It seems as my wife and I are getting closer to trying to get pregnant, something else comes up. First major obstacle before even discussing was my wife quitting smoking. That was a very stressful period for both of us. But yippee, she has quit and been smoke free for almost five months.
Next, get our diet under control so pregnancy wouldn’t be as difficult on the body. For the same five months, we have been working on that, each of us down about 15 pounds. (Her a little more, me a little less.) Doing that while trying to get over the quitting smoking, not necessarily the best plan of attack, but it also helped with post smoking weight gain. She didn’t really gain any afterwards, just took a long time to get the ball rolling to start losing. This was another stressful point of contention.
Now, we have things timed out, figured when would be best to start trying, saving money/paying down debt to be able to afford the venture of putting a bun in the oven. Next road blocks. Months ago I went in for a colonoscopy, not a fun experience, but a requirement due to issues I had with my stomach. As a follow to that my doctor recommended a specialized ultrasound to look at my small intestines, specifically for Crohn’s. The wait list for that was a long time. The office that handles such ultrasounds sent a letter shortly after my colonoscopy (back in February) to book an appointment in August. So that trouble was put to the back of my mind.
On back to back Wednesday, I had an HSG which informed me that I had a polyp, “We’ll discuss at the follow up appointment whether to take it out or not.” Then I had the Crohn’s ultrasound which informed me that I have an inflamed area of my small intestine. The contrast test took a long time to get the IV in, not fun, my veins don’t cooperate.
The next Wednesday was the follow up for the fertility clinic, in which appointment, I found out I need to go for an additional ultrasound, which actually goes into my uterus, to have a better look at the polyp, which is about a centimeter in diameter. When I first saw a blip on the HSG, that I assumed was the polyp, I thought it was fairly small in comparison, but I guess that is just where it attaches. The fertility doctor showed me the actual possible polyp (might be just dye disturbance, but unlikely). To me, that polyp is centre stage in my uterus taking up a large portion of the vital space that would be holding the fetus/baby.
Now back to the Crohn’s ultrasound, I know I’m even having difficulty keeping track. Because we are nearing, at a snail’s pace, the possibility of insemination, my fertility doctor mentioned that I should follow up with the Crohn’s doctor before we even try, and let them know I’m nearing the TTC stage of my life. Well, as of today, I still hadn’t heard anything, so I gave the Gastrologist a call. Talking with the receptionist, they had received the results a few days ago, and she was going to call me today. Due to a cancellation she was able to fit me in Monday, but I needed to get additional blood work done before the appointment. So she faxed the paperwork off to my nearest lab, and off I went this afternoon. Once again it was a bit of a nightmare trying to draw blood. Seven and a half vials, five people, and two pokes later I was done. At least people didn’t just “Try.” They gave up after putting the tourniquet on my arm, then my other arm, then back to the first, then on my hands, then got the next higher up person to try. Third person in managed to get 2 vials, but then on the third my vein collapsed, hence the half comment. Two of the things they were looking at were my blood count, and Celiac. At least I don’t have to wait too long before my appointment to get the results.
Between the probably removal of the polyp, and maybe getting my stomach under control, our first insemination is looking to be delayed by another month or two or three, who knows maybe indefinitely and we will have to try my wife first, once my health is moderately under control.
That is my vent for today. I went for fantisizing/fear the possibility of twins to having that pulled farther away. Even though I knew something was up after the Crohn’s ultrasound and the HSG, it is hard to hear you need more tests to figure out what is wrong. It just sucks that anything is wrong in the first place. Maybe the polyp was the reason there was never any accidental pregnancies with my first husband, maybe my inflamed area is why there have been a couple times I am doubled in pain, in bed in the fetal position for the night, do I want to pass these defective genes to the next generation. We picked a hopefully perfect specimen for the sperm donor, but I’m really not a prime candidate for passing my genes. After I had our last fertility appointment, I looked into egg donation. See if that is something that is required, as we can’t donate sperm to help another couple in need, but we do technically have eggs. But in the end, I wouldn’t want anyone to have the health issues I have, so I am doing a favor by not donating eggs.
PS: To add to the frustration factor, I’m on PMS. AAAARRRGGG
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