Nips on fire (and other symptoms...)

There is no polite way to explain the wrath of symptoms I have lived with over the last month since coming off valproic acid and birth control. The WORST of them all were the fire-y nips, then came the shameless public boobie-hold because they were so sore (ladies, you feel me on this???), shortly followed by the achey old-lady broken back feeling and pulsating ovaries.

All seems pretty normal right? I guess so...

I couldn't just unapologetically write about it though amongst all the unfortunate, cruel, and inexcusable behaviour that is happening in the world. Not that this injustice has stopped in any way (and in fact there should be more light continuing to press on the issues at hand), but I also thought some of you could laugh at my awful, awful symptoms over the last little while.

Anyways, I couldn't tell you how many times I wanted to walk around with cold cucumbers inside the slings that held my boobs together just to aid the flaming feeling, but alas it was 30 some odd degrees so I'd probably end up with steamy and sloppy cucumber slices instead. I heard this can happen when you first come off birth control though so I wasn't too concerned, but it just really, really, sucked. NOTE TO SELF FOR ANYONE DECIDING TO COME OFF BIRTH CONTROL.... Brace yourself. I thought the worst of it would've been acne or something, but nupe, it was way worse.

All is well now. My nipples can finally graze a shirt without being painful and I can finally let my bra do the job without having to hug my own chest with every step on the pavement. I can also finally walk straight and live without a Tylenol-Advil combination of medications to aid the sore back and ovaries.

Truthfully, I've been too scared to take a pregnancy test. I'm convinced it's just the birth control withdrawal symptoms because my period came but then again, it was only a 2-day long period so who the heck knows. I just don't want to be disappointed..... so I'll keep waiting. The anticipation does kill me a little inside.

I just can't let myself go and be that wanna-be pregnant lady who jumps on every chance to do it like hyenas (fun fact... according to Google, those cats are always on the prowl). Alas, I am trying to stay level headed and tame. At least that's where my head is at for now.

I've been using the Flo app on my phone to track my ovulation period/cycle and taking New Chapter prenatal vitamins. Any other advice? Other than taking it easy and just having fun for now? I'm not wildly crazy or committed to getting pregnant, but it'd be pretty cool if it happened this fast since I know only the lucky few can conceive so quickly. Anyways, let me know in the comments below if you have any other advice for this gal.

Oh, and the upside? My mood has never been better. I also weaned off my gabapentin because my tremors have virtually disappeared and I have so much energy, but not like mania type of energy. Just calm happy vibes like a furry alpaca grazing grass. Or a llama with a beautiful mane just galloping through a meadow full of white and yellow daisies. Or even a t-rex with short stubby arms trying to effortlessly do the macarena dance. Ya feel me?

I'll stop here for now. Thank you for unconditionally supporting me and I'll be back soon, fire-less nips and all.

xoxo,

Joanne