"Everything's normal" ~ shouldn't that be a good thing?

After our IVF BFN, Mr. Chef Bud and I talked about our next steps. We can't afford to dive right back into IVF, and honestly I don't even think I would want to at this point. I feel like there is something wrong, and for a doctor to just label me unexplained and want to go right to IVF just doesn't seem like a smart decision. We decided to get a second opinion, and made an appointment with a a group affiliated with the local university.

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We had our first appointment last month and it was such a refreshing change from RE #1. Dr. M sat down with us for almost an hour and talked through all of my issues, our failed cycles and what he thought we should do to move forward. We set our plan for the next three months which included:

Month 1:

Antral follicle count ultrasound and day 3 bloodwork ~ to test for my "maternal age" and see if my eggs are on younger, on track or older than my actual age

Saline Sonogram ~ to check my uterus for abnormal growth such as fibroids or polyps

Month 2:

Endometrial biopsy ~ to see if my cycle is "in phase". This will be done during my luteal phase to see if my lining is doing what it is supposed to be doing during this time of my cycle.

Month 3:

Mock cycle ~ using estrogen and progesterone to see if we can get my lining where we want it and stop the spotting

So far I've completed the antral follicle count (17 follicles), bloodwork (all normal) and saline sonogram (no uterine abnormalities). I feel like I should be happy and consider this good news, but I just want something to be able to fix. I want the doctor to say, "Oh, lookie here...we'll just take care of this and you'll be good to go!" I am trying to look on the bright side and be thankful that everything looks good so far, but I have to keep reminding myself that being normal = good news.

While I wait for the next couple of months of diagnostic testing, I have been trying to improve my fertililty by improving my lifestyle. I got the book Making Babies after a friend recommended it to me, and I am doing my best to follow the program outlined for my fertility type. I have changed my diet to be (mostly) whole, unprocessed foods (eating organic when I can), I'm limiting alcohol to one day a week, taking supplements, focusing on relaxing and destressing and going to acupuncture once a week. I feel like these steps are good for my overall health so even if this isn't going to be the magic formula that gets us pregnant, I will still be healthier. It's been a hard transisition to change my eating habits, but I think I'm doing pretty good and getting better every week. At least I feel like I am doing something while we save for another round of IVF.

So for now we're just moving forward slowly, which is definitely hard for someone like me who likes to be moving full-speed ahead. I'm learning that I have to be patient and give these lifestyle changes some time to take affect in my body. I haven't spotted yet this month and I'm already on CD 18, so maybe this stuff is really working and I will have great news to report at the end of the month.

Second biopsy.. done

This time I was ready for the pain, but boy did it hurt. I tried my best to prepare for it by taking Motrin since the morning before, but that did not work. Even the day after I was still having some on and off pain.

After the biopsy I sat down with my RE' s nurse to go over how to use the Progesterone that she prescribe to begin to use after I ovulate, if we are pregnant that cycle then continue using it until 10 weeks. If im not pregnat stop and wait until the next cycle. Once we are pregnant and start to see my OB/GYN I will discuss with her keeping me on progesterone until 13 weeks, I am scared the placenta might not have taken over so early.

Here is a great article on Progesterone. Did you know that this helps the breasts to develop in preparation for milk production after the birth of a baby?

She also showed me how to use it and gave me some information for a mail in pharmacy, because they are cheaper than our local pharmacy. After she said that I started thinking, 'oh boy I can only imagine how much these suckers are going to be'. She recommended me to use it in the morning and wear a panty liner. Then gave me a weeks supply of samples and I was off. I love all of my Re's nurses, they are soooooooo sweet!!

This is what they gave me Crinone 8%

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Im off to go research the supplements and my coverage.

Biopsy Scheduled

for tomorrow!!!!!

Yesterday I started looking at my chart and was still in the 11-13 DPO window that is required for the biopsy. If I would have waited for next month, I would not have been able to do it because we are going to be in NYC that week for the DH business and in March is our anniversary so I'm sure that we are going to travel to celebrate. So I would have had to wait until April for the Biopsy and then start TTC.

Its not that I am in a rush to start TTC again, but I want to close this chapter in our lives of all this testing and move on. It would have drained me prolonging the biopsy and worried that maybe the problem lies there. Hopefully since our blood work came back fine the biopsy will too.

Tomorrow when I met with the RE I'm going to request the progesterone so that we can start trying next month.

Happy Hump day!!

Endometrial Biopsy.. Check!

On Thursday New Years Eve I had my Endrometiral Biopsy at the RE's office and it went just like I thought it would.. Pain. But all I kept telling myself was the m/c are worse and we are going to find answers. My Mother in law went with me to the procedure and I'm glad she did so that I did not have to worry about driving home. I didn't want Mr. Bud to miss work thinking it was not that much of a big ordeal.

The RE takes a small sample of the lining of the uterus and it it looked under a microscope for abnormal cells. This also helps your doctor check to see if your body's hormone levels are in balance. WebMD has a great article on the different types of procedures

Here is what they remove from WebMd

And the procedure: A soft, straw like device to suction a small sample of lining

The Re also suggested and that I should get the Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine since I have never had the chicken pox, especially since its a high risk if I was pregnant and would come in contact with the chicken pox. After the Vaccine the RE wants us to wait at least 2 months before TTC again because there is some risks to the fetal from the vaccine.