my fertility crisis.

so my blogger friend and real-life gal pal, brooke at brook.etc, posted this.  in it, she explains that her doctor gave her an article, my fertility crisis...by holly finn (from the wsj).  for anyone struggling with [in]fertility...or just any woman or couple...it's a good read [and it has its funny moments].  no, i'm not even close to ivf and haven't even given it any thought.  no, i'm not in my forties.  yes, as it's been proven, i can get pregnant.  but this is an article to which i can relate.  

here are a few excerpts i enjoyed:

by no means would i call my situation a crisis [today yet].  someone i work with just explained it as "the world's giant let down every month".  i'd have to say that's right on.  let down followed by a breakdown.  and, yes, i know i've been pregnant [so this is a plus]...keeping it wasn't so easy though.  and i know that basically you start off scratch after a m/c, so technically we're looking at three months of trying post m/c...and i know that isn't very long.  but.  when it was that close...i think you want it that much more.  i'm rambling.

on another note...

so i go to my doc on thursday for a consultation. i haven't met with her since my post d&c check up [which i wouldn't even call a check up].  every time i call with a questions, i end up either leaving a voicemail or asking my question to, who i assume, is just a receptionist...maybe a nurse.  then, i get an answer in the form of a voicemail or i get part of my answer and i turn to my friend google for a little more.  i will let you know if i officially decide to change doctors after this appt...i'm seriously considering it.

so i'm writing every possible thought in my head down, even if i have a half answer already...and i'm ready to ask my questions!

first...i want her to make some sense of these.  i'm so diligent about it.  i even tried to take it at 3:30 in the a.m. because i was a little restless right as i woke up.  and it didn't appear to make a difference.  what the...

 then...i'm asking the following:

• what about my luteal phase?  length?  temp?
• can the low progesterone impact ovulation?
• is progesterone high enough even with prometrium?
• can i get blood work as soon as i get a +test?
• is my temp not rising because of my low progesterone?
• is prometrium supposed to make me feel like my dog just died...twice?
• does my temp only rise because of the prometrium?  
• can i get "day 21" bloodwork again...on the prometrium?
• is it just a coincidence that my sister is estrogen dominant with virtually no progesterone?  [her body turns it into cortisol]
• would you recommend anything else besides my current arsenal [pictured below]

1. ov test strips  2. the bible  3. prenatal vitamins  4. vitex  5. prometrium  6. guaifenesin  7. bb thermometer

 

if school is going to be in session, it might as well be fall.  no need for hot summer days at the pool if you can't take advantage of them.  i got a glimpse of outside today around 11 am [i don't have a window in the cloffice] and i just thought, "i would be heading to the pool right now."  let's just bring out the fall decor and call summer what it is...officially over.  besides, i have a few fall tops i'm dying to wear!

in fertility news.  i've decided to take a leap of faith and start taking the vitex.  i will spare you my reasoning behind it, but that's the plan.  along with charting, i will add vitex to my long list of daily supplements.  that makes it: a duo set of prenatal multi-vitamins, extra folic acid, additional b6 and three vitex capsules per day.  i've also made the transition to no coffee [decaf or not]...i almost wanted to drink water out of my coffee mug during morning duty because i just felt strange without it.  i plan to try green tea.

we were extra out-doorsy this past weekend.  we got together with a group of friends and hit the katy trail for a bike ride.  we rode from defiance to augusta [about 8 miles each way].  great workout and beautiful weather.  only two pics turned out.

this was jake's bike.

on the trail.

then, jake's aunt planned a family canoe trip for the following sunday.  the weather was perfect and the water was awesome.  and i maybe lifted the ore three times.  jake made me a little lounge thingy so i could get my tan on.  needless to say, i didn't bring my camera or phone.  we all know my history with electronics.

kinda creepy.  kinda cute.  i walked past my mirror this weekend at just the right time of day and i saw this little "paw" print on it.  must have been from when my niece was here mid august.  it put a little smile on my face.  i haven't washed it off yet.

look close.  can you see?

mystery pet.  someone put this on my laptop today at work.  i'm not sure if it was a student or coworker.  but it's kinda of like a little pet.  and...it made me smile.

pet rock.

pillow fight.  we've decided to be a bit more trusting and let remy stay in our room while we're gone for increasing periods of time.  welp.  that's not happening anymore.  we came home from the cards game to this:

ya that's a pillow.  or was.  this too shall pass?

little stinker.  she likes to have me play fetch with her while i soak in the tub.  on this night...she kept balancing the ball on the edge of the tub and then nudging it into the water.  then, the little bugger stole my towel and moved it to where i couldn't reach!

until next time...

awkward and awesome [and sick] thursday.

not a whole lot of new around here.  just drained from fighting off my first cold of the school year [it came on quick  - not even a week after the first day].

[yawn]

|awkward|

experiencing a cough attack during a meeting and being so far from the door through which to excuse myself.  the speaker had to refrain from talking until i left.

the fever blister that continues to linger, from last week's a & a...remember the talking stain?  these things are a curse!

not being able to spit out "speech language pathologist" as i introduced myself to a parent...actually, that's more ironic than awkward.

having a drunk guy ask me what i do and then say, "i need therapy when i'm drunk"...if i had a dime for every time i heard that.

being flipped off by a 1st grader.  she barely has any expressive language, but she sure picks up signs well.

being asked three times to be fb friends with someone.  did they forget they asked or are they really this persistent?  or are they just trying to prove a point now?

the glare i gave to the lady at schnuck's who didn't have one nice thing to say to the pharmacist about being pregnant [if it isn't the back pain, it's the peeing and if it isn't that - it's the sweating... she went on and on].  i'd kill to be in your shoes, lady.  if you only knew.

the gag face i make when downing cough syrup...or gargling salt water.  i can't do it.

|awesome|

my three.year.old niece's length.  she sure didn't get it from our side.

my new ipod and its pedometer.  i walked over 4000 steps today.

my birthday spending money.  can you say shopping spree?

having a full hour of plan time first thing in the morning.

seeing a student sign more,please and ready for the first time [not the same student who used the inappropriate sign].

_____________________________________________

that's about it.  like i said, not much going on here.  cd...25, i think?  trying not to be too crazy and remember, jake was out of town during the time my doc "suspects" ov.  immaculate conception?  a girl can dream.

thinking of starting vitex but not sure its advised to take vitex while on prometrium.  need to call doc.  if that's the case...torn.  part of me wants to try the vitex [natural] route, which is known to regulate progesterone production.  but prometrium isn't synthetic.  but what if the vitex would work?  now, i'm rambling...but that's my current thought process.