All Clear!

Wow, the HSG today ended up going much better than I expected, for the most part! The part that surprised me: the "pain" was really no more uncomfortable than a regular pap. ::sigh of relief::

The only complication, per se, was the fact that the doc was having a hard time inserting the catheter all the way! He tried one, started the dye, and it started pouring out on the table. So he switched to another catheter; same thing happened. As you can imagine, I was getting really nervous at this point. I could feel my legs shaking. Then when the doc asked, "Are you sure you've never had an abnormal pap?" - I almost passed out because I was certain that I had some major structural deformity.

But the third time was the charm. I watched on the screen as the dye slowly started filling my ute and then trickling out my tubes! My doc said he was sending "extra dye through" to help clear everything, and he mentioned how this helps boost fertility. So I guess we can hope that the vitamins will help P. & the HSG will help me! My cycles will still be wacky, of course, but we can always hope.

Speaking of vitamins, I saw my acupuncture doc this afternoon & he had me pick up some Wheat Germ Oil to add to P.'s regimen; apparently it packs a powerful combo of selenium and vitamin E.

After P. & I left the RE's office, we went out for lunch. We were hoping to hit up a German restaurant in the area, but it wasn't open for lunch today. :( But that's OK - we found a new Greek place and had yummy meals. And then we hit up Coldstone Creamery so I could pack on a couple extra pounds! I got the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip and went overboard with a medium size cup, but boy was it fantastic! I totally didn't *need* it, but it was a comforting consolation prize for having to go through such a crazy procedure as that HSG. I wasn't going to back down on my demands for ice cream even though the procedure didn't really hurt. I'm not completely lacking in common sense! :P

Update: I started feeling some cramping about 5 hours after my HSG and popped another Rx Naproxen. It's sort of knocking out the cramping, but not totally. It's not horrible, just enough to be annoying. And I am sooooo sleepy, probably from getting so worked up over the whole thing today. So while I should be going to an exercise class in which I am enrolled, I think I'm going to stay home and relax tonight. That's something I don't do enough of anyway.

Herb & Supplement Support

Today's CD 4. So I had my acupuncture appointment yesterday & was able to give the doc my last chart. I told him how I've been insanely irritable the past few days, and he seemed to understand this perfectly from my chart. He said because I didn't have my normal PMS symptoms - spotting for a few days, nausea, etc. - I am "getting it all out now." Mmmmkay.

And though my ovulation day did improve slightly (from CD 26-27 to CD 24), he still isn't happy with my follicular phase and he suggested some herbs and a supplement to help. I was ready for any help I could get, so I jumped all over it. Here's what I'm starting:

Chaste Tree (aka Vitex) - 83.3 mg 1x per day

Tribulus - 725 mg 3x per day, CD 5 - 14 only

Ovex (supplement) - 2x358 mg 3x per day, CD 5 - 14 only

So we'll see what happens. The doc said it will probably become very obvious next cycle whether or not this protocol is working. But he said if I get really lucky, I might see some improvement this cycle since I'll get to start my CD 5 - 14 stuff tomorrow. This makes me a little more hopeful for this (or the next few) cycles.

Also, since I've booked a super fab & fun 5th anniversary vacation for us this fall, I've decided 2 things: (1) If I will get KTFU, it will be right before this trip because we will be in Vegas and Napa & thus I will be unable to drink. :) (2) If #1 does not occur, I don't think I will pursue meeting with an RE until after said vacation. Why? I just want to have a relaxing time without having to worry about timing and protocols and everything else that would come with seeing an RE.

So, we have a plan of sorts. Yay for that!

Ugh

So my stomach problems seem to be the result of intestinal parasites. Disgusting, no? No idea when or where I picked these up. Stupid amoebas! I am taking two heavy duty medicines to eradicate these little jerks, and the meds are seriously kicking my butt. Not only do I have a constant, bad headache, but I also have lovely stomach cramps. Awesome. 19 more days of this crap. Oh, and no drinking while I am on the meds. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Work is also kicking my butt. Constantly changing travel schedules, plus more work than I can possibly accomplish within the given deadlines. I'm really trying not to stress out about it, but that's especially difficult given the fact that P. is about to go on business travel for 3 - 4 weeks. And I will probably be leaving for my travel right as he returns. And we are definitely going to miss my fertile time this cycle. Double ugh.

I told him I need him to get his SA done as soon as he gets back, because at that point we will be dangerously close to the one year mark. And I want to get his stuff figured out so we know if we're dealing with a problem on his side, or if I need some internal diagnostics. My acupuncture doc wants to start me on an herb after I'm done with this stupid anti-parasite medicine to help with the fluctuating temps and possible progesterone issue in my LP. He says all signs point to a "liver qi" insufficiency. So we'll see.

More soon.

Normal CD3 Results!

I got some good news from my OB/GYN's office: my CD3 blood work results were normal! I was honestly shocked, as my doctor overseas had gone on and on about how my hormone levels were out of balance. Shocked in a good way, though. :) And now it's P's turn -- she is ordering an SA for him. I'm sure he's thrilled... Not. Anyway, I'm going to pick up the collection cup and instructions today. From what I understand, he gets to make the deposit at home and drop it off at a lab, so that's not too bad.

In other news, I saw the acupuncturist again yesterday. He seems to think that something is going on with my liver. He looked at all my charts and explained how a problem with my liver could cause blockages in my menstrual cycle. He said it makes sense when looking at how long the follicular phase of my cycles are. It was strange printing out my charts because I've been off BCPs for 14 months now; yet I only had 9 cycles/charts to bring in. Yikes! I am really enjoying the acupuncture sessions and I love that the doc is so into nutrition - I've wanted to see a nutritionist for a while to ensure I'm getting the proper balance of nutrients in my diet.

Finally, romance is in the air with Valentine's Day tomorrow! :) All this TTC business has made sex a bit lackluster lately - it's amazing how trying to time everything for 9 months can begin to kill the spontaneity and romance that normally surrounds sex. So I really wanted to surprise P with something to spice things up (besides more lingerie - I have the largest lingerie collection around). I got several pieces from the Liberator collection, and I plan on trying them today! We both took most of the day off from work, and we have a romantic dinner on the water planned tonight. So I think we can try one piece this afternoon and maybe a combination tonight. Perfect timing, too - as I got a +OPK yesterday and my temp did not rise this morning. But I am not telling P that the timing is right...I want to get back to the spontaneous feeling :)

Happy [early] Valentine's Day everyone!

That Was Interesting

This afternoon I met with the gastroenterologist and the acupuncturist. Firs and foremost, I've been given a brief reprieve from the colonoscopy, and instead I will be having an endoscopy of the upper GI the week after next. Apparently the doc is more worried about an ulcer, and possibly a liver issue. So we wait. P gets to drag my happy butt to the hospital at 6 AM the morning of the test. I'm sure he's ecstatic.

And now for the acupuncture. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I completely believe that Chinese Medicine works. I met with the doc for the first hour, going over my extensive medical history. After that, he spent time taking my pulse at different points, investigating my tongue and my palms, and doing an interesting body scan. He says that I am exposed to some sort of chemical that is causing me problems, and he also said my biggest problem areas seem to be my ute, my ovaries and my adrenal glands! I had briefly mentioned that my cycles have been irregular, but the main reason I went today was because of the itching and digestive issues. So I found that to be very interesting indeed.

Then he placed needles in the front of my lower legs, one of my forearms, several on top of my head, two in each ear, and one right between my eyes. I could feel a few go in, and I felt tingling on top of my head while the needles were in, but it was in no way uncomfortable. He left me like that for 25 - 30 minutes, came back, took the needles out, and I was done for the day. I'll go back for four more sessions and then he will present my "plan," which will be some mixture of acupuncture, herbs and/or supplements, and dietary changes.

I have to keep a food journal to bring back next time, and he wants me to eliminate diary for one week (easy - I hardly eat any). If that doesn't help my GI issues, he wants me to eliminate wheat for a week. Now that will be much more difficult, obviously. Although my grains consist mainly of oatmeal and brown rice...so I think I'll live. He also wants me to bring in my FF charts next time; in fact, he is familiar with Fertility Friend! Anyway, I am excited to get this show on the road. More soon!

Looking Forward to this Week

I'm trying to be positive about this week and its potential!

First, I have an appointment with a nurse practitioner on Tuesday morning to discuss the...errrr...digestive problems I've been experiencing for the past few weeks.  I called on Friday morning after vomiting, and wouldn't you know that my stomach has been acting more normal since then?  Well, with the exception of not being able to eat much food without feeling ill.  I guess it's good to get in anyway, even if there's not much she'll be able to do for me.  At the very least, I'll make a new patient appointment with the doctor that I'd like to start seeing as my GP; he works in the same office as the nurse practitioner, which is how I found her in the first place.

And second, I have the aforementioned acupuncture appointment on Thursday.  I am very excited about that.  I just hope the acupuncture doc isn't overwhelmed by my complaints -- digestive problems, itching all over my body, wacky menstrual cycles, OH MY!  I found this acupuncturist via good online reviews, so I have a lot of hope.  If nothing else, it will be interesting!

Other than that, not too much.  P's going out of town for work for the week tomorrow.  Our living room furniture gets delivered Wednesday.  As much as I dislike being by myself, part of me is looking forward to a few days alone.  I'm envisioning some yoga sessions in the living room, fun solo walks with the dogs, maybe a chick flick or two.  :)  What sucks is when P comes home this weekend, I fly out a few hours later for a business trip.  However, we're both playing hooky Friday the 13th and have an excellent dinner planned on the town.  And we have fun plans for Valentine's Day as well.  And, if my wacky cycles stay somewhat consistent this time...I should be O'ing right around that time.  Here's to hoping it works out (and I don't end up O'ing while we're apart)!