Blocked tubes and other infertility factors...

[Axl2]

Cheetahspotss, I hear what your saying about the ttc thing. I'm always thinking about it. And it seems like everyone I know is getting pregnant. Yes fingers crossed for the HSG test to come back with good news. Let us know how it goes. I'm not going to take herb and such I don't know if it would make a difference. I want to have a baby sooner then later just cause I'm type 1 diabetic and I'm 30 so time isn't on my side.

Ilovetomatoes, I don't think I will be doing the Esure tubal ligation. In Alberta I do believe that tubal ligation is covered by health care, but it will be covered by my insurance.

I do agree that doctors can take advantage of people. If you don't trust what the dr is telling you definitely get a second opinion.

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Axl, have you discussed w/ your RE on whether or not you need tubal ligation? Maybe you don't have hydrosalpinx in your tubes. OH wait...then again....there is that possibility of ectopic pregnancy. I only took 1 week off work for it. I wish I took more than 1 week. I am not sure what type of job you have, but I have a desk job. So lots of sitting (at least 8 hrs), so that irritated the incision on my belly button a lot. It itches more than pain. Just an Fyi.

 

[Axl2]

Ilovetomatoes, I have to wait until I see the dr at the IVF clinic. I guess they are going to be the ones who will make that call. I'm not working right I quit my job in July due to stress, don't really see that point in starting a new job right now. When are you starting IVF? Does it hurt and where you put under for the tubal ligation?

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Axl, I will start Stim aka jabbing myself with needles filled with hormones on the 24th. I know surgery can be scary for those who never had one before. I've had 3 surgeries so far, 2 bunion removal and 1 tubal. The tubal is nothing compare to the bunionectomy . I am usually a bit nervous while waiting for the surgery. Here is my experience & hopefully it'll help. A night before the surgery, I had to use a special soap to take shower and repeat it in the morning. I could use regular shampoo, which needed to be done prior to soaping. No food after midnight but was allowed to drink until 7am & was recommended to drink lots of water, which I did.

We arrived at the hospital at 9 am & @ 9:30 I was on the bed waiting already. You have to put on the hospital gown and basically naked underneath. No contact lenses and jewelry. While wai6, they put IV drip on me and since I didn't sleep that night, jetlagging, I slept while waiting for my turn. My doctor was running 1 hr late due to the surgery that she was doing. So when it's finally my turn, I talked to different people and they kept asking the same questions, which is normal. You'd talk to your OB, Anesthesiologist, and the nurse assistant. Then, they wheeled me in tge surgery room. I only remember moving to the surgical table and that was it. Then, I heard people sayingmy name outloud multiple times. It kinda pissed me off a little because I still wanted to sleep lol.Then, I was put in the recovery room until I am completely awake. Then they moved me to the waiting room. I felt the need to pee but still wasn't able to move myself. My husband was allowed to wait with me in the waiting room. I was thirsty and needed to pee. Finally after 30 minutes the nurse said that I can leave if I could pee. No problem in that dept at all! We got out at 3pm. The surgery itself was only 30 minutes. The rest was recovery and waiting time. My OB also took shots of the whole process and checked my liver at the same time.healthy liver & uterus and I have pics to prove it lol!

The incisions in my belly button itched more than the one on the right side. I had to use cortizone cream and icing to help out with the itch. The incisions are quite small. I can't even see the one in my belly button. The one on the right is only as big as a tip of a fountain pen.

I was bloated for a few days and constipated. So, I took ducolax to help with the constipation. Only took 3 days worth of ibuprofen every 6 hours and 2 times hydrocodone. Belly was sore fora week. But nothing major. Hope this helps

 

[Axl2]

That's exciting to start the IVF road!! Let me know how shots go. I heard that they can be painful.

Yes I have went for surgery before I had eye surgery, and was put out for scope to check my stomach to make sure I had celiac disease. Being put under freaks me out and I don't like the feeling of it. Thanks for the info, it makes me feel a little better. I'm hoping that I don't need to have the tubal ligation done. It sometimes sucks to be a woman all the fun things we have to go through.

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Eekkk.. eye surgery! That one scares me the most. You'll find tubal easy peasy then . I hope you won't have to go through it also. I agree....these are the times when it is sucky to be a woman. DH only have to take a couple of pills and submit sperm on the day of retrieval. I ihave to go through 29 stim shots, blood tests, ultrasound, and then progesterone shots for at least 10 weeks if we are pregnant. So yeah...I'm a bit jealous hahahaha.

 

[Axl2]

It's funny my husband he all freaked out about having to submit sperm. And we have to do blood work for IVF clinic. Then I start listing off all the things I may have to do and he says to me your tougher then me. Men have the easy part for sure.

Yeah I had the eye surgery 5 months ago.

Good luck with the stim shots!!

Axl

 

[Axl2]

Hey Cheetahspotss and Ilovetomatoes how are things going?

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Hi Axl,

Nothing much going on w/ me. My IVF cycle was cancelled because I had a couple of cysts. Since my RE only does IVF during odd month, we have to do it in January. I, hopefully, will start stims on Jan 2nd. My RE prescribed me stronger birth control pills, which hopefully will suppress the cysts growth. I'll find out near end of december if January cycle is a go.

How are you?

 

[Axl2]

Oh that sucks . The birth control the only thing that will help with stopping the cysts from growing. Sorry don't know much about cysts. Hopefully it works and you get your baby.

I'm still waiting for the referral letter. It feels like its taking forever to get here.

Axl

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Axl, I'd check with my doctor to see the status on the referral. Mine got bounced back to OB due to miscommunication. Especially if it's been a while.

 

[aidensmommy1]

Hi ladies, can I join you? My only tube is blocked. I'm on my 20th cycle ATTC and found out through HSG march 31st, 2014 . Its been the hardest thing to deal with, ever, but I'm trying to keep my faith and hope alive. Ive been taking serrapeptase enzymes for 8 cycles now and I truly believe they've at least helped. We'll know for sure in a month or two when I get my repeat HSG. The first was so painful though that im praying with everything I've got that I get a holiday miracle and conceive first! If not, I'm praying the hsg will be able to push any remaining scar tissue out this time. Ive seen this enzyme work for many women so FX!!
It just sucks not knowing...i constantly find myself worrying about an ectopic, or wondering if my tubes opened. The enzymes def helped with cystic breasts like they were suppose to so I have faith in them . I was suppose to go for my repeat HSG this past month but my doctors making me wait a month or two longer and may just go in laparoscopic. She doesn't want to do the tubal surgery as there's a 50/50 chance of completely losing the tube and then id really have a 0% chance without IVF. Ugh, I never thought id be dealing with any of this! I'm really happy I found this thread.
Ilovetomatoes, I remember you from the TWW I hope you feel better! I just had a cyst, which brought on AF 4 days early and I seriously thought I was having an ectopic. Ugh, its not fun always having to worry about crap like that. I didn't realize you had tubal issues. I'm sorry If we don't get a bfp by April, we're thinking about going for a round a mini-IVF, as long as my hormones dont go all wonky on me. Good luck to you!

to everyone!!! Hope to see lots of holiday miracles on this thread!!

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Aidensmommy, I remember you too!! Sorry to see you here . Hopefully, the enzyme helped unblocked your tube.

You know there are grants for IVF in the US, right?

 

[aidensmommy1]

Yes, thankfully! Ive been looking into the grants lately just incase. Idk why but I have a feeling inside lately that I'll be conceiving naturally, whether its from the enzymes & prayer, or from tubal surgery before officially signing up for IVF, I have a strong feeling ill see a BFP but who knows. I hope that feeling ends up being right! FX! If not, we are going to look into the IVF grants and also they have studies in NYC and a few other fertility clinics that offer free IVF but I know id have to catch them at the right time. There's def a chance we'll be signing up for IVF grants by Feb/March because I cant wait much longer for a bfp! I can't wait to be holding that bundle of joy in my arms, no matter how he/she is made.
What were your first steps when going about IVF? I haven't researched too much yet only because of that fighting feeling that the enzymes will work. We shall see what the future holds...
What are the docs doing about your cysts?

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Aidensmommy, I went through the regular procedure. With my hospital, the OBs don't deal w/ infertility. So, I just needed to shoot an email to my OB (I did inform her that we were TTCing) and then she just referred me immediately to RE. Before seeing the RE, we went through the regular tests. Blood tests, HSG, and sperm analysis. It was through the HSG that I knew my tubes were blocked even before seeing the RE. They were able to open the left tube but it was a very small opening. Then during RE consult time, we were told that the best chance for us was to go through IVF. Even if we were able to conceive naturally, the chance of ectopic pregnancy was pretty high because of the blocked tubes. So, she recommended IVF and tying both tubes to prevent the hydrosalpinx going down the tubes. We agreed because I didn't want to go through multiple of other procedures and kept getting BFNs. I was getting really tired looking at stark white test strips. I am sure there are multiple procedures out there that you can do before IVF. I think the latest thing is called tubal re canalization. Hope your HSG test will turn out great!

 

[aidensmommy1]

Ilovetomatoe, my doc recommends the same as of now. She is referring me elsewhere for tubal surgery to more experienced doctors, if it comes to that, but as of now she says IVF is my best shot and I always test early due to the huge risk of ectopic. They think it was going to be ectopic when I had my early m/c last October and they think that's probably why my body rejected it so although it was heart breaking, it was a good thing, better than ectopic. I have done alot of research on this enzyme and ive seen someone who had a lap and her only tube couldn't even be seen due to all the scar tissue and she took the serrapeptase enzyme for 6wks and her tube was unblocked 100%. The dye didn't even struggle! Such a miracle and blessing! And she conceived about 10 months after that, as she only had one tube, plus I'm sure the enzymes needed to do a little more healing for adhesions and such. She took then for the full 11 months until her bfp came. Ive seen it work for quite a few others on that same thread who tried it as well. It seemed like the ladies who took it for 4+ cycles ended up with good results, plus it helps clear scar tissue, and not so much fluids, from what I read. Mines all scar tissue they believe so I'm praying I can only be so lucky & blessed to have this work! Id love to be able to tell my doc that it worked since she doesn't believe in ANY natural stuff. It actually irritates me how closed minded she is. Even if this stuff doesn't clear my tube completely, I do believe it'll at least help reduce the tissue & lead to a more successful surgery to unblock up. FX! Sry that was so long lol. But yea, my biggest fear is ectopic but we figure we might as well try because either way we'll need the tube removed before IVF, as it ups the odds of it working greatly when you have a damaged tube because it could still end up ectopic or fluids from your tube can get to the embryo causing m/c so my doctor said we'll do the HSG, if its still blocked, ill do the surgery when I'm ready, which will be as soon as I get funding situated, and that way if the surgery fails, I won't feel so bad about my tube being removed since we'll already have a plan lined up. As u can see, I like to make plan after plan after plan. After my HSG that revealed my tubal blockage, I started ALWAYS needing a "plan for the next cycle" to move forward. I guess its a way of coping for me. And tubal re-canalization is I believe what my doc is going to be sending me for next. I just cant wait for my repeat HSG so I know if these powerful enzymes worked even a little for me. I guess another month or two will just be extra time for them to possibly work before the HSG FX very tight!
I hope that you can get in for IVF asap and get your sticky BFP by Christmas/New year! I have lots of hope for u! What are they doing about ur cysts? Do you need to have them removed or do they expect them to go away on their own?

 

[Ilovetomatoes]

Aidensmommy, oopss..I forgot about the cysts question! lol

My RE just prescribed me stronger BCP with estrogen and progesterone at the same time. Hopefully, it'll go away. The last time, the cysts looked like they were about to go away but the RE didn't want to start Stim because it'd encourage the cysts to grow more. So I'll find out a few days before Christmas if the BCP works or not. This time, we have almost 2 weeks between ultrasound and stims to start so hopefully if I still have cysts by then they have a contingency plan.

Btw, not sure what your RE told you but my RE told me that I can't have my tubes removed. The tubes feed blood to your ovaries that means if you remove your tubes your ovaries won't have the nutrition needed. I only have my tubes tied closer to the uterus.

 

[Axl2]

Hey Ilovetomatoes, so I got a phone call from the IVF clinic today. To book the appointment. I'm a little freaked out, nervous, excited, don't know if I can do this, etc. all the emotions that go with it. I can't wait to start this whole thing. I have to call them back tomorrow and book the appointment. We have to do some things first like some extra blood work that the IVF clinic request for, and do a seminar on IVF. I hope you can start your stims sooner then later.

aidensmommy1, hopefully enzymes works for you.

 

[aidensmommy1]

Aidensmommy, oopss..I forgot about the cysts question! lol

My RE just prescribed me stronger BCP with estrogen and progesterone at the same time. Hopefully, it'll go away. The last time, the cysts looked like they were about to go away but the RE didn't want to start Stim because it'd encourage the cysts to grow more. So I'll find out a few days before Christmas if the BCP works or not. This time, we have almost 2 weeks between ultrasound and stims to start so hopefully if I still have cysts by then they have a contingency plan.

Btw, not sure what your RE told you but my RE told me that I can't have my tubes removed. The tubes feed blood to your ovaries that means if you remove your tubes your ovaries won't have the nutrition needed. I only have my tubes tied closer to the uterus.

oh ok, bcp was going to be my suggestion, as that worked for me in the past and I conceived right after with my son.
Ive had a few different doctors say it ups the odds of IVF working because you don't need the tubal fluids with IVF, as they do the fertilizing before the embryo(s) transferred. You dont necessarily need it removed but my docs know I need to succeed my first try at IVF so they said that'll help up the odds. My docs have said there's many, many women who conceive through IVF with no tubes at all. She said my hormones will still trigger blood flow to my ovary, the same way it goes to the uterus. Your doctor is probably thinking to tie yours just at the proximal end incase you want to try naturally in the future, ur body can potentially heal itself. My docs know that this will be our last IF ivf is the route we have to go. That being said, I'm okay with the tube completely being out, as long as its still blocked and gross, they can have it..lol. FX its not blocked at the next HSG tho! If you google it, you'll see many stories from women who's doctors suggested the same so I suppose its quite common to have them do away with the tube first. Alot of times they like to remove a tube thats blocked with fluids because the fluids can be very dangerous to the fetus and although my blockage is 100% scar tissue, we believe, we want to be extra safe. My doctor said having my tube tied could potentially leave room for fluids that may form and such to leak into my uterus still, even though we aren't even sure there's fluid, but as I said, better safe that sorry! Dont let my doc saying that to me scare you, we're all different and I'm sure your doc knows what's best for your situation and I bet having ur tubes tied at the proximal end will work great for you!
Anywhoo, I bet those bcp's will work for you in no time! They are masters at eating up cysts! Lol. Truly. I had cysts and got on bcp to get rid of it and after a yr of trying, aiden was conceived the next month . I have very high hopes for your IVF! Def excited to find out the results and for the actual IVF process itself to be in motion for you! In the meantime, we're here to talk

 

[aidensmommy1]

Hey Ilovetomatoes, so I got a phone call from the IVF clinic today. To book the appointment. I'm a little freaked out, nervous, excited, don't know if I can do this, etc. all the emotions that go with it. I can't wait to start this whole thing. I have to call them back tomorrow and book the appointment. We have to do some things first like some extra blood work that the IVF clinic request for, and do a seminar on IVF. I hope you can start your stims sooner then later.

aidensmommy1, hopefully enzymes works for you.

Thank you!

And oooo ivf starting!! Yay! I can feel the overwhelmed feeling from here! Everytime I even think about April coming close and possible IVF, I get excited and nervous all at the same time lol. I'm very happy for you and I SOOO hope it works for you!!!! FX FX FX!