I wait.

Last Tuesday, I went back to the RE for some additional bloodwork and for Ben's Semen Analysis (SA). For my part, they did a 7 DPO progesterone check and a 4-hour Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT). Before leaving that day, they told me that my progesterone was at 17.73 which indicates I ovulated and is an acceptable level for an unmedicated cycle. Later that day, a nurse called and confirmed all of that but said my insulin test and Ben's SA take a little longer and that Dr. Doody would need to review all the information before she could tell me anything about those. She did say, though, that looking over Ben's numbers, things seemed to be fine there.

And so, I wait. Since Dr. Doody does surgery on Fridays and Mondays, I really don't expect to hear from them until tomorrow at the very earliest. I'm so anxious to hear the results; but for now, I sit in anticipation.

I went to the RE.

First, I want to clear something up. Right after I posted my last blog update, I heard from my OB/GYN's office, and they were very nice and made things clearer for me. I still wish they had more detailed info on their online test results page, but I guess knowing things are normal is better than being totally in the dark. Anyway, on to other things...

Yesterday, I went to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) for my fertility issues. I had a nice chat with the doctor, gave 3 viles of blood, had an ultra sound and scheduled several additional tests and laparoscopic surgery for my endometriosis.

The doctor was really nice and told me there could be a number of issues making it difficult to conceive, but we will figure out the problem together. He told me this is a team process, and I was the boss. Some of the issues he suspected were endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance and my age. He was very encouraging, and I feel confident he will help resolve the issues I'm having.

I was really nervous about the ultra sound, but it really wasn't that bad. The nurse practitioner told me that my ovaries look characteristic of what they see in polycystic ovaries and that matches up with some of my other symptoms. So, when some of my hormone levels come back, I feel certain I will have an official diagnosis of PCOS. At that point, I expect I'll get to take all kinds of medicine for that. Oh joy! :)

My next appointment is next week, and they will draw more blood to check my progesterone levels since I will be 7 days past ovulation (DPO). My levels should tell them if I am ovlulating or not. I am also going to do a 4-hour long insulin resistance test. So, it looks like I will be getting to know Dr. Doody and his staff very well on Tuesday since I'll be spending half of my day there.

Until next time...

I got some test results...

First of all, let me say that when I went for my bloodwork, I am pretty sure my doctor ordered the wrong panel of tests. On the 21st day of my cycle (7 days after I ovulated), she ordered FSH, Estradiol, Thyroid-B and something else thyroid-related (maybe TSH?).  From everything I've read and heard, FSH should be tested on CD3 - not 7 DPO. The lab tech said this is the series of tests we always run when we put someone on Clomid. Clomid? No one mentioned she was putting me on Clomid. My doctor said these tests will tell us if I'm ovulating, and for that, you need to check progesterone 7 days after you supposedly ovulated. Um, hello?

When I called the nurse to see if it was a mistake to order this bloodwork, she said that this is what my doctor ordered. I'm suddenly not so confident in my doctor, but I have an appointment with an RE in a couple of weeks. So for now, we'll just leave it at that.

Yesterday, I received an email that I had test results waiting on the website my OB/GYN's office uses to "communicate" test results. But I have no idea which tests were "normal." Do they mean my PAP was normal? The tiny blood sample they got by poking my finger before my annual exam? The large vile of blood they took when I came in at 7 DPO? And if so, were all those hormone levels normal? Any of them borderline? I'm so confused and frustrated.

Here's what the screen showed when I went to get my results...

Here's what showed up when I clicked to read the message...

I've called and left a message, but no one has called me back yet...surprise, surprise!