Just when you're ready to zig, they zag...

So, I wanted to ease back into blogging. One reason I listed my last blog post was because those were the things I have been dealing with since the end of July.I scheduled an appt with the ACHA certified cardiologist in Houston. Let's call him Dr. Direct. I had an MRI and was sent home with a holter monitor to measure my heart rhythms for 24 hours. I was told when I left that after Dr. Direct had a chance to go over the MRI and other test results, he would call me to discuss the results.

At the appt, Dr. Direct mentioned that there would be certain conditions that I had to meet to even qualify for the melody valve procedure. At least two things had to be changed, the size of my valve (width) and also amount of leakage through the valve. Dr. Direct acknowledged another option that he recommended, of adding additional medications to my current single med I am currently taking to moderate my heart palpitations (irregular rhythms).

Riding the Big Red Wave today...

So, Saturday the spotting turned into full flow. I'm so tired of maxi pads, etc. Plus they are bad for the environment. I had previously looked into cloth pads, but the idea of washing them so often wasn't appealing.

I checked out a thread on TMP that gave a lot of good examples to durable alternatives to disposable pads/tampons. After looking at all the options, I decided to order The Keeper (I actually ordered the Moon Cup made of medical grade silicone). This is a menstrual cup made of either natural gum rubber (latex)--The Keeper or medical grade silicone--The Moon Cup.

The way this works is that the cup is inserted in the vagina to catch the menstrual flow. I'm excited for it to come in for the next cycle.

However, I do have a cardiac MRI on Feb 3. My doctor is going to analyze it to see if there is any real difference and decide what to do. If there is a decrease in function as one of the ECHO's showed, he will call me in for an appt. Otherwise I'll see him in September!

I'm really hoping that I'll be able to actively TTC this cycle! I'm even going to break out my monitor to see if I can start tracking my cycle again. I wasn't before because the test sticks are so expensive, but it is quite accurate.
 
That's the plan for now. Fingers crossed I'll be given the go ahead to TTC!

Mac is back!!!! and other TTC related stuff.

Hip, hip, hooray! I have my Macbook Pro back and the screen is be-yoo-tee-ful!! I can hardly stop looking at it...it's so clear. And readable. And I can see EVERYTHING!!!!!! Yippeee!!!

Ok, so now that this is done, update on my cycle. BFN, BFN, BFN. This is why you don't start testing before 9 DPO Melissa!!!! Even super sensitive 10 mIU brand is failing me. And POASing is so addicting, it is almost as if every BFN increases the desire to test again. One day I test THREE times that day! It's madness! I had nothing to go on either. Just silly suspicion.

Here is the thing. A few days ago I was getting SO tired. Without any obvious reason. Such as lack of sleep, or staying up til 4AM. Nothing that should have affected me that greatly. So from about 6-9DPO I would get so tired every evening. Especially when I worked, but even over last weekend. Things were tasting funny (I had a lemon bar that tasted "chemically" even though it was the same recipe my friend had also used).

Now I am much more energetic and combined with my lack of BFP it is making me feel more defeated. Although lately anything with tomato sauce tastes REALLY acidic (more than usual).

Oh, and I can't recall if I updated on my ECHO. My doctor left a message last Friday (2 Fridays after the 2nd ECHO) saying first that there had been no change since the last one, see you in a year. Then he obviously reviewed my notes and called back explaining why the second ECHO had been done and that because there had been no decrease in function this was good, but we still need to address the current lower functioning.

I panicked because he was very vague saying we needed to address it in the next few MONTHS. He called Monday and I got a chance to discuss it with him. He explained it was something about the pressure the ventricle made on the left side that was too low.  Every year I go to these appointments and they're fine, but ultimately they're looking for changes to see if I need surgery to repair or replace my valve. I was fearful that he was going to tell me this was happening.

I was so relieved that he said this is something that could be fixed with medication. I need to set up an appointment with him in January and we'll discuss what meds are needed and what will be safe for pregnancy.

I guess we'll see!

This time REALLY early O! (WTH!)

So, if you saw my last post it commented on some strangely high pre-O temps and the possibility of having O'd (already!). Well, today's temp after genuine 7 hours sleep, no waking before temping was at 98.3. Apparently this was high enough for FF to select O at CD9. CD9!!!!!! That's a full 10 days before I expected to usually O and at least 4 days before my last O.

I guess it doesn't really make a difference. I should be glad I'm ovulating, y'know? I guess my problem is that I want to know "Why?". I think I sought to start charting for control of my cycles. Now I realize that was a myth. Charting is useful, but it still can't help me change when and how I ovulate. I can look at patterns and take some vitamins that may address a certain deficiency, but real change isn't possible. It's take what you get and hope you can read the signs well enough for your goal.

I have to say this is especially frustrating as I am trying to avoid (barely) until after my ECHO, possibly until January.  I'm not so practiced at preventing. I thought I was okay because I never thought I'd have O on CD9!!

But, although we did BD on CD5 I think the state of my CM around then was too pitiful to allow the sperm to survive 4 days to wait for the egg. I know it can happen, but I don't have confidence that it will. Plus I haven't had my ECHO yet (tomorrow!) so I only hope that the results aren't bad...for various reasons, but also because I'd like to start trying again.

I guess we shall see....

Finally! CD1 is here!

Whew! Woke up this morning to full flow! After 5 freaking days of SPOTTING!!! Arrrrrrggggh! I HATE LPD!  Well, someone on TMP suggested seeing my doctor. I may have to do that in the next month or so. I just wish my OB had appts on Sat or after work like my PCP can.


That just inspired me to make one. I set it for November 1st---the week before my ECHO. Because I think regardless of whether my Cardiologist suggests WTTC even after ECHO, making sure my cycles are set is most important. Also, I'm freaking sick of 5 days worth of spotting. Plus, not entirely sure AF would've started full force today, but we DTD lastnight/this am. (shrugs)

Well, I also think I'm going to increase my B6 to 200mg...hopefully that will help. That's supposed to be the max. Perhaps I should split some and only take 150mg. I also think that at some point this cycle I stopped taking the B6....when I was sick I felt "what's the point?" and didn't take ANY meds.

Well, we'll see! At least I FINALLY started this cycle. Here's the funny part, if my cycle is about the same amount of days, I'm likely to get AF the weekend before or on the date of my ECHO!