This week has been a long one ... in more ways than one. I have been in a lot of pain and discomfort since the hysteroscopy and am ready for it all to be over. The first few days after, I used a heating pad and ice packs multiple times a day as well as taking a ton of Motrin (supposedly that would help .. but it didn't). I was told by my Dr to take it easy, stay on bed rest for the weekend and see how I feel after that. Of course being the workout addict that I am, I only took 2 days off & was back to my regular routine on Sunday. The next few days I was in even worse pain - intense cramping and nausea. Anything I ate or drank made me sick and the nausea came in extreme waves. I slept with a heating pad and icepacks every night. :( I called my Dr on Thursday and he told me that all these symptoms were typical of the hysteroscopy (that my body is trying to heal itself and cover the scar left behind by the removed septum) and all the food issues were likely related to the Estradiol (estrogen) I'm taking. I have to take 3 days off of working out (which is absolutely KILLING me) and see if that helps everything get better. All I can say is that I'm ready for these symptopms to be over & get back to normal!
On a positive note, I have been beyond blessed by all of the support and encouragement I have received from so many people this past week. I have been touched by all of the stories I have heard and feel so honored that people have opened up and told me their success/struggling stories. Thank you for your honesty - I hope that my story continues to encourage you as your stories do for me.
Of course I know that not everyone who reads this blog really has a genuine interest or concern with what's going on in my life - and that really pisses me off. If you're reading my blog only because you enjoy reading about the struggles I'm going through and hope to hear me discouraged, then you'll have to look harder since the purpose of my blog is to A) provide information for my family & close friends about what I'm going through and B) encourage those who are going through similar things since I really benefitted from talking with others who are going through the IVF process as well. My blog is not "cute," "silly," or whatever you want to call it - this is my personal diary about all the obstacles I'm having to face just to become a mother and I'd expect a little respect. Thanks.
1.23.2010
1.15.2010
never a dull moment
Today was my hysteroscopy and for the most part, everything went well. I'm still a little loopy from the anesthesia (I've never been totally put asleep so that was an experience itself!). I basically just felt like I'd taken a long nap .. the last thing I remember is being in the operating room and the anesthesiologist telling me to think about a nice vacation spot, then I felt the "burning sensation" creep up my right arm & through my chest. Five seconds later I felt the tube being pulled out of my throat and I was in a totally different room, on a different bed - Talk about some amazing meds! :)
While I was in the recovery room with Kris, Dr. Haddad came in and told me that while he was doing the hysteroscopy, they found some skin that was blocking (or close to ... I don't really remember since I was still really groggy) one of the Fallopian tubes and he had to cut it out (I think he used a laser but I honestly have no idea). He said that the little piece of skin could cause recurrent miscarriages as well as IVF complications (i.e. interfering with embryo implantation). I now must take 10 days worth of Estrogen and 5 days worth of Progesterone to help create a new lining in my uterus to cover the scars from today's surgery. I will go back in a few weeks to have yet another hysteroscopy done to make sure there isn't any scar tissue left. I am still in a little bit of pain but have stayed in bed all afternoon and only plan on moving to the couch this evening so hopefully I will recover quickly and be back to normal and back to working out soon!
I have gone through a wide range of emotions today (and I'm sure the meds have helped the highs & lows of that roller coaster ride....), but at the end of the day I am at peace. I spoke with my mom after the procedure and she helped me realize that I too, am in the grieving process even though I haven't necessarily had a miscarriage. I am grieving the loss of not being able to have a "normal" pregnancy like so many other women. Kris and I don't get to "have fun trying" or be genuinely surprised by a pregnancy. Everything is preplanned, mapped out on a calendar, discussed with multiple doctors, etc - even the gender could be pre-selected! My mom explained that in the grieving process, using the phrase "I had hoped......" helps one express their feelings and move from one stage to the next. Well, I had hoped that so many things would have gone differently, but looking back I am grateful for these challenges and know that God wouldn't have put them in my life if I wasn't able to handle them. I have grown closer to my husband, discovered my true friends, and found an amazing support system right across the street! :) Deep down I also had hoped that some miracle would occur and I'd end up pregnant without having to go through all the IVF, but every appointment, labwork and ultrasound proved me wrong. My girlfriend, Michelle and I made a "resolution" this year to attempt to find the "silver lining" in every challenging situation and today my "silver lining" was the fact that had Kris and I NOT decided to do IVF we never would have discovered this piece of skin that could have caused so many problems for us had we decided to try on our own first. So many of my issues are strongly connected to miscarriage (MTHFR, reciprocal translocation, today's findings....) and another "silver lining" is the fact that I have not had to go through a recent miscarriage to discover all these issues. This is one time I am VERY grateful for my OCD and obsession with getting everything organized (just ask to see my "binder" .. even Dr. Haddad was impressed with it) and planned out beforehand - leaving no proverbial stone unturned.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - I honestly felt an eerie peace while at the appointment today and know that there were many wonderful people thinking of me and praying for Dr. Haddad. I am beyond grateful to have you in my life!
While I was in the recovery room with Kris, Dr. Haddad came in and told me that while he was doing the hysteroscopy, they found some skin that was blocking (or close to ... I don't really remember since I was still really groggy) one of the Fallopian tubes and he had to cut it out (I think he used a laser but I honestly have no idea). He said that the little piece of skin could cause recurrent miscarriages as well as IVF complications (i.e. interfering with embryo implantation). I now must take 10 days worth of Estrogen and 5 days worth of Progesterone to help create a new lining in my uterus to cover the scars from today's surgery. I will go back in a few weeks to have yet another hysteroscopy done to make sure there isn't any scar tissue left. I am still in a little bit of pain but have stayed in bed all afternoon and only plan on moving to the couch this evening so hopefully I will recover quickly and be back to normal and back to working out soon!
I have gone through a wide range of emotions today (and I'm sure the meds have helped the highs & lows of that roller coaster ride....), but at the end of the day I am at peace. I spoke with my mom after the procedure and she helped me realize that I too, am in the grieving process even though I haven't necessarily had a miscarriage. I am grieving the loss of not being able to have a "normal" pregnancy like so many other women. Kris and I don't get to "have fun trying" or be genuinely surprised by a pregnancy. Everything is preplanned, mapped out on a calendar, discussed with multiple doctors, etc - even the gender could be pre-selected! My mom explained that in the grieving process, using the phrase "I had hoped......" helps one express their feelings and move from one stage to the next. Well, I had hoped that so many things would have gone differently, but looking back I am grateful for these challenges and know that God wouldn't have put them in my life if I wasn't able to handle them. I have grown closer to my husband, discovered my true friends, and found an amazing support system right across the street! :) Deep down I also had hoped that some miracle would occur and I'd end up pregnant without having to go through all the IVF, but every appointment, labwork and ultrasound proved me wrong. My girlfriend, Michelle and I made a "resolution" this year to attempt to find the "silver lining" in every challenging situation and today my "silver lining" was the fact that had Kris and I NOT decided to do IVF we never would have discovered this piece of skin that could have caused so many problems for us had we decided to try on our own first. So many of my issues are strongly connected to miscarriage (MTHFR, reciprocal translocation, today's findings....) and another "silver lining" is the fact that I have not had to go through a recent miscarriage to discover all these issues. This is one time I am VERY grateful for my OCD and obsession with getting everything organized (just ask to see my "binder" .. even Dr. Haddad was impressed with it) and planned out beforehand - leaving no proverbial stone unturned.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - I honestly felt an eerie peace while at the appointment today and know that there were many wonderful people thinking of me and praying for Dr. Haddad. I am beyond grateful to have you in my life!
1.10.2010
New Year, New Adventures
I am excited to see what 2010 has in store for this Cherry family. This is my first experience with blogging and I am eager to share my story - both the joys and sorrows. I will try to catch you up on the past year without too many medical details, and of course if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Kris & I had considered getting pregnant at the end of last year, but we had a few setbacks once I started getting routine blood work done in the Spring so we pushed our time frame back a bit. My main purpose for starting that far in advance was because I really didn't have an idea on what issues, if any, ran in my family. I have no sisters, aunts, or cousins to talk with and according to my mom and grandmothers, there was no history of complications. Much to my dismay my OBGYN called me around July and informed me that I had something called PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) - this was the beginning of my research ..... PCOS is a hormonal condition of unknown cause that affects about 5-10% of women. It can be pretty confusing because PCOS is not always characterized by polycystic ovaries, but rather by a range of issues that can include: irregular periods, acne, excess hair growth, infertility and the possible development of diabetes. After getting this diagnosis, I did as much research as possible and found a variety of other conditions that were connected to PCOS.
The next month my sister-in-law, who was almost 7 months pregnant, lost her baby and discovered she had a single copy of the MTHFR C677 mutation. I did even more research and found that there were some connections with MTHFR and PCOS. For my own peace of mind, I pushed my OBGYN do a even more blood work (19 vials) and test for a variety of conditions. When those results came back, I was informed I had a single copy of the A1298C MTHFR mutation. MTHFR stands for Methlyenetetrahydrofolate reductace. Heterozygosity (single copy - from one parent) of both mutations occurs in about 20% of the Caucasian population. Homozygosity (double copy - from both parents) results in a 2-3 fold risk of folate-sensitive neural tube defects. Both mutations have been implicated as risk factors for neural tube defects (such as spinal bifida, etc) and unexplained, recurrent embryo losses in early pregnancy (although this connection is still pretty controversial). The A1298C mutation has also been linked to the development of cancers and leukaemias, as well Alzheimer's disease and migraines. Because MTHFR mutations affect the absorption of Folic Acid in the body, my doctor prescribed I take 4mg of Folic Acid daily in addition to my regular vitamins.
About a month later the last of the my test results came back (chromosomal) and yet another label was given - I am a Reciprocal (Balanced) Chromosomal Translocation carrier on the long arms of chromosomes 7 & 16 (that's a mouthfull!). I met with two different Genetic Counselors and discussed the risks, my options and did even more research. A chromosome translocation is an abnormality caused by rearrangement of parts between nonhomologous chromosomes - in my case, parts of chromosomes 7 & 16 have basically switched places. It is harmless to me, but because I am a carrier, I have an increased risk of creating gametes with unbalanced chromosome translocations which lead to miscarriage or children with mental retardation and/or birth defects due to the imbalance of chromosomes 7 & 16 (because there could be too much or too little chromosomal (genetic) material). My risks are much higher than my age-related risks and therefore I have a medical necessity for something called PGD.
PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) is a reproductive technology used to identify genetic defects in embryos created through in vitro fertiization (IVF) cycles. This technique is used when one or both parents have a known genetic abnormality. Basically, before implanting embryos, they will be tested to make sure they have the correct number of chromosomes and are not unbalanced - therefore only using normal embryos to create a pregnancy. Kris & I have decided after much consideration that we will be going through the whole IVF/PGD process to help reduce the risks associated with everything I have been diagnosed with. Our insurance is absolutely amazing and will be covering it all - such a blessing and answer to prayer!
Last week I had a vaginal ultrasound to check my ovaries and make sure there were no cysts, check the eggs, etc. Everything looked great - yes! Tomorrow (01/15/10) I will be having a hysteroscopy. Here is the information they gave me .. aren't I lucky??? "Hysteroscopy is a direct visualization of the uterine cavity, i.e. looking inside the womb by using a hysteroscope. The hysteroscopy is an instrument somewhat like a miniature telescope with a fiber optic system which brings light into the womb...Water is put into the uterus under a low pressure in order to help your doctor inspect the uterine cavity. The water helps to separate the front and back sides of the uterine cavity, making it easier for the physical to see the inside of the uterus." Please keep Kris & I in your thoughts and prayers (especially me tomorrow!). I am nervous, excited, and anxious about this whole process and hope that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Kris & I had considered getting pregnant at the end of last year, but we had a few setbacks once I started getting routine blood work done in the Spring so we pushed our time frame back a bit. My main purpose for starting that far in advance was because I really didn't have an idea on what issues, if any, ran in my family. I have no sisters, aunts, or cousins to talk with and according to my mom and grandmothers, there was no history of complications. Much to my dismay my OBGYN called me around July and informed me that I had something called PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) - this was the beginning of my research ..... PCOS is a hormonal condition of unknown cause that affects about 5-10% of women. It can be pretty confusing because PCOS is not always characterized by polycystic ovaries, but rather by a range of issues that can include: irregular periods, acne, excess hair growth, infertility and the possible development of diabetes. After getting this diagnosis, I did as much research as possible and found a variety of other conditions that were connected to PCOS.
The next month my sister-in-law, who was almost 7 months pregnant, lost her baby and discovered she had a single copy of the MTHFR C677 mutation. I did even more research and found that there were some connections with MTHFR and PCOS. For my own peace of mind, I pushed my OBGYN do a even more blood work (19 vials) and test for a variety of conditions. When those results came back, I was informed I had a single copy of the A1298C MTHFR mutation. MTHFR stands for Methlyenetetrahydrofolate reductace. Heterozygosity (single copy - from one parent) of both mutations occurs in about 20% of the Caucasian population. Homozygosity (double copy - from both parents) results in a 2-3 fold risk of folate-sensitive neural tube defects. Both mutations have been implicated as risk factors for neural tube defects (such as spinal bifida, etc) and unexplained, recurrent embryo losses in early pregnancy (although this connection is still pretty controversial). The A1298C mutation has also been linked to the development of cancers and leukaemias, as well Alzheimer's disease and migraines. Because MTHFR mutations affect the absorption of Folic Acid in the body, my doctor prescribed I take 4mg of Folic Acid daily in addition to my regular vitamins.
About a month later the last of the my test results came back (chromosomal) and yet another label was given - I am a Reciprocal (Balanced) Chromosomal Translocation carrier on the long arms of chromosomes 7 & 16 (that's a mouthfull!). I met with two different Genetic Counselors and discussed the risks, my options and did even more research. A chromosome translocation is an abnormality caused by rearrangement of parts between nonhomologous chromosomes - in my case, parts of chromosomes 7 & 16 have basically switched places. It is harmless to me, but because I am a carrier, I have an increased risk of creating gametes with unbalanced chromosome translocations which lead to miscarriage or children with mental retardation and/or birth defects due to the imbalance of chromosomes 7 & 16 (because there could be too much or too little chromosomal (genetic) material). My risks are much higher than my age-related risks and therefore I have a medical necessity for something called PGD.
PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) is a reproductive technology used to identify genetic defects in embryos created through in vitro fertiization (IVF) cycles. This technique is used when one or both parents have a known genetic abnormality. Basically, before implanting embryos, they will be tested to make sure they have the correct number of chromosomes and are not unbalanced - therefore only using normal embryos to create a pregnancy. Kris & I have decided after much consideration that we will be going through the whole IVF/PGD process to help reduce the risks associated with everything I have been diagnosed with. Our insurance is absolutely amazing and will be covering it all - such a blessing and answer to prayer!
Last week I had a vaginal ultrasound to check my ovaries and make sure there were no cysts, check the eggs, etc. Everything looked great - yes! Tomorrow (01/15/10) I will be having a hysteroscopy. Here is the information they gave me .. aren't I lucky??? "Hysteroscopy is a direct visualization of the uterine cavity, i.e. looking inside the womb by using a hysteroscope. The hysteroscopy is an instrument somewhat like a miniature telescope with a fiber optic system which brings light into the womb...Water is put into the uterus under a low pressure in order to help your doctor inspect the uterine cavity. The water helps to separate the front and back sides of the uterine cavity, making it easier for the physical to see the inside of the uterus." Please keep Kris & I in your thoughts and prayers (especially me tomorrow!). I am nervous, excited, and anxious about this whole process and hope that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
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