Dear Molly -
Here is my story.
We started trying right after we got married, I was only 28, my
husband 36 with a 5 year old son from a previous relationship. My OB
said to try for year, since he has a child, everything should be OK, and
truth be told, I had an inkling we would have problems, and we thought
it was something on my end. After a year, which my cousin had gotten
pregnant on her first try, and many friends seemed to be constantly
getting pregnant, or telling me to relax, drink some wine, don't worry
about it so much, we were referred to CCRM for male factor issues.
Which was such a shock because of my step son. IVF with ICSI was
recommended at the beginning of 2010 and we took awhile to digest that.
It's expensive, there was no mention of IUI or other drugs, as all my
tests were as darn normal as they could be, perfect actually. You are
young, this will work. We did some all natural stuff, and by the end of
2010 I was done. I was ready to commit to the shots, to the
restrictions, to everything, because TTC after 2 years takes a toll.
So I know all the tests you refer to, have had them
all, they are not fun, they are painful, and after all of this, I just
don't seem to be bothered by who's up in my business, literally, because
it's par for the course. Insurance didn't pay for any of this. We had
to do this all out of pocket, my in-laws graciously loaned us money,
for which we still owe them a lot. So Dr. Surrey and our nurse went
through everything, I am a carrier for SMA, my husband is not, so he
said because of my age he didn't think it was necessary to pay an extra
$6000 for genetic testing of the embryos. I had 27 eggs retrieved, I
responded really well to the stim meds, when it was all said and done,
they deemed 11 worthy of transfer and storage. I was hyper stimulating
and was put on bed rest 2 days before my transfer, and because of that
reason we only did one. I got pregnant, I was so excited. I called all
my family. They knew about this, it was too hard to keep our struggle a
secret and they all prayed it would work. Not to mention, I had to
tell my job, as I missed so much for appointments and what not, we are a
small firm and my bosses were very supportive of me and I had
absolutely no stress regarding my work and infertility. They were more
than generous with time off. As you know, they make you do a 2nd hcg
test, and that's where things went wrong. My hcg had barely risen and
they were saying it was a biochemical pregnancy, which they never even
warned me about, they told me to stop my inserts and pull off my
patches, to call when I started bleeding and they would follow my hcg
down to zero. Dr. Surrey had no idea why this happened, but he said it
could have been a fluke, or a perfect looking embryo is not always
perfect. So he said take a month off and we can do a FET on the cycle
after that. So that's what we did. I found out I was pregnant again
7/3/11. On the second hcg test, the same thing happened. I was so
devastated. I couldn't believe this happened again. I did everything
right, and even when I wasn't on bed rest, I would put my feet up a lot,
I wasn't working full 8 hour days, I stopped all dog training, I didn't
even walk my sheltie around the block. We were shocked. Dr. Surrey
said I may have a clotting disorder. Lucky me, after 2 miscarriages,
insurance pays for those tests. I gave them 13 vials of blood one day,
had more work ups, and everything was fine. He said we could do the
genetic testing on the remaining 8 embryos (we transferred 2 the 2nd
time), they now do that the night before the transfer. So we did that,
more money borrowed. We had our 3rd transfer November 1, 2011, we had 2
embryos that were found to be abnormal. We transferred 2 more. And I
wouldn't even take the calls for hcg tests 1 and 2, I made my husband do
it.
We had passed hcg # 2, but were so cautious, we couldn't get
excited. I continued to take it easy and tried to avoid Christmas
shopping. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, just after 6 weeks, I started
bleeding, a lot, I was so panicked, they put me on bed rest and said to
come in for the ultrasound on Monday. There was a baby in there, a
perfectly wonderful heartbeat, we cried, we couldn't believe it, it was a
miracle to me. We made it through week 8 and Dr. Surrey sent me back
to my OB. For the 10 week appt., 3 days before Christmas, there was no
heartbeat. Devastation, shock, disbelief, you name it, you know, it's
awful. With it being so close the holidays it only made it that much
worse, I had spent the tome decorating for the holidays and thinking
next year will be Baby's First Christmas. With it being close the
holidays and my own wishes to not do anything invasive, I stopped all
hormones and waited for my body to expel the baby. The day after
Christmas it started, and it was the worst day of my life, and it lasted
a long time. I should have done the D&C but I just couldn't face
any more procedures, I was ready to let my body rest and do what it
needed to do. We did a bit more testing, we had been told they had
transferred a boy and a girl, and they found no boy DNA, so this baby
was a little girl, that would have been due July 20th, 2012. Dr. Surrey
said they don't know why it happened, but they said if I wanted to try
one more time he would do the blood thinner shots and the PIO, I had
only done the Endometrium before.
I took a long time off. We decided to do a transfer in the summer, I told my
work, our parents, and my sister. I didn't tell anyone previously knew
that I was doing it the beginning of July. Oh those PIO shots are awful, the blood thinner ones are too.
They sting, and I bruised up like I was being beat up from the inside.
But I knew it was worth it, it was the last try, as Dr. Surrey said he
wouldn't recommend doing it again if we were to lose another baby. So I
got pregnant, and passed the 2nd hcg test, the PIO made me feel really
sick this time, and I was just miserable, but I knew it wasn't for very
long and these drugs could do the trick that nothing else had.
At 6
weeks, I started bleeding again, but this time there was a little pain,
and I went straight home to bed rest. This time I knew I had lost the
baby(ies) I didn't need that ultrasound the next day to prove it. We
cried in that ultrasound room a long time, then met with Dr. Surrey, and
he's very nice, but what do you say to someone that should have been
pregnant, that had no issues, that you couldn't keep pregnant? I
decided that day I would use a carrier for my remaining 2. But my
sister had already backed out at the beginning of the summer, as after
my 3rd loss, I begged her to get healthy to do this for me if my last
try didn't work (she's overweight and not in the best of shape) She said
she was worried her work wouldn't be understanding of all the appts she
would have to go to. I have 2 cousins here who I thought would step
up, but no, one has submitted records, but not sure of her commitment
level, and we can't afford an agency, they are $40-60,000 and we just
can't go that route.
A week after the miscarriage we had to put Brody(our dog)
down. August was not kind to us last year.
I decided to send a private FB message to most of
the females on there, many of whom I am not friends with, or haven't
seen in years and that no one knew I was going through this and put
myself out there, asking if anyone knows anyone who has done this, have
they done it, would they be willing to, and I got a name of a gal who
had done it previously, she was done though, but she was a good source
of information and contacts. A friend of a friend said she would do it,
but not until spring, and I found out 2 weeks ago that her family isn't
very supportive of her decision, so she's reconsidering, not sure if
that's forever, or just for another year, but for now I need to let that
one go. I have a cousin in Cali who just had a baby last July and
stepped up right away. She just turned 40 in November, which is the age
cut off. They won't do a work up until 3 months after nursing is
complete, so that's October at the earliest, but they know this, and
still OK'd her records and are doing phone interviews. I can't begin to
express my gratitude to her for selflessly stepping up, no matter what,
she stepped up, and has given me a glimmer of hope. My life is in
limbo, still. I can't begin to tell you when I saw that you too
were going to do the blood thinner shots that I prayed that they would
work for you.
Unexplained infertility is the worst, how do you know what to work
on, if they can't find anything wrong? I am trying to come to terms
with the fact that I will never be pregnant, I will not breast feed, I
will not deliver, I won't have anyone coming up to ask me when I am due,
I won't feel the kicks, I won't have my husband holding my hand telling
me I can do this, one more push, and it kills me to know he did it with
someone else. I am now coming to terms that I may never be a mother,
stepmother yes, but being a mother was all I ever wanted. I am trying
to stay positive that I will get a carrier and the baby(ies) will go
full term and I will someday hold my children in my arms. But, for now,
it's so far off. I can't believe 2 years ago I was gearing up for IVF
and never once thought it wouldn't work. I can't believe now that I am
wondering if I will ever be a mother. Adoption is not on our radar, we
have 2 potential chances to have biological children, we will see that
through. I am not sure we can afford adoption after all of this anyway.
I am not sure my heart could handle any more disappointment and loss. I
am trying to focus on something else, motherhood might be the pipe
dream, and moving to get a couple acres and agility equipment and maybe
have a training center, might be the dream that comes true.
I struggle
everyday not to be bitter, not to feel left behind or left out, but I
am. My cousin had another baby last May, her baby girl was to be 2
months older than mine. Then I was due at the end of this March, so I
suppose after I pass all my potential due dates I might hurt less, but I
doubt it. Family functions are so hard, not because people are unkind,
but I feel like they don't know what to say to me anymore, and think I
have gotten past it, or just don't want to talk about it anymore. I do,
I just don't want to talk about it with them anymore, I feel like I
have talked to them enough about it. I go to a local Resolve support
group, and even though we all have different infertility issues, and are
in different stages of working through it, going the adoption route, or
currently in treatments, it helps so much to be around others that get
it.
Your blog is inspiring, most generally all too real and relatable,
and I just don't want you to be in the same place I am. Trying to find
someone to carry your baby or trying to decide if you are done. All I
know is that the not knowing, the constant waiting, the what's next is
exhausting.
It has changed me, it has taken a piece of me that I can't
get back by distractions or hope for something else. People in my life
might not get it, or think I should move on, but until you walk a day in
my shoes and go without what you want most in this world, it's really
easy to say that. There are many times that I look at my life and know I
am blessed, my dogs provide endless love and entertainment, and a great
hobby that I am really good at, and have met some great people doing it.
My husband
and stepson are wonderful, we are a family, but can I let go of the
vision I have had for years and what I always wanted and be content with
what I have. I think after I transfer my last 2 embryos, no matter what
happens, it will provide closure and solace that I did everything I
could, I did it right, and it just wasn't enough. I will never
understand, I will never understand why some who should not be parents
are, and why those of us who would be great parents don't get that. I
will never feel like I can get over life not being fair, but I
understand the concept, I am just not in a place to accept it.
I wish you all the best, I truly hope this time is
it for you, but I know what you are going through. The what ifs, and
how all those early weeks you won't be able to relax and know everything
will be OK, that this baby will survive, because unfortunately there
are no take-backs, you can't forget your previous losses, and you have
ashes, you have a necklace, you saw with your own eyes what was
happening and you couldn't control it, you could just cry and grieve and
hope for the best when you have healed enough to get to the next step.
I feel personally connected to you, and want so badly for someone
who has been to hell and back with infertility and losses to have it
work, it won't be me, but it could be you.
