Surgery to Remove Ectopic Pregnancy

Finally home from surgery to remove my ectopic pregnancy.
Everything went very smoothly. Here's a run down:

11:30am: check in & realize that we have to leave a check because our insurance is through Monaco and the clinic is in Nice, France.  It's just a "caution" check, which they will rip up once we come to pay our final bill. Only problem being, that we don't have a checking account in France.  OOOPS....we proceed to frantically call friends who live nearby.  My dear, sweet friend Marion agrees!  Phew....

12:30: All settled into my room with the awesome blue robe they give you.  They ask me to take 2 pills which apparently will make me sleepy. The sweetest nurse named Aida puts in my IV, and has a quick chat with me.  She's lebanese and speaks pretty good english.  I'm trying to practice my french...which is going pretty well.

1:30: Don't feel sleepy at all

2pm: Man comes to wheel me down to surgery. He proceeds to leave me and 2 other women lined up against the wall near the sink where the surgeons wash up before surgery.  I'm shaking because it's freezing and I'm nervous. Some woman comes over and asks me a few questions, all of which is in my chart in front of her.

2:10: They wheel me into the operating room and I climb onto the operating table. They proceed to put my legs into some strange stirrup thing and velcro them in and put a blanket over me filled with hot air.  I finally start to feel warm.

2:15: Anesthesiologist(super friendly, handsome guy who speaks amazing english) puts the oxygen mask over my nose & mouth and he must have also injected something into my IV because I don't remember anything after that.

???: Wake up in recovery room. This room is full of about 8 other women. I feel pretty lucid, and start to get annoyed that they aren't taking me upstairs back into my room.

4:45pm: Back upstairs in my room, where David & Marion are waiting for me.  I'm so happy to see them, although I'm in a bit of pain around my shoulder.  Apparently the shoulder pain is from the procedure and is completely normal.

5:30: Everyone leaves and I fall asleep (and am in & out of sleep all night until 6:30am)

Me being wheeled back into my room after surgery (smiling at Marion & David)

In the morning I was keen to get out quickly....but it seemed to drag on.  I was able to have a chat (in French) with the woman I was sharing the room with. She was going through the exact same thing!  However she was 39 and a smoker (both risk factors of ectopic).  She went on to tell me, that ectopic pregnancies occur more often in summer months.  Which was an interesting piece of information.
Finally, I buzzed the nurse, asking why I was still waiting...apparently we were waiting for my doctor to call.  Dr. Delorme calls around 12:15 (I was expecting to leave around 11am).  Says that I'm free to go home, and asks that I get another HCG test on Friday & give him a call.

We leave the clinic and take the bus...which was a hot, smelly uncomfortable mess. We stop for a quick bite at one of my fave lunch restaurants on Nice, Bagel History.  I'm devastated when I'm told they are out of hot dogs.  It was the ONE THING I wanted :( Oh well, the central park bagel sandwich was still pretty good! Then we walk from the middle of Jean Medcin to the train station....which is maybe 3-4 blocks.  But when you just had surgery, it's not a fun walk!  My pain started to really kick in just as I was getting off the train in Monaco.  It was all I could do to walk up the stairs at my apartment building.

The Procedure:
Basically the doctor made 3 incisions: one in my belly button (which is now properly massacred), one just below my belly button, and a third above my pelvic bone. Then injected air into my stomach cavity so that they could get the camera in to have a look.  Basically the doctor could not find the embryo, so he flushed my fallopian tubes.

The Outcome:
The doctor came by around 5pm to talk to me about the surgery.  He explained how he was unable to find the baby, but assumed it was expelled when he cleared the fallopian tubes.  He was happy to report that both my fallopian tubes are now nice & clear...which should prevent another ectopic. I got the HCG blood work back just before I left the hospital today and it was half what it was on Monday.  Which is great news, meaning it was successful!

How I'm feeling Post-Op:
LIKE SHIT!  Just kidding....I like to think of myself as a tough girl.  But basically I can't stand up straight.  Walking around Nice for a few blocks was probably a bad idea. But I'm home now with my legs up and just popped a few Advil.  I'll prob take a nap in a few!
Mentally, I'm feeling pretty ok with the entire situation.  I think it's because I'm trying to be positive and have a good outlook for the next pregnancy!  I'm just praying that we won't have to wait too too long, since patience isn't really my forte!

Update on our Pregnancy

So lots has happened since my last blog entry, so I wanted to bring everyone up to speed!

As you recall from my last post the doctor was unable to find the baby, but we were hoping it was because it was too early.  He ordered a beta HCG test...meaning they would check the HCG (pregnancy hormone) level on Tuesday, and then have a look again on Friday because of the fact that healthy pregnancies HCG doubles every 48-72 hours.

Tuesday my HCG level was 179.9.  A very normal level, no cause for concern.

Friday my HCG level was 233.  NOT GOOD.  I had just picked up my results from the hospital, knowing they were bad I quickly called my husband to tell him the bad news. After that my phone rang immediately...it was the nurse from the doctors office.  She said that the HCG test wasn't good, and that the doc wanted to see me on Monday after another HCG test in the morning.

My world came crashing down.  This was the worst day of my life. To go from the excitement of the next 9 months, to knowing that my baby was in harm was one of the worst things I have ever experienced. Hubs and I had a serious conversation, trying to be positive and understand that there was a reason the baby wasn't going to make it (chromosome issue or maybe even developmental issue). Trying to keep the faith, knowing that God had a bigger plan for us.

Monday, I dutifully wake up & go get my 3rd HCG test. And at 2pm, I arrive at the doctors office.  After a painful 40 min wait, he calls us back.  Again reiterating that there is a problem, and that the third number is still very low (328).  Strange that the levels are rising, but alarming that the rate is so slow. He says that if it's in the uterus hopefully it will pass naturally.  We have a look via ultrasound, and once again he can not find anything. He has a hunch that the pregnancy is ectopic, meaning that the embryo implanted in the ovary or fallopian tube instead of the uterus. This is a potentially life threatening issue, because if the fallopian tube (or ovary) bursts it can also burst the nearby artery which would cause massive internal bleeding.

He gives us 2 options:
1.  To wait another week and have 2 more HCG tests, and then eventually have the laporoscopy surgery to remove the fetus.
2. Go ahead and have the laporoscopy surgery tomorrow.

I don't hesitate.  Why keep dragging this out?  Let's get the surgery tomorrow! He fills out the paperwork, and by this time tomorrow it will all be over with.  The good news is that while I'm under he will also do the HSG dye procedure to check my fallopian tubes for any blockages.  This procedure has been known to "unblock" tubes for some women.  I have my fingers crossed that this will be the magic procedure that will eliminate the threat of another ectopic pregnancy.

Say some prayers for us, and hopefully I will have a speedy recovery!

Trying to Concieve - May Update

Just got back from the doctor regarding our trying to concieve efforts.

But first let me back up and give a bit of background.....I initially went to the gynecologist because I was having extremely painful menstruation. The first month it was horrible, I thought I was having a miscarriage it was so bad. And then when it happened the second time, I was concerned and made the doctors appointment.  Of course, I did a bit of my own research before going to the doctors and apparently Endometriosis causes horribly painful menstruation...so I was prepared for news that he suspected I had Endo.

At the doctors, first I explained the situation and he did a trans-vaginal ultra sound only to find that there were no mature follicles (and I was near the time of ovulation, so there should have been at least 3). There was NOTHING.  One teeny, tiny 7mm follicle on my right side and NOTHING on my left.  He also noted at this appointment that I have an inverted uterus. Which isn't life shattering, just another obstacle for the little swimmers.  He was clearly concerned about the follicle situation, but wanted to explore further and ordered a blood test for myself and a semen analysis for my husband.

Fast forward one month later, to our appointment today.  He reviewed the semen analysis:
80 million little swimmers
45% motility
52% morphology
and no infection...good news!

For me all my hormone levels looked ok according to the doctors.  However I did a bit of my own Google research and figured that my FSH level of 10.02 was a bit high for my age.  He didn't seem concerned at all.

He did another trans-vaginal ultrasound and again there were only small follicles, which should have been twice the size at this point in my cycle. So it seems that the issue is with my ovulation.  Our prescription is for me to start Clomid next cycle to help mature my follicles, as well as a dye test to check my fallopian tubes to be sure there are no blockages. So for now...we wait another month! He mentioned it was normal for women to have troubles with their follicle size, and that it's common to treat them with Clomid.  So it seems I'm in good company!

In the meantime, its great to have a game plan and to have more understanding of what's going on with us as a couple. It's frustrating to have to keep waiting, but hopefully it will just be another month of so until we conceive. So for now...I just have to look forward to our little holiday in Venice & Croatia.  That should keep me going until then!

 Here's a little video about conception, in case your interested.  It's definitely more complicated than you think :)
 

Sunday Not So Funday

It's Sunday early evening and I'm working....something that next to no one in France can say they are doing at this time!  Most of my friends are finishing up their day of skiing, and I'm here working.

O and did I mention that my boss hasn't paid us?  Yep, our pay was due on Feb 1....it's Feb 24.  What a great guy, I'm so happy to work over my weekend extra hours on his project.
YUCK!

On another note...the hubs and I are fighting (over working all weekend & still not being preggo).

Basically this morning went like this:
-Woke up...took a pregnancy test.  I'm due for AF (aunt Flow) on Tuesday....it was NEGATIVE...just like the other 50 I've taken thus far.  I'm defeated, but honestly it's expected since we only tried 4 times (due to David working until 1-4am every single night this month) so I wasn't that upset.
-David rolled over about an hour after that, I told him it was wierd that the test was negative since I'm having a few funny symptoms. He proceeded to tell me that I need to stop stressing, that it will happen when its meant to happen, that I shouldn't get so worked up.
Which in turn MAKES ME worked up & upset ab the situation. I start to feel shitty, and like I will never get preggo.
-We leave for church, where I proceed to CRY....in church.  How embarrassing!! I was atleast able to pull myself together for communion.
-After church we poured drinks at reception, where everyone gathers for a bit of socializing.  Here a friend proceeds to ask when we're having kids.  I take a deep breath, trying not to cry, and say that we're leaving it up to God (since we've tried everything known to man, I didn't tell him this, but I was def thinking it!).

And now it's 6pm, and I should be in full relatxation mode, but NOPE...I'm working. 

What is today's lesson??  Hmmm....that God has a master plan for an amazing child and an amazing career for David & me and that I just need to have a little patience!!  Shit, I hope so!

Oh and did I mention that David's drug addict, loser friend ( I use that term loosely, more like an acquaintance) just had a baby yesterday.  Oh and he has medical debit (from a drug overdose) of something like $40k.  Great guy, totally deserving of a child.  Lesson to be learned here?? Life isn't fair!!

Awesome weekend, can't wait for the week!

No Buns in This Oven - YET!

Yay, guess what came in the mail today?  Our ovulation prediction kit!!

Remember how I mentioned we were trying to conceive??  Well it's been over 3 months now, and we're pulling out the big guns!

I'm currently reading "Eat, Love, Get Pregnant" by Niels Lauersen about changing our diet to prep for a baby, and to continue eating this awesome diet while preggo since it's the best nutrition for a developing baby. It's basically adding 5 or more of the following per day: walnuts, avocado, bluberries, raspberries, pomegranite, quinoa, brown rice, oranges, sweet potato, celery, ice cream (yes, you read that right)...the list goes on, but I'd hate to bore you!

In addition I ordered some ovulation predictor sticks, which basically measure your LH (Luteinising Hormone) levels, and during a spike is when you are ovulating. Giving us a 24-36 hour window to "do the deed" to try to make our little one.

We decided to take the month of Feb off, and start again in March since I was getting a bit worked up over the fact that it hadn't happend for us yet and to give our new diet a chance to start. But I plan on trying out the ovulation predictor strips to see if I'm even ovulating...which could be the reason for our lack of pregnancy yet.

I'm excited to have a plan in place and work the plan, and to soon become parents! baby dust!!