Maybe Baby: unexpected obstacles

October 25, 2010

This is the continuation of Makala Pollard’s series documenting a journey through the ups and downs of infertility and trying to conceive. Follow her story through journal entries beginning last year and leading up to today. See previous entries: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

Wow, what a Monday. We went in this morning for our evaluation and consultation at the clinic. I will say that reviewing the records was very easy since not much had changed since the last time we were there. I was definitely in a different frame of mind this time -- more relaxed about the whole thing and felt like I knew what to expect. Well, as usual that wasn’t the case!

We went in for the ultrasound so see how my uterus looked along with my ovaries. I will say one of the first differences I noted this time when speaking to the doctor is the “well, now that you are 35 . . .” speech. That’s a big deal when it comes to having a baby, the dreaded “age 35.” Makes you feel like your ovaries might spontaneously combust at the age or something. Anyway, before the ultrasound she mentioned that since I was 35 now she wanted to do some hormone testing. No big deal, just a couple more tubes of blood. She said it would help her evaluate my “egg reserve” and also help her determine my course of treatment. So she starts the ultrasound and I can see by the look on her face and her reaction of “oh, dear” that something isn’t quite right. Dang it, I was prepared this time around! Why do I get yet another surprise!? She points out that I have a large fibroid, about the size of a golf ball, in my uterus. She then reminded me that the last time I had been in which was going on two years ago the fibroid was there but half the size. This one measured a little over 3 cm. 

She checked my right ovary and saw a couple of follicles, which is a good thing. Then she cruised over to the left ovary and there was a pretty good sized cyst that was also there the last time I was in and it had also gotten bigger.

Hmm. No wonder I haven’t been able to get pregnant, I have a big fibroid growing where a baby should be! So, now what? 

Next step was for Brett to give them a sample so they could analyze his sperm count. His results came back stellar: 65.2,  which is great after a vasectomy reversal. 

We talked with the doctor and I of course have to have an outpatient surgery to get the fibroid removed and also the cyst. She also told me that after doing this if I did get pregnant they would automatically have to do a C-section for safety reasons. I was aware of that since I had a friend who had the same procedure, so no big deal.

So now we get to sit down and figure out the finances of surgery to see if it would be better to do it now or after the first of the year. Next stop: pre-op! 

Until next time.

Makala Pollard is a Senior Marketing Specialist for Texas Health Resources and Stepmom to two boys.