So I finally have a plan

[berbles]

I got in this morning to see the endo specialist (approved by my insurance!). I went in thinking we were going to schedule surgery ASAP because I've been in pain and it appears that the cyst I had removed at the end of Aug was not removed completely and is back and already pretty big (~6cm right now).

Instead, he has recommended that I go back to my RE and do three months of zoladex (subdermal hormone injection). This drug basically mimics menopause and will reduce the raging inflammation in my pelvis and will make surgery more successful. After the three injections, I will go back to the specialist (and fight with my insurance company again) and he will perform laparoscopic endo surgery. He is very confident that I will be able to get pregnant naturally after the surgery.

It's going to be an interesting couple of months.

[winecheery]

Oct 15, 2012 20:19:30 GMT -5 berbles said:

I got in this morning to see the endo specialist (approved by my insurance!). I went in thinking we were going to schedule surgery ASAP because I've been in pain and it appears that the cyst I had removed at the end of Aug was not removed completely and is back and already pretty big (~6cm right now).

Instead, he has recommended that I go back to my RE and do three months of zoladex (subdermal hormone injection). This drug basically mimics menopause and will reduce the raging inflammation in my pelvis and will make surgery more successful. After the three injections, I will go back to the specialist (and fight with my insurance company again) and he will perform laparoscopic endo surgery. He is very confident that I will be able to get pregnant naturally after the surgery.

It's going to be an interesting couple of months.

Wow. Berbles. What a mix of emotions you must be feeling.

Good points: insurance win, getting pg naturally after surgery

Bad: well, that this is happening to you at all, and the battling insurance round #2...yucky


But I'm so glad you have a plan, and if you need to talk you know we're here for you! Please let us all know how this progresses. It must be overwhelming sometimes. ({) berbs (})

[thoseareradishes]

Woot for a plan! I really hope that this resolves the problems you are having. Will the injections also shrink the cyst? How are you physically feeling now?

[berbles]

Oct 15, 2012 20:26:11 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

Woot for a plan! I really hope that this resolves the problems you are having. Will the injections also shrink the cyst? How are you physically feeling now?

They should. And, in turn, should reduce my pain. However, they did warn me that the pain may get worse before it gets better, which is why I don't want to wait to get started. I'm already off work/on a medical leave of absence, so I'd like to get the first shot done before I go back to work.

I'm in pain now. I've taken 4 Vicodin today. I can't work on Vicodin. Also, CD1 last night. So I have my regular period cramps on top of the cyst pain. Wheeeee! :N:

[sunflower22]

Hooray for plans! Sorry it seems it will be a few months longer than you expected. I guess our Drs know what they're doing! I just started birth control to regulate my cycle for 2 months, feel free to commiserate w me on taking the long route to TTC lol.

Most importantly though, I hope you start feeling better soon

[tarheels]

Oh fingers crossed! This makes me so hopeful for you!!

[blindyswife]

A plan is good! Hopefully the insurance won't be too much of a PITA.

Best of luck with it all!!

[KaraOrNot]

Yay for a plan! Boo for pain.

[Cheesecake]

I'm so happy you have a plan!!! Yay for plans and winning from the insurance company and such.
Boo for pain though. Hope it doesn't get too much worse before it gets better.

But yay for doctors who come up with plans and are generally positive about you being able to have babies :-)

[HoneySpider]

So glad you have a plan! Sounds like it will be a tough couple of months but hopefully in the end it will all be worth it. FX!!

[Deleted]

((Berbs)) I have a cyst thats 3.95 cm and am in a shitton of pain. I can't imagine a 6cm one! I REALLY hope this helps and you can get back to TTC. You and your H will make such adorbs babies

[littlemisschatty]

Lots of good luck to you and your lady parts!

[bree425]

Wishing you tons of luck.

[Bumblebee]

Wishing you the best of luck.

[mandapanda18]

Good luck! I had that procedure done last year. My specialist was able to get all of the endo removed along with my cysts... I'm sure you are aware that you can't try and get pregnant (per my dr anyhow) for a minimum of a year, then you need to get pregnant pretty quick as the surgery is only good for about 5 years (max). I don't want to be a debbie downer, but realistically, my dr said if I'm not pregnant by Dec, then we need to start the clomid route.

I hope that you have a quick recovery, and get pregnant as soon as you are able after!

[berbles]

Oct 18, 2012 0:39:30 GMT -5 mandapanda18 said:

Good luck! I had that procedure done last year. My specialist was able to get all of the endo removed along with my cysts... I'm sure you are aware that you can't try and get pregnant (per my dr anyhow) for a minimum of a year, then you need to get pregnant pretty quick as the surgery is only good for about 5 years (max). I don't want to be a debbie downer, but realistically, my dr said if I'm not pregnant by Dec, then we need to start the clomid route.

I hope that you have a quick recovery, and get pregnant as soon as you are able after!

Did you have an open surgery? The surgeon I'm seeing is the pioneer of laproscopic endo surgery and said nothing about waiting to get pregnant after surgery. In fact, he said something like, "then we'll have you pregnant right afterward."

Also, clomid wouldn't be very helpful for me. My issue isn't ovulation. We'd have to go straight to IVF.

[mandapanda18]

Oct 18, 2012 14:46:05 GMT -5 berbles said:

Oct 18, 2012 0:39:30 GMT -5 mandapanda18 said:

Good luck! I had that procedure done last year. My specialist was able to get all of the endo removed along with my cysts... I'm sure you are aware that you can't try and get pregnant (per my dr anyhow) for a minimum of a year, then you need to get pregnant pretty quick as the surgery is only good for about 5 years (max). I don't want to be a debbie downer, but realistically, my dr said if I'm not pregnant by Dec, then we need to start the clomid route.

I hope that you have a quick recovery, and get pregnant as soon as you are able after!

Did you have an open surgery? The surgeon I'm seeing is the pioneer of laproscopic endo surgery and said nothing about waiting to get pregnant after surgery. In fact, he said something like, "then we'll have you pregnant right afterward."

Also, clomid wouldn't be very helpful for me. My issue isn't ovulation. We'd have to go straight to IVF.

No, I had laproscopic surgery, but my dr stuck my right back on bcp continuously to keep me from ovulating, I also had a D&C on the same day. He had me come in monthly for the first 3 months for an ultrasound/check up, then every three months for the next 9. I was cleared to stop taking my bcp in May... I had my first "real" cycle in July after all the wonky hormones got out of my system. He said if we can't get pregnant after 6 months, then we need to look at clomid and our other options since the endo will start to grow back and immediately!

[berbles]

Well, that sounds extremely rough. I'm sorry you've had to go through all that. I'm in a different situation though. I haven't been told that I can't get pregnant after surgery. But I've never been pregnant. Since you're local, do you mind if I ask who your surgeon was?

[mandapanda18]

Oct 19, 2012 14:58:39 GMT -5 berbles said:

Well, that sounds extremely rough. I'm sorry you've had to go through all that. I'm in a different situation though. I haven't been told that I can't get pregnant after surgery. But I've never been pregnant. Since you're local, do you mind if I ask who your surgeon was?

Dr. H w/Gill Obgyn in Lodi/Stockton/Manteca
Oh... and the D&C was strictly to help get ride of the endo, I have never been pregnant

[berbles]

Interesting.

I'm seeing Dr. Nezhat at Stanford. I'll definitely ask him about timelines for TTC after surgery.

[nk]

So happy to see you have a plan!! So sad to see you have pain :-(