After holiday relief....

So the holidays are finally over.... I don't know about you guys but I was wiped out by the time Sunday rolled around. I laid around the house all day and loved every minute of it. :-) I needed the whole day to recuperate.

Christmas was relatively painless. On Christmas Eve I had to see Plain Jane and see her get maternity clothes and a few baby clothes, which I pretty much had to ignore so I didn't lose it... I think my mom knew I was on the edge so when I went into the other room to talk to Coach Girl after presents because she came in there and sat with us. That was a huge move for her. Usually she doesn't get it. There was a WTF moment when my bro started being snarky to me about graduating.... I don't know what that was about. I used to try to encourage him to go back to school but he was never interested. And its not like finishing my degree was easy. At one point I was going to school full time, working full time and working part time at another job.... So I had to work to get it done.

Today was back to work as usual. I felt disoriented all day after having 5 days off in a row!!! Like I couldn't get myself to focus on work at all.... I was hoping to use my last 1/2 day of vacation time on Thurs but I have soooo much to do now I might not be able to. We'll see.....

Monday afternoon I had another appt with Dr. Z. My TSH levels were good after my first month on synthroid. My level was 1.04 which I think is where it should be judging by other people's blogs. However I told Dr Z that I still feel tired a lot which I thought would go away. So she started me on 5 mg of cytomel to take with the synthroid. Apparently that's one of the other thyroid hormones - T3 - which will treat the symptoms of hypothyroid. Anyone have any experience with it? I felt good today, but it could have just been placebo effect too. Its supposed to be pretty fast-acting and you can tell a difference in just 2-3 days which is good. Hopefully it makes a difference.

And this cycle I'm taking an extra 200 mg of B6 daily to see if that changes my luteal phase. Last month I tried 100 mg and I thought I saw a few differences in my cycle but that could have been the thyroid meds too...

Today I went to the dentist. Ugh!!! I'm embarrassed to say how long its been since my last dentist appt. I hate that visit so much! I would rather go to the lady parts doctor 10 times before going to the dentist. :-) But I survived to tell about it so I guess I was just being a big baby all along. hehe

I hope all of you had a good holiday too! :-)

Holiday fun

I finally finished all of my Christmas shopping!! Yesterday 5150 and I had a marathon shopping spree and got almost everything knocked out. It was actually a lot of fun, if not tiring. Christmas is at my mom's at 5:00 tonight and his mom's tomorrow. So I'll be wrapping presents today and tomorrow. As I'm writing this 5150 is putting up the fake tree. I know, nothing like waiting till the last minute. :-) Maybe its a side effect of IF but most of the time I think what's the point of putting up the tree.... no kids here to enjoy it and we run back and forth to other people's houses for gift exchanges... so there's no point in trying to hard on our tree. Oh well, maybe next year will be different.



AF arrived right on time on Wed.... CD 26 as usual. Blah! At least cramps weren't too bad and didn't interfere with the shopping. For the first time in many months, I didn't get too upset this time. I feel like Im running out of hope.... I go through the motions and BD on the right days, but deep down, I just feel ike it will end with another BFN.



Oh well, not trying to be a Debbie Downer.... I'm off to work on the tree now. Happy Holidays to everyone!!! I hope Santa is good to each and every one of you. :-)

My buddy's home!!!

Just wanted to update everyone that our little buddy was found safe and sound! :-) Hubby put out flyers and 10 mins later we got a call. He only made it a few houses away but he was scared to death. He's back home and trying to put it behind him now. (Both the dog and the husband hehe)

My poor pup

Welcome if you're here from ICLW! :-)

So Monday was the big day of the doc appt. And I feel like I didn't really get anywhere. I went to the RE's office and sat there for 1 hour without being called back. I had to leave to get to the appt with the surgeon so I didn't even get to see the RE!!! They make me so mad!!! If they would have told me he was running 1 hour or longer behind, I would've told them I couldn't stay when I checked in. Hmph. So no new info on how the Hashi's will affect treatments. I'm so switching docs....

The surgeon appt went well. He was very thorough and said at this point he wouldn't recommend surgery. The benefits don't outweigh the risks. Surgery usually isn't done until the nodules hit 2.5 cm and my 2 largest are about 1.3. So he recommended taking the meds and redoing the ultrasound in 6 months to see where we're at. I'm ok with that since I got a definitive answer. I feel a lot better about it.

This morning one of my little pups got out of our yard!!! I'm freaking out!!!! :-( This has never happened before... Somebody opened the gate in the middle of the night, don't know who or why yet.... and this morning when I let them in the back yard I didn't see the gate was open and now my poor little buddy is missing. Really?!? Merry stinkin' Christmas!!! Blah!!!!!! My hubby is going to be absolutely devastated if we can't find him. I'm so sick about it!!! I'm praying like crazy that he comes home.

Today's my Friday! I took off tomorrow and Monday so I won't be back until Tues! Woo! And this afternoon is a dentist appt. I hate the dentist. I'll go to any doc 10 times before I go to a dentist. Blah! But I don't want to waste this year's benefits, so I waited until I had 2 weeks left to use them. hehe

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Clearing the air

Thanks for all the congrats from you guys! Graduation was a blast! MIL got to come after all!!! So there were only a handful of people there but it's the people that are the most important to me so it was a great day!!! I got some nice gifts including a Coach purse that's covered in sequins which is exactly what I was hoping for!! :-) I was blown away that my mom got it for me. Usually she does cash which is what I figured she'd do this time. It was a nice surprise.

Cakegirl (SIL and one of my best friends) and I had a long conversation Fri night (I was bawling to the point of hyperventilating for most of it) because she has been able to tell that I've been acting different. So I finally opened up about all the God-awful thoughts you have thanks to the wonderful world of IF. It felt good to get it out in the open and she was wonderfully supportive and sympathetic. I don't know why I didn't just talk to her in the first place. I guess I thought I was fooling everybody and acting normal but really I've just come across as distant or detached.

Cakegirl encouraged me to tell my dad what's been going on.... so I put on my big girl panties and told him yesterday. I've been so afraid to tell him because I don't want to be a disappointment. I'm his only child so if I can't give him grandkids, he won't get any. No pressure, right??? So I told him the short version and he was wonderful about it. I asked him to pray about it and he said he'd have 100 people praying for me. He works for a Christian company, so they do company-wide prayer lists. It was very sweet and touching. He gave me a big hug afterwards and said he'll love me the same no matter what the outcome is. :-)

This afternoon I have the appt with the RE to find out what effect Hashi's will have on my treatment options. And then one with a surgeon to see if I can get my thyroid taken out. I actually am kind of excited because I'm hoping for new information.... And new information is always good.

Its only a 3 day work week for me so I am stoked!!!!!!

What a way to start off the day!

When I got to work this morning my boss surprised me with some flowers and a graduation card!! Yay!! My first graduation gift!!! She also gave me a Christmas card with some cash from all 3 attys!!! And best of all she told me I'm the best assistant she's ever had!!! This is someone who does not give compliments much and is known to be scary to work for. I was blown away!!!

Last night I was sitting on the couch and my ovaries were just pinging and twinging away!! I'm not sure whats going on in there.... Its like after 30-something years they're both awake and are constantly needling me to make sure I know they're there. This has all come about in the last few months.... Who knows....

I'm worried my mother is going to disappoint me this week at the graduation. She hangs out with losers from her alcoholic days still so all week she's been in court testifying because she saw Loser #1 stab Loser #2 back in May. Closing arguments are set for today. However if the jury doesn't come back this afternoon she might be required to go to Court tomorrow too...she's under a subpoena.... So help me... If she cannot go to my graduation because she insists on hanging out with losers, I'm going to be DEVASTATED.... I'm the only one of her 4 kids that graduated from high school, and now college. (I'm sure that gives you an idea of what kind of family I came from. :-( ) You'd think she'd be excited.... If those losers screw this up I'm going to be PISSED....

I'm going to end today's post with a wonderful quote my dad sent me this morning. Its so beautiful to me....

"Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innnocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused."

- Anonymous

Updated:

Turns out my mother for once is not letting me down, but my MIL is. I totally wasn't expecting her of all people not to show up!!! I'm WAY closer to the in-laws than my blood relations.... She called crying she's so upset about missing because work threatened to write her up if she calls in, but stilll.... I feel stupid even saying this, but I feel if anyone would understand, you guys would... but I can't help to feel like apparently my graduation is less important than spitting out a kid.... MIL managed to get off for EVERY SINGLE EFFING u/s SIL had.... plus a whole efffing week off when the baby came.,..,., but I can't get 3 hours here?!?!?!? So now I'm Bitter McTwisted again.... Ugh! I hate that!!!! If I wasn't infertile I'm sure I wouldn't have these crazy thoughts.... but its beyond my control....

Happy Holidays!

So last night was the company Christmas party. It was really fun. It was at one of those fancy members only type places so you know the food was excellent!!! And the presentation was like something right off the food network. The wine was free flowing and everyone seemed to be having fun. 5150 picked me up afterwards so I didn't have to worry about driving. Whew!

It was an employee only party, no spouses or significant others... I guess to save money.... But then the big boss did say something I thought was strange. His wife was there and they were talking to a group of about 5 of us female admins and he says he's glad nobody's boyfriends or husbands were allowed to come.... He doesn't like parties with the spouses.... Hmm..... Strange, don't you think? Oh well, its still one of the best places I've worked at.

I've got my Christmas list ready to go so when I go shopping this weekend I can hit the ground running! Only 2 more days til graduation and my dad gets in town!! Woo!!!

Its a new day...

I'm feeling less whiny then the last post. That's a plus. :-) I got my hair highlighted and my glitter holiday nails over the weekend. Amazing how that puts you in a good mood! Of course I probably should have spent the day Christmas shopping, but there's always tomorrow.... hehe

I'm so wishy-washy!! Last week I was thinking I wasn't ovulating because the OPK didn't turn positive but I had ovulation pain and for the first time in my life I had ovulation spotting!! I don't know if thats good or bad, just different. When I first saw it on the TP I started to panic - Oh no, where am I bleeding from?!?! HAHAHA Of course thats a stupid question..... It was only there a couple of times and wouldn't be visible on the 2nd wipe... so being the IFer I am I ran to Dr Google... Is it a cyst blowing up??? Is my cycle starting after only 2 weeks. Since it didn't turn into a flow I'm going to assume its just ovulation spotting... I do the same thing with ovulation pain.... I start emailing everyone that I probably have another cyst blah blah blah.... then it goes away. I probably sound like a maniac. hehehe Thats why I started this blog. I know I'm not the only one out there obsessing over IPS (Imaginary Pregnancy Symptoms) or some days even IOS (Imaginary Ovulation Symptoms) and that totally makes me feel better! :-)

Tonight is happy hour with a friend and tomorrow is the firm Christmas party. Yay!!! And its a short week since I'm off on Fri. I definitely plan on getting some Christmas shopping done before the weekend. I don't have a choice since we're doing our Christmas with my dad and stepmom this weekend while they're in town. I guess I'm finally getting some Christmas spirit. I hope all of you are having a good week too.

Random.....

So here it is on CD 15 and no sign of a positive OPK anywhere to be found. Hmph. I got all excited about the EWCM but if I was going to ovulate this month I think the monitor would have started showing high fertility by now. Last month high popped up on days 12-15 and peak (when you actually O) showed up on days 16-18. Blah!!!! I don't know what to think.... I knew better than to get excited the other day.... Shoulda known my reproductive system would sap the joy right out of me again. Hmph.

I started thinking maybe my RE would prescribe progesterone so I could see if that would make a difference to my LP. I spoke to the nurse today and she said he doesn't usually do that. Why should I be surprised.... I swear I picked the most difficult RE... Seems like everyone else's just does the progesterone treatment - its not going to hurt anything. On the plus side I asked if he's familiar with Hashimotos and she was like AHA! She said he has other patients that have it. So I'm going to go ahead and go in with my Hashimoto records and see if he has any advice onwhere to go from here. Its an afternoon appt so that means no hoo-ha camera. Yes! :-) If I don't like what he says this time I'm going to take my records to friend's doc. The only reason I'm giving this guy one more chance is he's actually an RE and I thought that might be better with the thryoid issues. So the 20th I have a consult with him and then straight to the consult with the surgeon. Should be a fun afternoon....

Does anyone else feel sooooo behind on Christmas stuff?!?!? I haven't done anything.... haven't put up a tree, haven't bought a single gift.... Arrgghh!!! This morning I made up my list and there are people I have no ideas for. That never happens to me!!! Ugh!!!! I already told 5150 I don't want to go all out this year... Everyone will just have to get over it. I'm not in the mood!!!! Anyone else feeling bah humbug out there??? :-(

TMI

This is definitely TMI, but who better to share it with than you guys.... :-) I'm not temping because my temps are always all over the place.... probably because of thyroid issues... So I only rely on the Clear Blue monitor. I'm CD 12 and haven't even hit high fertility according to the monitor. Last month I didn't get high until CDF 12 or 13 so I'm fine with that. But just now when I went to the restroom I had a handful of EWCM!!! I mean literally enough to put in the palm of my hand. Ewww!!! Where the hell did that come from???? And I could stretch my thumb and forefinger apart as wide as I could and it still didn't break. This is some crazy shit!!! I usually have a good amount but I've never seen anything like this!! I started taking an extra 100 mgs on CD 1 but would it make a difference this fast?!??!?!

I'm totally excited!!!! Maybe something is working around here finally. Maybe my body isn't going to fail me every chance it gets anymore... Haven't BD'd since Sat.... so I guess I know what I'll be doing tonight and the next few nights. hehehe

This week I moved into my new office! I can't believe I get to have my own office!!! I work in a secretarial capacity and at all the other firms I was at before I had to be the one who sits in the lobby... No privacy for internet or phone calls. Soooo not fun!!!! I'm just so thankful to have such a good job! :-)

And I've made an appt to consult with a surgeon. I'm not jumping into anything. I just want to get his opinion as to whether surgery is a good idea with the size of the nodules to compare to what Dr Z says when I go back to her. All those fun appts will be Dec 20 and 21. Because our insurance policy at work started Feb 1, I would think this year's benefits would go until Jan 31, a full calendar year. Shouldn't that be right? If so I would have Jan to get this taken care of if that's what I decide to do. Our Benefits coordinator is supposed to get back to me on it.

Confusing

So I know I started this as an IF blog but it seems like all I talk about lately is my thyroid. Anybody else notice that? hehe

So I've been researching Hashimoto's and what I've found is it never goes away. So surgery doesn't cure it. But it seems like if you had your thyroid removed, which would make you dependent on the thyroid meds, than it would be less likely for your hormone levels to go out of control. Doesn't that seem logical? And I'll already have to take the meds the rest of my life anyways, why keep a gland that's out of control and can go haywire at any given minute? Then there's the issue of the nodules. My 3 add up to over 3 cm. That doesn't sound like much but the gland is normally only 5 cm big. So basically over half of my gland is enlarged. I have this constant stupid tickle in my throat that wakes me up every night. And if I eat too fast or swallow liquids too fast it feels like it gets caught for aminute in my throat. I feel like an idiot whining on here cause I know there are far worse things to have.... but I'm just trying to work through whether I should pursue thryoid surgery.

Secondly financially it would be good to do this year. Tick tock, right.... I'm already on 100% until Feb 1 I think. So if I just take the wait and see approach and give it say 6 months for the nodules to shrink, and they don't I'll be onthe line for another deductible next year. And we're planning on adding my hubby to my policy which would my deductible go up to $6000!!! Arrgghhh!!! I don't know if I'll be able to swing that!!!

I also found some studies that the odds are higher that you end up with thyroid cancer if you have Hashimotos than if you don't. Like 30-50% higher. The problem is the cancer can hide behind the nodules and won't be detected until you have the gland removed.

And finally I guess I would like to just lose the thyroid, get on the meds and focus 100% on the IF battle.... I don't feel like I have a whole lot of time to keep jacking with this. We're not getting more fertile every day around here.... :-)

Someone did leave me an excellent comment that after she was diagnosed with Hashimotos, and got the meds situated she was able to conceive.... That's the best news I've heard in forever!!!!! So obviously surgery might not be required.... I'm just trying to decide if its something I should push for.

What do you think? What would you do?

December already?!

I can't believe this year is already pretty much over! Wow!

Thank you everyone for you comments! :) Its good to know there are success stories with Hashimotos. Today was the 1st day of thyroid meds. I'm happy to be trying something.

More good news - I'm going to switch to my friend's doctor for further IF treatments. I wasn't feeling great about the one I was seeing. So my friend contacted her doc's office and he does IUI in the office for about $350! Woo! I was expecting it to be a lot higher. Plus he'll let you do clomid/progesterone cycles first if you want. I think that might actually be a good thing to try since my issues seem to be ovulating late and wacky hormones. We don't have Male Factor or anything that would prevent us from trying.... My old doc wanted to go straight to IVF. However, I don't have the money for that right now... I'm not anywhere near having the money for that.... So at least with this other doc I'll be trying something. And that's a good feeling! I'm starting to feel like 2011 might just be our year!!! (Of course I also thought that about 2010, and 2009... hehe) I hope I'm not being too naive....

In 2 weeks I finally graduate from college!!! It only took me 17 years but I did it!! Boy has this been a long time in the making. My dad is even coming down from Washington state for the ceremony. Yay!!!

Right now I have to focus on getting ready for moving our office tho. I'm up to my eyeballs in boxes!! Ugh!!!!! Monday we'll be in our new office and I'll be able to feel like I'm not drowning anymore! Can't wait!

How's everyone out there doing?