it's a GO!

I went for my mid-cycle u/s today and have 2 follicles that are almost ready to release an egg. I have been instructed to continue with my injections tonight and tomorrow night and then have Andy give me the hCg injection Sunday morning. Then Monday Andy drops off his specimen and I go in for my IUI. After all this, we'll wait 2 weeks and see if my body takes things to a different place this time, or if it doesn't work again. What a nice start to the new year would it be to find out we're pregnant. I can't imagine it! I'm very hopeful this round and hopefully my body agrees with my mind!

Bloodwork is my middle name

Had bloodwork Wednesday when I went for my appt. Then had bloodwork again yesterday, and have to have it again on Thursday. Hopefully that'll be it and I'll be ready to come in on Friday for my u/s.
At ACM yesterday there was a lady sitting next to me and she heard me tell the tech that I was a patient of Dr. Hayes. So she asked to make sure, and we talked a little bit while waiting for our turn. It was kinda weird, but kinda nice. Seems like no matter who you are, if you're going through this in some way, you've got a bond with all women who are going through it, or have gone through it. She's got a son that she had at my age...so I'm guessing she's in her mid to late 30s... and trying again. She's got one child, so that gives me hope!

2nd try with injections

I went to have my baseline u/s yesterday. Dr. H started off by saying that if I'm not pregnant this time we'll try once more maybe and then move on to a different medication. That puts me at such ease. I'd rather keep moving than keep trying and failing over and over and over. Which is what it feels like. But in reality...we did Clomid and IUI 3 times, and this will be our 2nd try with FSH injections and IUI. Hopefully, as always, this time it works! My u/s was nice, everything looked like it was supposed to. At this point their looking for cysts that may have formed, and I didn't have any. So I went for my bloodwork and start injections tonight if that comes back okay. About 10 days of these injections give or take, and then I'll head back in for another u/s to see what's cookin'! Then back to waiting to see if things worked out this cycle. Keep your fingers crossed!

I feel completely defeated.

I definately got my period. Can't we ever win?

I'm waiting and waiting, just to be disappointed once again. It hurts more each time. It feels like I have no chance of ever becoming pregnant. I can't deal with this much longer.

But I will do whatever it takes.

Bag of Goodies

Last week I was subbing and sharing with another teacher that's been going through similar situations as I am. She is a little older than I am and has had a very tough time conceiving, and has just announced that she is pregnant with her second child! She is so sweet and shared her experience with me and gives me hope!

She brought in a bag of goodies for me the next day! This is what some one gave her and she's passing them on to me!

The bag contained:

a miniature statue of the Patron Saint of Infertility--St. Gerard (Who is also the Patron Saint of Expectant Mothers and pretty much anything to do with pregnancy!)

an elephant which is regarded as a sign of Fertility in Indian cultures

a shamrock with an Irish blessing

an angel pin that says "protect this woman"

All of these things are reminders that there is hope, and that I can make it through everything that I'm going through! What a thoughtful gift!

4th IUI

So, this was our fourth IUI. It's our first with our injections as treatment, instead of Clomid. My chances are better, since I had more follicles. Also Andy's semen specimen was over 41 million motile sperm! Awesome! So the more swimmers, the better! Hopefully our baby was in that cup! Ha!

Now for the waiting as usual...two weeks and we'll see if it worked, or if we've gotta try again.

FSH Injections in action

So, my injections for the past 9 days have worked, and made me create more follicles. There were three good sized follicles that were mature enough to release eggs. One was much larger than the others.

The next step is an hCg injection, that Andy's gotta give my in the back of my hip tonight. Then an IUI on Saturday!

We'll see in a couple weeks if this is the extra little nudge we needed! :) We hope it is!

Again with the blood!

So this morning I got up early and went to have blood work done before going to Henrietta to substitute in Kindergarten! The ACM lab in Parkridge is the closest lab to my Drs. office, so I've just been going there. They told me I could go to any ACM, but I'd rather go to that one, because I know it'll get there! They opened at 7:30 and I got there a few minutes after, there were already 4 people in front of me waiting! It wasn't more than 10 minutes and I got right in and out. I even made it to work with time to spair! I should have stopped to get coffee, because I had a wicked headache all day! Tomorrow I find out if I continue meds or if I go in for an u/s to see what's going on in my ovaries!

I've been talking to a lot more people about their infertility. People that I know pretty good, and see on a daily basis, for the most part. They're very supportive and have all had success with different treatments. I really feel good about the Specialists I'm working with, and know that I have a real chance to actually carry a child. My hopes are higher, knowing they've been through what I'm going through now, and they've had children. Hopefully it'll be my turn soon!

Not high enough

So those Vampires at ACM get to take more of my blood! I'm totally kidding about them being Vampires, they are very nice and gentle! :) I'm going to continue tonight and tomorrow night with 225 units, go for blood work tomorrow, and then call Thursday morning for more instructions. I was curious as to what my level was, and forgot to ask, and also concerned about my work schedule, so I called back. My estrogen level was 126 and they want it higher...I'm going to google it and get back to you at what they want it to be at. The secretary asked the nurse when she thought I'd have to come in for u/s but they said it totally depends on the bloodwork! Soooooo, I'm gonna work Thurs. and if I have to go in it'll have to be at 3:15 or 3:30...if I don't have to go til Friday then I just won't go into work at all. My Drs. office is only open til 1 on Fridays, so I know I'll be going early and can't work. Either way, we'll be finding out soon if this stuff is working or not! Hopefully!

Vampires

Today was my 3rd time in a week having blood taken! UGH! ACM lab is my home away from home it seems! Seems like they take an awful lot of blood for one test! They probably only use a drop of it and dispose of the rest. Leave some for ME you VAMPIRES!

Up the dose

This morning I was waiting for the Dr. to call to let me know the results of my bloodwork, we're monitoring my Estrogen level. As you create follicles and prepare for ovulation the Estrogen level increases. I started at a level 21 before I started any injections. This is good, they want you to be below 50. After 4 days of injections I only went up to level 63. This is okay, but she wants it higher, so we're going to increase the dose for 3 more days, and then I'll get more bloodwork on Monday and find out Tuesday what to do next! So now I'll be injecting 225 units of the FSH and then we'll see! In this first pen, I've got just 225 units remaining, PERFECT! Then I'll start my second pen!

I'm really feeling good about this! :) Keep your fingers crossed!

The first time

Okay, so last night was my first injection on my own!

I opened up my pen, cleaned the tip where you attach the needle with an alcohol swab, then put a needle on. First time using the pen it has to be set to the lowest dose and have to expel that first amount into the sink. This is to get the air bubbles out, so they don't go into my body. So I do that. Then I have to turn the dial on the pen to 150 units, that's the dose I will be taking for these first 4 days. Then I pull out the end, this is priming the pen, so that I can actually push the end in to get all the dose out into my body. Once that's pulled out, I can't adjust the dose, so I've gotta get it right the first time, or I have to waste it. I did good! :) Then I sat down, swabbed a spot on my right leg and stared at it with the needle in my hand. I froze. I didn't know what to do! I was so worried about how it was going to feel, that I just sat there. Finally I remembered the nurse telling me to pinch my skin and then hold the pen just like a pen you would write with. I did that and then I was going over in my head, do I go fast or slow? If I go too slow, will it even go in??? AHH! Finally I just stuck it in slowly, and held it with one hand and pushed the end in for 4 or 5 clicks, I forget, and then had to hold it in for 5 seconds to make sure it all came out. Then I pulled it out and a big drop of blood formed, I cleaned it up with a gauze pad. After that. I replace the needle cap and then take it off the pen, and discard it in the red box for the used needles and put the pen away!

PHEW! I made it through. It was weird, because I'm pricked all the time, for the hCg injection and blood work, why was I so nervous? Probably because I had to do it myself, and Andy wasn't even here for moral support! Tonight won't be so bad, and I'll do it in my left leg. Alternate each night she told me, so that I don't get irritated! Yay for injections! I hope that they work fast so I don't have to do this for months and months!

The Package Arrived

Tonight I will be giving myself my first injection. I have to do it at night because my instructions when it comes time for change, will always be given to me in the morning.

The package came to me this morning, I was waiting anxiously! It came in a foil package, on ice, and had to go right into the fridge when I took it out. It's kept in there until I start using it. Then I can either keep it in the fridge or at room temp.

I met with a friend of mine today who is also dealing with fertility treatments...we're both so anxious to bring good news to our families and friends. It's really nice having some one to talk to about all my feelings and emotions and dreams, and for them to really, truly understand what I'm going through. Although I wish that both of us didn't have this in common...it's no fun! But since we do, she keeps me sane...lets me know that she feels, reacts the same way, and that I'm not alone. Gives me a little comfort where others can't.

So hopefully with this new treatment, we'll have success. I'll be visiting the doctor more often for bloodwork and u/s appointments, so hopefully we'll have good news soon!

Baseline

So today I went in for a baseline ultrasound. It was my first one, and it was kinda gross, but what has to be done, will be done! She was checking for any cysts on my ovaries, and said she found something on my left one. She sent me for blood work and that will tell the level of estrogen in my body and if it's low enough, we will be able to go ahead and start the injections. The injections are the FSH, and we're using the brand Gonal-f. The nurse showed me how to use the injection pen and I'm ready!

So until tomorrow, 9am. I do nothing but wait for their instructions!

Lost the battle, about to win the war!

So I got my stinking period last night. So, we do have to do the injectable drugs. I was really hoping, as I always am. It's just as hard as every other time!

BUT...I have more hope going into this next cycle with a new plan in action. These injections will increase everything and my chances will be even better! I can't do anything but take care of myself and continue to have hope.

My best friend told me yesterday, that I'm destined to be a mother, and I believe that so much. I just can't wait much longer for it to be a reality!

Wish us luck!

Next Treatment

So today Andy and I went to an information session about Injectable FSH. What this is, is a hormone that your body already produces, and they're just increasing the levels by injecting more of this hormone. What that in turn does is creates more eggs! With the Clomid I was producing one follicle, so the chances were quite low for it to survive. With the FSH injection we could have 5, 10 even 50 eggs at a time! Only one should fully develop and release for the chance of conception. So this injection will definitely increase our chances! It also thickens the lining of the uterus, making it a better environment for the fertilized egg to attach and grow!

There a two side effects:
1. Multiples...twins are about 15% common, triplets and more are way less common, but still a possibility.
2. Ovarian Hyperstimulation...causes pain in the ovaries and enlarges them, in turn sucking water from blood cells and can be prevented 100%. Only women at high risk get this, and they can tell if you are high risk BEFORE they start the injections.

So, I was spotting this morning, and nothing since then, waiting until tomorrow to see if I've got my full blown period. If so, I'll call the Dr. and set up an u/s for either tomorrow or Saturday, and they'll make sure it's okay to start the injections and teach me how to do 'em!!! I don't want to have to start this treatment, hoping maybe I'm not really getting my period, just spotting...but at least it's a much more likely chance of conceiving!

What's to come...or not...

So today I went to Dr. H about what we'll do next if the Clomid and IUI didn't work. This was my third try. Here's the list she made:



1. Continue with 150 mg Clomid & IUI

2. Try a different pill with IUI for 3 cycles

3. Use injectable fertility drugs & IUI

4. Perform a Laparascopy (an elective surgery where they go in and take a look-used if

they're totally unsure of why things aren't working right)

5. IVF-in-vitro fertilization (this is our last resort because it definatley is very expensive)



So her advice was to continue with the Clomid and IUI's for 3 more cycles, and things might work out, or if I'm ready to try something different, convinced if this 3rd try didn't work, that we start injectable fertility drugs. So I definately opted for the latter. I am anxious, and hoping that this last try was successful, and we won't know for sure until this weekend, but if it didn't work, God forbid, then I'm MORE than ready to try something new!



So we're going to go to a class where the Drs. will talk all about the drugs that we will be injecting and what they're actually doing...and then if need be we'll learn how to do the injections at our first appt for that. Like I said, if we're pregnant, then we scrap all of this, and go down the exciting path of pregnancy, totally different appts, something I'm looking more forward to than anything!



I'll update Thursday after our class, when I'll be more informed about the drugs. Hopefully not too long after that, we'll have some good news!

Even Harder

Is when we're visiting friends or family with babies. Especially Andy's brother. Don't get me wrong we LOVE our niece and are so excited to watch her grow and be there every step of the way. But watching Andy hold her and play with her and totally fall in love...it's very difficult. Then we go home, or they leave or whatever, and he starts saying how much he wants his own child. Talk about a shock to the heart. I get so emotional when that happens. We can only keep trying, and that's what we're doing. Hopefully this is our time and if not, hopefully not too much longer.

Also, when we don't get included because we don't have a child yet. Tonight is Halloween and they're invited to Andy's parents for dinner, because Hannah will be in costume, and we weren't invited. It happens a lot. Not cool.

The Hard Part

Yeah, this is the hard part. Waiting. Again and again!
It's been 3 days since my IUI and we've had sex many times, on top of that...as we do everytime around ovulation! So if this is our time, and we really believe it could be, then things are already set in place.

Fertilization takes place withing 24 hours of the egg being released from the ovary. The hCg shot makes me ovulate within 30-40 hours after the shot, so they do the IUI at a certain time because of that...and then we just have intercourse for the next few days to give us more of a chance...that's the fun part! If the egg dropped when it was supposed to and the sperm met the egg, it should fertilize in the fallopian tube and then withing 3 days travel to the uterus and implant around 6 days after ovulation. That's what they say anyhow. So hopefully my egg was met by a lucky sperm and fertilized and is making it's way to my uterine lining where it makes itself comfy and then grows into a baby!

I really hope that this time it's meant to be! If not, we'll be talking about what to do next...and I'll be continuing this infertility blog...if so, I'll post once more and then maybe change the name or start a new blog!

Please keep your fingers crossed!

Could it be...3rd Time's the Charm??????

I HOPE SO!

So this is my 3rd try...the Clomid at 150 mg worked once again! I have a nice follicle in my left ovary...and my doctor says that things are consistent so there's no reason this shouldn't work! The reason in may not have worked thus far is unclear, but we're going to meet in a couple weeks to set a plan of what to do next if this doesn't work out. It might just be that my body doesn't agree with what we're doing, and may need a little more to help it along. But let's think positively...like I always try to do...and maybe this third time is the charm!

This was also my first visit to the Fertility Dr. without Andy at my side. It's ok...I think his presence makes it harder for me sometimes. Whether it's good or bad news, I get all emotional if he's there googling at me! Hahaha. It's nice to have him there, being a part of everything, and up to this point it's been awesome that his job is so flexible in allowing him to go. But it's getting busy for him and he's gotta be able to drop off his sample on Friday morning, and that's way more important than him sitting next to me for a five minute u/s appt.!

So tomorrow I go in for my hCg shot, which will release my egg in the next 24 or so hours...and then I go Friday at noon for another IUI...hopefully this time it's meant to be! I'm so ready for this!

2nd Failure

So it didn't work this time either.
I really thought this was gonna be it! I know it's still just the beginning of trying this method, but still, I've gotta have hope. It's all I've got.
I spotted early this past Weds. and then didn't have anything on Thursday the whole day...so I thought maybe it was implantation spotting. I got a little excited. And then Friday came along and I was crushed.
My cycle was only 27 days this time. Weird. Annoying.
I start the Clomid again tomorrow and we start over again for this cycle. Hopefully the 3rd time is the charm.

The Waiting Game

Yes, that is all this is, a waiting game.
When I got my period I had to wait 2 weeks to see if there were any follicles, now that there was a follicle, and we had the insemination done, we have to wait again, 2 MORE weeks to either get my period and start all over again.......or.........................it could be that things worked!

One week down, and I started breaking out a few days ago, usually I break out, all on my face before I start menstruating, so poo, if that mean that I'm getting my period. I'm hopeful that I've just got adult acne issues or something...and it worked!

Please.

2nd Chance

Okay, so we went back to see Dr. H today, and had a mid-cycle u/s. There's a nice follicle developing, in my right ovary, so I go back tomorrow to get the hCg shot. Then we do the insemination on Saturday!

This will be our second try with the insemination and clomid. Our chances are a little greater with each try...so hopefully this is our time!

We're keeping our fingers crossed!

IUI-the UNsuccess story

So the first IUI was not successful. SHIT.
I'm so upset it hurts.
But life goes on, we'll start over and try again. That was only my first IUI, a few more tries I guess, and hopefully one of them takes this time.
I was trying so hard to be so positive and basically convinced myself that this was our time. Apparently not so. It really sucks.

So I'm not pregnant, and we're starting all over, and this time, I'm keeping everything to myself and not sharing with anyone. I think that was part of my problem. I was really excited and wanted everyone close to me to know, and because of that, I keep getting asked all these questions all the time, and am stressed out. Maybe. Who knows. Or I'm just a defect and never will concieve. I can't handle the thought of that.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is complete!

At noon we went into the office to see Dr. H to have the IUI done. Even though I knew it wasn't going to be painful or anything I was still quite nervous.

We went right in. I dropped my drawers and she showed me Andy's vial...our names on it, our color...YELLOW...and then she filled up the syringe and went to town. HA! She said things were a little difficult looking, she wasn't sure if she'd have to "adjust" but she then started to put the catheter in and said "we got lucky it went right in!" Less than a minute later she's done and told me I could sit up. She said if I don't get my period by Sept 15th that I should call and we'll do a pregnancy test. If I get it before then, also call to know when to start the Clomid over.

I hope that it's the prior...I really have a lot of faith in this...that's it's all the help we needed. Ovulation was just a hit and miss with me, and this little extra "push" was the thing that will get us pregnant! Waiting 2 weeks to get my period or not...is a long time...I've been through this so many times...hopefully it doesn't come like a day late or something...then I'll be PISSED! Keep the faith...right? That's what we're doing! I really hope this works!

Dr. H also explained the sperm wash to us a little more. It was quite interesting! They removed the sperm from the seminal fluid and put it into this sterile fluid...then they washed it, or isolated a majority of the the motile sperm to increase the number. Andy started out before the washing with 64% motile and 36% immotile. After the washing there were 96% motile and 4% immotile...what a difference!!! In this sample there were 14.5 million sperm! She said that 3 million is good, so this was GREAT! So hopefully that will also give us a better chance to conceive this time!

Phase 1

Phase 1 Complete!

Andy collected his sample at 8:15 this morning and we drove it in and dropped it off to the tech who does the wash at 8:45.

I can't wait to hear how it looks...all this is so interesting to me!

An Egg!!!!!!!!

So today was my 3rd ultrasound after my 3rd adjustment of the Clomid.

AND I HAVE AN EGG! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!
We're so excited...that there's something finally happening in my ovaries! Well at least the left ovary at this point. I'm so happy that the Dr didn't say..."oh they're quiet again..." meaning my ovaries...I couldn't bear to hear that! Now I know the Clomid is working.

Here's our next step:
First...I have an egg that's ready to drop soon. So to make it drop I got an hCg shot today as well. This shot in my hip will make my egg release within 48hrs. Tomorrow Andy has to wake up bright and early and give a specimen sample...we can collect it at home this time...and bring it in at 8:45am...the lab tech will wash the sperm...meaning separate the good ones from the not so good ones. Then at 12:15 I will be heading in to have an IUI...intrauterine insemination. They'll take the washed sperm and inject it through a small catheter in my cervix and this will cause the sperm to release into my uterus! They get to be right there, waiting for the egg to drop! Then 2 weeks later I take a pregnancy test, if it works we'll know...if not, we try again.

We're very hopeful, but also are keeping in mind that there's a high chance we'll have to try multiple times for this to be successful. I'd love for it to work the first time, who wouldn't. We'll keep praying and doing everything we can to make it happen!

Emotional Roller Coaster

So my insulin level was a little high, what that means I don't really know, but I'll ask Friday. I'm taking Metformin for that now too, so just add another pill to my plate. I've gotta get one of those pill organizers that old folks use to keep track. Seriously.

I go see Dr. H for another u/s Friday, two days from now. At 9am, Andy's going to come with me as usual...he wants to be there for me, and I want him there. Luckily his job is so flexible. Hopefully we'll get pregnant soon and not have to go so much! I'm hopeful, but I'm also a little more pessimistic this time. I'm assuming there's nothing and we're going to have to do 200mg of Clomid. Then after that...who knows.

My emotions are so wacky, I've got to be driving Andy nuts. I apologize all the time, hopefully he knows how hard it is to go through this week after week. Watching him hold our newborn niece Hannah makes my heart melt. He feels the same. We are trying to be more verbal about all those crazy feelings, but it's hard, I always start to cry, then he freaks.

More and more pills.

So today's appt. did not go as I had hoped it would. The u/s showed nothing developing in my ovaries. So this dose of 100mg of Clomid did not work either. Here we go again, adjusting dosage after dosage, just like with my Thyroid...feels like De Ja Vu.

I got really upset after the u/s and Dr. H seemed a little surprised that I was so upset. Um, this is really tough! I know that there is a high possibility that things aren't going to work right away, but I was really hoping this was our time. Just to have those follicles there to have a real shot at conceiving. To find out there's NOTHING. It's like there's no reason to even try, because there are no eggs to fertilize. Ugh.

I'm going to start taking a baby aspirin a day and honestly I have no clue why. I am taking progestone to induce my period. So 7 days of those pills and within 10 days after that I should have my period. Then on day 3 of my cycle I start the next dose of Clomid, 150mg. So not only am I taking my Levothyroxine for my Thyroid and my daily vitamin, now I have to add the baby aspirin... She also had me tested for high insulin and if it is high, then she's going to have me take yet another pill. Thankfully the Progestone and Clomid are only for a few days.

Dr. H said a few more tries with the Clomid and if it doesn't work we'll move onto injectable treatments. Oh yippee. I just want to be able to be pregnant and have a child with Andy and become a mother. All this bad news is killing me inside. I'll do anything to become pregnant, but it's getting harder...

I don't even know if I can talk to anyone about this anymore, it hurts to talk.

A very special day!

Today was our 3rd wedding anniversary and our niece was born at 11:58pm!

Andy's brother Tim and his wife Megan welcomed...

Hannah Lynne
7lbs 14 oz
21 inches

Meet the Fertility Specialist

This afternoon Andy and I went to see Dr. H, a fertility specialist. I was very nervous before going...not knowing what to expect. But it was nothing to be nervous about. We met with Dr. H. She asked us a lot of background questions and then mapped out our "Plan". Since I took the 50mg of Clomid and haven't ovulated yet, she did an internal ultrasound (u/s). She looked at my ovaries to see if there were any folicles, but there weren't, which means this dose of Clomid didn't work. She doubled the dose and I start taking it immediately. Thank GOD! Then in a week I go back again to have another u/s to see if this dose worked.

Once it works, then she'll give me hCg hormone to make the eggs drop and two days later they'll wash Andy's sperm to isolate only the strong ones and do an IUI. EEK! Unless of course we conceive on our own. After the IUI I'll take a pregnancy test and hopefully it works. I read that they will do this 3-6 times so if it's not successful right away, there's still hope.

Things are getting more explained and looking more possible every week!

Hope...

Today Dr. P called me. She said that my 2nd round of blood work was very good and that my HSG went very well and that things look beautiful! That just makes me feel so much better. She said that the Clomid should make me ovulate around day 15 or 16, so that's Friday/Saturday. I hope that taking my temperature every morning will show that I'm ovulating. She was quite optimistic and that just makes me feel more hopeful!

On the 28th we go to see the specialist. Dr. P said that they'll be able to use ultrasound to monitor my ovulation more closely and if need be, increase my Clomid or do intrauterine insemination (IUI). IUI is where they inject the sperm (Andy's in our case) right into my uterus...through a catheter-like the HSG. YIKES! I am very hopeful that we won't have to go that far, but it's there if we need it!

Hysterosalpingogram

So I went and had my Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) done today. I was freaking out and rightfully so, it was quite painful. But good news, IT WAS CLEAR! Yay! One less obstacle to worry about. If anything, the Dr who performed the HSG procedure said it increases the pregnancy rates in most women! So having this HSG may help the egg and sperm meet up easier, and also with the Clomid in assistance too! I hope things go well!!

Some good news finally...but it's just a Wait and See game,...which is hard to get used to...

Clomid 50mg

So today Dr. P called. She said my Progesterone was a little bit lower than she was hoping to see. It's probably why my cycles are so irregular. So basically who knows when I'm ovulating.

Andy's semen analysis went good. His results showed he has plenty of sperm, some are slow, some are abnormal, but she said that's pretty normal. She's sending us to a Fertility Specialist at Parkridge. We are going to see her at 1pm on Monday the 28th!

Dr. P also called in a prescription for Clomid. I picked up and she had me start it today! I take 1 50mg pill a day for 5 days and it's supposed to increase my LH and FSH levels which in turn will make me ovulate. They hope it will work within the first 3 cycles of trying. Also the Histogram may help clear any minute blockage that may have been there, and that could increase my chances of conceiving. I sure hope this works!

Bittersweet

I got my period today.

I am sad because that means there is definately something not working right. But I'm also glad because now we can figure out what it is!

I called today to schedule my Histogram. I'm going next Friday, the 18th. I have to go to the Brighton office first and take a pregnancy test, then head over to the Radiology Bldg. across the street. There a Dr. from my office will inject an invisible dye through a catheter in cervix into my uterus. They watch on a monitor and hopefully see the dye go through. This will let them know if there are any blockages in my fallopian tubes. They say there is only some discomfort but offer Valium for relaxation. I declined the Valium because I generally have a high pain tollerance. I'm very nervous about it, but also anxious. I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight!

Ahoy!

Andy made his semen analysis appointment today! It is next Tuesday, July 15th at 7am. We have to abstain from sex for 3 days before that so that they get an accurate analysis. He actually seems to be okay about this. It's hard for guys to go through this, more psychological than anything, but I completely understand. Him being okay with it and not complaining makes me so happy.

One more thing in the works! Very exciting!

Never got a phone call about my blood work for my Progesterone. No news is good news???!!!

Bloodwork #1

Today I went for some blood work. This round is to test my Progesterone level. At the end of your cycle Progesterone is supposed to be high-if you are ovulating. For some reason I have a bad feeling that I'm not. I know that I'm supposed to think on a more positive note and be more optimistic, but it's getting harder and harder to do that. It would be quite a miracle if there was nothing wrong with my ovulation, my cycle is so random-who knows?!! Very soon I will!

A Possibility

Now that my future as a mother is seeming to look like a possibility, I will begin to write.

Two days ago, June 23rd, Andy and I had our first appointment with Dr. P about fertility. We have been trying for 2 years to conceive. After the first year of trying I had some blood work done and discovered that I have Hypothyroidism. This is a hormone issue that in the long run effects conception and pregnancy. I was unable to conceive and my menstrual cycles became irregular. After 6 months of adjusting my Thyroid meds, in about January this year my TSH (Thyroid Secretion Hormone) was brought down to the levels we were trying for. Dr. P wanted me to continue trying to conceive naturally, so we tried up until now and here we are.

I begin more blood work next week and will also be have a Histogram (HSG) which will show if there are blockages in my fallopian tubes. Andy is also going to have a semen analysis. I really hope and pray there is nothing wrong on his end, that would just make things even more difficult on us! After blood work and these tests, Dr. P will determine if anything needs to be addressed and if it is appropriate for me to take the drug Clomid. Clomid is a fertility drug used to induce ovulation. It's the first step in fertility treatment.

This step towards figuring out what's up with my body gives me some hope. We are finally going to start getting some answers, whether they will be good or bad-only time will tell. I hope for good things of course. This is our first step towards becoming parents with the help of our Dr.