The Big Answer

On Friday I finally had my follow-up appointment with the NaPro doctor. After the blood test ordeal, I went into the appointment expecting some pills, lifestyle changes (All You Who Hope is on a special diet), etc. Relatively easy remedies with perhaps some direction.

Nope. Excuse me as I vary from writing information and ranting. I hope these results shed some light in case one of my anonymous readers out there has experienced the same thing.

So the doctor went through each blood test. Apparently my Estrogen levels are fine up until ovulation and then plummet afterwards. Remedy: oral estrogen pills.

The progesterone, however, was a different story. The doctor informed me that my progesterone were EXTREMELY low, in fact the lowest he's seen in 8 years. Oh great, I muttered inwardly. Those are the kind of records that one does not want to hold!!

The remedy? Injections of progesterone. AAACK! It has taken quite a long time to get over a deep-seeded fear of needles. Obviously, my recent blood test adventures took quite a toll. Were it not for Miss Betty's blood taking prowess, I would run away from every needle. However, these home injections did not sit well with me. My husband will have to give them to me on P+3, 5, 7, and 9 each month for 6 months. Arrgg!

Of course DH had to joke that he gave injections to calves growing up on the farm. The doctor took out a syringe and injected me with some arm-numbing fluid just to show DH how to do it. Really, was that necessary? It didn't help that the doctor joked that the injections had to be given in the eyeball. Thankfully, the home injections will be given with a diabetic needle, which is very small and relatively painless.

Every other cycle I will get a blood test (thankfully, only 1) to see how everything is working. The doctor concluded that I have some major signs pointing to endometriosis, which includes low progesterone. He remains hopeful that the shots & hormones may correct things anyway. We'll follow up with him in 6 months.

So after the ultrasounds, the condescending looks from the doctors, fruitless Clomid, blood tests up the wazoo, numerous doctor appointments, this is getting real old, real fast. I am still grateful for our NaPro doctor, however, because he treats me like a person ("not like a cow!" he said) and has given us a lot of answers. This cross is just getting heavier. I wish my words could echo that of a blog entitled, "This Cross I Embrace." Right now, my words are more like, "This Cross Stinks but I'll Carry it Anyway. GRR!"

Around Easter time we had made a prayerful decision to pursue foreign adoption (really, I was going to blog about it but wanted to get my thoughts in order!). I had just began to accept that God's plan for our family only included adoption. But this ordeal and the coming 6 months have thrown a huge curve ball.

We have a flurry of activities in the coming week, so hopefully as my anger and sullen feelings begin to wane (we hope!) I can post more about the treatment and the results. Blood Test Buddy and I think we should add monthly massages to our hormone treatment plans.

NaPro News & Adoption Discernment

Once again, another gap of news on the infertility front has passed. It seemed as if many appointments and frantic Creighton Method learning came all at once. Add to that Church meetings and the busiest time of year for Irish Dancers (St. Patrick's Day) and PRESTO! One long gap. So I'll try to condense the update as much as possible.

First of all, we were all set to get the hormone blood test (you get a blood test every other day for concrete proof of ovulation) when the doctor reminded us that he wanted to learn the Creighton Method first. Thankfully, the Creighton instructor squeezed us in a few days after my cycle had started. Mark and I had learned and used the CCL sympto-thermal method when we got married. We like the Creighton Method a bit better, but it does take some adjustment. We have to chart for one more cycle and then visit the doctor for a follow-up. Our instructor has asked me to start taking Vitamin B-6 to help with improving mucus. I'll post on the ongoing progress.

Thanks to a fellow support group member and my Lenten penance, I'm also trying to spend time in the gym. The NaPro doctor recommended exercise & weight loss as a key to avoiding PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome), which I'm already showing some warning signs. I'm surprised at the difference in stamina, particularly for the past few dance performances.

Finally, we met with a second adoption agency last week. The head of the agency had come highly recommended from various friends. After meeting with her for an hour, we could see why. She answered all of our questions and even gave us thoughts to consider. She informed us that South Korea has only a 10-month waiting time. Additionally, we could qualify for that country upon our 3-year wedding anniversary this July. I'll write more later about Korea, in case some readers are interested.

The picture on this post really shows our need for discernment; we have two pathways to follow. The question is which one...or how much of both paths to tread upon.