Recovery, recovery, recovery

The surgery is finally over and done with!  I'm so glad to not have to be worrying about it anymore.  To decide to have this surgery was a big discussion between Adam and I.  When we decided to try and have kids (many years ago) we both agreed that nature would run its course and what would be, would be.  Then we kept on trying....and trying....and trying.  We got pretty damn frustrated with nature!  After a ton of discussion we decided to see a fertility doctor just to see what the problem was.  It took me a least a year to finally do that.

The past 6 or so months have been such a roller coaster.  Between the not knowing and the hormones it's been a difficult time.  This is something that I never imagined myself going through.  I always felt that I'd either have kids the natural way, or I just wouldn't have any.  It's been difficult relying on medications and also not knowing why they weren't working.  I guess that's the main reason I finally went to see a specialist.  My incessant need to always know why.  I finally believe I have found my answer.

Going into this surgery we knew that I had a fibroid the size of my ovary blocking my right tube.  The surgery thankfully revealed a little more detail.  My doctor was only able to talk to me for just a second after I woke up but the news was very interesting.  I learned that the fibroid was very attached to me and didn't come out willingly.  (The silly thing liked its home I guess)  I also learned that I had mild to moderate endometriosis.  This was a surprise to my doctor because I never showed any of the normal symptoms.  So, he cleaned all that out and also said my tubes were clear.  I wasn't sure if he meant that he had to physically clear them because they were blocked or not.  I should find out at my follow up appointment in two weeks.  So now I have all the information on why I wasn't getting pregnant.  Where we go from here medication wise is still undetermined.


My recovery hasn't been as pleasant as I anticipated.  Apparently I am one of those lucky few who has major shoulder pain from the anesthesia gas.  I was not prepared for that!  Otherwise I guess it's been going ok.  I have more incisions than I originally thought I would have--4 instead of 2.  And I'm still pretty swollen in the abdomen and need help sitting up sometimes.  Adam has been a super help making sure I don't do too much.  I've learned that I have the best friends and family a girl could ask for and I'm extremely grateful for all the prayers, warm wishes and kind words.  Thank you all for your support!

Time for surgery

I figured it was time to update everyone on what's been going on.  I apologize for the late notice, but there has been waaayyyy to much emotional crap happening in my life lately.  I keep waiting for it to slow down, but it feels like a loosing battle.

Tomorrow I go in for surgery at Moore County Regional Hospital here in North Carolina.  The last time I went in for a mid cycle ultrasound (about 5 weeks ago) the doctor found a 2cm+/- fibroid on the outside of my uterus blocking my right tube.  There were also some "questionable" areas showing up on the monitor.  With this new information we decided surgery was the route to go and decided to forgo fertility meds until after the procedure.  Since I need to have the fibroid removed we decided to do a bunch of things all at one.  My surgery tomorrow is going to consist of:

Laparoscopic Myomectomy with robotic assist
Hysterosalpingogram
Hysteroscopy
Lysis of Adhesion

Basically, they are going to remove the fibroid, make sure my tubes are clear, and clean out my uterus like a pumpkin.  It should be an interesting day! I'll be sure to update this week after surgery to let everyone know how it went.  Wish me luck!!!

It's been too long

I've started getting more and more questions about my blog that I realized that it's been over a month since my last post.  A lot has happened...

First off, I am not pregnant...yet.  I thought that I would get that out in the beginning.  Secondly, I'd like to let you know the background of this how adventure so far...

**For those that have never gone though this process I'd like to inform you as to what goes on. (at least for me so far) You go in for your baseline ultrasound before day 3 of your period.  You get put on an ovulation drug that you take for days 3-7 of your cycle.  At around day 13 (or sooner if your ovulation kit indicates jackpot) for a mid cycle ultrasound.  At this time they give you a shot in the bum.  At this time you have a 3 day window to do the deed to maximize conception. A week after the shot you get blood drawn to check progesterone levels.  If they are not high enough you get put on straight progesterone until you are pregnant, at which time you stay on the pills through your first trimester, or you start your period and the whole process repeats itself.**

Right now I am on round three of meds.  I am no longer on Clomid as an ovulation drug.  When I went in for my mid cycle ultrasound last month I really didn't have any good follicles.  That was a huge disappointment.  I figure since I'm on all these drugs that it should be doing something right???  Also, my progesterone levels were low so I was on straight hormones for a couple weeks.  My poor husband has had to deal with my moods and it really hasn't been pretty.  The new drug that had me on for this cycle made me really angry for some reason.  That was not fun. 

I go in for my mid cycle ultrasound this Friday.  I'm hoping this new drug will show some more promise.  Also, I still haven't shown any good follicles in my left ovary.  I'm wondering if this is part of the reason that we haven't been able to get preggers in the past.... I promise to be better about updating.  I got burned out on the holiday's and everyone coming up pregnant.

I apologize on the randomness of this update, but it's all I got right now. On a side note, I'd like to give a shout out to my doc.  He went in on New Year's Day to do a baseline ultrasound for me.