Would you do it?

This past Monday I was so sure that I was pregnant. If I had had a million dollars to bet on it, I would have done it. My temperatures in my LP always drop by 10 DPO, 11 at the latest, and at 12 DPO they were continuing to be in the range that has only ever meant pregnancy for me. I also went from being hungry for one or two meals a day to eating three plus snacks in between. My breasts were sore, and I was nauseous and bloated in the evenings. I was feeling dizzy after standing at work for 3-4 hours.

But then I tested on Tuesday (13 DPO) and got a negative. Say what?!?

Well, guess what my (not so) beloved nurse told me later that day... Clomid can change your LP! Thank you for letting me know that when I started taking it, so that I wouldn't get my hopes up! Why wouldn't you tell me that before?

I actually made it to 14 DPO with high temperatures and then my temp finally fell below my coverline on day 15 - yesterday. AF showed up today.

I called my nurse yesterday to start setting up this month's treatment cycle, after I was sure that AF was on her way. Well, really, I just called to ask when I could come in for my Clomid prescription because I wasn't supposed to be coming in for any appointments.... But wait, there's more! They actually want to full on monitor me for these treatment cycles... Which would be fine if my insurance covered it at all. But it doesn't. Therefore, if we go through with this treatment, it will cost us $900 per month for a 25 freaking percent chance (per month) of getting pregnant. And forget my chances of actually carrying that baby to term... I mean, they're slightly improved over my chances without the Clomid, but still.

I was convinced that we were done with medical expenses and our mostly drained savings account hasn't had a chance to be replenished yet. We currently have enough money to do one cycle at that price and probably two more after that with what is coming back from the government in refunds, but I don't like to live life without an emergency fund.

So my question is, would you do it? And what are my chances of finding a doctor who will do an unmonitored Clomid cycle? Is that a reasonable request?

Wow! Look at me go!

A new blog look on the first day of the month. Well, I'll be darned.

Better News

No, I'm not pregnant yet, but here's the better news:
1. Only three more tests and then we're done! And... only one of them is on me! Woohoo!
2. The MTHFR mutation shouldn't mean that I need blood thinners. Just a possible vitamin problem that is pretty easily taken care of with extra folic acid.
3. No thyroid problem - the first test was just a fluke!

I ovulated on Wednesday and it was painful. Here's to hoping that means I ovulated more than once. Although not too many times... I am a pretty small person after all.

Good News

I got good news today: my ovaries responded quite well to the Clomid - my FSH is at 10.5 (down from 10.7 last week) and my estrogen is 748, which is a great response. What they didn't want to see is for my FSH to shoot up, which it didn't, so we're happy with the results.

No thyroid results back yet; I'll probably get them at my follow up appointment next Thursday and we'll see where to go from there. We also have a genetic counseling appointment tomorrow at 1, where we'll figure out what genetic tests we need in regards to the MTHFR mutation.

Problem #4

I went in this morning for my Day 3 ultrasound and bloodwork. I was really impressed by the efficiency of the Shady Grove office. I got to my appointment about 20 minutes early and got seen almost right away. I was out of the building by 10 minutes after my appointment was supposed to start... Wow!

The good news is that on my own I had 3 follicles in my right ovary and 7 in my left. My LH and estrogen were normal. My FSH was still higher than normal at 10.7 (over 10 is considered "high"). My new medical problem of the visit (and, yes, I have come to expect a new problem at each office visit) was that I had an elevated prolactin and TSH levels, which suggests yet another problem (hypothyroidism), if the results were not just a fluke. We'll be retesting those either later this cycle or maybe next month (the nurse wasn't super clear on when) and if they are still high, I get to go see an endocrinologist to get put on medication, hopefully just temporarily to straighten things out.

We're continuing on with the Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test this month - prepare ye the way for hot flashes.

Next appointments: January 14 for retesting of the FSH levels, January 15 for genetic counseling for the MTHFR mutations (to discuss next steps).

P.S. I started a part-time job at Ann Taylor Loft today. Hooray for employee discounts!

Updates on medical stuff

It's Day 1 of my new cycle today, which means it's time for the Clomiphene Challenge Test. I called the Shady Grove office today, but their message said they were CLOSED for the holiday... Is today a holiday?

Anyhow, I need to make an appointment for an ultrasound on Thursday or else I have to wait another month for this test! I do NOT like waiting, so I had better not have to wait again... (Although praise God that my cycles are never longer than 29ish days. I don't think I could do the waiting that some women have to do!)

I also made an appointment with the genetic counselor yesterday to discuss the MTHFR mutation and what needs to happen with that. Thankfully even though I think our insurance won't cover that appointment, the maximum price we'll pay is $135. That's doable!

New Year, New Hair, New Look

I think this is the hope inside of me roaring up - maybe if I change my hair, my year will be different than the last? If I'm not pregnant now, it's on to the clomiphene challenge test next week. I'd love to be pregnant right now and not need the (somewhat expensive) medical help, but then again, if the clomid will improve the quality of my eggs, I will take it willingly and gladly.

Here's to hoping we won't be staying awake until midnight next December 31.