Agnus castus taking and beginning to panic-help please.

[waitingtobeamummy]

Having infertility tests (results on tuesday) Heard about Agnus castus for irregular cycles and bought some. On bottle it said take two capsules (400mg) twice a day so I did from the first day of my cycle until they ran out (day 25) longest my cyle has ever been is 28 days but is often lots shorter. Now on day 30 and no period. So so so worried I have messed up as then read (after) that should only take with herbalists advice etc and worrying that I have messed it up and ruined my cycles completly.
Did a test on day 24 and it was negative so I'm definatly not pregnant. Got to tell dr that I think I've messed up.
Does anyone have any advice.
I know I'm getting pannicky and repeating myself but feel like crying.

[Biscuitsandtea]

Waiting - I'm afraid I can't offer any specific advice but didn't want to 'read and run'. You poor thing - I can at least send you a bit of a hug. Is it worth doing another pg test? It's possible that 24 days was a bit too soon to tell if pg? I'm certainly no expert on AC but if it has 'regulated' your cycle then a 30 day cycle compared to a 28 day one isn't a huge leap. I know mine fluctuate around 27-30 days

I have to caveat though that I know nothing about AC so sorry I can't be more help.

At the very least, if you tell the Dr you only did a test on Day 24 there might be a chance that they'd send you away to test again so better to have done tests more recently before you go?

Do let us know how you get on and I hope everything works out ok.

[waitingtobeamummy]

Thanks so much Biscuitsandtea. I just hate the thought that I have completly messed it up. And then this month I applied for my dream job and I'm thinking if I am pregnant (and its all I've ever wnated) I'd just convinced myself it's not going to happen and applied for a great job and now I've messed that up too. I know i'm being irrational and thank you for the hug. Normally I start smudging a day before hand but their is just nothing. Thank you againa nd I need to calm down before dh gets home as I'm a sobby mess!

[Biscuitsandtea]

I think I'd better send more hugs and maybe a and a !

I would just say test again tomorrow or Tuesday first thing in the morning to get the best / most accurate result and (easier said than done but) try to just see what happens. See what happens re the job, see what happens re the test results. These things are inevitably stressful but hope DH gives you a nice cuddle and some sympathy when he gets in.

[Karbea]

I'm no help, but I've just realised I've taken evening primrose oil todaY and you shouldn't once you ov'd and my cbfm told me I'd ov'd this AM, so I've probably ruined another month.

[waitingtobeamummy]

You are so lovely-I think you are my favourite mumsnetter. [teary smile]
I needed a good rational talking too so thank you. Will buy a test tommorrow but I suppose I'm trying to not build my hopes up. What will be will be but canot be sorted on a sunday afternoon thank you.

[waitingtobeamummy]

oh karbea I'm so sorry for you.surely just one day wouldn't alter it? I shouldnt be let loose with herbally things!

[Biscuitsandtea]

Oh these things always happen on a Sunday afternoon when nothing can be done about it. Like the time my DH drilled through an electric wire and we needed an emergency electrician - couldn't have done it on a weekday when I could have got a normal electrician, oh no he had to do it on Sunday of a bank holiday weekend...

Apologies - that went a bit off topic.....

More hugs for good measure xx

[waitingtobeamummy]

off topic is good it makes me stop wallowing than you x

[Karbea]

waiting... I know we all do these things to try and help and then muck it up. I can't do anything right :(...
Hopefully you're upduffed though!!!

[waitingtobeamummy]

Karbea- its always afterwards that you think- why didnt I just leave it alone!I mean, I'm even getting results on Tuesday so I should have just left it until after then. You can do plenty right though as you realised your mistake after only one tablet and you know when you ovulate. I know it is impossible for me to be pregnant I just know it. . .but thei is that tiny bit of me that starts to get excited which is even worse as I'm just going to make myself miserable again- I'm so mopey today!

[TheOriginalFAB]

It worries me that people are taking AC without proper advice, in a bid to conceive as it clearly says on the bottle not to take if pregnant.

I suggest you go and see your GP and have a chat.

[Karbea]

If you are mopey maybe you are going to get af, at least if your cycle is 30days then you know your cycles are getting longer, which is a good thing.

[waitingtobeamummy]

It wasn't in a bid to coneive FAB it was to try and make my cycle more regular as it sometimes is only twelve days long which just wipes me out and as I said I am having infertility tests so didnt think pregnancy would be an issue. but yes I know I should have read up on it. I''ll talk to her when I go on Tuesday.

[waitingtobeamummy]

Yes karbea it could be- boobs normally hurt too so I keep prodding them- fingers crossed mopey=af.

[eurochick]

I'm also taking AC this month (under the advice of a herbalist). I'm also concerned about the stories I have read about it messing up cycles as mine are reasonably regular and I am ovulating. But after airing my reservations with the herbalist, I decided on balance to give it a go. I seemed to ov three days earlier than usual (which is what she was hoping one of the effects would be) but since then rather than getting a clear temp rise like I usually do, my temps have gone a bit screwy, so I am not sure whether I have ov'd or not. Nonetheless, I am under the weather so I am hoping it is that rather than the AC sending my cycle awry....

Do you know if you ov'd earlier or later than usual?

[waitingtobeamummy]

Hi Eurochick, I dont know if I have ovulated as I havent before so didnt even do tests. This was the first month when I didnt count days look at mucus or anything, so that I could try to come to terms with things and beause we were on holiday so I just wanted to relax. So I havent got a clue! What made you think you had ov'd. I'd go with your instincts about it as you know your body.

[strictlovingmum]

Agnus Castus is taken only for the first half of the cycle, until ovulation.
I have used it before I conceived DD six years ago only until ovulation day, then you stop and start again from first day of your next period.
This was advised by professional and qualified herbalist.
"Dr. Bartram Encyclopaedia of herbal medicine" has very good info on AC and clearly explains how it should be used
It worked for me.

[waitingtobeamummy]

So do you think strictlylovingmum that because I took it for all of cycle it could delay my period?

[eurochick]

FWIW my herbalist has advised me to take it throughout the cycle. I discussed with her that I had read that it should only be taken until ov but she was very clear than in my case I should take it all through the cycle.

There are a couple of people on here who have had bad experiences with it messing with their cycles but many others that it has helped. I am hoping I will be one of the latter, but I am not 100% at ease taking it.

[waitingtobeamummy]

Thanks Euro chick!Lesson learnt for me I think though- dont just buy a bottle from Holland and Barrett and take it. Feel like my Doctor is going to tell me off

[strictlovingmum]

I would like to think so, best thing is really to speak to qualified herbalist, have a consultation, they will tailor the plan for you.
AC is very good for list of complaints.
I just opened my Encyclopaedia and it advises for if you are taking a tincture which is more potent then it should be taken only for second half of the cycle.
I was on tablets like you, and I have taken them for the first half.

[eurochick]

I am on the tincture.

Give it time waiting. Your cycle might just be a few days out or you might be PG.

[strictlovingmum]

Give it time, aseurochicksaid and hopefully it will work for you too.
I started taking it september 2005 in the middle of hospital conventional medicine tests, by december 2005 I was pregnant.
On december the 2end I had internal examination and internal scan, where silly mare who was examining me inform me "unfortunately you are not pregnant", guess what I was due period on the december the 7th, did the test on 11th and yes I was pregnant.
I don't trust silly buggers so called experts in white coats since.
On the 15th of august i had a healthy baby girl, so good luck it will happen for you.

[waitingtobeamummy]

Thanks both. Feeling lots better this morning. Realise that I have only taken it for 25days so it's not going to mess me up forever. Still no sign of period so I'm going to buy a test and do it in the morning before I go to dr's just so I can tell dr it definatly isn't that. dh reassured me he would come with me to the dr's and that she wont tell me off- it's not like she's a teacher strictlovingmum that is such a wonderful story and makes me feel hopeful that things can still work.

[OracleInaCoracle]

please stop taking it until you have spoken to a herbalist. AC is a very powerful herb and its taken far too often without reason. some people it works for, but many others it doesnt and it doesnt tell you WHY your cycle is irregular. it can mess up your cycle terribly (i didnt have a period for 3m, one woman on here hasnt had one since february - after taking it for one cycle) and it can have lasting effects.

it delays your period, but doesnt get you pregnant.

give it 5 more days then see your gp and come clean.