07-28-2023

Endosalpingiosis

On July 18th, I had a diagnostic laparoscopy done. The past few months, I have had extreme abdominal pain that just seemed to get worse each month with my period especially. From my research, I figured I had endometriosis. When they got in there, everything was looking good until the dr notices this small little cyst like spots on the front of my uterus. She said it looked liked endometriosis so she took a few of them off, sent them to pathology, and cauterized the rest. I had my post op appointment about a week after surgery to go over my results in detail. Good news is what they found is non cancerous. I was diagnosed with endosalpingiosis, a rare condition characterized by the presence of tubal epithelium outside of the fallopian tube. Symptoms and treatments are similar to endometriosis. Studies have also shown that cancer is found stemming from the tubes, so endosalpingiosis puts me at a higher potential risk. My dr has suggested that when we are not trying for a baby, I should be on birth control to help manage my symptoms. But since she knows our dream is to have a baby, she suggests getting the ball rolling. She also suggests once we know we are completely done having children that I have my tube/uterus removed.

With this diagnosis, if we want our baby we need to do it as soon as we can. We have an initial consult scheduled August 8th at Methodist Womens hospital in Omaha, NE. We are getting the ball rolling and hoping for that positive test by the end of 2023!

08-08-2023

Initial Consult @ Methodist Women\\\'s Hospital

Well we woke up around 6am and was on the road to Omaha by 7am. We got checked in and filled out all the paperwork and paid $420 just for this appointment. We previously learned we are out of network so all of this will be covered by us (and help from you, our wonderful friends and family). We then were brought back, did the normal blood pressure, height and weight stuff, then brought to an office to wait. Candice Carter, APRN, came in and talked to us for about an hour, going over all of our health issues and our story. She did also do an ultrasound to see what everything looked like that way (to be billed later). This appointment was of course overwhelming to me. I cried as we walked out. There is nothing like feeling less than a woman and maybe men feel this too, but knowing you cant conceive the normal way. And then there is the financial stress and knowing if we dont do this, we may never get our baby/babies.

So the next steps are, we will need to head back when a period starts and I will recieve a Sono Hysterosalpingogram($1,050). That will show if my uterus and tube are open. Alfredo will need to do an analysis to check out those swimmers ($315-$525). And I will need to do some lab work of course (which is $707 there but I am going to be looking at cost at Sanford(in network).

So before they decide what is the best option for us, IUI or IVF, we will need to have those tests done before moving forward.

08-29-2023

Tests and Results

On Monday, Aug. 21st, I had some cycle day 3 lab work done and everything came back normal and looking good! On Thursday, Aug. 24th, we headed back down to Omaha for a couple of more tests. I had a sono hysterosalpingogram done. That showed them that my uterus was clear of fibroids and that my only tube is open! Alfredo was able to do his test as well. We had to wait a few days for his results but they called Monday, Aug. 28th with good news! His counts and everything else were normal! BUT since we have been together so long and not getting pregnant, we still need help. They are not sure if maybe I am not ovulating or if it is a tubal issue. Our doctor suggested having me do injections to help me ovulate and then do IUI, type of artificial insemination where they place they sperm in the uterus, which could cost us $2,400-$3,500 (not including the medications). She explained that doing IUI could result with multiples and there is possilbe risk of another ectopic. She gave us the option to do a round or 2 of IUIs before doing IVF or we could go straight to IVF. We have been doing a lot of thinking about what we want to do. We have had 3 failed IUIs but that was with oral meds not injections and that was also when Alfredos count was low, so maybe with his higher count and injections, we could be successful. But we are also scared of another ectopic happening. We are thinking everything through so hopefully we make the right choice.

Thank you all who have read, donated to, and shared our story. Alfredo and I appreciate you all so much!

09-21-2023

not so much update

This is a not so much update but I wanted to add one incase anyone checks this page for one! We are in the processing of trying to save up money for meds and treatment. We have spent $1,995 so far. I know the page says we have raised $655 but that was used for our appointments (thank you to those who have donated to make those appointments happen!) My medications are $1,000 and our treatment will be $840. So we are just working on that goal to hopefully be able to do a treatment soon! Thank you to those who have asked me about our journey and for those sending positive thoughts, prayers, and vibes!

10-19-2023

Failed IUI

September 21st, Aunt flo started and we got the OKAY to proceed with IUI with injections. Alfredo drove all the way to Omaha and back on the 23rd so I would be able to start my $1,000 meds on the 24th. I did an injection every day for a week and a half, 10 days in the belly and 1 day in my lower back. I also had 4 ultrasounds done at a local clinic and blood work done 3 times as well. October 5th, we went to the clinic early in the morning, got inseminated, waited, then made our drive back home to wait 2 long weeks to see if it worked. October 19th, 2 weeks since IUI, negative pregnancy test after negative. We were so hopeful this was going to be it. My body responded to great to medications. I had 3 promising size follicles growing on my left ovary. Unfortunately, it just wasnt good enough and it is still not our time. This round cost us about $1,893, not including the ultrasounds and lab work I had done.

So what is next: They want to try another round of IUI with injections. They increased my dose and added anothe medication, increasing the medication cost to around $2,000. Between medications and procedure, we will need about $3,000. So I will not have many updates for a while as we will being putting this on hold again, trying to save and raise money for our next round. As always, we appreciate your love and support through out our fertility journey.

11-02-2023

another not so much update

A week after finding out our IUI failed, I finally was able to process some thoughts. I called the clinic and asked some questions. Of course one was is there a known reason why this round didnt work? and of course the answer is unfortunately there is no known reason. I also asked about the new meds because honestly when they explained it before, I was still in depression mode and nothing process right in my brain. So they increased the injection dose in hopes I would have more follicles ready to release then just 3, the new medication would help slow down ovulation so that eggs are not releasing when they are not mature enough. And as stated in the previous update, meds would be $2,000. With cost of meds and procedure being around $3,000, I wonder if it would be even worth it to try or are we better off going straight to IVF. Alfredos count also decreased the day of IUI which didnt help. If we did another IUI, he would need better numbers but it is so hard to know. If we went straight to IVF, they would inject a single sperm into an egg. IVF would cost us about $11,000 for the retrieval(take eggs out), $5,250 for the transfer (put fertilized embryos into uterus) and medications range from $3000-$9000. So about $20,000. Our chances with IUI are about 25% and IVF is about 40-45%. Both are a lot of money and stinks to know our chances are low. We have a big decision to make but until then we will continue to save money!

We appreciate you all for checking in on our journey!

01-09-2024

2024 update

Well it is 2024 and it will be 11 years in April. 11 long years trying for a baby, naturally and with help from specialists. Knowing we need IVF is sometimes really stressfull and nerve wracking, The financial burden is so extremely stressful. And I know what some people say "you are young and still have time" and trust me I want to believe it. I recently started having similar symptoms prior to my surgery in July so I messaged my obgyn asking about the return of endosalpingiosis. I was then told that it can return at anytime and birth control can help with symptoms. Obviosuly with trying for a baby, birth control is not ideal. The thought of my pain returning makes me feel even more rushed to try and get pregnant. No, pregnancy is not going to take my pain away or heal my endosalpingiosis but the return of it will continue to make it harder for us to concieve, plus the pain is horrible and I would prefer not to live like this forever. I will eventually need my tube and uterus out but we have dreamed of having a baby for so long and are not ready to give up yet.

But we were just informed prices of course have increased at our clinic by 3%. Small increase but big enough to make us stressed out more then we were before. We had to get a loan for our previous IUI so we are hopefully can get closer to paying that off just to most likely get another for IVF.

Hopefully 2024 will be the year we get that positive test. Please contintue to share our fundraiser and our story. Love and appreciate you all!