Diagnosis

*Warning, this article may contain content that could be deemed inappropriate, but since I'm a nurse, not much in the world of health is off limits or inappropriate to me... so read on, but know you were warned if you are grossed out by anything I say. (really, it's not that bad, but some people think mentioning the words "cycle" or "birth control" or "ovulate" or "OBGYN" are just inappropriate.)


Diagnosis: Polycystic Ovaries

Ok, up until this point, I had absolutely no idea what was involved in the world of infertility. All I knew about, from a medical standpoint, was people who were fertile, per se. Y'know, women who were already pregnant, had maybe even been through fertility treatments. But my job's focus, at the time, was on the already existing pregnancy. So, I knew virtually nothing about fertility issues. Something that nurses tend to run into, when in the lay-world is doctors or other medical staff (heck even other laypeople) that think that we know everything there is to know in the world of nursing because we are a nurse. Completely false! I can tell you anything you wanna know about pregnancy, labor, delivery, contracting uteruses, vaginas. Yes, I did just say that... it's what I did for a living. But ask me a question about anything geriatric, or anything pediatric, or med-surg, or oncology... basically anything that doesn't have to do with a pregnant woman (which is like everything), then I don't really know that much about it. I guess, technically infertility is along the same lines, but I was definitely ignorant in the area. So, I had to go home and learn about my polycystic ovaries. Because I sure wasn't about to admit, like an idiot, that I didn't know what it was all about to the doctor!!

Polycystic ovaries is basically a condition in which there are many small cysts in the ovaries, inhibiting ovulation, thus inhibiting pregnancy. Now, at this point we were not officially trying. I was just trying to figure out why my body wasn't having normal cycles. During the appointment, the doctor told us that it would hopefully be an easy fix. If not, we had plenty of options. I am the world's biggest pessimist when it comes to anything that has to do with me. So, I automatically started freaking out about the cost of IVF, and oh my gosh, we'd have to wait YEARS to do that... I did know a rough estimate of the price... and it's a LOT of G's that we definitely didn't have. The doctor was ready to get me started on clomid that day. We were not THAT ready. We told him we'd come back in a couple months when were ready. After we found out that it wasn't going to be a simple thing, we decided on starting up the process when Derick was finished with the semester he was in.

April came along, and I was getting IM-patient! I told Derick I wanted to start trying then. He didn't agree. Well, neither did God. On April 23rd, 2009 I was having this incredibly heavy and dull, full feeling in my lower right abdomen. I mentioned it to my friend, Kinsey, who was working with me that night. We, collectively decided that it was probably a cyst causing the pain. My OBGYN, happened to be on call that night, and happened to be on the unit. I mentioned it to him, and Kinsey suggested that we thought it might be a cyst causing the issue. Let me just tell you, my doctor could not get any higher praise from a patient and nurse. He is the best one there is. Hands down. I recommend him to anyone in the Tulsa area. Saying that, not all doctors are perfect and what I'm about to say does in no way change my mind about it him! Anyway, he is like one of the most optimistic people I've ever met. And he told us that he really didn't think that's what it was. Well, that next day, I woke up in the most pain I've ever been in, in my life. I had gotten up out of bed and had to crawl back from the bathroom. I could not move from the fetal position. I called Kinsey in a panic, who suggested that I go the ER. I couldn't move, let alone drive to the ER! And I sure as HECK was not about to call an ambulance. As quickly as it came on, it started to pass. It still felt really weird for the rest of the weekend, but I got over it. I called the doctor and he told me to come see him on Monday if it was still bothering me. It was. Well, what did I get? Another dang probe.

This time we discovered a cyst that had ruptured. This was on April 27th, 2009. Derick would be done with his semester in just a few weeks after this. I honestly, looking back on it, feel like God was like, "kiddo, you're not jumping the gun on this one. I know what's up. Listen to me." When I continued to try and jump the gun, I got a ruptured cyst. Now, I'm not saying I think He was punishing me for trying to sabotage His plans. Haha. But I do believe I was jumping the gun on what I knew was best and He helped me see it. Turns out, I needed that cyst to have the normal cycle I needed.

Sorry to bore with all the details. Like I said in a previous post, I am trying to get all my dates and facts in one place. And this is what I'm using to do it. 


Tomorrow's post is a way better one. :)