Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Positive news at today’s appointment
Dr. Park was a little concerned that my “fibroid” was gone and or not
seen in the ultra sound. This will remain under observation. Dr. Park also
explained to me that my left tube may still be blocked because they could not
see the spillage of dye where it went completely through my fallopian tube.
As a result of forcing
my period by taking the provera last month I may have another cycle soon. If I
do not have a cycle I will start the provera again. I hope this is not the case
as it made me feel crappy.
So we are back to
hurry up and wait!
Friday, April 24, 2015
Blood test HSG and SIS
I got my blood drawn early this week and got most of
the results back. I’m definitely
not a doctor but my estradiol level seems HIGH, and my testosterone and FSH
(follicle stimulating hormone) seem normal.
They wouldn't let me take a picture of al of my viles of blood. HIPPA violation? Its my blood!
Today was my saline infused sonogram (SIS) and hysterosalpingogram (HSG). We fought traffic up to Fontana and checked in right on time. Our first stop was the reproductive endocrinologist for my SIS. This test/procedure took about 5 minutes. I laid down on the table they inserted a catheter and pushed saline into my uterus. NOTHING WAS THERE!!!! The doctor performing the test said that I could have passed whatever was there with my cycle. FANTASTIC.
Our next test the HSG was in the radiology
department. We checked in and I was given a hospital bracelet.
yup that's me!
We waited in the
waiting room for about 5 minutes when we were called back. I was given 2
hospital gowns one to wear open in the front and one to wear open in the back.
 |
| Its way too early and I have no idea whats about to happen. |
I waited again for about 10 minutes. Best part I got to watch Kelly and Michael and saw Robert Downey Jr. talk about avengers of ultron.
Finally they called my name and told me they would
once again be inserting a catheter into my cervix and pushing dye through my
uterus to see if my fallopian tubes were blocked. They started the procedure and I had a screen where I could see what was happening.
They pushed the first bit of dye through and I experienced horrible pain but my
right fallopian tube lit up beautifully, the doctor came and asked me if I had
my left tube. I of course said yes because why would I be missing a body part?
She told me she was going to push more dye and try again. Once again horrible
pain, I actually cried out in pain this time. She came and told me that my left
tube was blocked and she could try again or she could just call it as blocked.
I told her why not just try one more time. They gave me a 2-minute break to
give my uterus a break from all of the cramping. She pushed one more time and
my thought was dear sweet baby Jesus why did I tell her to do that, a second later
I had significantly less pain and I felt her push more dye. The doctor came out
of her little room to tell me that she could see my tube!!!! The last bit of
dye pushed the blockage out.
Finally they let me up off the table and I was free to go. I was still
in horrible pain, Jordan stopped and bought me Tylenol on the way home and I
slept most of the hour car ride home.
The HSG should not have hurt as much as it did the only reason I was in
so much pain was because my fallopian tube was blocked. I should have taken
Tylenol before hand like they suggest. As of now most of the cramping has stopped and I am off to
work like any other Friday. I can not wait until Wednesday when we get some
more solid answers.
Monday, April 20, 2015
We have the best support system
Since sharing my blog I have received an outpouring of love from our family and friends. Thank you we love, appreciate and cherish you all.
On the suggestion of a friend I am going to share this crowd funding page.
We have our first follow up appointment at the end of the month!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Waiting on aunt flow
I don't think I've ever waited so impatiently for a cycle to start. I am anxious to get my blood work and tests done to see where we stand.
For those who have asked what our plan is and the cost of each cycle here is the hand out kaiser gave us at our appointment.
Since we only get six cycles to try and make a baby we hope to do the combination cycles. These cycles would consist of some type of pills and injections. Specifications on the medications would be discussed with our doctor later.
So far preliminary testing (his and her blood tests, semen analysis, HSG and SIS) has cost about $500.
For now we wait. Enjoy this picture of our dog Thor and foster dog Bane.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Our story so far
In August I visited my
OBGYN (Doctor B. at Kaiser in Riverside) and was asked “you are up to date on
your PAP test why are you here?” I
told her I was ready to start a family and just wanted to know what I should be
doing to help my chances and to make sure I was good to go. I was told to
“just have fun”, “don’t stress” She was never asked about my previous cycles,
or anything pertaining to my life, stress levels, nothing. Basically I was
rushed out of the office and I left feeling angry and belittled.
In December 2014 we began trying. Early January 2015 I was late with a negative test. Mid January I was still late with a negative test. I emailed my OBGYN and I was instructed to go into the clinic exactly two weeks apart for two urine pregnancy tests and when both were negative I could be seen by my Doctor. The last week of January I saw my Doctor she told I was probably just stressing and should just relax. (I cannot tell you how aggravating this statement is) I tried to explain to her how I thought something was wrong how I just don’t feel right some days, she told me she would order blood work for my thyroid and my glucose. I got an email back telling me I was fine.
Fast forward to March 2015 I was late again with negative tests. At this point I was very concerned. I emailed my Doctor once again and a nurse responded that she would forward my email to my Doctor SEVERAL days later I heard back from my Doctor. She prescribed me Provera (this will increase progesterone levels causing them to drop when the medication is stopped triggering your cycle to start) to take on the 1st through the 10th of each month and ordered a pelvic ultrasound, which was scheduled for March 25th. At this point I went back and counted all of my cycle lengths that I could access on my app. They ranged in length from 29 to 68 days.
On March 25th I drank my twenty-some-odd-ounces of water and waited and waited for my name to be called. Apparently I had consumed too much water. Have you ever emptied half of your bladder? That is not an easy task. After the ultrasound I went home feeling like something was off. I had caught a glimpse of my ultrasound and it looked scary!!!
March 29th I got an email from a Doctor was not my OBGYN. It read “Your recent pelvic ultrasound was normal. Your uterus and ovaries are all normal appearing. No evidence of fibroids or worrisome ovarian cysts. ” This was fantastic news. Although now I was just beating myself up for being such a stress freak.
Thursday April 2nd I received a follow up phone call from Doctor B. she started out once again just telling me to relax. I interrupted her and told her I was concerned because my cycle lengths varied so much. She told me she couldn’t previously access my scans so she would pull them up and look at them again. After a long pause she told me I do have cysts on my ovaries that are consistent with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and that I would have to go to Infertility in Fontana, which may or may not be covered by my insurance. She managed to find the contact information for me and told me to call her when I am pregnant.
I am beyond disappointed in this Doctor and will not be returning to her.
Our first Infertility appointment was Friday April 10th. We met with Doctor Park who is AMAZING. She was so professional and positive. She went over our options with us as well as some of the tests that need to be completed so we have a better understanding of the situation. Kaiser gives you six cycles to try for a baby and that’s it! She reviewed my ultra sound and said she wanted to do her own. After the ultra sound she told me she found what she thinks is a fibroid if she is correct it will need to be removed (how the heck she saw a fibroid I have no idea because all I saw was fuzzy gray coloring). She also said she found my ovaries to be poly cystic in nature but wants to review my blood work to know for sure. She instructed us to check out with her assistant who would give us specific instructions for our testing.
She was not joking!! I have never been given such specific instructions for blood work and when to call and schedule appointments. We then checked out with the receptionists who explained to us that we may want to start a binder for all of our receipts. Since the insurance company will only cover 50% of the costs we need to hang on to all of our paper work to keep track of what has and has not been paid for.
Here are the tests that need to be completed for more information.
In December 2014 we began trying. Early January 2015 I was late with a negative test. Mid January I was still late with a negative test. I emailed my OBGYN and I was instructed to go into the clinic exactly two weeks apart for two urine pregnancy tests and when both were negative I could be seen by my Doctor. The last week of January I saw my Doctor she told I was probably just stressing and should just relax. (I cannot tell you how aggravating this statement is) I tried to explain to her how I thought something was wrong how I just don’t feel right some days, she told me she would order blood work for my thyroid and my glucose. I got an email back telling me I was fine.
Fast forward to March 2015 I was late again with negative tests. At this point I was very concerned. I emailed my Doctor once again and a nurse responded that she would forward my email to my Doctor SEVERAL days later I heard back from my Doctor. She prescribed me Provera (this will increase progesterone levels causing them to drop when the medication is stopped triggering your cycle to start) to take on the 1st through the 10th of each month and ordered a pelvic ultrasound, which was scheduled for March 25th. At this point I went back and counted all of my cycle lengths that I could access on my app. They ranged in length from 29 to 68 days.
On March 25th I drank my twenty-some-odd-ounces of water and waited and waited for my name to be called. Apparently I had consumed too much water. Have you ever emptied half of your bladder? That is not an easy task. After the ultrasound I went home feeling like something was off. I had caught a glimpse of my ultrasound and it looked scary!!!
March 29th I got an email from a Doctor was not my OBGYN. It read “Your recent pelvic ultrasound was normal. Your uterus and ovaries are all normal appearing. No evidence of fibroids or worrisome ovarian cysts. ” This was fantastic news. Although now I was just beating myself up for being such a stress freak.
Thursday April 2nd I received a follow up phone call from Doctor B. she started out once again just telling me to relax. I interrupted her and told her I was concerned because my cycle lengths varied so much. She told me she couldn’t previously access my scans so she would pull them up and look at them again. After a long pause she told me I do have cysts on my ovaries that are consistent with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and that I would have to go to Infertility in Fontana, which may or may not be covered by my insurance. She managed to find the contact information for me and told me to call her when I am pregnant.
I am beyond disappointed in this Doctor and will not be returning to her.
Our first Infertility appointment was Friday April 10th. We met with Doctor Park who is AMAZING. She was so professional and positive. She went over our options with us as well as some of the tests that need to be completed so we have a better understanding of the situation. Kaiser gives you six cycles to try for a baby and that’s it! She reviewed my ultra sound and said she wanted to do her own. After the ultra sound she told me she found what she thinks is a fibroid if she is correct it will need to be removed (how the heck she saw a fibroid I have no idea because all I saw was fuzzy gray coloring). She also said she found my ovaries to be poly cystic in nature but wants to review my blood work to know for sure. She instructed us to check out with her assistant who would give us specific instructions for our testing.
She was not joking!! I have never been given such specific instructions for blood work and when to call and schedule appointments. We then checked out with the receptionists who explained to us that we may want to start a binder for all of our receipts. Since the insurance company will only cover 50% of the costs we need to hang on to all of our paper work to keep track of what has and has not been paid for.
Here are the tests that need to be completed for more information.
Day
one of my next menstrual cycle I am to contact Kaiser Fontana Infertility and
schedule a Hysterosalpingogram
(HSG) and Saline Infused Sonohysterography (SIS). Day 3 of my cycle I am to have my
blood work done.
At our
next appointment will be scheduled after all of the testing is completed. At
this appointment we will go over all of our test results and choose an option
that works best for us.
The
last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotion. I am lucky enough to have
an incredibly supportive husband, family and close circle of friends making
this experience more bearable.
Below
are some links to some of the medical terms and procedure talked about above.
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