Thursday, January 14, 2016

The First One



Pre-Warning:  This is my first blog.  This is my first blog post.  I have no idea how to approach this, so please, bear with me. 

This will be my longest post (I hope).

 I honestly don't know where to begin.  So I guess, I will just jump in. 


My name is Kelsey.  I am currently 25 years old, and a student at the University of Central Oklahoma.  This blog is starting as a requirement for one of the courses I am taking called, Blogging for Journalist.  That being said some post will be in reflection of that.

The other reason, which I didn't realize until as of recent, I am writing this blog is to create awareness. 

Before I really get into it, I have to say this...
I don't want this to be a "dear diary, woe is me, feel bad for me, tragedy strikes" blog.
I do not want your pity.  There is nothing wrong with me.

This is a therapeutic outlet, because there are others.  They may not know it, but they exist.
1 in 8, actually.
 
Well, 1 in 8 couples, at least that's what Google says, so it must be true. 1 in 8 couples deal with problems of infertility. 



Technically the definition of infertility is "Not getting pregnant despite having carefully timed, unprotected sex for one year." Typically that is the way you find out, right? 



I wish I could have been so lucky.



My story is a long, dreadful, graphic one, so I will graciously spare you the details but basically:



I started cramping like crazy, and not like regular "suck-it-up-don't-be-a-wimp" cramps because I can handle those, these were the "drug-me-to-stop-the-tears-and-vomiting" cramps.


I went to three different doctors.


I had a very uncomfortable ultrasound.


I found that one of my fallopian tubes, (the passage ways from the ovary to the uterus, AKA egg dropper to the baby holder; you are welcome) from the ultrasound images, was blocked. 

So then in October 2015, we decided to do Laparoscopic Surgery (which is where they knock you out, pump you full of CO2,  put this scope thing that checks out your insides through you belly button, and two small incisions on the abdomen, so they can stick these claw-like things in your stomach to move things around).



Let's just say, we opened Pandora's Box with that.


So I found out that not just one, but both tubes are completely blocked.

I asked about reconstruction; they can't do it.

I asked about draining them; it's impossible, they are solid.


So after the semester ended in December, I went to see two specialists to find out what the hell I was going to do.  The Reproduction Specialist, and the Digestive Specialist, because I have two problems now:


1. I have completely blocked tubes.
2. They don't think that is the cause of my abdominal pain.


So over the winter break, I worked A LOT, to try and keep up with these insane medical bills, and I went to the doctors. 


At the Reproduction Specialist they said that the only way for me to have children is IVF.


IVF is In Vitro Fertilization. 


This is probably the most romantic way to have a baby.  

This is where they shoot you full of shots for months, you have this surgery where they stick this needle in your abdomen suck out an egg to a petri-dish, swish it around with homeboys sperm, wait a few days, and then stick it in the uterus aka the baby holder.  Then you have a 50% chance that will take.


By the way, its 15,000 dollars, nonrefundable, but it's totally cool, because if it doesn't take then you can freeze some of your eggs and they only cost 5,000 per egg, also, nonrefundable.


The chances go down after the age of 35, so at least I have 10 years to save up for this or decide if I even want to put myself through that. 


And of course, the other obvious ways such as foster parent, adoption, and/or marry a guy some day with a kid. 

(They obviously didn’t say the last one but, it is an option)

I will keep it short on the Digestive Specialist because it has nothing to do with my infertility, yet it is so interesting.  So in short with this doctor, I have had an Endoscopy, a colonoscopy (yes at the same time, and no, not the same scope), a CAT scan, and on Tuesday, I get to swallow the camera pill.  
Pretty excited about the camera pill because I will hopefully get some results and the pictures will go towards my collection for my Christmas card next year.

The Christmas card is an ongoing joke, but I am so serious.

So now my wonderful readers, you are up to speed.

There are ups and there are downs.  
There are beautiful parts, and there are less beautiful parts, but my goal for this blog is to shed light on what infertility really means for a young single woman who actually wanted to have children.  

So stay tuned for this roller-coaster.   

KA

2 comments:

  1. Kelsey, even though I only met you once when you visited Florida with your family. I have always been in awe with how beautiful you and your family are. You are all so driven. I am proud of you for having the courage to put something that can be so emotionally personal out there for others to understand they are not alone. I just wanted to say thank you!

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  2. LOVE YOU KELSEY! Youre always in my prayers! keep up with this blog, i am always curious about how your life is. i miss you.

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