I'm back from surgery! Sorry, no Grey's Anatomyish stories to tell. Although I was wondering if there were some interns in a closet getting it on Meredith and McDreamy-style...
Sunday night, I had to drink a 10 ounce bottle of Magnesium Citrate. Not good times for moi. I gagged the entire time and had to really not focus on throwing up because oh my god please don't make me drink any more of THAT! Blech.
I waited and waited and waited for the poo, but nothing happened. So I gave up and went to bed. At about 6 a.m. I woke up and thought "Wow, I feel crappy." Then I realized that I literally felt crappy. And then it happened: The assplosion. Just, wow.
The whole experience was not bad. At all. Never one to disappoint, I had a diva experience while getting my IV and passed out. The nurse was very sweet and used an alcohol swab around my nose instead of smelling salts, and that kept me alert. They had to try twice before finding a good vein, but once it was in I was A-OK.
The surgery was fine - I don't remember anything after I got in the operating room.
I woke up fine, no nausea because I asked for medication for that before the surgery (thanks, Sus). I was just super thirsty because I wasn't allowed to drink anything all day. I went to Eat N' Park and got a turkey sandwich and chicken noodle soup, and it was the best meal of my life! Or maybe I was just starving. Either way...
The rest of Monday night I pretty much just slept. Today I feel OK. My throat hurts from the tube they put in there, and my stomach is pretty sore. My chest feels like Starr Jones (pre gastric bypass) is sitting on it. But I really feel way better than anticipated.
Dr. Fabulous didn't find any endometriosis or anything that needed to be removed. So I basically did it for nothing, but I'm glad I did. It's worth the peace of mind. The only way to check for endometriosis is to have the surgery and I know I would always be worried that I had it.
Soooo that's it. I have to wait to get my period, then call and schedule a baseline ultrasound to make sure that I don't have any cysts. If I don't, then I can start taking clomid and we can do an IUI this month.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
I'm not that kind of girl!
Tuesday, Dr. Fabulous did my follow-up ultrasound to make sure my cyst was gone. It was.
But excuse me if I can't help but feel like maybe he should get to know me a little better before he...well, gets in there with that thing! You know, take me out to dinner, or learn my favorite color, or ask me about my hopes and dreams.
Really, what is the difference between this lovely Pure Romance dildo and the internal ultrasound wand? Sure, you may say the ultrasound wand doesn't vibrate, but how do you know for sure? It might.
Turns out my hormones are fine. Fine fine fine. We are going to go ahead with the laparoscopic surgery on October 29 to check for endometriosis. I have my pre-op appointment on the 25th (I think), then they shall blow up my belly like a fat whale and get rid of the gunk inside. Great times.
Dr. Fabulous said that the average couple has a 20% chance each month of getting pregnant. Mark and I have a 5% chance (sperm issues, see below). Because of our decreased chance, he thinks that we can conceive naturally, but he thinks it could take about 5 years. No reason for us to wait that long, so we are going to move forward with some fertility treatments.
Now Mark's results, well, we've got an issue. Not a major issue, but still something we'll have to deal with. It turns out that Mark's morphology is a little off. Meaning, they're shaped funny and have a little bit of a hard time getting in the egg. We are going to try some vitamins and extra-healthy eating for the next two months to improve the morphology.
It might be the little hats they insist on wearing. And I think my eggs may be a little nervous about pirate sperm, given the immediate association with butt pirates and also the fear that the embryo will want to sport an eye patch and parrot.
I digress. The plan is for me to get the lap surgery, then try 3 IUI (Intra-uterine insemination) cycles with Clomid. He said our chances with Clomid and IUI are 20% each time, which puts us on pace with normal people. After three cycles: reevaluate.
Since I am a horrible lazy whore who is bad about giving updates, here is the information you will need to figure out what the hell I am talking about:
IUI - Intra-uterine insemination. The sperm are taken from Mark (by masturbation or fear tactics, whichever works) and washed, then put directly into my uterus with a catheter. Washing them weeds out the unhealthy sperm and gets rid of any debris in the seminal fluid. This is timed with my ovulation to up our chances of conceiving.
Clomid - a pill that I will take for a week at the beginning of my cycle to make my eggs grow. It helps to improve egg quality. Will make me feel crazy, fat and bitchy. Good times. 10% increase in the chance of conceiving twins, less than 1% chance of triplets.
hCG - a hormone that induces ovulation. I will be monitored by ultrasound to see when the Clomid has developed a few eggs. When I'm ready, I will get a shot of hCG to cause me to ovulate. Two days later, I will have the IUI done on back-to-back days.
But excuse me if I can't help but feel like maybe he should get to know me a little better before he...well, gets in there with that thing! You know, take me out to dinner, or learn my favorite color, or ask me about my hopes and dreams.
Really, what is the difference between this lovely Pure Romance dildo and the internal ultrasound wand? Sure, you may say the ultrasound wand doesn't vibrate, but how do you know for sure? It might.
Turns out my hormones are fine. Fine fine fine. We are going to go ahead with the laparoscopic surgery on October 29 to check for endometriosis. I have my pre-op appointment on the 25th (I think), then they shall blow up my belly like a fat whale and get rid of the gunk inside. Great times.
Dr. Fabulous said that the average couple has a 20% chance each month of getting pregnant. Mark and I have a 5% chance (sperm issues, see below). Because of our decreased chance, he thinks that we can conceive naturally, but he thinks it could take about 5 years. No reason for us to wait that long, so we are going to move forward with some fertility treatments.
Now Mark's results, well, we've got an issue. Not a major issue, but still something we'll have to deal with. It turns out that Mark's morphology is a little off. Meaning, they're shaped funny and have a little bit of a hard time getting in the egg. We are going to try some vitamins and extra-healthy eating for the next two months to improve the morphology.
It might be the little hats they insist on wearing. And I think my eggs may be a little nervous about pirate sperm, given the immediate association with butt pirates and also the fear that the embryo will want to sport an eye patch and parrot.
I digress. The plan is for me to get the lap surgery, then try 3 IUI (Intra-uterine insemination) cycles with Clomid. He said our chances with Clomid and IUI are 20% each time, which puts us on pace with normal people. After three cycles: reevaluate.
Since I am a horrible lazy whore who is bad about giving updates, here is the information you will need to figure out what the hell I am talking about:
IUI - Intra-uterine insemination. The sperm are taken from Mark (by masturbation or fear tactics, whichever works) and washed, then put directly into my uterus with a catheter. Washing them weeds out the unhealthy sperm and gets rid of any debris in the seminal fluid. This is timed with my ovulation to up our chances of conceiving.
Clomid - a pill that I will take for a week at the beginning of my cycle to make my eggs grow. It helps to improve egg quality. Will make me feel crazy, fat and bitchy. Good times. 10% increase in the chance of conceiving twins, less than 1% chance of triplets.
hCG - a hormone that induces ovulation. I will be monitored by ultrasound to see when the Clomid has developed a few eggs. When I'm ready, I will get a shot of hCG to cause me to ovulate. Two days later, I will have the IUI done on back-to-back days.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Did you seriously just say that?
What NOT to say to someone who is trying to get pregnant.
These are all things that people have said to me. For realsies.
"Just Relax."
Thanks for that gem! So useful and helpful to my situation.
I'll tell you this: the first 6 months, I was SO relaxed. I was Al Bundy, hands down my pants while sippin a brewsky and watching TV, relaxed. Guess what? That didn't make me pregnant! I know, hard to believe, right?!
"Just get really drunk, then do it!"
You're probably right! I bet alcohol really kicks the old reproductive plumbing into gear! I bet all the infertility drug companies are marketing Absolut in pill form as Clomid and charging all us dumbass infertiles triple. Fucking geniuses!
Just because someone you know, or a friend of a friend of a sister's brother in law got pregnant at a massive kegger, doesn't mean that it was the alcohol. It was the fact that she forgot to take her pill and didn't make the guy wear a condom. I know it sounds really OUT THERE, but trust me.
"Just Adopt! As soon as you do, you'll get pregnant!"
Wha wha what?? I really don't see the relation between making the decision to adopt and getting pregnant. If you're thinking it would make me relax, you're wrong (and also, relaxation does not a baby make. See above).
"Try *this* position!"
Really? I've tried top, bottom, top then bottom, bottom then top, froggy style, doggy style, wheel-barrow, reverse cowgirl, from the side, and in the ear. I've been screwed 7ways to Sunday until the cows came home, put on their pajamas and watched Leno. None of them have worked so far, but I bet THAT position will do it!
"Stand on your head after sex."
Hey, I'll try that! I'll also make sure to kick you in the face, after I recover from my very serious
neck injury and my chiropractor says I can kick people in the face again.
"Go on vacation!"
You could be correct. First, I will try relaxing. If that doesn't work, I will spend a ton of money on a vacation. It must be the magical combination of sand crotch and semen and friction. It doesn't even matter when you go - I've heard that you automatically ovulate every day at noon in Cancun. Siesta my ass! They're all making babies!
"Put eggwhites in your vagina"
You're gross. Don't talk to me ever again. Ever. Also, don't ever plan on getting pregnant, because your husband will permenantly lose the ability to create an erection after you suggest this.
"Have more sex!"
Really? Sex makes babies? I TOTALLY wasted that $5000 deposit at Storkbabydelivery.com. I better get a refund! I wonder if they are a BBB member??
"Have fun trying!"
Ok, even I know this is innocent. I know people say this because they are uncomfortable and are trying to be positive. But it's obnoxious. If you say this, stop immediately.
"I wish I could give you some of my fertility, because I. Am. Fertile!"
This could be best shown by example, I think.
What? You lost both of your legs in a tragic sledding accident? Wow! I wish I could share my legs with you, because I have TWO and I am so lazy. I hate walking around. I would sit all the time if I could, but I just have so damn many legs!
*do you see what I did there? rubbed my legs in your stump-ass face?*
Please do not rub your fertility in my face. I think you're an asshole, and I keep that to myself. Also, I think your ass looks fat in those pants, yet I refrain. Please: return the favor.
"When are you going to start a family?"
AKA: When are you going to have kids? When are you going to get pregnant already? Have you started trying for a baby? Why not? Tick tock!
Oh my sweet baby jesus christ! If there was an Emmy for nosiest motherfucker, you would win! Ask once, and if you don't get an answer, then TAKE A HINT!
Here's the bottom line: The only right thing to say is "I'm sorry, that really sucks. I hope it happens for you soon." It also doesn't hurt to just listen.
These are all things that people have said to me. For realsies.
"Just Relax."
Thanks for that gem! So useful and helpful to my situation.
I'll tell you this: the first 6 months, I was SO relaxed. I was Al Bundy, hands down my pants while sippin a brewsky and watching TV, relaxed. Guess what? That didn't make me pregnant! I know, hard to believe, right?!
"Just get really drunk, then do it!"
You're probably right! I bet alcohol really kicks the old reproductive plumbing into gear! I bet all the infertility drug companies are marketing Absolut in pill form as Clomid and charging all us dumbass infertiles triple. Fucking geniuses!
Just because someone you know, or a friend of a friend of a sister's brother in law got pregnant at a massive kegger, doesn't mean that it was the alcohol. It was the fact that she forgot to take her pill and didn't make the guy wear a condom. I know it sounds really OUT THERE, but trust me.
"Just Adopt! As soon as you do, you'll get pregnant!"
Wha wha what?? I really don't see the relation between making the decision to adopt and getting pregnant. If you're thinking it would make me relax, you're wrong (and also, relaxation does not a baby make. See above).
"Try *this* position!"
Really? I've tried top, bottom, top then bottom, bottom then top, froggy style, doggy style, wheel-barrow, reverse cowgirl, from the side, and in the ear. I've been screwed 7ways to Sunday until the cows came home, put on their pajamas and watched Leno. None of them have worked so far, but I bet THAT position will do it!
"Stand on your head after sex."
Hey, I'll try that! I'll also make sure to kick you in the face, after I recover from my very serious
neck injury and my chiropractor says I can kick people in the face again.
"Go on vacation!"
You could be correct. First, I will try relaxing. If that doesn't work, I will spend a ton of money on a vacation. It must be the magical combination of sand crotch and semen and friction. It doesn't even matter when you go - I've heard that you automatically ovulate every day at noon in Cancun. Siesta my ass! They're all making babies!
"Put eggwhites in your vagina"
You're gross. Don't talk to me ever again. Ever. Also, don't ever plan on getting pregnant, because your husband will permenantly lose the ability to create an erection after you suggest this.
"Have more sex!"
Really? Sex makes babies? I TOTALLY wasted that $5000 deposit at Storkbabydelivery.com. I better get a refund! I wonder if they are a BBB member??
"Have fun trying!"
Ok, even I know this is innocent. I know people say this because they are uncomfortable and are trying to be positive. But it's obnoxious. If you say this, stop immediately.
"I wish I could give you some of my fertility, because I. Am. Fertile!"
This could be best shown by example, I think.
What? You lost both of your legs in a tragic sledding accident? Wow! I wish I could share my legs with you, because I have TWO and I am so lazy. I hate walking around. I would sit all the time if I could, but I just have so damn many legs!
*do you see what I did there? rubbed my legs in your stump-ass face?*
Please do not rub your fertility in my face. I think you're an asshole, and I keep that to myself. Also, I think your ass looks fat in those pants, yet I refrain. Please: return the favor.
"When are you going to start a family?"
AKA: When are you going to have kids? When are you going to get pregnant already? Have you started trying for a baby? Why not? Tick tock!
Oh my sweet baby jesus christ! If there was an Emmy for nosiest motherfucker, you would win! Ask once, and if you don't get an answer, then TAKE A HINT!
Here's the bottom line: The only right thing to say is "I'm sorry, that really sucks. I hope it happens for you soon." It also doesn't hurt to just listen.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Since you asked...
The jig is up. We've got some slightly defective reproductive plumbing. I think it's pretty obvious at this point, right?
So here is the deal.
When Mark and I got engaged, we discussed our future plans in great detail. You see, I am a planner, and I must plan even the most mundane minutiae of my life. We agreed that we would be ready to have a baby any time after the wedding since we had almost two years of shacking up logged before we were legal.
In October 2005, I stopped taking my birth control pill. It was giving me horrible migraines and I figured why not? I'd be trying to get pregnant soon enough. Plus, it's not like we were having premarital sex or anything...
From March 2006 until around September 2006, we were not taking any precautions. Normal couples who do not prevent pregnancy will become pregnant within six months. I started to worry. Not only were we not preventing, but I was actually timing our intercourse with ovulation. I mentioned it to my OBGYN at my annual pap, and he said that he knew I would be pregnant by spring, and if I wasn't, to come back and see him.
Of the couples under the age of 30 who do not become pregnant within 6 months, half of them will become pregnant within a year. Infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant in one year of unprotected sex.
In December, I decided to start charting my basal body temperature to time our baby-making efforts more accurately. I also started using ovulation prediction kits.
Our one year anniversary was bittersweet. It marked the first year of a happy marriage, but it also marked the dreaded day that we went from being normal to being infertile. For me, the challenge started a while ago. I don't know if it's really dawned on Mark yet, even now. I called to make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist.
In May, we met with the endocrinologist, who was a total douche, and who I call Dr. Condescending. While we got no help or answers, he did order us a hysterosalpingogram and a semen analysis. My uterus is normally shaped and my tubes are clear. Mark's counts are all great, but the sample did have a high number of white blood cells, which is usually an indicator of a prostate infection.
Mark saw a urologist in June, who said he does not have a prostate infection. To eliminate the white blood cells in the semen, he prescribed Cipro and Motrin, for seven days starting at day 5 of my cycle for the next four months.
In August I decided to contact a different reproductive endocrinologist in order to preserve my sanity. So I met with Dr. Fabulous in September and got the action I was looking for. He ordered cycle day 3 blood work and another semen analysis. He said that we can move forward, we have waited long enough, and he will be aggressive with us.
So that's where we are. Waiting for semen analysis results and blood work results and a plan. I go back on Tuesday to get the results and to check on the cyst on my right ovary. And to see what is next.
So here is the deal.
When Mark and I got engaged, we discussed our future plans in great detail. You see, I am a planner, and I must plan even the most mundane minutiae of my life. We agreed that we would be ready to have a baby any time after the wedding since we had almost two years of shacking up logged before we were legal.
In October 2005, I stopped taking my birth control pill. It was giving me horrible migraines and I figured why not? I'd be trying to get pregnant soon enough. Plus, it's not like we were having premarital sex or anything...
From March 2006 until around September 2006, we were not taking any precautions. Normal couples who do not prevent pregnancy will become pregnant within six months. I started to worry. Not only were we not preventing, but I was actually timing our intercourse with ovulation. I mentioned it to my OBGYN at my annual pap, and he said that he knew I would be pregnant by spring, and if I wasn't, to come back and see him.
Of the couples under the age of 30 who do not become pregnant within 6 months, half of them will become pregnant within a year. Infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant in one year of unprotected sex.
In December, I decided to start charting my basal body temperature to time our baby-making efforts more accurately. I also started using ovulation prediction kits.
Our one year anniversary was bittersweet. It marked the first year of a happy marriage, but it also marked the dreaded day that we went from being normal to being infertile. For me, the challenge started a while ago. I don't know if it's really dawned on Mark yet, even now. I called to make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist.
In May, we met with the endocrinologist, who was a total douche, and who I call Dr. Condescending. While we got no help or answers, he did order us a hysterosalpingogram and a semen analysis. My uterus is normally shaped and my tubes are clear. Mark's counts are all great, but the sample did have a high number of white blood cells, which is usually an indicator of a prostate infection.
Mark saw a urologist in June, who said he does not have a prostate infection. To eliminate the white blood cells in the semen, he prescribed Cipro and Motrin, for seven days starting at day 5 of my cycle for the next four months.
In August I decided to contact a different reproductive endocrinologist in order to preserve my sanity. So I met with Dr. Fabulous in September and got the action I was looking for. He ordered cycle day 3 blood work and another semen analysis. He said that we can move forward, we have waited long enough, and he will be aggressive with us.
So that's where we are. Waiting for semen analysis results and blood work results and a plan. I go back on Tuesday to get the results and to check on the cyst on my right ovary. And to see what is next.
Trying to Conceive: A month-by-month guide.
Month 1: We're SO going to be that couple that gets pregnant the first month trying.
Month 2: Ah, practice makes perfect! BDing is so much fun!
Month 3: Hmmm...Maybe ED instead of EOD? That'll work for sure.
Month 4: Damn it. I'm going to have so much sex it's CRAZY! I'm getting pregnant this month.
Month 5: Fuck.
Month 6: I still have 6 months before I need to worry. No big deal at all.
Month 7: Fuck.
Month 8: Start Charting!
Month 9: Understand charting, will totally get pregnant now!
Month 10: Fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck.
Month 11: *browses covered RE's in the insurance provider book*
Month 12: Head explodes, Ovaries still intact. No visible injuries to the penis. Good to go. Also, can't get an appointment at the RE for 3 months and must maintain a good attitude.
Month 13 - Infinity: FUCK!
Month 2: Ah, practice makes perfect! BDing is so much fun!
Month 3: Hmmm...Maybe ED instead of EOD? That'll work for sure.
Month 4: Damn it. I'm going to have so much sex it's CRAZY! I'm getting pregnant this month.
Month 5: Fuck.
Month 6: I still have 6 months before I need to worry. No big deal at all.
Month 7: Fuck.
Month 8: Start Charting!
Month 9: Understand charting, will totally get pregnant now!
Month 10: Fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck.
Month 11: *browses covered RE's in the insurance provider book*
Month 12: Head explodes, Ovaries still intact. No visible injuries to the penis. Good to go. Also, can't get an appointment at the RE for 3 months and must maintain a good attitude.
Month 13 - Infinity: FUCK!
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