Finally, A Plan!

Although it was less than 1 week from the time I talked to the nurse to the date of my appointment, I anxiously awaited getting to talk with Dr. Holt (my fertility specialist). As I waited for him to enter my room, I prayed that God would give me the strength, patience, and words I needed to have this conversation. I wanted my doctor to know that we are ready to get pregnant. I wanted him to know that I wanted to know where we are and where we are going. I wanted him to know that I needed a plan. But, I did not want to come off as overly aggressive and I did not want to take all my built up sadness and anger out on him-because clearly, this is no ones fault....especially not his.

I calmly explained these things to Dr. Holt and here is where we are and where we are going:

-I will stop the Lupron Therapy as Dr. Mathias said-my last day will be Wednesday (although I tried to convince him to let me end a week sooner). I confirmed that ending 3 months early is not a problem even though the plan was to stay on this for 6 months. It has hopefully killed any microscopic Endometriosis that I still had and prevented me from making anymore. Pregnancy will do the same thing.

-I have to double the EvaMist (Estrogen) that I am taking (2 sprays in the morning and 2 at night). This will help strengthen the lining of my uterus.

-It will not hurt us to start trying as soon as I am off of the Lupron. He says most girls do not ovulate for 4-6 weeks after getting off the shot. I am a firm believer that it is possible though and we thoroughly intend to try. We have already bought a basal temperature thermometer and an ovulation test kit (so yes, to all my friends who keep calling and asking if we’re doing “it,” you just might be right ;-P).

-I have an ultrasound set up for 4 weeks from now. He will be able to tell how thick the lining of my uterus is and if he feels like it is time for us to start trying (using fertility treatment). The Lupron Therapy I have been on to suppress my ovaries has probably weekend my uterus. I will also have lab work done after this to make sure all of my hormones are in sync. I will then meet with Trudy (Endocrine Specialist) who will put me on Clomid to stimulate ovulation (which my body may or may not be doing). By way of ultrasound and following my cycle (which he will probably have to stimulate as well), he will be able to track my eggs. At the right time, he can inject me with a hormone to make my eggs do their job and from there time our “sexual relations” as he likes to call it.

-If we are still not pregnant at this point, the next step will be IUI (Artificial Insemination). This is where he will inject James’ sperm directly into me hopefully bypassing any possible obstructions. He actually said we could skip to this step right away if we so choose (this gives us a lot to think about).

-Although he does not like to “jump the gun” I did bring up IVF. He does not personally do IVF so if we reach this point, he will then refer us to an IVF specialist.

So, there’s our plan! I left feeling hopeful....something I haven’t felt much over this past year of ups and downs. I left seeing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am not so naive to think that all of our “problems” are over, but I at least feel some peace about where we are and where we are going. Even with all of the ensuing issues we are facing (the fact that insurance does not cover any of the above costs, recently learning that I have 2 bulging discs that are torn and are pressing on my spine, PLUS just passing a kidney stone-hence the UTI and having to meet with my urologist next week), I don’t feel as worried as I thought I might. I feel unusually calm...like things are finally starting to look up. I feel, happy....excited at the possibilities!

Now that we are this far in the process, I feel my anticipation rising. To wait will be so much harder now. Before, we had so long to go.....now, I feel like it’s within our grasp. To know that I could be pregnant at any given moment...WOW, what a feeling! My prayer has been and continues to be that God will give us the strength, patience, and guidance to make it through this journey. We have come so far and even though I might feel like it at times, I will not give up.