Dr Google answers to CYSTS...

My lower back is starting to ache again. What's wrong with me? Is it even back sprain at all or is it something more serious? Asking Dr Google cause me to be more suspicious of this lower back pain. I really do not want to take any more painkillers. I hope this will improves on it its own somehow.

Alright let us handle one issue at a time. The first issue that was of great concern for me was the A LOT of CYSTS comments by Dr Saline Sonogram... So I did my research and questionings and this was what I got.

There are 3 types of ovarian cysts. Mainly follicular cysts,corpus luteum cyst and theca lutein cysts.

(1) Follicular Cysts
Follicular cysts are hands down the most frequent types of cysts that occur in the ovaries. These cysts can often be found more than one per ovary and measure from a few millimeters (tiny) to a 15-centimeter (6-inch) cyst. They are best diagnosed with ultrasound, because your doctor can see inside it to make sure there are no suspicious solid areas.

What are the most common symptoms of follicular cysts?

In addition to the pain from fluid or blood leaking out and the abnormal uterine bleeding (abnormal periods), other symptoms can occur. Some of these are annoying, such as a pressure feeling in the pelvis, and some are basically surgical emergencies such as torsion (twisting of the ovary on it’s own blood supply), which is a wrenching pain that can double you over, cause nausea, then let go, only to repeat itself over an over. If this happens, you should act on it rapidly or you can lose one of your ovaries, because the blood supply to it is cut off.

How are follicular cysts treated?

The truth is that if you wait, almost all ovarian follicular cysts will just go away. Surgery is not needed in most cases, and most often your doctor will simply repeat the ultrasound in about 6 to 8 weeks. In the vast majority of cases, the cyst disappears on its own by silently leaking and rupturing.

My Comments: Great!!! After all that I have to wait again. 6 - 8 weeks somemore. perhaps all these waiting months after months have resulted in all those cysts in there.

(2) Corpus Luteum Cysts (CLC)

Another type of physiologic or functional cyst is known as a corpus luteum cyst (CLC). These are less frequent than a follicular cyst but can cause more problems and emergencies, especially internal bleeding. Why do you need to know the difference? Because your doctor is likely to throw names around that distinguish between these cysts and the specific dangers and treatment options. These cysts also produce different hormones that affect your body and hormone balance. If you don’t know the difference, you can be fooled into thinking something is safe when it is not or getting a surgery that you don’t need.

You can get some of these cysts during early pregnancy, which is perfectly normal. They usually go away by the second trimester. Some do not, and if they do not look suspicious on the ultrasound, it is safe to leave them alone. In most cases, they eventually go away after pregnancy.

How do you know if you have a CLC?

A missed period followed by some spotting, one-sided pelvic pain and a pelvic examination, which finds a tender ovarian mass, suggest that a persistent CLC is the culprit. It is important to make sure, however, that a pregnancy test is ordered, because these same findings may be there for an ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy). An ultrasound may not be able to tell these two apart and the treatment would be completely different. There is another nonphysiologic cyst, which can cause similar symptoms, called an "endometrioma" that you need to be familiar with. That is treated in yet another way, often involving surgery, and is a whole separate topic.

When a CLC ruptures, the amount of bleeding and/or pain may cause this to be a surgical emergency. This is unusual, but there are medications and herbs you may be taking that could make it much worse. In particular, these include aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen), Vitamin E and ginko biloba. There are others, but basically stay away from anything that may "thin the blood" and cause easy bruising or bleeding. Review all the medications, herbals and supplements you are taking with your regular doctor and/or nutritionist or naturopathic doctor.

Unfortunately, one third of women (33%) who have a problem with bleeding from a CLC will have it happen again, possibly over and over. So knowing what to avoid can save more than one trip to the operating room or possibly even your life.

By the way, pelvic pain with or without ovarian cysts being present does not mean the pain is coming from a gynecologic organ. In other words, there are other things down there in your pelvis. You could have appendicitis or other bowel problems, which have nothing to do with your gynecologic organs.

If surgery is necessary because of bleeding, it is often possible to do it through a laparoscope (bandaid surgery). Usually the ovary does not have to be removed. Only the cyst is removed and bleeding stopped.

If the cyst is NOT ruptured, and there is no bleeding or torsion, it is reasonable to avoid surgery and “wait it out." Why? Because surgery, no matter how small, causes scars or adhesions to form. You want to avoid surgery if your doctor thinks it is safe based on all of the things you just read about.

(3) Theca Lutein Cysts

The least common type of physiologic or functional cysts are called "theca lutein cysts" (TLC). The key difference is that these are usually multiple, on both ovaries, and occur all at the same time. Each of these cysts can be 1cm to 10cm in size, so if there are multiple cysts, the ovaries can be massively enlarged: up to 20 to 30cm (about 10 inches or more) on both sides. How does this happen? The answer is simply hormonal overstimulation of the ovaries due to pregnancy.

Most often this occurs due to very high beta-hCG levels (a hormone of pregnancy) often seen with twins or abnormalities called "molar pregnancy," where the placenta develops but the fetus does not. This is a highly oversimplified explanation, but the point is that high levels of hCG stimulate the ovary. The reason for this overstimulation should be evaluated. Sometimes these cysts can even look like cancer to the untrained eye. Quite a scare, but usually you just need to ask the right questions and in most cases it is not cancer.

My Comments: Ask the right questions??? What if I don't know what questions to ask? Cant the Dr just explain to me what time of cysts I am having the moment they see these things? I believe I have the last type of cysts. I mean after going through IUI twice, the risk of over stimulation is possible right? I usually have a perfect 7 days cycle but since 2006, my cycle have dwindled to 4 - 5days. Of course I wasn't complaining then but now perhaps I should have brought it up to my then gynae. Hmmm...

My trip to the clinic...

This is going to be a long entry. An entry full of questions and perhaps graphic in nature. A little Too Much Information too... So if you are not up for a long whiny entry, please skip this one. Some basic information first. The text in black is my normal entry, italics is me thinking out loud and white are text/answers I got from Dr Google.

I consider yesterday to be my first major step towards this IVF journey. It was the day I meet up with my Medical Social Worker as well as my Saline Sonogram. How come no one told me that the sonogram can be one painful experience? It was nothing like the HCG. Okay let's do this one apointment at a time.

Appointment with Medical Social Worker (MSW) @ 2pm

We arrived a little early. Thus decide to have breakfast/lunch at Macdonald's. Arrived at the MSW office 5 minutes to 2pm. But she was not around. So we waited. Me getting anxious by the minute as I have another appointment at the Digital Imaging site. She came back at 2.30pm after being called by the receptionist. She is this very nice lady who is warm. She make us feel at ease. We spoke. She even told us about her IVF journey. The ups and downs that we should be thinking about and expecting. She said she like my positive nature and she hopes that my positive nature will give me a slightly higher chance of success. She also asked us to start thinking of our Risk Management Plan. She says at the end of this journey, there is a result - either +ve or -ve. So what happens if it is +ve? N what happens if it is -ve? If it is +ve and we have twins what are we gonna do? Well, me and hubby have talked and have discussed. So generally the session was a breeze. We ended the session with her wishing me good luck on this journey. She also said that she is a little greedy so she wished that I have 2. I like her and I believe I can relate to her as she knows how I feel and what I am going through. She left me her card with her number and email address on it. Thus I will be emailing her soon. To thank her for a wonderful afternoon. We spent about 45 minutes in her office. At 3.15pm, we made our way to the Digital Imaging office. N this were my horror starts. Well i am exaggerating a little here.

Saline Sonogram @ 3pm

I registered at the reception. The nurse fumbled with my registration. She wasn't sure of what she was clicking. That set us back by another 15 minutes. Well, never mind I wasn't really in any hurry. I wasn't really looking forward to this actually. But since my Dr requested for it, I went ahead with it. After registration, I made my went with the nurse and was told to change into a robe. After changing, signed some papers and was told to go for a scan. AGAIN!!! I just did last month. But never mind. So I was brought to the scanning area via the back way. Everyone else in the waiting area was in their normal clothes and I was in a robe. That was fun. N hubby isnt there with me. To cut the story short, I went in for scan. The person who did it was some Filipino lady and did she pressed on my lower abdomen. I cringe at every pics taken. I can feel her pressing on my pelvic bone. D*&m.

Then she asked me to clear my bladder which I did. Was brought to another room. The person there asked me to wait for the doctor to come. While waiting she looked at my scan and asked me to empty my bladder again as it was full. What??? I seriously don't feel like emptying my bladder anymore. But I tried. Came back. Dr was there. Spoke to the other nurse and said in a voice that is neither too soft nor too loud. BUt still it was loud enough for me to hear. "There is a lot of cysts in there?" Excuse me, define alot here? Give me a slight explanation pls. But no!!! she's gonna give my results to my Dr and my appointment with my dr is only in January. Hello!!!! How to wait so long? What if these cysts have been the reason why I have painful periods and why we have yet to conceive?

After looking through my scans, she started with my saline sonogram. The nurse said it was gonna be like my pap smear exam. But no!!! That was not be. First she raised the bed. Then the Dr said. I can't see. She might have retroverted uterus. WHAT???? Repeat that pls... Hmmm... She raised me higher and proceeded with putting in the speculum. Wow that was the longest pap smear exam I have. After the speculum was in, she washed my "inside" with saline solution. I can feel the crampy feeling. It was worse then my monthly period. N for this, i cant even move. Then she inflate the balloon so that when the inject the saline solution, it won't come out. That makes me feel worse. An inflated balloon down there. SHUCKS!!!!

She proceeded with the procedure. A few minutes later I was told it was over. The crampy feeling was horrible. As i got up the bed, I saw some bleeding on the bed. Went to change and waited a bit before was discharged by the nurse. After that i have so many questions in my head. Cysts, retoverted uterus... So many questions, so little answers. Should I email the Dr and get an answer? Or should I just proceed with my IVF journey? What if all the above will affect the outcome of my IVF journey? Hmmm....

WOW!!! This has been a very long entry. Perhaps I shall post Dr Googles answer in another entry. Time for me to get change and go to my mum's place again. Hubby is working night shift again. Till my next entry.

I am Back!!!

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in pain. A little crampy, a little bleeding. Going to sleep over at my mum's place tonight. Hubby working night shift today. I will update again when I get back tomorrow morning. That is if I am up for it. Got lots of things to write. I am currently very concern about a few issues. But I shall go and rest first, check with Dr Google tomorrow and I will update. Hope the rest of you have had a good day. Yeah!!! The weekend is here.

Short Update

Just a short update from me. Got to go and get ready for my appointment at KK. Hope the sonogram goes well. Hope nothing is wrong with my uterine wall. Oh God, pls listen to my prayers and answer it.

I have not been updating due to a tight and busy schedule at work. Meeting and reports to be done and since result of my transfer is out, I have been busy clearing and packing my desk too... Okay back to my journey to motherhood.

So far everything is going smoothly. I have been trying to keep myself healthy for this cycle. Drinking milk, eating right, light exercise and meditating for a calm mind. Other than that it has been waiting and more waiting. But I am glad and thankful that I have a supportive hubby and family. YES!!! I have finally broke the news to my mum and dad. I mean, they brought us to the hospital last week remember when I had my blood test. So after that, we went for breakfast and we talked and chatted and we decide to let them in on it. We did tell them however, the results might not be positive all the time. Mama being the very religious one in the family, reminds me that what matters the most is we have tried and done our best. The outcome is beyond our control. We have to have faith in God's action. Mum and dad are very supportive in our journey. My sis is too young to understand ( I think she is but in actual fact she is much more mature than her age). My bro was informed of our plans some time back when I told him I had to save lots of money. (Not sure whether he remembered but the fact is he knows).

I am actually glad that they know what I going through. I mean it is then easier for me to discuss issues with my mum and dad won't say things that he feels might hurt our feelings and as for the rest of our relatives, at least mama can help to fend off all questions on my behalf. I know I am very lucky in this aspect as not many have such an understanding family. MY DEAR FAMILY, I LOVE YOU!!!

Okay now back to what I was supposed to write. Warning: There will be TMI.You know the 2 - 3 weeks before you start your lucrin injection where you are told to practice safe sex/abstinence? How do you gals do it? Hubby and I have not been practising safe since we first did it. I mean there was no sex before marriage and the moment we got married there was no BCP or condoms... N now to make that purchase at the pharmacy... hmmm...I am feeling a little shy here and to have complete abstinence, that's even tougher. So how??? Well, we will see how it goes today. We might make a purchase (even if we buy one, we have never use it, we might just stumble when putting it on. Hahahah) or perhaps we will just wait it out.

Okay it seems that my short update has become a long one. Hehehe... Time for me to really go and get ready. I will update again soon with regards to my appointment today.

Speed bump overcame

The day once again started off on a bad note for me. I had difficulty sleeping again. Was kept awake by hubby's snoring. Went out of the bed room at 2am, guess manage to nap for an hour. Woke up at 3am and went back into the room. But still couldn't get to sleep. Went back to the sofa at 3.30am. I think while watching "Fashion House" I manage to fall asleep again. But I was once again woken up at around 4.20am. Went back into the bedroom and somehow manage to sleep despite the snoring. N before I knew it my alarm rang at 5.45am, a signal for me to wake up to go to work. Oh what a headache I had the moment I woke up. Don't even ask how groggy I was. I could have snapped at hubby at any time. Luckily he didn't ask any questions.

Went off to work, had breakfast and attended the meeting. I was still holding on to my hp and waiting for that phone call. By 11am when I didnt received any call, I decided to pick up the phone and give them a call. Not easy to get through. Must have been a busy morning. I can imagine seeing all the nurses running around to settle all the cases that they have for the morning. I do feel for them. Some of the nurses are really trying their very best to help us. I can't say for all but most of them are trying and I shouldn't have gotten upset yesterday. But with hormones running wild in me and my anxiety attack, you can't blame me for getting irritated okay.

Okay back to the phone call. After approximately the 7th time, there was finally a ringing tone. Spoke to a nurse, I believe her name was Sara. Very sweet sounding lady. I told her how someone was supposed to call me back but never did. She tried to get my records. She said she thought she saw it somewhere. She put me on hold and when she got back to me she said that she will call me back within the next 10 minutes. Promise!! That was so sweet of her.

N true enough she did call me back within the next 10 minutes. She asked me some general questions, told me that all my blood works came back normal and told me i can come down to the clinic on the 26th of November for my lucrin injections. So there you go... Speed bump overcame.

I just need to be more relax and not be so kancheong. I am sure the nurses know what they are doing and they won't go to the extent of losing my case file. See what wild hormones can do to the brain. I need to go occupy myself before I start thinking of things I am not supposed to be thinking of. Whatever that may be. Till my next entry.

I shall leave you with my bloodwork results:

FSH --> 6.2 -->1.7 - 7.7
LH -->3.3 -->1.0 - 11.4
E2 -->92.9 --> 36.7 - 404

Prolactin -->13.4 -->5.0 - 27.7

Testosterone --> 0.7 -->0.2 - 3.00

Progesterone -->41.2 -->24.7 - 86.8

The first column is the types of hormones they are checking for, the second number is my results and the 3rd column is the reference range. So I guess base on the results, all my results are within the reference range thus it's good. Time for me to sleep. No more thinking of what's next. At least not for the next 2 days. Will be back at the clinic on Friday.

A little speed bump in our journey

Alright now!!! To whoever is reading my blog can you please help explain to me what is going on back at the hospital. So far this is what happen. I had my hormonal blood test on Saturday. Was told to call back on Monday for the results as well as the date when I can collect my lucrin injections. On that Saturday, I have also submitted my marriage cert as requested. One of the nurse told me to come back one day to sign the consent forms which I told her that I have already done together with the nurse and the doctor. Then she said ok.

So today I made the phone call to the clinic to get my blood test results. The person who answered my call said they will call me back. So I waited. I was in the cab about to fetch my husband, someone called me. She asked me when can I come down to sign the consent forms. To which I explain we have already done. Together with the doctor and the nurse. Then she said she will call again which up till now I have not received. Come on!!!! What's going on? I have already signed the forms. All of it should be in my files. Check it pls. Or have you lost my file somewhere... Pls dont tell me I have to do any more test because of your carelessness.

Okay I shall not stress myself out. I shall call them once again tomorrow and see what they have to say. I know they are very busy. Helping me and many more ladies out there to achieve our dreams. Just please don't tell me that you have lost my file. That would really piss me off... Time to go and rest. Back to work tomorrow. Meeting first thing in the morning.

One more baby step

I was looking forward to this day. Looking forward to doing my blood work then I can start my IVF cycle. However, it started very badly. Hubby was working night shift yesterday. I had asked my mum to come over this morning at 7am to bring me to the hospital. However at around 10pm just before hubby went to work, I was starting to experience lower back ache. It was hurting quite a bit. Hubby got the hot and cold pack and placed it on my back. It improved a little. Sent him to the door and I was back at my favourite sofa. Lying down makes the hurt worse. Thus I sat on the floor with my hands stretched out on the coffee table. It helps lessen the pain and somehow I manage to fall asleep.

Woke up at 1.45am. Had pins and needles on my leg but my back doesnt hurt anymore. Went into my room and hope that it remains the way it is. Out of a sudden, I was woken up with a sharp pang in my lower back. Looked at the watch and it was 2.45am. WHAT!!! i have only slept for 1 hour. Oh no!!! I am sleepy and tired but the hurt was so bad. I can't sit, I can't lie down, i cant walk. I toss and turn in bed and tried to go back to sleep but the pain was just unbearables. Called hubby at his workplace. My tears just flowed when I talked to him. I can sense his concern. How he was worried that I was all alone at home and in pain. He asked me to called my mum. At first I do not want to as it is so early in the morning and I might just worry her. But at around 3.30am, the pain got so bad. Slight movement will result in me screaming in pain. It was that painful... (or perhaps my threshold of pain was just not that high)

Mama arrived 15 minutes later. I literally crawled to open the door for her. She started massaging for me. When the pain did not subside, my bro being the medic that he is, called the ambulance and I was brought to the hospital. I was in pain throughout the journey. I cant lie straight. It was the worse journey for me. Once i reached the hospital, they took my blood pressure and did nothing else. Waited and waited and waited. What the heck??? Where the hell is the doctor? After the longest 30 minutes wait, the doctor came and look at me. N I mean look. He just looked, no touching or checking and diagnosed me with muscle strain and gave me an injection of painkiller. N asked me to wait it out. You gave me a painkiller injection of course the pain subsided. N the nurse who gave me the injection, don't even let me start on her. This is the worse service I have gotten from a govt. hospital. But it was not a shocker. I have received a poor service from them before.

They asked me to do a urine test to confirm that I was not pregnant. HELLO!!! Didnt I tell you that I am currently having my menses. Whatever. Did it for the sake of doing it. Told me that I was not pregnant? WOW!!! How smart of you? Even i can tell you that. Then he send me for an x ray to check that it was not kidney stones. At around 7am, doctor came back and tell that they cant detect any kidney stones. Diagnose me with muscle sprain and gave me some muscle relaxant, painkillers and a 3 day Outpatient Sick Leaves.

Went to mama's place after that, ate some bread, took medication and sleep and waited for hubby to come back before we make our way to the next hospital where we are getting our fertility treatment. After being treated so badly at the first hospital, it was nice to have a decent treatment for once. The senior nurse who took my blood was kind enough to chat me through it knowing that I had needles and injections. How she speak to me on her past patients. I was once again positive about govt hospitals. If only all govt hospitals will provide such good service. Anyway, hubby and me had a good laugh at the payment counter. We lauged at how I had to donate blood and at the same time make payments for it and it was not a cheap one. It set us back by $140.81... Well, mama commented that if we have this baby/babies, it is gonna be one expensive baby/babies.

Alright, it has been a long entry. time to take my medication and rest. My back is starting to feel the strain. Hope you ladies had a better day today. N I saw many ladies at the Fertility Clinic today. Could one of you be one of the ladies I have made friends with here? Hmmm... I will never know will I. I am just wishing that all of us will achieve our dreams soon...

"She" came with a vengence

Today is only the 6th. I wasn't expecting her visit till a day later. But this morning I woke up to a very wet you know where. I went to the living room and told hubby that AF might have visited a day earlier. No fairy tale ending like what I have prayed and hoped for. Was I upset? Well... after almost 45 months of trying, I have started getting use to it. Her visit is nothing out of the ordinary. Not getting her visit would be a miracle.

SO what happened today? Well we, Hubby and I had plan to go out and spend some quality time together but I told Hubby perhaps we should wait it out a little. If today is really my CD 1 then I will have to make some phone calls. We waited till noon and it was confirmed. So I grabbed the hp and make the call to the clinic. Was wondering whether I should come in tomorrow or Saturday for the blood test. They said they are open on Saturday from 0730 to 12 noon. So I have decided. Saturday, 8th November, it is for the blood test. Then one more phone call to the digital imaging. The lady said she will ask the person in charge to call me back in a while. 10 minutes later, an appointment was set for the 14th of November for my saline sonogram at 3pm. One last phone call after that... The medical social worker sounded so sweet. I felt so comfortable with her. I believe I will be at ease when talking to her. I have been in her position before. So yes appointment with medical social worker will be on the 14th of November at 2pm.

With all that done, we got ready and went out. By this time, I was having the worse cramp ever. It was so painful that it was so difficult to walk. Hubby and I had lunch before making our way to the movies. The latest bond movie is cool and action pack. Halfway through the movie I began to get this painful cramps, like someone pulling and twisting and turning my ovaries inside out. I started shifting from right to left and to right again. All I can think about now is going home and lying on my soft bed. Somehow I fell asleep midst the pain. I woke up somewhere when bond was caught in an explosion. Hmmmm.....

Back to the pain, it was on and off. The cab ride back was making my back hurts. It was a nice date with hubby but I was miserable because of the cramps. my boob.s are hurting too... Did I mention that there was no hints of her arrival? Usually I will have spotting on CD1 and CD 2 will be when I get my full flow. There was a slight change this month. Was it because of the change in my diet? Or does my body knows that there is going to be more changes to come?

What ever it is... It is official!!! Today is my CD 1 and I am ready to embark on my next journey. IVF here we come...

2 days to go...

The last few days have been really horrible for me. I was really tired. Exhausted more like it. I have been peeing like every 2 hours. My boob.s hurts like crazy. My stomach is bloated like nobody's business. People can mistake me for being 12 - 14 weeks pregnant. (If only I was, then I won't be here complaining)Come on AF won't you just make your appearance already!!!

I have been sleeping a lot. Not sure what's wrong but my body's system is a bit out this month. My cough, flu and fever could be partly to blame but the temperature has gone down for a while now. So what's up man!!! I am counting down to Friday. Then it will be blood test on Saturday. Please let it be Saturday. i wouldn't want to go alone on Monday, especially not for a blood test. Then there are the many phone calls I have to make.

(1) Call medical social worker for an appointment

(2) Call the digital imaging department for my saline sonogram

(3) Call KKIVF about my hormonal blood test.

All these to be done on Friday. Guess I will do it after I come back from work. I am not telling anyone at work about this. No one will understand my situation. Everyone at my work place seems to be super fertile. Questions never seem to stop. Especially the first 2 years of my marriage. Then they just stopped asking up front. But the talk behind your back never did.

How come she is still not pregnant? Is she planning? Is she not able to have kids? But how come she has gain so much weight since the wedding?

Stop with the questions already. N please mind your own business. Stop talking behind my back will you? The walls have ears. Don't you know? Even if you don't say it out loud. Sooner or later it will reach me somehow. Just please give me a break. I can't wait to get out of here.

Show and Tell (1)

Dear ladies, I have found a very interesting site that you may want to join where you can share things every week. Click here for more information.

Okay where do I start. This is the first time I am sharing so I am not sure whether what I am sharing is interesting at all... I love cooking but I hate cleaning up. But due to work commitments I seldom do any cooking and since there are only 2 of us at the moment, we usually get take outs but on days that I feel like being a house wife, I will cook up a storm. Check out the following dishes I have tried cooking during the festive season...

Prawn Chili

Chicken cooked in red chilli

Chicken Rice with soup

BBQ Chicken in Black Sauce

Yum yum... Boy am I making myself hungry... Care to have some???