I first went back into the office by myself because we weren't sure what was going to be done and Nathan wasn't sure if he wanted to be there if there was anything gyn-like. The nurse had me remove the tape over the incisions, which included one through my belly button and two very small ones just below the bikini line. The dr came in and looked over my incisions and said everything looked fine and just not to pick or prod on them...not a problem, I want them to heal.
The dr then had the nurse go out and get Nathan and I am sure glad they did. The doctor first went through all the pictures of the surgery from the video that was taken through my belly and in my uterus. I got to see my stomach, liver, pancreas, intestine large and small. In those pics he showed us the outside of my uterus and both ovaries. Endometrial tissue was on the outside of my uterus and both ovaries. He was able to laser off the scarred tissue. He also showed me the mass that was over my right ovary. The mass was a fibroid tumor about 3x the size of my ovary. The tumor was resting on my right ovary, so they removed the tumor and extracted it through my belly button. Nathan and I were really surprised about the size of the tumor. He then showed inside the uterus where there were 3 other fibroid tumors. These tumor were in the uterus and were not blocking the cervix, womb, or fallopian tubes so he did not remove them. He also removed some endometriosis in the uterus.
My vitamin D bloodwork showed a level of 16...normal is 32 to 100...50 is good. So I am very low. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to infertility and endometriosis.
So what does this all mean...well the dr prescribe vitamin D boosters for 10 weeks that will hopefully get my levels where they should be. I also have to take calcium supplements and continue with my prenatal vitamins. The dr also wants to do a round of Lupron Depot Therapy. This drug is prescribed to lower estrogen levels to premenopausal state to shrink fibroids and endometriosis. Endometriosis and fibroids are in essence fed by estrogen. This is a 6 month therapy with 3 injections. At this time I will not be able to conceive and will possibly stop having my period. After the therapy the body takes between 1 to 3 months to get back on cycle. The side effects of this therapy are hot flashes, mood swings, depression, loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness...in general as if you are going through a rough menopause. I have read other symptoms but those are the ones that are on the drug fact sheet.
This news was quite a shock and I was not prepared for it at all. I actually started crying right there in the dr's office. The thought of having to put off conceiving for another year is heartbreaking. I know that women have gone even longer, but I have so many what if's in my mind I don't even know where to start. I am unsure about the therapy but my dr put it this way...1 out of 3 women with endo are infertile, 2 out of 3 have miscarriages...if you do not do the therapy and do conceive and have a miscarriage you may look back and think why didn't I do the therapy when I knew that m/c was a possibility...also what if we do not do the therapy and try for another year and still do not conceive are we back to where we started with more endo coming back and even perhaps more fibroids or growing fibroids. But there is the flipside that gets me all upset...what if we don't do the therapy start ttc again and get pregnant and everything is fine...why can't we see into the future...I could go through this and still not conceive.
I was so upset last nite and it seemed that I couldn't find anything good about lupron on the internet...but I do realize that most people who post things on the web have bad experiences. I did not upset with Nathan because he seemed to be concerned about the low sex drive thing...I mean here I am being told I have fertility issues and Nathan was worried about having sex. I did express my concern to him and once he realized how upset this was making me he apologized. This is going to be the first hurdle in our married life that is going to go on just between the two of us. It isn't something you can plan for and you can't even plan for what the therapy may do.
Silver linings: Here are some silver linings for waiting a year before ttc:
- Nathan will be done with school and have a full-time job by the time our little one is born
- We can work on our house and get it done before bringing in a new life
- I can get back into shape and get healthy and fit again before getting pregnant to be able to pass on a healthy life style
I am trying to grasp-on to the silver linings. I am still young enough that waiting a year will be ok. I am worried about the side effects of therapy and of course our ability to conceive. I am going to post my feelings and thoughts through this process in hopes that it will help someone else going through the same thing and of course help me.
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