Dr. K and her staff have developed a checklist that one must complete before they can be inseminated with donor sperm. One of the items on that checklist is an appointment with their in-house counselor to assess the relationship and the couple's level of understanding regarding the risks involved. Basically, they want to make sure J and I aren't totally crazy...at least that's our running joke!
So we met with Claire today. She's super nice and easy to talk to as I'm sure most therapists are. She asked each of us about our family history and other background questions about our mental and physical health history.
The appointment lasted about 45 minutes. At the end she told us that she felt comfortable clearing us to proceed through the process of IUI! Now we need to finalized a donor, continue to improve our fitness levels, and save up some more money!
Friday, October 31, 2014
Sunday, October 12, 2014
10/12/2014: Back to the Donor Drawing Board
Today, J and I worked on narrowing down our stack of donor profiles! Unfortunately, some of the sperm banks' websites are more helpful than others so there weren't as many candidates as there appeared to be. We had a lot of profiles that we threw out right away merely because they didn't come close to meeting our search criteria in regards to ethnicity. Again, ethnicity is probably our biggest criteria followed closely by height, weight, hair, and eye color. It feels so odd to search for potential sperm donors. It's very Science Fiction-y.
We have a few donors we really are leaning towards pretty hard. Our Reproductive Endocrinologist only works with three sperm banks and we can only find suitable donors at one of them. Though it feels like our options are even more limited, it is a lot less overwhelming than having so many strong candidates it becomes hard to narrow it down.
We have a few donors we really are leaning towards pretty hard. Our Reproductive Endocrinologist only works with three sperm banks and we can only find suitable donors at one of them. Though it feels like our options are even more limited, it is a lot less overwhelming than having so many strong candidates it becomes hard to narrow it down.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
9/11/2014: Consult with Alexa
My consult with Alexa was this morning. I thought we were going to talk about the Healthy Start program that Dr. K's office offers but it didn't seem like there was much of a program to explain.
We began by just talking about my eating and exercise habits. J and I have been working on eating better and moving more because we are serious about losing weight before starting with fertility treatments this winter. Alexa was pleased to hear that I've lost 9 lbs since my first visit with Dr. K. My goal was to lose 60-70 lbs total before we start trying and it's an aggressive but doable goal. I only have 50-60 more to go!
She suggested I get a book that explains a diet related to insulin resistance since most people who struggle with weight are resistant to some degree. Studies show that low carb/high protein diets can aid fertility for some people so that's what they want me (us) to focus on. I was asked some questions about how we prep for meals, which hasn't been an issue as of late. She suggested we increase our movement in small ways like exercising with free weights while watching TV or going for short walks throughout the day. I am an all or nothing kind of person: unless I go full force into a workout I feel like it's not worth it, but breaking it up would help with the monotony of work and the feeling of never having enough time.
I have a lap-band that was originally placed in March 2010. I lost about 150 lbs with that effort until the band slipped out of place and caused me some other health issues. The doctor was able to fix it, but I am leery of messing with it too much. I mention this because the way I had to eat to be so successful with that effort was low carb/high protein. I've been slowly getting back to that and it feels good, but it is definitely a daily struggle to avoid temptation.
They also drew my blood in the office to recheck my vitamin D levels, but I'm not sure it will have improved much thanks to my forgetting to take my supplements...Oh well!
All in all, it was an okay appointment. I'm still not entirely sold that it was worth my time, but at least it was short. She would like to see me in a month just to touch base. She says it helps others accountability-wise so we will see.
We began by just talking about my eating and exercise habits. J and I have been working on eating better and moving more because we are serious about losing weight before starting with fertility treatments this winter. Alexa was pleased to hear that I've lost 9 lbs since my first visit with Dr. K. My goal was to lose 60-70 lbs total before we start trying and it's an aggressive but doable goal. I only have 50-60 more to go!
She suggested I get a book that explains a diet related to insulin resistance since most people who struggle with weight are resistant to some degree. Studies show that low carb/high protein diets can aid fertility for some people so that's what they want me (us) to focus on. I was asked some questions about how we prep for meals, which hasn't been an issue as of late. She suggested we increase our movement in small ways like exercising with free weights while watching TV or going for short walks throughout the day. I am an all or nothing kind of person: unless I go full force into a workout I feel like it's not worth it, but breaking it up would help with the monotony of work and the feeling of never having enough time.
I have a lap-band that was originally placed in March 2010. I lost about 150 lbs with that effort until the band slipped out of place and caused me some other health issues. The doctor was able to fix it, but I am leery of messing with it too much. I mention this because the way I had to eat to be so successful with that effort was low carb/high protein. I've been slowly getting back to that and it feels good, but it is definitely a daily struggle to avoid temptation.
They also drew my blood in the office to recheck my vitamin D levels, but I'm not sure it will have improved much thanks to my forgetting to take my supplements...Oh well!
All in all, it was an okay appointment. I'm still not entirely sold that it was worth my time, but at least it was short. She would like to see me in a month just to touch base. She says it helps others accountability-wise so we will see.
Friday, August 22, 2014
8/22/2014: Results appt. with Dr. K
This morning we had our appointment with Dr. K to go over the results from all the tests I've undergone. J is out of state for work so she joined us on speakerphone.
My ovaries are young. I have lots of eggs. And my tubes and uterus are open and ready for a baby!
That's the gist at least. I can't remember all the levels that she shared with me. I am borderline PCOS, but she doesn't want to diagnose it quite yet just because all my issues could boil down to metabolic syndrome. The weight is either the cause or the symptom.
We talked about the genetic test results a bit. She would recommend reaching out to the company who did the test to find out the incidence of being a carrier within the general population. J and I aren't super worried about having a deaf child so we'll ask them, but we won't be pursuing any genetic testing of our donors.
Dr. K reviewed the IUI procedure and how we would begin that process, which was really exciting to hear. Not because we didn't know how it worked, but because we are so close to really beginning to try and we can't wait! Because some of my hormones are on the PCOS borderline, Dr. K is recommending I use Letrozole (aka Femera) instead of Clomid because the former regulates male and female hormones in the body, which helps with fertility. She also mentioned that she'd prefer to go straight to Letrozole instead of trying Clomid and finding out I don't respond to it.
J and I told Dr. K that we've decided to wait until January so that we can work on losing weight and getting healthier in addition to saving more money. We are already on the hook for $1500 bucks or so. That was just for blood-work and genetic testing, which is insane. My current insurance won't cover the blood-work since it's being used for future infertility treatments, which is total bunk but lucky for us, open enrollment is coming in November and I've heard that some of the other plans cover more. Dr. K was really happy to hear this and said she wished all her patients were like us, because she hates to see people go through all the stress and emotions and financial costs if the chances are optimal.
I will need to meet with the PA regarding the Healthy Start program that Dr. K recommends. I don't know how soon I can get in to see her because this is about to be the busiest time of year for me at work. Hopefully it will be very soon!
My ovaries are young. I have lots of eggs. And my tubes and uterus are open and ready for a baby!
That's the gist at least. I can't remember all the levels that she shared with me. I am borderline PCOS, but she doesn't want to diagnose it quite yet just because all my issues could boil down to metabolic syndrome. The weight is either the cause or the symptom.
We talked about the genetic test results a bit. She would recommend reaching out to the company who did the test to find out the incidence of being a carrier within the general population. J and I aren't super worried about having a deaf child so we'll ask them, but we won't be pursuing any genetic testing of our donors.
Dr. K reviewed the IUI procedure and how we would begin that process, which was really exciting to hear. Not because we didn't know how it worked, but because we are so close to really beginning to try and we can't wait! Because some of my hormones are on the PCOS borderline, Dr. K is recommending I use Letrozole (aka Femera) instead of Clomid because the former regulates male and female hormones in the body, which helps with fertility. She also mentioned that she'd prefer to go straight to Letrozole instead of trying Clomid and finding out I don't respond to it.
J and I told Dr. K that we've decided to wait until January so that we can work on losing weight and getting healthier in addition to saving more money. We are already on the hook for $1500 bucks or so. That was just for blood-work and genetic testing, which is insane. My current insurance won't cover the blood-work since it's being used for future infertility treatments, which is total bunk but lucky for us, open enrollment is coming in November and I've heard that some of the other plans cover more. Dr. K was really happy to hear this and said she wished all her patients were like us, because she hates to see people go through all the stress and emotions and financial costs if the chances are optimal.
I will need to meet with the PA regarding the Healthy Start program that Dr. K recommends. I don't know how soon I can get in to see her because this is about to be the busiest time of year for me at work. Hopefully it will be very soon!
Monday, August 18, 2014
8/18/2014: Genetic Testing Results
Well, the results are in!
Part of the blood-work I had done a couple weeks ago was being sent away for genetic testing, which I failed to mention in that day's post. (The rest is to determine things like whether or not I have STDs, blood type, and some hormone levels). Today we received an email notifying us that the results are ready to view. J is out of town this week for work, but I decided to view the report anyways.
When I had my blood drawn, I had to decide between the basic genetic test or the more extensive test. Of course, the main difference is the potential out-of-pocket cost after insurance, but since the more extensive test examined tens of thousands of diseases versus just a few thousands I decided it would be more worthwhile to get the extensive version.
It turns out that I am a carrier for GJB2-related DFNB1 Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness. I'm not really surprised nor am I upset in any way about this official finding. You see, both of my parents are deaf and have been for as long as each of them can remember. Though I have some hearing loss, it doesn't appear to be the type this genetic trait indicates, which is congenital hearing loss that can be mild to severe but does not worsen.
My parents are the only deaf people in our family and may even be the first anyone in the family has knowledge of, but I always knew there was a chance for it to be genetic. Before J and I started to seriously plan for children we discussed the possibility of having a deaf child and agreed that this wouldn't be a huge deal. If anything, it would motivate both of us to sharpen our American Sign Language skills. Technology has advanced so greatly and there are many more educational outlets for deaf children now that I don't foresee this being an issue.
We will cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we are looking forward to our appointment with Dr. K to discuss results and next steps.
Part of the blood-work I had done a couple weeks ago was being sent away for genetic testing, which I failed to mention in that day's post. (The rest is to determine things like whether or not I have STDs, blood type, and some hormone levels). Today we received an email notifying us that the results are ready to view. J is out of town this week for work, but I decided to view the report anyways.
When I had my blood drawn, I had to decide between the basic genetic test or the more extensive test. Of course, the main difference is the potential out-of-pocket cost after insurance, but since the more extensive test examined tens of thousands of diseases versus just a few thousands I decided it would be more worthwhile to get the extensive version.
It turns out that I am a carrier for GJB2-related DFNB1 Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness. I'm not really surprised nor am I upset in any way about this official finding. You see, both of my parents are deaf and have been for as long as each of them can remember. Though I have some hearing loss, it doesn't appear to be the type this genetic trait indicates, which is congenital hearing loss that can be mild to severe but does not worsen.
My parents are the only deaf people in our family and may even be the first anyone in the family has knowledge of, but I always knew there was a chance for it to be genetic. Before J and I started to seriously plan for children we discussed the possibility of having a deaf child and agreed that this wouldn't be a huge deal. If anything, it would motivate both of us to sharpen our American Sign Language skills. Technology has advanced so greatly and there are many more educational outlets for deaf children now that I don't foresee this being an issue.
We will cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we are looking forward to our appointment with Dr. K to discuss results and next steps.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
8/7/2014: HSG test
I had the HSG done this morning and it was relatively easy.
After running around town like a crazy person after 11pm the night before when I realized we had no Ibuprofen in the house, I was a bit scatter-brained and very exhausted. I was also nervous because I had done far too much reading on the internet about the procedure. Everything I read made it seem like it would be terribly uncomfortable, but it was just mildly uncomfortable. Ha.
I arrived at the hospital, checked in, and only waited a few minutes before being taken back to the X-Ray dressing/changing room. Dr. K's staff had previously mentioned she performs the procedure on several women all in the same morning so I wasn't surprised to be sharing the room with four others when all was said and done.
Once in the dressing/waiting room, I had to remove everything from the waist down and wear two very fashionably hospital gowns so as to avoid from showing everyone my bits. After a few minutes, I was called back to the X-Ray room where they took a shot of my abdomen, I'm assuming for placement purposes? I'm not really sure.
I returned to the dressing/waiting room for a bit, perused an outdated edition of HGTV magazine, and then was called back for the real thing. Dr. K introduced me to her resident, explained the procedure to me one more time, and then we began. The most difficult part was spreading my legs far apart without stirrups, honestly. She inserted the speculum, cleaned my cervix with antiseptic, inserted the catheter into my uterus, and injected the iodine. We had to wait a minute or two for the radiologist, but it really wasn't long nor was it a problem despite Dr. K's apologies. They took two or three shots of everything lit up with the iodine before Dr. K removed everything and began explaining the results, which were good.
Though my uterus tilts back a bit (not enough to be a concern), my fallopian tubes are clear and there was good flow of the iodine! I know we can't really start trying until January at the earliest, but every bit of good news helps me to remain positive and get more excited to start trying officially!
The next appointment is to go over the results of all the testing and discuss next steps. Yay!
After running around town like a crazy person after 11pm the night before when I realized we had no Ibuprofen in the house, I was a bit scatter-brained and very exhausted. I was also nervous because I had done far too much reading on the internet about the procedure. Everything I read made it seem like it would be terribly uncomfortable, but it was just mildly uncomfortable. Ha.
I arrived at the hospital, checked in, and only waited a few minutes before being taken back to the X-Ray dressing/changing room. Dr. K's staff had previously mentioned she performs the procedure on several women all in the same morning so I wasn't surprised to be sharing the room with four others when all was said and done.
Once in the dressing/waiting room, I had to remove everything from the waist down and wear two very fashionably hospital gowns so as to avoid from showing everyone my bits. After a few minutes, I was called back to the X-Ray room where they took a shot of my abdomen, I'm assuming for placement purposes? I'm not really sure.
I returned to the dressing/waiting room for a bit, perused an outdated edition of HGTV magazine, and then was called back for the real thing. Dr. K introduced me to her resident, explained the procedure to me one more time, and then we began. The most difficult part was spreading my legs far apart without stirrups, honestly. She inserted the speculum, cleaned my cervix with antiseptic, inserted the catheter into my uterus, and injected the iodine. We had to wait a minute or two for the radiologist, but it really wasn't long nor was it a problem despite Dr. K's apologies. They took two or three shots of everything lit up with the iodine before Dr. K removed everything and began explaining the results, which were good.
Though my uterus tilts back a bit (not enough to be a concern), my fallopian tubes are clear and there was good flow of the iodine! I know we can't really start trying until January at the earliest, but every bit of good news helps me to remain positive and get more excited to start trying officially!
The next appointment is to go over the results of all the testing and discuss next steps. Yay!
Friday, August 1, 2014
8/1/2014: Blood-work and a surprise ultrasound
Today I returned to Dr. K's office to get my Cycle Day 3 blood-work done. They were a bit delayed in getting me back, which was a bummer but not at all surprising given the nature of the office. My veins are awful and the poor tech had to try 3 times to get a vein that would provide enough blood for all the tests required. I'm used to this with my terrible veins, but I could tell she felt awful.
During the blood-work the tech mentioned that I am also supposed to have an ultrasound done. That was news to me, but since I was already there it wasn't a problem. J and I must not have remembered that bit of information given the enormous amount we got simultaneously.
Unfortunately, the ultrasound was of the intravaginal variety which is never fun...but even less so when on your period. Again, they need to do the ultrasound on Cycle Day 3 for a baseline.
After a bit more waiting, the ultrasound tech finally came in to start the test. It was interesting to see my uterus and ovaries, but it was not very comfortable. The tech mentioned that my follicle count looks good, which made me feel a bit of relief given the mixed bag of news yesterday provided us with.
Just a few minutes later, the tech was done and explained to me the next steps like the HSG and making sure to schedule a follow-up with Dr.K to review all the results. She then gave me another business card of the PA on staff. She recommended I call her soon because she's the PCOS expert and according to the tech it looks like I have PCOS.
I'm actually relieved by this news because for two years I've been convinced I have PCOS mainly due to the sudden weight gain of nearly 100 lbs and a few other symptoms like fatigue, hair thinning, my period being all messed up, and excess body hair to name a few. My sister has PCOS as well which increases the likelihood of me having it. Despite all these symptoms every blood test I've had has come back negative. I am so frustrated by this and by my other doctors' refusal to order additional testing like an ultrasound.
I've been miserable because I've regained so much weight that I worked hard to lose (previously I lost 150+ lbs) and every time I try to get back on the saddle so to speak, I can't seem to lose any weight. We wanted to start trying to have kids right after we were married almost two years ago, but the weight gain made us feel like it wasn't a good time.
This revelation caused me to look back at the blood-work I had done with Dr. P. According to various online medical sources, it's possible to test within the normal ranges and still have PCOS. Particularly interesting is the ratio of LH to FSH. In women with PCOS, the LH level is often two or three times the FSH level. Mine is roughly two times higher than the FSH level. If I were ovulating on CD 15, the day after the blood-work, the LH would be between 25-40 mIU/mL. Very interesting stuff!
Next Thursday I have scheduled my HSG at a local hospital. I hope we will get more answers!
During the blood-work the tech mentioned that I am also supposed to have an ultrasound done. That was news to me, but since I was already there it wasn't a problem. J and I must not have remembered that bit of information given the enormous amount we got simultaneously.
Unfortunately, the ultrasound was of the intravaginal variety which is never fun...but even less so when on your period. Again, they need to do the ultrasound on Cycle Day 3 for a baseline.
After a bit more waiting, the ultrasound tech finally came in to start the test. It was interesting to see my uterus and ovaries, but it was not very comfortable. The tech mentioned that my follicle count looks good, which made me feel a bit of relief given the mixed bag of news yesterday provided us with.
Just a few minutes later, the tech was done and explained to me the next steps like the HSG and making sure to schedule a follow-up with Dr.K to review all the results. She then gave me another business card of the PA on staff. She recommended I call her soon because she's the PCOS expert and according to the tech it looks like I have PCOS.
I'm actually relieved by this news because for two years I've been convinced I have PCOS mainly due to the sudden weight gain of nearly 100 lbs and a few other symptoms like fatigue, hair thinning, my period being all messed up, and excess body hair to name a few. My sister has PCOS as well which increases the likelihood of me having it. Despite all these symptoms every blood test I've had has come back negative. I am so frustrated by this and by my other doctors' refusal to order additional testing like an ultrasound.
I've been miserable because I've regained so much weight that I worked hard to lose (previously I lost 150+ lbs) and every time I try to get back on the saddle so to speak, I can't seem to lose any weight. We wanted to start trying to have kids right after we were married almost two years ago, but the weight gain made us feel like it wasn't a good time.
This revelation caused me to look back at the blood-work I had done with Dr. P. According to various online medical sources, it's possible to test within the normal ranges and still have PCOS. Particularly interesting is the ratio of LH to FSH. In women with PCOS, the LH level is often two or three times the FSH level. Mine is roughly two times higher than the FSH level. If I were ovulating on CD 15, the day after the blood-work, the LH would be between 25-40 mIU/mL. Very interesting stuff!
Next Thursday I have scheduled my HSG at a local hospital. I hope we will get more answers!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
7/31/2014: First Appt with Dr. K
Today J and I had our first of many appointments with Dr. K and her staff. The GPS nearly made us late, but we were luckily able to hop on the freeway and make up for lost time.
One we arrived at her office, I was asked to fill out some more paperwork and turn in the forms they had sent in the mail. We only waited a few minutes before being called back. I was weighed (not my fave) and then we were shown to a room where the nurse asked a few more health history questions. She left to get the doc and told me Dr. K would be performing an exam...well, my period, which hasn't been around in two months, finally decided to show last night so we skipped that portion.
Dr. K came in to review my blood-work results from Dr. P, which were normal. Because we skipped the exam, we were shown to her office to have a one-on-one consult with her during which she explained their process and how we would proceed.
Turns out my period showing up was a good sign because they need Cycle Day 3 blood-work, which means I need to return tomorrow. They will be doing testing on hormone levels, blood type, an STD panel, and genetic testing. After this testing, I'll need an HSG which is an ultrasound of the reproductive organs with dye. Before we can start, we need to meet with the counselor on staff, the PA, and J also needs to get blood-work done to confirm her STD-free status. They also require us to meet with a lawyer since the state we live in refuses to recognize J as the parent.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we will be officially starting the insemination process for a little while. Dr. K is concerned that my excess weight could interfere with the success of treatment. Since it's so costly, she recommends delaying until some weight can be lost. Though I'm completely bummed (as is J) I know it's for the best. I've been trying all summer to lose some weight and am basically where I started. Dr. K's office has an entire team of people dedicated to things like acupuncture, massage, group therapy, and even nutrition. She recommended that I enroll in the nutrition and fitness programs which focus on a low carb/high protein diet. I've been successful with this sort of plan in the past so I am certain we (J is going to do it too!) can be successful this time.
Another hiccup is that Dr. K doesn't work with the sperm bank we chose. That means we are back to the drawing board completely. She had a few concerns with them: 1) we live in the same geographic area as the donors which could lead to our kid(s) having half sibs in classes, etc. and 2) they have had much greater success with the three they recommend which (duh) is why they are recommended.
Overall, I'm pretty sad we can't start trying as soon as possible, but I know there is a reason for everything. Dr. K made a great point about the costs alone. We wouldn't want to just waste our resources when it's not as likely to be successful or without risks like miscarriage. Losing some weight will help increase our odds of success and decrease the risks of miscarriage.
One we arrived at her office, I was asked to fill out some more paperwork and turn in the forms they had sent in the mail. We only waited a few minutes before being called back. I was weighed (not my fave) and then we were shown to a room where the nurse asked a few more health history questions. She left to get the doc and told me Dr. K would be performing an exam...well, my period, which hasn't been around in two months, finally decided to show last night so we skipped that portion.
Dr. K came in to review my blood-work results from Dr. P, which were normal. Because we skipped the exam, we were shown to her office to have a one-on-one consult with her during which she explained their process and how we would proceed.
Turns out my period showing up was a good sign because they need Cycle Day 3 blood-work, which means I need to return tomorrow. They will be doing testing on hormone levels, blood type, an STD panel, and genetic testing. After this testing, I'll need an HSG which is an ultrasound of the reproductive organs with dye. Before we can start, we need to meet with the counselor on staff, the PA, and J also needs to get blood-work done to confirm her STD-free status. They also require us to meet with a lawyer since the state we live in refuses to recognize J as the parent.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we will be officially starting the insemination process for a little while. Dr. K is concerned that my excess weight could interfere with the success of treatment. Since it's so costly, she recommends delaying until some weight can be lost. Though I'm completely bummed (as is J) I know it's for the best. I've been trying all summer to lose some weight and am basically where I started. Dr. K's office has an entire team of people dedicated to things like acupuncture, massage, group therapy, and even nutrition. She recommended that I enroll in the nutrition and fitness programs which focus on a low carb/high protein diet. I've been successful with this sort of plan in the past so I am certain we (J is going to do it too!) can be successful this time.
Another hiccup is that Dr. K doesn't work with the sperm bank we chose. That means we are back to the drawing board completely. She had a few concerns with them: 1) we live in the same geographic area as the donors which could lead to our kid(s) having half sibs in classes, etc. and 2) they have had much greater success with the three they recommend which (duh) is why they are recommended.
Overall, I'm pretty sad we can't start trying as soon as possible, but I know there is a reason for everything. Dr. K made a great point about the costs alone. We wouldn't want to just waste our resources when it's not as likely to be successful or without risks like miscarriage. Losing some weight will help increase our odds of success and decrease the risks of miscarriage.
Monday, June 23, 2014
6/23/2014: Bloodwork Results from Dr. P's Office
When I saw Dr. P for my annual, we discussed J and I wanting to begin trying to have children. She is supportive but due to my irregular periods of late, decided to order some blood-work. The results of which I received today. Keep in mind the blood-work was drawn on my Cycle Day 14.
FSH, SERUM
5.9 (mIU/mL)
According to the chart on the results sheet, this means I was in the follicular part of my cycle, which can last about 14 Cycle Days.
LH (LUTEINIZING HORMONE SERUM)
10.3 (mIU/mL)
The references ranges for this particular result are confusing. My result could indicate that I was in the follicular part of my cycle, or the Luteal phase.
ESTRADIOL
39.3 (pg/mL)
My result indicates, once again, that I was in the follicular phase of my cycle.
TSH (THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE)
1.12 (uU/mL)
This level is within the reference range.
FSH, SERUM
5.9 (mIU/mL)
According to the chart on the results sheet, this means I was in the follicular part of my cycle, which can last about 14 Cycle Days.
LH (LUTEINIZING HORMONE SERUM)
10.3 (mIU/mL)
The references ranges for this particular result are confusing. My result could indicate that I was in the follicular part of my cycle, or the Luteal phase.
ESTRADIOL
39.3 (pg/mL)
My result indicates, once again, that I was in the follicular phase of my cycle.
TSH (THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE)
1.12 (uU/mL)
This level is within the reference range.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
6/17/2014: Annual Exam with Dr. P
I had my annual gyno exam with Dr. P today. She will also be our OB once we are prego.
My period has been completely out of whack for quite some time, which I'm chalking up to stress. I discussed this with Dr. P and she decided to order some blood-work to see what's going on. She mentioned that the weight I've gained could be an issue, but since these issues started just a few months ago she agrees it's likely due to stress.
I let her know that we'd like to start trying to get pregnant in the very near future and she supports us completely. The doc and I talked about the doctor J and I are considering, Dr. K, and she had positive experiences with her so that's great. She said she'd be more than happy to refer which is even better!
Dr. P let me know that my cycles would likely need to be regulated with Clomid regardless of their irregularity now so she gave me her blessing to contact Dr. K's office and she even made sure the blood-work she was ordering was sent there as well.
According to Dr. P everything looks good so we're just waiting for the results on the blood-work and the pap just be sure.
Once I got my blood drawn, I hurriedly called Dr. K's office to make an appointment. We are set for our first appointment on July 31st! Though I think this worked out the way it was supposed to, I'm bummed Dr. K's receptionist told me in May that I needed a referral, which is why we've been waiting until the appointment with Dr. P. Oh well.
Onward!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
6/11/2014: We chose a donor!
J and I decided on a donor tonight! We found a sperm bank in our area that has a number of donors that share the characteristics we are most looking for and is a bit more affordable than others we've found to boot! We've been waiting for awhile for finally sit down and read over the profiles together. It was nice to finally get that accomplished after having a nice dinner together. I guess some might consider that a strange date night, though.
Since I'll be carrying, we decided to choose donors who share some of J's qualities. Mainly, we are looking at ethnicity/heritage, height, education level/profession, and family health history. Out of nearly 20 donor profiles, we chose our top five candidates.
Donor #1:
Shares J's ethnicity, is over 6' tall, does not smoke, has brothers and sisters, is currently in med school, and has living grandparents in their 80s and 90s. This donor only has ICI specimens available, which we are hoping we can have the fertility clinic wash in order to make them IUI specimens.
Donor#2:
Shares J's ethnicity, is almost 6' tall, doesn't smoke, has brothers and sisters, works in banking management, and has living grandparents in their late 70s. His paternal grandparents were smokers who died in their 60s from cancer. These specimens would also require washing in order to make them IUI units.
Donor #3:
Shares 7/8 of J's ethnicity with a dash of another that she doesn't share, is nearly 6' tall, does not smoke or drink, only has brothers, works in real estate as well as attends college, and has living grandparents in their 80s and 90s save for one grandfather who passed away due to exposure to the elements from being lost in the mountains. This donor has IUI specimens available.
Donor #4:
Shares many of J's and my own ethnicity, is 6' tall, does not smoke or drink, only has sisters, studies full-time, and has living grandparents in their late 70s and 80s. IUI specimens are available for this donor.
Donor #5:
Shares J's ethnicity as well as some others that do not run in either of our families, is nearly 6' tall, does not smoke, is a medical resident with a 4.0 GPA, and has two living grandparents in their around 80 years old and two deceased grandparents who lived until their 80s. This donor has IUI specimens available.
It's crazy to think we could be staring at a sheet of paper that represents the other half of our children's genetic makeup! The next steps are to see Dr. P for my annual exam and hopefully get into a reproductive endocrinologist as soon as possible.
Donor #1:
Shares J's ethnicity, is over 6' tall, does not smoke, has brothers and sisters, is currently in med school, and has living grandparents in their 80s and 90s. This donor only has ICI specimens available, which we are hoping we can have the fertility clinic wash in order to make them IUI specimens.
Donor#2:
Shares J's ethnicity, is almost 6' tall, doesn't smoke, has brothers and sisters, works in banking management, and has living grandparents in their late 70s. His paternal grandparents were smokers who died in their 60s from cancer. These specimens would also require washing in order to make them IUI units.
Donor #3:
Shares 7/8 of J's ethnicity with a dash of another that she doesn't share, is nearly 6' tall, does not smoke or drink, only has brothers, works in real estate as well as attends college, and has living grandparents in their 80s and 90s save for one grandfather who passed away due to exposure to the elements from being lost in the mountains. This donor has IUI specimens available.
Donor #4:
Shares many of J's and my own ethnicity, is 6' tall, does not smoke or drink, only has sisters, studies full-time, and has living grandparents in their late 70s and 80s. IUI specimens are available for this donor.
Donor #5:
Shares J's ethnicity as well as some others that do not run in either of our families, is nearly 6' tall, does not smoke, is a medical resident with a 4.0 GPA, and has two living grandparents in their around 80 years old and two deceased grandparents who lived until their 80s. This donor has IUI specimens available.
It's crazy to think we could be staring at a sheet of paper that represents the other half of our children's genetic makeup! The next steps are to see Dr. P for my annual exam and hopefully get into a reproductive endocrinologist as soon as possible.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
6/1/2014: About the Two Chicks
Hi there! We are J and G, otherwise known here as the Two Chicks.
J and I first met in the fall of 2010 after initially meeting online. Some people may have thought we were moving too fast, but everything just seemed to fall into place. Sometimes when it's meant to be, it's just easy! We will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary this August and have two fur babies (dogs) we love more than anything. We were lucky enough to be one of roughly 300 couples that were legally married in Michigan this past March.
J is almost 30 and works as a retail manager for a major corporation.
G is almost 28 and works in higher education for a local university.
For as long as we've discussed having children it has been a no-brainer that G will carry. J has no interest in being pregnant while G has a strong desire to carry and give birth.
This blog will document our journey to parenthood. including our unique perspective as a same-sex couple. G will be the main author, but J may chime in occasionally.
We decided to start this blog to share our thoughts, feelings, and the events leading up to becoming parents so that we can look back someday or even show our future kids. But mostly we decided to blog our journey as a way to connect with others, provide others with insight/advice, and to talk about what will surely be a road of highs and lows in an anonymous fashion. It's not that we don't want to share this journey with those we call family, it's just that we feel this is stressful enough without people expecting to educate them or answer all their probing questions, etc. Only a handful of people in our real life know we are taking these steps.
We hope you enjoy sharing in our journey!
J and I first met in the fall of 2010 after initially meeting online. Some people may have thought we were moving too fast, but everything just seemed to fall into place. Sometimes when it's meant to be, it's just easy! We will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary this August and have two fur babies (dogs) we love more than anything. We were lucky enough to be one of roughly 300 couples that were legally married in Michigan this past March.
J is almost 30 and works as a retail manager for a major corporation.
G is almost 28 and works in higher education for a local university.
For as long as we've discussed having children it has been a no-brainer that G will carry. J has no interest in being pregnant while G has a strong desire to carry and give birth.
This blog will document our journey to parenthood. including our unique perspective as a same-sex couple. G will be the main author, but J may chime in occasionally.
We decided to start this blog to share our thoughts, feelings, and the events leading up to becoming parents so that we can look back someday or even show our future kids. But mostly we decided to blog our journey as a way to connect with others, provide others with insight/advice, and to talk about what will surely be a road of highs and lows in an anonymous fashion. It's not that we don't want to share this journey with those we call family, it's just that we feel this is stressful enough without people expecting to educate them or answer all their probing questions, etc. Only a handful of people in our real life know we are taking these steps.
We hope you enjoy sharing in our journey!
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