Helpful Hints

I thought I'd create a list of some helpful hints/things I've learned along the way that I think you might like to know.

For someone about to start infertility treatments:

-Wear a shirt that can be pulled up past your elbow every time you go to the clinic. Expect to have your blood drawn every visit. (and hey, if you didn't have to, celebrate!!)

-Bring a pantie liner to every doc visit. If you have a vag u/s or other vag procedure, chances are you'll need it and don't expect the clinic to have one for you.

-Have a heating pad/herb pack ready after PIO shots. The heat helps disperse the oil in your tush so you don't knot up as much.

-Warm the vial of PIO in your hand before injecting. The warmer it is, the easier it will go in.

-If you have to get a sperm sample to the lab from your house you only have an hour to do so. Keep the sample warm by putting the jar in your bra or between your legs for the car ride. (I know that sounds bad but it works!)

-Concentrate on counting to 20 or on your breathing during uncomfortable procedures.. I know that sounds kind of generic but it actually REALLY helps to distract me.

-Plan something fun for the beginning of a new/the next cycle. That way if you don't get preg you'll still have something enjoyable to look forward to.

Helpful hints for everyone else:

-Don't ask someone when they are having children or why they haven't had kids yet. It's not your business whether they want them or don't.

-Do NOT say to someone with infertility issues, "Oh don't worry, one day you'll have kids." You don't know that. You're not God and there is a good chance that the person you're talking to really can't have them and what you just said stings. And even if they can have kids, that statement isn't helpful...at all.

-Do NOT say, "Just relax. It'll happen when it happens." Seriously, don't say it. A person with endo/male infertility/PCOS/immune issues/etc. can't just "relax" and BAM get pregnant.

-Do NOT say, "Just adopt. That's when you'll get pregnant." Really?! Because you've heard from a friend's brother's wife's cousin that she adopted and then got pregnant, then I will too? WISE UP.

-Do NOT say to a woman who's just had a miscarriage, "It was God's will." YOU HAVE NO RIGHT or AUTHORITY to say that, EVER.

-Do NOT say to a woman or about a woman who's just had a miscarriage, "At least she/you have other children." It does not matter how many children she has. That was a wanted/loved/desired child no matter if she has 20 kids or one. That comment can end a friendship.

-DO say that you are sorry. DO ask what you can do for your friend. Cry with her. Offer support and be sensitive about it. Sometimes baby showers, and seeing babies and pregnant mothers, and Mother's Day doesn't bother a woman who's tried to have children for years. Other times, it hurts more than anything in the world. ASK HER which way it is for her and respect her if it hurts.

-I know you all probably don't think that what you're saying to someone who has infertility issues is troublesome, but if you're offering advice and you've never dealt with it, you're probably hurting them.

I hope those hints were a little helpful. I'm sure there are many more. I'll update this when I remember them.

All Done!

That's a phrase Skittle says quite a lot these days...I thought it was fitting as a title since I am ALL DONE with testing and with PIO!

The biopsy...*sigh* I'm glad it's over. Really, the anticipation of it all was the most nerve wracking thing and when it came time to do the actual procedure, well, again, while it was uncomfortable, it wasn't the worst test I've ever had done. It's a lot like the water u/s, without the water and without the u/s (I know that doesn't make a lot of sense...but it's true!). The catheters are pretty similar and both started out the same way, except on the end of the cath, there was a thingy that clamped on and took a small piece of my uterus. USUALLY, the doc only has to do that ONE time, I was lucky enough to have to do it THREE times since he couldn't get enough tissue the first two times. That meant that for me, it took quite a bit longer and I had to have a catheter inserted through my cervix three times...the third time hurt enough to make me think, "oh, hey, that didn't feel so good." The biopsy is looking for uterine lining maturity and the paper I had to sign said it also was also a cancer screening. I should get the results in a week.

I'm just happy to be done with testing...the next step is to get AF (whenever that may be) and call AZ to figure out the FET.

Surgery and Skittle Update

I apologize for the formatting issues on my blog lately. I have to type it on my desktop computer and publish from my iPad. For some odd reason, I can't do both on the desktop. I get a java error every time...so, until I figure out what's up, my blog will have issues...sorry about that.

The septum surgery was a success. Really, I was in very little pain/discomfort (just some cramping to be expected). It was the anesthesia that made me feel yucky. I am a rare one who needs more then the average person to be put under. My body fights it and I just feel "off" for several days following procedures that require sedation. And, other than a blasted cold that I contracted right after the surgery, I feel good. I go in for my biopsy in a couple days (something I'm SOOO NOT looking forward to) and will report back on that later.

PIO sucks. I am so not kidding. Why has no one made a better version of progesterone yet?? WHY? Seriously! Either I have to leak nastiness all day from a vaginal suppository or take injections in my butt day after day...When I told DH about doing PIO again, I got 40 no's in ranging tones followed by 10 more no's with a sad face. Hello!? I'm the one who has to endure the monster needle!! All he has to do it jab it in my muscle-and push with all his might to get that stupid oil out of the syringe and into me. I've only been on it for a little over a week and I'm already bruised on both sides, with a large knot and itchiness on my right. You'd think that if I was having an allergic reaction that I'd have the itchies on both sides...humm...

Little Skittle is now 15 months old and such a happy kid! She amuses me...she really does. I find myself just watching her play or watching her read to herself in Chinese and I just smile. She's MY kid! She's talking up a storm these days. It really does sound like Chinese with English words thrown in and it makes me giggle. She had her check up a couple days ago and she's had a growth spurt! She's now 31 1/2 inches tall (78% percentile) and 19 lbs 6 oz (5% percentile). Tall and skinny-just like her auntie!

I was trying to think of some other "firsts" for her...but the only one I could think of is: a black eye. Yep, she got her first shiner over Thanksgiving weekend. She now tries to repeat most words she hears and my personal favorites are "Allie" and "Oliver"-her aunt and uncle's dogs! If she steps over something she says, "over" and just today I didn't change her diaper before putting her down for a nap-well, she reminded me saying, "diaper" over and over! Go Skittle go!