Never let it be said that a woman’s intuition is full of poop. Based on the call I got today, mine is not only in effect…it was / is right. Oh how I wish it was wrong.
In March 2010 I had my annual female “check-up” and at the time Alex and I had been discussing children. I have a pretty crazy family history that includes endometriosis, infertility, and the hardest one of all…Schwachman Diamond Syndrome. That last one, I’m a carrier for and it’s also what my brother was born with. So we talked ALL of that through before I went into the doctor’s office. I went ahead and got my birth control prescription. (I figured it was easier to get it and elect to stop taking / not take it at all then to not get it and want it.)
Three more days of discussion and meds, and that’s when we made the decision that I would stop taking The Pill. (Does anyone else get that “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…birth control commercial song stuck in their head? No? Oh well..excuse me while I go hum and think of synchronized swimming.) We figured we’d have some fun, and things would work out.
source: Google Images
By the time October rolled around I was driving Alex batty with the “this doesn’t seem quite normal” ponderings. However the holiday season distracted me and we continued on our merry way. Then 2011 came and I started to talk to my Mom about her issues. My cousin about her issues. Everyone in our dang family about their issues. I became convinced that Alex and I needed medical help, but he wasn’t so sure.
Finally March of this year I said, “Alex, I am making an appointment. We’re both under 30. We should be pregnant. I’m done pretending things are normal.”
He said “Whatever”, but supported me when I kindly informed him that this meant he was getting tested too.
I went to the doctor who listened to me and said that he could set me up for some tests. So began our barrage of tests (well my barrage, Alex only had one and it was easy). I had my first update a few weeks ago with the progesterone tests.
Then the next set of blood work, the FH and FSH tests, as well as my HSG results came through. Then Alex’s test came through till finally we’ve got our answer.
Alex is, as he suspected and me as well, perfectly healthy.
I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). In other words, without treatment I’m considered infertile.
In other other words, I was right. Things were not normal, we should have been able to get pregnant in that amount of time, and we do need help. Well, my body needs help specifically.
The phone call today was a tad rough, not because my doctor was mean or I wasn’t expecting this, but because no one likes to hear the “Look, we need you to get more testing done but I can straight up tell you right now that you have PCOS and are considered infertile.”
Those words hurt no matter how much you are expecting them.
So what now? Well let me tell you…
The next step will be for me to go BACK to the lab for MORE tests (YAY…Not) where I will have a test done to see whether I need to be on Clomid (forces your body to release eggs) or Metformin (commonly used to treat type II diabetes). Both drugs are used to treat PCOS because the disease itself can be caused by a number of under-lying issues, although most of my symptoms indicate I’ll be on Clomid. If these don’t work we move on to more aggressive treatments (think IVF).
So that is where things stand right now. Something is wrong, BUT on an extremely positive note it is something medical science can treat.
On happier notes, I am working on photos from this past weekend and my trip to the winery and outlet mall as well as to a Rock festival. (Its way more exciting than it appears.)
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Bummer news Stephanie but I’m glad you finally have answers – and possible solutions.
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
Thank you Mindee for the support. You are one of my best inter-webs buddies!!
*hugs*
I had friends that were successful on Metformin and Clomid. Do you like twins? Almost all my friends ended up with them. I wonder what is going on with our generation? Is it our environment? Do we just talk about it more?
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
Aww thanks and * hugs * back! But SHHHHH about the multiples factor. Alex is strangely ok with this, but that terrifies me.
I do think with this generation especially, we discuss it more in a broader sense. Plus we have more answers that weren’t available for say our grandparent’s generation when they displayed many of the same problems.
Multiples terrify me too. My friends that had 1 child then twins say it is hard, however the ones that started with twins say you do not know the difference.
So sorry you have to go through all this. But as you say, at least it might be treatable.
Sometimes things happen for a reason, and this may be one of those times.
If it’s meant to be, it will happen, and then you will have your “family” (even if it’s twins!!!!).
Looking forward to hearing about the next tests, etc.
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
OMG shhhhh with the twins theory. I’m so scared of that happening. Alex is chill – which means I vote he HAS them.
Again breaking my never-comment-on-blogs rule! Sorry to hear the results but glad glad GLAD they’ve found a definite answer for you. I too know people who’ve had kids despite PCOS, so don’t go thinking “infertile” means the same as “can’t have children” (not that you were probably thinking that anyway, just wanted to give you some more reasons not to!). I hope whichever treatment they decide on works out ASAP and you don’t have to wait too much longer for your little family
(Also Go Go Female Intuition!)
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
teheheh I love that I keep helping you break your never comment policy. I hope you don’t mind my pride in that!
I’m sure we’ll have kids, one way or another, and I’m so lording this whole female intuition being right over someone. Even if its just my cat.
Doctors are proven wrong every day. Remember that.
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
That is the truth, however in this case with the family history I have we know I definitely have PCOS. The great news in all of this really is the huge number of options for treatment we have so that we CAN have children. Eventually.
Twins: twice the trouble, twice the cost overall, but also twice the love.
And IF you would happen to have 2 or 3, you could get the pregnancy over with in one whack.
Let’s just hope the doctors can figure out how to get you pregnant without doubling up on babies….
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
Somehow I don’t think my doctor has much control over our cells dividing but I’m sure gonna ask him to keep it to only one.
Twins are a handful. Being a twin myself, I know I was.
You finally have an answer! Now you have steps forward instead of feeling like a hamster spinning in your stationary wheel. Progress is progress even if it feels like its not what you hoped. I will continue to pray for the best possible progress. Just know that you are loved and everything will happen when it happens for a reason!
I am sorry it took me so long to finally read this but life is CRAZY…and you will laugh that my responses go backward from when I started reading again. Hope everything is well!
Twitter: Mrsourma
says:
G I can barely imagine having to handle two of you, bless your Momma! And you are 1000% correct, its great feeling like I have a path instead of sitting here twiddling my thumbs. Except you know, its still kind of a wait and see process. :-p
Look at me I caught on your comments!
I just found your blog, so forgive me for commenting on an old old old post, but I just wanted to let you know I’ve been through the PCOS gamut. My oldest Finn was conceived on metformin + clomid. My youngest, Tate was metformin, Femara (like Clomid only WAY better as far as side effects go), and FSH. If you ever have any questions or want to understand anything, feel free to contact me!
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