Yesterday I had a second laparoscopic surgery. After the first one, I was looking forward to having surgery with a Dr I had more faith in. Still obviously very nervous, it is surgery after all, but this time it would be at a great hospital and with a better Dr.
I arrived at the hospital at 7am and registered. My parents met me there at registration and kept D company while I was in surgery. I was impressed at how well everything ran. There was very little waiting between each step. After registering, I went down to the same day surgery waiting area. A nurse came and took me to a little room where she took my vitals and gave me a gown and housecoat to change into.
I was so excited to get to keep my own socks on throughout the surgery! It's a little thing to be excited about but I remember how cold I was last time and the though of my wool socks was comforting.
Once I was changed, I was set up with an IV. The nurse had some trouble with my IV and she poked around for quite a bit before she got it in. When she finally had it, blood went all over. After the blood was all cleaned up, she went and got D to sit with me while they gave me saline and an antibiotic. Once the antibiotic was all done I was taken to the surgery ward. my parents got to walk down there with me but they had to wait in another waiting room until after I was done. I said good bye to them there and went with D to another waiting area.
This area had boxes on the walls with different Dr's names on them and we went and sat in the chairs under Dr. F. There, we met with the anaesthesiologist and the nurses and residents that would all be helping Dr. F in the OR. I also got to meet with Dr. F briefly before I went in.
There was a little confusion about whether a laser would be used or not. Dr.F doesn't use the laser, but there is another Dr who helps with it and he was able to be there. Just before I was put under, they had me initial a change to my consent to include laser.
Once the consent was changed, they put the oxygen mask on and added a new drug to my IV and I felt the warmth spread over my head and I was out.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Surgery or no surgery?
This past two weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster with good news and bad news and confusion all around!
Last Tuesday I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. F to sign the consent for surgert and go over the risks etc. With Dr. M, he tested my tubes last May and it showed they were open, then during the surgery he declared them both closed, but he did not perform another test. Dr. F is not really comfortable taking the word of Dr. M when his reports are conflicting so she ordered another test; a more accurate one than the one I did last May. It's called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).
During the HSG, a contrast dye is inserted into my uterus and forced through my tubes while images are recorded on an x-ray. As it turns out, my left fallopian tube is open! But my right is still blocked with nice fat hydro. The image below is NOT mine but it shows kinda what mine looked like.
Notice on the left side that the dye looks like smoke, but on the right it is more solid? That is because on the right the dry is being trapped and contained rather than being released into the abdomen. There was a slight anomalie with mine. At the base of the right one there was a small area that also looked like smoke. This meant that my right tube, while diseased, might possibly be open too. If both tubes are open, then I wouldn't need surgery!
Because the test on my right tube was ambiguous, Dr. F got a second opinion from one of the other RE's at the clinic. They agreed that the tube should be treated as closed because the area of 'smoke' was so small.
What does this mean?
Basically, since I have one open tube, I actually have a chance at a successful Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) which is much much cheaper and less invasive than IVF. If I choose to do IUI, then I don't need to do surgery.
With the blocked tube, there are studies that show IVF is more successfull if the tube is removed. However, there are no studies on IUI and blocked hydro tubes, so she can not say that removing the tube would be beneficial.
If we are going to do IVF, I should have the surgery. But if we would rather do IUI, then I would't need to have the surgery. However, if we try IUI and it doesn't work and we want to persue IVF, I would need to have the tube removed at that point. So, we need to make a decision.
IUI has only a 10-12% chance of success and a 5-10% chance of ectopic (pregnancy in the fallopian tube) whereas IVF has a 60-70% chance of success. And we can only do IUI on the months that I ovulate on the left side since that's the only tube that's open. And those percentages were before I asked her about D's SA results. OF course, he was out walking the dog when I was talking to her so she couldn't give me the numbers, but his count is low so our chances are probably a little lower than 10%. We figure we will likely end up doing IVF eventually, but it's really hard ignore the fact that IUI will cost $350, while IVF will cost $10,000.
I have decided to go ahead and do the surgery on May 9 as planned and we will have to think about whether we want to do an IUI or two before IVF. A successful IUI would be like winning the lottery, and you can't win if you don't play. We are thinking about buying one 'lottery ticket' before going all in with IVF. I keep second guessing that choice though.
Technically we have some time, I'm turning 32 next month and D is the same age. The only thing that puts us into a time crunch is that D is supposed to be on a drug to supress his immune system a little so that he doesn't develop a resistance to Remicade (the drug to treat his Crohn's Disease) but he's not taking it while we TTC. His GI says it's safe, but everything I've read says there is a risk of major birth defects if the male partner is taking it and both RE's that we've had say it's not safe. So he has not been taking it for 2.5 years now and I'm constantly worried that he will build up a resistance to his miracle drug. (You should have seen him before he got on this, he was sooo sick and in sooo much pain all the time I can't watch him go through that because my body is screwed up and can't have babies).
But really, what's another few months for a chance to "win the lottery"?
Last Tuesday I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. F to sign the consent for surgert and go over the risks etc. With Dr. M, he tested my tubes last May and it showed they were open, then during the surgery he declared them both closed, but he did not perform another test. Dr. F is not really comfortable taking the word of Dr. M when his reports are conflicting so she ordered another test; a more accurate one than the one I did last May. It's called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).
During the HSG, a contrast dye is inserted into my uterus and forced through my tubes while images are recorded on an x-ray. As it turns out, my left fallopian tube is open! But my right is still blocked with nice fat hydro. The image below is NOT mine but it shows kinda what mine looked like.
Notice on the left side that the dye looks like smoke, but on the right it is more solid? That is because on the right the dry is being trapped and contained rather than being released into the abdomen. There was a slight anomalie with mine. At the base of the right one there was a small area that also looked like smoke. This meant that my right tube, while diseased, might possibly be open too. If both tubes are open, then I wouldn't need surgery!
Because the test on my right tube was ambiguous, Dr. F got a second opinion from one of the other RE's at the clinic. They agreed that the tube should be treated as closed because the area of 'smoke' was so small.
What does this mean?
Basically, since I have one open tube, I actually have a chance at a successful Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) which is much much cheaper and less invasive than IVF. If I choose to do IUI, then I don't need to do surgery.
With the blocked tube, there are studies that show IVF is more successfull if the tube is removed. However, there are no studies on IUI and blocked hydro tubes, so she can not say that removing the tube would be beneficial.
If we are going to do IVF, I should have the surgery. But if we would rather do IUI, then I would't need to have the surgery. However, if we try IUI and it doesn't work and we want to persue IVF, I would need to have the tube removed at that point. So, we need to make a decision.
IUI has only a 10-12% chance of success and a 5-10% chance of ectopic (pregnancy in the fallopian tube) whereas IVF has a 60-70% chance of success. And we can only do IUI on the months that I ovulate on the left side since that's the only tube that's open. And those percentages were before I asked her about D's SA results. OF course, he was out walking the dog when I was talking to her so she couldn't give me the numbers, but his count is low so our chances are probably a little lower than 10%. We figure we will likely end up doing IVF eventually, but it's really hard ignore the fact that IUI will cost $350, while IVF will cost $10,000.
I have decided to go ahead and do the surgery on May 9 as planned and we will have to think about whether we want to do an IUI or two before IVF. A successful IUI would be like winning the lottery, and you can't win if you don't play. We are thinking about buying one 'lottery ticket' before going all in with IVF. I keep second guessing that choice though.
Technically we have some time, I'm turning 32 next month and D is the same age. The only thing that puts us into a time crunch is that D is supposed to be on a drug to supress his immune system a little so that he doesn't develop a resistance to Remicade (the drug to treat his Crohn's Disease) but he's not taking it while we TTC. His GI says it's safe, but everything I've read says there is a risk of major birth defects if the male partner is taking it and both RE's that we've had say it's not safe. So he has not been taking it for 2.5 years now and I'm constantly worried that he will build up a resistance to his miracle drug. (You should have seen him before he got on this, he was sooo sick and in sooo much pain all the time I can't watch him go through that because my body is screwed up and can't have babies).
But really, what's another few months for a chance to "win the lottery"?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Ketchup
I don't have any updates of my own right now, but there are some things I really should catch up (get it, ketchup? Lame? ya, I know) about.
March 22, 2012
That was a big day.
First, my sister had her second surgery. It was something she had been waiting for, for a long time. She found out with only 6 days notice, so it happened pretty quickly. The surgery went well, better than they had expected and she is healing well. Two things sucked about the timing though. First, it was the day before 'The Hunger Games' was released and she had been looking forward to it for ages. Second, it was 7 days before her birthday which would mean that more than likely, she would be in the hospital for her birthday. Which she was. I sent some flowers and a balloon to her room and hoped that helped cheer her up.
Secondly, my Friend T gave birth to a baby boy! Her water broke on Tuesday afternoon but she did not go into labour on her own. 24 hrs later, she was induced and another 20 hours after that he was born. 7lbs 14oz and cute as a button. So far I've got to spend about half an hour with him and he was asleep the whole time. For the first four days of his life he was unnamed, poor little guy... but they finally decided a very strong name. I don't want to put it on here to protect their privacy, to give you a hint, his first name is the last name of a former president and always reminds me of Jim Carey in 'The Truman Show'.
March 22, 2012
That was a big day.
First, my sister had her second surgery. It was something she had been waiting for, for a long time. She found out with only 6 days notice, so it happened pretty quickly. The surgery went well, better than they had expected and she is healing well. Two things sucked about the timing though. First, it was the day before 'The Hunger Games' was released and she had been looking forward to it for ages. Second, it was 7 days before her birthday which would mean that more than likely, she would be in the hospital for her birthday. Which she was. I sent some flowers and a balloon to her room and hoped that helped cheer her up.
Secondly, my Friend T gave birth to a baby boy! Her water broke on Tuesday afternoon but she did not go into labour on her own. 24 hrs later, she was induced and another 20 hours after that he was born. 7lbs 14oz and cute as a button. So far I've got to spend about half an hour with him and he was asleep the whole time. For the first four days of his life he was unnamed, poor little guy... but they finally decided a very strong name. I don't want to put it on here to protect their privacy, to give you a hint, his first name is the last name of a former president and always reminds me of Jim Carey in 'The Truman Show'.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The dumb things people say
I don't really have anything new going on, but I found this today and thought I'd share. I have no idea where it originally came from but I found it on ivf.ca
So, what do you think people would say to you if you were paraplegic instead of infertile?
1. As soon as you buy a wheelchair, I bet you’ll be able to walk again!
2. You can’t use your legs? Boy, I wish I was paralysed. I get so tired of walking, and if I were paralysed I wouldn’t have to walk anywhere!
3. My cousin was paralysed but she started shaving her legs in the other direction and she could walk again. You should try that.
4. I guess God just didn’t mean for you to be able to walk.
5. Oh, I know exactly how you feel, because I have an ingrown toenail.
6. Sorry, we don’t cover treatment for paraplegia, because it’s not a life-threatening illness.
7. So… when are *you* going to start walking?
8. Oh, I have just the opposite problem. I have to walk walk walk – everywhere I go!
9. But don’t you *want* to walk?
10. You’re just trying too hard. Relax and you’ll be able to walk.
11. You’re so lucky… think of the money you save on shoes.
12. I don’t know why you’re being so selfish. You should at least be happy that *I* can walk.
13. I hope you don’t try those anti-paralysis drugs. They sometimes make people run too fast and they get hurt.
14. Look at those people hiking… doesn’t that make you want to hike?
15. Just relax, you’ll be walking in no time.
16. Oh do my legs hurt, I was walking and walking and going up and down the stairs all day.
17. I broke my leg skiing, and was on crutches for weeks, and was worried I’d have a permanent limp, but I’m 100% healed.
18. I’d ask you to be in my wedding party but the wheelchair will look out of place at the altar.
19. You’re being selfish, not coming on the hike with us, and looking at all of my track & field trophies.
20. Don’t complain, you get all the good parking places.
21. If you just lose weight your legs will work again.
22. If you would just have more sex, you could walk!
23. You don’t know how to walk? What’s wrong with you? Here let a real man show you how to walk!
24. You are just trying too hard to walk. Give up, and then you’ll walk.
25. Here, touch my legs, then you’ll walk!
26. Just take a vacation, and the stress-break will be sure to get you walking!
27. When *we* were young we only had to worry about having to walk too much.
28. And I bet a paraplegic going to a bookstore doesn’t find books about paralysis stacked next to all the books on running…
So here’s a little hint. If someone you know tells you that she’s trying to get pregnant and it’s taking longer than expected, DON’T tell her to just relax. Don’t tell her to adopt and then surely she’ll get pregnant with her own child. Don’t tell her that God has a plan for her. Don’t say, “At least it’s fun trying!”
Scheduling sex with the person you love isn’t fun. Getting vaginal ultrasounds every other day and intramuscular injections in your ass twice a day isn’t fun. Finding out every single month that – yet again – it didn’t work this month either is Just. Not. Fun.
DO tell her that you’re sorry she’s going through such pain/grief/frustration. Do tell her that you’re glad she told you. Do tell her that, even if you don’t bring it up (because you want to respect her privacy and understand that she might not feel like talking about it sometimes), that you’re there for her if she ever wants to talk or vent.
And DON’T feel that because she told you that it’s okay for you to tell your other friends, children, co-workers, neighbors, cousins, mailman, whomever – unless she tells you that it’s okay to do so. Your need to share news pales in comparison to her need to maintain a shred of privacy and dignity. The last thing your friend needs is to be at someone’s garage sale and get unsolicited advice from said secretary’s sister’s cousin’s dogwalker’s barista about how she and her husband just need to get really drunk one night and jump in the back seat of the car. Because she’s probably already tried that, too.
I have been very open with a lot of people right from the start that we were TTC and having difficulties. Most people have been very supportive. But even the most supportive people sometime say dumb things.
Some of the best?
"...but it's fun trying!!"
"How much does this REALLY mean to you?"
"It's totally worth it; the best thing I've ever done, you will love it when you have kids, I couldn't imagine my life without him..."
"Who would have thought HE'D be the first cousin to have a baby, he's the youngest of all of us!"
"at least you have a plan"
"My sister-in-law/girlfriend/daughter/friend/third cousin had to do IVF so I understand, really I do"
There are some people who I have just stopped talking to about this. Including flat out lying about some things. "Yes, I'm going on vacation in May, and no, I won't be able to do any strenuous work after the 'vacation' for about a week..." cause you know I will still, um, be in vacation mode?? Ya, that's it, vacation mode...
But then over sharing has also brought out some suprising support from people I barely knew. One co-worker was on mat leave the first year I was at this job, when she came back I didn't share anythign right away. Eventually I did let on that we had been trying and have been unsuccessful and going to a Fertility clinic. That's when she told me it took them 10 years to conceive their first. So far, out of anyone I've talked to, she's the only one who truly gets it.
Others try, but you honestly can't grasp all of the crap that goes on inside the mind of an infertile unless you have been there. Honestly, it's like some crazy twilight zone in a parallel universe where haning out with friends and family becomes torture and even cake can't get you to go to your own sister's birthday party because your pregnant cousin will be there.
So, what do you think people would say to you if you were paraplegic instead of infertile?
1. As soon as you buy a wheelchair, I bet you’ll be able to walk again!
2. You can’t use your legs? Boy, I wish I was paralysed. I get so tired of walking, and if I were paralysed I wouldn’t have to walk anywhere!
3. My cousin was paralysed but she started shaving her legs in the other direction and she could walk again. You should try that.
4. I guess God just didn’t mean for you to be able to walk.
5. Oh, I know exactly how you feel, because I have an ingrown toenail.
6. Sorry, we don’t cover treatment for paraplegia, because it’s not a life-threatening illness.
7. So… when are *you* going to start walking?
8. Oh, I have just the opposite problem. I have to walk walk walk – everywhere I go!
9. But don’t you *want* to walk?
10. You’re just trying too hard. Relax and you’ll be able to walk.
11. You’re so lucky… think of the money you save on shoes.
12. I don’t know why you’re being so selfish. You should at least be happy that *I* can walk.
13. I hope you don’t try those anti-paralysis drugs. They sometimes make people run too fast and they get hurt.
14. Look at those people hiking… doesn’t that make you want to hike?
15. Just relax, you’ll be walking in no time.
16. Oh do my legs hurt, I was walking and walking and going up and down the stairs all day.
17. I broke my leg skiing, and was on crutches for weeks, and was worried I’d have a permanent limp, but I’m 100% healed.
18. I’d ask you to be in my wedding party but the wheelchair will look out of place at the altar.
19. You’re being selfish, not coming on the hike with us, and looking at all of my track & field trophies.
20. Don’t complain, you get all the good parking places.
21. If you just lose weight your legs will work again.
22. If you would just have more sex, you could walk!
23. You don’t know how to walk? What’s wrong with you? Here let a real man show you how to walk!
24. You are just trying too hard to walk. Give up, and then you’ll walk.
25. Here, touch my legs, then you’ll walk!
26. Just take a vacation, and the stress-break will be sure to get you walking!
27. When *we* were young we only had to worry about having to walk too much.
28. And I bet a paraplegic going to a bookstore doesn’t find books about paralysis stacked next to all the books on running…
So here’s a little hint. If someone you know tells you that she’s trying to get pregnant and it’s taking longer than expected, DON’T tell her to just relax. Don’t tell her to adopt and then surely she’ll get pregnant with her own child. Don’t tell her that God has a plan for her. Don’t say, “At least it’s fun trying!”
Scheduling sex with the person you love isn’t fun. Getting vaginal ultrasounds every other day and intramuscular injections in your ass twice a day isn’t fun. Finding out every single month that – yet again – it didn’t work this month either is Just. Not. Fun.
DO tell her that you’re sorry she’s going through such pain/grief/frustration. Do tell her that you’re glad she told you. Do tell her that, even if you don’t bring it up (because you want to respect her privacy and understand that she might not feel like talking about it sometimes), that you’re there for her if she ever wants to talk or vent.
And DON’T feel that because she told you that it’s okay for you to tell your other friends, children, co-workers, neighbors, cousins, mailman, whomever – unless she tells you that it’s okay to do so. Your need to share news pales in comparison to her need to maintain a shred of privacy and dignity. The last thing your friend needs is to be at someone’s garage sale and get unsolicited advice from said secretary’s sister’s cousin’s dogwalker’s barista about how she and her husband just need to get really drunk one night and jump in the back seat of the car. Because she’s probably already tried that, too.
I have been very open with a lot of people right from the start that we were TTC and having difficulties. Most people have been very supportive. But even the most supportive people sometime say dumb things.
Some of the best?
"...but it's fun trying!!"
"How much does this REALLY mean to you?"
"It's totally worth it; the best thing I've ever done, you will love it when you have kids, I couldn't imagine my life without him..."
"Who would have thought HE'D be the first cousin to have a baby, he's the youngest of all of us!"
"at least you have a plan"
"My sister-in-law/girlfriend/daughter/friend/third cousin had to do IVF so I understand, really I do"
There are some people who I have just stopped talking to about this. Including flat out lying about some things. "Yes, I'm going on vacation in May, and no, I won't be able to do any strenuous work after the 'vacation' for about a week..." cause you know I will still, um, be in vacation mode?? Ya, that's it, vacation mode...
But then over sharing has also brought out some suprising support from people I barely knew. One co-worker was on mat leave the first year I was at this job, when she came back I didn't share anythign right away. Eventually I did let on that we had been trying and have been unsuccessful and going to a Fertility clinic. That's when she told me it took them 10 years to conceive their first. So far, out of anyone I've talked to, she's the only one who truly gets it.
Others try, but you honestly can't grasp all of the crap that goes on inside the mind of an infertile unless you have been there. Honestly, it's like some crazy twilight zone in a parallel universe where haning out with friends and family becomes torture and even cake can't get you to go to your own sister's birthday party because your pregnant cousin will be there.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Why does everyone keep saying that???
My period finally started yesterday (well, 8:30pm on Wednesday but yesterday counts as CD1) so I was able to finally call the clinic to book my sono. I booked that, and was told I also needed to book an ultrasound at the clinic. They like to do them as close to CD3 as possible, but they don't do these ones on weekends so I went in this morning, CD2. Luckily, my Dr. was working today and was able to meet with me after the scan.
I was really impressed with how things ran today. I got to the clinic 20 mins early for my appointment and was able to get in early. Before getting me from the waiting room, the ultrasound tech reviewed my file and talked to my Dr. She already knew that I had been diagnosed with hydro's and was able to find them right away.
After the scan, I was taken to an exam room where I would get to meet with my Dr. Again, she obviously had taken time to review my records and she knew she had bad news for me.
I definitely need another surgery.
She confirmed all of the information that I have already received from Dr. Google.
Leaving my hydro's in tact would lower my chances of successful IVF by as much as 50%.
So they have to come out.
This would have been really nice to know before the first surgery. You know, when I could have given instruction on what to do! That instruction definitely would not have been to close me up, wait 3 months to discuss it with me, then take another 3 months to book another surgery!! BUT... what is done, is done.
Second bad news, the next OR time she has is in May.
More fucking waiting!!!
"But it's only 3 more months, that's good right? At least now you have a time line. Then it's only one more month after that..."
With a LAP in May, it means the earliest we can start IVF would be June/July. It also means that by the time we actually have any shot at getting pregnant, we will have been trying to conceive for 30 months.
"Only 3 months"... Three months from now I'm supposed to be celebrating my 32nd birthday with my toddler, not recovering from yet another surgery.
Anyway, the Dr. didn't see any point in still doing the sono since the scan clearly showed that I still have the hydro, and doing the sono with a hydro would increase the risk of infection. So that was cancelled, as was my follow up appointment with her since we were able to make all decisions today.
We will still do our IVF training next Wednesday night and the pelvic ultrasound next weekend to check on my kidneys and after that? Hope for a surgery cancellation (I'm not holding my breath though).
I was really impressed with how things ran today. I got to the clinic 20 mins early for my appointment and was able to get in early. Before getting me from the waiting room, the ultrasound tech reviewed my file and talked to my Dr. She already knew that I had been diagnosed with hydro's and was able to find them right away.
After the scan, I was taken to an exam room where I would get to meet with my Dr. Again, she obviously had taken time to review my records and she knew she had bad news for me.
I definitely need another surgery.
She confirmed all of the information that I have already received from Dr. Google.
Leaving my hydro's in tact would lower my chances of successful IVF by as much as 50%.
So they have to come out.
This would have been really nice to know before the first surgery. You know, when I could have given instruction on what to do! That instruction definitely would not have been to close me up, wait 3 months to discuss it with me, then take another 3 months to book another surgery!! BUT... what is done, is done.
Second bad news, the next OR time she has is in May.
More fucking waiting!!!
"But it's only 3 more months, that's good right? At least now you have a time line. Then it's only one more month after that..."
With a LAP in May, it means the earliest we can start IVF would be June/July. It also means that by the time we actually have any shot at getting pregnant, we will have been trying to conceive for 30 months.
"Only 3 months"... Three months from now I'm supposed to be celebrating my 32nd birthday with my toddler, not recovering from yet another surgery.
Anyway, the Dr. didn't see any point in still doing the sono since the scan clearly showed that I still have the hydro, and doing the sono with a hydro would increase the risk of infection. So that was cancelled, as was my follow up appointment with her since we were able to make all decisions today.
We will still do our IVF training next Wednesday night and the pelvic ultrasound next weekend to check on my kidneys and after that? Hope for a surgery cancellation (I'm not holding my breath though).
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Two Years Ago
Two years ago today.
Two years ago today I was naive.
Two years ago today D and I rented a romantic hotel room in Stratford for Valentines day complete with fireplace and Jacuzzi tub built for two.
Two years ago today we went for a fancy dinner, picked up chocolates, and went back to our room for a bubble bath.
Two years ago today we embarked on a journey. A journey that has taken many detours and is taking much longer than we ever thought it would. A journey we are no where close to finishing.
Two years later, and we still can’t see our destination.
Two years ago today I was naive.
Two years ago today D and I rented a romantic hotel room in Stratford for Valentines day complete with fireplace and Jacuzzi tub built for two.
Two years ago today we went for a fancy dinner, picked up chocolates, and went back to our room for a bubble bath.
Two years ago today we embarked on a journey. A journey that has taken many detours and is taking much longer than we ever thought it would. A journey we are no where close to finishing.
Two years later, and we still can’t see our destination.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Updates
I've recently started following a few new blogs and I've joined a new site about IVF. Now, by the time I'm done reading all of the updates all over the internet it's too late to post anything of my own! I know I haven't written anything about the new clinic, and that's not because of any bad news, it's only because of the lack of time.
So. New clinic...
Is great!
So far... I mean I was only there for an hour and a half... and most of that was in the waiting room. But they had free coffee!! and a fireplace! Both amazing perks in a snow storm (which there was that day). Their computers were down that morning and didn't come back until just before we left so things were running a little slow as everything had to be completed by hand.
Obviously, my records didn't arrive in time, so the new Dr. had to assume a few things and order some repeat tests. The only thing I had to bring with me was the note from Dr. M.
**Dr. F. reads the note**
Dr. F.: "But are your tubes blocked?"
Me: "I don't know, I assume so since he said our only option is OHIP covered IVF..."
Dr. F.: "But did he test them?"
Me: "Well, in June he did the saline injection test. But the results of that said my tubes were 'wide open'."
Dr. F.: "Not a dye test? Do you know if he tested them during surgery?"
Me: "No, not the dye test. I don't know if he tested them in surgery."
Dr. F.: "Did you have any blue discharge?"
Me: "Definitely not!!"
Dr. F.: "Well, I guess we don't really know how blocked they are right now."
Moral of the storey?
Almost back to square one.
Almost.
After we went over our history, she did an internal exam and then the nurse came in with a big folder of information for us. In the folder were requisitions for blood work for D and I, a requisition for a SA for D, another saline sono for me, and a pelvic ultrasound (because apparently, if you have a uterine septum, sometimes you can also have kidney issues). This was one of the things I really liked about Dr. F. Even though it won't affect my fertility, she ordered the test because it was something I should know about. How awesome is that??? An MD, a specialist even, who looks at your whole health, not just the current problem!
Anyway, we've both done our bloodwork, and my ultrasound is booked for Feb 26 and now I'm just waiting for my next period so that I can book more blookwork and the saline sono. We have also booked our IVF Training. It's a requirement at this clinic that everyone doing IVF must first attend a training night before they can start. Since it's mandatory, and it's more than likely that we will need it, and we have to wait for a month while we complete more testing, we might as well do it. The Training is on Feb 22.
Our follow up appointment is March 6... one "actual" month away; just over 1 February away!
So. New clinic...
Is great!
So far... I mean I was only there for an hour and a half... and most of that was in the waiting room. But they had free coffee!! and a fireplace! Both amazing perks in a snow storm (which there was that day). Their computers were down that morning and didn't come back until just before we left so things were running a little slow as everything had to be completed by hand.
Obviously, my records didn't arrive in time, so the new Dr. had to assume a few things and order some repeat tests. The only thing I had to bring with me was the note from Dr. M.
**Dr. F. reads the note**
Dr. F.: "But are your tubes blocked?"
Me: "I don't know, I assume so since he said our only option is OHIP covered IVF..."
Dr. F.: "But did he test them?"
Me: "Well, in June he did the saline injection test. But the results of that said my tubes were 'wide open'."
Dr. F.: "Not a dye test? Do you know if he tested them during surgery?"
Me: "No, not the dye test. I don't know if he tested them in surgery."
Dr. F.: "Did you have any blue discharge?"
Me: "Definitely not!!"
Dr. F.: "Well, I guess we don't really know how blocked they are right now."
Moral of the storey?
Almost back to square one.
Almost.
After we went over our history, she did an internal exam and then the nurse came in with a big folder of information for us. In the folder were requisitions for blood work for D and I, a requisition for a SA for D, another saline sono for me, and a pelvic ultrasound (because apparently, if you have a uterine septum, sometimes you can also have kidney issues). This was one of the things I really liked about Dr. F. Even though it won't affect my fertility, she ordered the test because it was something I should know about. How awesome is that??? An MD, a specialist even, who looks at your whole health, not just the current problem!
Anyway, we've both done our bloodwork, and my ultrasound is booked for Feb 26 and now I'm just waiting for my next period so that I can book more blookwork and the saline sono. We have also booked our IVF Training. It's a requirement at this clinic that everyone doing IVF must first attend a training night before they can start. Since it's mandatory, and it's more than likely that we will need it, and we have to wait for a month while we complete more testing, we might as well do it. The Training is on Feb 22.
Our follow up appointment is March 6... one "actual" month away; just over 1 February away!
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