Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Down the Rabbit Hole

Nadia and I fell down the rabbit hole and landed in the Caribbean for one week. Everything is upside down: we are stressfree, stressfree, stressfree. In others words, we are totally and completely unrecognizable to ourselves and each other.

I am loving it!

This vacation comes on the heels of an extremely stressful month where I learned I was not pregnant, served as the executive producer of a major fundraising event at work, found a new job and resigned (yes!). And then there was that fateful visit with Dr Feelgood.

Last week Nadia and I paid a visit to Dr Feelgood. The visit was a mixed bag. It went something like this:

Dr Feelgood: Wonk wonk wonk wonk wonk wonk well, you know when you are 38 blah blah blah blah 38 year old eggs blagity blagity blah at 38... If we have to list the top 10 factors for infertilty age would be the top 4.

I almost busted a gaskit.

EDB: Dr Feelgood, Nadia and I are painfully aware that I am of an advanced maternal age. This is the reason why we came to see you as soon as we decided to get pregnant. Can I help the fact that it took us forever to get our shit together?

Okay, maybe I didn't say all of that but I wanted to. Sometimes it's hard to handle the truth, especially when it could mean not having a baby. I felt my cheeks getting hot and I had to refrain from slapping him.

Anyhoo, the silver lining is that I do make eggs; last cycle I made at least 5 on moderate dosages of medication and according to Feelgood that is more than half the battle. Also Nadia's health insurance pays for IVF. Adding me to her plan was not a big deal despite the fact that we are two girls in love.

Dr Feelgood said that with so many failed IUIs it's time for me to move on to the big guns. Seven failed IUIs according to Feelgood usually means that the problem is beyond what he can see. He wants to examine my eggs-- get up close and personal. According to Feelgood my chances of getting pregnant with IVF are about 35% -- not bad.

Nadia's insurance kicks in July 1; the same day I start my new job. Given the timing I might wait a cycle or two before I jump back in the stirrups. Besides I want to enjoy the sun and the heat this summer.

Speaking of sun and heat, I am sitting on a secluded beach listening to the ocean as I write this on my handheld (please excuse the typos). Being in the Caribbean makes me think of my grandmum, Eva. She gave birth to 11 kids. I would love to bottle her mojo.

10 comments:

Lo said...

Congrats on the plan!! and enjoy the Caribbean.

Anonymous said...

wow! blogging from the caribbean! that is so cool!

Glad you have a plan and that it fits in with insurance etc.

may you enjoy the break before the big guns!

Anonymous said...

You should have slapped him. What is it with these doctors who feel the need to tell you off for being too old! Like you don't realise?

Glad you are enjoying your holiday - just what the doctor should have ordered instead of berating you for being 38!

mulberry said...

just discovered your blog, and am excited to join you and nadia on your journey... my gal and i have spent time in iui land and are about to embark on the ivf ride... your blog and others have inspired us to start our own blog... will be awhile before it is full speed ahead.

enjoy the caribbean, relaxing away from the blizzard of stress sounds like a great idea!

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you both got to get away! I'm a bit jealous . . .

I wish I could have been there to slap that doctor myself, but I'm glad that you have a plan in place (and insurance coverage to boot)!

Anonymous said...

You sound so well. I'm glad to hear about the wonderful plans and the utter bliss in your voice. Wish I could bottle that. And the Caribbean breeze. ox

None said...

Ah, the Caribbean. So glad you and Nadia are unrecognizable to yourselves.

Dr. Feelgood is annoying. For the record, my R.E. was ready to throw me to IVF after 3-4 failed IUIs. And I was under 35. The aggression can be jarring at times.

But if you're game and it's covered, then go for it. I almost converted the IUI cycle that gave me Jo to an IVF cycle. The fact that you make eggs IS a good sign indeed.

Hugs.

Pufferfish said...

Don't despair. I'm 38 (almost 39) and my RE's office is always saying "oh you're so young!".
If you're still making eggs it's A-OK.
We have IVF insurance too and will be moving on to IVF after 6 failed IUI's....

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!!

Lizzie said...

Damn doc. Goddamn age. Enjoy the rabbit hole (Caribbean). xo

..Soo.See.. said...

My grandma had 14 kids, and hubby's had abt the same!

Glad the insurance accepted you and it covers IVF, lucky girl for that.

For now, keep enjoying your sun and sand! G'luck!!!