Nine Years

I have thought of writing this post in several different ways. But after nine years of treatment, it doesn't feel like there is much more to say. We have come a long way and done a lot in the past nine years.

Nine years ago I was 21 and DH was 22. We lived in a duplex and had his younger brother (16) living with us. We had a 1 year old black lab. Decent jobs (he is still at the same one!) and weren't doing too bad. We decided to try having a baby, even though I'd already been off birth control for a while. And that is how our infertiliity journey started. And, thankfully, he has stuck by my side the entire time.

In the last 9 years we have done 2 HSGs, 11 rounds of clomid with timed intercourse, 1 ovarian drilling surgical procedure with hysteroscopy, and 2 rounds of IUI with clomid AND injections.

Infertility is such an emotional and heartbreaking journey that there are several years of non-BC breaks throughout the 9 year period.

We considered adoption and after one potential fall through we decided that the emotional toll would be too great for us at this time.

Our next step? IVF.

We had our consult April 10th. Since then I have had an HSG done again (much better than my first experience!) and a sono to check on my ovaries. We have discussed IVF variation options and pricing and have a plan. We are hopeful that this is it and will finally work. All I have to do is lose 18 lbs before CD 35 (if no period) and then we can begin.

But now we are waiting. And I forgot how HORRIBLE the waiting is. You say you'll be fine, you've had to do all sorts of waiting before, but you become obsessed with information and wish the days could go by faster so you could just START. It is difficult to distract yourself because IVF is like a thought bubble in your head that won't pop. You eat, sleep, and DREAM about it. You buy books, make mock-up calendars, and an IVF organizational binder. You luck up IVF and infertility charms and special clothes for ER (egg retrieval) day and transfer day. You join IVF support groups on facebook and it ends up flooding your newsfeed so that is all you see and therefore can't stop thinking about. People ask questions, you gladly tell them because you are excited, and then realize that any positive pregnancy announcement won't be a surprise and that part kinda sucks. May 17th needs to get here soon and these remaining 14 lbs need to disappear ASAP.

I thought after all these years I've learned patience. Apparently not. I even agreed with the doctor that I wouldn't do any HPT before the blood draw after transfer... Yeah, I have a feeling I won't be as strong as I initially thought about that.

This week is NIAW. Seeing the number of friends, family, and people that are dealing with infertility is just overwhelming. It is devastating knowing that so many of us are going through issues with infertility, whether it is at the beginning of the spectrum or the end, it sucks for everyone to have to deal with it for even 1 day. But, you are not alone. You've read some of what I've been through, especially if you have followed this blog for the last.... 5 (?) years. Ask us questions. Find us on our facebook page. I wish you all luck and baby dust.

Shannon

Back in the saddle

I'm back! I've had some survivors guilt after my successful ivf because I know I got lucky. It doesn't work for everyone on the first try and it did for us. But getting pregnant didn't change the way my body acts... Much... I actually have semi regular periods now! They're 35ish days but much more frequent than before. But the doctor confirmed that I'm still not ovulating. Which sucks. I still have PCOS and I do not ovulate. Awesome. We have been not trying not preventing since having our miracle and then I stopped breadtfeeding when she was 18 months which is when I finally got a period. And I thought maybe I was ovulating but nope. My husband hasn't been ready to go back to the RE until my bday last month. We went to a festival and he told me there he's ready to actively try. Just when I decided to work on my weight he decided to get serious about trying again. Now I didn't gain a lot of weight pregnant and actually stayed at or below my pre pregnancy weight until the holidays! I gained about 6 lbs so I joined weight watchers to start losing weight and the next day he said to make an appointment at the RE. Work has been really busy so I kept putting it off for like 3 days of him asking if I made an appointment. And then I finally did make the appointment last Thursday and I went yesterday.

I took my BFF with me since my husband's job was busy too and I didn't want to drag him to a long consult if he wasn't neeeeeeeded. And I wanted to give my BFF an insight to what I had to go through for ivf since she always nagged about just do it. She now understands how that wasn't easy in any way and what I have to go through to do treatments.

So. I get there and it was so weird seeing the privacy wall/sign before entering the clinic. I was 10 mins late since my car wouldn't start and we had to run across the work parking lot to my friends car so I was already nervous. I left my wallet and phone in the car! So my friend went back to get it while I signed in and filled out new paperwork. The front desk lady was the same as when I went 3 years ago so that was pretty cool. After waiting a little while they called me back to a consult room. The nurse asked a few questions. This nurse looked new so I was kind of sad that I thought it would be all new people since the doctor I was scheduled to see was also new. The 2 RE's that started the clinic and did my ivf were still there but they were booked til mid to late March. So anyways I answer this nurses questions and then wait for the doctor. 

The new doctor comes in and introduces himself and asks me a few more questions. I've been tracking my periods and was able to tell him the typical cycle length but lo and behold my current cycle is LATE! I'm on cd 38. I think it's a good thing? lol so he tells me he wants to order a full new patient panel and check my progesterone and estridol levels to see if I ovulated and get an idea why I didn't get my period yet this month. He also wants to do a sono so he takes off while we wait for a room. Finally the same new nurse comes and takes us to a room and tells me to undress and wait on the table. Doc comes back and does and exam and we look at the sono and there are my same old PCOS ovaries. Covered in folicles. I was mostly dissappointed to see that they are still covered but it was what I was expecting. I get dressed and open the door to wait for him to come back and a nurse peeks in and asks if we were waiting for something and it's MY NURSE from my IVF and IUI rounds. She peeked fast I didn't know if she saw me but I got all excited and told my friend about her. Then the doctor came back to take us back to a consult room where he told me he didn't think i ovulated but will get the bloodwork ordered, have the billing office speak to me, and have a nurse go over my protocol. He also said he would like me to try to lose 15lbs short term goal and about 45 long term. I agreed since that was already on my agenda and he left. Then the billing lady came in and I remembered her too! Idk if she remembered me right away but while she was going over the price list there was a knock on the door and my two nurses from my IVF came in to say hi and asked if I remembered them! I was so excited to see them and showed them a few pictures and was just so happy to catch up with them and see that they were still there. They apologized for interrupting and said they'd be back after billing was done. So we finished the financial blahness and the lady said she would need to double check to see what coverage we had left. Then the nurse came back and went over the protocol which was slightly intimidating but not too bad. I'll be going over that in another post. She took me to get my blood drawn and it was the same lab lady. While we were there I saw pictures of some little girls and I remembered someone being pregnant when I went for ivf and there she was walking down the hall! Another familiar face! After the bloodwork we went to check out and I was told to call back Thursday if they hadn't called me with results and to either start provera or if my period started to schedule a saline HSG. 

The strangest thing was being back there with a different mentality. The last time I was there I was in more of a desperation mode. I was depressed and willing to try anything. This time, I really want another baby again but it's just different? I'm so grateful of everything the staff did for us to have our DD and seeing all their faces again was heartwarming. I really love my RE office and so glad we went with them. They really all have a heart for helping people and you just don't see that everywhere. I went in with so much appreciation for their office. I'm excited and nervous for my FET. I'll be calling them today to set up my protocol. I really hope we get lucky again but we have 12 embryos to try again with. I don't regret IVF one bit but my body and emotional state cannot do the whole thing again so I really hope this works. 

-mrs red

Finally, a plan!

So today was our first meeting with a Reproductive Endocrinologist and it went better than I could've hoped for! They were so thorough and genuine! When my next cycle starts, I'm supposed to have a bunch of blood work done. Then my husband and I go in for my hsg dye test and another semen analysis for him. Then we do a trigger shot and IUI eventually! It feels so good to have found great doctors who are going to help us through this!

What a year it has been

Shannon and I got together around this time last year and talked about setting up a blog to reach other women dealing with infertility issues. Very quickly she put the plan into action. It sure has been one heck of a year since then!

When we started the blog I was "juicing" and to my surprise it was actually regulating my periods! I have always been one of those girls who just has never had a regular cycle so that was crazy. I did try to monitor ovulation but I never did get a positive OPK. I think the regularity was a good sign that I could eventually ovulate on my own but as my birthday approached, I prayed and prayed and felt God was telling me it was time for IVF but I had to take it on his time and not do what I could to rush it. I called the doctor and they said on my next day 1 to call and set up an appt for day 3 and to get on birth control for that month. That stunk because I was on day 3 the day I called but I wasn't going to rush it. So I kept monitoring OPKs and still nothing. The next cycle I called and we went to be reevaluated since it had been a year since my last treatments.

First they redid my saline HSG which hurt just as much as it did the other 2 times... They thought my fibroids were back and I was devastated! That would mean another surgery and 2 more months before I could do anything. Well the doctor took a look and said he thought maybe the nurse just got under my uterine lining and that he wasn't going to make me go through the trauma of surgery for that and if I wanted to we would continue as planned. After talking to him more we went with his suggestion.
We started injections at the end of April after an exhausting battle with the insurance and help from great pharmacy friends who got us the best deals on medicine to make best use of the last bit of insurance we had. I am truly and forever grateful to them because they saved us from having to be in tremendous debt! I budgeted for treatments with my hubby's insurance and only for the one. We really needed every dime we had.
May 4th we went to do our egg retrieval. May 5th we got the call that 20+ eggs were fertilized. May 7th we went for the transfer. May 14 we went for my first bloodwork. May 15 we were at the clinic with OHSS. May 21 we went for the pregnancy test that I thought would be another BFN, at noon my hubby answered the phone with the call that changed our lives forever: we're pregnant.
I can't complain at all about the experience so far. We have been very lucky with symptoms and complications. I think I've experienced every symptom at some point but even then it hasn't been extreme.
This year hasn't been so great for everyone and I feel guilty to be on the other side of the fence, but I truly believe everyone of you has your great year coming, I know it will! IVF isn't cheap even with insurance so I know it's not for everyone but if you can save or budget a loan, it's worth a shot. I wish all of you a great 2013 and hope you all find health and what makes you happy!

~Mrs Red

Ovulating!

Thank GOODNESS! I started my third round of Clomid this cycle (100 mg cd 3-7) and today is cycle day 17 and I have the darkest, most positive opk I've EVER had...not to mention sore boobs and tons of abdominal cramping...all good signs I hope! We've been intimate every other day AND using pressed everytime so I'm really hoping, praying, and crossing my fingers that this will work. As exited as I am...I just know I'll be that mucho te devastated if I'm not. Bring on the anxiety!! If I'm not pregnant this time then I go back into the doctors office and discuss doing the hsg dye test. $$$$

Just checking in!

It's been a while since I've posted so I suppose it's time for an update! Well I took 50 mg of Clomid this cycle, days 3-7 and never got a positive opk. Booo. I'm on cd 25 and pretty much just waiting for af to arrive so we can hopefully start a higher dose of Clomid next cyle! Then if that doesn't work I have money saved up for an hsg test! So I guess I'll keep on keepin on! Meanwhile, I've been super busy with my photography! Check out this most recent cutie I had the pleasure of photographing!

When it rains, it pours.

Well today is CD 33 and I'm still getting BFNs. I called my doctor today to discuss doing an HSG dye test within the next couple cycles. Of course it's waaay expensive and had to be paid up front. And of course our insurance won't cover it. So I spent a good chunk of the morning choking back tears at work. We also found out the other day that my husbands grandfather has a large brain aneurism that looks like it might burst (which would be fatal) and THEN my husband got a phone call this evening about his dads recent test results...the Dr. is pretty sure he has pancreatic cancer. I know everything happens for a reason, but why God, why?

So sorry for such a whiny, negative post. I'm sure I'll be in better spirits tomorrow. Just send up all your prayers tonight. Xoxo

Mrs Red's retrieval day!!!! And everything leading up

Today was the day! I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited!

I started my injectables on Saturday April 21, .01mL of microdose HCG, and 150 IUI of gonal-f. Hubby started taking doxycycline twice a day to make sure he doesn't get sick. I went Tuesday April 24 for stimulation day 3 E2 and sonogram. I had 4 follicles at 8-9mm! But my e2 was only 34 so they increased my meds to 225 IUI gonal-f same microdose HCG.
Thursday April 26 I went fr my next r2 and sono. I had more follicles at 8-9mm but nothing more than that. They called me later with my e2 and it was only 61 and it needed to be more than 100.... I cried at work. I was so stressed at work and I know it was effecting me... They increased my meds to 300 IUI and said come in on Saturday... So we decided to be a little more diligent and started up juicing again...

Friday after work, we made a commitment to having a stress free (as much could be controlled) weekend and no work talk or thinking of work. We went to the movies Friday and saw 21 jump street, very funny and it helped kick start the weekend. The. Saturday morning we went back and praise God, my e2 was 467!!! My sono showed I had a handful of eggs over 10mm and one at 14! So same dose and come in Monday with my meds and to bring one of the cetratide kits! For dinner we went and ate sushi to celebrate and because if all goes well I won't get to eat it for a while

Monday we get to the doctor after having a juice packed with fruits and veggies full of phytoestrogens. My sono showed 16 follicles over 10 mm! And like 3 at 15 mm! I ran out of gonal-f and spent the day calling around to get a good price for a 900 iui pen.... Took .01 mL of the microdose at the doctors office, then they called later and confirmed to keep taking 300 IUI of gonal-f and to take my cetratide medicine. Cetratide is a medicine to prevent the mature eggs from releasing on their own. My e2 Monday was 1264!

Took .01 mL microdose hcg, 300iui gonal-f and cetratide tuesday and then went back to the doc Wednesday. They told me to take all my doses for the day and that would be my last dose of those medicines. At 9pm Wednesday night I took 1CC of novarel to mature my eggs. At the sono it showed I had 13 follicles that were ready and thy said the rest would probably continue maturing. The sonographer gave me a print out of my "kissing ovaries"

Thursday I went in the morning for another e2, and they reminded me to brig warm socks and to take a fleet enema that night and no food after midnight. I have to admit.... The enema was uncomfortable and weird but I'm doing everything they say to do!

This morning I couldn't sleep, partly because my "kissing ovaries" we're pushing on my bladder and I have to pee soooo often lol! I'm so thankful I haven't gotten sick with how big they are. We got to the clinic at 710, they took us back an got me changed. I swore I had to pee but only a little came out. It hurts to pee because oh the ovary size but it's not too bad. They put me in the room and hooked me up to the iv. Miguel kissed me and then I saw the doctor for a sec, they gave me "loopy" medicine and it made me sleepy but I fought it, I wanted to be nosey loo. Then the doctor came and said we were ready, they wrapped my legs with some dark blue tarp looking things and they started the anesthesia, it burned like bad carpal tunnel days. Then I was out, I woke up to the nurse and anesthesiologist talking about vacations lol first thing I said was "go on a cruise" lmao, we talked for a while as I woke up then they got Miguel and got me animal crackers. He told me they got 29 eggs! Even the doctor was shocked! A while later they said I could go home and gave me instructions for the next 4 days.

We went and got breakfast then home. I slept for a few hours and then logged into work to make sure everything was set so no one will call me lol. Now we wait for the report on how many fertilized! :-D

God is great!

My "kissing ovaries"

Question #13

13.Post the list of potential baby names that you seriously considered, but can no longer use because someone stole it/it became too popular/whatever reason.

Shannon:
We actually had no probably choosing our baby names. And, because they are so traditional, not many people are even using them anymore. One friend is going to name her way-in-the-future daughter with the same first name, but it is no biggie to me. We wanted traditional first names that could have a LOT of different nicknames and we are going to carry down our middle names. Boy = Alexander Douglas; girl = Elizabeth Ivy.

Mrs Red:
I gave up on picking out names. My husband said nothing anyone we know is named so that automatically eliminated a ton of names right off the bat. Then he said nothing too 'white' and I don't want a Spanish name that I can't pronounce. Talking about names for our kids has become mostly a debate because he wants names his parents can say (they don't speak english very well) and I want a name I can say... After all they are MY future children lol. We picked a few names out when our friends asked... They used one of our favorite names for their daughter. Isabella, they spelled it different but same name... So that's out. They want their next son Eric which was one name we liked so that's probably out too. So when we get pregnant we will use those last 4 months to come up with a name :-) oh and they told my mom I was going to be a boy do before my name was Steph, it was supposed to be Seth lol

Ashley:
We don't really have any set names. I have a list of names for each sex that I like but we haven't seriously sat down and said "this is what we want for sure." My husband will bring up a name now and then if he likes it and we'll briefly talk about it, otherwise we don't don't talk about it. I guess there used to be a couple names I wanted for sure but throughout the past two years I've become more open and flexible to names - just assuming that someone close to us uses one of the names I like - since everyone is having babies besides us. I think this is a way of protecting myself too so I don't get upset anymore than I already have been throughout this process.

Mrs Red and Clomid never became friends.... So on to the HSG!

So I'm going to try to recall my clomid treatments while heating up soup from last night....

I think I mostly summed it up in my crappy doctor quest but maybe I can go into more detail.

Metformin.... God I hated metformin! They told me to take 3 pills (don't remember the dose) and that made me soooooo sick. Might want to skip this section if your eating r sensitive to nasty stuff! Lol anyways so it made my stomach cramp, gave me crazy headaches and the runs like no ones business.... Oh and constant nausea ! No bueno... (not good for you non spanish speakers) so I asked the doctor and he said to knock down the dose to one pill for a week then split it up one pill in the am and one at lunch for a week then go to 3 pills the next week... Ok one that was complicates but I tried it. Still stomach problems at one pill but not unbearable but as soon as we went to 2 forget it. So he said just try one pill... When I passed out at work he said fine I can stop it but that the clomid wasn't going to work. He was kind of a jerk about it too... But I guess the jerk was right because after 10 rounds of clomid split up over 2 years it never worked....

After my last round of clomid my 3rd gyn we'll call him Dr3 said for us to try an HSG test so that he could send it to the RE.

The HSG hurt... It was very uncomfortable, like Shannon mentioned, the room was freeeeeezing!!! Wear socks! I was so worried because they said I couldn't be bleeding and of course my body didn't want to cooperate! Why would it... I bled up to the morning of the exam... I went anyway because it was just spotting... As soon as I checked in I went to the rr to check and no more blood, YES! So I wait n wait because nowhere I schedule anything is ever on time... Why would they be? It's just Steph! Anyway, so they call me back and have me change an so I check again and still no blood :-) so I change and in nervous, the room is cold an I don't know any of these doctors doing the test... They used a plastic thingy and then inserted the catheter thingy which pinched and hurt... They kept telling me to relax but... Yeah between the cold, my nerves, the strangers, and the discomfort that was hard so they went slower... Then came the due and omg that hurt as it pushed trough! But both sides were clear :-) they said to take some Motrin because I would probably cramp and bleed and oh did I cramp, I was so glad I took the rest of that day off of work!

"a little pinch" and "some slight discomfort" are 2 phrases I will no longer trust from doctors! LoL

*steph*

Shannon's Fertility Treatments

I will admit. This will probably be short...

And I want to add that my regular doctor (Dr. Flo-first name... I find it hilarious!) tested me for hypothyroidism. Mainly because I was gaining weight really fast after I became sexually active. Didn't have it though.

Dr. Flo recommended me to a fertility doctor (Dr. S.) because she is an OB/GYN and elderly patient doctor. Dr. S. is the one that ordered the HSG test. She kept me on 3 months of BC before I started my 1st round of clomid.

The 1st round was at 50 mg in January 2009 and she had me start metformin too (although my glucose/insulin levels were fine). Had to take clomid days 5-10, and have sex days 6,8, and 10. Then do bloodwork on either days 14 & 21 or 21 & 28... I'm sure I could find the instructions somewhere. BTW, the bloodwork took a week for the results to come in! BFN.

The doctor had me wait to see if my cycle would start. It didn't and on day 63 since the last cycle I finally had another appointment with the doctor. She decided to put me on provera to get my cycle started and then do another cycle of clomid at 100 mg.

Right before I started the clomid we moved in with my FIL to save money for a house and to help him with being laid off.

So we had to do this 2nd round at his house. Interesting, to say the least. The 2nd round was postponed because my period from that round of provera ended up lasting longer than expected (at least 2 weeks). And then I was on one month of BC. So the 2nd round of clomid was in April 2009. BFN again.

Due to stress at home (living with the FIL, Hubs getting laid off, getting ready to go back to school, etc) I talked to Dr. S. and decided to put off treatments for a while. She had recommended from the beginning to lose weight and suggested I try again. I didn't think it would make a difference because, even though I had gained a lot since high school, I wasn't "normal" in high school either.

Sadly... Life got crazy and this was the extent of our fertility treatments... Another post to come to follow up on the next few years.
~Shannon

HSG Test Explained

From WebMD

Hysterosalpingogram

A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an X-ray test that looks at the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes and the area around them. It often is done for women who are having a hard time becoming pregnant (infertile).
During a hysterosalpingogram, a dye (contrast material) is put through a thin tube that is put through the vagina and into the uterus. Because the uterus and the fallopian tubes are hooked together, the dye will flow into the fallopian tubes. Pictures are taken using a steady beam of X-ray (fluoroscopy) as the dye passes through the uterus and fallopian tubes. The pictures can show problems such as an injury or abnormal structure of the uterus or fallopian tubes, or a blockage that would prevent an egg moving through a fallopian tube to the uterus. A blockage also could prevent sperm from moving into a fallopian tube and joining (fertilizing) an egg. A hysterosalpingogram also may find problems on the inside of the uterus that prevent a fertilized egg from attaching (implanting) to the uterine wall. See a picture of a hysterosalpingogram.

Why It Is Done

A hysterosalpingogram is done to:

• Find a blocked fallopian tube. The test often is done for a woman who is having a hard time becoming pregnant. An infection may cause severe scarring of the fallopian tubes and block the tubes, preventing pregnancy. Occasionally the dye used during a hysterosalpingogram will push through and open a blocked tube.
• Find problems in the uterus, such as an abnormal shape or structure, an injury, polyps, fibroids, adhesions, or a foreign object in the uterus. These types of problems may cause painful menstrual periods or repeated miscarriages.
• See whether surgery to reverse a tubal ligation has been successful.

How It Is Done

A hysterosalpingogram usually is done by a radiologist in the X-ray room of a hospital or clinic. A radiology technologist and a nurse may help the doctor. A gynecologist or a doctor who specializes in infertility (reproductive endocrinologist) also may help with the test.
Before the test begins, you may get a sedative or ibuprofen (such as Advil) to help you relax and to relax your uterus so it will not cramp during the test. You will need to take off your clothes below the waist and drape a gown around your waist. You will empty your bladder and then lie on your back on an examination table with your feet raised and supported by stirrups. This allows your doctor to look at your genital area.
An X-ray may be taken to make sure that there is nothing in the large intestine (colon) that could block the view of the uterus and fallopian tubes. Sometimes a laxative or enema is given a few hours before the test to empty the large intestine.
Your doctor will put a smooth, curved speculum into your vagina. The speculum gently spreads apart the vaginal walls, allowing him or her to see the inside of the vagina and the cervix. The cervix may be held in place with a clamp called a tenaculum. The cervix is washed with a special soap and a stiff tube (cannula) or a flexible tube (catheter) is put through the cervix into the uterus. The X-ray dye is put through the tube. If the fallopian tubes are open, the dye will flow through them and spill into the belly where it will be absorbed naturally by the body. If a fallopian tube is blocked, the dye will not pass through. The X-ray pictures are shown on a TV monitor during the test. If another view is needed, the examination table may be tilted or you may be asked to change position.
After the test, the cannula or catheter and speculum are removed. This test usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

How It Feels

You probably will feel some cramping like menstrual cramps during the test. The amount of pain you have depends on what problems the doctor finds and treats during the test.

Shanon's HSG Test Experience

The doctor started me on Provera to start my period and then scheduled an HSG test for October. Short description: the HSG test is done after the menstrual cycle finishes. You get a special tube with a balloon on the end inserted into the cervix. Then they inflate the balloon and inject a dye into your uterus that works through the fallopian tubes. They use a special x-ray machine that doesn't take photos but video to determine if there are any clogs. They say it usually takes 20 minutes.


October 17th came and the Hubs went with me to take the HSG tets. As we were being checked in the nurse commented that I was too young to be tested for infertility... I had turned 22 that August. They wouldn't let Hubs go with me so he waited in the waiting room (and went and got me a book and a stuffed animal because he couldn't sit still). I went in and.... started spotting again. Had to postpone the test for the next cycle.


November 7th was round 2. This time was interesting.... Hubs couldn't come. Great...


They called me back and had me get into a hospital robe. No jewelry, nothing. I recommend wearing socks. Why? The room felt about 50 degrees and while laying on the table I had to hold my breath to get my legs to stop shaking long enough for the doctor to do what he needed to do... Anyway.


They had me sit/lay on the edge like any OB exam. Feet in stir-ups. Then they used the metal speculum (which I'd never had, only plastic) and then inserted the tube/balloon and the dye. Told me I should feel a pinch when it went in the cervix. I didn't feel anything and the doctor said it was barely in. Then the nurse had to pull me BACK along the table to be positioned under the x-ray machine. This is when they actually inject the dye. Didn't work so they had to scoot me BACK down to the edge again. They got the plastic speculum and redid the procedure. I felt a pinch that time on my right side (cervix is to the right). They pulled me BACK along the table and redid the test.


It was like heaven hearing the doctor say "Left side open.... Right side open". It gave me such high hopes. Like something was FINALLY going right in this process. The nurse even let me watch the video of the injection. It was really cool to watch it! She even told me to try and lay on my right side after sex since my cervix was more that way!

Next: Clomid!
~Shannon

Background on Blog

This blog was created to give other people (fertility struggling people or people wanting to understand) an inside look into the lives of several different people struggling with fertility issues themselves.

It will cover backgrounds, procedures, tests, events, emotions, etc. that are endured throughout the process of trying to conceive. These posts are a telling of our journeys to make all our dreams and wishes come true. In most cases, this doesn't come easy. We have to work for it.

There is no guarantee that this blog will be a cheerful one. "Infertility", as it tends to be called, is not something that many people want and can take a physical and emotional toll on the individual, their relationships, and their families.

We appreciate your understanding and empathy as you read our stories and experiences. You may recognize a story as you may have been involved, however we will leave all names out of it and just hope you understand.

Please feel free to ask questions. We want to bring awareness to others and be as helpful as we can. We know there are a lot of books out there on the subject but sometimes it is so nice to be able to talk to a real person about the issues and not read it in a book. If you have any suggestions or websites you recommend, please let us know!

~Shannon