I had my ultrasound with Dr. Kopher today. Eli was unable to come as he was stuck at work. My mom showed up at the end of the appointment for support if I needed it (awesome mom!). He first looked at my right ovary and saw nothing, my hopes were up at this point. And then he looked at my left ovary and he said "Say hello to an egg". I was so happy! This was the best progress yet! I actually had 2 eggs in my left ovary that were mature and ready to be released. So from that he gave me an injection in my thigh of LH (normal hormone in the body). This usually works to release the egg or eggs. I am then most fertile 36-48 hours after the injection. I did ask him about doing Intra unterine Insemination for a better chance of getting pregnant. His response was that it wouldn't make a difference at this point, but further down the road it could be a possibility. He did also give me the percentages of getting pregnant this time and he said that I now have the chance that most fertile couples have each month and that is 10-15%. Its not 100% which I wish he could have said, but at least I am ovulating and having a "normal" percentage of getting pregnant! He also said that if we won the battle (ovulating) but we didn't win the war (getting pregnant) than I would get a period in about 17 days. If I'm pregnant I obviously wont'. I guess now we wait and see!
I am so relieved. I feel like things are coming together somewhat. However, I still have my sad times and get a little depressed around pregnant people. I want others to know I am happy for everyone who is pregnant even if I don't show it. Right now its still a little hard for me. Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. They have started to work! Keep praying for pregnancy. And thank you grandpa I know you put in a good word for us up there, keep it up! Love you!
Love, Kristen & Eli Wolfe
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Plan of action...
I went to see Dr. Kopher on Tuesday Nov 11 to go over my labs and make a plan about the whats next. He said that my glucose labs were perfect and that he saw no reason to put me on Metformin as it would not help at all with good glucose. My FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luetinizing hormone) were also taken and Dr. Kopher said they were 'text book' for someone with PCOS. My FSH was 3.6 and my LH was 13.1. He said this is what usually happens, the LH triples to make the FSH. My testosterone was (embarrassing!) 93 and the normal range for a woman is 20-80. Like I said before I thank god I don't have any facial hair or manly characteristics! I did ask him if I don't already have these characteristics will I get them, he said most likely not. (Thank you!)
After explaining what PCOS was again and going over the details learned something new. The cysts are not actual cysts they are eggs. Eggs that have matured, weren't released and now form cysts. So my problem isn't my eggs its getting them to release into the uterus. So our plan for the next month is clomid again. He started me on 100mg of clomid once a day for 7 days. And then on November 24 I will go in for an ultrasound with him and we will see if any follicles or eggs are maturing and if so he will give me an injection to help release the eggs. Than we will have two choices; Intrauterine Insemination or go home and have sex. I think I would rather do the IUI just for safe measures ;) , although according to everyone in the clinic Eli's sperm are above and beyond perfect (he still talks about it :)
I left the office feeling pretty good about our decision and plan but was a little discouraged because Dr. Kopher said we will now on Nov 24 if this works or not. If not we are looking at injections which are expensive ($1,000-3,000 a month out of pocket) and have a high risk for multiples. However, he did say if nothing makes me ovulate that the injections most likely will. I guess we will make anything work for a baby, but lets just hope this works this month! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and I will update on the 24th.
Oh one more thing I just have to say......its Jordan's "chore" to empty all the garbage's in the house on Thursday night and every time he jut breaks my heart and says "Kristen, are you going to have a baby yet?". I think he says this when he empties our garbage in the master bath because he seen a pregnancy test that said negative in there once and he had a melt down :( He is such a sweetheart and I know one day he will be the best big brother!
~Kristen and Eli
After explaining what PCOS was again and going over the details learned something new. The cysts are not actual cysts they are eggs. Eggs that have matured, weren't released and now form cysts. So my problem isn't my eggs its getting them to release into the uterus. So our plan for the next month is clomid again. He started me on 100mg of clomid once a day for 7 days. And then on November 24 I will go in for an ultrasound with him and we will see if any follicles or eggs are maturing and if so he will give me an injection to help release the eggs. Than we will have two choices; Intrauterine Insemination or go home and have sex. I think I would rather do the IUI just for safe measures ;) , although according to everyone in the clinic Eli's sperm are above and beyond perfect (he still talks about it :)
I left the office feeling pretty good about our decision and plan but was a little discouraged because Dr. Kopher said we will now on Nov 24 if this works or not. If not we are looking at injections which are expensive ($1,000-3,000 a month out of pocket) and have a high risk for multiples. However, he did say if nothing makes me ovulate that the injections most likely will. I guess we will make anything work for a baby, but lets just hope this works this month! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and I will update on the 24th.
Oh one more thing I just have to say......its Jordan's "chore" to empty all the garbage's in the house on Thursday night and every time he jut breaks my heart and says "Kristen, are you going to have a baby yet?". I think he says this when he empties our garbage in the master bath because he seen a pregnancy test that said negative in there once and he had a melt down :( He is such a sweetheart and I know one day he will be the best big brother!
~Kristen and Eli
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
First Infertility Appointment
Yesterday was our first appointment with Dr. Kopher, the infertility Doctor. I was a little nervous because everyone told me before the appointment that either people like him or they hate him. However after meeting him, we liked him! He is very intelligent, calming and very nice. Everyone in the clinic was very nice to us.
We first went over all of my history and surgeries as well as Eli's too. He also said that from looking at the ultrasound he would say it is definetly PCOS. However, he wants to do more testing to see if I have the diabetes part of PCOS. He explained everything very well to us. I guess the ovaries produce some male hormone in every woman which in turn creates insulin. The more male hormone the more insulin?? The more insulin the harder it is to ovulate. Those with PCOS create more male hormones. I think this is what he said...its so confusing to explain. Anyways, so I went the lab this morning and did a glucose challenge test. I had to fast for 12 hours and get my blood drawn in the morning. Then I had to drink this horrible barium drink. I chose orange and at first it was okay but then I got really nauseated. After the drink the took blood an hour later and then 2 hours later. I thought I wasn't going to make it half way through but I kept it down! She said if you throw up they have to stop the testing and do it another day and I didn't want that. Dr. Kopher also ordered some other labs that were done.
We also went over new lifestyle changes that I need to make. He wants me to start a low carbohydrate diet and avoid sweets! Basically a diabetic diet. This means no candy, no pasta, potatoes and rice! That is stuff we eat all of the time. Its going to be hard but I know I can do it. I have been looking online and doing research on such a diet and there are alot of subsitutes for things that I like to eat.
He also said that he was a little worried about the scar tissue on my left ovary from surgery. He said if he feels it is affecting the process he will want to do a laproscopic surgery to go in and try and scrape some of it away. But he isn't concerned a whole lot right now, just something to consider.
We also went over Eli's sperm test results and he is above and beyond perfect, and boy was he bragging! The nurse and Dr. Kopher said something about how unbelieveable it was. The nurse said that Eli could help about 20% of the patients they see. Dr. Kopher said when we do start to get me ovulating Eli will be dangerous to my fertility!! He said he has an exceptional sperm count, one that he rarely sees. So I guess this is one thing going for us!
I did ask what the chances are for someone with PCOS ever getting pregnant and he said after they start ovulating about 95% chance. That was good news. He did go over with us the amount of time we are looking at. He said we need to have patience and it could take up to 6 months or longer for us to find what works for me. He also said that when I do start ovulating each month you only have a 10-15% chance of becoming pregnant. Patience will be hard but I have a very supportive husband.
We have our next appointment with Dr. Kopher a week from today, next Tuesday. We will go over my test results and then make a plan. He did say he would like to start me on Metformin, a diabetic medication and try Clomid again. He said many people who aren't successful with just Clomid are successful with Clomid and Metformin together. I am very happy with the route we are on and feel like Dr. Kopher has the help we need.
<3Kristen & Eli
We first went over all of my history and surgeries as well as Eli's too. He also said that from looking at the ultrasound he would say it is definetly PCOS. However, he wants to do more testing to see if I have the diabetes part of PCOS. He explained everything very well to us. I guess the ovaries produce some male hormone in every woman which in turn creates insulin. The more male hormone the more insulin?? The more insulin the harder it is to ovulate. Those with PCOS create more male hormones. I think this is what he said...its so confusing to explain. Anyways, so I went the lab this morning and did a glucose challenge test. I had to fast for 12 hours and get my blood drawn in the morning. Then I had to drink this horrible barium drink. I chose orange and at first it was okay but then I got really nauseated. After the drink the took blood an hour later and then 2 hours later. I thought I wasn't going to make it half way through but I kept it down! She said if you throw up they have to stop the testing and do it another day and I didn't want that. Dr. Kopher also ordered some other labs that were done.
We also went over new lifestyle changes that I need to make. He wants me to start a low carbohydrate diet and avoid sweets! Basically a diabetic diet. This means no candy, no pasta, potatoes and rice! That is stuff we eat all of the time. Its going to be hard but I know I can do it. I have been looking online and doing research on such a diet and there are alot of subsitutes for things that I like to eat.
He also said that he was a little worried about the scar tissue on my left ovary from surgery. He said if he feels it is affecting the process he will want to do a laproscopic surgery to go in and try and scrape some of it away. But he isn't concerned a whole lot right now, just something to consider.
We also went over Eli's sperm test results and he is above and beyond perfect, and boy was he bragging! The nurse and Dr. Kopher said something about how unbelieveable it was. The nurse said that Eli could help about 20% of the patients they see. Dr. Kopher said when we do start to get me ovulating Eli will be dangerous to my fertility!! He said he has an exceptional sperm count, one that he rarely sees. So I guess this is one thing going for us!
I did ask what the chances are for someone with PCOS ever getting pregnant and he said after they start ovulating about 95% chance. That was good news. He did go over with us the amount of time we are looking at. He said we need to have patience and it could take up to 6 months or longer for us to find what works for me. He also said that when I do start ovulating each month you only have a 10-15% chance of becoming pregnant. Patience will be hard but I have a very supportive husband.
We have our next appointment with Dr. Kopher a week from today, next Tuesday. We will go over my test results and then make a plan. He did say he would like to start me on Metformin, a diabetic medication and try Clomid again. He said many people who aren't successful with just Clomid are successful with Clomid and Metformin together. I am very happy with the route we are on and feel like Dr. Kopher has the help we need.
<3Kristen & Eli
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