Heidi

[Guest guest]

Hi, Heidi!

I've read all of your charming, upbeat posts of late. I've been meaning

to write, but, well, the more I have to say, the longer it seems to take

me to get started! I hope you don't think I've been ignoring you.

Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying your new job, although it sounds very

stressful to me. I don't like sharks of any kind very much.

I'm so glad you are going to try to quit smoking. Good luck! I'm sure it

won't be easy, but the health benefits are tremendous. Maybe focus on

the fact that ending your smoking habit may help you conceive and would

be the best thing for the baby and you:

http://www.babyworld.co.uk/news/Oct-01/311001_smoking_ & _conception.asp

http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact07.html

In addition to pondering your endometriosis, did your doctor check for

antiphospholipid and antithyroid antibodies while he was at it? Just

wondering since they are common in those with immune system problems and

I've read that they are thought by some (it's quite controversial)

physicians and researchers to interfere with conception. In fact, I have

a good friend who is in excellent health but was having trouble

conceiving. She saw four different physicians over a period of years

before the last discovered that she had antiphospholipid antibodies. She

now has twins.

More on this:

http://haveababy.com/infert/immunebreak.asp

http://www.universityfertility.org/specialtopics1.html

http://www.ferti.net/library/highlights/2001_issue14.asp#02

http://www.mefsjournal.com/00v5n2ab.htm

I'm sorry about the deaths of your mother and half-brother. That's a

very sad story. I'm glad you've had someone to talk to to help you work

through such a trauma. It's hard to imagine. I hope that your pain can

continue to diminish over the coming years.

I did stubbornly avoid seeing the doctor last month despite your urging

(and those of concerned others), but, upon my recommendation, my

ex-husband had an appointment with my doctor and squealed on me. I have

promised my doc through him that I would see him this month for a

check-up. So, thanks, and even though I'm feeling better, I'm going

anyway. I'm such a bad example for this group!

Hope you are feeling well today. All the best to you in 2002!

[ ] Kathy in il

> Kathy, I know what you mean about giving up smoking! Not an easy

task - I

> have set the 15th January to give up but am not looking forward to it

at

> all, even though I know how bad it is. I hope the patches help you.

Have

> you been for therapy to get over your husband's death and help deal

with

> what you are going through now? I am not advocating anything here but

after

> my mom died I went through 2 years therapy with a wonderful

psychologist and

> I can honestly say it helped enormously - there are just too many

issues to

> deal with on your own after something like that. I am sure that these

> things can affect your health. I hope that you find some happiness

and

> don't forget you definitely fit in here and we are from all the age

groups

> that you can find!

> Hugs

> Heidi