Dr. Appointment - Check!!

Yesterday we finally made it to the new Dr.'s office after cancelling and debating on when we should reschedule. Mr. Explorer Bud and I both agree that we liked this Dr. and he had some interesting theories about PCOS and Hypothyroidism.We first got to fill out more paperwork and then go back with a nurse and have her fill some more in on the computer and then sat around waiting to go talk with the Dr. He went over both our previous lab work, IVF treatments and surgeries which brought up a little emotion when talking about the IVF cycles. I was surprised because I felt almost defensive about them that I produced good eggs and everything was fine. Strange but so is going through infertility too!

In talking about how I was feeling, tired, colder than other people around me and still not dropping weight like I feel I should be he felt my T3 levels were not up to par so he has put me on a natural Thyroid that is T3 and T4 and we will retest my levels in 6 weeks so I am hoping to feel more energized. Then we moved over to PCOS where he talked about Testosterone and that a lot of the time women with PCOS are actually lacking Free Testosterone but not in Total Testosterone. When you are lacking in Free Testosterone you are tired, have trouble remembering things, poor muscle development, low sex-drive and lots more symptoms. I have a lot of these symptoms and my Total Testosterone isn't terribly high but it is a little high but interestingly I wasn't tested for Free Testosterone levels. If we are going to do IVF within the next 6 months then I will have to wait to address this issue because to treat it I would be put on too high of levels of Testosterone to carry a baby. At least I know what some of my problems may be stemming from.

So any who, moving onto the exam portion of the appointment, which I appreciate since it is coming out of my pocket I would like the Dr. to actually see what is going on in those ovaries and uterus before he makes recommendations. He did confirm that I am Poly Cystic, on my right ovary I had about 20 follicles and on my left I had a few. He then said that my cervix was very tight and only had a pin hole size opening when it should be bigger and that he will probably need to dilate my cervix for our next IVF. Has anyone had this done before and I thought it was strange since I don't believe my prior Dr. did it for either of my IVF's??

He asked if I was ever diagnosed with Endometriosis and I said no that I hadn't. He did some palpation's and found that I do on my left side which is the side that I had the ectopic and tubal removal. He said it was minor and shouldn't cause a problem but that we should keep an eye on it in the future. Yeah, one more "problem" to add to the list!! Love it!! So I am supposed to send him the pictures from my tubal ligation so he can see if it was there prior.

He did say that I probably had an infection in that tube and that was probably why I ended up with an Ectopic pregnancy which makes a little more sense than it just floated around and landed there in the tube.

At the end we decided we would move forward with a third IVF with ICSI but it will be a low stim IVF which is where I will be on Clomid for 5-7 days and then injections the last week instead of the whole time. His goal is to harvest 4-8 eggs instead of a bunch and to get at least 2 good quality ones to put back in. Since my lining is thin right now and who knows when I may ovulate next, doesn't look like anytime soon, I can start BCP's at anytime! Oh and I talked to him about my worry that my lining isn't thickening up after the IVF he said we could try taking Progesterone the last two weeks that I am on BCP's and that should help tell my body to start building up a lining.

I think I will wait a few weeks before starting the BCP since I calculated it out and I would be doing the retrieval and transfer the week of Thanksgiving which we will hopefully be in California with family. I am excited by apprehensive since the first two ended in no baby.

Appointment Made!!

I have finally gotten around to making a new appointment with the new fertility Dr. I get to fill out a bunch of paperwork but I know it makes it easier for the Dr. to get a feel of where we have been and what we have already been diagnosed with. I think I am ready to get back on the roller coaster of treatments. It has been 8 months since the last IVF in February and if we don't start right away and this next round isn't successful then I will be 32 before having a baby!!! I know, not ancient, but when we are talking about prime fertile years time is tickin' away!!

I also may have some good news but am going to wait till next week to blog about it when I know more information!! Stay tuned...

Eating Success (Continued)

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So I measured myself yesterday and I have lost 2.5 inches in my waist and hips, 2" in my thighs and .5" in my chest, I hopefully will stop losing in my chest because lets be honest I don't have much of one to begin with!! This is also with me being not strict at all for the past two weeks of birthday celebration between myself, my MIL and Mr. EB! It is rough having so many birthdays together!!

I was talking with Mr. EB about when we would reschedule our appointment with the new RE and I think we will go for next month. That way maybe we can get things going again before the new year. Not sure what the new RE will say but maybe he will find a reason that the first two didn't work.

This weekend I am off to Lake Tahoe for a Sprint Triathlon with a childhood friend which I am stoked to be doing it with her but a wee bit nervous as I haven't trained like I should have. Who knows I may surprise myself and not do half bad!!

New RE

So today I made my first appointment with a new RE to see what he thinks and get the ball rolling towards a new round of IVF. This RE is just in the next town over so he is very close and he does minimal stimulation IVF which is where they use mostly oral hormones and only a few injectable hormones so you will produce fewer eggs but it is cheaper and easier on your body. One cycle with ICSI and medications will be about $7,000 which is the cheapest anywhere which Mr. Explorer Bud and I like a lot more. So our appointment isn't until the first week of August but we are going camping and have a family reunion to keep really me busy. I don't think Mr. Explorer Bud constantly has our infertility constantly on his mind but I pretty much do!! I spend my time trying to not think about it!!

What's the 411?

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I had 2nd opinion consult with a new RE on 8/31/10 and his name is Dr. T. The second opinion consult went really great and I have decided to switch clinics. As much as I don't want to leave my current RE because I adore him (he does all of the monitoring and the IVF cycles are done somewhere else by a different Dr.) I have to do what is best for me. I am transferring the 2 snowbabies we have left to my new clinic, where all of my treatment will be done under one roof. My new clinic even has an acupuncture facility on the premises. After our consult, Dr. T took CD3 blood work from me and I will be on BCP's for 2 months because Dr. T wants to lower my andgrogen levels that can be very high in PCOS women. I will have a hystersocopy and acupuncture consult soon and I will do a Fresh IVF Cycle in November where he will also unthaw my 2 snowbabies, so I don't waste one of my FET's covered under my insurance. In my heart of hearts I feel good about my decision and I am much more comfortable with the level of service I will be getting on a whole.