Hey PCOSters

[Annette]

What is the pain like when you get a cyst? Does it feel like ovulation-type pains but worse?

Our holidays were pretty quiet, just family visits and such. I am still so drained from our ivf cycle, I just don't feel "normal" yet.

[cachcoco]

I am sorry I cant even imagine what it was like to go through all of that....

it is sharp achy pain. It hurts to move and has a lot of pressure. My cycle is coming around and af is due by the end of the week so the pain is returning and I am once again on pain meds. Saw the surgeon today and he wants to see what the gyn says. If the gyn does another lap then he will also go in at the same time to remove scar tissue. So it looks like another double surgery! We will see on the 13th when I see my gyn.

I hope you feel normal soon. I know after my iui I just felt defeated. And angry.

[Annette]

I'm surprised there aren't more girls in this forum! We can't be the only two with PCOS issues

Next week looks like a big week for both of us, you're going to the gyn on the 13th and I'm going to the RE on the 14th. How long do you think you will have to wait for the surgery once your gyn decides what will be necessary? Like do you have to wait for insurance approvals or anything like that? I had a LEEP once and it took 2 months for insurance approvals! I hope they are able to take you in soon and that this is the last painful cycle you will have for a long time.

Did your doctor say that additional rounds of IUI would not work for you?

[cachcoco]

I am suprised as well!

The last time I had an appiontment on tuesday and had surgery on thursday so I dont think it will take long at all. Thanks! I hope it is the last painful cycle as well. I just hope he doesnt want to take out my uterus while he is in there.

I have had like seven rounds of iui. I dont think that doing more will work. I have been reading that at my age ivf is the perfered method. We will see.
Today has been a tough day. Lots of pain and they knowledge that it will get worse over the next few days. I just feel beat up sometimes.
School starts on monday and I have to figure out how I am going to deal with this pain and go to school! Sorry for venting on you!
How are you feeling?

[Annette]

Oh I see, I thought you had only done 1 IUI. I got cut off after 2 clomid-only and 2 clomid/IUI.

What class(es) are you taking?

Do you mind if I ask you about what it was like when you adopted your son? What was the adoption process like and how much did it cost?

I hope you are able weather the pain this cycle, you're in my thoughts Will the doctor have to ok it with you before taking your uterus? They can't just take it out without you knowing first, right?

[cachcoco]

I am a nursing major. This semester I am taking microbiology, math and some other prerequisits.
I dont mind at all that you ask about the adoption! We didnt pay anything at all. We adopted Corbin from the state of CT. He was a foster child. He is disabled and they couldnt find him a home. We knew the second we got him that we were going to adopt him. The process was rather painless. Just a lot of paperwork. I always highly recommend going through the foster system, so many children need homes. They are not all diabled and thay are not all older children. We plan on doing it again someday, just dont know when. I think we need a bigger place! lol.
May I ask what state you live in?

So far I am ok. Still taking pain meds though and it hurts to move around. They cant take it out without my permission but I have resigned myself to the fact if they tell me I should then I will.
I had spotting two days ago that was bright red (sorry tmi) then nothing. Today I had a little brownish cm. I am not due for my cycle to start until this weekend. So I dont know exactly whats going on. I am sure it has something to do with all the pain!
How are you feeling? Any better?

[Annette]

Oh wow that's awesome that you are a nursing major! I really really wanted to do a nursing program but after 2 Master's degrees I'm tapped out on federal financial aid. I really like going to school, I would do it my whole life if it didn't cost anything!

Ok that's really cool that it didn't cost you anything for your adoption. Were you then foster parents first and then adoptive parents? I live in California, I will have to check what kinds of programs we have out here. CA tends to not give many breaks for anything unless you're super low income. I have always been "not ready" to think about adopting, but the past few days I have been thinking about it more. As I was telling one of my friends, I suppose it's a natural progression through the infertility journey. Still not ready to give up on trying to have a biological child, but am now more open to the idea of adoption. I was freaking out yesterday though because I saw some adoption agencies charging $12k-30k!! When I saw that I got really sad thinking that not even adoption would be an option for us. Now that I know there are free options out there I feel a little more at ease.

Are you open to using a surrogate if they have to take out your uterus? Some scholarships allow surrogate situations. I really hope they leave your uterus in though.

That's weird about the spotting. Do you think you might start early? I think I read somewhere that either PCOS or endo can cause irregular bleeding, I can't remember which one.

Apparently I am up and down with emotions. I thought I was doing good and then last night I had a bad emotional relapse and felt like my heart was broken. That kind of intense emotional pain. And I was feeling a lot of guilt too last night, like I was given this incredible scholarship gift and somehow it was my fault that it went down the drain. I'm trying really hard not to blame myself but I keep feeling like there was something I could have done better.

Here's to hoping that next week is better for both of us!

[cachcoco]

Not only did we not pay but we get an adoption subsidy every month til he is 18, his college is paid for and they pay for insurance till he is 21. We did foster him first but you can be specific about wanting a child that is legally available for adoption. It was a great experience for us!

I am so sorry you are having a hard time. It isnt your fault, just keep telling yourself that!

I dont think we would use a serogate. That is way to extream plus I dont know anyone around here that would do it for me. Back home they are all lined up to do it for me...Lol! But out here its just us!

[Annette]

Wow, that is so cool that they help you take care of his needs. I was looking at the CT website (I think it was the right one, their program looks really good) and a website for CA and it looks like CA offers similar things. So at least I can look into that later on if needed. You have really lifted my spirits with this information, thank you so much, at least now I know I have one option if nothing else.

Are you originally from CT or somewhere else? Wyoming seems so far from CT. And for sure a different pace of life too I would imagine!

[cachcoco]

I am so glad I made you feel better!!! I have to say there is nothing that feels quite as good as adopting a child that had no family!

I was born in MA but have lived in CT most of my life. We moved out here to get to know my husbands family. It was a huge disappointment though and I am counting the days til we can return to CT. We have considered moving to Seattle area as well. We are vegetarians and live smack in the middle of cattle ranch country! We live an hour from a Walmart! We are also PETA members and this is a must hate PETA state!!! Lol!
It is beautiful here esp in the winter but right now it is -30 degrees out!!!
Have you always lived in CA?

[Annette]

Wow that really stinks that you went all they way out to Wyoming and it wasn't what you expected. I can't imagine being vegetarian in a meat-loving state! Personally I do eat meat but very little of it. Are you dairy/egg-free as well? I have watched documentaries that PETA has done and I admire the work that they do to help animals in need.

I have always lived in California. I love it here, I really can't imagine living anywhere else. Except for the traffic and over-building, those are things I could do without!

[cachcoco]

It does but the kids are doing greeat and we are able to go to college due to the low living expenses.
We do eat some dairy and eat farm eggs. We tried to be vegan but it was just too hard for the kids and the hubby! lol!
I agree PETA has some very good causes. I dont agree with everything they do, they can be a bit over the top!
I have always wanted to go to CA!!!! Someday I would like to take a trip to see the pacific Ocean! Plus, I hear you have great places to eat there that are veggie!!!
My cycle is here in full force and I have been on the couch in pain all day hopped up on pain meds. I hope tomorrow is better!
ANy plans for the weekend?

[Annette]

How much longer do you have in nursing school?

I think you would like CA, there are a lot of veggie places around here! And even the "meat places" have veggie options. I'm not sure how it is in other states but we seem to have a lot to offer to vegetarians In Berkeley and San Francisco especially. The ocean is pretty cold up north here in the Bay Area, but if you go down the coast a ways it is really beautiful and not as cold. If you do come out this way, check out Santa Cruz. There is a Beach Boardwalk there that I bet the kids would love, I would compare it to maybe Coney Island? (I've never been to Coney Island but pictures I have seen look similar to the Boardwalk), and Santa Cruz is also veggie-friendly.

No plans for the weekend really, just puttering around the house!

You poor thing, stuck on the couch in pain. I really hope your gyn has good news for you this coming week. Hang in there, big hugs

[cachcoco]

I have 2 years left for school!
I was thinking maybe over spring break we might take a road trip to CA. I need to do something fun! Thanks for the info!
We have a swim meet for my oldest tomorrow but after that nothing going on here either!
Thanks for the hugs!

[Annette]

Oh wow, a road trip would be so cool, I bet the scenery would be beautiful in the spring. This spring break we are very lucky to get to go to Puerto Rico. My mom is a teacher and is taking a group of students there on a trip and my husband and I have been asked to be chaperones so we get to go for free. My husband has family there so it will be very nice to see them, I have never met his dad or his other family members out there.

I was on swim team for a few years, I wish I would have stuck with it longer. What is his best stroke?