(I've decided to 'name' my fertility blog updates Orchestrating a Baby, because a) we are trying to put together a baby so to speak and b) I think it is funny given my profession.)
So the last thing I reported was we were trying to have a baby and we have been failing miserably. Ok, I should put it that we have just had problems making it happen, but really it feels like failing. Anyway...so I knew the next step was to go to the doctor.
I really like my doctor. I don't know, she just puts me at ease unlike any other doctor I've had as an adult, so I trust her judgement and I know she will be honest with me. I booked an appointment for Ted and I to have a chat with her to find out what we need to do next.
Our appointment was a Tuesday afternoon and even though there would be no invasive tests done and it was simply just a discussion-type appointment, I was a nervous wreck. I met Ted at the doctor's office and we traveled in silence up to the 11th floor. After we signed in and sat, I could tell Ted started to get nervous a little too because he got chatty and he was loud. Ted only speaks above mumble-volume when he's uncomfortable. I'm the opposite. I get squeamish and quiet, so I think we made quite the entertaining pair while in the waiting room.
We finally settled into our room and Dr. Tarrant came in after about 20 minutes. As I expected, she was very direct and honest. She said that yes, after a year of trying to have a baby without any luck the medical world suggests that you have various tests done to see if there is a problem. First they would draw blood from me and test my thyroid levels as that can have a direct effect on fertility. This made me more nervous, because out of the 4 people in my immediate family, I'm the only one who has never had a thyroid problem. Dad doesn't have a thyroid anymore (cancer); Blair's is all out of whack due to her diabetes; Mom has always had problems with her levels. So, it was looking bleak for me on that front.
The next test we needed to do was have Ted's...stuff...analyzed. If there was a problem, it is best to catch it before we move on to the next level of testing on me, as those tests can be very invasive procedures.
She then said that the next step would be another test for me (I'll explain that in a bit) and then we will begin Clomid. For those of you who do not know, Clomid is a fertility drug to help spur 'good ovulation'. Currently, I am ovulating. Dr. Tarrant said it would be extremely rare to have consistent periods and not be ovulating. She looked over my charts and saw no indication that I have PCOS. However, Clomid will beef up the follicles that essentially release an egg, and that could be the boost we need to make this happen for us. Also, Clomid will help produce a 'better' egg that can perhaps better withstand the whole fertilization process than my eggs seem to.
So, here are the results so far:
1. My thyroid levels are completely normal. I have no idea how my body has maintained normalcy in that arena, but hey I'll take it.
2. Ted's swimmers are 'above average'...apparently they have good mobility and morphology and he has a high number. I think he is proud of himself. We had to go to a reproductive endocrinologist's office to get that test done. I was so pissed because it felt like they held the results hostage for a few days. My doctor finally had to bully them into telling us everything was ok.
The next step is a not-so-fun invasive test for me called an HSG. Basically, Dr. Tarrant will need to take an X-Ray of my equipment to see if there is any physical abnormalities that is preventing fertilization. In order to take the pictures, they will inject dye into my hoo-haa (medical term). The dye will 'light up' all of my lady bits and show her everything. Dr. Tarrant mentioned that this test sometimes works magic for couples because the dye inadvertently cleans out any blockages that may be hiding out in the fallopian tubes. The test has to occur one or two days after you've finished up your period. Of course, I was four days late this month (yeah, it was so fun getting my hopes up a little...I've never in my life been 4 days late so I was so excited) and Dr. Tarrant was going on a medical mission so we missed the window of opportunity for the test. This means that we have to do it in May instead, which means we won't start Clomid until June now.
So there we are...you are up to date. I'm nervous about the HSG and what we may find. In fourth grade I had surgery to correct a kidney reflux problem I was born with. It was a very involved surgery - I had anesthesia and I stayed in the hospital for like a week. You can still See the scare on my (very) lower abdomen (ha well Ted or I can see...not everyone has tickets to that show). The surgery basically moved the tube that leads from the kidney to the bladder, because mine wasn't working properly. So I'm scared that something weird happened and there is scar tissue on my uterus or tubes from that surgery. Sure, they shouldn't have been slicing those things, but I'm thinking that those items are pretty close to each other in a 10 year old girl. I've read up on if it is a possibility that infertility could be some weird complication, but I haven't found any evidence of that. The only thing that will calm my fears is the test. Hopefully all will be well and we can continue on towards having a baby.
