Trying to Get Pregnant

Getting Pregnant

We started trying to get pregnant about six years ago. I had been on birth control for a long time so we expected to have a wait period for all the hormones to get out of our system. Unfortunately, it took much longer then we ever expected. 

During the six years we did run into some time that we weren't together at the right times, such as required business trips, family commitments, etc. Another obstacle for us was our schedules, we worked opposite schedules and there were days we wouldn't see each other. 

After four years we decided to go for some testing, I had blood work done to make sure that everything was ok. Once that came back normal we kept up our attempts for another few months and then I went for another test called Hysterosalpingogram or HSG. The testing was again came back showing no issues. 

I want to talk a  little bit about this test because I felt blindsided by it and mislead. This test is to find out if your tubes are blocked and is a necessary part of fertility testing but I do want to warn you, this testing is extremely painful. My doctor told me it would be like some period cramping. I have very painful periods, with shooting pains down my legs and up into my back, I also get light headed, nauseous and during the really bad cramping I can even see spots in front of my eyes. So, I figured what ever, it can't be as bad as some of my periods. Well, I was very, very wrong! This was some of the worse pain I have every felt. If they tell you that it'll be like period pain know they are down playing it. 

The HSG is done in the radiology lab, you will lie down on the table with your knees in stirrups and they will insert a needle or catheter thru your cervix and insert the dye. The dye insertion is the worst part. They are pushing fluid thru your cervix into your body, which isn't naturally supposed to happen. During this excruciating pain you will have to lye still and only rotate your hips if they need to get clearer pictures. They did need me to rotate my hips to the right and the pain w/ the movement only intensified.

Once the testing is done they will give you a pad, which you will need as the dye comes out slowly over the next few hours. The doctor performing my test was pretty inconsiderate during this part, she told me that I was all set and could go to the bathroom. She handed me the pad and then kept talking to me while I had blood and dye running down my legs and onto the floor. I had to ask her if we could finish the conversation once I was dressed since I was dripping on the floor. She looked stunned and said oh yes, but when I came out it was only the nurse in the room.

Your probably thinking that the worst is over now, right? Your wrong now comes the very painful period cramps. The intense pain will last for a few hours, so it may be wise to have someone drive you to the appointment. The cramping lessened within that first day, however, over the next few days I experienced crampy, achy feelings and some pain if I moved too quickly.

I'm not trying to scare you off this test because it's important. I unlike my doctor want to give you the full picture of what happened to me, so you know what will happen and be prepared for it. As this post is so long I'll be finishing my post about getting pregnant a little later. 

Working Through It

I've taken a hard look at myself, I didn't really like what I saw. I had become complacent in my life and just went with the flow. Thankfully this was mostly contained to my personal life. I am done binge watching shows, and since my last post have kept my house, including my dishes clean. 

I realized that just getting up and moving is great progress because it motivated me toward doing more. For example: Once done loading the dishwasher I didn't want the counter next to the sink to be dirty or cluttered so I cleaned that as well. My working around the house has also motivated my husband as well, not only is he helping me but during one of his scheduled days off he started sorting through boxes and cleaning the basement. 

I understand that depression can be debilitating and many (most) need professional help to get through it, but if you have a case of the little blues (just feeling crappy not full blown depression) get up and move, exercise, go for a walk, get out of your house somehow. It will help, especially the walking or the exercising because it will release endorphin's that improve your mood. 

Now don't think I'm advocating for skipping treatment from a doctor for depression if you have it, I'm NOT. Depression is a very scary and as I said above debilitating condition and that is not what I'm discussing in this post. I'm talking about feeling down about yourself or giving into the laziness that your feeling. 

Well it's another sunny Saturday and I'm going to go enjoy my day. Good luck with getting moving. 

Procrastination

Since putting up my first post I have completely forgot about my blog and then procrastinated in putting up another post. There were a few reasons, not feeling like posting anything, not being able to write the post I wanted to about my pregnancy and getting stuck on that and then there was the binge watching of a TV show on Netflix. 

Well I do have one subject that I won't get stuck on writing about, so, I'll skip my pregnancy post for now and move on. 

Perfection, it's what we all strive for and never get. I want to be honest, so, here goes. I'm not perfect! Now that you're all done rolling your eyes, and thinking duh, I'm going to tell you why. 

My top 10  list of not being perfect right now is: 

1. I haven't weeded my garden in 4 weeks, 

2. I hate doing dishes so much that I let them pile up until there is more then one load; 

3. I haven't done any reading about pregnancy ( I know I'm pregnant and I haven't done it. Seriously read the title of this post I procrastinate.)

4. I get irrationally mad (even before pregnancy) at really slowly loading websites; 

5. I binge watch television shows to the detriment of taking care of other things in my life; 

6. I haven't exercised in almost a year; 

7. We moved into our new house at the end of March and still have TONS of boxes not unpacked; 

8. I'm six months pregnant and still haven't figured out daycare or even what type of car seat I'm going to buy; 

9. My house is never clean (because I binge watch shows)

and finally

10. I rarely follow through with ideas that I have, like writing a blog or writing a book. 

Now you may be thinking that these "flaws" are silly or not important, but to me they are and that is what makes them important. 

So, now that I've bared my flaws, remember we're human and perfection is an illusion. Those that seem to have it, usually are the ones that hide very scary flaws.