Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Update from our Appt...

So we are home from the Bahamas. We had an AMAZING time and just relaxed, slept, baked in the sun, and enjoyed the wonderful time. I love island time, its so easy going!!! Pictures and stuff to come once I get the time to upload them to the computer. We flew in Tues afternoon and my dad was kind enough to take us to our appt with Dr. K. This was the update after finishing all the wonderful tests and procedures prior to us starting IVF. Unfortunately, not all good news...

I'm doing good, I have a good ovarian reserve, thank God. My Hgb A1C was PERFECT (5.4) and I'm NON insulin resistant. So its definitely simple PCOS controlled with Metformin. That's good. I had a little bit elevated testosterone level, but she feels that will work out OK with the kind of protocol we would use for IVF. (explains the facial hair and deep manly voice. OK I'm kidding about the voice, unfortunately not about the hair. Thank the LORD I'm a blonde!) I do however have a little liver thingy going on. I have elevated liver enzymes and extremely elevated triglycerides (350 yea I know CRAZY!), all tho the rest of my panels are PERFECT and so is my cholesterol. So I should have a liver scan done eventually, just to be safe. (I have history of a fatty liver, runs in my family and has always given me an elevated liver enzyme) Just to be SAFE tho..They found an itty bitty fibroid in my uterus (which is new, never had one of them) and weirdly enough, I'm no longer immune to chicken pox. Go figure. So i have to get a varicella shot! LOL silly.

But here is the problem...

Matt's SA came back HORRIBLE, <500,000 and his morphology came back at <2% normal. Normal Semen analysis. He has only abnormal sperm and not many of them. She is greatly concerned, b/c she think she has either a genetic thing going on (one brother is IF also, one is fertile Myrtle) or some kind of gonadaltropin deficiency or hypothalamus issue. We can not go forward with IVF b/c we don't have really any viable sperm to work with and she is concerned that there is something that would prevent fertilization anyway. So now its Matt's turn. He has to see a urologist (which happens to work with my RE and is one of the best in his field for Male Factor IF) and have work up done. They are doing a HUGE panel of blood work on him (ha ha his turn!! :P) and checking a bunch of other genetic anomalies....So at this point, we are STOPPED dead in our tracks. Talk about coming to a SCREECHING halt.

She wants to continue moving forward as if we are doing IVF, so in a couple weeks I'll have a trial transfer and consult with the IVF nurse and go over paperwork/protocol/cost, etc...So that's in about 3 weeks....But before then Matt goes for his stuff....

I'm trying to hold it together, we are trying not to do our normal tantrum fit. I mean we might be halted all together b/c it may not be possible for Matt's guys to fertilize an egg. I'm a bit scared, this stinks....But we're trying to hold faith and just pray THY WILL BE DONE. I want answers and closure, and this may be how I will get it, whether we can do IVF or not...But it is very difficult to think we may not even get the chance to try for IVF. But we might find some underlying issue of Matt's that needs to be fixed and could cause other health issues.

Its hard, no matter how you look at it. One good thing is if we CAN'T do IVF b/c of something with the spermies, my body seems to be A-OK for carrying a baby and we can try for Embryo Adoption. But that is another thought for another day. So as always, continued prayers are appreciated. We will keep you posted as to what the urologist says. For now, I'm headed to bed!!! Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Update...All is finished...

Sorry it has been so super duper busy, I haven't had a chance to sit down and just write. My goodness its amazing how life can just fly by without a 2nd thought!!!

Update on our newest journey:
All tests are finished!! Hooray!!! I had my HSG last week on Monday. It was rather traumatic and I had a lot of issues, but after 3 tries and lots of repositioning, the doctor was able to finish the test. Thankfully everything looks fine for IVF. My left tube is wide open, the right is questionable, but there are no blockages or fluid build up that would cause toxicity to the embryos. So from and HSG point of view, we are good to go!!!

We have an appt on the 16th with Dr. K and will sit down and come up with protocol, plan, find out all the test results, etc. I'm still a bit questionable if we'll be able to do IVF. I'll be happy to hear her say we're a go...As for the $$ aspect of it, oh my goodness God is so good!!!! He just boggles my mind with the blessings He has given us! Our bills that are in are up to just around $4000 so far. Now per initial conversations with the insurance and the billing people at Dr. K's office, insurance only pays 50%. But I'll have you know, that so far, we have paid only $145 out of pocket!!! Yes that is it!!! I'm so utterly amazed!!! Now the big stuff is still coming, and the need for the finances are still there, but for now, we haven't had to pay for pretty much ANY of the tests and preparation stuff!!!! That is amazing!! I hope that you praise God with me!!!

So here we are, in just about a week, we'll have a game plan. And come the beginning of April, we just might be starting the roller coaster ride of our lives!!!

And to prepare for it, Matt and I are going away!! My work has been so wonderful!! Fabulous actually about all the tests and prep. Matt and I found an AMAZING deal for an all inclusive trip to the Bahamas, including food/airfare/hotel, for 4 nights and 5 days. My boss was kind enough to let me go as is Matt's boss. So we leave THIS Friday until next Tuesday. Yup we come back the day of the appt with Dr. K!! Its kind of our last little getaway, a time to be with each other as we prepare for what is to come. Whatever the result. We are so excited and grateful for the break!! With all that happened in the last year with Matt and with me, and our jobs, well we are ready for a break from life!!!

So that's it. Just pretty much holding right now until we talk with Dr. K. I'm excited, and peaceful, for what is coming. I'm just ready to be DONE. Done trying to conceive, done counting cycle days, done wondering, hoping, praying month after month for a miracle that doesn't come. I'm DONE. I'm ready for this last chance, and I'm ready for closure. I'm so ready to be DONE. So this is it folks!! First comes a vacay, then the news that will change our lives!!!

Please continue to pray for us as the fiances fall into place, the MD appts, and everything else that is to come!!! Thank you for loving and supporting us!!! Have a blessed day in the Lord!