The countdown begins

I ovulated yesterday (September 17th.) So, 14-16 days from now, my spotting will start and I'll call the specialist to schedule my surgery. Eek! :D

A specialist, an insurance agent and a scarred uterus walk into a bar...

Yah. Don't we wish this was a funny joke. :D

I talked to my specialist a week ago and I have three words: I love him. He is awesome. I can't say enough good things about my first impression of him. He made me feel right at ease. Anyway, onto the medical stuff.

He starts the conversation out by telling me about the pathology report from my D&C. Not such good news. It seems as though some muscle was found. "Some" being the key word. He emphasized the fact that the report didn't say "a lot" or "substantial" just "some." What this means is that wherever that muscle came from in my uterus is now bald. Endometrium will never grow in that area. In his words "There is no such thing as Rogain for the uterus." (See why I love him?) He then began to tell me about when I get pregnant how things will be different.

If the placenta chooses to implant near the bald spot, I will more than likely develop placenta accreta (where the placenta embeds itself into the uterine wall, which I highly suspect is what happened with Savannah's placenta) and will have to have 3 and 4D ultrasounds to keep an eye on the placenta.

This also means that I will have a higher chance of hemorrhaging again. That being said, he suggests that I be induced so that we can be sure that there are plenty of medical personnel on hand at the hospital I am delivering at. I could also have a c-section. Blech to both of these options, but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do. Of course, my dear (and most intelligent) friend Natalie mentioned researching hospitals to find some that have a full staff 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Then I could forgo both options.

Next, we moved on to my endometrium. He had thought that he had read that at my last ultrasound, that I'd had a 13mm endo which is really good, given that an 8mm is all that's needed for an embryo to implant. I had recalled though, that the tech had said 3.7mm. He did have my files in front of him, but he couldn't find either of those numbers. I'm thinking he had my endo number mixed up with someone else's. He has a lot of patients like me (did I mention women fly from out of country just so he can do their surgeries? Oh, and that I love him?) so it is highly possible. We just moved on from there.

We talked for quite awhile about my delivery and the such. I then got right to the point and said, "So, when can you do my surgery?" I am supposed to call his office on the first day of my cycle (when my spotting starts) and they will schedule my surgery for 7-9 days after. So, that's only about 3-4 weeks away since I should be ovulating any day now (if not last night) and then 14-16 days after that, my spotting starts. I'm excited, but nervous all the same.

As for insurance. *sigh* The office manager at my ob office called and said that my primary insurance will not put a referral through for the specialist. They will deny the request. Which leaves me with my secondary insurance. I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with it, but it looks like I may need to. I still have hope that the specialist office will be able to get something worked out without me having to step in. I seriously had a headache the size of Alaska the other day just thinking about it.

I am prepared though. I have all the letters written and the such, so that if it comes down to it, I can send it all in and say, "You HAVE to pay." I have faith that the financial side will be taken care of. My current ob is writing a referral for me anyway and addressing it to the secondary insurance saying that I need a specialist for this surgery. I'm hoping that helps a lot.

So, that's it for now. As always, I'll keep you update.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Keep 'em coming!

Just a little update

I got a call from my ob yesterday. He said he got the report about the failed HSG. We agreed that it probably means that my cervix is scarred shut (well, there must be a little hole since I spot, but it could just be a pin-prick.) Anyway, he asked me about the specialist I want to see. I asked if he could refer me and he made it sound like he is going to. He wants me to talk to the specialist first and then have the specialist call him. So. The ball is rolling, even if it's really slow. I have a 12:30 phone appointment with the specialist tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

HSG - Unsuccessful...

Unfortunately, the HSG today was unsuccessful. The doctor that was performing the procedure was unable to get the catheter into my uterus because of an "obstruction" in my cervix. This probably means that there is scar tissue covering my cervix. The procedure was very painful, but the part that hurt the worst was the not knowing. I cried in the bathroom because I was pretty devastated that there is scar tissue that low. I'm also at a loss as what to do.

I've sent an email to the specialist telling him about today's events, and I'm hoping he'll get back to me pretty quickly (he usually does.) I really didn't want to have to go back to my ob, but that is probably what I have to do. Hopefully he's not such an idiot that he doesn't take this as a clear sign that I have Asherman's. I pray that he understands what is going on and refers me to the specialist as soon as possible.

So, keep those prayers coming. I still have hope that this will all work out.

Friday is the day...

I go Friday morning to have the HSG (hysterosalpingogram) done. That's the test where they shoot dye into your uterus and then xray it to see how much scarring there is and if it is blocking the tubes. I'll have the films sent to the specialist and I'm hoping that they'll give me a set to bring to my current ob. So. I'll update you all with what I find out on Friday because I WILL be asking the tech questions. I saw what a normal xray should look like so I'm hoping I'll be able to make heads or tails of the films if/when I get them. My appointment is at 10am so if you could say a prayer, I'd appreciate it.

Much love,

Tami

The things they say

I really need to start writing down the cute things that Savannah says. This is definitely a scrapbook page.

We were driving in the car yesterday talking about birthdays. I said that Daddy's birthday was next. The conversation went like this:

"So, should we go out to dinner for Daddy's birthday?"

"Sure," she says.

"Where should we go?"

"I don't know, Mommy."

"Well," I say, "Where is your favorite place to eat?"

She replies matter-of-factly, "The table."

*snort* What a goof...

My new ob...

I went and saw the in-network ob/gyn yesterday. I don't have much confidence in him at all. Luckily, he won't be the one treating me for Asherman's.

First, he was stuck on the fact that I nursed Savannah for so long. He mentioned that I still had milk in my breasts so that could affect my hormones. This is after I already told him that my prolactin levels were normal. Having milk in still in my breasts is not uncommon at all. There are women that haven't nursed for YEARS and they still have milk. Duh!

Then, after the exam, I went to talk to him in his office. He is requesting an HSG, but mostly because I told him to. He then proceeded to tell me to go ahead and continue trying to get pregnant. Are you kidding me? If I do have Asherman's, which there is a 99.9% chance that I do, I should not be getting pregnant. From Ashermans.org: "You would be at a higher risk of miscarriage, placenta previa, placenta increta, bleeding during pregnancy and stillbirth. It is recommended that women with Asherman's NOT attempt pregnancy until they have had their scar tissue removed. This is why it is advisable to use birth control until you and your doctor are confident you are scar-free."

I emailed the specialist to tell him that I did request my records be sent to him, so he should receive them within that next few weeks. I then told him that I'm hoping that this new doctor refers me straight to him as soon as the Asherman's is confirmed. He said that he'll call the doctor to try to "smooth over the transition process." I have been blessed!

Anyway. I'm sort of in limbo for the next few weeks since I can't even get the HSG for at least another 3. Once that gets done, assuming the radiologist does a good job with it, and the Asherman's is confirmed, I will go see the specialist. I'm praying (yes, praying. That's a post in and of itself) that this all happens pretty quickly after that and I will be pregnant by my birthday in February. I couldn't think of a better birthday present... :D