A CONDENSED RECOLLECTION OF THE PAST TWO YEARS

We have been working with an incredible reproductive endocrinologist since August of 2006.  After several office visits and ultrasounds, he put me back on 2000 mg of Metformin, Clomid, and a once-a-month ovulation trigger shot of HCG.   The very first month (October) I was on this protocol, we conceived!  We were ecstatic.  We picked out names, envisioned the nursery, and started looking for an OB/GYN.  A few days before Christmas, we had an ultrasound that showed no heartbeat or fetal growth.  The baby had stopped developing a few days before, and we were devastated.  The D&C was scheduled for a couple of days before New Years.  It was the hardest Christmas season I've ever experienced.  

We continued trying to conceive using the same protocol for the next ten months.  Each month brought us another BFN (big fat negative).  I underwent a surgery in September 2007.  My doctor performed a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, another D&C, hysterosalpingogram, cystectomy, and he zapped my endometriosis with a CO2 laser.  I was in recovery for about a week, then we picked up with the same protocol.  Month after month I was greeted by AF, which was actually a big step in the right direction in my reproductive health because I had never had regular periods.   Regardless, period equals empty womb.

It seemed like we had been TTC with the same protocol forever.  Finally, this spring we ordered injectible medicines from Great Britain to begin an IUI cycle.  The first month I was on the meds, my ovaries over responded.  My estradiol levels were so high that the lab's equipment couldn't even read the numbers and I had dozens of medium-sized follicles among the few dominant ones.  The cycle was then cancelled.  Damn.  After a month of ovarian rest, we were finally able to try again.  This time, I injected for 18 days and the IUI went off without a hitch.  Now, I'm in the two week wait.  

My blood draw is scheduled for July 2.  Our sixth wedding anniversary is June 29.  If we are pregnant, implantation should occur on the 27th.  Should I test on the 28th?  Theoretically, we could have a double celebration.  On the other hand, it could put a real damper on things.  What to do?   

THE PRELIMINARIES - 2003

Since I was fairly new to the city (and I finally had health care), I searched for a new OB/GYN to discuss my lack of menses.  She diagnosed me with PCOS and recommended that I see a Reproductive Endocrinologist to try and regulate my cycles since birth control-the regulatory stand by- really didn't interest me any longer.  Keep in mind that Kev and I still hadn't come to an agreement about trying to conceive; I was just really concerned for our future fertility, and knew that something needed to be done.  The RE put me on 2000mg of Metformin - a drug that is used to regulate insulin in diabetic patients - and told us that all it would take would be dinner and a movie and I would magically become pregnant.  The only thing that happened was that I became extremely emotional, couldn't tolerate sugar in any form, and had chronic diarrhea.  No periods, no weight loss, and no pregnancy despite our best efforts.  By this time, Kevin was starting to come around.  He agreed that we should keep trying, but that maybe we should use alternative therapies because he hated to see me in pain from the Metformin.  The RE we had been seeing (the one who believes in movie magic) obviously wasn't serious about helping us get pregnant, so we took matters into our own hands. 

 

We ditched the wacky RE and sought out an acupuncturist who was also knowledgeable about Chinese herbs.  Our insurance obviously did not cover this type of care, so about every two weeks we were shelling out around $140 for needles and herbs.  At first, the herbs were terribly hard to swallow.  It was unlike any horrible thing I had ever tasted.  Eventually, I came to love them - almost to crave them.  The 45 minute acupuncture sessions were always wonderful.  I was able to meditate, relax, reflect, dream, and pray while letting those skinny needles stimulate various meridians.  But still no baby.  On to the next step.

 

Through my research on the internet, I learned of another ancient therapy that has been known to help infertile women achieve pregnancy.  Mayan abdominal massage therapy is not widely practiced, not well-known, and interested therapists can only get certified to practice by an intense study program under one woman who resides in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.  This particular massage therapy has been passed down for millennia  and is an external non invasive manipulation that repositions internal organs that have shifted.  I thought it's worth a shot.  After just one session, I did have a period.  It was the first uninitiated period I had had in years.  I thought this was going to work.  We scheduled another appointment for one month later, in the hopes that we could get the same response.  No go.  And no baby either.