Well, this is likely our last update until March 18. Yesterday, Adam and I drove to Nashville for our official Leupron challenge test. This consisted of a blood draw of 6 vials (yes....6), a pelvic ultrasound (my first ever), and an injection of Leupron. Being a medical person and somewhat of a geek, I kind of enjoyed watching the ultrasound. We could see lots of immature follicles (egg casings, for those who aren't medical) on the left ovary and not much on the right. The ones on the right were there, just too tiny to see well. Didn't have any side effects from the injection throughout the day, so was thankful for that.
Today, drove back to Nashville to have more blood drawn. This time was only 3 tubes! While being stuck isn't fun, the lady that does the draws there is really amazing. She's taken 9 vials of my blood in 2 days and I don't have a single bruise to show for it! (Total of 13 since going to Nashville on February 18!)
So now the wait begins...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Visit Number 2, March 2, 2011
Well, March 2 came around and here's how it went... (Don't read if you don't really want the details!) Sorry the entry is late...
Today went fine and actually much easy than I expected. We (Adam, Ms. Lokey, and I) were told to be there at 9:45 and that my procedure was scheduled for 10:30. (Mind you, this meant leaving our house at 7:30 am.) They were running late, naturally, so I made a couple of observations. 2 women came in alone, there were 2 lesbian couples, and 3 heterosexual couples (including us). The magazine collection for reading consisted of Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated, and Family Circle! Really??? Family Circle for infertile couples???
Adam was called back for his sperm analysis around 1030, so he was gone before me. He also had some labs done, but I have no idea what all were drawn. I was called back around 10:40. Went to the OR suite. Was given a buttless gown, stupid little booties (shoe covers), told I could keep my bra and jewelry on (how nice), and told to pee in a cup for my pregnancy test. Necessary, but kind of funny as well...heck, it's a freakin infertility clinic!
After walking out (while trying to keep my butt covered in a gown that was not particularly roomy), I was given a blanket and taken into the "OR." It's basically a room with a fancy exam table, fancy stirrups (not the usual ones), TV monitor, and nice ultrasound machine. The tech placed me on monitors (BP, pulse,EKG, pulse ox) and asked several questions. The nurse then came in. She gave me a 10mg valium pill to swallow. I saw her with the 2 syringes and raised the sleeve on my left arm, but was told that they wouldn't be going there. So, got two shots on my left butt. The toradol barely hurt (just the "stab") and the Demerol/Phenergan hurt a pinch more (the stab and the burn). Nothing terrible though!
The lights were then dimmed and I was allowed to "relax" for about 30 minutes. The nurse came back in and put my knees in the fancy stirrups. They stayed there about 15 minutes. She then came in again and said the doctor was behind, so she took them out. As you expect, 10 minutes later, the knees were back in place. I suspect this is an awkward feeling, but at this point, I was totally fine! (Had to struggle to keep my eyes open.)
The doc came in, spoke to me, and the "table" was brought in. Speculum went in (cold and mildly uncomfortable) and off he went. He first did cultures..felt just a tiny bit more uncomfortable than a Pap. I think he numbed the cervix, but I'm not sure. I felt about 2 seconds of a pinching sensation, which was then over. He then put the little catheter in, removed the speculum, and did the sono-hysterosalpingogram. Both tubes were wide open, which is a good thing. (I saw the image and knew they were open before he told me...) He then removed the catheter, replaced the speculum, and did the endometrial biopsy. Once again, a pinch for about 3 seconds. For those wondering, I'm sure this is horribly painful if you aren't souped up on tons of drugs like I was! He then did the hysteroscopy, which was surprisingly not uncomfortable at all.
That was it for him. He told me everything looked good and that he would give us the plan on March 18. After he left, I was allowed to "rest" (and was told not to move) for about 15 minutes. The tech came in to draw a CBC (standard blood count they do, just in case bleeding occurs later). She missed, but I kind of could tell she wasn't confident in her drawing skills. Nurse came in and drew it in the other arm without issues. She helped me up and I went to the changing room. Cleaned up (they have washclothes, babywipes, pads, you name it) and got myself dressed. Was placed in a wheelchair and met Adam and Ms. Lokey at the elevator.
Basically, just rested and slept off the drugs today. Took a pain pill, but only so that I could sleep. Really, no pain and very minimal cramping. I feel fine tonight other than being sleepy!
So...that's today's experience. Now, we sit and wait until the 18th! Thanks for asking and sending nice thoughts!
Today went fine and actually much easy than I expected. We (Adam, Ms. Lokey, and I) were told to be there at 9:45 and that my procedure was scheduled for 10:30. (Mind you, this meant leaving our house at 7:30 am.) They were running late, naturally, so I made a couple of observations. 2 women came in alone, there were 2 lesbian couples, and 3 heterosexual couples (including us). The magazine collection for reading consisted of Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated, and Family Circle! Really??? Family Circle for infertile couples???
Adam was called back for his sperm analysis around 1030, so he was gone before me. He also had some labs done, but I have no idea what all were drawn. I was called back around 10:40. Went to the OR suite. Was given a buttless gown, stupid little booties (shoe covers), told I could keep my bra and jewelry on (how nice), and told to pee in a cup for my pregnancy test. Necessary, but kind of funny as well...heck, it's a freakin infertility clinic!
After walking out (while trying to keep my butt covered in a gown that was not particularly roomy), I was given a blanket and taken into the "OR." It's basically a room with a fancy exam table, fancy stirrups (not the usual ones), TV monitor, and nice ultrasound machine. The tech placed me on monitors (BP, pulse,EKG, pulse ox) and asked several questions. The nurse then came in. She gave me a 10mg valium pill to swallow. I saw her with the 2 syringes and raised the sleeve on my left arm, but was told that they wouldn't be going there. So, got two shots on my left butt. The toradol barely hurt (just the "stab") and the Demerol/Phenergan hurt a pinch more (the stab and the burn). Nothing terrible though!
The lights were then dimmed and I was allowed to "relax" for about 30 minutes. The nurse came back in and put my knees in the fancy stirrups. They stayed there about 15 minutes. She then came in again and said the doctor was behind, so she took them out. As you expect, 10 minutes later, the knees were back in place. I suspect this is an awkward feeling, but at this point, I was totally fine! (Had to struggle to keep my eyes open.)
The doc came in, spoke to me, and the "table" was brought in. Speculum went in (cold and mildly uncomfortable) and off he went. He first did cultures..felt just a tiny bit more uncomfortable than a Pap. I think he numbed the cervix, but I'm not sure. I felt about 2 seconds of a pinching sensation, which was then over. He then put the little catheter in, removed the speculum, and did the sono-hysterosalpingogram. Both tubes were wide open, which is a good thing. (I saw the image and knew they were open before he told me...) He then removed the catheter, replaced the speculum, and did the endometrial biopsy. Once again, a pinch for about 3 seconds. For those wondering, I'm sure this is horribly painful if you aren't souped up on tons of drugs like I was! He then did the hysteroscopy, which was surprisingly not uncomfortable at all.
That was it for him. He told me everything looked good and that he would give us the plan on March 18. After he left, I was allowed to "rest" (and was told not to move) for about 15 minutes. The tech came in to draw a CBC (standard blood count they do, just in case bleeding occurs later). She missed, but I kind of could tell she wasn't confident in her drawing skills. Nurse came in and drew it in the other arm without issues. She helped me up and I went to the changing room. Cleaned up (they have washclothes, babywipes, pads, you name it) and got myself dressed. Was placed in a wheelchair and met Adam and Ms. Lokey at the elevator.
Basically, just rested and slept off the drugs today. Took a pain pill, but only so that I could sleep. Really, no pain and very minimal cramping. I feel fine tonight other than being sleepy!
So...that's today's experience. Now, we sit and wait until the 18th! Thanks for asking and sending nice thoughts!
The Beginnings....
Since May, Adam and I have actively tried to begin our family. There were a few road blocks (like the thyroid mass turned thyroidectomy), but otherwise things seemed to be in order. After no success, we decided that we would seek "help" in 2011 if we didn't see the magical two lines. Well, 2011 rolled along and nothing changed. We began our testing with our Ob/Gyn and Urologist, only to find that things we not totally ok. So, at the end of January, we made our first Reproductive Endocrinologist appointment (RE).
On Februrary 18, we saw Dr. Vasquez in Nashville for the first time. The office seemed nice and very well organized. The first visit consisted of tons of paperwork, a brief exam, a "talk" with Dr. Vasquez, a trip to the lab for my blood to be drawn, then another "talk' with the financial guru of the office. Afterwards, tons of tests were ordered and scheduled for March 2; and we were on our way!
On Februrary 18, we saw Dr. Vasquez in Nashville for the first time. The office seemed nice and very well organized. The first visit consisted of tons of paperwork, a brief exam, a "talk" with Dr. Vasquez, a trip to the lab for my blood to be drawn, then another "talk' with the financial guru of the office. Afterwards, tons of tests were ordered and scheduled for March 2; and we were on our way!
A Resurrection (Of Sorts)...
After lots of thoughts, I have decided to resurrect our blog. When we began this back in 2007, Facebook had not yet been created and we want to keep our family and friends updated as to our lives. As Facebook became more popular, we more-or-less abandoned the blog for the more convient posting attributes of Facebook. Now, however, Facebook is huge and very impersonal. So...thus returns our blog!
Since a major portion of our lives centers on us having a child, this will probably become our "infertility" blog and hopefully one day, our "baby" blog. Time will tell...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Three Bears...Literally!
Adam, Mom, and Dad fishing Lake Chilhowee.
Big Male Bear in the Grass...
Moma and the 3 Little Bears...
Big Male Bear in the Grass...
Moma and the 3 Little Bears...
2 weeks ago, we went to Cades Cove to hear the Knoxville Symphony play for the celebration on the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. The symphany and our picnic were great and tons of fun! That Saturday and Sunday, we actually saw a total of 11 bears! Here is a photo of the Moma and her 3 cubs crossing the meadow. They were really beautiful! I've attached a few photos of Adam fishing and a few bears.
Finally, an Update!
Adam and I in Key West at Fort Zachary Taylor National Park.
Adam and I posing with his old Navy ship in the background during the Sail Away Party.
Adam with a British Royal Navy Submarine in the background.
Me posing with the Disney Magic Mickey statue on my birthday!
Millikens Reef Port Canaveral...Dining at Sunset.
Adam and I posing with his old Navy ship in the background during the Sail Away Party.
Adam with a British Royal Navy Submarine in the background.
Me posing with the Disney Magic Mickey statue on my birthday!
Millikens Reef Port Canaveral...Dining at Sunset.
So, Jenn, this is for you! Since our last post in March, we haven't done much except for go on a cruise on the Disney Magic for my 32nd birthday. We went to Key West, Nassau, Grand Cayman, and Disney's private island. It was fun, but nothing amazing like our previous cruises...
As for day-to-day life, Adam works 4 10 hour days a week, and I work pretty much 6 days a week on average. The dogs and Lilly are about the same, though Abbey seems a little more confused these days and has lost about 7 pounds (without us trying to get her to lose). She still seems happy though and the vet wasn't too worried....so we'll jsut stick with our current regimen. Fonzie LOVES having a big yard so that he a "fetch" himself to death every day!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Return of Beautiful Weather!
Adam and Fonzie at the Cades Cove Stables.
Me at Greenbriar Cove.
Adam and I at the trailhead for Ramsay Cascades.
Adam and Fonzie at Cades Cove.
Me at Greenbriar Cove.
Adam and I at the trailhead for Ramsay Cascades.
Adam and Fonzie at Cades Cove.
This weekend was the first weekend this year that hasn't been freezing or raining! We went out to Greenbriar Cove on Saturday afternoon and to Cades Cove today. We basically just drove around looking for bears (which we didn't see) and enjoying the weather with the sunroof open and the windows down! Here are a few pics...
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