IVF Update

Sorry that I haven't been up to date on our IVF process. Turns out that it is an emotional roller coaster. It takes a lot of time and energy. The hormones affect you even when you don't realize it.

Our second cycle of IVF was cancelled at day two of the cycle. I had cysts on both of my ovaries. They had not appeared to be there before and grew larger than doctors like to see them for IVF. Cysts can affect egg maturation as the type that I had seem to "steal" the hormones from the follicles that are trying to develop. I was devastated! More so than I ever imagined that I would be. It happened on a Sunday and thankfully I had some friends who ugly cried with me after Sunday School, prayed for me and gave me chocolate! It just seemed like when things were supposed to go right, they kept going wrong!!

My doctor put me on a very strong birth control pill to see if the cysts would shrink. She said that we would know within two weeks if they were shrinking or not. So, I started the pills and waited. I had never been on one so strong and now I know why people don't like taking them!! My emotions were much more variable than usual! It was quite an adjustment.

It seemed like two weeks was the longest time ever!!! I went in for another ultrasound of my ovaries to discover that the cysts had not shrunk. They had not grown, but they did not reduce in size. The doctor recommended surgery. It was the only way to take care of the cysts quickly and keep the process going. I wasn't too upset about the decision for surgery. I think I knew that my body wasn't cooperating.

I spent my 35th birthday drinking chicken broth and preparing for surgery. No cake for me. Surgery was the next morning.

Everything went well during surgery. Cysts were removed from my ovaries, growths from inside my uterus, endometriosis from my bladder, and a lot of tissue that was connecting my uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. A lot was done!! Much more than during my previous surgery. The Doctor said that there was no way we would have become pregnant on our own. My fallopian tubes are not in good shape. If we had gotten pregnant, that connective tissue could have caused major growth restriction of my uterus which could have been very dangerous. We are so thankful to have everything cleaned out and in seemingly good working order. My recovery has been so much better and easier than last time around! We are so thankful for the prayers of our friends and family!!

So, we start IVF again very soon. We are excited. I will try to do  a better job of blogging!!

Here We Go!!!!

So, the title of this post may be more interesting than what I am writing about.

Exploratory surgery, anyone? Why, yes please.

That is right. This morning I go into the operating room for exploratory laparoscopy. This is all part of our walking down the path to find answers for our infertility. Cysts were seen on my ovaries during an ultrasound. They appear to be blood filled, which led to the diagnosis of endometriosis. However, I don't have many symptoms of endometriosis. My doctor is perplexed and curious. She seems like she wants to know what is going on in there just as much as I do! The only definitive way to know is to take a look.

So, that is what we are doing. Getting a good look at my ovaries and my abdominal cavity. I get to be blown up with gas. I wonder what that will be like. I hear it can be painful afterwards. The cysts may or may not be removed. I appreciate that my doctor is conservative and if there is a chance that she can not  safely remove them then they will remain. If there is anything else suspicious going on and she can safely do something about it, then she will. I am hopefully that my ovaries just a need a little clean to get the job done and it will be smooth sailing from here on out. Either way, we are praying for answers and direction.

I'll be spending the next few days taking it easy, possibly heavily medicated, watching episodes of something on netflix. Which is fine because I have spent the last few days cleaning like a a crazy person. I have had this desire for everything in the house to be in its place and in order before I take my leave. Whew!!! It wore me out.

I will keep y'all updated when I know more. We will know a bit more after surgery but any lab work can take two weeks.

What are you doing this Thursday?