If you’re here visiting from ICLW, welcome! It’s been a while since I’ve participated and it feels good to get back on the comment horse again. For those new to ICLW, it’s a great opportunity for ALI bloggers to connect with one another through comments. You can get the full scoop on how to participate over at Mel’s place.
The Quick Rundown on My Infertility Journey So Far
I’ve got a busted ovary and a seriously messed up thyroid. They collude with one another to prevent me from having my own children in a perfect storm of both premature ovarian failure and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Since 2009, I’ve been on hormone replacement therapy (birth control pills, actually) and trying to keep my thyroid as stabilized as possible.
My husband and I have been married for just over 4 years. We’re planning on pursuing IVF with donor eggs hopefully later this year. I’ve been a little tight-lipped about the exact details of where our journey is headed, but suffice it to say, the ball is moving forward.
The Part Where I Bitch About My (soon-to-be-ex) Doctor
For those of you playing along at home, my thyroid panel values are back already. I had blood labs done Monday of this week as per the 6-week follow up my doctor ordered. My TSH values have dropped from 5.29 to 3.85.
Not good.
Well, better. Okay, how can I spin this more positively without blaming myself for something that’s very much beyond my control…
Close – but no cigar.
Dr. Warmenfriendly, my RE, wants my TSH values to be as close to 1.0 as possible. This is why I like him; as someone who is very in tune to her symptomatic response to Hashi’s, I know that I’m feeling my best when my labs come back in that 1.0 range. I had a good 6-8 months where I coasted along with a TSH value of at least 1.2 and felt fantastic.
My TPO test, on the other hand, was not so good.
My anti-thyroid antibodies were pretty high: 848. To put this in perspective? A normal TPO range is 0-35. Essentially this means my body is in overdrive attacking my thyroid right now. As Dr. Warmenefriendly mentioned at our consultation a couple of weeks ago, antibodies are bad for things like implanting embryos, so I need to get them taken care of STAT.
Dr. Hipster, my PCP, is kind of clueless about my thyroid. When I emailed her today about upping my thyroid medication (which is what I do when my TSH values are high) she basically said, “No.”
Considering I spent most of 2009 battling the yo-yo of my thyroid stimulating hormone and anti-thyroid antibodies, and my then-doctor upped my dose each time… um, lady – I know what I’m talking about.
It’s time to drop Dr. Hipster like the culturally ironic meme that she is.
On top of that, after many, many phone calls with their Referral department, they ultimately refused to grant me a referral to Dr. Warmenfriendly. Even though his SART data is way better and the fact that I think it’s a total conflict of interest to refer to your own group of REs within your own doctors’ group… So now I’m headed back to Doc Awesome; I need to confirm that his practice refers out to Dr. Warmenfriendly.
What Else is New?
I’m headed to Santa Clara, California today for the BlogHer Entrepreneurs Conference. I’m so psyched to meet and network with other women business owners and leaders. I even get a full hour of one-on-one mentoring with one of several outstanding entrepreneurial trailblazers!
Bonus: After I fly in to Santa Clara today, I’m meeting two blog readers tonight and before I head home, I’m meeting two bloggers: Jjiraffe of Two Many Fish To Fry and Esperanza of Stumbling Gracefully. So excited to actually meet folks in real life. It’s one of the things I really enjoy doing when I get the chance.
Two Truths & a Lie
I thought I’d round out this post with one of my favorite icebreakers from my days in higher ed. I’ll tell you two truths and a lie… y’all have to guess the which is which in the comments! I’ll reveal what’s true and what’s embellished when I get back from California 🙂
- I sang at Carnegie Hall with an actress who stars in the upcoming Dark Knight Rises whose name I refuse to type.
- I have eaten brains from two animals: cow (sweetbreads – twice) and pigeon (squab).
- I have a thing for James May of Top Gear fame. Because yes, I have a thing for cars. Fast cars.
Good luck guessing in the comments and I’ll see y’all from sunny California this week!
Oh wow! The situation with your thyroid sounds really complicated. I hope you can get the levels balanced out soon.
I’m guessing #3 is the lie. 🙂
Thanks for commenting BreAnna – good guess 😉
Hi from ICLW! I am hypothyroid and I’m still on the dose roller coaster after almost a year. Fertility treatments really screws things up. Thankfully, its not autoimmune, but I just found out last week my TSH was at 5.1 when I am supposed to have an FET in 2 weeks. Wonderful.
Thanks for swinging by from ICLW! Oy, sorry to hear about your TSH. Is your doc adjusting meds or moving your FET date at all?
I have hashimoto’s as well and thank goodness I found an endo who understands being between 1-2! Very glad you’re dropping your doc!
ICLW #43
Hi Ducky, thanks for swinging by from ICLW! And hello fellow Hashi’s compatriot. A good endo is a rare thing indeed. Hope you’ll swing back and read regularly!
Ugh I’m sorry you are dealing with so much! Welcome to sunny California!
ICLW #61
Thanks for stopping by, Trisha! California was lovely – I left record-breaking warm weather in Boston, but Santa Clara held out; no major rain, just some clouds. Hope you’ll swing back and read regularly!
You know James May is Captain Slow? 😉 I’m the same, get me a bugatti veyron anytime!
Why, IDO know his name is Captain Slow…. hint, hint.
Oh, have fun at the conference and meetup with the other bloggers, how great.
And I think #2 is a lie, it must be or you are a brave woman!
I’m sitting here at a Starbucks, prepping for the day. I’m really excited 🙂
I have the same recurring bitch fight with my PCP about the thyroid. Since I’m technically in the normal range she thinks that’s peachy keen. Even though my endo and my RE agree that it’s definitely too high for someone my age and not, say, a sedentary 85 year old. Argh! It’s frustrating, I know.
I’m going to guess you don’t really like James May. But maybe that’s just my girlie bias. (-;
My old doc, even though a PCP, specializes in working with thyroid patients and is one of the few who prescribes Armour Thyroid. My rec for anyone w/thyroid issues? Drop your PCP like a bad habit and get yourself an endocrinologist, STAT! IT makes such a huge difference to work with docs who actually GET thyroid disease and how it works.
Oh yes. I have diabetes so I had an endo anyway. She agrees with my RE on the thyroid issues. It’s just annoying that I get asked about it by my PCP every. single. time. And then she makes that hmmmmm noise with the wrinkled forehead like she’s all skeptical. LOL!
Well, at least your TSH is moving in the right direction. Still, I think dropping Dr. Hipster is a good idea. Hopefully the insurance shopping is going as smoothly as possible and you’ll be able to make the move soon.
My vote on the lie: #2
Oy, I wish the insurance was going smoother but I’ll take what I can get right now… Yeah, Dr. Hipster has got to GO.