Friday, January 15, 2010
Acupuncture
Appt # 2 yesterday... I'm not sure about this. I decided to try it, but I'm having second thoughts. I lay on the table and repeat "It's been shown to help" to myself. It seems so hokey. How can a couple needles help my body make a baby??? If I could see some sort of reason about how it would work, it would be easier to believe... Can anyone tell me???
Grandma
So my Grandma got pneumonia. Definitely a bad thing, since she has emphysema. She was in bad shape before she told my mom and uncle. After 4 days in the hospital and not getting better she decided she'd had enough. She said "I've known I'm going to die and I might die today or it might be a year, but I'm not putting up with this anymore." She said she wanted to go home, sit with her kids and talk about old times. So they checked her out and took her home... They did just what she wanted. They talked, they drank gin martinis (her favorite). Then she sent my uncles home so she could sleep. My mom stayed with her, and they talked a little more. Grandma slept and dreamed and talked in her sleep ("that's so funny!", "I love my family and my family loves me"), then died in her sleep about 2 am.
I'm sad she's gone but happy she was able to die like she wanted to. She was ready. She had her 90th birthday party in November and she had a good Christmas. And that's what she wanted.
I'm sad she's gone but happy she was able to die like she wanted to. She was ready. She had her 90th birthday party in November and she had a good Christmas. And that's what she wanted.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The new plan
So over the last few days (in addition to all the Christmas parties) I've concocted a new plan. DH has agreed, at least nominally...
When we met with the RE, he suggested we try on our own for about 3 more months after the HSG. I have read that HSG can lead to increased pregnancy rates, though I didn't ask if that was why... So during these three months we've got the benefit of the HSG.
Secondly, I read a few times about those instead cups - to use them to keep the semen in. I do have an issue with it leaking out... So I bought some. Fertile period is coming up, so I better make sure I know how to use them ;) I don't know how much it will help. The RE says it only takes 5 minutes for the spermies to get where they need to be, but it can't hurt and we need all the help we can get.
Thirdly, I've got an acupuncture appointment scheduled for next Tuesday. I've read some summaries that say that IVF plus acupuncture increases prenancy rates by nearly 50%. So maybe it will help with natural fertilization...
Anything else I should add to the mix?
When we met with the RE, he suggested we try on our own for about 3 more months after the HSG. I have read that HSG can lead to increased pregnancy rates, though I didn't ask if that was why... So during these three months we've got the benefit of the HSG.
Secondly, I read a few times about those instead cups - to use them to keep the semen in. I do have an issue with it leaking out... So I bought some. Fertile period is coming up, so I better make sure I know how to use them ;) I don't know how much it will help. The RE says it only takes 5 minutes for the spermies to get where they need to be, but it can't hurt and we need all the help we can get.
Thirdly, I've got an acupuncture appointment scheduled for next Tuesday. I've read some summaries that say that IVF plus acupuncture increases prenancy rates by nearly 50%. So maybe it will help with natural fertilization...
Anything else I should add to the mix?
HSG and bloodwork
Post Christmas update:
I had the HSG last Monday (between Christmas parties). The doctor that does them said it looked fine, though I have an arcuate uterus. He says that's not a problem (and dr google confirmed that). Haven't heard my RE's opinion of the HSG yet because of the holidays.
I also got my 10dpo progesterone and my cd3 FSH and estrodial results -- all good.
Looks like we are firmly in the camp of unexplained infertility.
I should be relieved there's not a problem, but I'd really like to have an explanation for the lack of pregnancy. It's so frustrating!
I had the HSG last Monday (between Christmas parties). The doctor that does them said it looked fine, though I have an arcuate uterus. He says that's not a problem (and dr google confirmed that). Haven't heard my RE's opinion of the HSG yet because of the holidays.
I also got my 10dpo progesterone and my cd3 FSH and estrodial results -- all good.
Looks like we are firmly in the camp of unexplained infertility.
I should be relieved there's not a problem, but I'd really like to have an explanation for the lack of pregnancy. It's so frustrating!
Christmas
Christmas is always so stressful.
My brother and his wife come into town, so we try to get together with them.
Then the obligatory 3 (yes, three!) family parties: my father and his wife, her kids and grandkids, plus my brother and his wife and us; my maternal grandmother and all the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids that are in town; my mother and my brother and wife and us.
The last is my favorite - it's more relaxing and laid back. We just do presents and then usually play a game or two. No big meal planned (that's at grandma's), we just have leftovers or snacks if we get a little hungry later.
It's hard to prep all the food for the parties, plus the presents, plus getting DSS and DH to get ready on time. And then there's the work potluck, and the neighbor's party, and the gifts for the neighbors...
I try to get all the shopping done early to help with the stress, but we were still shopping the weekend before Christmas this year.
All I can say now is that I'm glad it's over and we made it through!
My brother and his wife come into town, so we try to get together with them.
Then the obligatory 3 (yes, three!) family parties: my father and his wife, her kids and grandkids, plus my brother and his wife and us; my maternal grandmother and all the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids that are in town; my mother and my brother and wife and us.
The last is my favorite - it's more relaxing and laid back. We just do presents and then usually play a game or two. No big meal planned (that's at grandma's), we just have leftovers or snacks if we get a little hungry later.
It's hard to prep all the food for the parties, plus the presents, plus getting DSS and DH to get ready on time. And then there's the work potluck, and the neighbor's party, and the gifts for the neighbors...
I try to get all the shopping done early to help with the stress, but we were still shopping the weekend before Christmas this year.
All I can say now is that I'm glad it's over and we made it through!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
To Tell or Not to Tell...
That is the question...
There are some people I know I won't tell (at least at this point), about the infertility issues. This, unfortunately, includes my mother. I love her, but she wants to be so involved that she'd question me daily about the status of it all, which would drive me nuts!
I think I'll tell a couple friends who know we've been trying for a while. But I haven't done so yet. I'm going to try to have lunch with one on Friday. If that works out, I'll let her know...
The only person we've told so far is my boss at work. He signs my time-off forms (which there will be plenty of and he'll get suspicious). He's also a very good friend, and we talk about most things, so it would be hard not to tell him. It was funny when I told him, he started smiling and said "I thought so...". He couldn't tell me how he knew, just said intuition. That, plus I had two doctor appointments fairly close together and both DH and I were gone at the same time at the time of the second on (which happened to be the RE consult). He's been hinting that we should have a baby, so maybe he was just hopeful...
So for now, I guess that's it... Tell 2-3 and not tell the rest.
There are some people I know I won't tell (at least at this point), about the infertility issues. This, unfortunately, includes my mother. I love her, but she wants to be so involved that she'd question me daily about the status of it all, which would drive me nuts!
I think I'll tell a couple friends who know we've been trying for a while. But I haven't done so yet. I'm going to try to have lunch with one on Friday. If that works out, I'll let her know...
The only person we've told so far is my boss at work. He signs my time-off forms (which there will be plenty of and he'll get suspicious). He's also a very good friend, and we talk about most things, so it would be hard not to tell him. It was funny when I told him, he started smiling and said "I thought so...". He couldn't tell me how he knew, just said intuition. That, plus I had two doctor appointments fairly close together and both DH and I were gone at the same time at the time of the second on (which happened to be the RE consult). He's been hinting that we should have a baby, so maybe he was just hopeful...
So for now, I guess that's it... Tell 2-3 and not tell the rest.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Infertile
I dreaded this word. That's why I procrastinated going back to my doctor. It's why I said, maybe one more month.
The road through the land of infertility can be long. I don't know anyone who's gone themselves, but I've read some blogs. I didn't want to join them.
They scare you, you know -- they scare you into thinking pregnancy is easy. No sex without protection cause you'll get pregnant. I guess it is, for some. Apparently not for us.
Why Not???
We date a while, I freak out when my period is late. We dated for 5 years, took things slow are carefully (he was tentative due to his experience with exwife, I was tentative due to my experience with my parents). We waited after we got married, time for us to all adjust to the newness of the family. And then we're ready. And it doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen. What's up with that? Why can't it be easy? No one told me it would be like this.
The road through the land of infertility can be long. I don't know anyone who's gone themselves, but I've read some blogs. I didn't want to join them.
They scare you, you know -- they scare you into thinking pregnancy is easy. No sex without protection cause you'll get pregnant. I guess it is, for some. Apparently not for us.
Why Not???
We date a while, I freak out when my period is late. We dated for 5 years, took things slow are carefully (he was tentative due to his experience with exwife, I was tentative due to my experience with my parents). We waited after we got married, time for us to all adjust to the newness of the family. And then we're ready. And it doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen. What's up with that? Why can't it be easy? No one told me it would be like this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)