Complications and Delays

I just got home from our base ultrasound appointment. I was expecting a routine check up. Bloodwork, vaginal ultrasound, a couple of follicles, and a beautiful uterine lining. So uneventful and routine, in fact, that the visit to the clinic and the pharmacy were going to be just a small part of my day off of work. As I lay in those fabulous stirrups and the nurse is looking at my uterine lining, she notices a small little "bump" or something that would not normally be there. At this point in my cycle, my uterus should just look like a long, thin line - like a deflated balloon - on the ultrasound monitor. There was something stuck in my deflated balloon! The nurse went to consult the doctor.

The nurse came back in the room and said that the doctor wanted to see me and that we should do a Sonohystogram right away to get a better look at my uterus. I've been here before. A little more than 1 year ago, back in early 2009 when I was new to the clinic and to my new RE, I had my first sonohystogram. I am proud to say, I had a beautiful uterus at that time! So, on the fly, I get to do another one of these things today. Basically, for those novice infertility people out there, a sonohystogram involves putting a catheter into the uterus to inject saline (basically water) into my "balloon". It fills up the uterus to find out if the lining is smooth. It gives a more 3D look to the ultrasound picture. It is not the most comfortable process in the world. A little cramping, but no residual effects for me. I get to take antibiotics for another 5 days though!

As the doctor (not my RE) is doing the procedure, the screen is filled with a picture of my now inflated uterus. It should be a big, black blob. And it is, except for this little round thing on the edge. The doctor thinks she can maybe "wash" this blob away (think shooting extra saline in there - ouch), but no can do. It seems to be a polyp - about a 1cm polyp in a 3cm cavity. Argh! I just did an IUI in February. Did it just start growing since then? Or is the polyp that I had removed in July 2008 growing back? How did we not notice this until today - I've been in stirrups every other month for 2 years!! Double argh! Unfortunately, the doctor didn't have any answers to these questions.

The doctor recommended that the polyp be removed before we start the IVF cycle. Polyps are normal. Some women are more prone to get them than others, and many women conceive naturally with them all the time. It might not make any difference to remove it, but when you're spending bookoo dollars on IVF treatment, you don't want anything in the way that may hinder implantation or the process in any way. A polyp the size of the tip of my pinkie finger should be able to be removed in a simple office procedure. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The removal requires a small, same day surgery where they completely knock you out. The surgery itself takes about 30 minutes, but the anesthesia makes things more complicated. I would know, I did this same exact thing almost 2 years ago with a darn little polyp the size of the tip of my thumb. De ja vu.

So to get the surgery done as soon as possible, we scheduled it for the day after tomorrow, May 21st. Luckily, the doctor had an opening so soon. Then, allowing for healing time, and then to get back into the regimen/schedule for IVF, we're looking at late July now. Two whole months from now. Summer will be half over. Crazy frustrating.

Although the delay is a major bummer, and I'm none too happy about it, there are some upsides to the delay. (I don't want to be a total downer on this post!) I will be able to have fun this spring/early summer without worrying about IVF and early pregnancy.
1.) A good friend is getting married in early June in between the time I would have had retrieval/transfer.
2.) My 30th birthday (Ahhh!) is coming up, and a much needed girl trip is happening in June.
3.) My husband's birthday is the 4th of July, and of course, we celebrate a lot at that time for many reasons.

On another happy side note, I did buy a new dining set today that will be delivered in 2 weeks. Gotta be excited about that! And the dive, diner, drive thru place we went to today was a sports bar themed, burger and beer place. It was oh so greasy-good!