I just got a call from the nurse at the RE's. My cystic fibrosis screening came back positive, so I am a carrier. Now DH will need to go in and be tested. Either way we have to have genetic counseling.
Unless DH is a carrier, it is only an infintesimal chance that a child would have it. If he is a carrier, there would be a 25% chance of a child having CF. I will need to tell my family esp my sisters b/c they might be carriers too. Although the genetic counselor will tell us more specifically who we should notify, I think I would rather tell them in person, so I guess that's what we will be doing this trip.
I know this isn't a definite thing esp b/c we don't know abt DH, but I just feel like we can't get a break. I just want to be like normal people who go off the pill and in a few months get pg and have a baby and everything is hunky-dory.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Now MY body is not cooperating
As if male factor infertility wasn't enough, now it seems that my body doesn't want to ovulate. I am on CD 16 and have opks that have no second line whatsoever. I have a fade-in pattern that usually starts several days before ovulation, so who knows what is going on?
I really feel like I can't even catch a break, not even a small one.
I really feel like I can't even catch a break, not even a small one.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
On hold
No IUI for me this month. The u/s showed a small cyst (it was likely the follicle that did not release since I did not ovulate). I have to wait until it resolves, which it should do over the course of this month. Of course, we probably won't do the IUI in August b/c of traveling at the important time, so I guess we are looking at September now to start IUI. It seems like I am always waiting. I am SO tired of waiting!!
Infertility plays upon my two worst faults- needing to plan (aka control freak) and impatience. I want to know what is going to happen when and I want it to happen right now. I can't believe that the earliest I can even imagine a due date would be mid-2008. And part me wonders if there will ever be a due date.
On a positive note, two nurses said how young I was. I feel as old as the hills.
Infertility plays upon my two worst faults- needing to plan (aka control freak) and impatience. I want to know what is going to happen when and I want it to happen right now. I can't believe that the earliest I can even imagine a due date would be mid-2008. And part me wonders if there will ever be a due date.
On a positive note, two nurses said how young I was. I feel as old as the hills.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Well, a new cycle started today. Thankfully, in time to attempt an IUI cycle. Thankfully, I think. I am a little anxious about taking Clomid and injecting the Gonal-F booster and the trigger. Not to mention the catheter for the IUI, really not looking forward to that part.
But a part of me is excited because at least we have a chance now. It might not be a great chance, but at least it is statistically significant as opposed to the past 13 cycles, which were laughable in terms of odds.
And away we go . . .
But a part of me is excited because at least we have a chance now. It might not be a great chance, but at least it is statistically significant as opposed to the past 13 cycles, which were laughable in terms of odds.
And away we go . . .
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The Cost of Children
A friend of mine, with a newborn, was decrying the cost of children, especially daycare. It took all I had not to snap, "Well, at least, you didn't have to pay to CONCEIVE him."
It's so UNFAIR!
A woman on my message board learned on Tuesday that her baby is not alive inside of her. She had gone in for a second ultrasound at thirteen weeks, after everything going well at nine weeks and hearing the heartbeat, but this time there was nothing. I can't even imagine the devastation.
In contrast, yesterday at a festival-type event, despite the heat and humidity, pregnant women abounded. I actually audibly gasped when the 16-year-old trashy Brittany wanna-be turned to the side and I could see her six-month bump with her mini skirt riding low under it.
There seems no justice in the juxtaposition of these two situations. I am not naive, I know that life is not fair, but I truly don't understand this. The "why" scream resounds through my head.
In contrast, yesterday at a festival-type event, despite the heat and humidity, pregnant women abounded. I actually audibly gasped when the 16-year-old trashy Brittany wanna-be turned to the side and I could see her six-month bump with her mini skirt riding low under it.
There seems no justice in the juxtaposition of these two situations. I am not naive, I know that life is not fair, but I truly don't understand this. The "why" scream resounds through my head.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Abortions on the rise
The number of abortions in Minnesota rose to 14,066
BY JEREMY OLSON Pioneer Press
The number of abortions in Minnesota rose to 14,065 last year, ending a four-year decline, according to the state health department's annual tally of the procedures.
While the total number is well below the record highs of the early 1980s, the 5 percent increase from 2005 to 2006 was nonetheless troublesome to abortion opponents. Abortions among women younger than 18 increased 16 percent, from 682 in 2005 to 793 last year.
"It's definitely not good news for Minnesotans," said Bill Poehler, a spokesman for Minnesota Citizens Concern for Life. "Particularly to see the number of (abortions among) teenagers up 16 percent is really disturbing."
Poehler linked the increase to Planned Parenthood's opening last June of an "express" clinic in Woodbury, even though the clinic only sells birth control pills and retail products. Poehler called it a "feeder clinic" to Planned Parenthood's abortion providers, and said the state's numbers support his theory.
Planned Parenthood averaged 272 abortions prior to June last year, but 329 per month in the final seven months of the year. The organization saw its abortion numbers increase by 648 last year, which accounted for almost the entire statewide increase of 703 abortions from 2005 to 2006.
That accusation is "ludicrous," said Sarah Stoesz, the chief executive of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. The express clinics are designed to increase access to birth control, she said, which is a proven way to prevent unintended pregnancy and abortions.
"If we are concerned about driving down the rate of abortion, then we should all be concerned about driving up the rate of access to birth control," she said.
The Woodbury express clinic was the first for the local Planned Parenthood organization, which has opened others in Apple Valley and Eden Prairie.
Stoesz said the increase is difficult to understand, and could be an anomaly in Minnesota's gradual decline in abortion procedures over the past 30 years. The state increased birth control and family planning funding this year, which should help, she said.
As for the increase among teens, she speculated that the growth in abstinence-only sex education programs in high schools may be one of the causes. Research has suggested such approaches don't prevent teen pregnancies, she said.
Poehler believes the abortion numbers will continue to climb if the state continues to distribute the majority of its family planning grants to groups that perform abortions. His group tried but failed this session to restrict the funding to family planning groups that don't offer abortions.
"If the legislature does not act," he said, "we would expect this trend to continue."
A comparison with previous Minnesota abortion reports suggests that financial hardships are an increasingly important factor. More than 5,000 women listed "economic reasons" for having abortions in 2006, which doubles the number of women who offered that reason two years earlier.
That increase is partly because women are more willing to answer the question about why they are having abortions. In 2004, one in three women refused to give a reason. Now, the number of refusals is only one in 10.
Funding for abortions has remained unchanged since 2003. Nearly half are paid for with cash, while 28 percent are funded by state-subsidized health plans for the poor and disabled, and the remainder are funded by private insurance.
The most common reason for women in 2006 was that they didn't want to have children at this time. There were 102 abortions that took place because of incest or rape, and another 318 among women in dysfunctional or abusive relationships. There were 162 abortions listed due to fetal anomalies.
The 2006 report is the third to indicate the impact of Minnesota's requirement that women considering abortions receive informed consent about the risks of abortion and about fetal development.
The state reports lists 14,717 instances in which women received this information from physicians, clinics, and/or written materials. That means there were nearly 700 more women who received the information than had abortions, though it is unknown whether the information had any effect on their decisions.
**********************************************
And here I am injecting myself and paying money to HAVE a baby. Sigh.
BY JEREMY OLSON Pioneer Press
The number of abortions in Minnesota rose to 14,065 last year, ending a four-year decline, according to the state health department's annual tally of the procedures.
While the total number is well below the record highs of the early 1980s, the 5 percent increase from 2005 to 2006 was nonetheless troublesome to abortion opponents. Abortions among women younger than 18 increased 16 percent, from 682 in 2005 to 793 last year.
"It's definitely not good news for Minnesotans," said Bill Poehler, a spokesman for Minnesota Citizens Concern for Life. "Particularly to see the number of (abortions among) teenagers up 16 percent is really disturbing."
Poehler linked the increase to Planned Parenthood's opening last June of an "express" clinic in Woodbury, even though the clinic only sells birth control pills and retail products. Poehler called it a "feeder clinic" to Planned Parenthood's abortion providers, and said the state's numbers support his theory.
Planned Parenthood averaged 272 abortions prior to June last year, but 329 per month in the final seven months of the year. The organization saw its abortion numbers increase by 648 last year, which accounted for almost the entire statewide increase of 703 abortions from 2005 to 2006.
That accusation is "ludicrous," said Sarah Stoesz, the chief executive of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. The express clinics are designed to increase access to birth control, she said, which is a proven way to prevent unintended pregnancy and abortions.
"If we are concerned about driving down the rate of abortion, then we should all be concerned about driving up the rate of access to birth control," she said.
The Woodbury express clinic was the first for the local Planned Parenthood organization, which has opened others in Apple Valley and Eden Prairie.
Stoesz said the increase is difficult to understand, and could be an anomaly in Minnesota's gradual decline in abortion procedures over the past 30 years. The state increased birth control and family planning funding this year, which should help, she said.
As for the increase among teens, she speculated that the growth in abstinence-only sex education programs in high schools may be one of the causes. Research has suggested such approaches don't prevent teen pregnancies, she said.
Poehler believes the abortion numbers will continue to climb if the state continues to distribute the majority of its family planning grants to groups that perform abortions. His group tried but failed this session to restrict the funding to family planning groups that don't offer abortions.
"If the legislature does not act," he said, "we would expect this trend to continue."
A comparison with previous Minnesota abortion reports suggests that financial hardships are an increasingly important factor. More than 5,000 women listed "economic reasons" for having abortions in 2006, which doubles the number of women who offered that reason two years earlier.
That increase is partly because women are more willing to answer the question about why they are having abortions. In 2004, one in three women refused to give a reason. Now, the number of refusals is only one in 10.
Funding for abortions has remained unchanged since 2003. Nearly half are paid for with cash, while 28 percent are funded by state-subsidized health plans for the poor and disabled, and the remainder are funded by private insurance.
The most common reason for women in 2006 was that they didn't want to have children at this time. There were 102 abortions that took place because of incest or rape, and another 318 among women in dysfunctional or abusive relationships. There were 162 abortions listed due to fetal anomalies.
The 2006 report is the third to indicate the impact of Minnesota's requirement that women considering abortions receive informed consent about the risks of abortion and about fetal development.
The state reports lists 14,717 instances in which women received this information from physicians, clinics, and/or written materials. That means there were nearly 700 more women who received the information than had abortions, though it is unknown whether the information had any effect on their decisions.
**********************************************
And here I am injecting myself and paying money to HAVE a baby. Sigh.
I can't even blame the meds yet
I am cranky today. Could have something to do with being awakened at 2 and not being able to get back to sleep until 4.
the pharmacy called abt my meds. Apparently, the retarded insurance doesn't have the injects that were prescribed on the formulary. The pharmacy called the RE and they substituted Gonal-F, which is covered. Now, I have to learn a whole new protocol though. I think different than the one at the class. Most annoying. Anyhow, the meds should be here tomorrow. Am hoping the come with a video as nurse said they might.
To add to the annoyance, I could just slug DH. After I have reminded him repeatedly, he finally called to make an appt with the lab for b/w but didn't find out how he is to get his Clomid prescription which is what really matters IMO and he also made an eye dr appt. All fine, except he made them for tomorrow, when he is supposed to be home (as he has been reminded I can't tell you how many times) to sign for my meds. And he still doesn't know when he is getting the Clomid. I am going to be sticking myself with needles and he can't even find out about taking a little pill! He is 33 years old for crying out loud, how did he survive the first 30 years of life without me to tell him what to do?
the pharmacy called abt my meds. Apparently, the retarded insurance doesn't have the injects that were prescribed on the formulary. The pharmacy called the RE and they substituted Gonal-F, which is covered. Now, I have to learn a whole new protocol though. I think different than the one at the class. Most annoying. Anyhow, the meds should be here tomorrow. Am hoping the come with a video as nurse said they might.
To add to the annoyance, I could just slug DH. After I have reminded him repeatedly, he finally called to make an appt with the lab for b/w but didn't find out how he is to get his Clomid prescription which is what really matters IMO and he also made an eye dr appt. All fine, except he made them for tomorrow, when he is supposed to be home (as he has been reminded I can't tell you how many times) to sign for my meds. And he still doesn't know when he is getting the Clomid. I am going to be sticking myself with needles and he can't even find out about taking a little pill! He is 33 years old for crying out loud, how did he survive the first 30 years of life without me to tell him what to do?
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