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02-02-2010 at 9:35 AM
MoMo493
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Joined on 01-28-2010
Middletown, Maryland
1 Posts
27 Points
MoMo493 is not online. Last active: 02-26-2010, 7:03 AMNewbie

Infertilitly and TTC, don't get frustrated....

I started my journey October 2, 2009. Several co-workers asked if I was pregnant. They mentioned I looked like I had gained weight in my stomach, and I hadn't had my period since July. I started thinking, well, maybe I am pregnant, and I really started believing that I was. I took 2 pregnancy tests, and both came out negative, but I was still wondering if I could possibly be pregnant. My fiance and I were still using condoms because we have a wedding planned for May 8, 2010, but I had been off of birth control for almost a year and a half, due to the fear of possibly not being able to have children.

 I made an appointment with my OB/GYN to get my bloodwork done to check my HCG levels. A few days later I contacted my OB's office to see if the results were in yet....the receptionist mentioned that they have the results, but the doctor hasn't had a chance to review the paperwork yet. I said, well can you read me the results? She said the only information she could give me was that whatever test I took came out positive. I said I don't understand. She repeated herself, and said the only information she could give out, was that my test came out positive, but since the doctor hasn't signed off on the paperwork, she couldn't go any farther. She said what test did you have done? I said well I went in for a pregnancy test, are you telling me I'm pregnant? She said ma'am, the doctor hasn't signed off on your paperwork, that is the only information I can share with you.

So from 3pm until 7pm when I received a phone call from the doctor, my fiance and I were so excited, we were expecting. My only concern was having to buy a new wedding dress so my belly could fit! Well I can vividly remember exactly what I was doing when we got the phone call from the doctor. She got on the phone and said your pregnancy test came out negative, but some other things came up in your bloodwork. My fiance and I were silent, and said well what do you mean? She asked if I had hot flashes recently. I mentioned that about a year and a half ago, I would get really hot, and I would joke with people that they were hot flashes, but I never thought anything of it. She mentioned that my FSH levels (Follicle stimulating hormone) were through the roof. She said that anything over 12 was considered Pre-mature menopause, and my bloodwork had my levels at 103. I asked her a few more questions, like "does that mean I've already gone through menopause?" And she said possibly, but I'd like to run the tests again. I also asked if it meant I wouldn't be able to have children. She said that it would be highly unlikely, but she wanted to confirm it with the second test before she ruled that out.

That night was an absolute nightmare...no one at the age of 28 wants to be told they can't have kids. No one at any age wants to be told they can't have children. The next week was the longest week of my life. My second test had my levels at 78, still way over what it should be at my age. She gave me a refural and sent me to a Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist. My fiance and I went to that appointment, and she looked at the bloodwork, and immediately said that my diagnosis was POF (Pre-mature Ovarian Failure) She said she doesn't call it pre-mature menopause, because many women still have their period, they just aren't releasing an egg. I asked her if there was any way to find out if I still had any eggs, and she said through an ultrasound you can find out if you have follicles which eventually burst to release an egg. She said it's very unlikely that even if I do have follicles that release an egg, they will not be "quality eggs."

Another devistating turn of events!

I spoke to my mother, and she believed that I should meet with an internist since I didn't have a "go-to" doctor when I got sick, and just explain to her/him what is going on. I found a phenomenal Internist in Frederick, MD, and explained that I was looking for a "manager" to collect all of my records, since everything was still with my pediatrician.

She had reviewed my bloodwork, and asked if I'd been to see an Endocrinologist. I told her no. She said well it appears here that you have an underactive thyroid. She also asked if I had ever had chemotherapy, or surgery on my reproductive system. Once again I replied with, no, never.

She said that she was going to do more bloodwork, and run some other tests, but she believed that once I got my thyroid levels "in check" all my other hormone levels would go back to normal, and within a year's time, my fiance and I would be baby making machines.

Well, months went by, several tears, and several what-ifs. Thoughts of adoption, thoughts of donor eggs. Questions about where we would get the money from, etc. MRI's, CT Scans, Dexa Scans to see if I had osteoperosis, ultrasounds, bloodwork. Pretty soon you were going to see me on Discovery Health.

The radiologist had found 3 cysts on my right ovary, and the ultrasound showed no follicles on my left ovary.

Well, I have since learned that the ovaries alternate when it comes to releasing an egg, and had I had sex 2 weeks ago, my fiance and I would be expecting triplets.

The point to my story is don't stop with the first doctor you see. Get several opinions from several different types of doctors. Who would have ever thought that an Internist would have solved my infertility issues. Doctors go through a lot of schooling, but when they are focused on one topic, it's hard to open up to other issues, and diagnose other conditions.

I also found out through the testing I had lymes disease. So continue to keep your heads up, and don't stop at the very first diagnosis.
Trying to Conceive Ticker

Pregnancy Ticker 
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02-02-2010 at 10:37 AM
OctBaltBri...
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-12-2004
Maryland
227 Posts
4,397 Points
OctBaltBride is not online. Last active: 03-18-2010, 5:47 PMNewbie

 
Ella Beatrice and Aaron Willian 6/20/2007 
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02-04-2010 at 8:35 PM
Kristenl20...
Not Ranked
Joined on 07-26-2006
Frederick
498 Posts
9,573 Points
Kristenl2020 is not online. Last active: 03-19-2010, 2:31 AMNewbie

I to have been through the inferlity roller coaster. I have PCOS,a thyroid disorder and am pre diabetic. I know have 2 beautiful 2 year olds after going through IUI. I agree with everything you said that you should never give up and a big part of being successful is finding the right doctors.

I am also wondering who your internist is? I live in Frederick to and just recently started seeing a new internist Dr.Tyra Kane. I was just cusrious if it was the same dr. I've hear alot good things about her.

Good luck on your journey!!
Ella and Cayden have arrived! at 35 wks Jan 9,2008 
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02-05-2010 at 9:15 AM
RachelD83
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-01-2008
Annapolis, MD
68 Posts
1,302 Points
RachelD83 is not online. Last active: 03-20-2010, 8:23 PMNewbie

I have Premature Ovarian Failure. I'm 27. We've done 2 donor egg IVF cycles and both failed. I have a great RE at Shady Grove and he has been nothing short of fantastic. When our cycles fail, it's obvious to me that it bothers him too and that he's doing his best to help me.

I'm going to be honest, when you're on this journey of infertility, it's impossible not to get frustrated because a lot of times, there really are no clear answers. BUT, I push on. I push on because the desire to become a mother is greater than the fear of another failure.

I'm glad to see that you were able to find more answers and I wish you the best of luck in your journey to conceive.
TTC # 1 since January 2008
Diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure July 2009
Moving on to DE IVF
ER 11/9 ET 11/14 Beta # 1 11/30 BFN
FET January 2010 BFN
FET # 2 April 2010 
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