As every newly wed couple knows, the number one question people always ask is, "When are you going to have babies?". For Corey and I that answer had been for a long time, 'When it happens it happens".
In 2007 after having a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in my leg and then being diagnosed with Factor V Leiden Thrombosis I was put on Heparin and Coumadin for an entire year. While on blood thinners you must not get pregnant otherwise the thinners could cause a lot of defects with the baby. As I was on the blood thinners for almost our entire first year of marriage, at that time children were out of the question.
With the blood disorder I was diagnosed with, I was immediately taken off birth control as any type of hormonal contraceptive would increase my chance of developing a reoccuring thrombosis by a significant amount. In 2008, after the doctors allowed me to stop taking the blood thinners Corey and I began having intercourse without protection. We both knew the chances of getting pregnant were there, but we both knew we wanted kids so if it happened, it happened.
Close to a year went by and we still were not pregnant. We technically weren't trying. But for the amount of sex we were having (sorry for the graphicness!) we thought something just wasn't right. In October 2008, I finally went to my family doctor and asked for some testing to be done. My period was always so wonky and it worried me that we hadn't conceived as quickly as I thought we would.
After several blood tests and a couple of semen analysis tests were complete we ruled out Corey as the 'culprit'. :) According to all doctors/nurses who have seen his results, he has Super Sperm. Don't tell him I told you...he would be mortified. But I am a proud Wife! lol My family doctor then referred me to a OB/GYN Specialist as my blood work was off.
It was in April 2009 that my specialist advised me that I had Premature Ovarian Failure (POF). According to the several blood tests and the one HSG I had done the results indicated that my ovaries were acting much older than they should be. The Doctor was quite rude in the way she explained it to me and really didn't offer much information. She was in quite the rush, and to say the least I was crushed. I left her office feeling sad, weary and hopeless. She advised that women with POF often cannot have children of their own. She also mentioned that there was no telling how big of a window Corey and I had to conceive a baby of our own.
At this time, the specialist referred Corey and I to the Regional Fertility Clinic in Calgary. Our first appointment was at the end of May in 2009. Let me just first off say that the Regional Fertility Clinic has been the best support and education tool for Corey and I through out this entire adventure.
We have an amazing Doctor, Dr.Shu Foong. She has been extremely knowledgeable and the staff and nurses at the Clinic always provide thorough answers. They have a Clinic Psychologist on staff to help assist families with grief counselling or stress management. Since May 2009, I have been for two Hysterosalpingograms (HSG) tests where they test for fallopian tube blockage. These tests are incredibly painful and create a lot of abdominal pain and spotting. Luckily my fallopian tubes are completely clear. It seems my situation is that I am not ovulating.
Recently, Corey and I started three cycles of Clomid. Clomid is a drug that helps induce ovulation. The first cycle I ovulated but was unsuccesful in conceiving. The second cycle I didn't ovulate so I am currently waiting to begin my third cycle with an increased doseage of Clomid.
If...this third cycle is unsuccesful the only option Corey and I will have left to have a baby of our own is In vitro Fertilization (IVF). This method is quite expensive and there are a lot of drugs involved. It would be risky for me with all the hormones because of the blood disorder I have, however they inform me I would be on daily injections of Low Molecular Weight Heparin to reduce my chance of clotting.
This entire story is a lot to take in, I am sure. It still is a lot for me to take in. But the reason I am telling you all today is that it allows me to get off my chest all my fears, anxiety and rollercoaster of emotions I have been dealing with for almost two years. I was speaking to my Mom awhile ago about all of this and I told her, by telling people, it made this all more real. I felt embarassed that as a woman I was having fertility issues while other women just go out there, have sex once and get pregnant.
I am not mad at those women. I am not bitter at them. I am happy for them and I just wish to be as blessed as they are with a miracle such as a baby from God. IVF might be the only option Corey and I have at having a baby that is made from us and we are unsure as to how long our window of opportunity will remain that is why after our third cycle of Clomid (if unsuccesful) we will be pursuing IVF as treatment right away.
The wait list right now is around 3-4 months which means we might not get treatment until July/August. That is fine with us though as it gives us more time to save money. IVF will cost us close to $10,000+. But Corey and I have already decided we will spend whatever amount we have to, to be able to have a baby.
I want to share with you a website. There is a fund called "The Generations of Hope Fund". http://www.regionalfertilityprogram.ca/fertilityfund.php
It is for couples who want so badly to have a baby but the costs of treatment is just too much and because of this, their dream is taken away. Corey and I are in a similar situation. If IVF is the answer, we will definitely be applying for assistance from this fund. Please, if you feel that you can donate any amount, do so. If you simply don't have anything to donate that is just fine, because emotional support as a friend or as a family member has always been more important to Corey and I than financial support.
Thank you SO much for letting me rant about what we have been experiencing over the last while. There have been a lot of tears and a lot of good and then bad news but through it all Corey and I have kept our humour and our love and friendship. I believe this journey has made us stronger as a couple and stronger as individuals. We are still holding onto the hope that we will be successful in conceiving during this third round of Clomid. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this time. By sharing this with all of you, it has been hard, I am still slightly embarassed by the whole situation but I feel that by telling my select group of close friends and family Corey and I will have the support system we need. We will keep you posted on what our next step is and how our journey is going as much as we can.
Thanks.
-Victoria
