I knew I would suck at this. I haven't written since May. I think about it. I do. Really! But I worry too. I worry about starting in the middle of our story. So much has happened to us. How can I do our story justice, but starting where we are at now? But if I don't start writing, maybe I will regret it, so I am going to jump in. Ready. Set. GO!
So today was injection lesson day. We only have to do this once. One. Week. From. Tomorrow! Yup. This is real. My guy practiced on the fake butt check. He did great. He was asking lots of questions of the nurse; making sure he knew exactly what he needs to do. I'm not at all worried about this part, but he is. I feel bad. We have so much going on right now. This is just another source of stress for him. I think it will be good for us though too. Part of the baby making process right? May not be very sexy or passionate, but it is what we are stuck with. Lupron day is 1 month from the day we leave for Prague. We really are getting close.
One of the biggest things that have gotten me through the past two years, especially the last 15 months, has been all the support I have found. I haven't been very silent, I share with the people I think I should share with and that has been really helpful. I had an awesome opportunity today to pay it forward. Someone I know, who sadly didn't have a successful IVF experience, emailed me and asked if I would be willing to talk to someone she knows about my experience. She said this woman was having a similar experience (i.e., not having a period for months at a time). My answer was - absolutely! So I just finished an email to her. I found I could write our story without tears. I guess in helping others we do heal ourselves. Not knowing her story, I decided to just tell her ours and give her my top 3 tips. So I will close with those.
1) Get to know your body. I highly recommend "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. I think this book should be a must read for every woman, even those who don't want to conceive - ever. My doctor didn't recommend charting. She just recommended that we have a lot of sex and that I track when I get my period. Big mistake. I feel like we missed several precious months. Read the book. Go to the website. CHART.
2) Consider natural remedies. I tried Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for several months. I found an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility and women's health. He is also a Chinese herbalist. I travel quite some distance to see him each week, because I felt this combination was important. I took herbs for 5 months and my hot flashes and night sweats disappeared (almost immediately). My doctor was so thrilled by this, that she is now referring patients to him who want a natural solution to menopause symptoms. I still visit him for acupuncture. It really doesn't hurt and it really is a great stress reliever. When we decided to use a donor, I went back on BC, so I stopped the herbs. I think if we were younger (in other words had more time to TTC) I would have continued with the herbs longer. I still believe my body would eventually have responded, I would have ovulated, and conceived.
3) Get support. We joined Resolve New England. Their website and newsletters contain a wealth of information. A lot of their information is available without a membership; but we went that next step and you should too. Attend their seminars. Attend a local peer support group. The wealth of information you will get is worth more than you will spend on the membership. The support you will get will be invaluable. If you're not in New England, find your local Resolve!
Well, I jumped in. Hope to make this a regular thing. Peace.
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