Acupuncture, Malaria and Waiting

There hasn’t been much to say lately because we are still in the process of waiting for my  husband’s junk to be tested – we still have a month to go, in fact.  Meantime, we are trying the natural way and I am charting.  Up until this current cycle, my recent cycles have been pretty regular – long (34-36 days), but regular.  However, this cycle’s ovulation was delayed due to some events that occurred this past few weeks.  I:  traveled to and from Rwanda, bought a house and moved, incurred extreme stress at work…and tried fertility acupuncture.

Hmm…I hate to blame the acupuncture.  How could it stand up against all of those life stresses?  The first time I went, the Dr. said she would not only regulate my cycles, but get them closer together.  She also recommended that I drink these nasty herbs (I was later told by an RE that the herbs could actually have an adverse effect), which I never did, mainly because I was too lazy to go get the very specific type of teapot she required (for sale in their office for only $89!).  I went several times – loved how relaxed it made me feel, especially the hot light she pointed at my belly and the pulsating needles placed atop my ovaries.  The only evidence I have as to whether or not it was effective (I only went for a month and the recommended time of treatment is three months, but now I live far from where I was going, blah blah blah…) is that I didn’t ovulate until around day 36 this cycle.  And I never really clicked with that Dr.  Should I find an acupuncturist near my new place and continue or not?

So Rwanda:  the last time I went (December, 2008), I took a prophylactic anti-malarial medication called Malarone.  The thing about Malarone is that you have to continue taking it for a week after you’re back, and then you can’t try for pregnancy for a month after that.  Knowing the other ex-pats there don’t take it (they just slather on fresh smelling mosquito repellent), I opted not to on this trip.  With my cycles as long as they are, we need to take every opportunity possible to try to conceive!  It occurred to me how irrational that is that I was willing to risk contracting malaria for the possibility of getting pregnant.  That makes a lot of sense.  A pregnant woman with malaria?  Anyway, we told my father in law, the infectious disease specialist, and he went through the roof!  He said I could still come down with malaria up until nine weeks after my return.  He said if I get a fever, we must RUSH me to the emergency room – do not pass go, do not collect $200.  It’s only been a month since I got back, so I am not nearly out of the woods yet!  Hee hee.

As far as waiting is concerned…well, we had sex just a day or two before the day I (am pretty sure I) ovulated, so you never know.  I could be pregnant right now.  The only symptoms, though, are extreme irritability and intense anxiety, which pretty much describe me the second half of every cycle.  The likelihood is tiny.  As to the other waiting…for my husband’s test…what else can I say?  We really hope the varicocele repair surgery worked!  Since we just bought a house, we really don’t want to consider IVF.  We just don’t have the discretionary funds right now.

So yes, we’re waiting for my period (or not), my husband’s supersonic sperm test, and for malaria to kick in.

That said, loving the new home and spending my time not waiting, not lacking, but enjoying my life.

Love,

Phoebe

PS. At a birthday party this weekend, yet another couple of friends of ours announced their pregnancy that came after “just stopping preventing.”  I only let it ruin about three hours of my day and then got over it.

Sisters are doin’ it (ovulatin’) for themselves…

For the 2nd cycle in a row since the Clomid, I ovulated on my own. It happened…probably Friday? And we did the nasty just in case, even though my husband’s junk is probably not regenerated just yet. That said, we timed it perfectly. I was so proud of us. And proud of my ov’s for operating correctly, and proud of myself for (cue patriotic music) TAKING CHARGE OF MY FERTILITY, knowing the signs of ovulation and not just letting doctors tell me when and where and how.

I also tried fertility acupuncture for the first time this morning. She put a bunch of needles in me and then turned off the light and I passed out. It was phenomenal. I am on a plan of getting stuck once a week for the next three months to regulate the cycles and even make them shorter. She also said I seemed “pretty clean” in terms of toxins, but to choose organic foods from here on out. And she is going to bill my insurance for shoulder pain. Hollah!!!!!

Phoebe out.