Harps, Angels, and Yoda, M.D.
Okay, so Nadia and I have a had seen at least three doctors together in the two weeks. I think that we both missed our callings and that at least one of us should have been in a medical professional. We’ve gotten so good at seeing doctors because of the whole TTC thing, and now with Nadia’s cancer diagnosis it’s gotten to the point where we are telling the nurses and doctors what do to. Oh, well.
Last week we went to see the second of two surgeons who specialize in the treatment of thyroid cancer. This guy, Dr. Yes We Can, even told us that she may not have to have radiation after the surgery, depending on the pathology. This was definitely more than we hoped for. I mean, who wants to become radioactive if they don’t have to?
We scheduled her surgery for Thanksgiving week. She will only have to stay in the hospital overnight. Whew! He also reiterated what the first doctor said–she should make a complete recovery because the cancer was found at such an early stage. We are thrilled. He said that she could return to work whenever she felt ready, but I am hoping that she takes at least two weeks off. If nothing else, this will give us something more to fight about during our downtime… there is never a dull moment at our house.
As for the TTC, Nadia and I met a new RE this week. Originally, after my failed IVF, I was planning to interview several doctors, to get a sense of my options, but after I learned of Nadia’s diagnosis, I canceled some of those appointments, and just kept the one with the guy who was the most highly recommended. So this week we met Him, the doctor that I have been hearing about since I started my TTC journey.
So did he live up to the hype? Does anyone ever live up to the hype?
Well, before I answer that question, let me tell you about the medical facility. It is the most beautiful, pristine medical facility I have ever seen, and I’m sorry to say that I have seen quite a few in my lifetime. When I entered the building my eyes were drawn to a waterfall and I immediately felt soothed.
When I reached the reproductive endocrinology floor, I thought I heard harps playing in the background. It was very surreal. Everyone was so nice and everything was so organized. While waiting to see the doctor, I totally understood why everyone raved about the place. And I need to add that we only waited about 20 minutes, which included filling out the requisite paper work. At my former RE’s shop, we would wait at least an hour to see him– not including the paper work–even when we had an appointment.
Anyway, when we finally sat down to meet him, Dr. Yoda, he was very pleasant and quiet. I didn’t hear any bells or whistels going off during the consult, but I also didn’t hear him say, my old RE’s refrain, “Well, you are 38 and your eggs are old so…well, what can I say?” This guy was more optimistic and suggested some new approaches including estrogen priming and autologous endometrial co-culture (say that 10x fast!). Estrogen priming involves wearing an estrogen patch the cycle before you start to help with the upcoming protocol. I think it is sometimes used to help (ahem) older women with their egg production. The endometrial co-culture thingy involves growing a patient’s embryos on a layer of her own uterine line, which helps unexplained IVF failures and poor embryo quality in a previous IVF cycle, so this seems like something that would definitely help me–the one only produced one 5-cell embryo her last cycle, but I digress!
Anway, he definitely gave me hope and even Nadia was hopeful and kinda into it. I told him about my insurance nightmare (well, not the whole long boring story but the abbreviated kind, the kind you tell during a 15-minute consultation) and the fact that I needed to do two more natural cycle IUIs so that those bastards at my insurance company would finally pay for the IVF. In response, he suggested that I start right away and do an IUI this weekend.
Huh?
When he said that, I looked at Nadia and told him that she had thyroid cancer, which meant that we were putting all of our energy into her healing process, that the TTC was off for now, and before I could say any thing more, Nadia looked at me like I was crazy and said, “you should totally do it this weekend.”
Huh?
So I cleared my throat and told that doctor that we had to discuss it. But since we left his office, Nadia has been pushing me to do the IUI this weekend. Finally last night, I said, “why do you want me to do this now given everything we are dealing with?” And she said, “well, the sooner you do the IUI’s the sooner you can do IVF.”
Huh?
I have to admit that I don’t understand her. Sometimes I swear she just contradicts herself just to keep me on my toes. I thought she wanted me to table the TTC so we coud focus on her cancer, upcoming surgery, and healing, but I guess I was wrong–again. She said to me, “just because I want to be a priority (when was she not a priority?) doesn’t mean everything has to stop.
Huh?
I love her to pieces, contradictions and all. She is my infuriating angel, sent from heaven just to drive me batty. I do love her and the fact that she wants me to do an IUI this weekend. I have to admit that am a bit weary of jumping on the ttc hampster wheel so soon after my failed IVF, but the truth of the matter is that this IUI should be pretty low stres–it’s a natural cycle afterall, this is the equivalent of a straight woman going bear back with her husband, except there are about 10 more people involved, including nurses, embryologists and doctors, and lots of cold sterilized instruments, but you know what I mean. This IUI will give me an opportunity to learn more about this new doctor and new facility.
So it looks like I will be doing an IUI this weekend. And it all starts tomorrow morning with a 7 AM appointment for an ultrasound.
wow… it might be that nadia would like a little distraction herself. not to the point that you are so absorbed in the ttc cyclone that she didn’t feel you could be solid for her in the cancer decision process, but now that that process is well under way, she might just really want a little distraction from that surgery is coming… i say that so long as you are ready emotionally to enter a two week wait and all that comes with it… go for it!
1I’d love to know who you saw–my RE is suggesting estrogen priming for the next IVF. I’ve read about it and it certainly does up the chances.
2As for Nadia and the IUI, if she says it’s fine, well, maybe she just changed her mind. I say go for it!
Woo hooo! Maybe she wants you to do it because obsessing over ttc is a little more fun than obsessing over cancer. Maybe the hope delivered by her doctors can be multiplied by the hope of an IUI. You know, I know the lottery is a poor man’s tax, but I play it once in a while just to enjoy the hope. You can think of it as a (rather expensive) lottery ticket. You never know.
Plus, a ttc cycle with not a lot riding on it can be fun. Nadia is a smart cookie. Give her a kiss for me.
3We did an at-home insem cycle with frozen sperm a couple months before I conceived Flipper. We knew it was the longest of long shots, but it was just a chance to take a break from the meds and the zillions of appointments and well… see what happens. It didn’t work. But…
Maybe doing a natural cycle will be almost a nice break for you. And who knows? Every time you shoot sperm up there, there’s a chance it will work. Or at least, so my health teacher claimed.
4And oh, I totally wanted to say “Go you” for getting a second (or was it a third?) opinion on Nadia. I am glad that everyone agrees the prognosis is excellent!!!
5Yay for Nadia!! and yay for the IUI!
6Please email me the name of this RE, if you don’t mind.
awww shock!! you gotta love that Nadia!!
7Sounds like a good plan. Thinking of the IUIs as a way to get to know the RE and the clinic is great. I also think it’s probably a good distraction from the cancer to be doing this at the same time.
And YAY for possibly no radiation!
8isn’t it sick that I am kind of jelous that you get to do an IUI this weekend? I can, uh, bareback, with my husband in a couple of weeks, but taht has been consigned to the category of fun and intimate, not reproductive! Isn’t taht funny, how all this stuff get’s split off.
Enjoy your interlude with the catheter!
9wonders never cease to amaze, do they? i’m happy that you had this unexpected GOOD news. i will be keeping you in my best thoughts.
10wow! i’m happy you found a new doctor with whom you click, and i’m sending you the best vibes for this weekend.
11Wow! What a roller coaster ride of emotions. Nadia rocks! Good luck. xo
12This is all such great news which is giving off some very welcome feel-good vibes. I agree with the others – it seems like Nadia needs the distraction herself. I am THRILLED to hear that she may not even need radiation, and also thrilled to know that she wants to keep moving the ttc wheel forward. I really do think that’s a healthy approach on her part. Frank has a “mind over matter” mentality and never stopped or even paused the rest of his life because of his MS. He insists it’s what’s kept him healthy and generally exacerbation-free all these years, and I think he might have something to that. I love how you said that she was your “infuriating angel” – I think Frank might say the same about me.
Nothing but love for you, my friend.
13I am so thrilled to hear that the meetng went so well and that your new doc is so optimistic. I think working with good, smart, kind people makes a huge difference in this process. I am excited about your IUI this weekend– I hope all went well.
14Yay for Nadia! Yay for maybe no radiation! Yay for new doc! Yay for IUI! Yay for infuriating angels!
15Let’s fight back on Proposition 8. Let’s boycott California wines, produce and travel. Let’s publicize it. Let’s embarrass them. It worked a few years ago in Colorado. What do say?
PS best wishes
16Hey Eva,
17Where are you hiding?