Back in the Saddle

*** Warning: This post contains "female" information some will consider TMI. ***




A bit of history first...

It's been one year since our trial with Clomid failed. It's been one year since my GYN told us our next step was trying IUI and wanted to proceed right away. We felt like we were missing some steps and didn't wish to pursue that aggressively. It's also been a year since we sent our charts to Dr. Hilgers at the Pope Paul VI Institute, hoping we'd be able to proceed with a doctor who believed and practiced fertility-based medicine within his Catholic morality. Unfortunately, it's been a little under a year since those hopes were dashed because none of it would be covered with insurance and diagnostic testing alone would cost - up front - ten grand. Yikes.

Because it's been one year since I've been on any menstruation or supposed ovulation inducing medication, I have had problems with performing those actions on my own. My body is broken and doesn't function as it's meant to. But, because of all our preparation in trying to work with Dr. H at PPVI, I discovered through NaPro charting that I have chronic ovarian pain. I also have a combination of other symptoms that are commonly seen with endometriosis. However, I never would've thought about endometriosis until Dr. H mentioned that, in his experience, about 50% of women with PCOS also have some stage of endo.

When the Clomid failed, I fell into a depression. Not just from all the hormonal changes, but because of the bleary outlook on our chances to conceive. Then PPVI fell through. I started focusing on our adoption process - which is a parallel path, not an alternate route, in achieving parenthood. I thought the "distraction" would help... but it didn't. It truly wasn't until about January of THIS year that I started feeling "back to normal".

Except for the fact that I'm not normal. Not physically, anyway.

I had two non-drug induced AFs last year, bringing the yearly total up to 4 periods. I don't and really can't call them "cycles" because there's no cycle to it. I don't ovulate. I don't have the typical stages in the average 4-6 week cycle that women are supposed to have. AF last reared her ugly head in August... on our anniversary, no less. Haven't seen her since.

Fast-forward 7 months. I had my annual GYN appointment scheduled yesterday. As I told my nurse, to us in the infertile world, a sure-fire way of making AF start is to POAS (pee on a stick, as in taking a pg test). LOL. I think I found a new way to make it start. Schedule your annual GYN exam!

That's right. AF decided that 7 months was apparently too long of an absence and couldn't wait just one more freaking day! Because of the extreme pain I get with AF, yesterday's exam was horrific. I was also told that the "contamination" on my pap could possibly result in endometrial cells on the path report, probably causing me to have to undergo a biopsy. I'd think I would have another pap before proceeding straight to biopsy, especially when there's an excuse for the potential abnormality, but she didn't make that sound like an option. However...

The counseling portion of yesterday's visit was excellent! In discussion of "the next step" and reviewing all my symptoms, Dr. J told me I would definitely need to undergo an HSG (hysterosalpingogram) to check f-tube flow/patency or a lap (laparoscopy) to check for endo and, if present, remove it. She truly doesn't think I have a flow problem; I don't, either. The nature of PCOS is that my ovaries don't release anything to flow, not that the flow couldn't get through. So... in May, I am going to be put under general anesthesia for the first time since ear tubes in 3rd grade and have the lap. I scheduled my pre-op appointments today.

We're waiting until May because if I should have endo that needs to be removed, I will be clean and optimal for any type of treatment the new REI may have in store for me! Yep, our region is getting its first REI (reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist) and he'll work in my facility! He starts in July and Dr. J is excited for me to be able to see him to work on my issues.

So... we're back in the saddle again as far as diagnostics and focusing on our issues to try and create an optimal environment for conceiving. Now I just have to work on Gil to get in to see the urologist...