Today, following doctor's orders, I managed to speak to the fertility specialist to let him know my spotting had progressed to quite heavy bleeding on Wednesday, but had then gone back to being mostly just spotting again.
The doctor initially said there isn't much to do about it that I just have to wait for it stop. He then asked when my last period started - which I think was 25 January. The doctor is stumped, and said that can't be right because I couldn't have got a positive result when I did if that's the case.
I'm sure on my dates, but because I was taking my three months test free, the doctor hasn't seen any blood tests from me, confirming ovulation etc since December.
In the end, the Doctor said why don't you just come in for a scan at 5.30. I was so pleased about that. The doctor was sure with my numbers we'd be able see something. I was sure with my dates that it must still be too early.
Matt came in for the scan too. The latest pregnancy has been taking a big emotional toll on him too. We've both had a lot of anxiety.
We head in for the scan which is always a little embarrassing. I've got to strip from the waist down and cover up with a sheet. Matt is in the room with me, we are both laughing a bit as Matt is trying to figure out where to stand. When the doctor comes back in he makes a few jokes about all the condoms and lube he goes through as he get the ultra sound probe ready. The doctor inserts said probe and starts to talk to us through what we looking at on screen. The uterus and lining are there - but suspiciously, nothing appears to be in the uterus. The doctor explains with my numbers that we should at least be able to see a pregnancy sack, even if we can't make out an heart beat or anything else. He starts to poke around looking at my ovaries etc and points out a lump in left side, which he thinks looks sus.
I get dressed and we sit down with the doctor to discuss what it all means. The doctor says there are three possibilities:
1. Given what I think the dates are it is too early to see anything
2. Given the bleeding etc I have miscarried and that is why we can't see anything in the uterus
3. The pregnancy is implanted in my fallopian tube and that is the lump we can see.
To determine if the pregnancy is ectopic the doctor tries to get me in for a full pelvic scan, but it is too late in the day. He books me in for earliest available appointment on Friday morning. He also wants me to get a blood test at the Queensland Fertility Group lab so he can have my HCG and progesterone levels first thing in the morning. The doctor tells me that he is in surgery on Friday, which means that if the results of the scan and blood test suggest the pregnancy is ectopic that he will be able perform laparoscopic surgery immediately. So other than the 1 litre of water of need to drink the hour before my pelvic scan, I'm not to eat or drink anything after 6am while we wait for the result.
As Matt and I drive home on Thursday we are both in a bit of a daze. I'm a little relieved to be having the symptoms investigated and hope that tomorrow we will have some definitive answers.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
One week of waiting - written about the week 14 -20 February 2011
Unlike the first time Matt and I had a positive pregnancy test, we are not joyous. I'm anxious and as a result, so is Matt. Like our first pregnancy I'm experiencing a lot of spotting, which apparently is experienced by quite a few pregnant women but it just makes me worry that I am going to have a repeat of the first pregnancy, ending in miscarriage.
The fertility specialist asked me to get a second blood test on Tuesday to make sure my levels are back on track. He was happy with the result with my progesterone level now very high, but my HCG level increased by 50%. At this stage you are generally looking for HCG levels to double every 48 hours, so the 50% increase isn't a great sign. The doctor asks me to go again in two days and repeat the test.
At this point I come down with an ear, sinus and chest infection. I ended up at home on antibiotics for four days. Being sick forced me to rest, which I think was a good thing.
I did another blood test on Thursday, and again my HCG had increased by 50% and my progesterone was high. The spotting is still coming and going. When I rang the doctor for my results he told me the results are acceptable, to hang in there and make an appointment for a couple of weeks to come in ultra sound.
When I tell Matt the doctor said hang in there, Matt asked what the hell does that mean? I try to tell him that my numbers aren't progressing as well as we would like, but that the doctor seems to think everything is okay and that we just have to wait.
I've used my last pre-printed blood test form, so even if I want to I can't just go in and have a test. By Friday afternoon I'm freaking out and ring the doctor's surgery to ask them to send me another form so I can get another test on Saturday. They fax a form over to Holland Park for me. The doctor tells me to ring him at 7pm on Saturday on his after hours numbers for the results.
On Saturday I head over to the Sullivan Nicolades, the line is massive and I have to wait over an hour to be seen. When I get in to the room the lady botches my arm and has to swap to the other. I get home and Matt is in full swing cleaning and getting things done and all I can manage is to lie on the bed. Matt asks me what I'm doing and I start crying. I feel bad that Matt is doing everything but I just can't swing into action. Matt doesn't know what to do with me anymore, but he isn't angry. We talk it through. Matt is staying positive and thinks I shouldn't give in yet. I explain how even if this pregnancy doesn't work out, the fact that we managed to get pregnant again is good. I can see the positive elements, but the uncertainty is making me anxious. After a while Matt has got a plan of action for the day and I manage to get up and engage in the day.
Matt was working overnight at the crisis shelter, so I was home by myself waiting for the time to tick over so I could call the fertility specialist. Finally the clock hits 7pm and I ring. After following all the after hours instructions the doctor calls me back. He has already left the house and doesn't have my numbers in front of him, but remembers they looked good, perhaps double the last results. I was pretty excited about that. The doctor says he'll have a look and call me back.
When the doctor calls back he says my HCG is nearly double, in the mid 4000 range. I ask him what should I do now? He says I should get off the blood test round about and make my appointment for a scan in few weeks. He says my numbers are looking good and I should relax. He says if I get any pain or heavy bleeding then I should call, but otherwise relax.
I'm really stoked when I get off the phone. It felt like it was my first positive result. I ring Matt and tell him the result and that I've decided that from this point on I'm going to treat this like our first pregnancy result. There were no blood tests or ongoing appointments, I was just pregnant, until I wasn't anymore. But the four/five weeks of being pregnant were great, not sad and anxious.
Matt was excited, but said he wasn't going to get his hopes up until the scan.
The scan was two weeks away.... so much more waiting.
The fertility specialist asked me to get a second blood test on Tuesday to make sure my levels are back on track. He was happy with the result with my progesterone level now very high, but my HCG level increased by 50%. At this stage you are generally looking for HCG levels to double every 48 hours, so the 50% increase isn't a great sign. The doctor asks me to go again in two days and repeat the test.
At this point I come down with an ear, sinus and chest infection. I ended up at home on antibiotics for four days. Being sick forced me to rest, which I think was a good thing.
I did another blood test on Thursday, and again my HCG had increased by 50% and my progesterone was high. The spotting is still coming and going. When I rang the doctor for my results he told me the results are acceptable, to hang in there and make an appointment for a couple of weeks to come in ultra sound.
When I tell Matt the doctor said hang in there, Matt asked what the hell does that mean? I try to tell him that my numbers aren't progressing as well as we would like, but that the doctor seems to think everything is okay and that we just have to wait.
I've used my last pre-printed blood test form, so even if I want to I can't just go in and have a test. By Friday afternoon I'm freaking out and ring the doctor's surgery to ask them to send me another form so I can get another test on Saturday. They fax a form over to Holland Park for me. The doctor tells me to ring him at 7pm on Saturday on his after hours numbers for the results.
On Saturday I head over to the Sullivan Nicolades, the line is massive and I have to wait over an hour to be seen. When I get in to the room the lady botches my arm and has to swap to the other. I get home and Matt is in full swing cleaning and getting things done and all I can manage is to lie on the bed. Matt asks me what I'm doing and I start crying. I feel bad that Matt is doing everything but I just can't swing into action. Matt doesn't know what to do with me anymore, but he isn't angry. We talk it through. Matt is staying positive and thinks I shouldn't give in yet. I explain how even if this pregnancy doesn't work out, the fact that we managed to get pregnant again is good. I can see the positive elements, but the uncertainty is making me anxious. After a while Matt has got a plan of action for the day and I manage to get up and engage in the day.
Matt was working overnight at the crisis shelter, so I was home by myself waiting for the time to tick over so I could call the fertility specialist. Finally the clock hits 7pm and I ring. After following all the after hours instructions the doctor calls me back. He has already left the house and doesn't have my numbers in front of him, but remembers they looked good, perhaps double the last results. I was pretty excited about that. The doctor says he'll have a look and call me back.
When the doctor calls back he says my HCG is nearly double, in the mid 4000 range. I ask him what should I do now? He says I should get off the blood test round about and make my appointment for a scan in few weeks. He says my numbers are looking good and I should relax. He says if I get any pain or heavy bleeding then I should call, but otherwise relax.
I'm really stoked when I get off the phone. It felt like it was my first positive result. I ring Matt and tell him the result and that I've decided that from this point on I'm going to treat this like our first pregnancy result. There were no blood tests or ongoing appointments, I was just pregnant, until I wasn't anymore. But the four/five weeks of being pregnant were great, not sad and anxious.
Matt was excited, but said he wasn't going to get his hopes up until the scan.
The scan was two weeks away.... so much more waiting.
A taste of success - Written about 6 Feb the week 6 - 13 February 2011
I'm cheating on my blog because for the last week I've been dealing with having a positive pregnancy test. Obviously, given that I was on my 3 month break, I really didn't expect to get pregnant.
What happened is this... I've been using my at home ovulation detection tests. I have NEVER had a positive test from one of these tests. I have had a couple of semi results, with pale test lines, which the instructions tell you is still negative.
I decided to start testing a little earlier this month, as my cycle was a bit shorter last month. My first test came up with a pale line, negative. But I decide to test again the next day, I got a positive. I was pretty happy about that and made sure Matt and I captured the window. On the following day I decided to test again, and it was positive again. Hmmmm.... I hit the net and try and find the answer, which is that I probably picked up my LH (luteinising hormone) spike on the way up and way down. Okay, happy with that, but just can't help myself and test again the next day - that is positive again. And the next day, positive again! In the end I had five positive tests in a row. I'm beginning to wonder how it is ever possible that I got a negative from these tests. Of course I hit the net trying to find an answer, and all I find are discussion groups, one of which says, perhaps so many positive LH tests could indicate pregnancy? How is this I wonder? I know the pregnancy tests look for HCG. But it is too late, the seed has been planted in my mind and begin to consider doing a pregnancy test.
I know in my heart it is too early for it to be picked up, but I convince myself that I would be better off doing one to be sure before I have my first medical appointment with the new weight loss program I'm joining (this program costs a bomb, and I don't want to have the money spent on it, only to not be able to lose any weight while in the program). So not even a week after the first positive LH test I do a pregnancy test. You can imagine my surprise when it was positive.
It was too early to be really excited. I waited calmly for Matt to get home from his night shift and told him the good, but not to get excited about yet, news. I tell Matt that I'm going to get a blood test, just to make sure all my hormone levels are okay. Also of concern is regular spotting I've had since the fallopian tube test.
That night I get a call from the fertility specialist - the one who I've been ignoring for 2 months.... He says, what's going on? Clearly you've gone and done a pregnancy test, which is positive by the way, but why did you go and do it? I explain my story to the Doctor, tell him about the spotting and say I just wanted to be sure all my levels were okay. He says my HCG result is strong, but my progesterone is low and that I need to start using some of those wonderful pessaries immediately and take a test again in a couple of days.
Matt and I freak out. During the recent flooding we lost power for 2 days and the progesterone medication was one of the things that had to get chucked. It is a Sunday night, and progesterone pessaries just aren't that easy to come by, even with a prescription. These suckers need to be made by a compound chemist. To give us the best chance we both want to get some to start that night, otherwise it is full 24 hours before I'll be able to get the opportunity to administer a pessary - it's not like taking a pill.
Matt is making me ring 24 hour chemists. I'm telling him they won't have them. A thought hits me, I know quite few women going similar fertility treatments, maybe one of the girls will have some? I start texting and within 30 minutes we have hit the jackpot! Matt and I do a mercy dash and pick up enough for three days supply, which will make sure I have time to get my own.
Then, the waiting begins....
What happened is this... I've been using my at home ovulation detection tests. I have NEVER had a positive test from one of these tests. I have had a couple of semi results, with pale test lines, which the instructions tell you is still negative.
I decided to start testing a little earlier this month, as my cycle was a bit shorter last month. My first test came up with a pale line, negative. But I decide to test again the next day, I got a positive. I was pretty happy about that and made sure Matt and I captured the window. On the following day I decided to test again, and it was positive again. Hmmmm.... I hit the net and try and find the answer, which is that I probably picked up my LH (luteinising hormone) spike on the way up and way down. Okay, happy with that, but just can't help myself and test again the next day - that is positive again. And the next day, positive again! In the end I had five positive tests in a row. I'm beginning to wonder how it is ever possible that I got a negative from these tests. Of course I hit the net trying to find an answer, and all I find are discussion groups, one of which says, perhaps so many positive LH tests could indicate pregnancy? How is this I wonder? I know the pregnancy tests look for HCG. But it is too late, the seed has been planted in my mind and begin to consider doing a pregnancy test.
I know in my heart it is too early for it to be picked up, but I convince myself that I would be better off doing one to be sure before I have my first medical appointment with the new weight loss program I'm joining (this program costs a bomb, and I don't want to have the money spent on it, only to not be able to lose any weight while in the program). So not even a week after the first positive LH test I do a pregnancy test. You can imagine my surprise when it was positive.
It was too early to be really excited. I waited calmly for Matt to get home from his night shift and told him the good, but not to get excited about yet, news. I tell Matt that I'm going to get a blood test, just to make sure all my hormone levels are okay. Also of concern is regular spotting I've had since the fallopian tube test.
That night I get a call from the fertility specialist - the one who I've been ignoring for 2 months.... He says, what's going on? Clearly you've gone and done a pregnancy test, which is positive by the way, but why did you go and do it? I explain my story to the Doctor, tell him about the spotting and say I just wanted to be sure all my levels were okay. He says my HCG result is strong, but my progesterone is low and that I need to start using some of those wonderful pessaries immediately and take a test again in a couple of days.
Matt and I freak out. During the recent flooding we lost power for 2 days and the progesterone medication was one of the things that had to get chucked. It is a Sunday night, and progesterone pessaries just aren't that easy to come by, even with a prescription. These suckers need to be made by a compound chemist. To give us the best chance we both want to get some to start that night, otherwise it is full 24 hours before I'll be able to get the opportunity to administer a pessary - it's not like taking a pill.
Matt is making me ring 24 hour chemists. I'm telling him they won't have them. A thought hits me, I know quite few women going similar fertility treatments, maybe one of the girls will have some? I start texting and within 30 minutes we have hit the jackpot! Matt and I do a mercy dash and pick up enough for three days supply, which will make sure I have time to get my own.
Then, the waiting begins....
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Year of the Rabbit
Just over a week ago I bottomed out. It was the day after my horrible HSG test, I was physically in a bit of pain still and mentally I was worn thin.
The HSG test was even worse than I thought. It turns out that they put a balloon inside my uterus and blow it up. This forms a seal over the cervix. They then squirt the coloured fluid through the fallopian tubes and watch to see if it splashes out the other end. When they were explaining this to me I mentioned how surprised I was to learn the fallopian tubes are open at the other end. I asked how does the egg know which way to go, why doesn't it just fall out the other side? The radiologist was guzumped. She had no idea and said she never really thought about it. I made some jokes about how perhaps that was my problem, my eggs were navigationally challenged, and perhaps I should have better signage installed.
Anyhow, in I went in my surgical gown and waited for a doctor to come and perform the test. The balloon part was incredibly uncomfortable, but all in all it must have only lasted a minute or two. The result was positive, in that I was diagnosed with full tubal patency. So no blockages and no reason why I shouldn't be able to get pregnant. A positive result feels good on one hand, nothing is wrong, and bad on the other, back to the drawing the board.
I'm not used to experiencing any period pain, so the next day or so is quite painful for me. By Friday afternoon I was hysterical. Something tipped me off and I couldn't stop crying. Matt doesn't know what to do when I'm like this and it makes matters worse. Eventually I calm down enough to stop crying and manage to get on with preparing for a weekend of celebrating for Matt's birthday.
Getting it all out on Friday night resulted in a much better night's sleep and a general improvement in my mood. I got organised with gifts and cards for Matt and was ready for the parties and gatherings planned over the rest of the weekend.
On Sunday Matt's sister and her family popped around for a bit of birthday celebrating. Matt suggested we go to Yum Cha at Sunnybank for lunch - which is one of his favourite things. It wasn't until we were driving in and saw how busy it was that I remembered Chinese New Year was being celebrated.
The wait for Yum Cha was even longer than usual, but it was a bit of an experience for everyone, with all the chinese decorations, a panda giving out fortune cookies and a percussion group playing xylophones. I decided to look up what year it was in Chinese horoscope and discovered, it is the year of the Rabbit - my very own Chinese horoscope.
I was so desperate to have a clean slate for our New Year, but it just hadn't felt that way. However last weekend, on the Friday night I had a complete emotional download and by Saturday I felt like I had cast out the negative and was again turning positive. Realising it was the year of the rabbit put me in an even better state of mind.
This past week has been much better for me. I had less hours in the office, I attended my initial meeting with the weight loss program and am looking at my options from here, I made my Wednesday night aqua class and Matt's birthday had been a success.
I'm thinking the year of the Rabbit could be my year after all.
The HSG test was even worse than I thought. It turns out that they put a balloon inside my uterus and blow it up. This forms a seal over the cervix. They then squirt the coloured fluid through the fallopian tubes and watch to see if it splashes out the other end. When they were explaining this to me I mentioned how surprised I was to learn the fallopian tubes are open at the other end. I asked how does the egg know which way to go, why doesn't it just fall out the other side? The radiologist was guzumped. She had no idea and said she never really thought about it. I made some jokes about how perhaps that was my problem, my eggs were navigationally challenged, and perhaps I should have better signage installed.
Anyhow, in I went in my surgical gown and waited for a doctor to come and perform the test. The balloon part was incredibly uncomfortable, but all in all it must have only lasted a minute or two. The result was positive, in that I was diagnosed with full tubal patency. So no blockages and no reason why I shouldn't be able to get pregnant. A positive result feels good on one hand, nothing is wrong, and bad on the other, back to the drawing the board.
I'm not used to experiencing any period pain, so the next day or so is quite painful for me. By Friday afternoon I was hysterical. Something tipped me off and I couldn't stop crying. Matt doesn't know what to do when I'm like this and it makes matters worse. Eventually I calm down enough to stop crying and manage to get on with preparing for a weekend of celebrating for Matt's birthday.
Getting it all out on Friday night resulted in a much better night's sleep and a general improvement in my mood. I got organised with gifts and cards for Matt and was ready for the parties and gatherings planned over the rest of the weekend.
On Sunday Matt's sister and her family popped around for a bit of birthday celebrating. Matt suggested we go to Yum Cha at Sunnybank for lunch - which is one of his favourite things. It wasn't until we were driving in and saw how busy it was that I remembered Chinese New Year was being celebrated.
The wait for Yum Cha was even longer than usual, but it was a bit of an experience for everyone, with all the chinese decorations, a panda giving out fortune cookies and a percussion group playing xylophones. I decided to look up what year it was in Chinese horoscope and discovered, it is the year of the Rabbit - my very own Chinese horoscope.
I was so desperate to have a clean slate for our New Year, but it just hadn't felt that way. However last weekend, on the Friday night I had a complete emotional download and by Saturday I felt like I had cast out the negative and was again turning positive. Realising it was the year of the rabbit put me in an even better state of mind.
This past week has been much better for me. I had less hours in the office, I attended my initial meeting with the weight loss program and am looking at my options from here, I made my Wednesday night aqua class and Matt's birthday had been a success.
I'm thinking the year of the Rabbit could be my year after all.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Putting on a happy face
This week I've realised I'm not just worried, I'm not just obsessing, I'm depressed. While most of the time I can put on a happy face and just keep going, every night and every morning I just have no motivation. My work is so busy right now, once I'm in the office I don't have time to think about anything. It also means pulling long days and whittling away most hope of me getting to the gym or getting out for a walk or something.
Physically my body is feeling a lot better without the drugs - but I'm simply not winning the mental game.
Early this week I had a quick read through some of the Queensland Fertility Group materials on coping with infertility. As I read through checklists of when to start upping the intervention and reproductive assistance, I started to question the wisdom in my three months off.
Last September when I first met with the fertility specialist, he gave me the fist full of blood test - but also a referral for a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). This test sounds really unpleasant. It is designed to check if my fallopian tubes are open and clear and my uterus is the right shape. It involves filling my uterus with a liquid, and then the fluid flows through my fallopian tubes. The liquid is died - and they watch all of this through some type of x-ray machine.
Not surprisingly - I didn't rush in to get this done. I thought I'd just try and get knocked up and avoid the whole thing. I decided perhaps now, in my drug free months, I should get these sorts of tests done to make sure everything is operating as it should be. This particular test needs to be done early in the cycle - obviously to not interrupt the fertile part of the cycle.
On Monday I rang the hospital to make my appointment. Having only one window in my diary this week I was relieved I could get an appointment in the right time of my cycle. This afternoon I'm heading off to squirted full of coloured fluids. I remember the doctor told me at the time he recommended I get this test that it was unpleasant. Ugghhhhhhh....
Physically my body is feeling a lot better without the drugs - but I'm simply not winning the mental game.
Early this week I had a quick read through some of the Queensland Fertility Group materials on coping with infertility. As I read through checklists of when to start upping the intervention and reproductive assistance, I started to question the wisdom in my three months off.
Last September when I first met with the fertility specialist, he gave me the fist full of blood test - but also a referral for a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). This test sounds really unpleasant. It is designed to check if my fallopian tubes are open and clear and my uterus is the right shape. It involves filling my uterus with a liquid, and then the fluid flows through my fallopian tubes. The liquid is died - and they watch all of this through some type of x-ray machine.
Not surprisingly - I didn't rush in to get this done. I thought I'd just try and get knocked up and avoid the whole thing. I decided perhaps now, in my drug free months, I should get these sorts of tests done to make sure everything is operating as it should be. This particular test needs to be done early in the cycle - obviously to not interrupt the fertile part of the cycle.
On Monday I rang the hospital to make my appointment. Having only one window in my diary this week I was relieved I could get an appointment in the right time of my cycle. This afternoon I'm heading off to squirted full of coloured fluids. I remember the doctor told me at the time he recommended I get this test that it was unpleasant. Ugghhhhhhh....
Monday, January 17, 2011
A new year
I'm a big believer in the New Year being the time to make a change and new start. I've had great success in the past with setting myself goals and establishing new attitudes for a New Year. I put a lot of thinking and hope into having a great new year and then being mentally refreshed and ready for 2011. Like a shedding of the 2010 skin. Unfortunately my New Year didn't go as I planned, and instead of feeling New Year was a new start, I felt stuck in a rut. I dragged all the worst bits of 2010 into 2011.
Now, I know this is completely psychological and that I could just start a fresh anyway - but I had hung my hopes on this fresh beginning. Maybe this would have happened even if I'd had the perfect new year that I'd imagined... who knows.
Having felt the drain of the drugs in December 2010 I decided that I would make a fresh start in 2011. I would take January, February and March 2011 off the drugs and the blood tests and try and attack the other issue that has continually bothered me about our infertility - my weight.
Half way into January I'm feeling normal again without the physical drain the drugs were on me. Instead of early morning blood tests I'm finally using the ovulation tests I bought online (I figure some monitoring can't hurt). Then this morning I think - maybe I should just get a blood test, to be sure. But I know that would be a short and slippery slope back into the full monitoring and drug cycle again. So right now I'm just saying no, to drugs and blood tests.
Tackling the weight has been slow getting started. I decided I needed to tap into a real program versus just trying to go it alone which was what I did incredibly unsuccessfully in 2010. The floods have messed with that a little with offices closing down and meetings being postoned. But I'm hoping to get a meeting next week and get started on tackling the weight with some help. I am trying on my own, but I just don't seem to get any traction.
Not the brilliant start that I had hoped for - but it is just how things have gone. Perhaps it is just a slow start out of the blocks.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Unnatural pregnancy
Let me say up front - no I'm not pregnant - but this month I'm starting to feel the side effects of the drugs I'm on to try and tip the baby make mission odds in my favour.
My clomid / serophene double dose (100mg a day for 5 days) didn't seem to cause any problems when I was taking it, but in the week leading up to when I ovulated, Oh My God!!!!!
A quick recap - the clomid / serophene is taken to block the oestrogen receptors in the brain. The tricked brain sends a message to the body to make more follicle stimulating hormone to get more follicles developing and release more oestrogen... or something like that. In my first appointment with the fertility specialist, he explained that the body creates a certain amount of oestrogen per egg that is ovulated. So if you ovulate two eggs the oestrogen is doubled.
This month my blood tests to identify when I was ovulating were all over the shop. The doctor had me going in every second day, 6 times in total, until finally we got the nod. Last month it only took 3 tests to pick the day. So I think, even though the doctor didn't mention it, that my oestrogen count was higher this month, indicating I was ovulating more than one egg.
I'm pretty lucky in the women's health department as a general rule. I've never really suffered from period pain, or complained of bloating or water retention throughout the cycle. I've often heard other women complaining of these ailments and felt lucky I haven't suffered. Well, this month I suffered. Ughhhhh, my guts felt like they were going to explode. Things I ate were going straight through me and my lower abdomen felt like a balloon filling up under the skin. On ovulation day my left side, down near my hip was aching. It was horrible.
But now I'm on the other side of ovulation and everything is back to normal - thankfully. And I again know this month we have had good timing and am waiting waiting waiting.
The drugs to support the other side of my cycle have been swapped this month. I was gearing myself up for another round of injection perfection to find out Brisbane is experiencing a pregnyl drought...so I couldn't get any. The doctor told me it was going to have to the pessaries.
These little wonders are made of wax that slowly melts at body temperature. They release progesterone, that is then absorbed through the uterus lining. Unlike the injections they are time intensive, needing to inserted twice daily, after which you have to lie down for a half hour. So night time isn't a big deal, just insert before going to bed. The doctor told me in the morning I'd have to get up a half hour earlier, only to then have to go back to bed and lie down for another 30 minutes. He also said that my husband should bring me tea and toast....hmmmmm... perhaps I should have gotten Matt to ring in to get his instructions as there hasn't been single tea and toast day yet. I have to do this for 15 days!
Even though I'm not up to the big interventions like IVF yet, it certainly isn't all that natural. Recently I had a few people ask how I felt about having to start taking the drugs etc, whether it was disappointing. I am grateful that this is one thing that doesn't bother me. I actually find it astonishing that it is generally completely acceptable to intervene for as long as we like to ensure we don't conceive and then when we do want to conceive we put an added pressure on ourselves that we must do it naturally.
Fingers crossed this month I'll have an unnatural pregnancy. Just as good as a natural one in my mind.
My clomid / serophene double dose (100mg a day for 5 days) didn't seem to cause any problems when I was taking it, but in the week leading up to when I ovulated, Oh My God!!!!!
A quick recap - the clomid / serophene is taken to block the oestrogen receptors in the brain. The tricked brain sends a message to the body to make more follicle stimulating hormone to get more follicles developing and release more oestrogen... or something like that. In my first appointment with the fertility specialist, he explained that the body creates a certain amount of oestrogen per egg that is ovulated. So if you ovulate two eggs the oestrogen is doubled.
This month my blood tests to identify when I was ovulating were all over the shop. The doctor had me going in every second day, 6 times in total, until finally we got the nod. Last month it only took 3 tests to pick the day. So I think, even though the doctor didn't mention it, that my oestrogen count was higher this month, indicating I was ovulating more than one egg.
I'm pretty lucky in the women's health department as a general rule. I've never really suffered from period pain, or complained of bloating or water retention throughout the cycle. I've often heard other women complaining of these ailments and felt lucky I haven't suffered. Well, this month I suffered. Ughhhhh, my guts felt like they were going to explode. Things I ate were going straight through me and my lower abdomen felt like a balloon filling up under the skin. On ovulation day my left side, down near my hip was aching. It was horrible.
But now I'm on the other side of ovulation and everything is back to normal - thankfully. And I again know this month we have had good timing and am waiting waiting waiting.
The drugs to support the other side of my cycle have been swapped this month. I was gearing myself up for another round of injection perfection to find out Brisbane is experiencing a pregnyl drought...so I couldn't get any. The doctor told me it was going to have to the pessaries.
These little wonders are made of wax that slowly melts at body temperature. They release progesterone, that is then absorbed through the uterus lining. Unlike the injections they are time intensive, needing to inserted twice daily, after which you have to lie down for a half hour. So night time isn't a big deal, just insert before going to bed. The doctor told me in the morning I'd have to get up a half hour earlier, only to then have to go back to bed and lie down for another 30 minutes. He also said that my husband should bring me tea and toast....hmmmmm... perhaps I should have gotten Matt to ring in to get his instructions as there hasn't been single tea and toast day yet. I have to do this for 15 days!
Even though I'm not up to the big interventions like IVF yet, it certainly isn't all that natural. Recently I had a few people ask how I felt about having to start taking the drugs etc, whether it was disappointing. I am grateful that this is one thing that doesn't bother me. I actually find it astonishing that it is generally completely acceptable to intervene for as long as we like to ensure we don't conceive and then when we do want to conceive we put an added pressure on ourselves that we must do it naturally.
Fingers crossed this month I'll have an unnatural pregnancy. Just as good as a natural one in my mind.
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