I was sitting on the couch tonight as Tom is snoring beside me looking at some videos on SHER's Facebook page of couples getting to see the first ultrasound after they found out they were pregnant. It was so encouraging and emotional getting to see someones hopes become a reality; and it really got me thinking tonight. So I decided instead of sitting there listening to Tom snore and getting emotional by myself, I should give an update of where we are in our journey. Here is an update of what happened in Jan./Feb. and what is to come at the end of May.
January: We went back to the SHER Institute to try for the IUI. I had my baseline ultra sound to rule out any cysts on my ovaries. Then I started FSH injections on days 4-8 of my cycle. On Day 9 I went in for another ultra sound to see if the follicles were responding at all. At this point all we wanted was to get past this ultra sound. It was at this point about a year ago at around the same time that we found out my body wasn't responding at all to the injections I was on. Well, we got some good news, I was responding. I had some follicles at 9 mm, and there was one between 10 and 11 mm. We were pretty excited, but they still had a ways to go. My Dr. had me take 3 more days of injections and then I was to go back in and she was going to re-check them. Well four days and one ultra sound later we found out that it wasn't working as well as it should have been and that cycle was canceled. I was so disappointed but at the same time all that we asked and prayed for was to get past that first ultrasound. So my instructions were to wait on a new cycle and if it didn't come within the next two weeks to call. Well about a week and a half later I started a cycle on my own. This was the first time I have started on my own in about a 6 months. So now we are into February.
February: The doctor is just as puzzled as we are at this point as to what protocol (fertility meds) to put me on. Because I have so many follicles she didn't want to put me on injections again and risk over stimulation, especially if I am cycling on my own at this point. So we tried Femara, which is a pill, kind of like clomid only not. So I started the Femara on day 5 and took it through day 9. Unfortunatley this did not do what we had hoped. My follicles hardly responded at all and the lining of my uterus was pretty thin compared to when I was on the injections. At this point I felt pretty defeated. She took another look at my blood work and noticed my androgen levels were above normal and she was surprised that since my Family Physican had diagnosed me with PCOS that I wasn't on Metformin which helps to counteract the symptoms. Soooo at this point I was put on Metformin and Dexamethasone, along with my thyroid medication to see if that would help bring my hormone levels back to a neutral enough state that the medicine would kick in and work. I was scheduled to come back in 5 days to check my follicles again. Needless to say it didn't work, once again.
It was really hard at that point to feel like I even had a chance. I felt like giving up. Let me tell you, it really sucks getting that kind of news and having to go into work and teach your kids without breaking down and crying. Later on that day I e-mailed my doctor and asked her if she knew why I wasn't responding, if this was normal, and if she even felt like I had a chance even taking all this medicine and waiting. This is what I love about the SHER Institute. Dr. Dayal took time out of her busy afternoon to just call me back instead of e-mailing me. She reassured me that they look at two things when a woman is not responding to meds..1. If I have been through menopuase already (which at this point they know I haven't because of my age and becuase of my ovarian reserve) and 2. If my androgen levels are high. She said if we can get my hormone levels to a neutral state then I should respond to the injections. This really put my mind at ease. It has seemed like an eternity waiting to try again since the end of February, but the time is almost here to give it another go. Since the last ultra sound when we found out it didn't work, Dr. Dayal put me on 1500 mg of Metformin, 1 mg of Dex, a birth control pack to keep me cycling regularly (which will also help bring my androgen levels down) and my thyroid medication. Taking all this medication has left me with some side effects that I could definitley do with out. But I just keep telling myself in the end it will all be work it. Tom and I recently went to a fertility seminar that the SHER institute put on at their clinic in St.Louis. We found out a lot of good information and just felt more encouraged as the day went on that we are on the right path. The path to finally starting a family.
The Future: As of right now I have a month and a half of birth control I will continue to take, which will put me at the end of May. I wanted to time it this way so that I could be done with the school year and not have to stress about leaving my kids during MAP testing or finishing up last minute meetings. I figure the less stress the better. I will continue to take the Dex, Metformin and Thyroid meds until they tell me to stop. So the end of May is when we will go back and try again I am getting very anxious. Every time we go back we get a little closer to our goal. I will admit that it doesn't make it easy seeing friends and family go through what we have been praying and believeing in for that past going on 5 years now. But I know God has a plan for us. He knows our hearts desires. We would appreciate more prayers and to be kept on your prayer list throughout our journey. I will update as the time gets closer to share more news.
No comments:
Post a Comment