Update

My favorite shot of the day, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

July is a bit of a break from the fertility regimen. The pregnancy test came back negative, so no ectopic pregnancy to worry about, but the "leftovers" in my uterine lining and follicles mean that the clomid would most likely not be effective this month. I am to come in for another 3rd day ultrasound when my next cycle begins.

I could have used this month to chart my basal temperature, or continue to pee on sticks to figure out when I was ovulating, but to tell the truth, it is actually a relief to not do anything at all. I am continuing to take metformin and try to exercise at least every other day, but to not have to mark time by the days in my cycle is a bit of a luxury. The summer is already going by so fast!

Classes are over for now and I am trying to get the house a bit more organized and de-cluttered for the fall. I am sure that as I find ways to manage my time and stress better that will only help on the baby-making front. I continue to take pictures, such as the one above, that help bring a smile to my face hopefully to others too. This picture did come at a bit of a cost, as it was taken at the private home of a colleague who then had to request that I take some of the pics down. A bit embarrassing for me, but a good lesson that not everyone wants to have their pictures taken or shared, no matter how lovely or becoming I think my humble pics might be. I am always learning!

Surviving the summer

Squeeeeee! Thank you, Nicole'!, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

Wow - I can't believe how fast the summer has been flying by! As I mentioned in my last post, the end of my spring session classes were close at hand. They are now officially over and the grades are posted (I did better than I expected, but according to Geoffrey, that's fairly normal, as I seem to always expect one grade lower than I actullay earn, lol). I am sure these delightful kitty highlighters, sent by one of my Flickr contacts, were part of my success. Thanks, Nicole'!

The other parts of my success, of course, include the support of all of my friends and family, and Geoff in particular. Many thanks to those of you who read this blog and who ask about how things are going. I know I do not always have the most gracious response, but I am working on it and I appreciate everyone's care and concern.

Unfortunately, this last round of Clomid did not help me ovulate with any great predictability, and the ultrasound this morning seems to indicate that I have some "leftovers" and that my uterine lining is a bit thicker than to be expected. I had to have a blood draw (never fun, as I am opaque and one of my veins is, as the nurse said, "a bit crooked") to confirm that I do not have an ectopic pregnancy.

If things are in the clear, then I have a prescription for a triple dose of Clomid and around day 20 of my cycle I will need to start testing my urine daily to see when I will be ovulating. Having done that last month, with not a lot of precision or therefore, success, I am not looking forward to it. But, it's way cheaper than going to Southfield every two to three days for an ultrasound.

So now I am trying to get caught up at work, trying to get organized at home, and trying to have a bit of fun over the summer too. Geoffrey and I have been walking the dogs ever increasing distances and I know we're all the better for it. I went to the fruit market over the weekend and came home with some lovely veggies that I will hopefully cook and not allow to turn into petrie dishes in my crisper. Even if I don't get pregnant, I can at least get healthy!

More soon.

Walking it off

Zookie glamour shots, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

Well, the SIS (see last entry below) looked good, but the Clomid did not appear to be making my ovaries develop any faster than usual, despite the double dose. So, rather than having an ultrasound on cycle day 11, I went in on day 13. Still no major developments. To me, the most ominous phrase must be, "I'll talk with the doctor and call you to let you know what to do next."

The verdict is that Geoffrey and I will need to purchase an over the counter ovulation predictor kit. The kit comes with test strips to try and identify a surge in LH, which tells you that ovulation is imminent in the next 72 hours. Unlike a pregnancy test, you have to take the test in the afternoon, preferably around 2 pm (that should be fun at work) and it takes about 10 minutes. Once there's a surge, then we are supposed to have intercourse three days in a row in order to try and intercept the egg.

As my coworker Craig observed, "normally the most fun thing about having kids is making them, but that doesn't sound like the case here." LOL! It's true - this feels a bit more like a science experiment than anything else. Thank goodness Geoffrey and I have a long history with each other, I am quite sure that is helping reduce some of the awkwardness that could come from having sex on schedule. We're both fairly silly and playful, and that definitely helps to alleviate some of the tension.

In the meantime, with the nicer weather and cool mornings, I've been trying to take my girl Zookie (see picture above) out for more walks. I don't mind the treadmill, but it gets a bit boring. Early in the morning the day is fresh, there aren't as many distractions and Zookie is a joy to walk (unless there's a squirrel, then all bets are off. She's getting better). I don't sweat as obviously as I do on the treadmill, but I've been taking longer and longer walks, so hopefully that compensates a bit. I would much rather walk outside - winter will be here soon enough and force me on there every day.

If Geoffrey and I do not get pregnant this month, then I'm back on the Clomid at 150 mgs. I am quite sure that at that level I am bound to have to suffer through more of the side effects I mentioned in an earlier post (dizziness, bloating, etc. ). Thankfully, my eight week spring classes will be over and it should be relatively easier to call in, if necessary.

That's the scoop. I'm trying not to get too stressed out about it, and to be honest, I'm actually too tired at the moment (work, classes, home, unbalanced checkbook, daily performances for Orientation Wednesday - Thursday) to be too jittery. I just have to keep walking it off!

Take two

DSCF1434, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

Literally - this will be our second attempt to get pregnant using Clomid, and I'm starting a double dose, 100 mg, tonight. I am trying to keep on schedule with working out a tiny bit each day. Today was an exception since I had to be out to Southfield before 8:15 am for an ultrasound.

The next step will be having an SIS (Saline Infusion Sonogram) or Sonohysterography this upcoming Monday. Essentially, they want to see if the fallopian tubes are, well, open for business.

Here's the explanation from University Women's Healthcare.com:


Saline Infusion Sonogram (SIS)
The saline infusion sonogram (SIS), also call sonohysterography, is an ultrasound test done after a saline solution has been infused into the uterus. The saline solution distends the uterus and acts as a contrast to the internal structure. This procedure provides more detail than a conventional ultrasound.

The Procedure
The SIS is performed early in the menstrual cycle, preferably between days 4 and 9, when the menstrual period has stopped or almost stopped but before ovulation occurs.

A patient who has had an infection in the uterus or fallopian tubes (sometimes called Pill, pelvic inflammatory disease, or salpingitis) at any time in the past should take antibiotic pills before the test is done. Most women will feel more comfortable during the procedure if they take about 600 mg of ibuprofen (3 Advil 200mg tablets) about 30 minutes before this ultrasound is done.

The patient lies on her back with her feet in stirrups (as on a gynecology examining table). A speculum is placed in the vagina and a small tube is used to insert a saline solution into the uterus. A vaginal ultrasound probe is used to make images of the saline filling the endometrial cavity. An evaluation of the cul de sac (open abdominal space behind the uterus) is done with the vaginal ultrasound probe still in place. If either fallopian tube is open, some of the saline should be seen in this space.

Reasons for SIS
SIS is used to evaluate the inner cavity of the uterus (endometrial cavity). It can also be used to discover whether either of the fallopian tubes is open. This test does not reveal any abnormalities on the outside of the uterus or on the ovaries, such as adhesions or endometriosis.

Recovery
The test may cause some discomfort, such as pelvic or lower abdominal cramping. Most women can drive and return to work within two hours after the SIS. There are no specific restrictions on activity after the SIS has been done.

Contact the nursing staff or a physician after the procedure if any of the following symptoms develop:
• Persistent pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficult or painful urination
• Temperature over 100 degrees

Sounds like more fun than you can shake a stick at, huh? Well, it should at least give us more information about how to best optimize our chances of getting pregnant with this round of treatment.

Speaking of treatment, thank you to everyone who has stopped to ask how I've been, or to express positive thoughts and prayers for our success. Geoffrey and I are very lucky to have such supportive family and friends, and when we do have a little one, he or she will be loved beyond measure not just by us, but by the amazing people in our lives.

Onward!

Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

Bleeding me. Sorry to be graphic, but that's the update. Last night my period started, meaning that the Provera-Clomid-IUI procedure from two weeks ago did not take and I am not pregnant.

I had a good cry last night and poor Geoffrey was his reassuring best. I can't deny that I'm disappointed, even though the probability of having everything work out perfectly was relatively small (about 10 - 20%). And, to be fair, I have not had the majority of the terrible side effects many women have to suffer through to be able to conceive.

My initial thought was, "Oh God, I don't want to do this again," but after a good night's sleep, beignets and coffee this morning, and sitting down after a long absence from the blog, my guess is I'll be getting back in line and back on the roller coaster for another round trip. My guess is that my Ob/Gyn will up the Clomid dosage. My commitment is to actually get on the treadmill at least 5 days a week in order to start dropping more weight (I've been holding steady at 10 pounds lost since this journey began - time to push off the plateau).

Anyway, that's the update. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I will try to update more often and to keep moving forward.

If only it were this easy!

Fat smackdown, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

Looking at my food log, which admittedly has a couple of "lost" days on it, I have not been putting the smackdown on fat as much as I could or should. I'm still allowing myself to award dispensations based on stress or special occasions, though to my credit, I do think I'm eating somewhat smaller portions.

I'll have to go back at some point in the near future to get more pics of this exhibit, but I was really tickled by these "whack a mole" machines at our local science center. Geoff played this one and thought it was a little silly, but I could imagine working out a few ice cream cravings by taking a whack at this machine. For example, I forgot to log that big serving of ice cream from the other night. Drat! Clearly, I need one of these for home.

On the baby-making front, I finished my five days of Clomid and went in for an 11th day ultrasound. I do have a candidate follicle that looks promising, but it's not quite large enough for me to be given a shot to instigate ovulation. I have to go back on Thursday. I know that eating, sleeping and exercising better will help make this process a success, so I am letting that be my motivation for today.

Here goes hoping

Here goes hoping, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

This morning Geoffrey drove me to the Ob/Gyn's office for another ultrasound and blood draw (ick!). I've been given the go-ahead to start a round of Clomid, which will last five days, followed by another ultrasound, and if all goes well, a shot (ick) to stimulate egg release and hopefully, ultimately, conception.

All of this while I begin an intensive eight-week spring class from May - June, Monday through Wednesday, with New Student Orientation beginning in June. And did I mention that I have an all-day conference in East Lansing tomorrow before rushing back to Detroit for class? I have clearly lost my mind. Perhaps it's hanging out with my truant eggs.

Well, at least I'll be too busy to be bogged down by the potential side effects of Clomid, which thankfully are not experienced by the majority of women who take the drug, but they don't sound like fun. Essentially, it sounds like a really baaaaaaaaad bout of PMS:
*Stomach upset
*bloating
*abdominal/pelvic fullness
*flushing ("hot flashes")
*breast tenderness
*headache
*dizziness
Source: Web MD

Wheeee! About.com has an excellent write up by Rachel Gurevich, who notes that many of the women she spoke to also experience mood swings:

Mood swings are another side effect of Clomid that in clinical studies didn’t appear as often as I’d imagine (less than 1% of women). But that’s difficult to believe, given how many women have told me the mood swings were the worst side effect of taking Clomid. Mood swings may mean feeling more emotionally sensitive, tearful, or even depressed or anxious, though infertility itself can bring on these feelings without drugs. It helps to be forgiving and gentle with yourself, and to practice good self-care, during treatment cycles.

So, we're in for a bumpy ride, possibly, but if this might be a relatively painless (ick, and double ick, as noted above) way for us to start a family, it's not a bad start. Here's hoping!