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.... :(