Wednesday, March 13, 2013

And NOW My Ovary is the Size of a Grapefruit...

Here's another fertility update. WARNING: Contains girly info and a kind of awkward picture...

So I finished my second round of Follistim. I had 5 mature eggs and Troy and I decided to go ahead with the insemination this round. My whole cycle went PERFECTLY. No weird spotting or random problems like last time.

So now we are in the "waiting" time frame of my cycle. Where we have done everything and are just waiting for the pregnancy test day. LONGEST DAYS EVER.

As a new development, I now have developed Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. Basically, during fertility cycles, especially ones where gonadotropins (like Follistim) are used, there is a 10% chance of the ovaries going a little bonkers. I am one of those 10%. As a result, I am in excruciating pain when I bend, sit, lift, stand, move suddenly, or pretty much do anything.

Here comes the awkward picture of my stomach. I'm laying down, so you can see how big my ovary is when gravity is actually holding it inside my body. It's HUUUUGE.



I talked to my doctor about it and I am now on a high sodium/limited water diet. One of the scary things about OHSS, is that if you intake too much water, your ovaries hold onto it and you can gain 2+ pounds per day. As a result, I literally look about 4-5 months pregnant right now. Isn't that just a cruel joke?

As a bonus, I am already a desert creature and don't require much water, AND my doctor was like, "eat as many potato chips, french fries and, and gatorade as you want, but almost NO water." So pretty, much I get to eat like a 13 yo old boy. Which lets be honest, is AWESOME. I mean, it's practically prescribed to eat unhealthy!

So I just want the swelling of my ovary to go down. As much as I love yoga pants and scrubs...sometimes I just don't want to wear pajamas. I also feel disgusting. As much as a high sodium diet appeals to me, it also is making me swell all over. The sodium is supposed to draw the fluid out of my ovaries and into my blood stream where my kidneys can filter it out.

YAY DRUG SIDE EFFECTS!

please please please please please God let me be pregnant this time so that I don't feel like I went through all this for nothing. pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

3 comments:

  1. Wow Natalie...just wow! You are a rockstar for going through all this. Keeping positive thoughts for you getting pregnant! Good luck :)

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    Replies
    1. Trying to stay positive and know God is in control :)

      Also, can I say that your instagram pictures make me want to hire you as a personal chef?

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  2. Hahah, thanks! But I think my boyfriend is the one you'd like to hire :) I'm just the photographer ;)

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Thanks for reading!