I want your stories!

cole_lee · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2005, 08:54 PM

Let's share our TTC stories from the beginning. What was life like at the beginnig of the journey?? How is it now after being however long you have been trying?? The relationship with SO?? Your faith (if willing to share)?? I want it all!

cole_lee · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2005, 10:28 PM

MY STORY

We were married May 19, 2001 in a little town in KS. We were like every other couple and well you know. We weren't TTC right away as I was only 19 and he was 20. Just weren't quite ready for a little one yet. After a year we started talking about how fun it would be. Then about a year later the hole in my heart that wanted that baby so bad just got bigger and bigger. So we talked some more, bought a book, and saw a dr. In Sept. 03 I went in for laporoscopic surgery (sp) to be checked for endometreosis. I did not have endometreosis but PCOS. The books just tell you about all the cysts doesn't really explain the hormones and other problems associated with PCOS. Then in Sept. 04 we moved to Nebraska (Offutt). Went to the DR on base told him we were TTC and I had PCOS. He immediatly referred me to a OB-GYN. The new DR looked at my films put me on Clomid and sent me on my way. Went back to base with severe pain and saw a different DR. She took blood and kept me on Clomid and then put me on Synthroid. (My thyroid was 12.83 and it should be between .5-5) She ordered a SA for DH got the results back and referred us to a different OB-GYN. The NEW DR saw us once looked at my history and his test results and referred us to a reproductive specialist. We are now waiting on the referral from the military to go see this DR. The other DR said that the best way would be to try IUI.
Our relationship went for excited about the journey to wanting to quit. We have a wedge between us but still love eachother very much! Our faith has slipped little by little. You sent there and think why would God do this to us when we would love a baby and take very good care of it and give it a loving home. But it isn't God who is keeping us from this, I feel he has a different plan for us. I just keep praying and wishing the day will come. The support I get from other ladies in my situation has helped tremedesouly (sp).

THE END (For Now)

ellie_may12 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2005, 08:29 AM

My Story

I have had period problems since the day I started and I knew there was something wrong. I went to the dr. at 18 when I stopped having a period at all. He gave me Provera and told me to lose weight. In college, I ended up in the ER because I was having terrible pains in my sides and didn't know what was wrong. The dr. said it wasn't my appendix therefore it wasn't life threatening and to lose weight. Come to find out I was ovulating and because of the cysts, I was in pain because of them. Still no period without medicine and I hate taking medicine. Later in college, I started having periods every two weeks. Still no one said PCOS. Just take these pills and lose some weight.

After graduating from college, I saw something on 20/20 or some news program about PCOS. over-weight, extra hairy, little or no periods, skin tags....boy did that sound like me! Armed with a little knowledge I went to the dr. and asked. "Well that is possible, but just stay on the pill and we will see what happens." He doesn't understand that I have never wanted anything more than to be a mom.

I had another ovulating episode and ended up having an ultrasound where they found the cysts, but the dr. didn't think that they were big enough to be of any concern. I also have a goiter that isn't big enough to be worried about.

Then came the internet! Wow the knowledge! I talk to another dr. and he says that until I am TTC there is no concern about PCOS. This is not at all what the internet says or my friend with PCOS who was TTC. What the net said was that if treated with met. the body could prevent diabetes in the future and regulate to prevent cancer and all sorts of problems.

Anyway, I got married almost 3 weeks ago. am on met and clomid and did not O this month. Like the dr. I am in a wait and see what happens mode.

KristieClark · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2005, 11:59 AM

We were married on September 15, 2001--almost 4 year ago. I was finishing up with school, DH was already done and had a steady job. I ran out of BC pills right after we got back from our honeymoon (I'd been on them for about 5 years) so I made an appointment to see a new OB/GYN. This doc also happened to be a RE. He was very concerned about my reproductive health as my periods were becoming more and more irregular and I had a cyst removed from my left ovary nearly 10 years before. He suggested we start trying to get preggo, but didn't make it sound like it was a serious issue. DH and I decided to stay off BC and "if it happened, it happened".

So, a few years pass and we decide we are ready to get pregnant. We try and try and try some more. It got to the point to where making love was a chore and not something we enjoyed doing. We started seeing a counselor--one who has dealt with couples struggling with infertilty.

I changed insurance, my old doc stopped delivering babies, so I went to a new OB/GYN. Right away, she sent us to a RE--actually the head of ARTS program in our area. He had a SA done on DH, did a day3 endocrine profile on me and a day4 preantral follicle count/sonogram. DH looked great, I was diagnosed with PCOS (size 18 ovaries, elevated testosterone level). I'm now back on BC (the patch) and metformin. Next step will be clomid (3 months from now) and IUI.

DH and I are doing well. We no longer see the therapist. We are very happy in our relationship. One thing we learned through therapy and all of this is that this is NO ONE's fault! I had such guilt about not being able to get pregnant. DH NEVER did anything to make me feel guilty, I just felt it. We both communicate how we are feeling so much better and I know we are going to get through this

Hopefully, all this will lead to a baby (or 2) in 2006!!!!

ilodagu · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2005, 07:52 PM

DH and I met in college when I was a soph and he was a senior.... we got married in June 2001 when I graduated. Being that we were in the army we spent quite a bit of time apart. We decided in 2002 that we wanted to go ahead and start our family, it was always the most important thing to us and knew when we got married we wanted a family. My periods have ALWAYS been very erratic but I'm very active and tend to get stressed, so always assumed that that was what was wrong. We had some difficulty getting pregnant and got evaluated. They told him he was beyond normal (who knew guys could be so proud of their sperm counts) and that my blood work checked out so they began me on clomid. I got pg and had one miscarriage (in May of 03) and then decided to stop trying in Nov of 03 because the infertility clinic at the military hospital is terrible. Of course that's when I got pg (CD 70, unmedicated). DH left for Afghanistan when I was 5 months pg, but they induced me on his 2 week R and R and we now have our DS. I weaned DS when he was 6 months, knowing that DH and I would start trying for number 2 soon after he got home from deployment (this isn't going to get any easier we thought!). So I immediately went to my regular doctor and she said that she would do clomid (normally family practice drs don't) but that there was a 5 month wait for the infertility clinic. Since they didn't help me before I decided to go to a civilian dr and just pay out of pocket (holy crap this stuff is expensive, but totally worth it). I saw him for the first time about two weeks ago and he agreed to pick me up on the current cycle (100mg clomid, and was given met by my other doctor to "see what happens"). At my scan this weekend he diagnosed me with PCOS (i'm glad my other doc gave me the met!). So I have one more ultrasound for this cycle, but it looks like it is going to be a bust.
I know that DH and I are so lucky to have our DS (I can't believe now that we know my condition, that we even got pg!) and it breaks my heart to read stories of all the ladies that will make such great parents but are having difficulty. I just hope the best for all of us and am glad to have support in the journey!!! (that was really Oprah-ish wasn't it

).

Daisyrach · #6 (**permalink**) 07-18-2005, 08:13 AM

This is going to sound ridiculous, but my greatest fear since the age of 4-years-old, (yes 4 ) is that I won't be about to have children! I just always knew it wouldn't be as easy for me to have children.

Anyway, I got married in June of 2004. We started TTC in the fall after we married. Unfortunatey, I only got 1 period in the six months I was off BCP. My husband, a family physician, told me from what he knew so far without a blood test, that I very well might have PCOS. He got me an appointment at the hospital where he works, and his diagnosis was confirmed. However, an odd thing showed up on my tests also... I had PCOS for sure, but was also pregnant!

Anyway, I miscarried very very early. My husband said it was very unfortunate that I had the blood test when I did, because otherwise I might not have realized that I was pregnant, and just assumed it was a heavy, very late period. (At that point I was about 130 into my cycle, so that is what I would have assumed.)

I was very upset by this news. At first I felt like God had given me a gift despite my diagnosis. After I miscarried, I became very depressed. A couple days after this happened, both my cousin and sisiter-in-law called to say they were pregnant. It was hard to be happy for them.

My husband assured me though, that I should have a 90% chance of success on Clomid, and that we can begin whenever I'm ready. If that fails, we would have enough money to do IVF. I'm just not sure though. Handling the stress of TTC while teaching was easy when we were doing it naturally. But it might be different when I'm on the drugs. I'm thinking of waiting a bit.

I may not get the four children I've always wanted, but I am willing to adpot if all else fails. My husband was adpoted after being placed with 7 foster families. I think having an adpoted family would be great!