12 December 2018

Phillips Medical Update



In my post titled Phillips News & Summer Highlights, I wrote a little about how we were starting to work with the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha.  It has been a long process, but this last weekend we were flooded with several more pieces to the puzzle of our wait for a child and my personal health.  We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many of you all in providing encouragement, prayer, meals, hugs, financial gifts, and understanding as we’ve walked through this step in the journey.  Your support has helped us to endure and to just keep doing the next thing.  We are so grateful God has placed such a wonderful network of loving people in our lives, and we wanted to update you with the new information we’ve been given and with some of our next steps.  Disclaimer: I don’t really filter much.  Read at your own risk.      

I’ve known for a while that something was off, which was why I was so unsettled with the idea of trying IUI.  My doctor said that infertility is the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong – that having a baby is not a good idea until the underlying issues are addressed.  We now know that I have plenty of underlying issues.  On Friday, I had a diagnostic laparoscopy along with several other tests that were performed while I was under anesthesia.  On Monday, we met with my doctor to watch the video of the surgery (bizarre!) and discuss the findings along with my previously known issues and the  bloodwork results from the thorough hormone evaluation I had done back in August.  During the surgery, they also took some cultures and biopsies, but we won’t have the results from those for a few weeks.  With the information we have right now, here are the presenting issues:

Hypothyroidism

I was diagnosed with this back in 2016, but I still experience many symptoms of thyroid problems.  My current doctor added a slow release T3 medication to my current medication and is still working to determine the optimal dosage for that. 

Endometriosis

During my surgery, they found extensive endometriosis along with some adhesions (scar tissue). 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

The ultrasound before my surgery revealed some ovarian cysts.  Although I am missing some of the classic symptoms and signs of PCOS (such as being overweight, having way too many days between periods, etc.), I do have enough indicators (such as enlarged ovaries, elevated levels of certain hormones, acne, etc.) that my doctor believes I have this condition as well.

Low Progesterone

My hormone evaluation indicated that, as my doctor put it, my “progesterone stinks.”  The levels are far too low, which puts me at risk for things like infertility, preeclampsia, and miscarriage.   

Cervical Inflammation

They said they saw signs of inflammation in my cervix during the surgery, but the results from the cultures will tell us more.      

Miscellaneous

I have a small cyst on one of my fallopian tubes, and I also have an extra little useless fallopian tube attached to a main tube (what in the world?!).  It isn’t really hurting anything at this point, but it’s not helping either. 



People have been asking how I am with all of this.  I am a little overwhelmed at finding out just how much is going on in my body, but I am also not overly surprised.  I am relieved to know that I am not just a wimp and that issues I’ve faced aren’t just all in my head.   I am glad to finally have some more concrete answers as to why I haven’t been able to get pregnant  in the past (nearly) four years.  I am frustrated that it has taken this long to get a diagnosis for so many major issues.  I am thankful for a husband who is completely supportive, caring, and sweet.  I am anxious and hopeful for the next steps, which presently include the following:



Ultrasound Series

I was supposed to do this during the same trip as the diagnostic laparoscopy, but my body didn’t cooperate, and it was going to run into Christmas.  The scheduling for this is very dependent on where I am at in my cycle, so it makes it hard to plan for it in advance.  It will help the doctor to see what is going on through the ovulation process.   They want this to be done at their facility in Omaha as well.    

Second Surgery

If the issues had been minor, my doctor would have corrected them during my laparoscopy.  However, because the problems are so varied and so extensive, I need to have another surgery.  It will still be minimally invasive (five incisions), but it will take about eight hours, including the time to stitch everything up to prevent scar tissue.  I will likely have to stay in the hospital at least one night and stay in Omaha for several days.  The recovery time will also be longer.

Bloodwork

I have to have a blood test for insulin resistance because insulin resistance is often associated with PCOS.  I also need to have my prolactin levels re-tested.  They were elevated when I tested back in August, but a repeat test is required to make sure it wasn’t circumstantial.      

Hormone Treatment

My doctor will start me on some form of progesterone, but probably not until after the second surgery.  She said the injections would be the most effective but that we can discuss other options (I am not too keen on needles).



We appreciate your continued prayers as we navigate the difficult scheduling, financial preparation, trip planning, and emotional craziness that comes with all of this!   

Pre-Op
   

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