Friday, August 13, 2010

The Past Month in Review

I believe my last post was about a month ago, shortly following my last ovulation. The saga in my body since then has been long, very eventful, and very twisty. And because I haven't updated in so long, this update is becoming longer and longer in my head, which has led to me procrastinating it even more because I'm afraid of how long it will take to write. But here goes, in the shortest version possible. Bullet points.

  • As a refresher, I ovulated on July 18, which was day 17 after my third round of clomid. The earliest I've ever ovulated, and with the most ewcm I've ever had. Nervous anticipation ensues.
  • 8 days later, I am on vacation with my husband's family. I spend the day (Monday, July 26) with really bad cramps and feeling really achy. I'm pretty sure my period is going to show too early again. Dang it, I had really been hoping for a longer LP this time. I resigned myself to returning to progesterone suppositories for the next cycle. I'm also debating whether I should reduce to 25mg of clomid instead of 50, after reading the book Making Babies (which I highly, highly recommend to all of you going through IF out there).
  • The next day, I see the first signs of blood. Only 9dpo! I spend the afternoon sulking (well, praying, actually) in our room, despite the fact that I'm surrounded by a ton of family and in a beautiful location on a lake in the mountains in the middle of nowhere.
  • By the next day, the spotting increases a bit, and my temperature has dropped. I stick a tampon in it and try to forget about it, thinking I'm on CD1. But, on CD2, my temp goes way up again, and the bleeding has decreased to spotting again. Now I'm confused about why my period is so light. Was my lining really that thin?
  • By Friday (what I think is CD3), the bleeding has mostly stopped. My temp is down again, though. In the afternoon, while I'm trying to help my mother-in-law cook for a big group of Pete's friends coming over, I start feeling really tired and have to go lay down.
  • Since I was planning to start clomid on CD4, I decide I should take a pregnancy test that morning, just to make sure. Especially since my temp is back up. Fortunately, I packed a few HPTs, so I pull one out and sneak a glass from the kitchen. I PIAC (Pee In A Cup) and wait. If it's not CD4, the day is 13dpo.
  • And there it is. A very, very faint second line. Which Pete concurs is really there. Not just in my head.
  • I call my doctor's office to make an appointment with a new OB, since my OB deserted me and went on sabbatical. The nurse makes me listen to a recording telling me congratulations, and stop smoking and drinking. I can't believe I'm listening to a recording with instructions for pregnant women.
  • We fly home that day, and the next day, I take a second HPT, which has a slightly darker second line.
  • I go to my appointment with my new OB on Monday. They have me pee in a cup for another urine test at the beginning of the appointment, but I've been drinking tons of water, so apparently that test comes back negative. So this new OB walks into the exam room basically to tell me that it was probably a chemical pregnancy and I already lost it. She does a quick ultrasound to check for any signs of an ectopic and tells me that my lining is way too thin for this to be a real pregnancy. Also, clomid will never work for me, and I really need to see an RE. Um, what about the fact that clomid has worked for me 3 times? I mean, at least I've ovulated each time, and early than I would normally. She doesn't seem to have a good answer for this one. I resolve that I will not be sticking with this OB, no matter what happens.
  • She does order a beta for me, and, low and behold, it comes back at 192. Since she wasn't paying attention when I told her what dpo I was at (only 15), she tells me that this is low. Which is not true. 192 is pretty normal to high for 15dpo, at least from what my internet searching tells me.
  • I go in for another beta on Wednesday, 17dpo, and the result is somewhere in the 400s (she wouldn't tell me the exact number). More than doubled in two days.
  • Now she and I are both very concerned about an ectopic. If my lining was really as thin as she said, how could it be a uterine pregnancy? So I go in a week later (which was this past Wednesday), with Pete this time, for ultrasound #2. With the same OB, since I have to do the follow up with her. And there it is. A gestational sac in the uterus. Which all but completely rules out an ectopic. She says, finally, that she is happy with what she sees, though she won't completely rule out an ectopic until she sees a heartbeat.
  • She doesn't know, but she won't be the one seeing the heartbeat, assuming it's there. I have my 7-week appointment with a different OB who looks to have more experience.
  • I am going in today and Sunday for two more betas ordered by the current OB. She wants to make sure the pregnancy is progressing normally.
After having this pregnancy taken away from me and then given back three times already, I'm still in a bit of shock. Okay, a lot of shock. And though I'm feeling really hopeful, I'm also keeping in mind the odds of miscarriage at this point. I refuse to start reading all the preggo books or anything like that until I see that heartbeat.

But for now, I'm really, truly pregnant. The mild cramps and hints of nausea (and oh my word, the gas!) are making sure I don't forget the presence of the little one!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG, congrats!!!!!!!

That ob sounds absolutely HIDEOUS. (((hugs))) that you lived thru all of that. So happy you are seeing an awesome new doc.

Oak said...

Oh my goodness! How AWESOME. I hate your old OB for you, that's what I'm here for. :) What amazing news! I had a very thin lining (did they tell you how thin?) and have a viable pregnancy so don't go listening to nay-sayers.

A m a n d a said...

Wow, I knew it was a long story but man, when you type it all out like that, it's just crazy what you've had to go through. But all worth it with such an amazing ending!!! I know your new OB will be 100% better...CONGRATS AGAIN!!!!

Jos said...

OH MY GOSH CEEJAY!!!!!!! I was forcing myself not to speed read to the end of this. That is so exciting!!!!!! Congrats!!!

OMG - hoping and praying for a continued healthy pregnancy for you!!!

Jordan said...

What great news! Hoping and praying with you.

Wade's World said...

Great news! I am so happy for you! I'm sorry you had so many ups and downs to get your answer...but that is so exciting!!!

Leslie said...

I too was forcing myself not to read the end, as I got more and more excited!!!! YAY!!! Oh, I am so so so thrilled!!! Wow.

I am so happy for you and have everything crossed that things continue to go smoothly for a perfect, viable pregnancy. Yay, happy, happy, day!!!

Alex said...

Wow - this is wonderful! Congratulations!!!

Melissa G said...

FANTASTIC news Ceejay!!!! Congrats!

Can't wait to here more!!!

Kakunaa said...

Fantastic news! OMG I am so freakin excited for you. Why do they have to be downers without all the results in, anyway! Here's to a nice solid heartbeat at 7 weeks.

Anonymous said...

YES!!!!!! Despite the setbacks, it DOES sound like things are progressing (growth of a sac, numbers doubling, etc). And you have nausea - a good sign. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you! I hope you see that heartbeat flash at your next appointment!

cdg said...

So amazing! That is an awesome story. Wishing you tons of luck. I hope you like the new OB (so glad you switched!!!)

Nico said...

I am so so SO happy that this is all heading in the right direction. YAY! I really want to give that OB a good swift kick in the you know where. I like Mara's term for her ex OB - OBitch. Seems to fit this one pretty well too! I'm really glad you'll be seeing someone else from now on.

Anonymous said...

Wowee wow!
That is so awesome.
I can't wait for your next update! You have to post more often... (ok ha ha I'm selfish.) I'm praying for little baby and mama.

Anonymous said...

Wowee wow!
That is so awesome.
I can't wait for your next update! You have to post more often... (ok ha ha I'm selfish.) I'm praying for little baby and mama.

Stephanie said...

How exciting for you! I'm sorry you had to deal with that doctor, but so happy you got your BFP!

Krissi said...

Wow! What a back and forth roller coaster of emotion!! Congratulations!! It seems as though you have a fighter on your hands! That's awesome!

Valerie said...

Congrats! That is awesome news. The OB sounds like a total tool. I'm glad you're not going back. The last thing you want is someone like that following you the entire pregnancy. Happy and Healthy 9 months to you.

~stinkb0mb~ said...

Congrats.

Enjoy the now, the future can be worried about IF it happens.

x

Anonymous said...

Fantastic news! And good call on switching OB's - she sounds horrible! I hope you're much happier with your new one AND there is a healthy HB! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

jill said...

Congratulations! :)

kimberly d said...

I randomly found your blog and reading this gives me a glimmer of hope!! I am 34 and was diagnosed with hypothalamic amenorrhea 4 1/2 yrs ago. At the time, I Was training for a marathon and went from 5'6", 119 to 109 lbs. My period just stopped.

I have always been active but the lack of periods didn't bother me until this Jan 2011 when my husband and I began discussing babies. My hormones are still low (estrogen 35) LH/FSH low but I have gained the weight back to 119 and obviously stopped running!

We did a failed injectible IUI cycle with MEnopur in February. :( MY RE won't do CLomid as she thinks I wont respond given my diagnosis. I have also tried acupuncture and herbs, but to no avail.

I really want to ask you what you think the BIGGEST factor was in you finally ovulating and conceiving.

Congrats on your beautiful baby!

Please email me: kimberlyd91367@yahoo.com