Kerrie- Let me just say I'm not an expert or anything, but have been dealing with pcos for a number of years now. I am experiencing some really depressing issues with it currently, so can understand your frustration. I am a lurker on this forum, but haven't commented (note above about being an in-expert, lol). Really wanted to post to yours though since I have the same problems. Last year I went off bc (yasmin) because of the same thing- experiencing a migraine after my period that would be so bad I would spend the day vomiting. I do rather regret going off of it, due to worsening symptoms from the sudden upset in hormones from stopping it. I resumed taking them again in Nov, but this time starting the new pack after having my period for only four days, instead of seven. I suspected (and was confirmed by a specialist I go to) that the migraines were a result of my estrogen tanking from the whole week off of it (period week). It's worked wonderfully- not even the whisper of a migraine since. Have you thought of maybe going on a different low-androgen bcp? Were you wanting to go fully natural, or are you open to Western medicine too? --- Many doctors now agree that pcos is the symptom of a greater cause, insulin resistance, which is essentially the beginnings of pre-diabetes. Have you had a glucose test done before? You might consider having a 1hr/fasting glucose test to see where you are at with that. Even if the tests DO come back within the normal range one can still have insulin resistance- your just not bad off enough to have it show on the test. That was my case. I've since changed my diet (no sugar, hardly any grains and few starches) to help it from worsening. I'm also taking NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) which is supposed to help with insulin resistance/pcos symptoms. It's the same with hormone tests. Even if your tests do come back "within the normal range" it still may not be right for you- this was also my case. To reduce the androgens I went on the drug Aldactone (generic Spironolactone). My total T dropped from 95 in Nov. to 10 in late Jan. For a natural alternative you might try saw palmetto (which I also take, lol), as it is an anti-androgen. -- Ps. not positive, but I believe one may have BOTH high estrogen and androgen levels. My doctor said in Nov that my progesterone was a bit low and that my male hormones might be high for me (although in the "normal" range for most women. I've always thought that "estrogen dominance" is in relation to the estrogen:progesterone ratio, where there is a decrease in progesterone, thus making your estrogen the dominant one in that relationship. DIM (Diindolylmethane) is also good for general regulating of hormones. It's made from cruciferous vegetables, so is very safe. I've been taking it awhile too. I've got several pages collected of natural alternatives for pcos that I have come across, but I will refrain from posting more since I've likely been overly longwinded yet again, LOL. Again, I am not an expert. Just sharing some of my thoughts on it... ;-) CMK

My two vitex trees I am still attempting to train to look more like double trunked trees. Each winter they go dormant and drop their leaves, and then in early spring I attempt to prune away all the wild bushy growth and keep only the thickest trunks, but by early summer they are in full bloom and have grown so well that they once again look more like shrubs than trees. They are both well established and the thickest trunks I have seen on them are only about an inch or so wide in diameter. The tree in St Louis that I saw in the photo of was double trunked and both the trunks appeared to be at least 6 inches, maybe even more in diameter. It certainly was a most beautifull tree, and that photo was what inspired me to plant my two, with the goal of achieving the same form of tree with each of them. At the rate mine is progressing, it could take another 5 years before mine begin keeping the tree look instead of reverting to looking more like very full shrubs, which I need to do such drastic pruning on just to return them starting out in the following spring to appear in a more tree like form.

Hi Storey, Would love to get your P. coccinea and thunbergia clock vine but don't have any of your wants. I do have some white fragrant crinums, yellow flag iris, blue/purple with yellow beardless iris, red pine cone ginger, EE "Chicago Harlequin" and amaryllis, not Red Lion, but they are dark red. If you want more cannas, I have tall yellow with orangy splashes around throat, perhaps "Richard Wallace". Thanks, Betsy

Hi Karen and other contributors I'm nearly 50 and still having periods. I was suffering from several unpleasant menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, trouble sleeping, acute vaginal dryness and lack of libido over the past 1-2 yrs. I had a hysteroscopy/D and C due to build up of uterus lining 2 yrs ago and since then periods have been regular, but light and only about 3 days. I decided to try an OTC progesterone cream just after Christmas and was amazed at how quickly all those symptoms disappeared. If I forget to rub some on before bed I don't sleep well - hot flushes and waking up feeling very scared about something - but then I lie there and can't for the life of me work out what the hell it is I'm scared about! I live in France and the gel I'm using is called Progestogel which you can find on the Net. My first period after starting on the progesterone cream was much heavier than since the op, though not abnormally so, and I felt SO much better. My second one is due at the end of this week and I've been having the most painful menstrual cramps as of several days back. Never had anything like it before - well maybe when I was much younger, for a day or so, but never day after day! Anyone else experienced this? Does it mean I need to increase the dose? When my period starts I'm planning to have a week off the gel (although the info in the Progestogel packet says to use it every day, even when you have a period) but I've read some women's contributions to this forum who have said they can't bear to be off it that long, because all the symtoms return. So maybe I'll follow the pkt instructions instead! I started this progesterone cream without consulting my gynae. He put me on HRT twice last year (pills then patches) and both times I gained weight immediately and felt awful - effect of the estrogen I think. I have found a new female gynae in Paris who specialises in menopause and have an appointment with her in early March to discuss what I'm doing and see if she feels I should be making any adjustments or perhaps using a progesterone cream for which you need a prescription. I would be interested in any feed back to this msg. Linda