodiness, restlessness, drowsiness, nausea and being thirsy.

MY PLAN and Journal

CD3- October 11th 09

80mg of soy isoflavones taken at night to help lessen symptoms, 2000mg EPO taken at morning for cervical mucus, still taking 2 flinstones/day and upping my water intake. I have been sick with a cold since day 1 (i was not pleased! lol) so im hoping that this doesnt affect anything but only time and experiments will tell! took my first dose of soy at 11:25pm and by 1:41am i was still awake and i started to get a weird sharp pain in my temple which was the beginning of a headache. I also felt for a while like the pills i took were stuck in my throat no matter how much i drank (i took 4 capsules). I went to bed at 2:00pm and i tossed and turned for a bit. throughout the night i woke up sweating at least 3 times, like the bed was soaked lol not sure if any of this has anything to do with the soy but im trackin it anyways. oh yeah and i was gassy.

CD4- October 12th 09

Day 2 of soy. Feeling much much better then the last couple days (coldwise). Still have a bit of a cough but my appetite is slowly coming back so yay! 12:30pm headache is back...I took my soy a little earlier tonight around 11:00pm, just about to go to sleep :) back with another update tomorrow.

CD5- October 13th 09

Was very sweaty again last night after taking the soy. also i couldnt fall asleep until about 3am. I have noticed the past 2 nights about 2 hours after i take the soy i get a headache. Today i passed something very abnormal after some intense cramping (see blog 'scared...') bleeding quite heavily now compared to the last 5 days, havent decided if i should continue soy bcuz i dont know whats goin on. lots of hot flashes today!!!!!

CD6- October 14th 09

Woke up very sick again grrr thought i was getting better. Took my soy last night at 10:49pm after realizing i wasnt beginning to have a m/c. Been having loads of hot flashes. Had a few headaches here and there but nothing i cant handle. Took my soy a little late at 11:45pm today.

CD7- October 15th 09

very very tired, i couldnt even get out of bed! lol last day of soy! still sick with that cold, its really in my chest now and it sucks but oh well i have to suck it up bcuz sav has her eye appointment today. also hubby and i BD last nite and AF came back grrr so still have a little light flow left. Hopefully she will be gone again by tomorrow. Oh yeah! i have decided i want to try this cycle to see if soy actually works for me, i mean whats the point of doin an experiment if u cant get complete results :) we will be BDing every second day i think. took my last dose of soy at 11:12pm

CD8- October 16th 09

still having a few hot flashes, but feeling good otherwise! had stopped bleeding yesterday but started up a bit again today, so annoyed. not sure if this has to do with the soy (probably not) or with whatever else is goin on, has tapered off again tho so hubby and i will probably BD tonight if all is clear lol i think i will start my OPKs tomorrow.

CD9- October 17th 09

slept in until 11:47am this morning!! ugh feeling so blah lately. today i was sitting in the car on the way to my moms house and i just felt empty if that makes sense, like i had no emotions, it was so weird. anyhoo hubby and I BD the last two nights, i dont know what is into him but he cant get enough lmao wasnt home today so starting the OPKs tomorrow for def. we are taking sav to see the backyardigans live, im so excited for my babies first concert!!! BD in PM***

CD10- October 18th 09

slept in again, not really like me to be this tired. having some activity in my uterus which is a good thing, took an OPK today and it was fairly dark, taking another tomorrow to see the progress. BD in PM****

CD11- October 19th 09

Savs 15 mos today!! shes growing so fast, she had a blast at the backyardigans concert yesterday. taking my OPK before i leave today also goin to see my doctor so hopefully i get some answers! wrote a new blog with u/s results. OPK at 7pmish and there was a decent line but lighter then the day before.

CD12- October 20th 09

i think im fertile!! not Oing yet tho i dont think, not too sure, boobs have been sore, i have more engergy today and CM is changing, hard to tell tho bcuz hubby wont leave me alone lol he wants to BD all the time which is such a change, usually i have to bribe him to come to bed! taking my OPK in a couple hours, hoping its darker then yesterday! BD in the AM***

CD13- October 21st 09

very tired again today, hubby is home from work bcuz he is not feeling well, i think hes gettin the cold that sav and i had (i still have a cough that wont go away). i hope this doesnt put a damper in my whole TTC effort for this month, i will be really upset :( i know how crappy i felt when the cold first came on, poor hubby! CM is getting more watery, CP is high, soft and starting to open. Hopefully my OPK today is darker then the last. very weird, i was watching 'i didnt know i was pregnant' and cried at every story LOL!! i think my hormones are in full swing. Opk was again very faint, hoping it will darken up soon! BD in PM****

CD14- October 22nd 09

very tired. nipples are sore, i think im close! goin to take 2 OPKs today 6 hours apart to see if it makes a difference. well my OPK was almost blank so im going to assume i O'd already!?? my CP is now high, firm and closed and my CM is creamy...i dont know when i O'd....i forgot to take my temp this am but i took it after i was up and it was 36.4C *UPDATE* another lady who took soy this cycle had the same problem that im having and she didnt O yet, ugh i hate the uncertainty!

CD15- October 23rd 09

well my OPK today was darker then yesterday (by alot!) not positive tho, goin by the OPK i say i will have a positive by sunday (i hope!) come on eggie!!!!! *BD this afternoon AND PM****

CD16- October 24th 09

my temp went down again today, def. havent O'd yet! OPK def. seems to be getting darker too! i think i will have a positive by CD18, my ticker on my page seems to think i will O on CD19, would be cool if it was right!

CD17- October 25th 09

by looking at my chart i should have a positive OPK today but my CM is weird and patchy (creamy/watery) and my CP is high, medium and medium-firm, this can change pretty quickly tho. im so pissed at hubby this morning. he usually gets up with sav every morning and last nite he asked if i could get up with her i said sure no problem but we have to have sex tonight or tomorrow morning bcuz im goin to O soon and i would like it if we BD as close to O as possible. he was like yeah just wake me up in the morning, well i tried and he freaked out at me!?!? he was like im tireddddd, well suck it the hell up!!!! seriously im tired everyday u go to work i have to get up with sav and now on the weekend too ughhhh men are seriously rediculous, im not goin to get knocked up this cycle! i know this bcuz now im so pissed at hubby that i will not BD with him until he apologizes and he wont so there ya have it, frig i just want to O already like seriously want to get this cycle overwith......BD in PM***** --> LOL hubby is such a jerk hes lucky i havent O'd :P

CD18- October 26th 09

dull O Pains, weird crampage, hmmm i'd like to think that i will finally get a positive OPK today! my CP is finally seeming more open and soft, my boobs were hurting but that stopped. feeling a bit nauseated this morning, i read something about estrogen surges causing this, good thing? oh and my temp is ultra low today!

CD19- October 27th 09

No O yet, OPK a little darker, nothing new, getting annoyed waiting lol BD in PM****

CD20- October 28th 09

EWCM today!!! WOOOHOOO!! lol OPK is also quite dark but not as dark as the control line, i feel very good in saying that i think i will O on CD22, OPK should be positive tomorrow, finally!! lol i've waited long enough!! having a bit of a headache today :/ BD in PM*****

CD21- October 29th 09

EWCM again, feeling very "randy" lol hubby commented that i was like a b*tch in heat haha well probably bcuz i am in heat, its the same thing as Oing right?? HAHA!! OPK was darker yet again and i think it was positive! one side of the test line was darker then the other, taking another tomorrow to see what happens! BD in PM*****

CD22- October 30th 09

EWCM again!!! 3 days of EWCM is more then i have ever had, pretty neat!! this morning at 6am i got up with sav to get her a bottle and when i tried to go back to sleep and i had really strong O pains IN BOTH SIDES, WTF!?! i better not end up with twins i will seriously sh*t myself! LOL

CD23(O DAY)- October 31st 09 HALLOWEEN! :)

well we didnt BD yesterday but i got woken up by hubby this morning to DTD :) bases are likely covered now, BD about 17hrs after +OPK, good odds for a boy! think we will BD again tomorrow just in case! well we BD twice today, when we BD before bed it kinda hurt, good sign??!!! im hoping it did the trick! OPK was fainter today so i know that i DEFINATLY O'd, finally!!! :) TWW Here i comeeeeee!!!

CD24/1DPO- November 1st 09

went out last night, had a couple glasses of wine, came home and DTD with hubby :P really tired today tho! im incorporating another aspect to this experimental cycle here in a few days, im goin to blog about it later today! Very thirsty today, lots of tightness in my lower abdomen specifically the left side. lots of hives.

CD25/2DPO- November 2nd 09

very tired this morning, had a hard time falling asleep last nite bcuz i was so uncomfortable from the damn hives!! im starting the benadryl therapy on wednesday :) im kind of excited! having some weird stabby pains in my left side again today, thinking i def. O'd from that side as i had more pain on that side then the right, wouldnt suprise me tho if i did O from both sides. peeing alot today also feeling gassy and bloated, blahhh! White, chunky CM, CP low, still a bit open and medium.

CD26/3DPO- November 3rd 09

FF gave me cross hairs :) yippee!! if this cycle wasnt so long id consider calling it text book, check out my chart below, my temp just keeps rising! had sciatica this morning! sooo random :/ havent had it since pregnancy with savanaa and i know its too early yet for pregnancy this cycle so i dont know what was up with that!!! taking my girl to her eye appointment this afternoon and then stopping in to make an appt to get her h1n1 shot bcuz the phone lines were sooo busy yesterday! very 'wet' feeling down there today, CP was last low, wet, and soft (has been changing alot!) which is different! tired and empty stomach feeling. took 25mg of benedryl tonight bcuz the hives got the best of me, will be taking them thruout the rest of the week! sooo tired lol ughhh

CD27/4DPO- November 4th 09

my temp has never been this high without progesterone suppositories in the 2ww!! rather exciting for me :) started benadryl and i feel like i could die of tiredness!! its all worth it tho! pulling sensation in lower abdomen on the left (ovary area), sore nipples and weird tingling in boobs, irritable, probably bcuz im tired from the benadryl

CD28/5DPO- November 5th 09

feel like there is something sitting in my throat, yucky! my boobs look like missile rockets lol the areolas are very puffy,nipples still sore, i had mild cramping this morning after i got up to pee and laid back down i noticed them. small dip in temps. very tired = benadryl. CM is very milky white and i feel very wet all the time, had some yellow CM for a bit but its white again, checked my CP its high, firm and long and it still feels open? ok then lol a bit of cramping this evening, nothin major, very cold!! face warm, hands cold.

CD29/6DPO- November 6th 09

ok so ive been cold for a couple days now!! weird....altho it has snowed today for the first time this season, looks to be about 3-5cm on the ground yikes!

***********OMG i had the most messed up/vivid dream last night!! i woke up and seriously had to question everything that happened in it! I couldnt remember anything (in the dream) its like i just woke up one day and all these things were different, i had a newborn baby girl named tionna, we had a dog named chance, we lived somewheres different, everything was just weird. later on in the dream i found out i had been in a car accident and had memory loss for a year!!! and one day i just snapped out of it and everything was different, also i couldnt remember anything from when i had the memory loss, like i was asleep but still living my life. omg this dream shook me up in so many ways.

symptoms of the day, lol very yucky feeling in my tummy again this morning, it seemed to go away after i ate yesterday so maybe i will go do that. very tired and still have verryyyyy light cramps. cramps progressed to be more mild. fell asleep from 12:30pm until 3:00pm lol lucky hubby loves me and let me sleep. had another weird dream about jason (friday the 13th) he was trying to kill us hahah im crazy! CM is still very creamy almost lotion-like, has a yellowish tint on the TP, inside of my vajayjay feels very puffy! this is a weird one!!! before i even go to check my CP i can feels the 2 walls touching each other from the opening, my CP is medium-low, firm and definatly closed today (unlike yesterday) i couldnt tell lol

CD30/7DPO- November 7th 09

woke up with a really sore lower back! ugh dont think this is my month :/ bcuz of my temps....

lower back has been throbbing, pain shooting up under my rib tht hurts when i walk, boobs/nipples stopped hurting but i see veins in my nipples (areolas) weird! mild cramps & really tired, only took one benadryl today at 12pm

CD31/8DPO- November 8th 09

foot cramp today ouch, back is feelin a bit better, tired. my whole uterus feels bruised lol very tender to move anyway, nosebleed, CM is still quite watery/creamy, CP is high, soft and closed. temps still do not indicate anything.

CD32/9DPO- November 9th 09

Lower backache again today, feeling very blah! feeling a very increased probability that im out this month ugh wish AF would just take a hike!! lol breaking out on my jawline, 4 or 5 pimples, ew! random twinges and cramps, CM still really watery/creamy, CP is high firm and closed. had a 2 hour nap on the couch today lol still exhausted.

CD33/10DPO- November 10th 09

scared to test lol tested and BFN....temp is holding steady, AF should be here in 4 days if not i will test again in 5. AF cramps, cannot be good! boobs feel slightly bruised on the outsides and a bit bigger when i cup them lol other then that i feel perfectly normal. oh and hungry even if i just ate. Cm is tacky and white, CP is super closed (cant feel the opening) weird for this late in my cycle. also weird twinges in uterus again.

CD34/11DPO- November 11th 09 Rememberance Day "lest we forget"

well my temp hasnt changed, pretty weird for me lol my temp usually peaks at 11dpo and drops after that so by tomorrow i should have a better idea of whats going on. i had a restless sleep last nite and everything smells gross to me today. well the soy is officially driving me crazy lol my symptoms seemed to be dying down but now its like they are coming back? maybe this is PMS for real this time...lower back is killing me, napped for 2 hours today, the outsides of boobs are starting to ache and my nips are sensitive. CM is starting to get scant which is weird bcuz i usually get more around now, CP is high, sensitive, closed and firm. tested before bed (wrong thing to do lol) but a faint line showed up right away! but im just going to believe its a BFN. testing again 13dpo!

CD36/12DPO- November 12th 09

my lower back is killing me again and having weird sensations in my uterus area. very veiny!! my arms, chest and boobs looks like road maps! also my inner thighs where i have stretch marks from pregnancy number one are dark purple. my temp is yet again the same, feeling very good about this cycle!!! sharp pinpricky type feelings in left uterus, boobs feel heavy and they ache like when i was preg with sav, oversalvating today, CP is low, wet, and closed, CM is watery/creamy, i smell everything, lol i could smell savs dirty diapers from a mile away yuckkkk!!

CD36/13DPO- November 13th 09

gassy, tired, feel like AF is coming, EWCM/watery CM, CP is high soft and closed. cramps that feel like AF is coming. BFN on FRER and dollarstore tests. altho the second time i tested (7:30pm the dollarstore test had a line or evap but the FRER didnt --- that i could tell) nipples are itchy and i feel like my stomache is constantly empty, kinda nauseated unless i keep eating. peeing alot more today....i dont think any of these symptoms have anything to do with pregnancy more like PMS, thanks soy! temp dipped today as well .1 degrees, if AF is coming they will drop alot tomorrow.

CD37/14DPO- November 14th 09

Af arrived this morning. guess that makes it CD1 for me :(