Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy, and D & C...

..CHECK! 

Honestly, I was not nervous for this procedure AT ALL! I really just wanted to get it over with and move forward. 

But first, let's rewind to Friday, November 8.

 I drove to the clinic by myself after work that day. My super sweet nurse, Frannie, sat down with me to explain my procedure. I signed paperwork, got registered with the hospital, and got my blood work done. (Secretly hoping my beta would come back positive!) 

On my way out of the hospital, I stopped by the A-MAZ-ING gift shop and bought this little cutie! 

Our Future Baby's very first stuffed animal! On the tag I wrote "To: Baby L 

From: Mama & Daddy" I can't wait until our baby can play, sleep, and snuggle with it!

That night, Josh and I went to a concert at The Hard Rock with some friends. We had a blast! The rest of our weekend consisted of watching Alabama beat LSU on Saturday, eating a yummy dinner at Logan's on Sunday, and buying a cute new pair of fall/winter boots! I love them! 

(This is just the pic I snapped to send to my sister-in-law.) 

On Monday morning I woke up super early, even though my procedure wasn't until 12:30! I think I was just anxious to get it over with. At this point I was pretty much starving since I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. 

We had to be at the hospital 2 hours before the procedure so we left our house around 9:30. (It takes a good 45-60 minutes from where we live, depending on the traffic.)

We arrived on time, I signed in, and we waited. 

I finally got called back and the nurse did all the normal nurse-y stuff. She weighed me (I lost 2 lbs!,) took my BP, and temp. Then she took me to my bed in pre-op. I felt SO weird getting undressed behind that thin curtain. I felt like anyone could just come and unopen it while I was standing there butt naked! :) Josh got to come back, and at that time, the nurse started my IV in my hand. Since I hadn't had anything to drink my veins were so flat, and when she put that needle in I almost passed out! I felt like I was under water, and it hurt worse than my tattoos! 

Thank God the feeling went away after a few minutes of laying down and deep breathing. It was rough! 

Again, we waited. For another hour! My Doctor eventually came by and let us know that I would be going back in about  10 minutes! 

The anesthesia nurse came to give me my "sleepy cocktail," I kissed Josh goodbye, and off I went! 

I woke up about 2.5 hours (I think) later in post-op. 

My Doctor told Josh that he found a small bit of endometriosis, which he burned off. He also said that everything else looked great! I was so relieved that there wasn't anything too major. I didn't get to talk to him, but I will know more on my follow up visit on the 26th!

I will post another update then. :)

Disclaimer: I'm sorry if none of this makes since. I AM on pain medication at the moment :) 

-Melanie

@hope4babylevoy

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First RE Appointment down...

How many more to go? ;)

Today was my very first meeting with our Reproductive Endocrinologist (fertility doctor)!!! As Josh (DH) and I made the 45 minute drive to Mobile, AL, I was SO NERVOUS! We arrived at The Center for Reproductive Medicine, signed in, and waited for the nurse to call my name. Let me just make it known that I hate waiting. I despise it. I LOATHE it! I won't lie, I'm an extremely impatient person. (Not a good trait to have while being infertile!) 

I feel as though God had to have been with us in that waiting room. As I felt myself starting to get frustrated because it was now 10:03 and my appointment was scheduled for 10:00, something in my head said "Hold up! You're original appointment here was supposed to be November 15th. A whole month away! You should feel lucky that this worked out; that someone cancelled so YOU could be seen sooner!" Just as I "shh'd" the impatient voices in my head, the nurse called us back. 

I had an opinion about the doctor before we even met him. I figured he would be just the same as any other doctor. I thought he would just talk a bunch of "medical terms" leaving us utterly confused and send us on our way. 

Boy was I wrong! He, in detail, explained how PCOS affects women. He let us know all of our treatment options. He even spoke directly to Josh so he understood what was going on. 

Here are the details of what's going to happen from here:

-In 2 weeks, I will be scheduled for a hysteroscopy (to remove my 18mm thick uterine lining) and a laparoscopy (to inject dye into my uterus and Fallopian tubes to make site everything is clear.)

-After the surgery, I will be placed on 150 mg of clomid. 

-I am also going to try and work on getting my health in tip top shape! I have always been a bit overweight. With PCOS it's very hard for women to lose weight. I plan on drastically changing my diet and adding in some exercise. I told my husband that I would rather make a few lifestyle tweaks, than have to take pills for the rest of my life. 

If I ovulate on my own by making these changes then we will go from there. If that doesn't work..I will take femara, then injectables, and so on. 

Oh, they also did some blood work. 

A beta (???), and prolactin test. I'm not quite sure why they did a beta. Just to check I guess? XxfingerscrossedxX 

I'm extremely excited and hopeful for our future. I don't feel confused or frustrated like I have been the last few months, and I believe the power of prayer and support from our family and friends have helped me with that. So I THANK YOU! :) 

I know God has already made our perfect rainbow baby. We are just fighting everyday for that precious miracle to be in our arms! 

I refuse to give up! 

<3 Melanie

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My journey...so far.

Imagine being told, (at 21 years old and newly married) that you will never have a child without the help of science. That it will take prescription meds, countless hours of crying, and possibly some extreme procedures just for you to have a baby. 

This is my life. I was diagnosed Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with about a year after I got married in May of 2010. I stopped taking BC the month we got married, and after a year of no periods and no baby, I knew something was wrong. I went to my OB/GYN to get checked. She did blood tests and confirmed that I had PCOS, and it was going to take some work to get pregnant. 

And here we are, 3 1/2 years later, still with no baby. And I'm not going to lie, it sucks pretty bad. 

I've always had irregular periods. And when I say "irregular," I mean I can go months without having one, and then *BAM* I'll have one for 8 weeks straight. It's so hard not knowing what's going on with your own body. The unknown aspect of infertility scares the living crap out of me. 

I always have a billion and 1 questions running through my mind...

"Why isn't my body responding to the medication?" "Why can't I have a normal reproductive system?" "Will I ever experience the feeling of my own baby kicking the hell out of me?" "How come every drunken 17 year old can get pregnant by accident, but I can't get pregnant on purpose?" etc...

Infertility is a disease that hurts me more than anything in this world, but I believe I was put on this Earth to be a Mama. So even if it takes pills, surgeries, timed intercourse (sexy, huh?), tests, mood swings, and lots of $$$$$$$, I WILL be a mother! I have no doubt in my mind that God will bless us beyond measure with a baby of our own. 

Until then, I will document every test, mood swing, and procedure to share with others going through the exact same thing as me. I know I'm not alone, and we will get through this together!

-Melanie 

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