Monday, May 16, 2011

Getting by / Test results

I'm doing... okay.
  
In some ways I think that all things considering, I'm doing pretty well. Functioning in most aspects of my life. Not feeling the out-of-control despair of past losses. Getting through most of the day pretty unemotionally.
  
But... I have a really hard time getting out of bed in the morning or off the couch on weekends. I can't seem to climb out of the hole of laundry, mail, emails, work, blah blah, that started to pile up as soon as I saw that second line. I'm having a really hard time finding my give-a-shit about most things. I can see outside myself to know that I'm showing some signs of depression, but who cares (ha! see I can still joke).
  
Hope is taking a pretty hard hit right now, especially since my follow-up with my OB last Friday. I went into it with the mindset of "no big deal, just a follow-up to the D&C" and to put aside my emotions - I didn't even have my husband come with me. I even survived the 30-minute wait in a packed waiting room of uber-preggos, blocking it all out. But that composure lasted about 30 seconds once I got in the room.
  
Unexpectedly, my test results were already in for the genetic testing of the "products of conception": normal karyotype, no chromosomal abnormalities. 
  
I instantly lost it. I know this must seem weird that this upset me - that should be good, right? Wrong. It means no answers. It means no absolution from all the doubt and self-blame of what **I** might have done wrong. It means we have NO F'ING CLUE why this pregnancy failed, or what we could possibly do differently to change our outcome.
  
I was so emotional, but my doctor was sitting in front of me, without the slightest impatience, trying to talk to me. So I pulled my head out of my rear enough to try to take advantage of it and ask some questions. He thought that it likely pointed to egg quality, which can manifest itself in other ways besides chromosomal. He gently expressed his concern about this working out for us, asked if we've thought about egg donor, etc. etc. To which I sobbed, "I just don't know how to give up." I asked about how crazy and illogical we were to be thinking about IVF - give my eggs a looksie and pick the best of the lot - and he thought some of the data against it was outdated, that maybe it could help us, at the very least we were not unjustified in exploring it. I expressed all my fears about what I could be doing wrong, and he vehemently reassured me that aside from taking some specific medicine, there was nothing I could DO to have caused this. He asked if I was getting the emotional support I needed, and suggested a therapist that specializes in loss.
  
By the end of the conversation, he was wiping away his own tears. Which just totally blew me away, to see such genuine care and compassion for us. Unfortunately our situation is not his specialty, there is only so much he can do.
  
And so it's back to Dr. B next week. I am very curious to hear her recommendations. This past loss is on her hands, so to speak. So no more dismissing my concerns and questions, no blaming it on my past care. 
  
I'm trying not to over-think it til then, but easier said than done. The fear of never having a biological child has been present since our first loss, but I always manage to push it down and focus on hope. But the fear is winning right now, and pressing on my chest like a weight. 
  
And I found out something that I wish I didn't know. My OB gave me a copy of test report to make sure I had it for my meeting with Dr. B. And it noted the gender. I can't even bring myself to write it here, it is too painful, and has made the loss very fresh and very real. 
  
Wish I could leave on a brighter note, but not seeing much bright side right now. Maybe tomorrow.

14 comments:

  1. Shit. That gender bit is hard. It feels that much more real somehow. I am so sorry that this was a normal loss, there has to be a bazillion questions and Dr, B ought to come to the table. I expect nothing but the thing for which she gets published in lord knows how many journals. That brilliance will shine a light for you. It must be.

    I say hang in there, but I know just how very hard this part is and there aren't words enough to express how rotten it is. I did find it helpful to go to a group, but I found that just venting online took a huge chunk of worry off of me. Finding someone specializing in loss was difficult.

    I hope very much for some answers, dear. I am just torn up for you on this one. There has got to be a clue in there somewhere.

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  2. I'm so sorry. I expect that the gender thing does make it so much more real (I never found anything out for mine, which is partly a relief and partly a frustration). My therapist doesn't specialize in loss, but I do find her helpful, if you want a recommendation. Hugs to you.

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  3. This is such a scary prospect...even the thought of donor eggs. Having seriously considered that path (and it's still on the table...I am not trusting this pregnancy unles I deliver a baby), you cannot move on until you are ready. I highly suggest that you do IVF, if you can afford it and it doesn't close out other options, so that regardless of what happens, you feel that you have done everything possible. And, I can't imagine finding out the sex. That would make everything so much more tangible.

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  4. I'm so sorry. I completely understand the challenge in finding a way to get upright in the mornings. Thinking of you.

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  5. I'm so sorry. This is so hard. Especially finding out the gender. I had the same reaction when I found out after my D&C (we already suspected genetic abnormality b/c of bad NT results and that was confirmed) that it was a girl. It made it all that more real. So hard.

    I would encourage you to move on to IVF. I don't know if that's possible for you or whether you'll ultimately choose to do so, but I do think it can give you some more information and better chances. It is expensive and hard (so much more intrusive monitoring, minor surgery) but doable (I tried 4 times, made it to retrieval twice).

    You can't blame yourself for these losses. Take care of yourself!

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  6. I gasped when I read your last paragragh.

    I am so sorry for you. I can not imagine your pain right now, all I can say is I am thinking and praying for you. It was kind of your Md to be so compassionate. It must have been so hard not to "get the answers on why!!!".

    Please take good care of yourself and if you need to lay on the couch for days...weeks...do it! Do not force this grief to be over so quickly.

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  7. Oh Mrs. B. I am so sorry. The gender thing is awful. I asked not to be told that information but if I'd been handed a report I wouldn't have been able not to look. God, this sucks. I wish I could take away some of your pain.

    This wasn't your fault. It wasn't. There was nothing you could have done. I am saying this even though I blamed myself for all of my losses at the time, too. :) I guess it's easier to see it when it's not you. I hope you are taking care of yourself.

    I'm looking forward to hearing what Dr. B says. I hope she can help.

    xxx

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  8. Oh, sweet friend. My heart breaks for you reading all of this. What a kind, amazing OB, but what a horrible way to find that kindness in a doctor.

    My eyes spilled over with tears reading your last paragraph. I am thinking of you and willing peace and hope into your heart. Time for Dr. B to step up. Hugs hugs hugs dear friend. xoxo

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  9. The last paragraph took my breath away. I can only imagine the pain you are going through right now and how that must have hurt even more. For what it is worth, I felt like we had more control with IVF because of the testing and how involved you are in the actual process. I know it is different for everyone, but it was a lot easier emotionally for me that I expected and easier emotionally than all that came before it. Hoping things look up from here for you...

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  10. Huge hugs from across the ocean! I hate that we have to go through this crap. And of course you're frustrated that the tests came back normal! It makes perfect sense.
    For now - just breathe. One step at a time.
    Xoxo

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  11. I'm so sorry, again. Did your doctor give any explanation of how else egg quality can manifest itself besides genetic abnormalities? That's the only effect I've ever heard of. Something else to keep in mind, if the sex test said female, there's a chance that the tissue tested was your endometrial tissue, not fetal tissue (hence a chromosomally normal female), so if that's the case, I might ask about that too.

    It's really frustrating to not have answers. We just did IVF in January and it failed, and we're not bothering with the FET because the couple embies we froze are really not good quality. And as much as it sucks to have spent all that money on NOTHING, and even worse, on something I could've done better for free, it was also a confirmation of the shit-for-eggs diagnosis. While there's no definitive test for that, the IVF nail in the coffin pretty much sealed the deal. Which is a blessing and a curse. Now, we don't have to wonder if that's what's *really* going on. And now, we have some really alcohol-binge-inducing decisions to make. But at the end of the day, yes, I recommend IVF to get a little looksie at the eggs and see what's up.

    ((hugs))

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  12. oh my God, I'm so so sorry. My heart is just aching for you and this little one. Knowing the gender - I cannot imagine how much more real and difficult that makes this loss.

    sending you huge hugs, strength, as you think about what comes next. I hope that Dr. B steps up and has some clear answers for you but I can only imagine how difficult these next decision will be for you and your husband.

    xo

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  13. I think of you often and hope that you find the right path soon. I also think IVF would be the best way to find out what's really going on and the best course of treatment before considering something like donor eggs.

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  14. Just checking in on ya to let you know I'm thinking of you and sending lots of good thoughts yoru way.

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