So, what exactly is the problem? Where do we go from here?

     I've crowded Facebook up with statuses on my infertility journey, so decided to make a blog for myself and any family/friends to follow, if they want. I want to start off and explain exactly what is causing me to not get pregnant. I have PCOS or (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and believe me it's a nightmare!! I diagnosed myself after goggling my symptoms which were irregular periods (since I was a teen), fatigue, heavy bleeding, etc and found PCOS. As I get older the symptoms get worse. What are the symptoms? Facial hair (didn't have that problem, but it is developing now), irregular periods, no ovulating, skin tags, insulin resistance, depression, infertility, acne, and high blood pressure. Wonderful huh? It's something I will literally deal with my whole life!! The worse part for me is the infertility because I want to get pregnant! I hate the facial hair..so embarrassing! I did go to a doctor and they tried giving me Birth control pills which is their first line of defense and that didn't work. I was told to lose weight, but with insulin resistance my body stores all the sugar I eat rather then burning it off like everyone else's. Therefore, I gain weight and it's hard to lose it. I go like 6 months without a period and so to get one, I have to take a pill called Provera which is artificial hormone progesterone. I hate that pill bc it turns me into a mean person lol. Then, I'll have a "period, but won't ovulate. Isn't that great? I was diagnosed officially with PCOS from a couple doctors. So, when I married at 18 to Jeremiah we wanted to start a family and this is where our journey started...

     I went to a gynecologist and he gave me Provera, then Clomid, and my body didn't respond at all. The Clomid is a popular ovulation pill that tricks your body into thinking Estrogen needs to be created so that follicles will grow and you ovulate. When they did blood work my numbers were at like zero and so my body didn't even register it. I tried 3 rounds of Clomid increasing dose each time with no luck. Then, another doctor put me on Femera (ovulation drug like Clomid), but it didn't work either after two cycles. I gave up at that point for a couple years because we lost insurance, moved a lot, and now I'm at a place where I have a good stable job with good benefits. I made an appointment at Nashville Fertility center and got the ball running with a plan.

     Provera was given and then my period started Monday which set everything in motion. I started Clomid again on Wednesday through Sunday I take it. Next Wed. I have an appointment to check my fallopian tubes to see if they are blocked. If they are then that is REALLY bad news. This would mean that I would have to go straight to IVF which is so expensive! I won't get the results back for a week about the tubes. Friday, I go to my first ultrasound to see if I can trigger using a syringe of (Ovidrel) which cost me 124.00 to force ovulation to occur. If the follicles don't grow then I can't do the IUI which is what we are attempting this cycle. IUI is when the doctor times ovulation perfectly and has Jeremiah provide a sample which they put in my uterus using a catheder to see if the egg/sperm will meet up. They wash his sample so they only get the strong swimmers. It's less expensive/invasive then IVF is. IVF is like the last kind of hope!!

   All these hormones I'm on makes me crazy, emotional, and wore out! I've had a horrible period the last few days with LOTS of heavy bleeding, clots, etc and it's been hell. Then, I take Clomid and that just drives me up and down emotionally. Plus, worrying about if all this will work. Clomid didn't work for me before, why would it work now? I don't know, but I'm going to do what the doctor says. I'll be 940.00 plus gas to get to Nashville in the hole with this procedure. I have to go to Nashville multiple times for U/s, tests, and the actual procedure. After I get the IUI, I can take a test two weeks later. Do you know what it will be like waiting 2 weeks wondering if it worked or not?? I pray that the first cycle will work, but I'm trying to expect the worse because we have never got a positive test EVER!! Lots of money and stress. If this fails..I don't know what the next step is...do we try more money? I get angry at all this. But, going to stay positive.
 
  I'll post along my journey! I hope you all enjoy. Just want to raise awareness of infertility! Will post on Wed about the HSG test!!