My period finally started yesterday morning (12-3). It sure has been a hellish one. I had really bad cramps yesterday and today, which I usually don't get. I've also been a mess emotionally the last few days. It hasn't been pleasant at all.
I will be following the cycling program Wahaika posted on his forum, which is this:
No ramp up.
Fenugreek 1000mg 3 times per day days 5-10 and 18-23
Saw Palmetto 1000mg 3 times per day on days 1 through midcycle.
Wild Yam 1000mg three times per day on days 18-23
Goat's Rue 1000mg 3 times per day on days 5-10
Except that I will be changing the total amounts of herb because I think 3000mg will be way too much for me. I will be taking:
1800mg (4 capsules) Saw Palmetto, 1830mg (3 capsules) Fenugreek, and 1700mg (4 capsules) Wild Yam. The Goat's Rue that I ordered turned out to be dried herb rather than powder (it's my own fault for not paying closer attention to what I was ordering) so I will be taking that as a tea and probably doing a little trial-and-error to get the amount right.
I will also be taking 3000mg of NeoCell Collagen 1 & 3 Plus Vitamin C, 3000mg MSM, 1000mg Flaxseed Oil (may up that amount later), and 1000mg Borage Oil daily. I will also massage twice daily using chi rotations, and using a heating pad before and after massage. I don't think I'm even going to try to pump this time because I know that realistically I won't be able to keep up with it. I've decided that I will use the Booby Stacked cream with the herbs and use it all month long as directed. I realize this may defeat the purpose of a cycling program but if I have negative side-effects I will do one or the other for the next cycle. The cream will be arriving tomorrow so I'll start using it then.
Not a whole lot to report so far, other than that I've felt some pinching pains here and there and some tingling as well. I'll take my measurements on day 5 of my cycle when my swelling should be gone.
ETA: I forgot to mention that I woke up Saturday morning with a headache and felt very tired. I knew before I even got out of bed that my period would come that day because of it, and sure enough, it had already started. It's not uncommon for me to get that heavy, tired feeling on the day that I start but the headache was definitely new. I've never had a headache at the beginning of my period, or even during it at all. The only time I ever get headaches associated with my period are when doing NBE, on the day my period ends or the day after. So this was different. I attribute it to the stop/start random things I took during my last cycle, namely the Dandelion. The headache lasted all of Saturday and finally went away yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and hasn't come back. I'm a little anxious to see what happens when this period ends. Not sure if I should expect horrible pain, or if maybe I've already got the headache out of the way.
I will be following the cycling program Wahaika posted on his forum, which is this:
No ramp up.
Fenugreek 1000mg 3 times per day days 5-10 and 18-23
Saw Palmetto 1000mg 3 times per day on days 1 through midcycle.
Wild Yam 1000mg three times per day on days 18-23
Goat's Rue 1000mg 3 times per day on days 5-10
Except that I will be changing the total amounts of herb because I think 3000mg will be way too much for me. I will be taking:
1800mg (4 capsules) Saw Palmetto, 1830mg (3 capsules) Fenugreek, and 1700mg (4 capsules) Wild Yam. The Goat's Rue that I ordered turned out to be dried herb rather than powder (it's my own fault for not paying closer attention to what I was ordering) so I will be taking that as a tea and probably doing a little trial-and-error to get the amount right.
I will also be taking 3000mg of NeoCell Collagen 1 & 3 Plus Vitamin C, 3000mg MSM, 1000mg Flaxseed Oil (may up that amount later), and 1000mg Borage Oil daily. I will also massage twice daily using chi rotations, and using a heating pad before and after massage. I don't think I'm even going to try to pump this time because I know that realistically I won't be able to keep up with it. I've decided that I will use the Booby Stacked cream with the herbs and use it all month long as directed. I realize this may defeat the purpose of a cycling program but if I have negative side-effects I will do one or the other for the next cycle. The cream will be arriving tomorrow so I'll start using it then.
Not a whole lot to report so far, other than that I've felt some pinching pains here and there and some tingling as well. I'll take my measurements on day 5 of my cycle when my swelling should be gone.
ETA: I forgot to mention that I woke up Saturday morning with a headache and felt very tired. I knew before I even got out of bed that my period would come that day because of it, and sure enough, it had already started. It's not uncommon for me to get that heavy, tired feeling on the day that I start but the headache was definitely new. I've never had a headache at the beginning of my period, or even during it at all. The only time I ever get headaches associated with my period are when doing NBE, on the day my period ends or the day after. So this was different. I attribute it to the stop/start random things I took during my last cycle, namely the Dandelion. The headache lasted all of Saturday and finally went away yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and hasn't come back. I'm a little anxious to see what happens when this period ends. Not sure if I should expect horrible pain, or if maybe I've already got the headache out of the way.