The Doc Deets

Since I started seeing my homeopathic doc (around this time last year), I’ve received so many questions from readers about my experience.

Why did I choose this doctor? What was my treatment like? Who is he?

Well now that the goal has been accomplished –nuggette in the oven!- I feel like I can finally answer all of these questions.

photo (100)

I definitely want to start off by saying that I know that sometimes avoiding prescription drugs or medical intervention isn’t possible. Western medicine is here for a reason! I just wanted to see if I could explore a different path with my hormone imbalance since Tom was deployed and we wouldn’t actively be able to *try* for quite a while. I never want to influence anyone as far as health decisions go, but just want to share my experience for those who have asked. It’s up to all of us to research and make the best decision for our own unique situations <3

As I’ve mentioned before many times on the blog and on this page, I was pretty sure I had a hormone imbalance. While my cycles were regular, as in Aunt Flow surely visited on a monthly basis, sometimes I wouldn’t ovulate at all, and the times I did, it was extremely late in my cycle. I never would have known this if I weren’t charting and using the Fertility Awareness Method. My skin was breaking out, I was exhausted in the morning, even after a full night of sleep, and despite trying to conceive even during the cycles I actually ovulated… nothing. It just seemed like something wasn’t right.

Why did I decide to seek out a natural method to help with my hormone imbalance?

I was actually trying to get pregnant at the same time as two of my best friends. One of them conceived immediately- when she told me, I cried. Half because I was thrilled and half, honestly, because I was jealous and sad. I feel badly writing that, like I shouldn’t have been sad, but I was.

The other friend conceived later last spring after 2 years of trying. The act of creating a baby is extremely tricky when you’re juggling deployments and TDYs, and even with consistently *going for the gold* it wasn’t happening for them. She started seeing a homeopathic doctor and he promised her she would be pregnant within 6 months. She told me about the eating plan he put her on, the nasty ass supplements he made her take, and I was 100% sure she was being ripped off. She was pregnant within 5 months.

Tom was about to leave, so I went to the Valdosta OB GYN to see if they could help me figure out what was going on within my cycles.

“I have irregular ovulation and my luteal phase is too short.”

“There’s no way you could possibly know that. Here, just take Clomid. That will get you pregnant.”

The thing is, Clomid is supposed to make you ovulate. I was ovulating on my own, even if it wasn’t every month, and after reading the side effects, I decided I didn’t want to take it. It seemed to me like a Band Aid, and I really wanted to determine what the actual problem was and see if it could be fixed.

Tom left and I figured I’d have 7+ months to get my body in the best bun-baking shape, so I called the same homepathic doctor my friend had used.

What was my treatment like?

After a phone consultation with the doctor, I felt like it was definitely worth a shot. He said that he thought he knew what was going on, but that he’d send me a couple of supplements to get started with, along with a saliva DNA test to verify. The saliva test was to check my hormone levels throughout the day, and also test for insulin levels and gluten response.

When I received the supplements, I was kind of shocked to find out what they were… glands. Pig ovary, cow brain [those aren’t the exact ones, but it’s pretty close] along with some plant-based ones. I called him and told him I was sorry, but I don’t like to consume animal-based medications and he said that he would send me only plant-based ones from then on. The fact that he was so understanding and quick to accommodate gave me a great feeling about the entire thing.

Then, right before Foodbuzz fest last year, he called to go over the test results with me. My hormones were backwards: low in the morning and high at night, which explained why I couldn’t wake up in the morning and could teach super intense fitness classes at night, no prob. Also, my insulin levels were low and my gluten response was borderline intolerant. He recommended staying away from gluten –I had told him it upset my stomach, anyway- and to watch my sugar levels.

From then on, he sent me the rest of the supplements I’d be taking and we had monthly phone consultations.

Every time I talked to him, my mind was blown. He asked questions about my cycle –he wanted to know EVERYTHING- and would know that changes were happening with me before I’d have to tell him. I’ll never forget when he asked if my wedding rings were tight and sure enough, the night before I’d had to take them off.

He promised me I’d be pregnant as soon as Tom got home, and I 100% believed him.

The downside:

-It was expensive. For those who may be wondering, I didn’t get any type of discount because I have a blog –I didn’t even tell him about the blog until I was pregnant- and paid full price for everything. The most expensive part was the supplements, and the phone calls were also pricey, even though sometimes I didn’t feel like I needed a consultation that month. Would I do it again? For sure.

-Negative opinions and comments from other people. “You’re seeing what kind of doctor?” “Sounds like a scam to me.” At one point, when I was living in Orlando, I had gone out of town for the weekend and came back to find out that someone had researched every single supplement I was taking while I was gone, just so they could tell me I was getting ripped off and they wouldn’t work. Sorry, but that’s the treatment path I wanted to take and explore, not really their business, ya know?

-The detox. The detox I had to go through was pretty miserable, and blogging about it was even worse. I was really worried that readers would think I was doing it for “diet reasons” and my eats and life were so boring, since I was waiting for Tom to come home and drowning in quinoa and vegetables. I’m so glad it’s over.

me with ice cream

[I was so happy for nights that I was allowed coconut ice cream during the detox]

The upside:

-The doc promised me that everything I was taking I wouldn’t have to take forever, otherwise he wouldn’t be doing his job. He wanted to fix the problem and get me off the supplements. I’m totally off everything I was taking and have been able to keep this baby growing in my belly sans medication, which I’m very thankful for.

-He stayed true to his word. He said I would be pregnant as soon as Tom got home, and he was right. While I don’t really know if the treatment is what caused this (there’s no way to really tell)- I never felt like he was lying to me or sugarcoating anything. When I called to tell him the good news, he wasn’t surprised. He said he doesn’t take patients that he can’t help.

-He encouraged my style of eating, exercise habits, acupuncture, yoga and all of the other things I was doing. From my experience with doctors in the past, these things were never a focus of conversation.

So who is he?

Dr. Patrick Flynn from the Wellness Way [based out of Wisconsin]. He’s a good dude, and I’m pleased to know him, even though it’s only been over the phone. As you guys know, I don’t like to pimp out companies or people on the blog unless I truly believe in them – thought he deserved a special shout out <3

Edited to say: I have another friend who saw him longer than I did, and did not get pregnant from treatment with him. Just wanted to update the post because he is very expensive, so you have to do what’s in the best interest of you and your family. xoxo

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79 Comments

  1. Alyse on September 23, 2011 at 1:47 am

    Thank you for sharing your experience so openly and so honestly. How wonderful to have found someone you trust, and whose methods resulted in you getting pregnant! I love hearing about health care providers who treat the whole person, like he treated you – being interested in your eating habits, exericise, yoga, etc.

    Congratulations on your pregnancy, and on finding a way that worked for you 🙂

  2. Melissa on September 23, 2011 at 1:57 am

    Our stories are soooo similar! I too found great success with my natural doctor and just kissed my 8 month old daughter good night after waiting for her for two years and losing pregnancies along the way. I detest the band aid of clomid and love hearing about others saying no. I am awaiting the results of another saliva test since my hormones are out of wack due to pregnancy and exclusive breast feeding…I was happy to know the supplements from my doctor are okay for breast-feeding (not all, but many). Super expensive, super worth it. Again, congrats on the your mini fitnessita…looking forward to the final stages of your journey! Xoxo

  3. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on September 23, 2011 at 1:58 am

    Thank you for sharing your experiences with this! If I ever need him in the distant future (which I hope I don’t) I hope he’s still practicing and taking patients! It sounds like he really worked for you!

    The one thing I wonder when I hear women talk about dealing with infertility is how they know its infertility and not just sometimes a baby can take a while to make. I feel like whenever I decide to try to have a baby, I wouldn’t start to worry about something being wrong before a year of trying has passed unsucesfully. Some bodies just take longer to have the right conditions needed for everything to come together. For some its instantaneous, for others its not, but it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your body.

    • Megan on September 23, 2011 at 9:09 am

      It looks like in Gina’s case, because she was faithfully keeping track of her cycles via the Fertility Awareness Method, she could see her body was having hormonal imbalances. Those that she described are not healthy, although I see them more and more in our North American culture (I strongly suspect diet and water supply, which are contaminated with lots of hormones our bodies weren’t meant for). Regardless, that is how she knew. Perhaps she could have waited for the stars to align, but with a hubby being gone a lot, she may have waited many painful years. Not to mention when your hormones are out of sorts like that, it affects much more than just the ability to get pregnant- It affects a woman’s everyday health and strongly impacts her chances of hormonal disease (ie, cancers) later. Gina’s story hear speaks of a woman who wanted full health to achieve a desired pregnancy, and I truly admire her for that (I’m sure you do too, I just wanted her to know ;))

      • Ginna on September 23, 2011 at 12:01 pm

        Erin – I agree. The recommended course is if you haven’t been successful after actively trying for a year (6 months for those over 35) it is usually time to seek help. And actually they don’t always have a rhyme or reason for what is going on because they can’t test for everything. After a year of trying my husband and I had to seek help. We had every test under the book. My periods were regular, I was ovulating every month, but we were still unexplained. I am happy to say I am 10 weeks pregnant after going through IVF. I am so grateful this modern technology exists. Every woman’s case is different so you never know.

        • Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on September 23, 2011 at 1:58 pm

          Omg congrats!! That is so exciting for you and your husband!! I’m thinking happy pregnancy thoughts for you (and Gina)!

      • Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on September 23, 2011 at 2:03 pm

        Oh I completely agree, I love how Gina is so take-charge with everything in her life. If you want to get something done that’s how you do it!

        I would never ever want her to have to wait many painful years, or even longer than they did. She was using a method that let her know something was wrong, and she did the right thing and got it treated. I just feel like so many women (who dont use FAM or other methods) worry if they don’t immediately get pregnant it means there’s something wrong. I’m a worrier so I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m one of those women one day, but the female body is a wonderfully powerful thing, sometimes it goes on its own schedule.

    • Fitnessista on September 23, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      the brilliant thing about charting is that you can determine if there’s something going on much sooner than if you’d been trying for much longer. in some magical world, every woman ovulates on day 14, but that’s rarely the case. they say that if you’re charting properly, you can seek help after 6 months of charting and most fertility clinics will accept that as well. by the time we actively started trying, i had been charting for 7 months.
      a bummer thing about being a military family is that we would never have a full year to activity try. the pilot deploys or is sent on temporary duties multiple times a year, so i figured since he’d be gone for 7 consecutive months, i’d see what i could do.

      • Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on September 23, 2011 at 1:56 pm

        I think that was really smart to use the time while the Pilot was gone to make sure everything was all set in your body for baby making. I’ve said this before but you are so strong to be able to handle his long deployments as well as you do. I’m so happy you have a long while before he has to do that again!

        I’d like to try charting eventually, but I don’t even know if that’s possible while I’m on the pill. At this point my biggest concern involving my period is not getting pregnant, but I worry about what being on birth control for an extended period of time will do to my body when I’m looking to get off of it and try to have a baby.

        • Ginna on September 23, 2011 at 2:06 pm

          Erin – thank you! We are just over the moon. You know I was on the pill for 6 years and went off and my periods came back like clock work. Some women do have issues with regular menses after getting off the pill. But others don’t – I have several friend’s who got pregnant the month off the pill. They do recommend though that you go off the pill and don’t start trying for 3 months after to get your cycle regulated. Ah the human body is such a crazy thing. It does it’s own thing most of the time. Try not to stress about it. The book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” is a great resource…I wish I had read it before I went off the pill. I did not chart but did use over the counter ovulation kits, the more expensive option. It is good though to be informed before you start trying.

  4. Brandee on September 23, 2011 at 2:11 am

    This is exactly what I needed to read…thank you. My husband and I are both military so I completely understand trying to make it work in the time we are both together. After 2 years of trying, I’m happy to know that maybe this could be an option for us. I wouldn’t have known this was an option if you hadn’t blogged about it so thanks again for writing this and sharing your experience.

  5. Amanda on September 23, 2011 at 4:48 am

    Thanks for sharing Gina! Really fascinating stuff. You’ve opened people up to natural solutions instead of ‘conventional’ medicine.

  6. Lauren on September 23, 2011 at 6:48 am

    THis helps me so much! I am going through the same thing right now and I have a feeling its a hormone imbalance. I just went for blood work yesterday to test my levels but I’ve really been curious about alternative medicine. Thank you so much for sharing this Gina! You’re definitely a huge success story and great support. 🙂

  7. Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews on September 23, 2011 at 7:24 am

    Thanks for all the information! Very interesting.

  8. Holly @ The Runny Egg on September 23, 2011 at 7:31 am

    Thanks for sharing all of this info Gina — and I’m glad it all worked out!

  9. chelsey @ clean eating chelsey on September 23, 2011 at 7:31 am

    Thank you for sharing all of this and who your doctor was! I am going to be needing someone like that soon as my hormones are so so soooo out of whack and I don’t know how I feel about taking any sort of fertility meds.

  10. DCRunner on September 23, 2011 at 8:12 am

    Thanks for sharing this Gina! It’s so helpful for others in similar situations who feel like they’re all alone with a weird body and can’t really tell anyone about it b/c it’s something we don’t talk about much. I’ve been dealing with the exact same issues you had and have been TTC for quite some time. I’ve been doing the homeopathic thing for a while… I believe in it, but I haven’t seen results yet. My doc wants me to start clomid on my next cycle, and I’m a bit hesitant. What supplements did your homeopath have you take? I’ve been doing a blend with the primary ingredient being vitex.

  11. Meg on September 23, 2011 at 8:18 am

    I firmly believe in homeopathic medicine and remedies. I work with a lot of homeopathic supplements and treatments at work and the feedback we get is truly amazing and just puts a huge smile on your face. Knowing how much these things are changing people’s lives is awesome 🙂 I’m so happy for you and your husband. What a beautiful child you’re going to have!!!

  12. Brooke @ Tales of a Bride-To-Be on September 23, 2011 at 9:30 am

    I throughly enjoyed this post. Although my fiance and I are not trying to conceive, thats for the far future we are interested in seeking other ways to getting pregnant. Unfortunately I’ve been told since I was 18 that I have a slim chance of getting pregnant, now I don’t believe that because there are natural ways and natural supplements that can increase that and I honestly believe in all of it. Its just nice to see another woman have a successful “encounter” with a homeopathic doctor. I also believe my hormone’s are imbalanced because I deal with the same symptoms. And my doctor hasn’t really talked to me about it, so maybe that is chance to look into a new homeopathic doctor. Like I said, this post really helped. I can’t wait to share it with my hubs to be!

  13. Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter) on September 23, 2011 at 9:31 am

    I personally think homeopathic medicine is extremely interesting, and I’d love to learn more about it. And truly, I am so happy for you that this experience and doctor ended up being so positive and working for you.. It’s obvious that there is a lot of love in your little family for the nugget to be welcomed into.

  14. sarah (sarah learns) on September 23, 2011 at 9:32 am

    i’ve heard of him! i’m from a tiny town near green bay & i’ve heard good things about him – my husband is a chiropractor and we talk a lot about alternative medicine and what we think about it. very cool to hear your testimonial!

  15. Jenn on September 23, 2011 at 9:35 am

    I don’t know why but this post totally made me cry haha. I’m so happy for you girl, you deserve this! And Dr. Patrick Flynn is a warrior!

  16. Rhiannon on September 23, 2011 at 9:39 am

    I think it’s great that Dr. Flynn’s methods worked for you. And anytime that a person can achieve their goal by trying to fix the problem rather than covering it up with medication is awesome!

    • jennyv on September 23, 2011 at 12:08 pm

      I agree 100% ! 🙂

  17. CaitlinHTP on September 23, 2011 at 9:42 am

    This makes me soooo happy! Yay for holistic docs!

  18. ivette on September 23, 2011 at 9:46 am

    Gina, did you know you where not ovulating from reading your BBT charts? if so what was the identifier. Just wondering, I have been looking for examples on the net but Im still not clear. Thanks 🙂

    • Fitnessista on September 23, 2011 at 12:11 pm

      yes, some months there was a clear spike, and other months looked like a crazy jigsaw. up and down all cycle

    • meagan on September 23, 2011 at 7:03 pm

      Fertilityfriend.com has a large gallery of all kinds of charts. You should be able to find what you’re looking for there.

  19. Felicia (Natural + Balanced) on September 23, 2011 at 9:47 am

    thank you for sharing this Gina! i’m trying to “fix” my hormone imbalances through acupuncture, and looking to possibly start herbs.. but i really need to figure out what is going on with me. this would be something i’d really look into because my cycle has been so messed up for years, despite eating healthy and staying a healthy weight. so glad it worked for you 🙂

  20. kara on September 23, 2011 at 9:58 am

    really just want to thank you for sharing this! it’s really nice to hear about alternatives to the typical solutions/medications/etc. it makes me so sad when people just jump right on board with whatever their doctors tell/give them without question, when a lot of the time lifestyle and natural changes and the like can really help.. better than meds can, or at least are worth a shot at trying before resorting to medication. obviously there are some times when medication is absolutely necessary or the best course to take, but still, its so worth checking out and looking into more, and i just don’t feel like people do that enough.

  21. Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries on September 23, 2011 at 10:04 am

    This is so informative – thank you so much for sharing! Seriously. I would’ve never even known about the possibility of a homeopathic doctor if it weren’t for this post. I, too, have imbalanced hormone levels, so this is all good to know for when we try to get pregnant. Thanks!!

  22. chelsea on September 23, 2011 at 10:13 am

    That sounds like such a great experience 🙂 You were so lucky to find such a great guy to help with you.

  23. karissa on September 23, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Great post <3

  24. Melissa on September 23, 2011 at 10:44 am

    Thank you for sharing this! I’m not at the point in my life when I want my own bun in the oven, but I’ve loved reading about your journey!! You tell it like it is, and your readers can tell you put so much thought and time into your posts! I know I can always look back at these posts for much needed advice, so thanks!!!!

  25. maria @ Chasing the Now on September 23, 2011 at 11:26 am

    This was a very interesting read. I’m not trying to conceive or anything like that, but I enjoy hearing about non-traditional medicine and I am so glad it worked out for you!

  26. Teri on September 23, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    Gina,

    Could you email me with approx. how expensive it was? I deal with PCOS just like your cousin and nothing I’ve done has helped me. I have dealt with the worst doctors and want someone trustworthy. I don’t want to contact him until I know exactly what kind of prices I might be dealing with. Granted, I realize prices can vary due to what tests he would need to do.

    Thanks!

    • Fitnessista on September 23, 2011 at 12:29 pm

      sure, i’ll email you right now.

      • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat on September 23, 2011 at 12:34 pm

        Could you email me that too? Just curious as I might try to go that route myself soon. Thanks!

      • Tamara on September 23, 2011 at 3:10 pm

        Could you e-mail me too? I actually work very near the Wellness Way office, so I’d like to seriously look into this option. Thank so much for sharing your experience!

      • M.E. on September 23, 2011 at 6:30 pm

        could you email me too? I have PCOS and other issues and would love a ballpark of how much it cost for you to consult with him.

      • Melody on September 23, 2011 at 7:15 pm

        PCOSer here also! I would love to know if he could help with this. If you could email me too, I’d appreciate it.

      • Karen on September 23, 2011 at 8:20 pm

        Hi can you email his details as well…. I am dealing with such issues as well and hoping to conceive soon too

      • Mari on September 27, 2011 at 6:53 pm

        Hi Gina,

        Could you please email me as well? I started charting four months ago, and like you, I get my period each month, but I haven’t ovulated at all and this is something I would like to look into.

        Thank you!

      • Kristy on September 30, 2011 at 4:21 pm

        Will you e-mail me estimated expense too? I have endometriosis and strong suspicions of unbalanced hormones.

  27. maria on September 23, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    Thanks so much for letting me know the name of your Dr. I’m from WI and my mom has been going through some serious health issues for the past two years that Western Medicine doctors have not been able to figure out and she was looking to see a hollistic doctor so I will definitely be passing the information to the clinic along to her.

  28. Kayla on September 23, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Yay! Your doc is from my home. 🙂 LURVE Wisconsin!

  29. cortney on September 23, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    Gina, awesome post. Women need to talk more openly about fertility issues because it affects so many of us. 1 week after our wedding, doctors found a cyst the size of a football growing around one of my fallopian tubes. Obvi it was removed, along with one of my tubes. Initially I was devastated. I knew conceiving was going to be that more challenging. My husband and I have been TTC for about 5 months. Our fertility doc and ourselves have decided we’ll try for another six months and then seek fertility treatments if needed. What I have learned going through this is that everyone’s baby making path is different, and it is theirs to own- and not any one else’s to judge. We all get a sex ed talk in jr high that makes us believe the minute we don’t use protection, boom… preggers it is. Well, there needs to be a follow up talk that teaches women, hey it might not be that easy & you’re not alone. As a nurse, working in one the world’s busiest ERs I see numerous women with many different fertility issues….and I also see these women have great success ultimately getting pregnant with some help, whatever that help may be. Baby dust to all you guys TTC 🙂

    • Ginna on September 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm

      Cortney – you have such an admirable positive attitude about it. Infertility affects so many couples, 1 in 8. Alot of people don’t realize this and can be very insensitive to it. It is such an emotionally, financially and spiritually draining thing to go to. Good luck to you and your husband!

  30. Kathryn @ Flopoodle on September 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    I’m currently in the midst of homeopathic treatment for a, shall we say, abundance of something that should not be in my, or anyone’s, body. My mum has been using homeopathy for years and we also use it on our pets with wonderful results (and NO side effects!). I’ve only been on my treatment for a week, but I’ve already noticed some minor changes in the right direction. I love it! My homeopathist uses hair mineral analysis instead of saliva, but I’d be curious to try both methods and see if there are any differences. Thank you for sharing this story, and I hope it encourages more people to give homeopathy a shot.

  31. Abby @ Abz 'n' Oats on September 23, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your story! 🙂 I am a nursing student about to graduate this December and all of the pill pushing of Western medicine really bothers me. I would love to work for someone like your doc! 🙂

  32. Kat on September 23, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    Thanks for sharing your story,Gina.
    I’m due within a few days from you and I love reading your Family page.
    I have gone through the EXACT same problem with the anovulation, hormones and short luteal phase.
    I tried acupuncture and some other homeopathic approach, but unfortunately it did not work for me.
    I ended up taking Clomid and got pregnant on the 2nd round.
    Can’t wait to see your progress on the nursery, I haven’t even started mine…

  33. R @ Learning As I Chop on September 23, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    I followed a somewhat similar path to you (you and I basically have the same due date). Even though we didn’t have a long road, I wanted to maximize my chances by trying to make some homeopathic changes. So I read the book “Making Babies” and tweaked my diet. That month, I was pregnant. Now it might have been a coincidence or it might’ve been due to those small chances. Never hurts to try!

  34. Andrea on September 23, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    I have a friend that I think I may recommend him too. I actually live in WI. so this
    is perfect. Thanks for the honest info!

  35. Julie on September 23, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Wow, Gina- thank you for being so open with your story! I am struggling with irregular cycles (as in no Aunt Flo for almost a year now) and I’m getting to the point where I’m willing to try anything! I’m about to go visit my second infertility doctor, and I’m hoping to get the help that I need. But I appreciate your honesty and sharing it with us- you have no idea the impact your journey has had on me! I’m keeping my fingers crossed and staying positive that one day I’ll have my own little nugget or nuggette 🙂 Best wishes for continued health throughout your pregnancy!! – Julie

  36. Tamara on September 23, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    Gina – thank you SO much for posting this information. I have been dealing with fertility issues for over a year. My doctor is quick to perscribe fertility meds and I’m getting frustrated with no answer as to why my cycles are so long and I don’t ovulate. It is nice to know that there are ways to figure that out besides just masking it with meds. Bonus – I live in Wisconsin. I’ll definitely be looking into this new option. Thans for enlightenign me.

  37. M on September 23, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    Nowhere near trying for pregnancy (ha), but just wanted to say you laid out this post very professionally without seeming like you were trying to influence others/preach. Nice job. Best of luck!

    • Fitnessista on September 23, 2011 at 3:52 pm

      thank you <3

  38. Ali on September 23, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    Such an awesome story, thank you for sharing! My hormone levels are all wacky too, and conventional medicine never really seems to have an answer. It is similar with gastro-intestinal issues. I would much rather go the more natural route, since they seem to have more information and options, that are not just drugs. I am so so so happy for you and Tom again, you guys totally deserve all the blessings in the world.

  39. Nelly on September 23, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    could you email me too with the estimated price? Thanks! Love this post 🙂

  40. Beth on September 23, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    So glad that his regimen worked for you! I took my daughter to a naturopath a few times last year (she has serious tummy issues) and they were the most helpful. It was expensive though and they didn’t take any insurance. I took her to two GI specialists and they told me she was fine, it was behavioral and she would grow out of it. I wanted to punch them both. I know my kid. The only person that acknowledged there was anything wrong and offered any sort of treatment was the naturopath. We had to stop going because it was so expensive. We just found another practice close-by that actually takes our insurance, so we only have to pay a co-pay. We will still have to pay for the supplements, but at least some of it is covered. Congratulations on your pregnancy! It’s such an exciting time! 🙂

  41. allison on September 24, 2011 at 1:09 am

    have you done a post about exactly how you did the charting and found out all of the great info about your cycle? thanks!

  42. nikki on September 24, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I’ve been reading your blog for a few years (love love it!) and just had to comment as I live in GB! We’ve been trying for 3+ yrs with no luck (despite testing showing we’re “normal”); I may have to give him a call. How did you chose him and can I ask roughly how much? Thx, as always love your blog <3

  43. Elena on September 24, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    Just read it all! Thank you for sharing. I am also in the process of ttc for a year mnow, had one mc unfortunately and now looking for different approach methods to help my body go on track. It is a shame but in my part of the word is way too difficult to find a good practitioner both holistic and regular medicine.
    Happy for you! 🙂

  44. Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf on September 25, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Glad to see I’m not the only one in this situation!

    I recently started “seeing” a holistic doctor out of state and we’ve been doing email consultations. I too have been feeling a hormonal imbalance, and feel that my short six-month stint on birth control pills two years ago exacerbated it, because I never totally returned to “normal” after the hell the pill put me through.

    I’ve seen several western doctors in the past few months. Mostly for various tests that my holistic doc needed done, but every time I went I felt like they were ignoring the laundry list of symptoms I’d JUST told the nurse I had, and they weren’t going to do anything about it. I know from charting my periods (and sometimes my BBTs, etc.) that I have a long (and somewhat irregular) cycle, I ovulate erratically, and if I do, it’s late in my cycle–around day 19. And then I have a long luteal phase on top of that.

    I decided to see a doc because of my moods (or lack thereof, if you catch my drift…), not expecting anything totally serious. Maybe something tweaked out of balance here or there. But this past week I had a blood test done for possible PCOS, which I, my OBGYN, and my holistic doctor (finally) seem to be on the same page that I probably do have (results aren’t back yet). I’ve been able to remain mostly asymptomatic to PCOS because I’ve been sustaining a healthy, active lifestyle for the past two years, but before that time, the signs were stronger.

    We aren’t actively trying to get pregnant right now, though it’s something we’d welcome should it happen. But I’d like to know that my body is working the way it’s supposed to work–naturally.

  45. Amanda on September 26, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    I hate to be a pain but if you could also send me a ballpark number for how much this was it would be greatly appreciated! Your before symptoms sounds verbatim to mine and I’ve been thinking about taking the plunge on a holistic doc but unfortunately have a feeling it’ll be out of my budget :/ Thanks girl- your very inspiring!

  46. Michelle on October 12, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    The last 3 months my doctor has been telling me that everything is fine and giving me a prescription to start my cycle every month, although I am felt not myself (weight gain, hair loss, emotional). My first consultation with Dr. Flynn was today and I feel so relieved to have someone actually listen and come up with a plan. Thank you so much for your post!! I love your blog.

    • Fitnessista on October 13, 2011 at 12:16 am

      that’s so cool that you talked with him! he’s so nice 🙂

  47. Becca on January 30, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Thanks for this terrific post, Gina. Thanks for helping us to see some other options and avoid unproductive anxiety. Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!

  48. barb on April 11, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    Hi Gina, I was wondering if you could send me some more info about ballpark prices? I just want to get an idea of costs so I know if this is an affordable option for me. Thanks so much!

    • Fitnessista on April 11, 2012 at 11:28 pm

      hey girl
      will you send me an email? 🙂
      xoxo

  49. Heather on October 16, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Hi Gina! I’m also dealing with some crazy hormonal imbalances since coming off of bc back in January. Would you mind emailing me approx costs for the doc? I really appreciate it!!!

  50. Sterling on November 18, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    I’m so happy you got results with him; it definitely wasn’t my experience, but I was in a different situation than you were. I had hormonal imbalances and weight gain from celiac disease (despite changing nothing about my lifestyle but eliminating wheat – same calories, same exercise, etc.). I spent $3500 in supplements and consultations with him, and if anything I’m worse off than I was before. I’m sure this is unique to my situation, as most medical results and experiences are, but I definitely would have been happier putting the $3500 towards a house. The supplements he put me on made me really depressed and constantly overheated, and my chest got bigger (which I’m sure most people would appreciate, but I hate it). He’s a really nice guy, but I wish I had just left my body alone and let it do its thang.

    On the other hand, Livi is the cutest thing ever, and without homeopathic medicine, she might not be here, so I respect him for helping you guys out. 🙂 She’s seriously the cutest little lady ever.

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2013 at 10:06 am

      i’m sorry you didn’t have a great experience. one of my friends didn’t either, which is why i went back added the little edited blurb.
      it just sucks that there’s no way to know how it will work for you until you try, and sadly spend money in the process.
      i hope that everything balances out for you! thank you for the sweet words about livi.
      xoxo

      • Sterling on January 9, 2014 at 4:18 pm

        I’m only saying this because I don’t want other people to have the same experience I had:

        While his office staff were some of the best people I’ve ever talked to, I found Dr. Flynn extremely unprofessional, especially toward the end of our time working together. He was routinely late for almost all of our phone appointments by 10-15 minutes, and a few times he other specialists from his office call me in his stead because he was busy – and even their calls were 10-15 minutes late, too. [That was for appointments scheduled months in advance, by the way.] They would promise that Dr. Flynn himself would call me back that afternoon, but it would often take up to four calls to the office to reschedule a time that would work for him – he took no initiative to call me back on his own after missing an appointment unless I repeatedly called. I live in a different time zone than he does, so I had to take time out of work or during my lunch breaks to talk to him, so I scheduled all my appointments strategically and really needed him to be on time, which he rarely (if ever) was.

        Additionally, he seemed very rushed during most of our phone calls, which rarely if ever lasted more than 20 minutes – for $200/phone call. Because of the behavior I’ve described above, it seemed to me like he must have scheduled a separate person for each 20-minute period, instead of leaving time to really answer patients’ questions.

        I had super high hopes for his services at the beginning, but over time his professionalism really declined.

        Also, FWIW, I politely explained to his office staff that I wouldn’t be working with him anymore (for the aforementioned reasons, also politely explained), and he hasn’t attempted to contact me at all to apologize or try to fix the situation.

        Anyway, your experience (thank goodness!) sounds completely different – I just wanted to warn others that experiences like mine happen with him.

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