Hope

I was in an awful head space during our PCS move. I had just undergone the final test in our infertility work up, the HSG, and got the news that we couldn't have a baby naturally. We would need medical intervention.

Once I got into the TRICARE system here at Fort Hood, my new PCM gave me the referral to see a specialist to find out out next steps. Usually I go to these appointments solo, but this time Chris and I were being seen together. How novel, an apt to see both of together seeing as how it takes two...

Well let me tell you, I was both elated and angry all at the same time. I learned more in the first 5 minutes from our new dr than I got from being in MO for 6 months!

Here is what went down:

I already knew I wasn't ovulating and all we knew about Chris's sperm count is that the number of his viable sperm were low and slow. What we didn't know is that he has lots of sperm or why his count was low. When I asked the quack in MO if anything causes this he said "nah, this isn't a fluke, it is what it is, nothing affects them." 

Well, apparently if a man is taking supplements, herbals, protein, vitamins and or anything from GNC at the time of the test those things can affect the sample. As does a diet high in caffeine and salt.

I was floored! Chris was taking vitamin supplements and protein from GNC!

Why didn't the doc ask Chris if he was taking any of those things before he made his deposit? I mean every time I have anything done the doctors ask what meds I am taking, if I am taking anything OTC and instructions like don't take x, y or z before this test and no eating after midnight and ect.

If the doctor asked him Chris would have said yes, and we would have rescheduled the test. Why didn't the doc offer the above as a possible reason behind the results?!

Now we have hope! 

My new dr gave me a 5 months supply of the Progesterone all at once (this is a Godsend in and of itself! In MO I had to wait until day 38 of not getting a period, call and leave a message for the nurse/dr, wait for them to call me back to order a pregnancy test, go in and take the test, wait for the dr to read the results, wait for him to call in the Rx, go pick up the Rx and then take the pills, wait to start bleeding, and then repeat all over again) which saves so much time! 

It's not healthy to not have a bleed every 5 months, because it can cause the lining to build up which leads to cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory diseases and implementation issues, just to name a few things. Now, if I don't get a period every 5 weeks I just need to take the pills. I don't need to take a pregnancy test every 5 weeks because Chris is deployed. Once he gets home, I will have to go to the dr's office to take a test before taking the medication.

The dr gave us both homework during the deployment. I need to get my BMI down to 24-26, eat more fruits, veggies, drink lots of water and work out like a mad woman. Bringing my BMI down can jump start ovulation and all that coupled with the Progesterone can also jump start it. If I do all the above and i'm still not ovulating, which happens to a lot of women, I can take Clomid.

Chris has to also lose weight, eat more fruits and veggies and has to go cold turkey on caffeine. Hopefully his sperm will be super charged and we can be a deployment statistic =)

If we don't have luck naturally she shed some light on what our other options are. She said there is a clinic in Austin where we could have the IUI done for $800 and that the clinic in San Antonio could do the IVF for between $5-$8,000.

Our new dr feels really confident that we can have a baby naturally and that we will be pregnant before the end of the year!

Fingers crossed!