So I started my cycle on Saturday, January 5th and as I said on my last blog post, I had to go in on days 2, 3 or 4 of my cycle to have initial testings done and start the Tetrozole on day 3. So Monday (the 7th) I went in to have the tests done. They wanted to do another ultrasound and found that the ovulation cysts on my ovaries hadn't decreased enough in size.
I don't think I've explained exactly how an egg is made or released for ovulation. So what happens in weeks 1 and 2 of your cycle your ovaries create cysts and the cysts produce an egg and when they get the LH surge on day 14 of the cycle, they release the egg and the cyst dissolves.
My cysts are abnormally large and do not dissolve. When I had my ultrasound on Monday, Dec. 31st there was a cyst on both ovaries (that is why the assume I ovulated from both ovaries) and when I went back in on Monday, Jan. 7th, the cyst on my left ovary had dissolved but the cyst on my right ovary went from 24.2 to 15.4 units. They have a policy that they do not do the treatment if the cysts are larger than 14 units, and even though it decreased by 8.5 units, it was still too large to do the treatment this month. They said because its size decreased, they aren't too alarmed but want to keep an eye on it.
I still have my doctor's appointment with Dr. Phipps on Monday, Jan. 28th to decide next steps. We will also see what my ovaries and/or cysts are up to again at that time. My second prolactin test results still came back a little elevated so we will discuss next steps with the doctor at that time as well.
So January is a month of waiting. It's really frustrating for me that things just can't go right for me! I'm not stressing about it as much as I did in the beginning but I still just can't help feeling hopeless and like it's never going to happen. I am also nervous about my doctor's appointment because if he has bad news, I'm going to lose it! Every test that comes back normal just means that it's something worse. Cole has been amazing at trying to brighten my spirits and positively states that we're gonna get pregnant this month with no help or treatments! I hope he's right... If not, February we will hopefully be cleared for Tetrozole and we are thinking more seriously about insemination.
As always, thank you for reading my blog and for all your prayers, thoughts and kind words!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
New Year, New Changes
Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year! 2013 is going to be my year!! Lucky 13
I had an appointment with a Nurse Practioner at the Reproductive Medicine Center on Monday, Dec. 31st. We went over all my medical history and Cole's history, had an ultrasound done and did some blood work. There was a lot that we talked about and a lot of information thrown at us so I'm going to try to keep it all straight!
- The ultrasound showed that I ovulated out of both my right and left ovaries this month which means that they are working so that is a good sign! When I took a blood pregnancy test though it was negative, meaning something still isn't working. So we dodged the "twins-bullet" this month! But she said that my uterun wall is thick and healthy.
- She also said that it is really uncommon to be on Clomid for as long as I have been and told me to stop so that will be nice to feel a little more normal.
- I should be getting my period in the next day or so, and I will be starting a new treatment. I will be starting Letrozole which is considered a "back door" drug that hasn't been approved by the FDA for infertility but has shown great results. And it has less side effects than Clomid so thats good. They will also monitor me in greater detail, I have to go in on day 2,3 or 4 of my cycle to have some more tests done, and then also on day 12 to be tested for ovulation. We then have the option of being inseminated when we do ovulate but its $800 out of pocket (looking in to see if insurance covers it) and that it doesn't greatly increase our chances but it does increase our chances. We may just try this drug this month and do natural conception and if it doesn't work we may try insemination in February or March.
- She also looked at Cole's results and stated that though it is considered in the normal range, it is in the low end. She has suggested Cole go on a diet but doesn't think its necessary to medicate him at this time.
- We also met with a financial advisor and she gave us some prices (out of pocket) for our next steps in our goal to have a baby and let me say, not cheap!! But they do have payment plans if we need to, which is nice.
- I also had bloodwork done, as did Cole. Cole gets a little whoozy around human blood so they made him lay down in the recliner in case he passed out! But he took it like a champ! I sat up like a big girl because blood doesn't scare me, just don't like how the needle hurts!! I gave 5 viles of blood for 8 tests to be done. She wanted to check my thyroid again, it was still normal. My pregnancy test was negative but if I don't get my period in a week, I'm supposed to retake the test. My progesterone level was good. They also tested for a hormone called Prolactin, which causes irregular ovulation cycles and it came back slightly elevated. She wants me to be tested again when I come in on cycle day 2, 3 or 4 just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. We will go over next steps after those test results. Still waiting on results of the other tests they had done.
- I also made an appointment with a specialist for the end of January, after my first cycle of Letrozole to have them look at my response to the drugs, etc. But hopefully we cancel that appointment because I'm pregnant! Staying positive!
- We also talked about positivity and dealing with the stress of all of this and I am going to make an appointment with a counselor to help with this struggle. This blog has helped me greatly but sometimes professional help is necessary.
- I still haven't made an appointment for acupuncture, going to hold off on that for now! But I am re-starting my 17 day diet on Monday (1/7) and starting bootcamp two days a week to help get back into shape.
Thank you for reading my blog and please say a prayer for the new year that brings new and exciting things for me and Cole! And hope 2013 treats you all well too!!
I had an appointment with a Nurse Practioner at the Reproductive Medicine Center on Monday, Dec. 31st. We went over all my medical history and Cole's history, had an ultrasound done and did some blood work. There was a lot that we talked about and a lot of information thrown at us so I'm going to try to keep it all straight!
- The ultrasound showed that I ovulated out of both my right and left ovaries this month which means that they are working so that is a good sign! When I took a blood pregnancy test though it was negative, meaning something still isn't working. So we dodged the "twins-bullet" this month! But she said that my uterun wall is thick and healthy.
- She also said that it is really uncommon to be on Clomid for as long as I have been and told me to stop so that will be nice to feel a little more normal.
- I should be getting my period in the next day or so, and I will be starting a new treatment. I will be starting Letrozole which is considered a "back door" drug that hasn't been approved by the FDA for infertility but has shown great results. And it has less side effects than Clomid so thats good. They will also monitor me in greater detail, I have to go in on day 2,3 or 4 of my cycle to have some more tests done, and then also on day 12 to be tested for ovulation. We then have the option of being inseminated when we do ovulate but its $800 out of pocket (looking in to see if insurance covers it) and that it doesn't greatly increase our chances but it does increase our chances. We may just try this drug this month and do natural conception and if it doesn't work we may try insemination in February or March.
- She also looked at Cole's results and stated that though it is considered in the normal range, it is in the low end. She has suggested Cole go on a diet but doesn't think its necessary to medicate him at this time.
- We also met with a financial advisor and she gave us some prices (out of pocket) for our next steps in our goal to have a baby and let me say, not cheap!! But they do have payment plans if we need to, which is nice.
- I also had bloodwork done, as did Cole. Cole gets a little whoozy around human blood so they made him lay down in the recliner in case he passed out! But he took it like a champ! I sat up like a big girl because blood doesn't scare me, just don't like how the needle hurts!! I gave 5 viles of blood for 8 tests to be done. She wanted to check my thyroid again, it was still normal. My pregnancy test was negative but if I don't get my period in a week, I'm supposed to retake the test. My progesterone level was good. They also tested for a hormone called Prolactin, which causes irregular ovulation cycles and it came back slightly elevated. She wants me to be tested again when I come in on cycle day 2, 3 or 4 just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. We will go over next steps after those test results. Still waiting on results of the other tests they had done.
- I also made an appointment with a specialist for the end of January, after my first cycle of Letrozole to have them look at my response to the drugs, etc. But hopefully we cancel that appointment because I'm pregnant! Staying positive!
- We also talked about positivity and dealing with the stress of all of this and I am going to make an appointment with a counselor to help with this struggle. This blog has helped me greatly but sometimes professional help is necessary.
- I still haven't made an appointment for acupuncture, going to hold off on that for now! But I am re-starting my 17 day diet on Monday (1/7) and starting bootcamp two days a week to help get back into shape.
Thank you for reading my blog and please say a prayer for the new year that brings new and exciting things for me and Cole! And hope 2013 treats you all well too!!
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