What dr actually spends 2 hours answering questions?

This girl's dr did! Travis and I met with Dr. Odem on Friday. He was super nice and a little sarcastic, so you know I liked him right away. It was really casual with no pressure. He wants to try the least invasive treatment before moving on to the heavy duty stuff, if need be. The plan is for some blood work which I had done at the lab at Pragress West (and they didn't leave a bruise). He is doing a Rubella Titer (to see if I need to be revaccinated), testing my TSH and my Prolactin levels. I will be having a CD3 ulstrasound to make sure everything is clear. Pending the results of the bloodwork and US, then I will be starting on Clomid again. This time, I will just be taking the Clomid and not taking the Cenestin that had been prescribed. Dr. Odem said that in some women, the Cenestin could hinder ovulation. He also made sure to reassure me that Dr. Jewell has done an awesome job trying to figure things out, and we have jsut gone beyond the scope of his practice. Dr. Odem said that right now, he thinks that IVF is so far away that he wouldn't even talk about it. He said that IUI would be a possibility, only if I am ovulating but not getting preggers. He wants to take it one step at a time. He was very reassuring and made both of us feel very comfortable. Hopefully, I won't be spending much time working with him and he will be able to send me back to Dr. Jewell soon!!!

The next, next step

So, plans have changed a little and I will no longer be holding a phone consult with Dr. A. I was never comfortable with a phone consult. Then, a few nights ago, a friend told me of her experiences with Dr. A and they got me thinking. I still trust my Ob/GYN's and his staff's opinion, but I have to go with what Travis and I are both comfortable with. So, I asked a few friends that have experience infertity, who they saw. Then I asked my MIL and she asked the dr that she works for (Dr G). He and his wife have experienced infertility as well and he recommended the dr that he saw (Dr.Odem). When I called to make an appointment I was told May at the earliest. That was not working for me. So my MIL talked to Dr. G and he called Dr. Odem's office to see if he could work a little magic and get me in sooner. When I called today to make the appointment I was told there was an opening on friday. This friday. Man, that Dr. G is a miracle man!! So, I have a consult at Dr. Odem's office at Progress West. He is a Washington University/BJC dr. I have a friend that used one of the dr's in his office so that is comforting to me as well. I am really excited, especially because Travis is off work and can go to the consult with me. I am ready to find out what is wrong and what we can do to fix it!!!!!

The plan

I met with my Doctor today to discuss the next step in treatment to help me get pregnant. He thinks the problem is that I am anovulatory. I only ovulate sporadically and that makes testing and timing for ovulation tricky. We have decided that the best option is Clomid. I will start taking it at my next cycle. Hopefully this will kick start my ovaries and I will ovulate regularly. Of course, I could always get pregnant this month and not need any of it! That would be great. Travis and I have struggled for a few months with the thought of using Clomid, but the side effects are limited and the results could be enormous! It is well worth it, in my opinion. Hopefully, everyone will be a little understanding next month, if I am not exactly myself. I have heard from a few people that Clomid, "makes you crazy!" This is a big, and hopefully, successful step in the path to starting our family

Relief

This morning was the HSG and I am very grateful that it is over. It was an uncomfortable kind of pain. Not unbearable, but not pleasant. When the balloon was inflated, it downright hurt! I am still having some cramps and twinges, much like a period cramp but more isolated in one spot. Nothing I can't handle! While I couldn't tell a thing on the radiology screen, Dr. Jewell has assured me that everything was normal! Instant weight was lifted! This month we will just watch this cycle (maybe I will fall into the % that gets pregnant!) If I still don't follow a normal 28 day cycle, then I will have another appointment with him. Because my cycles have been longer than 32 days the concern is that I may not be ovulating. This could be because of stress and not necessarily a medical problem. If I am not ovulating then Clomid may be able to help. while there are still a lot of questions in my mind, I am relieved to hear that there are no cysts, polyps, or blockages! Now I can focus on enjoying my birthday weekend!!!!

Honesty

So Travis and I have reached the 12 month mark of trying to start our family. (Yes we started trying before the wedding for those of you adding up the months) We are starting the preliminary testing to rule out any problems. Travis has been tested and is normal (according to the test results anyway!) Now it is my turn. I am having a HSG (Hysterosalpingography) in the morning. This is a dye test to check the shape of the uterine cavity and make sure there are no blockages through the fallopian tubes. It is "supposedly" a quick procedure and any pain is described as period like cramps. Still, I am scared out of my mind. I think I am scared to find out the results. I never thought I would have to face fertility issues. I have always wanted kids and assumed that it would be pretty easy. I am the first of my close group of friends that has struggled to get pregnant. I have friends that have different types of pregnancy related issues, but most have been able to get pregnant right away. The hardest parts these last 12 months have been answering "No, but we are trying" when someone asked if we were pregnant, and then hearing "you are thinking about it too much, just stop trying" when they here that we aren't preggers.
Now I know that there still might not be an issue and that some people just take longer to conceive. I have read so many Internet articles and have talked to friends, coworkers, etc. I also know that there might not be any reason at all and that is the scariest part. For some people, it just doesn't happen. These are realities that I may have to face. I am trying to stay optimistic and believe that there is nothing wrong. Is it wrong that I am clinging to the article I read that says that pregnancy rates increase slightly in the cycle an HSG is performed. It is probably bunk but makes me happy to think about it!
If you have a spare thought anytime , say a little prayer that everything is normal with the test result! I could really use it!