After living in Spartanburg for about 6 months, Mike and I started the process of getting answers about what we needed to do to start our family.We knew that we needed to start by reminding ourselves of what had happened so far. I suggested that we go to MUSC so that I could request my records. So over Christmas of 2012 we went and got them but since I had more than I thought they had to be mailed to us. So that took a couple weeks but eventually we got them. I read over them as soon as they were in my hands because I was so anxious. I wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten something or that their wasn't something that I was forgetting or had never heard. So I read them but since I'm not a doctor of any kind or versed in medical terminology I didn't understand a whole lot of it. I really wanted Mike to read over them though. Not only would he be able to understand more than me but he would also have the whole picture before going to talk with the doctor.
When he read over them (about 2 weeks before the doctors appt. which was in February) he found something interesting. Before I explain what he found, I need to explain that I have been going to a chiropractor for the last 7 months or so. When he did x-rays he found that I have occiputalization of my first cervical vertebra, this means that my first cervical vertebra is slightly fused to my skull. This makes it hard for the lower vertebra to move and it makes with some other issues with my spine, my second vertebra is putting pressure on my spinal cord and brain stem. This was confirmed when we got my 5 year old MRI report.
On February 20, 2013 we went and saw a reproductive endocrinologist. I was so nervous! I really had no idea what to expect because when I asked my previous endocrinologist about having children in the future she said that since I wasn't married and trying their was no point in having that discussion. Anyway, we got to the appointment and I was nervous but excited that we were finally moving forward. I knew that this wasn't going to mean we could suddenly get pregnant but I was hoping we could get some answers pertaining to why we couldn't get pregnant.
I have to start by saying that we got the best doctor! For now we'll call him Dr. L. He is so optimistic about our options and future which helps me to be hopeful and optimistic. I had so many questions and in some cases I asked the same ones in multiple ways to be sure we got the same answer. He was very patient and answered them as many times as I needed. First of all, he disagrees with MUSC a little bit. He doesn't think that my pituitary gland is the source of the problem. He thinks that my hypothalamus isn't sending the signal to my pituitary gland. This could be caused by the fact that my spinal cord is pressed up against the back of my skull. So its a good thing that I'm going to the chiropractor to work on getting that problem fixed. However, that could take a while and we don't want to wait years and years to have children especially since that problem may not be able to be fixed completely. So we talked about some of the other options we have.
Basically, since this lack of signal is my only problem (that we know of right now), Dr. L isn't categorizing me as infertile. He is renaming my issue hypothalamic amenorrhea. (Translated: No periods due to a dysfunctional hypothalamus) We decided that the safest course of action would be to make sure that my body was still able to go through a regular cycle before trying to get pregnant. We also needed to have an ultrasound done just to make sure the plumbing is clear. So Dr. L prescribed Vivelle Dots or estrogen patches. Basically I wear the patch for 4 days and then I change it. He started me out on the .05 dose which I used for 2 weeks. At the end of those 2 weeks, I was supposed to start the .075 patch for another 2 weeks. At this point if nothing was happening then I would go on the .1 patch for 2 more weeks. After 6 weeks of the patch, I start progesterone and take it for 10 days. This is a pill that tells my body to start my period. After 10 days I should start my period. If I don't then we go in because that means something more serious is wrong. Hopefully though my period does start and ends on its own. Once my period ends, I continue wearing the estrogen patches for another 6 weeks and then do the progesterone again and cycle again. So basically the plan is to have a period once every 6 weeks and to go through the process at least twice before we even think of trying to get pregnant.
If everything goes according to the plan then in late summer to early Fall we will meet with Dr. L again to discuss our options for getting pregnant. We haven't gone into a lot of detail since we aren't at that point, all we know is that hopefully we can make this happen as "naturally" as possible. At this point I've been doing this for 3 weeks and other than being more emotional than normal and moody, I feel fine. Right now I'm nervous that I won't start my period and that we'll have to pursue other options and I'm also excited for the possibility that this might work. So I'm just trying to stay busy...luckily I get to go to work and play with 6 of the most adorable little boys in the world and they keep me plenty distracted from my problems :)
I can't even begin to describe how much better I've felt in the last three weeks. By going to the doctor and doing something about the problem I feel amazing. I know we didn't fix the problem but their is power in knowledge. In having your questions answered and letting people in on your fears. I may still not know if Mike and I can have children or how long it may take if we can but for the first time in a while I don't feel so broken. I feel hopeful in the future and I know that whatever happens is all part of our Heavenly Father's plan. He knows what is best and what we are ready for. It's taken me about a year to reach this point of being hopeful and optimistic and I know its going to take a lot of work to stay in this mindset but I am hopeful for the future no matter what it is :)
