Doctors! My First RE Appointment

Doctors... well they do their job! I shouldn't expect a lot of western medicine physicians to be catering to my emotions. But this is still a service to me and in that aspect I expect more!

I had my first RE appointment today. I wasn't overly impressed with Dr. Bateman. He didn't give me a lot of opportunity to ask questions, though I got a few in. He was just very cut and dry, and to the point (which is a positive thing). He took my medical history and some very basic information about the miscarriage--basically only that it lasted six weeks and that I had a D&C, and my age when I got pregnant.

He asked if I use OPKs or any other ovulation predictors (no, but I’m looking for a Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor to borrow or for good price!). I told him I'm using the microscope and he asked if I'm putting my cervical mucus on it. I said no, my saliva. I don't think he knew you could use that too! Uuuuugh. Not sure though.

Then he did a physical, and an ultrasound. With both, he checked for signs of endometriosis (no history in my family of it) and saw none. He said my uterine lining looked good, and that he wasn't sure if I've ovulated or not. He couldn't see if any follicles had released yet. He also checked the cul-de-sac for some type of fluid that's present after ovulation. He saw some, but it wasn't conclusive enough to confirm ovulation. Oh and he also said my cervix appeared normal. I told him I was trying to get better at checking it for a fertility sign and he acted like he didn't know what I meant! Ugh. I said, uh, high and soft when I'm fertile?? Geez come on! Maybe he knew what I was talking about but it didn’t seem like it!He made an order for a lab test to check my thyroid and prolactin levels. I had that drawn right after the appointment. Forgot to ask when the results will be in.

What next?

If I’m not pregnant, I’ll do an HSG test in a couple of weeks (must be in a specific period of my cycle) to check if my fallopian tubes are clear (click for details here). Of course, he also wants to check DH's swimmers, and he said we could do that the same day. Have to sign off for now but overall I'm glad something is moving along and progressing.

CD 20 (cycle day 20) ...Did I O Yet?

Is anybody out there reading this who is well versed with charting? As you can see, I'm waiting to confirm O with taking my temps. I don't use OPKs (maybe I should start) or an expensive ovulation monitor.

Do you think there's any chance I O'd on CD 17? Here's another link to my chart (and also on the right side). On CD 18 and 20 I had a different wake up time, so I can't totally rely on those temp readings.

DH is gone on business so we baby danced up until he left. Hopefully the timing was "good enough!"

CD 17 (cycle day 17)

I have felt much more empowered and confident this cycle of interpreting my body's fertility signs. If it's God's plan, we will have done everything "right" this go 'round when I walk into Dr. Bateman's office. Hopefully sperm will have met egg by then... then lil' embryo will be makin' its trip to settle in to make a good home for a good, oh, say, around 38 weeks!

It's my understanding that Dr. Bateman's office will see me up to three times if I get preggers while under their care. With a previous loss, I will so need to hear a few beta hCG test results. And, at least one ultrasound to see beating heart would be incredible. Ah, one step at a time!!

CD 14 (cycle day 14)

Another cycle waiting for ovulation... I have decided to make this blog public. Opened wide to the world. You may be able to have "certain" suspicions if it abruptly becomes private again. *wink wink* ... Let's hope. I really have nothing to hide other than if I happen to see another BFP (see my new abbreviation list if you need help with that one), we need to be careful about who finds out first... or last... I don't necessarily mind if the world finds out we get pregnant and then we miscarry... again. I don't even like to speculate, but I have to protect my emotions and be a realist too. We very well could have another loss. At any rate, we'll decide what to do with the blog (private or public) once that time comes (and praying that it does).

5 DPO - 3 Steps Back!

OK so Fertility Friend has changed my ovulation date grrrr! This is so frustrating! And it still has dashed crosshairs meaning another fertility sign (microscope ferning) is conflicting with my temperature rise (again) indicating ovulation on CD (cycle day) 18 instead of 15! Ugh! So I am pushing back my test date to March 1 if my menses doesn't appear. That is the end of my assumed average luteal phase length of 13 days... So, in line with the ttc journey--more waiting!

Thinking positive++++++++++++++ thoughts!

CD 18 - 3 DPO! (cycle day 18 - 3 days past ovulation)

Wahoo! FertilityFriend confirmed ovulation on CD 15 (Tuesday), but the crosshairs on my chart are dashed, i.e., "a dashed crosshair means that your fertility signs are somehow in conflict." Ugh! I wish I could just know the exact day! At least I'm relatively certain that it's happened within the last three days... If you know about charting, please take a look at my chart and send me a comment if you have any insight for me!

So, I'm officially in the 2WW (2 week wait)! YAY! (On average a woman needs to wait two weeks after ovulation before obtaining a positive pregnancy test if conception has occurred.)

CD 16 (cycle day 16)

This is so cool! I think I am feeling ovulation pain for the first time! I think maybe I've noticed before... but didn't know what it was. I think I may have thought it was bad gas. :) teehee... It's pretty exciting to recognize it. I feel it all the way on the right side of my abdomen, maybe two inches from my hip bone. I'm pretty sure my ovary is there! Here's what Cindy on one of my online groups said:

I always felt it anywhere from 3-5 days prior to O. I've also heard that you can feel O pain on the opposite side from which you're O-ing or always feel it on one side even though your ovaries are alternating O-ing each month... yet again, our bodies are so wacky, lol :) They say that some people don't feel it as well... cooky, huh?

Yes, Cindy, incredibly cooky! And an article from FertiltyFriend:

Ovulation Pain: Also known as mittelschmertz , which means "middle pain" it refers to a slight pain that you may feel near your abdomen or ovary at the time of ovulation. It does not necessarily occur at the exact time of ovulation and not everyone feels ovulation. As such, ovulation pain is useful to cross-check other signs, but cannot be used to definitively confirm or pinpoint ovulation. Also, it is very difficult to know if the pain you feel in your abdomen mid-cycle is related in any way to ovulation or your fertility. Other pains are often mistaken for ovulation pain. It is still useful to record, even if you are unsure if it is related to your fertility. As you become more in tune with your fertility signs, it will become easier to recognize ovulation pain if you experience it. Women who have never noticed ovulation pain often begin to notice it when they begin to chart their fertility signs.

also...

I felt ovulation pain before ovulation is detected on my chart. Should I change the ovulation date?

When you feel ovulation pain (not everyone does) you can feel it before, during or even just after ovulation, and many other kinds of cramps or twinges can be mistaken for it, so it is not a good indicator for pinpointing ovulation on a particular day. It provides an additional clue, like other secondary fertility signs. Ovulation pain can not be used as a primary indicator for pinpointing ovulation. It is best to look at all signs and the "big picture" when interpreting your chart.

So I really believe ovulation is around the corner! :-D

CD 14 (cycle day 14)

A change to note this cycle... (TMI ahead:) I have noticed a significant improvement in the quality (and quantity) of my cervical mucus. I attribute this to the evening primrose oil. I've been taking it morning and evening, 2000 mg per day. "Fern" shapes are changing in my saliva. I think ovulation day is approaching!