After deciding with the fertility specialist to try IUI a few times before moving on to IVF I was to call him as soon as I got my period (which turned out to be a month after the laparoscopy).
I called on the day to make an appointment for day 2 but the receptionist didn't have any spots so I made an appointment for day 3 and went into for a baseline scan. By the way, this was an internal scan where they put the probe into your cervix. I hate these scans! He said all looked fine to told me to inject FSH 25iu for 4 days and then to come back for another scan.
Using puregon was super stressful for me. I hate needles and I was terrified that I was going to mess things up. However, it didn't sting as badly as I expected and I felt better having done it.
At my second scan the FS said that my right ovary was flourishing (the side with the blocked tube) which was not what I wanted. I felt like giving up right there and then because there was no development on my left ovary.
Regardless, I decided that if there was any chance (apparently the left tube can catch an egg from the right ovary) of me getting pregnant I had to take it.
So I kept going with the injections for three more days and returned once more.
This time he said that the follicles on my right had not really grown. But there was a follicle on my left ovary which looked like it might be a lead follicle!!! But he mentioned that my endometrium was 3.5 which didn't seem great but he wasn't too concerned.
He increased my dosage to 41iu and off I went over the long weekend. I got raspberry leaf tea capsules and maca capsules in the hope they would thicken my endometrium. And I started doing fertility yoga in front of the tv. That helped me with deep breathing and I started to feel good.
I returned 5 days later and he told me that the follicle on the left side was 21.5mm, ready to go! Yay!
That night I injected 6500iu of pregnyl (hcg). This needle STUNG! I had to stop until it stopped stinging and then injected a little bit at a time. At this point I can't believe I ever freaked out about going to get immunisations. Seriously.
The next day I didn't feel much.
The following morning I was up early, ready to take my husband's sample to QFG to be 'prepared'. I drove as quick as I could in peak hour traffic into the city and passed over the swimmers.
I waited around 40 minutes till I was called and given a small test tube, which I prompted placed in my bra to keep it warm.
I drove to my FS's office and was soon sent to the back room where I sat down and passed the FS a letter from the clinic. He read it and announced that the sperm looked good. I was happy to hear this as I know how important that can be and my husband has been diligently taking his supplements for the last few months to improve things.
I once again got on the table and this time a speculum was inserted. I found this super uncomfortable. I tried so hard to relax. I couldn't feel much after that. He told me to rest my pelvis and lay there for another 10 minutes.
After that he told me he was feeling much more positive about things and would wait to hear from me.
I was to inject 1500iu of pregnyl at 4 and 7 days after IUI.
I felt quite crampy for the rest of the afternoon so I tried to lay down as much as possible.
For some reason I took my basal body temp the day before IUI and it didn't go up the morning after IUI so I panicked. I felt like I hadn't ovulated so I felt like we missed our chance. Some articles state that washed sperm live between 12-48 hours so I really don't know.
Tuesday 14 October 2014
Saturday 16 August 2014
The 5 days after my laparoscopy...
Day 1.
As I hadn't been in any real pain in the hospital I was not given any pain killers. As soon as I got home my shoulders were killing me. I quickly took two codeine/paracetamol tablets and fell asleep. I woke up in pain after two hours but couldn't take pain killers for another two hours so walked around the house to distract myself from the pain. I took the medication my anaesthetist gave me for nausea. I used constant heat packs (to the point it was burning my skin) to ease the pain. I got about four hours sleep overnight, which I thought was okay as I had slept most of the day. I wasn't hungry but had clear fluids, including peppermint tea, water and lemonade. At this point I was taking pain killers every 4-5 hours. I noticed that I had blue liquid, as well as some brown discharge in my pad. I quickly messaged my friend who assured me that it was the dye they use to check your tubes. Phew!
Day 2.
I was in slightly less shoulder pain but now my lower back was sore. I was still using heatpacks, pain killers every 5 hours and nausea medication. I found I could be semi comfortable if flat on my side so I lay like this for a while. I felt pretty miserable on this day. It was also a public holiday so some friends came over and kindly brought me some flowers and warm wishes.
Day 3.
My husband had to go back to work so I was on my own. I was in less and less shoulder pain so stopped taking pain killers during the day. Plus I started to worry about my bowels as I hadn't so much as passed gas and have occasional constipation issues anyway. I took a coloxyl tablet but I don't think it did anything. I decided to call my doctor to find out the results of my surgery. He said that my ovaries were "good" and my endometriosis was "good" but that my right tube was blocked. He said it had scarring and adhesions. I had a cyst removed and endometriosis burnt about ten years ago so I wondered if this happened then. I'm very surprised when he said my ovaries and endometriosis was good. I really want to get more information and confirmation before I get too excited because I was told that I have polycystic ovaries (via a few tests in the last few months) and endometriosis (via the lap 10 years ago, and apparently endo only gets worse). I tried to ask questions about what we would do next, iui, ivf etc but he said we would discuss that at my next appointment.
I decided to try and remove my dressings and put new ones on if needed. This took a while and freaked me out as I don't like blood and was trying not to faint. I washed both my belly button incision and pubic line incision and dried them before putting breathable Band-Aids on so my clothes didn't rub. I took a nap this afternoon which I didn't realise I even needed!
Day 4.
I was off the pain medication and moving around a lot more easily. I felt like my bladder was filling really quickly. I drove to a friend's place and we went out for brunch. It was really nice. I was pretty tired when I came home but kept going and tried to tidy the house. We went out to dinner with my brother and his fiancé and while we were there my belly button was stinging. It felt like it was pulling from the inside. I don't know how they do dissolving stitches but I felt like I had internal stitches. I really hoped they would settle down.
Day 5.
I had to try on bridesmaids dresses today so I had to cover both my incisions so they wouldn't rub. I was still quite swollen today but I'm not sure if that's from the gases or because I'm constipated. I managed to try on dresses and walk around with the bridal party for a few hours but as soon as I got home I was sore everywhere and had to sit down with a heat pack on my lower back. My period also came today so I'm not sure which symptoms are which anymore. I decided, after two more coloxyl and half a bottle of prune juice, to send my husband to the late night chemist to buy me an enema. It eventually got things moving a little bit.
As I hadn't been in any real pain in the hospital I was not given any pain killers. As soon as I got home my shoulders were killing me. I quickly took two codeine/paracetamol tablets and fell asleep. I woke up in pain after two hours but couldn't take pain killers for another two hours so walked around the house to distract myself from the pain. I took the medication my anaesthetist gave me for nausea. I used constant heat packs (to the point it was burning my skin) to ease the pain. I got about four hours sleep overnight, which I thought was okay as I had slept most of the day. I wasn't hungry but had clear fluids, including peppermint tea, water and lemonade. At this point I was taking pain killers every 4-5 hours. I noticed that I had blue liquid, as well as some brown discharge in my pad. I quickly messaged my friend who assured me that it was the dye they use to check your tubes. Phew!
Day 2.
I was in slightly less shoulder pain but now my lower back was sore. I was still using heatpacks, pain killers every 5 hours and nausea medication. I found I could be semi comfortable if flat on my side so I lay like this for a while. I felt pretty miserable on this day. It was also a public holiday so some friends came over and kindly brought me some flowers and warm wishes.
Day 3.
My husband had to go back to work so I was on my own. I was in less and less shoulder pain so stopped taking pain killers during the day. Plus I started to worry about my bowels as I hadn't so much as passed gas and have occasional constipation issues anyway. I took a coloxyl tablet but I don't think it did anything. I decided to call my doctor to find out the results of my surgery. He said that my ovaries were "good" and my endometriosis was "good" but that my right tube was blocked. He said it had scarring and adhesions. I had a cyst removed and endometriosis burnt about ten years ago so I wondered if this happened then. I'm very surprised when he said my ovaries and endometriosis was good. I really want to get more information and confirmation before I get too excited because I was told that I have polycystic ovaries (via a few tests in the last few months) and endometriosis (via the lap 10 years ago, and apparently endo only gets worse). I tried to ask questions about what we would do next, iui, ivf etc but he said we would discuss that at my next appointment.
I decided to try and remove my dressings and put new ones on if needed. This took a while and freaked me out as I don't like blood and was trying not to faint. I washed both my belly button incision and pubic line incision and dried them before putting breathable Band-Aids on so my clothes didn't rub. I took a nap this afternoon which I didn't realise I even needed!
Day 4.
I was off the pain medication and moving around a lot more easily. I felt like my bladder was filling really quickly. I drove to a friend's place and we went out for brunch. It was really nice. I was pretty tired when I came home but kept going and tried to tidy the house. We went out to dinner with my brother and his fiancé and while we were there my belly button was stinging. It felt like it was pulling from the inside. I don't know how they do dissolving stitches but I felt like I had internal stitches. I really hoped they would settle down.
Day 5.
I had to try on bridesmaids dresses today so I had to cover both my incisions so they wouldn't rub. I was still quite swollen today but I'm not sure if that's from the gases or because I'm constipated. I managed to try on dresses and walk around with the bridal party for a few hours but as soon as I got home I was sore everywhere and had to sit down with a heat pack on my lower back. My period also came today so I'm not sure which symptoms are which anymore. I decided, after two more coloxyl and half a bottle of prune juice, to send my husband to the late night chemist to buy me an enema. It eventually got things moving a little bit.
Laparoscopy time!
I'd fasted overnight and was super thirsty. I hadn't slept well but hopped in the shower and into my loose but warm clothes.
Luckily my husband woke up to take me to the day hospital. He's not a fan of getting up before 8am so 6.15am was always going to be tough for him.
We arrived and I was admitted with my husband with me. I was given panadol with water which didn't make sense as I thought I couldn't drink? Anyway, I then said my goodbyes to my husband as I was led to get dressed. I got in a hospital gown, which I had so much trouble figuring out as it had three ties...seriously..are people not challenged enough? Then I put my hairnet and footcovers on and sat in the waiting area. I was eventually called by the anaesthetist and discussed my worries about nausea, as after my last laparoscopy I was readmitted for severe vomiting. I was then sat back down in the waiting area.
After a little bit longer, I was collected by a lady with heavy make up. She asked if I'd been to the toilet and I said no she she told me to go. I then realised I forgotten to take my underwear off, so I quickly removed it, along with any dignity and walked back to the lady. We walked down a hall then and into an operating room. There were two cheerful ladies setting up... 'don't look' I thought, 'don't look'. On the other side of the room as my anaesthetist. She asked how I was feeling I said 'fine, freaking out a little bit'. Then I climbed awkwardly on the table. I was so nervous at this point. There really was no turning back. The anaesthetist then told me I would feel a sting in my hand, and YES I did. She told me to look at the other lady who was putting a mask on my face. Something tasted weird and they began chatting about the ekka. I don't remember anything after that.
I started waking up in the recovery room every time a machine beeped and my arm cuff swelled. I could only wake for a moment because I felt SO TIRED. The nurse, who knows what she looked like, asked if I was in any pain. I think I said no. Then I dozed again. She then checked my vitals again, my pad, and offered me water before moving my bed to the other side of the room. People were asking about my pain and all I wanted was to be left alone to sleep. So very tired.
Eventually the anaesthetist came to speak to me. I think she said something about giving me a script for nausea medication. I really don't know.
Then another lady came and asked how I was. I told her I was so tired and didn't want anything. She said I needed to have some lemonade and tilted up my bed. I had a few sips of lemonade but really didn't want them. She put a bung in my drip and I suddenly felt pain under my right ribcage. After a little while longer of trying to keep my eyes open she checked my pad and asked me if I was ready to get dressed. I said I would try and she handed me a pad. She helped me to get into sitting position and then found my clothes and assisted me to get ready. She then took me to a sitting area with armchairs and I sat here for about half an hour before my husband came.
Another nurse came and checked my temp and blood pressure before removing the needle from my hand. I was then stood up and was sent on my way.
Luckily my husband woke up to take me to the day hospital. He's not a fan of getting up before 8am so 6.15am was always going to be tough for him.
We arrived and I was admitted with my husband with me. I was given panadol with water which didn't make sense as I thought I couldn't drink? Anyway, I then said my goodbyes to my husband as I was led to get dressed. I got in a hospital gown, which I had so much trouble figuring out as it had three ties...seriously..are people not challenged enough? Then I put my hairnet and footcovers on and sat in the waiting area. I was eventually called by the anaesthetist and discussed my worries about nausea, as after my last laparoscopy I was readmitted for severe vomiting. I was then sat back down in the waiting area.
After a little bit longer, I was collected by a lady with heavy make up. She asked if I'd been to the toilet and I said no she she told me to go. I then realised I forgotten to take my underwear off, so I quickly removed it, along with any dignity and walked back to the lady. We walked down a hall then and into an operating room. There were two cheerful ladies setting up... 'don't look' I thought, 'don't look'. On the other side of the room as my anaesthetist. She asked how I was feeling I said 'fine, freaking out a little bit'. Then I climbed awkwardly on the table. I was so nervous at this point. There really was no turning back. The anaesthetist then told me I would feel a sting in my hand, and YES I did. She told me to look at the other lady who was putting a mask on my face. Something tasted weird and they began chatting about the ekka. I don't remember anything after that.
I started waking up in the recovery room every time a machine beeped and my arm cuff swelled. I could only wake for a moment because I felt SO TIRED. The nurse, who knows what she looked like, asked if I was in any pain. I think I said no. Then I dozed again. She then checked my vitals again, my pad, and offered me water before moving my bed to the other side of the room. People were asking about my pain and all I wanted was to be left alone to sleep. So very tired.
Eventually the anaesthetist came to speak to me. I think she said something about giving me a script for nausea medication. I really don't know.
Then another lady came and asked how I was. I told her I was so tired and didn't want anything. She said I needed to have some lemonade and tilted up my bed. I had a few sips of lemonade but really didn't want them. She put a bung in my drip and I suddenly felt pain under my right ribcage. After a little while longer of trying to keep my eyes open she checked my pad and asked me if I was ready to get dressed. I said I would try and she handed me a pad. She helped me to get into sitting position and then found my clothes and assisted me to get ready. She then took me to a sitting area with armchairs and I sat here for about half an hour before my husband came.
Another nurse came and checked my temp and blood pressure before removing the needle from my hand. I was then stood up and was sent on my way.
Sunday 20 July 2014
Gulp.. did I just pay to be told that?
Along I went to my fertility specialist, buoyed by the great result of my thyroid level and excited by what was next. I showed him my result and he seemed pleased. He did say that if I got pregnant I would probably need thyroxin to support the baby as mine may not be sufficient.
Then came the news I did not want.
My AMH level was 43, which meant I was confirmed as having polycystic ovaries.
My husbands sperm had low motility. This meant we would need to do iui or ivf to have any chance of getting pregnant.
I can't remember if he said anything much else.
He said we could either do a few rounds of clomid and if I didn't get pregnant I could do the laparoscopy. Or we could do a laparoscopy and then start clomid.
As I already have endometriosis I opted to have a laparoscopy first. If it's already broken I don't want to go through the hope and heartbreak and emotions of clomid without a chance.
All I want is to be on an even playing field with everyone who has normal fertility.
I've booked my laparoscopy for mid August so will update when I have some more results.
Then came the news I did not want.
My AMH level was 43, which meant I was confirmed as having polycystic ovaries.
My husbands sperm had low motility. This meant we would need to do iui or ivf to have any chance of getting pregnant.
I can't remember if he said anything much else.
He said we could either do a few rounds of clomid and if I didn't get pregnant I could do the laparoscopy. Or we could do a laparoscopy and then start clomid.
As I already have endometriosis I opted to have a laparoscopy first. If it's already broken I don't want to go through the hope and heartbreak and emotions of clomid without a chance.
All I want is to be on an even playing field with everyone who has normal fertility.
I've booked my laparoscopy for mid August so will update when I have some more results.
The post-new-diet thyroid check
So about 3 weeks later I went along to a different (female) GP to get my pap smear and asked her if she could check me for any deficiencies. She sent me to have my blood taken and as it happened they also checked my thyroid.
A few days later I got the results and my thyroid had gone from 5.4 to 2.3, which is a normal thyroid level. This was great news to me as it meant I didn't need thyroxine yet. It's hard to know if my thyroid is improving because I'm off gluten and dairy and on selenium, vitamin e and vitamin d or if it's just all over the place. Only time will tell.
My new diet is having other effects. I have had issues with what the gp assumes to be a haemorrhoid for about 6 months. His advice was to increase fibre and vegetables. But it got better for only a little while (and with the help of anusol) and then I'd be back at square one after something was too firm one day. Now that I'm not consuming gluten I've had next to no trouble with it. I can eat meat again (they seemed to make things too firm) and not stress about going to the toilet. I do have an appointment with a specialist so he can have a look this week but it feels so much better!
Another effect of my diet is my skin. I've had pimples since I was about 12. They went away while I was on yasmin and yaz and returned one by one when I went off it. Days after this new diet began there were no new pimples of my face. I thought it was the gluten so I had some milk in my tea and a decaf coffee last week. My skin erupted. So I'm back off the dairy and within days my skin has pretty much cleared. AMAZING.
Next I'm off to the fertility obgyn to get my results...
A few days later I got the results and my thyroid had gone from 5.4 to 2.3, which is a normal thyroid level. This was great news to me as it meant I didn't need thyroxine yet. It's hard to know if my thyroid is improving because I'm off gluten and dairy and on selenium, vitamin e and vitamin d or if it's just all over the place. Only time will tell.
My new diet is having other effects. I have had issues with what the gp assumes to be a haemorrhoid for about 6 months. His advice was to increase fibre and vegetables. But it got better for only a little while (and with the help of anusol) and then I'd be back at square one after something was too firm one day. Now that I'm not consuming gluten I've had next to no trouble with it. I can eat meat again (they seemed to make things too firm) and not stress about going to the toilet. I do have an appointment with a specialist so he can have a look this week but it feels so much better!
Another effect of my diet is my skin. I've had pimples since I was about 12. They went away while I was on yasmin and yaz and returned one by one when I went off it. Days after this new diet began there were no new pimples of my face. I thought it was the gluten so I had some milk in my tea and a decaf coffee last week. My skin erupted. So I'm back off the dairy and within days my skin has pretty much cleared. AMAZING.
Next I'm off to the fertility obgyn to get my results...
Sunday 29 June 2014
Researching during my wait, always a GREAT idea
I began reading my book about thyroid disease while away for my husbands birthday with his family. I wasn't the most social but I couldn't help it. The book seemed to simplify the fact that if you were hypothyroid you could just take a tablet and you would be feeling better.
I did some more researching online and from what I understand most people who are hypothyroid have something called hashimotos, where your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland. Not cool at all!
I then began reading into hashimotos and I saw that there are links between hashimotos/hypothyroidism and polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. As a person who apparently has all three this clicked with me. If the hashimotos is causing the hypothyroidism, then couldn't it be causing the polycystic ovaries and endometriosis?
After reading a blog about hashimotos, (http://hopeforhashimotosdisease.blogspot.com.au/) I decided to change my multivitamins from Conceive well gold to individual selenium and vitamin e in the morning, and a probiotic, folate and vitamin d in the evening. This blog also links an allergic reaction to milk to the cause of her hashimotos so I'm going to try to cut down on milk and see how I go. Also the general consensus on hypothyroidism is that you should cut right back on gluten so here I go!
I did some more researching online and from what I understand most people who are hypothyroid have something called hashimotos, where your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland. Not cool at all!
I then began reading into hashimotos and I saw that there are links between hashimotos/hypothyroidism and polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. As a person who apparently has all three this clicked with me. If the hashimotos is causing the hypothyroidism, then couldn't it be causing the polycystic ovaries and endometriosis?
After reading a blog about hashimotos, (http://hopeforhashimotosdisease.blogspot.com.au/) I decided to change my multivitamins from Conceive well gold to individual selenium and vitamin e in the morning, and a probiotic, folate and vitamin d in the evening. This blog also links an allergic reaction to milk to the cause of her hashimotos so I'm going to try to cut down on milk and see how I go. Also the general consensus on hypothyroidism is that you should cut right back on gluten so here I go!
Some results..
The morning after my GTT and other blood tests I went to the GP for something else. He happened to have my results. Gulp.
I have a bad habit of reading things over my drs shoulders on the computer screen. Maybe I'm paranoid, who knows. I read the results as he clicked each screen.
Progesterone 21 : 50
GTT: normal
Thyroid: subclinical hypothyroid ( FSH 5)
I was psyched not to be diabetic. I'd read a library book about diabetes cover to cover in case I had it. I also got a book about thyroid disease but didn't get to read that one. Of course I didn't!
I was over the moon about my progesterone level. It meant I'd ovulated and would be the correct level to support a baby.
I had no idea what hypothyroid meant. I asked the doctor what I should do about it and he said they would continue to monitor it.
I googled my life away that afternoon as from what I understand in order to conceive your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) should be 1-2. So clearly, with a level of 5 I would not conceive.
My next GYNO appt is not for another 3 weeks so this wait should be interesting!
I have a bad habit of reading things over my drs shoulders on the computer screen. Maybe I'm paranoid, who knows. I read the results as he clicked each screen.
Progesterone 21 : 50
GTT: normal
Thyroid: subclinical hypothyroid ( FSH 5)
I was psyched not to be diabetic. I'd read a library book about diabetes cover to cover in case I had it. I also got a book about thyroid disease but didn't get to read that one. Of course I didn't!
I was over the moon about my progesterone level. It meant I'd ovulated and would be the correct level to support a baby.
I had no idea what hypothyroid meant. I asked the doctor what I should do about it and he said they would continue to monitor it.
I googled my life away that afternoon as from what I understand in order to conceive your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) should be 1-2. So clearly, with a level of 5 I would not conceive.
My next GYNO appt is not for another 3 weeks so this wait should be interesting!
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