Opportunities abound…

I am doing my best to take advantage of them.

How do you handle multiple plans at a time when all roads lead to different outcomes?

We’ve decided to start our next cycle in January so we can offset some of the out-of-pocket costs via a flexible spending account. I used up this year’s FSA set aside with the two tests last week.

But there’s this thing at work I want to do and I’m getting some intel about it now. And then I’m working on my grad school app this weekend. Deadline for that is December 1, but I want it in by November 15.

We’re thinking about going to Argentina to celebrate new years. I’m excited!

I hope you are all having a great day!

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

The Motherlode

I read the Motherlode blog on NYTimes.com every now and again and they had a recent post about life after infertility treatments fail.

It sort of put into words some of the thoughts I’ve had about what happens if this next thing doesn’t work. In theory I KNOW we would be fine, but still, it’s hard to see that life as the one that I’m vested in involves us loving and raising our child.

But that said, you can go crazy (and broke) running after that carrot called “just one more cycle.”

Anyway, the post is a good read. If you have a few minutes check it out.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Chicken gizzards

I said a couple of posts ago that I saw my fibroids. Well here’s what happened and it underscores why I really like my surgeon.

As I lay on the gurney in the pre-op area the surgeon came to visit me and I said, “I want to see what you cut out of me.” He looked taken aback for a minute but when I said I wanted to see what was causing all the havoc in my body, he said, “After your surgery, tell the nurse you want to go to pathology to see them.”

After they unhooked me from everything but the IV and I had done my first walk, I mentioned going to pathology to see my fibroids to the nurse and she said, “Oh, I don’t think you can do that.”

Then an assistant somebody to the surgeon came in to check on me and I mentioned to her and she hemmed and hawed and then pretty much said I couldn’t do it.

About 10 minutes later the nurse I mentioned this to earlier comes in pushing a wheelchair and says, “Come along, we’re going to pathology! Dr. [name redacted cause it's nobody's business] called and told them to get your fibroids out because you want to see them and for us to take you down.”

I go down to pathology and they are puzzled about why I want to see this, but they show them to me and explain what they have done to them and what happens next.

They kinda looked like this, except much, much bigger. And rounder:

But then there were lots and lots of smaller ones that had been sliced up so they could examine them under the microscope and make sure they were fibroids and not cancerous cysts.

I wanted to touch them, but they were floating in formaldehyde so that was verboten.

All in all, it was a great teachable moment.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Did you pass gas?

Well I’m home! It wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it would be, though for a bit I raged against all the needles and machines and such that were attached to me and kept me so confined and restricted that I couldn’t move and I ended up throwing up all over myself. (<–gross, I know, and you're just reading this, I had to endure it. It was disgusting. I cried. Mr. SLS and the nurse cleaned me up and woo woo woo'd me).

But they kept offering me deals — do this and we remove that. For example, we’ll take the oxygen tubes away but you have to use this breathing thingy every hour on the hour to make sure your lungs are working at capacity. I used the breathing thingy.

Then they said we’ll take these suction pressure-y band things off your legs but you have to promise to move your legs around a lot. I was doing high kicks in that bed.

Then they said, we’ll take the catheter out, but you have to go tinkle within this timeframe or we put it back. I tinkled.

Then it was, we’ll take out the IV but you have to drink fluids and keep tinkling or we put it back. Catheter, too. I drank. I tinkled.

Then they said, you can go home — soon as you pass gas. I couldn’t do it!! I didn’t have gas! I wasn’t eating! I wasn’t hungry. I had three cups of hot tea, 6 spoonfuls of clear broth and innumerable amounts of water and ice cubes but nothing that would generate gas.

So I walked. Up and down the hall. Very slowly. And hunchbacked. Leaning on Mr. SLS. Hoping to generate some movement. Nothing.

Then on Friday night as I was sleeping I dreamed that I had a big gas expulsion and I woke up. And suddenly there was all kinds of movement.

Which is good because the first thing the nurse asked when she came in was, “did you pass gas?” And I when I said yes, she was like, “Oh thank goodness, that is the best news!” Then the doc came in and asked, “did you pass gas?” And when I said yes, he said, “You can go home!” I was out of there within an hour.

I’ll share more about the experience (they let me go to pathology and see my fibroids!) in another post.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Gearing up for surgery

It’s countdown time for my surgery. I’m doing all my pre-op stuff this week, wrapping up projects at work and generally preparing to be out of work for almost two months. Interestingly enough I’m scheduled to return to work a day before our second anniversary.

I can’t lie and say I’m not scared. I’ve never been cut or operated on. But, being healthy is important and that’s the goal here.

I’ll have more time to blog, twitter, Facebook etc. (not that I don’t have enough time now. LOL!) so I’ll keep you in the loop and certainly keep up with all of you as well.

Have a great week and read you in the blogosphere!

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Me and my barnacle-covered uterus

Well, my recent MRI revealed that I have many many more fibroids than were detected via sonogram. They are also spread all over and protude into my uterus so I am unable to do a less invasive procedure and have to get cut. I’ll be out of work for six weeks recovering.

Both my reproductive endocrinologist and primary care doc recommended the surgeon who has the *best* bedside manner I have ever encountered. When he called to give me the results of my MRI, he asked how I was, if I felt OK, if I was having a good day etc., then told me the results, responded to my questions and told me to call him if I had other questions later. Just really nice and patient. And his voice is very soothing.

All in all, I’m not worried because I feel I am under the best care since all my docs (primary, RE, gynecological surgeon) are in touch and aligned in terms of my care, my health and our ultimate goal of trying to have a baby.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

I’m in such a great mood today!

First, I went to see my primary care physician this morning to talk about all the various issues going on with me and he weighed in with his thoughts and recommendations.

I love having one doctor that is vested in me and my husband’s care (Mr. SLS started going to him back when we first started dating and loves him, too).

This doc has taken care of us as a couple and individually, knows us by name and has a great bedside manner. He also has the sweetest dog that comes to work with him and let’s me play with him and rub him (they asked me today if I wanted to take him home since we love each other so much), which is very calming when you’re having a stressful day. It makes all of the health care drama less drama-filled, you know?

And some of the best news is I lost 10 pounds this month! I have been trying to slim down, with no goal in mind beyond trying to eat better, move more and generally be healthier. To see the scale reflect those efforts encourages me to step it up.

I hope all of you are having a great day, too.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Well it’s official: I must go under the surgeon’s knife

Had another test done and got a second opinion and I am going to have surgery for the fibroids. They are too big now, though thankfully, they aren’t protruding into my uterus or squishing any organs. Yet.

The last time I spent a night in a hospital I was too little to remember anything but my granddaddy bringing me a popsicle for the ride home.

I guess there *is* an upside: I’ll have plenty o’ time to blog/tweet/Facebook/annoy/irritate/alienate you people!

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Two steps forward, 10 steps back

So we’re not going to do the next IVF cycle just yet because my tests today showed my uterine fibroids have grown to ridiculous proportions and those have to go before I can do anything infertility related.

To put this in perspective, the doctor said: “You have more fibroid than uterus at this point.” I envision it as this big creeping blob monster taking over my insides.

I am very disappointed. Mr. SLS is really worried. My mama is scared.

But I guess I will think about how much improved my health will be without this big growth on my uterus.

I guess. I dunno. I just feel like it’s something all the damn time.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere we go!

So today I talked to my RE and nurse and we are on track to start our next full IVF cycle at the end of June (have to work around Mr. SLS’s summer military travel) with transfer happening late July early August.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy