This weekend went fast! Thursday Don and I started out to Virginia. It was a long 13 hour trip. We got down there and got settled for the night when the guys interviewing Don changed our afternoon interview to a morning interview. On Friday we met the guys and talked about the job over breakfast. We were then shown 3 of the 10 Funeral Homes that Don would work out of. (Now I know I married a Funeral Director...but I'm not into touring them...that is not sight seeing that I like to do.) We spent all morning and part of the afternoon with them. And were sent on our way to the next Hotel and told to look around the area to see if it was somewhere we were willing to move to. We spent time getting lost in Chesapeake, VA ... and I have to say...it's beautiful. We found a few apartments that we could live with. But the major problem we will have is taking ALL our dogs...most of the apartments only allow 1 or 2 small dogs. We did find ONLY ONE that we could take all three...but they sounded very full.
After we took our tour of Chesapeake...we went to Williamsburg to the the Yankee Candle Company. That was very fun (for me). Then we tried to make our way back to our hotel. Then on Saturday we took some time to go on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. It was really cool! There are 3 bridges and 2 tunnels to cross the Chesapeake Bay.
We left Saturday afternoon and hit some horrible traffic from Virginia Beach to Richmond. I didn't think we were ever going to leave the state...it took 14 hours to get home...arriving at 3:30am. I learned I should not let Don decide at the last minute to sight see...but we did have Fun!
(for some reason I can't upload pictures...but as soon as I figure out what I did...I'll post some!)
Have a great week and stay cool!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
A little Up Date
Tuesday afternoon Dr. Cline's office called (our specialist) to update me a little. It seems that I have one of three types of bacteria in the reproductive tract (vagina, cervix, uterus, or fallopian tubes). (He tested for that on July 5th...And the test just came back.) So now Don and I both have to be on meds for 10 days. (That way it would transfer back and forth.) But I still don't have all the test done ... And the test I have done...Not all the results are in. They just want to make sure we address that issue right away. It's kind of stressful just waiting to hear what is wrong with you...After going to other Doctors who just think they know how to treat you and you think everything is okay...And you are really broke!
Well, nothing else to report...But when I hear something I'll post! Have a great week...And remember clowns are our friends! (Got to love the Circus!)
Well, nothing else to report...But when I hear something I'll post! Have a great week...And remember clowns are our friends! (Got to love the Circus!)
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Nothing great
Well yesterday I went to see Dr. Cline (our specialist) yesterday...But there is not much to report. The follicles on my ovaries aren't growing big enough yet and I think my body is fighting and killing the sperm. But we won't really know anything until August 8th when we hear the official report. I have one more round of blood work next week. Then when all the tests are in he'll make our plan on how to fix me. Isn't that wonderful...He thinks he'll fix me! (Good Luck!)
I'm sorry that there isn't more news to tell until August...I'm very sore so I'll leave this as my post! Everyone Have a GREAT week...Remember the Circus is in town (here ---anyways). I hope some of you will come see us while it's in town!
I'm sorry that there isn't more news to tell until August...I'm very sore so I'll leave this as my post! Everyone Have a GREAT week...Remember the Circus is in town (here ---anyways). I hope some of you will come see us while it's in town!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Letting off a little steam
I just want to start with the statement...That I hope no one takes what I'm going to say to heart. I just have some things on my mind so I'm just letting off a little steam. Tonight Don and I went on a double date. (We have a few things in common...Don works with the guy...And I know the couple forever...And they are having trouble having a child also.) This is the second time we went out...And we have lots of fun. Tonight after dinner we went to Walmart. I swear the "white trash" teen moms are there in force. As we are walking around I'm just amazed on how many teen moms (and they are getting younger) are walking around swearing at their children. First when we walked in someone had to go potty...So the rest of us wait near the door...There comes a "white trash" mom with her baby (no older than 18 months) in the cart (standing none the lest) yelling at it..."NO I'm not picking you up...You are TOO fat"...Now this child is SCREAMING at the top of his lungs...But he is only wearing a diaper...No clothes...And falling over in the cart. Now, I'm sure that girl could have but a little something on that child...I know it's hot and humid but let's get real...a little onesie would have been better than nothing.
I guess I'm just mad that some people just keep having children that shouldn't. And couples that want to have them and go through hell and high water to get one...Can't without paying an arm and a leg for one. I know I'm more open about not being able to have children, but some couples aren't as open and it's hard to walk around seeing children mistreated. I hate it when people that I know or not known for a long time...Ask...."Now why don't you have children...I thought you would make a good mom"...People think before you speak...If you know someone don't just assume they don't want children...We aren't all bunnies and can have them at will!
I'm just glad we have friends that can relate to our situation...And we are blessed that we have family (and friends) who support our venture to find the answers of why we cant have children and are there to pick us up when we get down in the dumps.
Now on to news...We are seeing Dr. Cline (the specialist) on Saturday...So depending on how I feel after test I'll post any new news. It may be Monday before I post about that. Then on the 27th of July Don and I are going to Virginia...He has a job interview the 28th. So hopefully we hear something good from that! Next week is Circus City week...So hopefully I'll get some news or just good gossip from people to share from up there.
I guess I'm just mad that some people just keep having children that shouldn't. And couples that want to have them and go through hell and high water to get one...Can't without paying an arm and a leg for one. I know I'm more open about not being able to have children, but some couples aren't as open and it's hard to walk around seeing children mistreated. I hate it when people that I know or not known for a long time...Ask...."Now why don't you have children...I thought you would make a good mom"...People think before you speak...If you know someone don't just assume they don't want children...We aren't all bunnies and can have them at will!
I'm just glad we have friends that can relate to our situation...And we are blessed that we have family (and friends) who support our venture to find the answers of why we cant have children and are there to pick us up when we get down in the dumps.
Now on to news...We are seeing Dr. Cline (the specialist) on Saturday...So depending on how I feel after test I'll post any new news. It may be Monday before I post about that. Then on the 27th of July Don and I are going to Virginia...He has a job interview the 28th. So hopefully we hear something good from that! Next week is Circus City week...So hopefully I'll get some news or just good gossip from people to share from up there.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
A long process
Today I was informed that I forgot to post about my doctor's appointment. Well to tell the true... I was in pain so I didn't want to sit at the computer that long. I think I really like this Doctor... He is honest even if you don't like the answers.
But here is what he basically said...(from his webpage) we should identify the cause/causes of infertility. The cause/causes of infertility basically fall into four major groups and that’s it! We know a couple can have one cause, all four, or any combination of the four. They are all equally important so the area we talk about first should not be thought more important than the area we talk about last. Firstly, we know that some women have one of three types of bacteria in the reproductive tract (vagina, cervix, uterus, or fallopian tubes) which, if present, can affect fertility. These bacteria may offer no signs or symptoms. Gonorrhea can cause damage to the fallopian tubes by either blocking them or scarring them so they cannot either pick up the egg at the time of ovulation or cannot properly transport the egg down the tube to come in contact with sperm. Chlamydia can affect the fallopian tubes in a similar way and also may cause enough inflammation or irritation on the lining of the uterus (endometrium) that implantation of the embryo may be adversely affected. Mycoplasma hominus and its’ “cousin”, Ureaplasma uryliticum, have been shown to attach themselves to sperm and ride on the back of the sperm out into the fallopian tube, where fertilization takes place, and reduce the sperms’ ability to fertilize the egg. Now, if these bacteria frequently fail to cause signs or symptoms, how are we ever going to know if our patient has them? The answer is that we do cultures. A small cotton “Q-Tip” is inserted into the cervical opening, pulled out, sent to the lab and within two weeks we will know if these bacteria exist. If they do exist, we will treat both the wife and the husband with an appropriate antibiotic for ten days and then re-culture to confirm the treatment was successful. The presence of these bacteria in the reproductive tract is not an “absolute” regarding pregnancy, but may play a major part and therefore must be diagnosed and treated. The second area of the causes of infertility asks the question, “Does the husband have adequate numbers of normal, motile sperm and, just as the wife is ovulating, do they live well in the cervical secretions to pass through those secretions and get out in the fallopian tubes where fertilization takes place”? We like to do a post coital test on a day the patient is just ready to ovulate, but hasn’t yet ovulated. For example, if the cycle is 28 days, we will do the test on cycle day 12 (no matter what day of the week cycle day 12 might fall). In a 30 day cycle, we do the test on cycle day 14, etc., etc. This test is also known as the Huhner test, the Sims-Huhner test, the PC test or the PK test. We simply ask the couple to have intercourse at home, two to four hours before their appointment. Then, at the appointment, we place a speculum in the vagina, extract cervical mucus from high in the cervical canal (similar to a PAP smear), place that mucus on a glass microscope slide, and immediately look under the microscope to determine if we have adequate numbers of sperm and, are they alive and do they have good directional kinetics (move purposefully in a basic straight line). If we see this, we probably do not have a sperm or a sperm-cervical mucus problem. If we see any problems or see any significant variation in the shape of the sperm, we will order a semen analysis to be done at a laboratory. If we see very few sperm, we may have a problem with decreased numbers of sperm, or, the numbers may be adequate but the sperm may not able to get through the cervical mucus. Again, a semen analysis is helpful in sorting out the problem. At times, we may see a lot of sperm in the cervical mucus but they are either barely moving or dead. We then have a “true” sperm-cervical mucus problem. The treatment of the various conditions causing a sperm or a sperm-cervical mucus problem will not be fully addressed here but look for a complete essay on these problems in the future. Suffice it to say that many problems are treated by doing husband intra uterine inseminations (HIUI) at the time of ovulation. Many times we suggest the husband see a urologist. The third area of infertility asks the question, “Are there any structural areas that may be the cause of infertility”? Specifically, are there any intrauterine problems such as a septum, intrauterine fibroids (myomas), or intrauterine polyps which may affect the ability of the embryo to implant or may allow such a poor implantation that an early pregnancy loss will occur. Are the fallopian tubes open (patent)? A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) x-ray is the best procedure to evaluate these areas and is done as an outpatient by a radiologist. Also, the patient may have pelvic endometriosis or adhesions with or without pain or menstrual cramps and these conditions can only be diagnosed by direct visualization of the pelvis usually by doing an outpatient laparoscopy (bandaid-bellybutton surgery). The fourth, or last, area of infertility asks the question, “Are you ovulating properly”? Note that I have not asked if you are ovulating but if you are ovulating properly. What do we mean by that question? During the “menstrual month”, there are times that your body must meet certain criteria. The first of these times is on cycle day (CD) 12 based on a 28 day cycle. On CD 12 you should have developed, on one ovary or the other, a cyst that we call the follicle. In Greek, the word follicle means ‘little cyst’. This follicular cyst contains the egg of the month and the wall of this follicular cyst secretes the chemical hormone estrogen (estradiol). Estrogen, in turn, circulates throughout the body and acts on the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and causes it to grow back as it just fell off with blood a few days earlier during the period. On CD 12, if we do a vaginal ultrasound, the follicular cyst should measure at least 18 X 18 mm., the endometrium should mInsure at least 9 mm. in thickness, and the blood estradiol level should be at least 150 units (pg/ml) or higher. If the follicle is too small, the lining too thin, and the estrogen level too low, this is related to a condition called follicular immaturity. With follicular immaturity, the egg itself is immature when it is ovulated and will not fertilize well. The next segment of time your body must meet certain criteria is after you ovulate. Once you have ovulated, the follicular cyst collapses but continues to secrete estradiol and begins to secrete the second ovarian hormone, progesterone. Progesterone is responsible for changing or converting the endometrium into the type of tissue that is perfect for proper implantation when the embryo falls into the cavity of the uterus three to five days later. The blood progesterone level seven to ten days later should be 10-15 units (ng/ml). If the progesterone is too low then either the embryo will not implant or may implant so poorly that a miscarriage will occur.
Well needless to say...I'm alittle sore from exams and tired! I think his nurses can only do early appointments...and since we live an hour and half away...6:30am comes early! So, I'm sorry for not posting sooner...but I will post something when we know more...but if you have anyone that has fertility problems and would like to read more here is Doctor Cline's website! reproductivehope.com
But here is what he basically said...(from his webpage) we should identify the cause/causes of infertility. The cause/causes of infertility basically fall into four major groups and that’s it! We know a couple can have one cause, all four, or any combination of the four. They are all equally important so the area we talk about first should not be thought more important than the area we talk about last. Firstly, we know that some women have one of three types of bacteria in the reproductive tract (vagina, cervix, uterus, or fallopian tubes) which, if present, can affect fertility. These bacteria may offer no signs or symptoms. Gonorrhea can cause damage to the fallopian tubes by either blocking them or scarring them so they cannot either pick up the egg at the time of ovulation or cannot properly transport the egg down the tube to come in contact with sperm. Chlamydia can affect the fallopian tubes in a similar way and also may cause enough inflammation or irritation on the lining of the uterus (endometrium) that implantation of the embryo may be adversely affected. Mycoplasma hominus and its’ “cousin”, Ureaplasma uryliticum, have been shown to attach themselves to sperm and ride on the back of the sperm out into the fallopian tube, where fertilization takes place, and reduce the sperms’ ability to fertilize the egg. Now, if these bacteria frequently fail to cause signs or symptoms, how are we ever going to know if our patient has them? The answer is that we do cultures. A small cotton “Q-Tip” is inserted into the cervical opening, pulled out, sent to the lab and within two weeks we will know if these bacteria exist. If they do exist, we will treat both the wife and the husband with an appropriate antibiotic for ten days and then re-culture to confirm the treatment was successful. The presence of these bacteria in the reproductive tract is not an “absolute” regarding pregnancy, but may play a major part and therefore must be diagnosed and treated. The second area of the causes of infertility asks the question, “Does the husband have adequate numbers of normal, motile sperm and, just as the wife is ovulating, do they live well in the cervical secretions to pass through those secretions and get out in the fallopian tubes where fertilization takes place”? We like to do a post coital test on a day the patient is just ready to ovulate, but hasn’t yet ovulated. For example, if the cycle is 28 days, we will do the test on cycle day 12 (no matter what day of the week cycle day 12 might fall). In a 30 day cycle, we do the test on cycle day 14, etc., etc. This test is also known as the Huhner test, the Sims-Huhner test, the PC test or the PK test. We simply ask the couple to have intercourse at home, two to four hours before their appointment. Then, at the appointment, we place a speculum in the vagina, extract cervical mucus from high in the cervical canal (similar to a PAP smear), place that mucus on a glass microscope slide, and immediately look under the microscope to determine if we have adequate numbers of sperm and, are they alive and do they have good directional kinetics (move purposefully in a basic straight line). If we see this, we probably do not have a sperm or a sperm-cervical mucus problem. If we see any problems or see any significant variation in the shape of the sperm, we will order a semen analysis to be done at a laboratory. If we see very few sperm, we may have a problem with decreased numbers of sperm, or, the numbers may be adequate but the sperm may not able to get through the cervical mucus. Again, a semen analysis is helpful in sorting out the problem. At times, we may see a lot of sperm in the cervical mucus but they are either barely moving or dead. We then have a “true” sperm-cervical mucus problem. The treatment of the various conditions causing a sperm or a sperm-cervical mucus problem will not be fully addressed here but look for a complete essay on these problems in the future. Suffice it to say that many problems are treated by doing husband intra uterine inseminations (HIUI) at the time of ovulation. Many times we suggest the husband see a urologist. The third area of infertility asks the question, “Are there any structural areas that may be the cause of infertility”? Specifically, are there any intrauterine problems such as a septum, intrauterine fibroids (myomas), or intrauterine polyps which may affect the ability of the embryo to implant or may allow such a poor implantation that an early pregnancy loss will occur. Are the fallopian tubes open (patent)? A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) x-ray is the best procedure to evaluate these areas and is done as an outpatient by a radiologist. Also, the patient may have pelvic endometriosis or adhesions with or without pain or menstrual cramps and these conditions can only be diagnosed by direct visualization of the pelvis usually by doing an outpatient laparoscopy (bandaid-bellybutton surgery). The fourth, or last, area of infertility asks the question, “Are you ovulating properly”? Note that I have not asked if you are ovulating but if you are ovulating properly. What do we mean by that question? During the “menstrual month”, there are times that your body must meet certain criteria. The first of these times is on cycle day (CD) 12 based on a 28 day cycle. On CD 12 you should have developed, on one ovary or the other, a cyst that we call the follicle. In Greek, the word follicle means ‘little cyst’. This follicular cyst contains the egg of the month and the wall of this follicular cyst secretes the chemical hormone estrogen (estradiol). Estrogen, in turn, circulates throughout the body and acts on the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and causes it to grow back as it just fell off with blood a few days earlier during the period. On CD 12, if we do a vaginal ultrasound, the follicular cyst should measure at least 18 X 18 mm., the endometrium should mInsure at least 9 mm. in thickness, and the blood estradiol level should be at least 150 units (pg/ml) or higher. If the follicle is too small, the lining too thin, and the estrogen level too low, this is related to a condition called follicular immaturity. With follicular immaturity, the egg itself is immature when it is ovulated and will not fertilize well. The next segment of time your body must meet certain criteria is after you ovulate. Once you have ovulated, the follicular cyst collapses but continues to secrete estradiol and begins to secrete the second ovarian hormone, progesterone. Progesterone is responsible for changing or converting the endometrium into the type of tissue that is perfect for proper implantation when the embryo falls into the cavity of the uterus three to five days later. The blood progesterone level seven to ten days later should be 10-15 units (ng/ml). If the progesterone is too low then either the embryo will not implant or may implant so poorly that a miscarriage will occur.
Well needless to say...I'm alittle sore from exams and tired! I think his nurses can only do early appointments...and since we live an hour and half away...6:30am comes early! So, I'm sorry for not posting sooner...but I will post something when we know more...but if you have anyone that has fertility problems and would like to read more here is Doctor Cline's website! reproductivehope.com
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Stress Sucks!
Well in my last post I told you that Don turned down his offer in Alaska. But the stress that I went through that week and a half has played it's toll even now. I have a great fever blister to mark the outward sign of stress. Nose bleeds and running a low grade fever is just running it's course.
Now I'm stressed out about doctors too. I went to my doctor to have tests ran...So she would send me to a new Fertility doctor. All my test are good...And the appointment is set for a fertility doctor. We see him on Wednesday the 5th. Which means all weekend I'll be nervous about this appointment! (I do have to tell you that the specialist sent me all the "new patient paperwork". I had to fill in my religion...He also wants to know our income...And all the ins and outs of my life. I think some questions are none of his business!) But Hopefully we will get some good answers and ideas of what the heck is wrong with me! (I know the list is long and he's only one man...But I would like some kind of answers!) We will let you know if we find out anything wonderful!
Now I'm stressed out about doctors too. I went to my doctor to have tests ran...So she would send me to a new Fertility doctor. All my test are good...And the appointment is set for a fertility doctor. We see him on Wednesday the 5th. Which means all weekend I'll be nervous about this appointment! (I do have to tell you that the specialist sent me all the "new patient paperwork". I had to fill in my religion...He also wants to know our income...And all the ins and outs of my life. I think some questions are none of his business!) But Hopefully we will get some good answers and ideas of what the heck is wrong with me! (I know the list is long and he's only one man...But I would like some kind of answers!) We will let you know if we find out anything wonderful!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
