This is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). If you follow me on Twitter, you know I'm tweeting all about it. I plan to write my Bust a Myth blog post for NIAW this week, it's in very rough draft form right now. True to the classic procrastinator I can sometimes be, I'm not ready to finish it... so look for it later this week.
In the meantime, I'm taking this format from Not Fat, Just Pregnant
and giving my A-Z list of TTC as a Single Woman diagnosed with Unexplained Infertility.
A. Age when you started TTC: 38 (after considering SMC for many years)
B. Baby Dancing or Sex: Neither. IUI & IVF
C. Children wanted: For years I always wanted one, until I started TTC, now I'd love to have two
D. Dogs/Cats/Fill in Children: 2 dogs, two years old (a few months apart). Rescues, Lab mixes. Truly my babies!
E. Essential Oils/Vitamins/Snake Oils: Prenatals, D3 (liquid), B6, Calcium, Fish Oil
F. Fertility Meds I’ve taken: (In order) Clomid, Progesterone, Ovadrel, Femara, Gonal-F, Novarel Mocrodose, Estrace, Lupron Microdose, Low dose HCG, Saizen (HGH) - ALSO, BCP's, Vicoden, Methoprednozone, Doxycycline, Daisopam, Valium, and Xanax (Xanax for the stress of TTC/BFN's)
G. Gain: Since TTC? 12lbs, in the last 2 years 32lbs
H. HSG (Hystosalpingogram): All clear! The test didn't phase me a bit
I. Infertile Pet Peeves: More than I'd like to admit, but I will in my NIAW post later this week
J. Job title: Change Manager
K. Kid’s names you’re afraid will be taken by the time you can use them: I'll name my child what I want when I know what the right name is, regardless of whether or not someone else has used the name
L. Length of time TTC: 1 year (working exclusively with an RE)
M. Miscarriages: None, thank God. Praying that answer never changes. I do believe I've had 2 chemical pregnancies that went away before they could be verified.
N. Number of times you’ve switched OB/GYNS, REs, FSs: Since TTC, 1 OB/GYN, 1 RE (but I see all 6 in the practice). I have TWO second opinions scheduled in May.
O. Ovarian quality: Good for my age.
P. POAS or wait for AF: POAS. I waited with IVF#1. Sometimes I think if I POAS or wait it will impact the outcome, silly superstitions. But if I didn't POAS, I wouldn't know about my two unconfirmed chemical pregnancies.
Q. Quote from an obnoxious fertile: "It will happen, in time"... (unless I go broke first, or insane). I also can't stand when women say something and then follow with "only a mother truly knows"... I feel like I've been dismissed, deemed unworthy.
S. Sperm: On my second Open Donor (one day I'll add up exactly how much I've spent on sperm alone $$)
T. Time you tried naturally: Does 1 unmedicated IUI count?
U. Uterus quality: Assumed it's fine. Looked good in HSG & Hysteroscopy. Next week's Endometrial Biopsy will tell more...
V. Vagina: If it weren't for regular visits with Wandy & the Speculum, my Va-jay-jay would be quite lonely
W. What baby stuff do you already have?: I bought a used glider shortly before my first IUI and donated the bedroom furniture to Salvation Army... now I feel like I jinxed myself. Plus, my mom volunteers for a thrift store and I have 2 crates full of goodies. I finally had to tell her to stop until a viable pregnancy is confirmed.
X. X-tra X-tra Hear all about it! How many people know the ins and outs of our crazy TTC journey? First it was close friends, then immediate family. After continued struggles I decided it would be less stressful to share with other friends and even work (for IVF scheduling support and reduced stress). This week I posted on Facebook, not "coming out" but an NIAW statement.
Y. Yearly Exam (do you still go in even though someone sees your lady parts most months?): I had to have a pap before IVF. The pap was late (by several months) since I had so many appointments all year spreading my legs for the masses.
Z. Zits: Occasionally. Usually around my period.
Care to share your A - Z's of TTC?
The "Q" statement made me cringe. I hate that saying about "mother's" knowing..ugh.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your biopsy. I wasn't told ahead of the first one I had, but I learned, take some pain meds beforehand. You'll be fine if you can pop something to take the edge off.
Oh, and the "V" cracked me up!
I love "K" - that is exactly how I feel, too! There's no such thing as a patent on a name :)
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ReplyDeleteI, too, cringe hearing "Q". Worst thing ever.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, BB.
And I can't wait to read your Bust a Myth blog post.
Just found your blog. Wow, you've been through a lot. It took me 2 years of trying before I became an SMC with my 2nd IVF. (Thank goodness - I was out of money). The pay-off is so worth the pain and effort. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteHated too to be told that only mothers know. errrr.
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