3 months of Meds!

So my prescription for Metformin is in the pharmacy, I got the call this evening, Ill collect tomorrow.

Am nervous.

I'm to start week 1 with 1 tablet, increase to 2 and then hopefully be able to stand 3 by the third week. Am staying positive and hoping that this staggered approach will work.

I was a little concerned

When the nurse asked me to contact them towards the end of the second month so that they could arrange the IVF procedure. She seemed confused when I explained I wasn't having IVF, at least not yet. I explained to her that the [good] Doctor thinks insulin is the problem, hence the metformin.

I could be pregnant,

Inside the next 3 months, pregnant, both a scary and exhilarating thought.

Wish me luck!

Getting pregnant, a money pit?!

I had another mini ' are we doing the right thing/ ready for this' attack again. It ended with my booking the blood tests, so you can deduce what I decided.

Shock of my life.

The doctor had said that I would require 1 blood test, I checked the cost when I booked and told the nurse when she started taking the body that it was only the fasting bloods I was having done, that everything else was up-to-date, the shock came when we went to pay. Instead of €40 she was charging me €160! I nearly died.

Apparently [annoyed]

It's routine [so I was told] for PAI -1 to be done at the same time, the expense little bugger. The receptionist wasn't much help when I asked what it was all about. And sure I thought to myself it will be worth it [it better be]. If this kid doesn't come out right I will want my money back!

Procrastinating: Still haven't booked the fasting blood tests.

I know, I know. My own fault again. It's me circa 2007; knowing exactly what needs to be done and sticking my head in the sand.

I think it's because I'm scared. I've a feeling I wont get the answer I am hoping for from these blood tests and I don't know where that will lead so I do nothing.

Not a way forward I know, but hey, its taken me 3 years to get this far...

Need a big push... must make appointment on Monday * bites nails * - think I need a Drill Sargent - any takers?

Insulin might not be the problem afterall.

At our first appoint with the IVF Clinic the Doctor explained that he was [almost] sure that my aggravated PCOS symptoms and infertility was down to an in balance in Insulin or Insulin Resistance. I'm booked in for fastening blood tests to confirm this.

However

As I was at my GP's during the week I decided to ask if I ever had this type of blood test before. I had. AND the results were normal.

I am devastated.

I will still go ahead and have the fasting blood tests at the Sims Clinic and see but I don't think my treatment is going to be as easy as diet, exercise and medication after all.

Staying positive...

Our First appointment with the IVF Clinic

I was a bag of nerves, good nerves, excited nerves; but a bag of nerves none the less.

We got there early,

About 30 minutes early but headed in regardless. It's nice there, clinical but nice. Plenty to do in the waiting room; tv, teas and coffee, computers, games etc. Don't ask me why but I was surprised to see the waiting room full of other couples. All stone faced, I smiled at some but they weren't very welcoming - is it that IVF apts are not PC... even when you're all there for the same reasons?

Our Doctor is lovely.

Such a nice man. He even phoned me this morning. He was not supposed to be the Doctor we were to meet and called to make sure we were happy to meet him - so we would have no surprises. [How Sweet].

A very long chat

Ensued in his office were we talked all about my medical history, my PCOS, PCOS in general and possible treatments and options that we would have and face. He was very thorough, spoke alot of since and for the first time in years I feel like someone is actually listening and interested in helping us. All in all a very positive consultation.

I rather painful procedure

When I told him that I haven't had a period since Oct 07 he grew a little concerned and thought it odd that no-one had ever thought to question or investigate this before. Which made sense when he said it. As a result I had an Endometrial [sp?] Biopsy. Not a pleasant experience at all.

I forgot to mention the Tumour

The one I've had for years in my right ovary. When he did the ultrasound he got quite a shock. And for the second time he asked why no-one had questioned/ investigated or removed it. Simply; before, no-one ever seemed concerned or interested in it.

My prognosis

You may be forgiven for thinking that my prognosis would be rather grey after all that but you would be wrong. The [very] good Doctor is quietly positive that insulin my be my fiend and the root to all my problems! He is of the educated [guess] opinion at the moment that once regulated and controlled through a combination of diet, exercise and medication I may very well be all to conceive naturally.

A blood test

Will confirm all this, and fingers crossed making babies might not be as 'test tubey' as we thought!

Your Health is Your Wealth!

I'm fine, better than fine, there is nothing wrong!

For those of you who read regularly you'll be aware that for 2 weeks my appointment with a plastic surgeon has hung over me like a guillotine.

Thankfully I don't have skin cancer.

After a thorough investigation by a charming Doctor he declared all my lumps and bumps totally normal and nothing to worry about. [ I'll be having some stern words with my GP I can tell you after that fright!]

Biopsies not even required!

I will be having a procedure called 'Mole Mapping' done in the near future so that they can more accurately keep an eye on everything and so that I will have a reference point for the future, but other than that I can relax - relief in me is palpable!

Next focus...

Tomorrow's appointment with the IVF Clinic, they've already called to confirm and I've checked the directions - very excited!!

Scheduled: Our first appointment with The Sims Clinic!

I love birthdays; magical things happen!

It was getting to the point were I thought that perhaps our application pack for the Sims Clinic had been lost in the post or they thought us a lost cause and weren't going to take us on. I had made up my mind to give them a call on Monday and see what the hold up was.

A quick dash home

To collect an old battered phone so I could get a better upgrade on a new phone forced me to miss a phone call yesterday, a very important IVF phone call!! My hands [and body] shuck with delight when I replayed the voicemail; the Sims Clinic were calling to make an appointment. In the moment I was annoyed I had missed the call...

BUT Fate had intervened!

In the time that lapsed between the Sims Clinic leaving me a voice mail and me calling them back someone had called to cancel their own appointment. I was kindly offered their appointment on the spot [it was my birthday after all]!!

Shocked, Delighted and SUPER Excited!!

We're having our first appointment with the IVF [Sims] Clinic in ONE WEEK, yes ONE WEEK on Friday the 2nd of July 2010!!

Best Birthday present ever!!

Fertility Books

They say knowledge is power and with power comes some control. Control is something you lack when faced with fertility problems. So in order to give myself a little control back [and plenty of knowledge/ power] I've been doing some reading.

Fertility (60 Tips)

Is a compact little book that I found in the library. It does exactly what it says on the cover and gives you 60 tips for improving your chances of conceiving. It's an easy to read book, nicely laid out and illustrated.

A taster of 60 Tips for Fertility

It includes tips such as;

1. Eat better, Eat well - eating enough, but not too much.
2. Take Vitamin B12 to produce an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells in bone marrow.
3. Try Acupuncture, it can help to increase fertility by restoring the flow of energy it relieves the effects of 'blockages'
4. For men; take care when on a bike, mountain biking can damage the scrotum.
5. Realise the value of yoga, it can help to centre you and your desire for a child.

And many many more...

As well as value and interesting tips the book is littered with case studies of scenarios that have affected reproductively challenged couples which are useful.

The other book

I am also ready is Trying to Conceive [The Irish Couple's Guide] by Fiona McPhilips. This one is a little more intense, technical and slightly harder to dip in and out of. I'll admit that I have only glanced over this one once or twice but I plan on reading it more in depth now.

I need something to take my mind off my other little health scare and I am hoping that 'Trying to Conceive [The Irish Couple's Guide] will fill me with positivity and direction that it wont be to the forefront of my mind.

Still no Appointment for the IVF Clinic

Frustrated!

I still haven't heard from the IVF Clinic! I expect they have our forms well over a week now... should I call? Would that be too persistent?

Could I ruin my chances?

Would pestering them mean we wouldn't get a spot... I'm sure they are used to coupled being anxious... but do we want to one of those?

I'll see what happens

Tomorrow and decide then whether or not to call. Fingers Crossed they call soon, I can't take it any more!!

Filling out the application form for the IVF Clinic

6 Pages of Personal Information

They want to know everything! Which I suppose shouldn't be surprising. Still its hammered home to us again how 'public' making a baby is going to be for us.

This is the part that's always caused me problems.

Making babies is supposed to be private, personal, intimate. At leasts thats what we're all led to believe. I suppose the 'publicness' of its all is where most of my anger came from and why for 3 years we pretty much did nothing and I spent most of it in therapy trying to come to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to concieve the way I always thought.

I feel better.

Now that I've made the call, received the pack, watched the DVD [yes they sent us a DVD] and filled out the form. I've come to terms with it now; at the end of the day the end result will be the same and we'll have a baby, thats what counts.

What is on the DVD?

This is a question I would be wondering! I was surprised to see it there in the folder when it arrived but it was great. You got to 'meet' and see most of the staff, hear them describe what they do and what to expect. If showed the Clinic itself, which is lovely and comfortable; which to me, was important. The showed practical things like location, what the building looked like and parking - all things I know I would have stressed about on the way there.

Where do we go from here?

Well today we post the application back and wait for them to call with an appointment. We should be there within 6-8 weeks for our first consultation!! We're getting a bit excited!!

Wish us luck!

What I am doing to lose weight before IVF

Today is day 4 of my 'lose the weight before IVF' campagin and I'm still alive :)

Every morning

I am doing a little cardio or yoga or stretch routine every morning and every evening I do a walk. [Apparently its good for you metabolism to spread your exercise out over the day.] I am also trying to 'keep moving' in the evenings - gardening, so that I don't eat after dinner.

Evenings used to be my worst time for 'munching'.

I've discovered that I ate alot when sitting in front of the TV - I suppose who doesn't? So by watching less TV and staying active in the house and garden I don't have the 'need' to snack as much. [So far, so good!].

I'm doing

About an hour or so a day of exercising, some days 45 minutes. I hope to increase this overtime to about an hour and half by introducing a third 'session'. I'm quite unfit so my 'sessions' [at the moment] aren't very intense but I am pushing myself a little further each day.

Today I used

A great 10 minute cardio workout I found on YouTube - I use YouTube alot to find quick, fun routines. I really liked this one; it was short but could be lenghtened. The exercises were doable and had different intensity levels and the instructor was upbeat and motivational.

What do you think?

Weightloss; My Ugly Truth

I'm fat. Actually that is probably being nice about it, I'm obese - yes technically I am; shocker right? There was a time I was a slim size 10 - although that is almost 8 - 10 years ago now. A symptom of my PCOS is severve weight problems; I am the type that looks at a chocolate bar and puts on 10lbs.

I can no longer ignore my weight problems!

Apart from the fact that I am unhappy [severely] with my weight and I'm unhealthy AND that it could all lead to worst health problems in the future there is another reason that has prompted me to lose it.

I want a baby.

Again as part of my PCOS I am reproductively challenged. I can't concieve babies naturally, at the very least. I've struggled with this for 3 years and after going through a rather horrific am I/ amn't pregnant episode very recently I've finally pulled the finger out and made the call to an IVF clinic. I'll be meeting with an IVF consultant within the next 6 - 8 weeks to discuss my options and see what they can do for me. I know my weight will stand in my way, so I am doing what I can now; getting a head start.

My body stats:

Laid open and bare, no hiding from them; this is the good, the bad and the ugly. [Don't laugh]

I am 5 foot 6 inches

I weigh 15 stone and 10 3/4 lbs [ 220 3/4 lbs]

I am 47 inches around my belly 

I am 40.5 inches under my breasts

I am 48 inches around the hips

My thighs are 27.5 inches

My upper arms are 14.5 inches

There it is in black and white. [Take deep breath now]

So what am I doing?

Well I've cut our alcohol and take aways for the next month[at least]. I am going to watch what I eat and exercise twice a day. A morning work and a walk in the evening, equally 45 - 60 minutes a day. I'll alternate my morning works out but I found this work out this morning which was great and would recommend to anyone; regardless of their fitness level.



Wish me luck!!

I made the call - to the IVF Clinic!!

I did it, I finally did it.

I made the call.

Well several actually. Initially I had been told that would need my Doctor to refer me on to the IVF Clinic and he had advised once we had decided on which IVF Clinic we would like to go with he would do up a referral letter.

Decision Made

The Sims Clinic it is to be; so I call our Doctor, or at least try to. Frustratingly no one was answering. In fact sometimes it didn't ring. But I was in a proactive mood, undeterable - I decide to call The Sims Clinic directly.

Yipee - I don't need a referal!

Spoke to a lovely, lovely receptionist who advised me I didn't need a referral, but that I did need to read and complete an application pack which she would post out to me. Once returned they would then phone with an appointment.

We're 6-8 weeks away from meeting
with an IVF Consultant!!

Ecstastic!!

The Baby Fund

I know that having IVF, or at the very least assistance with getting pregnant is going to cost us. My initial guesstimates are in the region of €4,000 - €8,000 with our chosen facility, The Sims Clinic. That is of course if they chose us! According to their website they can be picky [ my words not theirs], they, more eloquently put it; that they take on a small number of patients so they can focus more on patient care than numbers. - most of the reason we want to go there!

I've done my research...

Well I've had a few conversations with people who have gone down this route, the IVF one, and each has said to me; can you afford it? Honestly, right now I don't know that we can. Well right now I don't even know how much it is going to cost. Regardless, once I'm finished this post I am going to make a jar marked ' The Baby Fund' - at least it will start us off.

Second on my to do list... once 'The Baby Fund' is started

Find out for sure what this is going to cost, which means gettin referred to the clinic. I'll call the Doctor's tomorrow and get them to do my a referral letter, then I can make an appointment. Knowledge is key right now.

Wish us luck!