12.27.2007
Belated Present?
We learned on December 11 my cysts were gone, so I began taking my hormone injections. This month, they took longer to work, so I took them for an extra four days. On Christmas morning, I took the hormone, which forces ovulation, and we tried for a few days. Hoping for a belated Christmas present. We'll know the outcome on January 8.
12.04.2007
My chin's tipping downward
Well, we learned on October 20, we aren't pregnant. It was quite a shocker to us. Luckily Kim and I were on vacation that day... it was full of my tears and pretty quiet.
On October 22, I went to the doctor and learned I had cysts all over, one of which was enormous and extremely painful. So, I began birth control again, and go back on December 11. While this wasn't the most exciting Thanksgiving, we do have so much to be thankful for this year. Each other, our families, stable jobs, a great home, irreplaceable friends, a God who is way bigger than infertility and finances... plus much more!
Since I learned I wasn't pregnant, life's not gloomy all the time, but it's rough to keep the smile on lately. Today, we had another baby shower for someone at work, learned a good friend was pregnant, came home to a Pottery Barn kids magazine and listened to my grandma go on and on about her new great-grandchild, who was born today. Today was not the easiest day to swallow.
I've been having horrible nightmares, some of which pertain to infertility and other ones that are simply horrific, like the one where someone buried me alive. Yeah, I got to have that wonderful one three times in one night.
On December 11, we go to see if the cysts are gone, and if so, we'll do round four of meds.
Trying to keep my chin up!
On October 22, I went to the doctor and learned I had cysts all over, one of which was enormous and extremely painful. So, I began birth control again, and go back on December 11. While this wasn't the most exciting Thanksgiving, we do have so much to be thankful for this year. Each other, our families, stable jobs, a great home, irreplaceable friends, a God who is way bigger than infertility and finances... plus much more!
Since I learned I wasn't pregnant, life's not gloomy all the time, but it's rough to keep the smile on lately. Today, we had another baby shower for someone at work, learned a good friend was pregnant, came home to a Pottery Barn kids magazine and listened to my grandma go on and on about her new great-grandchild, who was born today. Today was not the easiest day to swallow.
I've been having horrible nightmares, some of which pertain to infertility and other ones that are simply horrific, like the one where someone buried me alive. Yeah, I got to have that wonderful one three times in one night.
On December 11, we go to see if the cysts are gone, and if so, we'll do round four of meds.
Trying to keep my chin up!
11.12.2007
Taking the Plunge... Literally
I finally learned the cysts were gone from the second round of meds - Praise God! So, I began taking hormone injections for six days. My ultrasound on November 7 indicated I had five follicles at the size needed to grow healthy eggs, so we were ready for round three!
Kim and I decided to do artificial insemination this month, because we were BLESSED with extra cash this month to cover high costs. We knew this was God's way of saying "It's okay, try for it." So, I had the insemination done on November 8.
On November 19, I'll go in for blood work and find out that afternoon if we're pregnant. Hoping for the best!
Kim and I decided to do artificial insemination this month, because we were BLESSED with extra cash this month to cover high costs. We knew this was God's way of saying "It's okay, try for it." So, I had the insemination done on November 8.
On November 19, I'll go in for blood work and find out that afternoon if we're pregnant. Hoping for the best!
10.20.2007
Round Three Coming Up
After weeks of not knowing what we were going to do... just try ourselves or artificial insemination, we finally got the finances to do the later on October 18. Through multiple sources, God totally blessed us this past week and gave us enough money to pay off our remaining medical bills and go for round three. We were incredibly shocked and thankful, and this let us know we are doing what we're supposed to be doing.
On October 23, I will go to the doctor to see if my cysts are gone. If so, I will begin round three of injection medication. From there, I will go to the doctor, have some ultrasounds and see when I have large enough follicles to begin to try and get pregnant.
This round, Kim and I have decided to do an artificial insemination called Intrauterine insemination, or IUI. So, once I have follicles large enough, he and I will do the IUI. More to come in a few days!
On October 23, I will go to the doctor to see if my cysts are gone. If so, I will begin round three of injection medication. From there, I will go to the doctor, have some ultrasounds and see when I have large enough follicles to begin to try and get pregnant.
This round, Kim and I have decided to do an artificial insemination called Intrauterine insemination, or IUI. So, once I have follicles large enough, he and I will do the IUI. More to come in a few days!
10.03.2007
No Luck
Monday, October 1 rolls around, so I get my blood drawn to see if I'm preggers. No luck! I'm bummed, but trying to find lots of positives in the situation.
Wednesday, October 3 is here, and I learn I have seven cysts so I can't begin hormone injections yet. My doctor is totally bummed for me as he was sure I'd be pregnant with triplets. I'll be on the pill for three weeks to see if the cysts reduce, and if so, I'll get to begin at that time. Now, I'm faced with another decision... do we go another round and just hope for good timing, or do we do artificial insemination? More to come on that one!
Wednesday, October 3 is here, and I learn I have seven cysts so I can't begin hormone injections yet. My doctor is totally bummed for me as he was sure I'd be pregnant with triplets. I'll be on the pill for three weeks to see if the cysts reduce, and if so, I'll get to begin at that time. Now, I'm faced with another decision... do we go another round and just hope for good timing, or do we do artificial insemination? More to come on that one!
9.19.2007
Let the Med Times Roll
After we knew my organs were all okay, Kim and I had to make a huge decision... should we begin taking fertility medication?
With lots of thought about the potential of having multiple birth and the huge financial constrain, we prayed and felt it was okay to proceed.
My major concern was the injection... yes, I had to give myself a shot (YIKES). I am seriously petrified of needles, so I had to get over this fear quickly.
Each round of hormone injection has a goal of increasing the follicles' size of the ovaries. Most doctors say anything over a 15 is a potentially 'fertilizable' size. Doesn't mean it's going to be 'fertilizable', but if it is, it's a healthy size and good chance for surviving.
Round One (August 6): 15 days of medication at 75 units a day - nearly $800 mind you. Normally, it should have only taken one week for my body to get large follicles for good egg production. Well, what part about me is normal... none! :) So, 15 days later, I learned I had one egg at a size 24 (not sure what measurement diameter the doctors use). It was time to give myself yet another hormone injection to force ovulation, and we began trying. While trying is fun, a negative result isn't.
Round Two (September 10): 7 days of hormones at 200 units a day - nearly $800 , plus about $450 free from my doctor - thank you Lord! Well, it worked. On September 17, I learned I had nine eggs at the size of which were healthy and livable if fertilized. What a change in a few weeks. Mom reminded me she's quitting her job if we have multiples! :)
Round Two II (September 17): Kim and I had our hardest conversation in our 4 1/2 years of marriage... what to do if this works and we have lots of little Picks. Well, we decided to go for it! Keeping our fingers crossed for a positive in a few weeks is our hope, and I begin taking progesterone on September 20 as a security in case I do become pregnant.
With lots of thought about the potential of having multiple birth and the huge financial constrain, we prayed and felt it was okay to proceed.
My major concern was the injection... yes, I had to give myself a shot (YIKES). I am seriously petrified of needles, so I had to get over this fear quickly.
Each round of hormone injection has a goal of increasing the follicles' size of the ovaries. Most doctors say anything over a 15 is a potentially 'fertilizable' size. Doesn't mean it's going to be 'fertilizable', but if it is, it's a healthy size and good chance for surviving.
Round One (August 6): 15 days of medication at 75 units a day - nearly $800 mind you. Normally, it should have only taken one week for my body to get large follicles for good egg production. Well, what part about me is normal... none! :) So, 15 days later, I learned I had one egg at a size 24 (not sure what measurement diameter the doctors use). It was time to give myself yet another hormone injection to force ovulation, and we began trying. While trying is fun, a negative result isn't.
Round Two (September 10): 7 days of hormones at 200 units a day - nearly $800 , plus about $450 free from my doctor - thank you Lord! Well, it worked. On September 17, I learned I had nine eggs at the size of which were healthy and livable if fertilized. What a change in a few weeks. Mom reminded me she's quitting her job if we have multiples! :)
Round Two II (September 17): Kim and I had our hardest conversation in our 4 1/2 years of marriage... what to do if this works and we have lots of little Picks. Well, we decided to go for it! Keeping our fingers crossed for a positive in a few weeks is our hope, and I begin taking progesterone on September 20 as a security in case I do become pregnant.
My Journey Began
After eight months of trying to get pregnant, I learned I had 'next to nothing' levels of progesterone and needed to see an infertility specialist.
So, we ponied up and went to a specialist in July, who gave us more in-depth information. Not only do I have no progesterone, but I also don't have any hormones (Kim begs to differ) that contribute to my body naturally ovulating.
In late July, I had to have an HSG dye test, where they inject dye into your uterus to see if there are any abnormalities of organs, which might be contributing to the issue. I had no obvious signs, but the specialist recommended another procedure to be sure, as one of my fallopian tubes looked as if it wasn't working properly.
August came around, and I had a laproscopy, which determined my body favors one tube over the other, but no defects. This was great news, but I had a hard time recovering from the surgery. It took me about two weeks to be back at 100 percent. Poor Kim... he was my God-send!
So, we ponied up and went to a specialist in July, who gave us more in-depth information. Not only do I have no progesterone, but I also don't have any hormones (Kim begs to differ) that contribute to my body naturally ovulating.
In late July, I had to have an HSG dye test, where they inject dye into your uterus to see if there are any abnormalities of organs, which might be contributing to the issue. I had no obvious signs, but the specialist recommended another procedure to be sure, as one of my fallopian tubes looked as if it wasn't working properly.
August came around, and I had a laproscopy, which determined my body favors one tube over the other, but no defects. This was great news, but I had a hard time recovering from the surgery. It took me about two weeks to be back at 100 percent. Poor Kim... he was my God-send!
8.04.2007
August 4, 2007
Okay, so I'm finally living in the 21st century and created a blog. I won't commit to updating this frequently, but I'll do my best to keep you all informed.
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