Friday, August 16, 2013

TTC Friday: Still Chugging Along

The good news on the TTC front is that I've now had two normal length cycles in a row - this last one was the shortest so far, at 33 days. The bad news is that I'm still not pregnant. And I'm still not convinced that my body is totally fine either. Back in the fall, I had two cycles that were on the shorter side and I got my hopes up, but it all went to hell again from there. Nothing has been a reliable predictor, unfortunately.

In the meantime, DH and I have our first appointment with the REI specialist next Wednesday. How I feel about it changes multiple times a day. Part of me is nervous about it and dreading having to go through all of the testing. There, too, I'm torn between being afraid of the results and being afraid of an "unexplained" diagnosis. Part of me is disappointed that we're at this point in the process; it feels like a failure, or like giving up. Yet another part of me just wants to get this show on the road and get a plan in place, to start making some kind of progress. It's a strange, confusing, frustrating place to be.

The cruise we took last week was a fantastic getaway and helped us unwind from all of the stresses of the past year, which was the whole point, but the last couple of days were bitterwseet. Just the fact that we were on the cruise in the first place was a bit of a kick in the pants. We had gone on an Alaskan cruise last summer that was intended to be our last big trip before we started TTC and we naively expected to be either pregnant or with a new baby by now. Instead, I woke up to a couple more BFNs on Thursday and Friday morning, and we sat in our lounge chairs figuring out how to get DH out of work for the REI appointment. It also became evident those last couple of days that this process is really starting to wear on DH, too. I think that the longer it takes, the more he starts to worry that he is the problem. He's also getting tired of the endless waiting and the emotional roller coaster of each cycle, which I completely understand.

Despite all of the worries and fears, I think it will be a good thing to have a sense of direction and some kind of plan in place. At the very least, it will be great to finally talk to a doctor who doesn't need me to explain to him why androgen levels in my blood might be useful to check and that androgens are not actually progesterone (my new family doctor and I are not destined for a long-term relationship). There will probably be a lot more waiting - I'll be on CD11 so blood work will likely have to wait until next cycle - but this kind of waiting feels more productive and less like we're drifting in the wind.

For those three short days back in June when I was pregnant, I had this sense of happiness and peace that I can't explain but that I desperately want to get back. If all of this will get us there, then it's worth it. I just have to keep telling myself that.

4 comments:

  1. Wow, I didn't think it was possible but your GP sounds even worse than mine!

    I completely understand the mix of emotions that comes with seeing the REI for the first time. Personally though, once I bit the bullet and went I really felt much better. It was nice to finally feel like we were moving towards something with a plan in place and not just standing still, wondering, and having no idea what was happening.

    I hope next Wed will be helpful for you and your H. GL!

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    1. Thanks!

      Yeah, the new GP is a piece of work. She took over the practice after my previous one retired in the spring. I've only met her once, to get the REI referral, and it was mind-blowing how poorly informed she was. The bit I included here was the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, it's hard to find GPs in this area who are accepting new patients right now but I am looking.

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  2. Your feelings about this are totally understandable. Good luck at your appointment and please KUP!

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  3. I think your feelings are completely normal & understandable, given the nature of where you're at in this whole process. It's a scary yet somewhat exciting thing at this point, because although you may be at a point you never wanted to be at, you're hoping that maybe all of the testing & whatnot will bring some much needed answers! I'm really hoping that the appointment goes well, & that you feel a sense of peace & empowerment with developing a plan, & hopefully finding some solutions!

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