SHG - HSG - HCG - WTF?

Well my dear friends in blogosphere (is that how you spell that) I have another round of testing which technically I will consider preparing for IVF.  I was able to schedule a few through my clinic near home, but when it came to asking about the SHG (Sonohysterogram - filling your uterus full of saline and doing ultrasound) I got flashbacks of when I had to call about a year ago at this time to schedule my first HSG (Hysterosalpingogram).

Julie of 2011 - Hi I need to schedule an HSG*.
Nurse - A what?
Me - H-S-G
Nurse - Oh Honey, you mean a HCG**
Me - NO - H- SSSSS - G
Nurse - Are you sure its not a HCG?
Me - Okay how can I explain this...I'm NOT Pregnant
Nurse - Oh, who is your doctor?
Me - Ughhh...Dr. Chuppa
Nurse - Okay let me put you on hold.

*x-ray of your uterus using a dye to check to see if your fallopian tubes are open
**Pregnancy blood test

You can only imagine how I felt having to call and ask about an SHG this time around.  However it was much more simple this time.

Julie of 2012 - Hi I need to schedule a SHG.
Nurse - We don't do those.
Me - Crap.

So they are able to do the simple STD testing (Dec 13th), but I have to go to my RE tomorrow to do the SHG (which was another whole ordeal).  The main thing I wanted to make sure of was that I got everything taken care of in December to have my insurance cover whatever possible since my deductible is obviously met for the year AND I am changing insurance coverage in 2013 (Still no actual IF treatment coverage though).  (Right now my insurance covers infertility diagnosis/testing, but not actual treatment.)  So I called the RE to make sure my insurance was going to cover the SHG and I was told NO.  She told me since I have a diagnosis (I do???) my insurance no longer covers it.  I said oh really...what is my diagnosis?  She looked at my charts and says...Oh...ummm infertility.  Okay so my infertility diagnosis is infertility??? WTF!  I didn't let it go.  I went on to explain how since I had treatments (IUI's) and afterwards insurance covered my laparoscopy.  So after a few more back and forths she said, let me try again.  She called back and turned an almost $900 procedure into a $35 co-pay.  Oh sweet success at last!

In other news we put up our Christmas tree and got a few new decorations in the meantime!

I was having a difficult time getting in the Christmas spirit but I think this will help!  Hope you are all doing well and having an okay time gearing up for the Holidays!

Julie

Surviving the Holiday's - IF V3.0

Hello Again,

I wanted to write a quick post as the "holidays" are rapidly approaching here in the US.  Thanksgiving is right around the corner and as any infertile knows the holidays are not always easy to deal with.  This will be my 3rd infertile Christmas and I think I am learning from my past mistakes!  Here goes:

IF Holiday Tip #1.

DO - Make party visits short (if possible) and then get out!  Auntie So&SO WILL ask you when you are going to have a baby, be prepared with a short polite response.

DON'T - Get stuck watching all the grandchildren opening their adorable little presents.  If this is not an option make it into some sort of drinking game...little Anna got another Barbie? That's 2 drinks!


IF Holiday Tip #2.

DO - Spend at least one of your days off with your significant other enjoying just the two of you (and your fur babies).  Take a break from the hustle and bustle that all the FERTILES HAVE to deal with since they have kiddos.

DON'T - invite a TON of people over to your house on Christmas Day!  I learned the error of my ways after doing this for the past couple years.  You think you are stressed about your HSG two days before Christmas?  Why add the additional stress of cleaning, cooking and family and in-laws on top of it?  Hopefully you are all smarter than me :).

IF Holiday Tip #3

DO - Plan your shopping accordingly.  Be smart about buying gifts for children in your extended family, if you don't think you can handle walking through the kids department then buy a department store gift card.

DON'T - Save your shopping until the last minute, have a total mental breakdown in TOYS 'R' US because you had to make a quick run to the bathroom and AF stained your new pair of Christmas undies!

IF Holiday Tip #4

DO - Make time for adult fun.  Throw/attend an adult Christmas theme party that won't be centered around kids.  This year I will be hosting "A Very Nerdy Christmas" and I can't wait!  (You better believe there will be pictures!)

DON'T - Accept every single party invitation sent your way.  Be sensible and politely decline if you don't feel you will be comfortable.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST IF Holiday Tip #5 - Remember the reason for each holiday.  Take joy in the fact that you have your faith, family and friends.

DON'T - Let the stress of it all send you into a spiral of misery.  The holidays' aren't easy but a little planning and fun and you may even start to enjoy them (a little bit).

My new Christmas Guitar Book!

Julie

P.S. Feel free to add any of your own personal tips for surviving the holidays you think would be helpful!

Preparing for Next Weeks Laparoscopy...Eeks! ...and more test results!

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to give you a quick IF update...brought to you in part by my "obnoxious" seemingly perfect thus far uterus.  I went in for my pre-op appointment not quite sure what to expect.  She did a routine physical and after feeling my neck (thyroid) area mentioned it seemed enlarged.  She checked my charts and said it had been awhile since I had my TSH and Prolactin levels checked (probably since May 2011 when I first started seeing the OB for IF).  So I didn't make it through an appointment without drawing blood, BUT this was the first appointment in awhile I got to keep my undies on...(he he!)  Its the small things I tell you!

Anyways, in addition to that I had to wait a day for my results (no worries I will tell you what they are if you keep reading, but you will love the suspense), and I found out I have to do a gallon (which I will refer to as the gallon challenge) of Golytely, you know the gallon of stuff you have to drink before you get a colonoscopy and spend a delightful evening within a step of the toilet.

Source WebMD

She said this is a precaution in case I have any scar tissue on my intestines/digestive organs so they can take care of it right away and not have to close me up and go through this again.  They will also do another HSG - to double check my tubes only I will be knocked out this time.  Thank goodness because this was a fairly painful thing the first time around.  It could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for recovery.





I got the results of my TSH and Prolactin today:

TSH: 1.588 mlU/ml
Prolactin 15.9 ng/ml

These both fall under perfectly healthy normal levels...takes a bow.  Did I ever mention I hate you UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY!!!  Now don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy for my overall health, but after almost 3 years I am ready for some answers.  Hopefully this surgery will give me the answers I need to move forward.

Okay back to the positive side of things...I  have 3 very special visitors coming to see me this week and we have a ton of fun things planned.  I'm ready to show them a "Wisconsin Good Time"!

Julie

12 Days of Christmas - IF Version

This is not your typical Christmas Carole, but sometimes you just need to laugh at your problems when they hurt too much to cry.  Thanks to the members of http://www.inspire.com/ for helping me complete day's 8-12 :).  Here goes:

The 12 Days of Christmas - IF Version

On the first day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
An appointment for my HSG.

On the second day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the third day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Seven days of AF,
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Eight ultra sounds
Seven days of AF,
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the Ninth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Nine vials for testing
Eight ultra sounds
Seven days of AF,
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the Tenth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Ten days of stimming,
Nine vials for testing,
Eight ultra sounds,
Seven days of AF,
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the Eleventh day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Eleven suppositories,
Ten days of stimming,
Nine vials for testing,
Eight ultra sounds,
Seven days of AF,
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.

On the Twelfth day of Christmas,
my IF sent to me
Twelve K in expenses,
Eleven suppositories,
Ten days of stimming,
Nine vials for testing,
Eight ultra sounds,
Seven days of AF,
Six lost friends,
Five HPT's,
Four fake pregnancy symptoms,
Three IUI's,
Two clomid daily,
And an appointment for my HSG.


This was meant to give those a laugh who struggle with IF (including myself) on a monthly, daily, hourly basis.  Everyone else, please keep us in your prayers!

Julie

Time for Plan B or is it C...or D?

Hello everyone!  Happy Thanksgiving Week!  I wanted post a follow up to my appointment last week for those of you who are following along on our IF rollarcoaster...

I had the appointment last Thursday and I showed up just on time to avoid as much as the "waiting room" time as possible only to get told the doctor was just called out to deliver a baby.  Hmmm...yeah, sweet sweet irony as I am told, you will have to come back at 2:30.  I don't know why I was just in such an emotional state after that and I teared up an unnecessary amount of times during my appointment.  The nurse took my blood pressure and said...oh it is perfect 110/60.  Thanks, yet another reminder that THERE IS NOTHING WRONG with me healthwise - yet everything is wrong and I just don't know what it is.  The doctor recommended a HSG (click to find out what this is) for next month and if that all checks out okay we are officially graduating to a fertility specialist and our first IUI.   I am excited about this because as I understand it there is a lot more monitoring that takes place during this entire procedure and hopefully we can find out what is going on "in there".  I am not excited because this take everything to a whole new level and makes the whole IF thing very real.

As we enter the holiday season it is a time for being thankful and starting over.  We can't change the past, but we can change our attitude about the future.  I guess for me this involves keeping an open mind and positive attitude as we take on our next challenges.

Julie