December 12th, Friday's appt

Ok, so Friday's appointment wasnt nearly as bad as I had expected...but it definitely was as invasive as I feared. The scans they did on me (for those that ~really~ want the details) were a US Pelvis, Complete AND a Transvaginal, Non-Ob. For those of you who DID look those up, you'll notice that one is a full bladder test and the other is an empty one. This in and of itself confused me because Im used to having to make a make dash down a hallway and around a corner to get to the bathroom in the dr's office (it really would make more sense to put me in a room across the hall from a bathroom if you want a sample, really!). It didnt make sense for me to get undressed from the waist down to just pull everything back on to run to the potty and come back and undress again! Hubby tried comforting me by saying that more than likely it was just the one test (the much less invasive one).



So...Friday I get up at 730am to empty the ol bladder out as per instructions. I took in as little fluid as possible, just enough for my pills. The reason for this, is to make sure one doesnt have to go to the bathroom too soon after taking in the amount of fluid they want you to have. Now, for the ultrasound, the bladder must be full. Depending on how pregnant you are, determines the amount of fluid they want you to drink before the test. Since Im not pregnant, I had to down 32oz of water or non-caffeinated, non-carbonated beverage an hour before the test. Now, anyone who knows me properly knows that 10 oz of fluid is enough to fill that bladder up fast and that within 60 minutes I'll be headed for the loo. The more fluid you add, the faster I need to make that trip. As for 32 oz and told I cannot potty til after this test? Well it's a killer. I should point out that there was a rough section of road AS WELL AS THE TEST between me and a bathroom. So I down all 32 oz just before leaving the house and we head off for the 20 mile trip to the Imaging center. It took us 40 minutes to get there because of the traffic (did I mention the rough section of road??)

Hubby walked me in, makin sure I got to where I had to be without incident (I get lost fast) before leaving for his own appointment (stitches removal for his arm). I got my paperwork filled out and waited. I had to laugh because one of the questions was "when was your last cycle"...considering that I'd been showing signs already (3 days early!!!!) I was wondering which they wanted. The November marathon or the geyser I was sure was about to show up?? I put in November's and then put a note next to it that I was showing signs already for this month. It's good to give the technician a heads up that it could get nasty...

After seemingly forever (it was only 10 minutes but I had to pee before even walking in there so it felt like a very very long time), someone came to get me. She asked me how I was doing and I whispered very urgently that I.HAD.TO.PEE.....umm and like NOW. *laffs* She tells me that well then we wont have to wait then, will we? Ummm no. She went over a few things on my paperwork to make sure she was clear on it (especially the section on my last cycle...), then told me to hop up on the table and pull my pants down just past my pelvis. Yeah right, once I get my fat arse up there, aint nothing is gonna get pulled down! I'm just too fat for that. So I get the drawers pulled down where they need to be and position myself on the table. Im warned the gel she's gonna use is a tad warm. Told her it's a good thing because if anything cold hit me now, she'd have a mess to clean up. When she got the probe on my stomach, she was all "oh goodness, I guess you really DO have a full bladder!" Yeah, ya think? It's that big black blob right in the middle of the screen! The one thing I DID like about this place was the fact that not only did the person performing the tests have a screen to look at, but a monitor was up on the wall so I could see what was going on as well (not that I really had any interest in seeing certain parts of me quite that up close and personal, but hey...it was there for my ummm "viewing pleasure". I was told that the reason they ask you to drink alot of fluid is because they use the bladder as a "window" to see what's going on. Personally, I dont see how they could....it was just a big black blob sitting there in the middle of the screen. It made a better door than window for sure.

After she was done, I was told to go ahead and clean up and go empty that poor bladder out...take my time and try to go twice to make sure it was empty. Then...glory HALLELUJAH...there was a bathroom right there next to the room! I didnt even have to get fully dressed and walk more than 6 steps...I didnt even have to leave the ROOM!! Yay! When I was done, I was to fully disrobe from the waist down and put the paper blanket over me. *nose wrinkle*

I get back on the table as instructed and she brings this wedge out to put under my butt...placing me in a very ummm compromising (is that the word I want?) position that I certainly wouldnt be able to get out of quickly if I tried. The next item that came out was, I swear, right out of an alien abduction movie! You're gonna do what and stick it WHERE?? I swear, that probe looked like it was a foot and a half to two feet long!! All I can say is thank God they're generous with the lube. I was instructed to reach under the blanket and guide the bugger in. Excuse ME? Im fat, I have trouble reaching down there over this belly of mine (and especially now you have my hips up farther than Im used to!)...

me: You're a doctor...just do what ya gotta and get it in there.
her: Im not a doctor...
me: (extremely uncomfortable in a very vulnerable position and getting cranky) You're a medical professional then, just do whatcha gotta to....WHOA!
her: Should I take it that it's in?

NO DUH! Ya think???

Well...I got to see what my uterus looks like and an ovary from that particular POV...and everything ~looks~ to be of the proper sizing...not that I'd really know because Im not a medical professional. The right ovary was difficult to see most times because it decided to play hide and go seek around my bowel (which, unfortnately, hadnt been able to move the morning deposit yet because of my IBS which is directly affected by my stress level and since this was very stressful...). The probe was removed and I was allowed to sit up. She was going to take the read outs to the radiologist and see if they needed to take any more pictures. I cant tell you how hard I prayed (no more pix, nomore pix, nomorepixPLEASE!!), waiting on her to return. Dont get me wrong, this wasnt a painful procedure in the slightest. The probe's scary because it's long but it's narrow and they arent taking a sample like they do with a pap so there isnt any real pain...just some minor discomfort as it's pushed against some things. She returned and thank God didnt need anymore. I was told to clean up and hollar for her when I was done and she'd walk me out. My dr would get the results in about 2 days time...which means they should be there tomorrow.

I have to go in for more blood work on this Friday to see if that damn Metformin messed up my liver or not. The results last time (after just a WEEK on the drug) showed elevated levels in the liver. Considering I'd been on it for several weeks after that before the dr finally decided that my body wasnt handling it...Lord knows what damage it did. The results of that should be available to me by that evening. I have another obgyn appointment on the 23rd of this month. I hope we can figure out how to straighten this out. Like was pointed out, if you have Oligomenorrhea (I've had this problem my whole life)....it's kinda hard to tell when you're ovulating so it makes it difficult getting pregant. As I was with the lady doing the scans...I discussed cycles and how we needed to get this in order so we knew when I was dropping those eggs. She asked how old I am (I ~love~ the fact I look a good 5-10 years younger because of the startled expressions I get when I tell people that I'm pushin 40) and so I said I was 39. I got an "oh my". Yeah. All those peeps out there that look at me and say "oh hunny, you still got time"...well BS...I dont. Every cycle is a lost egg and ya only get so many. I've said, if it cant get done before I turn 40, the factory's gonna be put out of commission and removed. Im tired of the pain and mess. The previous 2 cycles were damn weird (too long and light) and this one's had me in severe pain (back and stomach to the point of curling up with a heating pad) since Friday afternoon. There are days I wish I'd had my kids already....but then the divorce would have been more difficult if I had.

Anyhow, that's where we stand right now. I will be going over the scans and blood test with the obgyn on the 23rd and we'll decide then what needs to be done to get the plumbing fixed or decide if things are just beyond repair....