For some patients, it’s a lack of answers that makes you want to find a new doctor. Or being told your lab tests are all normal, even though you’re not feeling well. Or reaching a dead end with your doctor. For 34-year-old Ashley Wynosky, it was all three – as she battled unexplained infertility without much help from her insurance-covered doctors.
After Ashley’s obstetrician diagnosed endometriosis, performed surgery, and recommended in vitro fertilization (IVF) – that was the end.
No more testing.
No exploration of the lifestyle factors that can impact fertility.
Just a dead end that triggered a downward spiral of anxiety and depression for Ashley. It’s not how she wanted to feel as she prepared for her upcoming IVF procedure.
“When your body is not working and nobody knows why or wants to help, you start to feel like you’re going crazy,” said Ashley. “Conventional medicine has failed me. It wasn’t enough. I was ready for an alternative.”
A Better Alternative To Fertility & Health
The answer came from an unexpected but trusted person. Ashley’s sister Christin, a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, had recently started working at PEAK Integrative Medicine. She quickly recognized the potential of integrative practices to help Ashley.
It didn’t take much convincing for Ashley to give it a try PEAK and our approach to finding the root cause of her health and lifestyle that can impact her fertility.
“I was super excited about PEAK Integrative Medicine,” said Ashley. “I believe in a holistic approach to healing the body and I also believe in the healing power of food itself.”
So Ashley took the next steps. She signed up for PEAK’s membership program, completed PEAK’s enrollment and intake forms, and attended a medical visit. It felt different from her previous doctor visits.
During the visit, Ashley shared she was experiencing abdominal bloating and discomfort from certain foods, weight gain, and some depression and anxiety. Her goal was to become a better version of herself as she prepared for IVF, including losing weight, being less anxious and depressed, and feeling better overall.
“At PEAK Integrative Medicine I felt listened to,” said Ashley. “I felt like they wanted to get to the root of the problem and not just put on a bandaid.”
Building A Healthy Foundation For Pregnancy
To optimize Ashley’s health, the PEAK team recommended the PEAK Basecamp Diet & Lifestyle Program to remove stressors and give her body what it needed to heal.
Ashley enrolled in Basecamp along with her sister Christin, providing a support partner.
Over the next six weeks, Ashley worked hard to comply with the Basecamp program elements:
- Diet
- Sleep
- Mindset
- Stress management
- Hydration
- Physical activity
The Basecamp diet is anti-inflammatory, balances blood sugars, and removes common food allergens and intolerances. It’s also nutrient-dense and reduces caloric intake.
“Basecamp was really hard at first,” said Ashley. “Detoxing from some foods I had been eating created a withdrawal effect. But my purpose – to be the best version of myself for the upcoming IVF treatment – motivated me. And having a strong support network kept me going.”
At the end of six weeks, Ashley started reintroducing the possible trigger foods, one at a time, to watch for allergic or intolerance reactions.
The Challenges Of IVF & Miscarriage
From this first round of Basecamp, Ashley achieved several huge successes. They included:
- Losing 20 pounds
- Learning of her gluten intolerance
- Improving thyroid levels
- Being able to handle the mental and physical challenges of IVF
Even better, Ashley had a successful IVF. She was pregnant with twins.
But, it wasn’t all highs from there. There were some lows too.
The pregnancy, unfortunately, ended in a miscarriage.
Finding The Cause Of The Miscarriage
When Ashley pushed her obstetrician for an explanation, additional testing revealed Ashley has Factor V Leiden. This disorder causes an increased tendency for blood to clot, which can be life-threatening. Factor V Leiden also increases the odds of miscarriage. Ashley’s obstetrician chose not to provide any treatment to prevent clotting for Ashley. When Ashley brought this concern to the attention of her PEAK providers, they agreed she should take a baby aspirin daily as a proactive measure to reduce the risk of clots. This discovery is another important piece of information to help Ashley complete a successful pregnancy in the future – and maintain her health, pregnant or not.
“After trying so hard for so long, the setback of the miscarriage was hard to handle,” said Ashley. “If it wasn’t for PEAK Integrative, I don’t know where I’d be today. I did not want to take anxiety and depression medications. PEAK’s alternative treatments like Red Light Therapy and supplements improved my mental health and sleep quality during this difficult time.”
Preparing For Another Round Of IVF
Ashley decided to complete a second round of Basecamp, which helped her through her depression and anxiety from the loss.
At the end of 6 weeks, she was in a much better place. Ashley felt she had control over something again. Removing trigger foods from her diet enabled better sleep, improved mental clarity, and reduced anxiousness, stress, and digestive issues. More importantly, Basecamp helped her ride the waves – the ups and downs – of infertility better.
To anyone who is considering the PEAK membership plan, Ashley says, “Definitely give it a try. The Basecamp program was not easy but the outcomes are incredible. If I didn’t have PEAK, I’d be struggling mentally with depression.”
Ashley is now planning to start another round of IVF. She’s healthier. She’s better informed. And being in peak mental and physical shape makes it much easier to face the challenges life throws her way.
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