June 15 came quick...my mom was coming to stay with me for the week I needed off to recover so Jimmy wouldnt have to take time he didnt have off from work. Jimmy, my mom and I were on the road at 5:45 for the Hospital where I had to be there by 7 for my surgery at 9:30. Again I felt the HUGE love and support from friends and family, my phone started going off at 6 that morning. I handed over my phone to my mom so she could answer the over flowing amount of text. I went back about 8:30, kissed mom and Jimmy and the rest is a blur...all the sudden Im waking up and the nurse is telling me everything went great, I wouldnt know what that meant for another hour when I saw Jimmy...
I kept asking where my husband was and the nurse kept telling me that when I went to recovery he could see me, im sure she thought I was crazy cause I just kept asking her...finally I was in recovery and she went to get him! He came back with a smile and said "have you talked to Dr. Elben, have they told you"? I just looked at him and said "NO, they havent told me anything"! He then tells me that they removed the cysts, lasered the Endometriosis (I had stage 3 out of 4) away and most importantly my tubes were CLEAR! Apparently between the Endometriosis and the cysts they were the reason my tubes appeared to be blocked. We were so excited! Of course it didnt really hit me till the next day...
They only let one person back at a time so Jimmy left, Mom came and left, Dad came and left, Vic came and left and then Jimmy came back and stayed till they released me. That day at the hospital is still such a blur, it happen so fast it just blows my mind! We came home and I went to bed, of course they woke me up to eat and take my meds and Dad and Julie came to visit. While I was asleep flowers were delivered from my BEST friend Terri, her husband Michael and precious daughter Briley. I also recieved flowers from Vic and my Dad and Julie.
The next few days I spent on the couch with Millie (she wouldnt leave my side) while Mom spolied us! I also answered lots of texts and emails. The week flew by and before I knew it Mom was leaving and I was headed back to work.
Jimmy and I went for the Post-Op on June 28, we really didnt know what to expect, I knew she would want to look at my scars and I thought maybe she would talk about the next step but again we were walking into the unknown...when we saw Dr. Elben she was still SO excited about the success of the surgery. However, she is a DR and starts talking numbers and deadlines...she put me on Clomid for 3 months in HOPES that I get pregnant FAST. She wants me pregnant and to have the baby before the Endometriosis comes back (which is anywhere within a year or 2) so she has us on a fast plan...if im not pregnant within the 3 months she allowed she wants us to talk IUI...
An IUI -- intrauterine insemination -- is performed by threading a very thin flexible catheter through the cervix and injecting washed sperm directly into the uterus. The whole process doesn't take very long — it usually only requires the insertion of a speculum and then the catheter, a process that maybe takes a couple of minutes (60-90 seconds to introduce the catheter, then sperm injection, and another 60 seconds or so to remove the catheter — going slowly helps reduce discomfort). Sometimes when the cervix is hard to reach a tenaculum is used to hold the cervix, which makes the process a bit more uncomfortable.
This would be done in a regular office visit by one of the nurses, Dr. Elben laughed saying that they were better at it then she was!
This brings us to the present stop...I just took round 2 of Clomid and im set to start/not start my cycle at the first of the month...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
2nd base...
My first appointment at Nashville Fertility was on April 5th, Jimmy and I were literally walking into the unknown. I had done some research about reasons my tubes were blocked, I had talked to several people that had been through fertility treatments but I don't think it ever prepares you for what you are about to face. I was comfortable with going to Nashville Fertility, we have some very dear friends that had been treated there and now have precious twin boys, however I had no idea that the first meeting with my new DR would be so intense.
Dr. Eblen is Board Certified in Obstetric and Gynecology and subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. When we met with her she already had my file and test results from my OB and was very familiar with our situation and that really impressed me. She first introduced herself and explained what she and Nashville Fertility specialized in, which is basically all types of INFERTILITY but with my tubes being blocked she kept mentioning IVF...
What is IVF? IVF is a process where fertilization takes place outside the body, in a petri dish or a test tube. A woman's eggs are aspirated from her ovaries and placed with sperm. After culture of the embryos for three to five days, the embryos are placed in the woman's uterus. The IVF cycle includes administration of medicines for stimulation of the ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation), egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo culture, and embryo transfer.
This really frustrated Jimmy and me at first cause it just seemed like she wanted to push this instead of trying other options but we sat through it and tried to be patient. After she talked about this for about 30 minutes she decided she was to do an vaginal ultrasound on me to see what she could find...my consultation now has turned into a very personal situation...so we go for the ultrasound. She gets the results back is stunned by what she saw...I had several cysts on both of my ovaries and had some black spots around my tubes and ovaries that appeared to be ...Endometriosis excuse me? I have Endometriosis and I had no idea??? Isn't that suppose to be painful? Well turns out, she sees women everyday that have it and have had zero symptoms. WOW...mouth dropping again...SO she explains to me that when women are between the Ovulation phase and their cycle that they tend to have more cysts on their ovaries that disappear after their cycle, so she wants to see me at the end of my next cycle which happen to be the next week. I went back this time with Tiffany for a second ultrasound and she was right almost all of the cysts disappeared but there was still visible cysts on each ovary and still those dreaded black spots around the tubes and ovaries...we talked after the ultrasound and decided to schedule a Laparoscopic Surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS), bandaid surgery, keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures.
This surgery would allow Dr. Elben to get a closer look inside and determine that actual damage, she would also remove the cysts and laser the Endometriosis if need be. This would also allow her to "clean" out whatever was blocking my tubes. Needless to say I was NERVOUS at this point and wanted it to happen ASAP! The surgery is to be scheduled on the 8th or 9th day of your cycle...well in May that landed on Wednesday of the week we were leaving for the beach so we scheduled it for June 15th...I would now have to wait OVER a month to get more answers...
Whew that was a STRESSFUL 2 months...
Dr. Eblen is Board Certified in Obstetric and Gynecology and subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. When we met with her she already had my file and test results from my OB and was very familiar with our situation and that really impressed me. She first introduced herself and explained what she and Nashville Fertility specialized in, which is basically all types of INFERTILITY but with my tubes being blocked she kept mentioning IVF...
What is IVF? IVF is a process where fertilization takes place outside the body, in a petri dish or a test tube. A woman's eggs are aspirated from her ovaries and placed with sperm. After culture of the embryos for three to five days, the embryos are placed in the woman's uterus. The IVF cycle includes administration of medicines for stimulation of the ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation), egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo culture, and embryo transfer.
This really frustrated Jimmy and me at first cause it just seemed like she wanted to push this instead of trying other options but we sat through it and tried to be patient. After she talked about this for about 30 minutes she decided she was to do an vaginal ultrasound on me to see what she could find...my consultation now has turned into a very personal situation...so we go for the ultrasound. She gets the results back is stunned by what she saw...I had several cysts on both of my ovaries and had some black spots around my tubes and ovaries that appeared to be ...Endometriosis excuse me? I have Endometriosis and I had no idea??? Isn't that suppose to be painful? Well turns out, she sees women everyday that have it and have had zero symptoms. WOW...mouth dropping again...SO she explains to me that when women are between the Ovulation phase and their cycle that they tend to have more cysts on their ovaries that disappear after their cycle, so she wants to see me at the end of my next cycle which happen to be the next week. I went back this time with Tiffany for a second ultrasound and she was right almost all of the cysts disappeared but there was still visible cysts on each ovary and still those dreaded black spots around the tubes and ovaries...we talked after the ultrasound and decided to schedule a Laparoscopic Surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS), bandaid surgery, keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures.
This surgery would allow Dr. Elben to get a closer look inside and determine that actual damage, she would also remove the cysts and laser the Endometriosis if need be. This would also allow her to "clean" out whatever was blocking my tubes. Needless to say I was NERVOUS at this point and wanted it to happen ASAP! The surgery is to be scheduled on the 8th or 9th day of your cycle...well in May that landed on Wednesday of the week we were leaving for the beach so we scheduled it for June 15th...I would now have to wait OVER a month to get more answers...
Whew that was a STRESSFUL 2 months...
1st Base...
I told Jimmy and myself that if I wasn't pregnant by January of this year that I would make an appointment to go and talk to my OB. So in March my best friend Tiffany and I went to a meeting with my OB, going into this meeting I was nervous for some reason but really just thought she would write me a prescription for something along the lines of Clomid (a hormone that makes women produce more eggs) and I would be on my way...WRONG! She wouldn't give me any medicine instead she wanted to talk tests...YIKES...tests for me and tests for Jimmy...I was so not prepared for this but I said OK and went on my way being as positive as I could be. They like to test the male first since it is generally easier and less expensive so within 2 weeks of the first meeting with the DR we had Jimmy tested and had his results back...he was GOOD! The next step was a test called HSG that involved me...On March 24th Tiffany took me to the hospital for a test that would last 45 mins, was pain from Hell and would in the end change my life. Here is an insert from WebMD about the HSG test...
A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an X-ray test that looks at the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes and the area around them. It often is done for women who are having a hard time becoming pregnant (infertile).
During a hysterosalpingogram, a dye (contrast material) is put through a thin tube that is put through the vagina and into the uterus. Because the uterus and the fallopian tubes are hooked together, the dye will flow into the fallopian tubes. Pictures are taken using a steady beam of X-ray (fluoroscopy) as the dye passes through the uterus and fallopian tubes. The pictures can show problems such as an injury or abnormal structure of the uterus or fallopian tubes, or a blockage that would prevent an egg moving through a fallopian tube to the uterus. A blockage also could prevent sperm from moving into a fallopian tube and joining (fertilizing) an egg. A hysterosalpingogram also may find problems on the inside of the uterus that prevent a fertilized egg from attaching (implanting) to the uterine wall.
Intense huh?...
I got the results back the next week...the right tube was completely blocked and the left tube had some scar damage...scar damage from what? This question would not be answered till months later. The nurse then said the words, "we cant do anything else in our office as we are not experienced with INFERTILITY and we have referred you to Nashville Fertility, our office manager will call and make the appointment and she will get back to you". This was all done over the phone (thank God as my mouth had dropped to the floor) and while I was at work, I had to call Jimmy and tell him as well as tell every person that knew I was on the phone with the nurse moments before, so I pulled my mouth up and put on my positive face and started trying to answer questions about a subject that I had no clue about...
A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an X-ray test that looks at the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes and the area around them. It often is done for women who are having a hard time becoming pregnant (infertile).
During a hysterosalpingogram, a dye (contrast material) is put through a thin tube that is put through the vagina and into the uterus. Because the uterus and the fallopian tubes are hooked together, the dye will flow into the fallopian tubes. Pictures are taken using a steady beam of X-ray (fluoroscopy) as the dye passes through the uterus and fallopian tubes. The pictures can show problems such as an injury or abnormal structure of the uterus or fallopian tubes, or a blockage that would prevent an egg moving through a fallopian tube to the uterus. A blockage also could prevent sperm from moving into a fallopian tube and joining (fertilizing) an egg. A hysterosalpingogram also may find problems on the inside of the uterus that prevent a fertilized egg from attaching (implanting) to the uterine wall.
Intense huh?...
I got the results back the next week...the right tube was completely blocked and the left tube had some scar damage...scar damage from what? This question would not be answered till months later. The nurse then said the words, "we cant do anything else in our office as we are not experienced with INFERTILITY and we have referred you to Nashville Fertility, our office manager will call and make the appointment and she will get back to you". This was all done over the phone (thank God as my mouth had dropped to the floor) and while I was at work, I had to call Jimmy and tell him as well as tell every person that knew I was on the phone with the nurse moments before, so I pulled my mouth up and put on my positive face and started trying to answer questions about a subject that I had no clue about...
First Inning...
I'm using this blog for two reasons, as therapy for me and to tell the world our story. I'm an open book as long as people ask me questions but I have a real problem just telling my story. Jimmy and I have been trying to get pregnant for a year and eight months now, I have been off birth control for almost 3 years. We have had an interesting and informative last 8 months...I never knew what could happen in a woman's body nor did I know what options couples with infertility have available to them. I'm going to separate the next few blogs by what I like to call "our journey to pregnancy".
One of the hardest words for people to talk about is "INFERTILITY". I hope you will read this without feeling "sorry" for us, that is so not my intention I want everyone to know what we have been through and continue to go through because I want your prayers and support, we feel every prayer we receive and it gives us so much HOPE and strength.
One of the hardest words for people to talk about is "INFERTILITY". I hope you will read this without feeling "sorry" for us, that is so not my intention I want everyone to know what we have been through and continue to go through because I want your prayers and support, we feel every prayer we receive and it gives us so much HOPE and strength.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
It all started when...
Im going to use this post to introduce myself and my husband, Jimmy. We have been married for 3 years this past June and were together for a little over 6 years before, I was 17 and he was 23 when we met. After highschool I went to college and Jimmy worked saving up for when we decided it was time to get married. We got engaged my junior year of school, this same year Jimmy moved to Middle Tennessee which is where we wanted to live after the wedding. We did the long distance thing for almost two years, that was very hard but it made us so much stronger. We got married on June 23, 2007 and moved to Murfreesboro TN to start our life as a married couple. We lived in an apartment for a year but started talking about starting a family so we bought a house that we could grow into, that was very exciting but very scarey at the same time. At present time our baby is a 3 year old Min Pin named Millie, she is spolied rotton and we love her so much! We love married life and even though we have been through some struggles in the past three years we wouldnt change a thing.
I will leave you with some pictures of us and our home.
I will leave you with some pictures of us and our home.
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| Our First Home |
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| Millie |
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| Family Picture |
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| Us on our Wedding Day |
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