Purpose of This Blog

I felt compelled a couple of weeks ago to share my story. After listening to a sermon, the phrase don't waste your tears came to mind. The sermon was based on the scripture, Those who sow in tears will reap with joy, He who goes weeping, carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5 My desire and hope for this blog is to not only help me through this season, but to encourage others with what God is doing in my life. I pray that this blog helps me and you see God's grace, love, and presence through every step of this journey. My dear friend explained to me the other day that her season of infertility was the sweetest thing she had every endured. She encouraged me to not waste my infertility. This is me not wasting it.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Happy Birthday to Me

My gynecologist agreed to do some blood work on me, so on the third day of my cycle I went in for blood work. After about a week, (THE WAITING IS THE WORST PART) I called for my results. The first nurse I spoke with told me that everything was normal. WHEW! I am in the clear. After telling me everything was normal, she followed up by saying, BUT we are going to refer you to a RE (reproductive endocrinologist). What? Why? If everything is normal, why do I need to go to a RE? I called back the following Monday and demanded to speak to the original nurse that a week ago told me I could do the different blood tests in office. (One of the hardest parts of this journey so far has been dealing with the busy, insensitive doctors, and nurses. It definitely has taught me to always be sensitive to every student and parent that ever bugs me!) I finally got Katie, the nurse, on the phone. She told me that everything was normal, but my AMH level was low. It was 1.7 which for my age was low. AMH is hormone that detects your ovarian reserve. Being at the level it was meant that my quantity and quality of eggs was low. This decreased my chances of conceiving naturally, and it increased the chances of miscarriage if I were to become pregnant. I found out this great news on June 11th, my birthday! 

Let's just say I have had much better birthdays. I thought I was turning 25 but according to my AMH level and my eggs I am turning 40 freakin' years old! (Yes, I am being dramatic) The nurse's words stung. My heart felt as if it was coming out of my chest, my stomach felt like it was upside down but not the good upside down like when you are on a roller coaster, and my brain was in a fog. What caused this? Can we reverse it? Is there a pill I can take to make it better?

Coping with the information we received about my husband was one thing, but now coping with something wrong with me added a lot more to the equation. I never thought it would be something wrong with both of us; however, statistics state that 30% of the time it is both the male and female.  Last Monday, I went to a new gynecologist because I just didn't feel at peace with  my old one. One good thing about my old place of employment (FSA) was that I taught a lot of wealthy children! With that said, I taught a lot of students whose parents were doctors. The doctor I found was my student's mother. I got my mama to go with me to my appointment. I have learned that I need extra ears and strength. I need an advocate that can speak up for me! During the appointment, the doctor stated again that my AMH was low and that she recommended me go to a RE. I said to her, "Does my AMH mean that by the time I am 30 I will be out of eggs?" Her response made me get that same gut wrenching feeling that is starting to follow me around. Her response was "yes." My eyes filled up with tears and the lump formed in my throat. How did this happen? Why? What caused this?  Some possible causes that she stated were infectious diseases, medications, chemotherapy, none of which I had ever experienced.

In the moment of her explaining all of this a thought came to my mind. I can't remember if I saw this picture somewhere or I dreamed it but somewhere I saw a picture of a doctor preforming surgery on a patient. In the picture, the doctor is performing the surgery while Jesus is standing in the operating room right beside the doctor holding his hand while he preforms the surgery.  This image came to my mind while the doctor was speaking. I realized then in that awful, horrific moment Jesus was PRESENT, He was right there with me while I heard this awful news.

This news really threw me into a place that was and still is very scarey. A place of intense sadness, depression, anxiety, a place where I don't feel like me. Where all I want to do is go to sleep. Sleep is the one place where my brain will stop thinking. Where my brain won't think and believe the lies of "I'm broken," and "My biological clock is in super sonic mode." Some days this place is where I reside and then some days I don't live there. I believe that is God's grace giving me a break and fueling me to endure this suffering.

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