The wonderful world of BIRTH CONTROL

It's possible you have taken birth control pills at one point in your life and it's also very possible that you have never really had any issues with them (LUCKY YOU).  If you are like me (NOT so lucky), you will relate to this post and maybe even learn a thing or two...I sure have!

What do I mean by "issues"? 

First issue was immediate, NAUSEA!  If my body doesn't like something it WILL let me know! Years ago I learned that taking my birth control at night would HELP.  I've now taken it a step further (as I have had some rough nights of no sleep and being sick to my stomach)- I will eat yogurt, peanut butter crackers, a bowl of cereal, or an apple 15 minutes before bed and than take my birth control pill.  Works 99% of the time, 100% of the time!  If this doesn't work for you, I've learned a crazy little insider trick (or maybe you have heard this before-and I'm living in the 1800's?)...Dr. Winslow has recently informed me that if you have stomach issues with the pill you can vaginally insert them (1 per day of course-lol-sorry I had a mental image).  It's amazing that through out all of these years, at age 27 (almost 28) I am just now hearing this for the first time! CRAZY!  Have you heard this before?

Next issue, HUNGER!  Okay, I understand it's not hunger, it's my mind playing tricks on me, but I have a CONSTANT urge to EAT!  I'm going to be a whale before I'm even pregnant.  I cant stop eating peanut m&ms and cookies, and for some reason raiding my husbands huge stash of slim-jims (which normally I don't even like).  I've offset this a little by keeping trail mix (with some chocolate chips) in my desk drawer at work and cramming even more healthy calories into my GREEN MONSTER in the mornings.  That's the only help I can be on that one.  Any suggestions?

Lastly, and probably the biggest issue, MY MOODINESS! (not nearly as big an issue for me as it is for JCH...and possibly some of the people I work with)  Last week I asked JCH to remind me to pick up my pills from the pharmacy and to help me remember to take them each night.  Apparently JCH had a flashback to the last time we were at the "month of birth control" junction with the last doctor and his response was "you want ME, to remind you to pick up your DEVIL PILLS, and to take your DEVIL PILLS each night?"  He finds humor in everything (if you know him-this is his dry sense of humor pouring out).  He really is a good sport though.  He gives me nightly massages, he eats whatever I want (whenever I want) and he NEVER gives me a hard time for being moody or short with him.  After all is said and done with IVF he deserves a nice vacation and some serious pampering...he's pretty wonderful!   I'm increasing my exercise (yoga and hip-hop classes) and thinking of my baby sister when she constantly jokes with me to "breeeeathe casey, breeeeathe" when I'm being too high strung!  As if there is a solution to the moodiness...I thought I might throw it out there...how might you cope?

Déjà vu

 “Libras are all about balance and harmony, lending to their easy-going nature. But when it comes to weighing work time and playtime, they'd much rather be social and have fun. Thank goodness your lucky day is Friday!”  (LIVE BY THE STARS horoscope)

TGIF, indeed! 

I’m having a strong sense of déjà vu this morning, although with this situation I am certain I have actually experienced this circumstance prior to today.  Let me catch you up!

Last Monday was our “phone consult” with F.I.R.M.  The call lasted about 45 minutes and when I hung up I was certain that JCH and I had made a wise decision in changing doctors.  I was also excited to find out that this “glitch” (change in line-up) was only going to cost us a 1 month delay (if that). 

Since Monday I have probably spoken to the doctor, Dr. Winslow and IVF Nurse Coordinator, Patty, 10-15 times (that is probably the TOTAL amount of calls I EVER got from SEFC over a 10 month period).  I already feel so comfortable with both of them.  I know it sounds silly but Patty says things like “okay, girlie, lets do this”, and “yay, I can’t wait to get you two down here”…which makes it personal…and not so artificial (like our last experience).

So you are probably wondering why the sense of déjà vu this morning (because this sounds like two TOTALLY different experiences).  I just called Patty because I got my “menstrual cycle” (and by now I know that the timing of everything is contingent upon that) and “in short” the conversation goes, “start your birth control tomorrow, in 17 days you will come in for a trial transfer, and than we will be looking at the week of October 30^th for the retrieval and implantation”.   Heard (and planned for) all of this before...

EEEEEEEEEEEE sooo excited!!! That is the REASON for the sense of déjà vu!  The feeling of excitement—it’s so familiar and so nice and our “baby-making day” --it’s on the calendar, again!

Oh yeh, one last thing.  Patty spoke to my OB-GYN here in Charleston, Dr. Conatser, and they determined that my Follicle Monitoring and Estradiol Stats (blood work) could be done here in Charleston (which will save me SEVERAL long trips down to FLORIDA).  In total it looks like we will only need to travel down to Jacksonville 4 times...not too bad! The first trip down will be October 10th...it's safe to start the countdown...again!

Out with the old, in with the new

BIG DECISIONS MADE IN OUR HOUSE THIS WEEK!

I’ve refrained from saying anything until now because I’ve chosen to stay positive and not reflect on the negative however I’m coming clean and getting it off of my chest.  I REALLY DISLIKE (trying really hard not to say HATE) my fertility doctor and clinic!  Since day one I have been in shock that I receive better customer service, open communication and more information when I spend $20 at Target than when I’m spending close to $20K to create a human life with our fertility clinic.  It’s been impossible to get the doctor on the phone for any questions, and his nurse coordinator lacks communication skills and the understanding that “we have never done this before”!  This is an extremely scary, emotional, and overwhelming process that is meant to bring great joy to our lives and nothing was done to help us with this other than taking our money (and sperm and eggs) to do some lab work.  It was so impersonal and complicated that we decided we WANT MORE...we fired our doctor!

Out with the old, in with the new!  We've started communication and paperwork with a fertility clinic in Jacksonville, Florida-Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine-a 4 hour drive away! We found the new clinic after A LOT of research online and after finding them on Parents™ Magazine “10 BEST Fertility Centers" in the US list.

I'm leaving the negative energy in the past...along with that terrible doctor and his clinic.  Normally one might expect that I would be over dramatic and make a hasty decision, but this was actually the "final straw" for JCH.  He was the one who said "enough is enough" with this doctor. I can only imagine the regret that JCH and I would have, had we gone through with this clinic and did not get pregnant.  My guess is that we would have assumed they botched the procedure and it would have been impossible to admit that it just wasn’t in the cards this time.

We've set a phone consultation for early next week with the new doctor and will find out exactly how much of our previous labs, sonograms, etc. can be used, how many trips we will need to make down to Jacksonville, and how much this is going to delay everything for us.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ONLY a month delay.  I received a huge shipment in the mail last week of hormone injections that I get to look at everyday like "salt in the wound" to remind me that I should have started the process already! As you can see, I'm torn.  I do not regret our decision, I just wish it wasn't so!

On another note, the birth control is making me moody and extremely emotional and irrational.  I'm sticking to my healthy eating and I'm down to less than a full cup of coffee per day.  I think this week I'll try one cup of 1/2 CAFF.  A little progress each day!

Hope y'all have a great week!!! xoxo