Come on down! It’s
time to play PLAY MY DOCTOR!
Here is the scenario.
I ovulated this weekend and CP and I correctly timed our bedroom
activities. I have a short luteal phase
which means that I need the drug Crinone to extend my luteal phase to even have
a chance of an embryo to implant in my uterus.
The dilemma is this- in the two+ years that CP and I have been trying both
naturally and through IUIs, we have failed to become pregnant even ONCE. (I guess it’s possible that an egg did
fertilize at some point, but there was no implantation because of my luteal
phase defect, but we will never know.)
So if we have any chance of this month becoming a really happy month
(aka I finally get pregnant month), I have to use the Crinone.
HOWEVER, we already know that IVF is going to be expensive
and possibly the only way that we get pregnant.
Insurance covers NOTHING. I have
heard that the drugs are the most expensive part, and I would think that
Crinone would have to be part of my drug regime when we finally start the IVF
process. I have maybe a box and a half
of Crinone left (there are 15 sticks per box) and I would have to use one a
day. Not to mention the mess that comes
with using Crinone… I haven’t met with
our new RE just yet (Oct 1st) so I don’t feel comfortable calling
her to ask what she thinks. She probably
hasn’t even looked at my medical records yet.
So what would you do?
(tick tock tick tock) Your
options are:
1.
Take the
Crinone. You never know when it could be
your month!
2.
Don’t take the Crinone and hold onto your stash
until IVF treatment.
Blog friends- what do you think??
-----------------------------------------------------------
On another infertility note, with CP galavanting around England
and Ireland for work, my next door neighbors invited me over for a casual BBQ
with friends. It ended up being a small
gathering with my neighbors and two other couples, along with all of their kids. When everyone found out that I didn’t have
kids, I got the usual “our kids probably make you NOT want to have children. Ha ha.” UGH!
While the kids played around us in the backyard, one of the men
started talking about Iowa and doing his residency there. Turns out he is an OBGYN. Actually, to be more specific, he is an
infertility specialist. I froze when I
heard that. I was wondering where this
conversation was going to go and if I would have to excuse myself. I just shut my mouth and decided not to talk
for fear of outing myself as an infertile in front of our new neighbors and
their friends. The doctor then started talking
about the practice and I realized that it was the practice that I would be
going to in two short weeks. Luckily his
offices are not in the location that I am going to, but the doctor that I am
scheduled to see on Oct 1st shares an office location with him
downtown. I’m sure that doctors talk
about patients within the practice (hopefully not with names or addresses!) to bounce
ideas, get advice on treatment strategies, etc., but hopefully they don’t talk
that much and/or give away identifying information.
The conversation never took a weird turn and I didn’t end up
saying a word. Most likely the people
around me had never needed fertility treatments as they were all, “oh that’s
fantastic my friend X probably went to your clinic” and didn’t say anything
about having troubles getting pregnant (they all had 2 or 3 kids appropriately
spaced apart). But I would have expected
the doctor AND his wife to be a little more sensitive about what they said to
me regarding kids. They have no idea my
age, but a married couple in their mid 30s that doesn’t have kids? It wouldn’t have crossed either of their
minds that we may be trying and not succeeding?? Or why not (on account of your job) realize that you need to be more sensitive in general because who knows what my story is??
12 comments:
Hiya!!! Just a note about IVF...we are going in (literally I'm leaving in 7 minutes! ha!) for our calendar for er/et next month...a friend of mine who has a baby thanks to the same doctor we are going to told me about a program called "Compassionate care" (1-866-LETS TRY or 1800-866-538-7879) which HELPS with the cost of medicine when you are using Gonal-F and Avodral.
My friend said she saved like $3,000 going through them! I called them today and they are sending out my application so I can fill it out and send it back this week...
Just wanted to pass that information along. :) Our insurance doesn't cover ANYthing either and we actually had to basically "drain" my 401k to afford our IVF cycle. If it doesn't work, I honestly have no idea how we'll be able to afford another. :(
anyways - just wanted to say good luck and check them out!
the website is www.fertilitylifelines.com
I would go for it. You never know, and how amazing would that be? Amazing.
I'd use it. If it works, you'll save a TON of money not having to do IVF!
Oh oh! I used the Compassionate Care program and got free meds, too! Absolutely apply. I say use the crineone now and if you move to IVF opt for the injectable progesterone. It is WAY cheaper and you don't have gross undies. The shots don't hurt terribly bad, either.
I have nothing for you in terms of advice of whether or not to take the Crinone. Seems like that's a financial decision that only you and CP are best equipped to make.
On the sensitivity note ... so, I think it's a tricky thing. On the one hand, sure we should all be super sensitive about everything we say, as we never know if someone has health challenges, financial challenges, relationship challenges, etc. But, the reality is, when in a mixed group of people who don't know each other all that well, we usually gloss over the issues, even our own. And if we're not willing or able to speak up on behalf of our own situations, is it truly fair to expect everyone around us to know they need to be sensitive?
Also? Maybe the doctor was very much aware of your situation and instead of drawing attention to you by asking questions or making blatant statements directed at you or even assuming you and CP want kids at all, he was just trying to blend in to the conversation?
I'm sure it's really hard to stick with that kind of conversation without wanting to blurt out everything and/or without wanting everyone around you to know they should know better (did that make sense?), but sometimes we just need to know people have good intentions and aren't trying to make you feel worse about an already challenging situation.
I say go for it....that way you won't be thinking "what if"!
Best of luck either way!!!
I would go for it, too. What if it worked and you could avoid IVF all together? Plus, even though it's expensive, I don't know how much it would save in the scheme of things. I honestly don't know the cost is, but I'm just thinking compared to all the other costs, maybe it wouldn't make a huge difference. Good luck either way!
Oh and that is crazy about the dr!
As long as it does not require medical follow up go for it.
It is always awkward meeting new people and going into intimate and personal topics where you want to share but not sure if you can trust these new friends. One thing is if you meet the doctor in the office he is obligated to keep your medical info private and confidential.
It is your story ,you can share if you so choose.
I would likely have trouble NOT going for it. But that's just me. Hard choice.
I would go for it. Good luck!
I'd say go for too, but really, I have no idea what I'd do myself in that situation.
Also, SMALL WORLD that this guy works in the same practice. The world is itty bitty, teeny tiny sometimes.
I had to come back and read this original post about the douche bag doctor! Seriously, don't they sign something or take an oath stating they shouldn't be so stupid when talking to people? Ha!
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