I have been cleared of having a tumor! Yay! The only thing I was concerned about was the fact that she said everything looked normal at the pituitary gland and BRAIN...I just find that hard to believe, after all I have always thought that my brain was functioning a bit better than "normal" =)
My medication to lower my prolactin levels has been switched from Cabergoline to Parlodel. The new medicine does not have the same side effects for me...thank goodness! I couldn't function twice a week when I was taking the other medicine where as now I am tired and drowsy, but I think I will still be able to work. Garsh! I will be so glad when this is over... after I do IVF, I am so done monitoring my hormones, in fact I don't even want the word mentioned around me...it will be considered a curse word in my presence!
We are now just waiting until day 1 so I can get my baselines, ultra sound and prolactin checked again....I just want to proceed already
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Kindergarten Cop
Remember in Kindergarten Cop when Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "It's not a tuma"...well, that's what I keep telling myself...
Due to my high prolactin, Dr. Honea has ordered an MRI so I can be checked for a tumor on the Pituitary Gland. I'm pretty stressed out, but at the same time, I'm fine with it...like everything will be fine, I guess I feel comforted...that's the word I was looking for. It just seems like all of this is happening in slow motion. Almost like I'm on the outside looking in, watching these events transpire. There's nothing I can do but watch it all happen...
I don't even know for sure yet... My appointment is Wednesday morning at 8 am so we shall see...
Due to my high prolactin, Dr. Honea has ordered an MRI so I can be checked for a tumor on the Pituitary Gland. I'm pretty stressed out, but at the same time, I'm fine with it...like everything will be fine, I guess I feel comforted...that's the word I was looking for. It just seems like all of this is happening in slow motion. Almost like I'm on the outside looking in, watching these events transpire. There's nothing I can do but watch it all happen...
I don't even know for sure yet... My appointment is Wednesday morning at 8 am so we shall see...
Saturday, August 7, 2010
And so it begins...
After making the decision to do IVF I have kept a journal of all of the appointments we have had up to this point, regardless of how important. Most of which are part of the IVF protocol preparation process. The others are just little hemorrhoids that pop up and interfere with our ability to proceed.
7/1/10 Consultation Ready to begin this process in sort of a dreadful way...
7/8/10 Test Results Prolactin was .2 high, must redo blood work...the nurse actually said this could be a tumor on my pituitary gland...who says that to a patient without knowing, I mean, really!
7/13/10 Fasting, Baselines, Semen Analysis, Ultrasound, Prolactin, Sign Paperwork
7/13/10 Test Results Large cyst on right ovary, blood work was normal
7/20/10 SIS - B'ham "Beautiful Uterus", passed out on the table when the ol' dr pulled out the catheter, I thought she was fly fishin' the way she yanked it! :'(
7/23/10 Janet (IVF Nurse) Denied Shared Risk due to high FSH and abnormal Clomid Challenge Results...OUCH! Sad day for us...not sure why we weren't made aware of this issue earlier on.
7/26/10 DR. Honea (phone) My new diagnosis is Hidden Ovary Problem, what is that!!???!!
This was not previously explained, we are in shock...but we must press on for closure!
7/26/10 Janet Review IVF Calendar, WOW at my to-do list, could be overwhelming, but not for us...we've go this! =)
7/27/10 Calendar Item Last day on Birth Control, fabulous for the skin
7/28/10 Baselines Cyst is still there and the same size, had a uterine culture
?? Janet Must complete b/c pkg., wait until day 1 and determine proceedings after baselines and ultrasound
7/1/10 Consultation Ready to begin this process in sort of a dreadful way...
7/8/10 Test Results Prolactin was .2 high, must redo blood work...the nurse actually said this could be a tumor on my pituitary gland...who says that to a patient without knowing, I mean, really!
7/13/10 Fasting, Baselines, Semen Analysis, Ultrasound, Prolactin, Sign Paperwork
7/13/10 Test Results Large cyst on right ovary, blood work was normal
7/20/10 SIS - B'ham "Beautiful Uterus", passed out on the table when the ol' dr pulled out the catheter, I thought she was fly fishin' the way she yanked it! :'(
7/23/10 Janet (IVF Nurse) Denied Shared Risk due to high FSH and abnormal Clomid Challenge Results...OUCH! Sad day for us...not sure why we weren't made aware of this issue earlier on.
7/26/10 DR. Honea (phone) My new diagnosis is Hidden Ovary Problem, what is that!!???!!
This was not previously explained, we are in shock...but we must press on for closure!
7/26/10 Janet Review IVF Calendar, WOW at my to-do list, could be overwhelming, but not for us...we've go this! =)
7/27/10 Calendar Item Last day on Birth Control, fabulous for the skin
7/28/10 Baselines Cyst is still there and the same size, had a uterine culture
?? Janet Must complete b/c pkg., wait until day 1 and determine proceedings after baselines and ultrasound
?? Phone Call Uterine culture results are in, Uterine infection!!! Can it get any worse?!?!? Super antibiotic for 7 days and then repeat uterine culture... Is it just me or is this a bit ridiculous??
8/9/10 Baselines Persistent little cyst! Still creepin' around the ol' righty. No surgery for us...yet, we have opted to do one more month of b/c to try and shrink her. On the positive side, at least I will continue to have fantastic skin. haha. Just call me Prophetess Mary, because my prediction is that surgery is in the near future for me, just a huntch!!! So, my FSH is 17.4 OUCH! and my prolactin is upto 34 sooo, just waiting to hear from my doctor after she reviews it to see what our next step is...
But until we talk to "Doctor Can't Figure Out What is Wrong with ME", we are on HOLD until next month and then I'll likely schedule surgery. Allow for one cycle recovery time and then we can do IVF...assuming there are no more bumps in the road for us. So in the beginning, being optimistic (I've since learned from that mistake) I thought we'd know if I could host a parasite by the end of August, now we're looking at like mid-October before even doing IVF...Have I ever mentioned how very impatient I am or is that even necessary....
Friday, August 6, 2010
Who said we weren't adventurous
I have decided to create this blog for journal purposes in tracking my fertility treatment. I hope that this will allow me to express myself in a sort of therapeutic way during this crazy journey we are about to embark.
Robert and I have been trying to conceive since June of 2005. Never did we think this would be an issue for us, after all we were perfectly healthy with no infertility history between our families. WOW, were we in for a rude awakening! Up to this point we have done lots of testing and procedures to the point that getting poked with a needle is like taking a shower for me, just part of my routine. I have been diagnosed with endometriosis (mild to moderate), for which the doctors have performed 2 surgeries. I was put on Clomid for 3 months for initial testing purposes by my gynecologist and then were referred to a specialist. She then put me on Clomid for one month for a "Clomid Challenge Test" and then we made the decision to step it up a notch and pursue more in depth testing and procedures. I have had 2 rounds of Clomid and IUI's and 4 rounds of Follistem with IUI's. The Follistem is an FSH injectable and is likely to have fantastic results, but not so much for me. We were still unable to conceive so we/I really needed a break from the meds and time to seriously consider our remaining options. 1st option is to pursue IVF, which is quite pricey and there are still no guaranteed results. 2nd option is to adopt which is considerably less expensive, but ... well, that's just not an option for us until we have tried everything we can.
Robert and I both are on the same page with all of this and it has never been an issue, just a matter of when do we want to go forward. Robert has been very sweet and supportive. He and I both want our own biological children, like most people but at the same time understand that it just might not be in the cards for us, considering recent test results. Our decision to proceed with IVF came after much prayer and cosideration until we both felt 100% comfortable that this is the time for us to tackle this challenge. Know that this is the right time for us does not in any way translate to we have received divine revelation that we will conceive a child through this process, but rather that we need this to be able to have closure in knowing that we have tried everything we can and in turn be able to move on with our lives. Wow! That sounds terrible, "move on with our lives"...but it is so true, at some point you have to just call it and accept that maybe its not meant to be...sad.
I guess for me having a child is that one thing I've always wanted, always dreampt of. Having the experience of seeing the two lines on a pregnancy test, sharing the news with my family, being sick and irritable, feeling that first kick, getting fat and knowing that my body will never be the same and know that WE created this being, together. That is a desire I have had since I was a young girl... but some dreams just can't come true. This is the reality that we are currently facing. I understand that we haven't even been through IVF yet, but being through what I have already experienced with trying and having the disappointment month after month, it kind of starts to take that little bit of spirit and excitement away, the thrill just isn't quite what it once was. Blah... I could go on and on and it would all sound like the pesemistic ramble that it is =)
Anyways, here we go...on an unexpected adventure together, completely dependant on each other for comfort and strength. I am eternally grateful for such an amazingly supportive husband that provides me with the strength that I would never otherwise be able find within myself.
Robert and I have been trying to conceive since June of 2005. Never did we think this would be an issue for us, after all we were perfectly healthy with no infertility history between our families. WOW, were we in for a rude awakening! Up to this point we have done lots of testing and procedures to the point that getting poked with a needle is like taking a shower for me, just part of my routine. I have been diagnosed with endometriosis (mild to moderate), for which the doctors have performed 2 surgeries. I was put on Clomid for 3 months for initial testing purposes by my gynecologist and then were referred to a specialist. She then put me on Clomid for one month for a "Clomid Challenge Test" and then we made the decision to step it up a notch and pursue more in depth testing and procedures. I have had 2 rounds of Clomid and IUI's and 4 rounds of Follistem with IUI's. The Follistem is an FSH injectable and is likely to have fantastic results, but not so much for me. We were still unable to conceive so we/I really needed a break from the meds and time to seriously consider our remaining options. 1st option is to pursue IVF, which is quite pricey and there are still no guaranteed results. 2nd option is to adopt which is considerably less expensive, but ... well, that's just not an option for us until we have tried everything we can.
Robert and I both are on the same page with all of this and it has never been an issue, just a matter of when do we want to go forward. Robert has been very sweet and supportive. He and I both want our own biological children, like most people but at the same time understand that it just might not be in the cards for us, considering recent test results. Our decision to proceed with IVF came after much prayer and cosideration until we both felt 100% comfortable that this is the time for us to tackle this challenge. Know that this is the right time for us does not in any way translate to we have received divine revelation that we will conceive a child through this process, but rather that we need this to be able to have closure in knowing that we have tried everything we can and in turn be able to move on with our lives. Wow! That sounds terrible, "move on with our lives"...but it is so true, at some point you have to just call it and accept that maybe its not meant to be...sad.
I guess for me having a child is that one thing I've always wanted, always dreampt of. Having the experience of seeing the two lines on a pregnancy test, sharing the news with my family, being sick and irritable, feeling that first kick, getting fat and knowing that my body will never be the same and know that WE created this being, together. That is a desire I have had since I was a young girl... but some dreams just can't come true. This is the reality that we are currently facing. I understand that we haven't even been through IVF yet, but being through what I have already experienced with trying and having the disappointment month after month, it kind of starts to take that little bit of spirit and excitement away, the thrill just isn't quite what it once was. Blah... I could go on and on and it would all sound like the pesemistic ramble that it is =)
Anyways, here we go...on an unexpected adventure together, completely dependant on each other for comfort and strength. I am eternally grateful for such an amazingly supportive husband that provides me with the strength that I would never otherwise be able find within myself.
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