Although my ttc story took two years, it’s pretty amazing what happened tp my body during that time. I look back and see it as it took two years to heal my body to the point I could conceive naturally, and hope it adds hope to anyone out there with endo ttc. This site gave me a lot of insight during my own wait, and am happy to finally be adding to it!
Long story short, 2 years ago, after my last endo surgery, hubby and I decided to start trying for kids. My surgeon said our best chance for conception was a year after the surgery, so we made a go for it. Alas nothing was happening, my fatigue was at an all time high, my endo belly was always flaring. After 8 months my endo started coming back, and that was the point I decided to make huge changes in my diet. I went from a limited “endo diet” to the Weston Price fertility diet (google it). This was a drastic change from my vegetarian, low fat endo diet, but my body started responding in remarkable ways when I added in lots of fat, butter, egg yolks, liver (I know, yes, I said liver), grass fed meat, and raw dairy kefir.
20 months later I actually had a regular cycle, real energy, all my pain that was coming back disappeared, and had tons of ewcm! This was a marvel for me, since it turns out I never had it before in my life (shows how infertile my body was at the time). My endo was put in remission from this flood of nutrients (as well as a serious de-stressing and body alignment regimen) and I felt the time was soon. And it was! We are currently 6 weeks pregnant.
One good thing about ttc for elongated periods of time is the fact you end up knowing your usual symptoms and your unusual ones, here were mine :)
1-6 dpo: nips sore but this is usual for me from right after ovulation.
7 dpo: feeling pretty tired, like my muscles are even weak. Hoping I’m not coming down with something
8 dpo: tired and really bloated. Feeling really scared that after my endo symptoms were all put into remission, they may be coming back with this fatigue and endo belly which is no longer normal for me. Worried.
9 dpo: enormous bloating, probably caused by the fact I’m totally backed up. Uncomfortable
Very sluggish and tired. Slight cramping. Still worried that endo is growing back.
10 dpo: woke up and areolas are puffy looking. This is first clue something is different because this has never happened before. It’s very noticeable.
11 dpo: constipation and supreme bloating continue, bbs now quite tender but … very light yet positive test! Will see tomorrow if it darkens
12 dpo: postive and a little darker, have period like cramps which worry me this is a chemical like my last one a year ago. Bbs hurt much more than a regular cycle
13 dpo: get blood test. Main issues are all the enormous bloating, constipation, bbs tender, puffy nipples, and really really tired. My normal cycle would have been more like slightly tired at this time and tender bbs, but not as extreme.
14 dpo: blood test at positive levels, so not a chemical! Very happy
We are now 6 weeks and feeling great except for breast pain and fatigue. And I mean deep fatigue, I could sleep all day! Not complaining though. Hoping everything goes well and we can expect a new family member next year!
If you have endo and you’re looking for resources different than the ones you already have tried and perhaps haven’t helped (where I was 18 months ago), or even if you don't have endo and need a big nutritional boost for pregnancy, I highly recommend researching Weston Price and getting the book called Nourishing Traditions. It’s basically the opposite of the endo diet, but it helped me so immensely that I hope it can help others. Also the website www.healendo.com is an incredible resource for gut health, diet, and movement that were all in alignment with what I did to reclaim my fertility. I'm so amazed that after 8 years of suffering with debilitating endo, I'm not only healthy but also naturally pregnant, there's hope ladies!