God is Good....ALL THE TIME!

So my MRI was covered 100% by insurance. God is Good...you know the rest :)

Updated fertility costs (insured and non insured costs) Dec. 2010 $9753.00

Its funny how in my last post I said that nothing had been covered. Guess I stand corrected....We are almost at the $10,000 mark in just one year of treatments and testing. Happy New Year.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I know they say having a child is expensive. However, ATTEMPTING to have a child can be even moreso. I just recently received a bill for my bloodwork testing. $1,000, Yowsas!!! Because this is important to me I looked at the bill, had a brief stroke, recovered quickly and placed the bill back in the envelope. I mean whats done is done right? I look at it this way; If I had never had the b/w done I would've have had the MRI done. If there was no MRI I wouldn't have known about Patty the Prolactinoma (yes, it now has a name, just like my wedding ring Tia).

Speaking of Patty, I researched more on the medications and here is what I found off a website:

9. What is the cost of these medications? Please note: the cost of cabergoline and bromocriptine shown below are as of March, 2009. A patient should review his/her insurance policy regarding the amount of coverage, the co-pay and the use of a mail order pharmacy which may be cheaper than a local pharmacy.

Bromocriptine, 2.5 mg three times/day:
CVS: $205/month; $2,460/year
Kroger: $221/month; $2,647/year
UVa: $11/month; $129/year

Cabergoline, 0.5 mg twice/week:
CVS: $268/month; $3,216/year
Kroger: $327/month; $3,920/year
UVa: $135/month; $1,624/year

Its funny that it says that patient should review their insurance policy? Insurance? Coverage? Whats that? Cause I may as well not have any cause nobody has covered anything for me lately....

Updated Infertility Costs Dec 2010: $5,830

Its not a tumor! (I wish)

Do you remember that scene from Kindergarten Cop where The Arnold is sitting in front of the kids and the little boy goes: "It could be a tumor." The Arnold replies "It is not a tumor!"

Well in my case it is...

In keeping with a positive attitude, I'm trying to stay, well...positive. The report says it measures about 4-6mm and is on the right side of my pituitary gland. I'll have a more extensive conversation about this with my RE early in January (this guy is super booked up). I'm discovering things that I wonder if I would have really known had we not started this process. After careful consideration, I'm decided that after this process is over I do not want to attempt to have anymore children. At this point if we have any children I will be closing in on 33 years old. Anything beyond that is a bit too much for me.

My husband tells me that I do not have my medical degree and that I should not self diagnose. I've tried telling him that I do know how to comprehend (I mean, I am a teacher), and that I know when a report says "exam comments: prolactinoma" (and gives measurements) and the RE wants to see me in person, yeah that pretty much wraps it up.

I know he doesn't want to hear that there is something wrong with me (even if its treatable) so I haven't brought it back up to him, so if you know my husband and you are reading please use tact around him.

Tubin'

So today was the MRI. I took some pics of the building but I couldn't take my phone into the actual room. The MRI went a little bit like this: They made me take off my watch and ring and place it in a locker. Then I went into the MRI room, hopped on the tube and the tech explained the procedures. The machine slid me in and I kept my eyes shut the whole time so I wouldn't move or freak out.

Afterward, he showed me the images on the screen. I tried so hard to look for something abnormal but I didn't see anything that resembled the prolactinoma pictures I poured over online. I don't have a med degree of course, but I hope at least it was a good sign.

The other cool thing was seeing my spinal column. I mean

the actual HOLE where my spinal cord enters from the base of my skull. It was SOOOOOO cool to see, and I have decided to get a copy of the CD they let you have of the results. Seeing things like my orbital cavity really gave me a greater appreciation of God's wonderful works. Our bodies are so simple, yet so complex.

Anywhoo here are some pics:

Welcome to KU Medical Center.....

No phones on past this point folks.....

The only full sanitizer machine in the whole place. I must've put my hand under four of them on my way to the MRI and all of them were empty. Everyone had clean hands except for me.... :(

Call Came...

Dr.'s office called. My prolactin levels were very elevated (as they have been since my first round of tests) so the Dr. wants me to go in for a MRI to rule out something called a prolactinoma which is a fancy word for tumor on the pituitary gland. Now wait! Before you gasp in shock, these tumors are usually benign. I scheduled the appt. for next Friday. So we'll see how it goes. I was lucky to get an appointment late in the afternoon so I didn't have to miss work. I'm thankful that the December holidays are coming up so that I can make any other appointments during those two weeks.

Watching paint dry

Waiting is like watching paint dry.

I called the RE's office AGAIN today. (Almost feel as though I'm stalking them). They called me back and told me that the Dr. has surgeries on Tuesdays and that he will definitely look at my results tomorrow. Meanwhile back at the ranch...Friday is the end of our window of opportunity this month. So that means its a bust for this month. Unless of course he calls me. It sucks to know that our window may be blown all because of a stupid phone call. But I guess thats what you get when you go to the best doc in town.

Minor Set Back

Updated Fertility Costs as of Nov 15th: $4,800 (insurance and non insurance cost) Yes I am keeping a running tab.

B/W results came back and my prolactin levels were super high. Prolactin is a hormone secreted by women who are breast-feeding. Um..well clearly none of that is going on here so I have to wait to see what the doctor says. The nurse was supposed to have him call me today, but he did not so I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow.

So you know what that means...yep. Bought another pair of boots. Here they are:

I need to mention as an aside that my husband is super wonderful. I came home from work and there was a Macy's bag laying on the bed with a SWEET dress inside it. Here it is:

www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=493317&CategoryID=5449&LinkType=

Love that guy.

My Arm=Human Pin Cushion

Today was the day for my Day 3 blood draw. What is a Day 3 blood draw you ask? Well its when you get blood drawn on the 3rd day of your cycle. You see during fertility treatments everything is timed or scheduled. You no longer work on your own schedule. So I had to wake up on a SATURDAY to go get pricked.

I've never had a problem getting blood drawn because I have one huge green vein in my left arm. It's so big that it seems like it by itself carries all of the blood throughout my body. The nurse took 4 vials of blood for 8 separate tests. She said I will know the results in about a week. More waiting....

On a sidenote: I just went and saw the movie "For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow isn't Enuf." Although it probably should've stayed on Broadway, I think Tyler Perry did a good job adapting it. I have the book and its AMAZING.

Waiting is always the hardest

We start another round of tests on Friday. Waiting is always the hard part. Waiting for appointments, waiting for results, waiting for the next treatment. Waiting waiting waiting....practicing patience patience patience

It has been a year since my first appointment with my first reproductive endocrinologist. A year! Its funny because people would tell me "relax it'll happen when you finally move in with B" NOPE. "relax, it'll happen if you just relax" NOPE. (smile if you're reading this and you've said it)

I will tell you that prayer has gotten me through. The Scriptures tell us that "HE knows the desires of our heart." I am always careful not to pray about frivolous things.

We'll have our first insemination sometime next month. Its no fault of either of us, its just the way things worked out. Insurance does not cover the procedure, but we've been blessed with the financial means to proceed. See thats where God makes a way for you. If this doesn't work out and we have to go to the next level, God has made a provision for us that we don't have to worry about saving for IVF as so many couples do. Hopefully it won't get to that point, but we're prepared if it does, which only comes from praying for God to give us strength.

Pokes Pokes and more Pokes

I came across some pictures from some of my previous procedures. Glad all the blood drawing s over for now. So far we have had approximately $4500 worth of fertility testing and treatments done. Thank goodness for insurance.

Well except for here. You can clearly see they wanted to make a statement to me that my insurance does not cover fertility drugs. Thats okay because I found out that I can get them for $9 at Target instead of the $35 I spent at an unnamed drugstore chain.

Pic of one my Day 21 Progesterone draws. They usually take 3 vials from me evertime I have to go.

OPKs which

run $25 a box for 7 strips so you have to use them sparingly. You need to use these every month. I tried to buy the cheap kind one

month and it was a bust! LOL...

One of my many pathology work orders. Each "X" represents a separate vial of blood they had to take from me in one sitting.

HSG test probably the most painful invasive EXPENSIVE (over $2k) test I've had so far (covered by insurance!!!)

New Chapter

Its pretty ironic that my background is the fuzz of dandelions since
1. They are the cause of my allergies
2. I hate dandelions as they provoke me to buy $20 bags of Scott's turf builder each spring. Thankfully we have a lawn service now so I don't mess with that anymore.


At the gentle prodding of one of my dear friends I decided to re-up the blog but this one is totally different as I am in a different phase in my life than I was in the last blog. I chose the title "Practicing Patience" because the Scriptures tell us to throw our anxieties to God through prayer and let HIM handle the rest.

My husband and I actually live under the same roof now, although he has (and is currently out of the country) been traveling frequently for work. I am thankful he has work because it pays some of my bills now. I never thought I could allow anyone else besides my parents to pay my bills. Its weird...

I bought a new ironing board cover that I'm pretty excited about because it has an attached pocket that holds your spray starch so you don't have to hunt around for it. I can't wait to show B when he gets back. I hope he wasn't too emotionally attached to the old one because its in the garbage.

I began a new job and I enjoy it very much. Its a great feeling to not have to play into politics and just do the job they need you to do. My new boss is just as awesome as my last and my teammates are cool too. I also finished the first class in my doctoral program and have another starting in two weeks. I made a really good friend in my program and we have already gone shopping and had a great study session at LatteLand. Yes, I said it. LatteLand. I felt very cosmo with my hot chocolate because I don't drink coffee.

But onto the stuff all of you really want to hear....whats up with the progress on operation baby?

My new reproductive endocrinologist is Dr. Kim at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Kim is a world renown RE and at this point money is a non issue. His profile and that of the Center can be found here:
www.kumc.edu/carm/index.html
I am thankful for the work of my RE team at Henry Ford Center for Reproductive Medicine but I feel like Dr. Kim will deliver the goods (no pun intended).

Round 1 of Clomid did not work so I tried (much to B's admonition) a natural cycle this time. I'm not quite sure why I had to take Clomid because it accomplished nothing it was supposed to except give me bad hot flashes (on top of the weather already being hot) Ovulation has been perfect for three months straight.
-Robitussin
-Evening Primrose Oil
-Natural Progesterone Cream

I suffer from a luteal phase defect which simply means your body does not produce enough of a hormone it needs to give you a uterine lining, so any pregnancy that occurs will probably end in miscarriage. Stay tuned for results from Dr. Kim in a few weeks...