Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Recovering like a Champ

I removed the sterol strips yesterday and my incisions look beautiful. I can't believe they took my appendix put through one f them! Wen the doctor said the stitches would dissolve, he wasn't kidding. There are no stitches. The 4 small insidious look more like scratches and I can tell I won't have any scars. Amazing.

Of course, meanwhile I learned Shakira is pregnant, and an acquaintance invited me for her baby shower. Those are always downers. Not sure why Shakira being pregnant bothers me. Perhaps I would like her to suffer from infertility as well?  Perhaps because she's 35 years old and it all seems so easy? Who knows. Anyways I remain in complete abstinence here, as I must wait 2 weeks after surgery to resume our "ttc" routine. My post-op appointment is this Friday.

Life remains beautiful and sunny in Northern California. Fall is here, with its many shades of reddish brown. I made gluten free, dairy free pumpkin cupcakes before surgery. They were delicious. I'm looking forward to making zucchini bread next.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. Hopefully we'll have a pregnancy next year. If we're lucky, I'll get a positive pregnancy test for Christmas.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Updates, updates

I haven't written in FOREVER and I know, I know... My bad. I'm currently recovering from a laparoscopy - yes, it turns out I have endometriosis. We decided to go for surgery and here I am, recovering. I was operated at Stanford Hospital, on October 2nd, by the very famous Dr. Camram Nezhat, specialist in endometriosis.

I still have to hear from my doctor what he saw inside my pelvic cavity... The assistant surgeon would not tell us! He said there was a lot of endometriosis, but they removed it all - including my appendix- and I should have no trouble conceiving from now on. I really want to believe that, but you know, once you go through infertility, you're scared to death to HOPE. Hope, hope hope. I had so much hope with the IUI's and all.


Before the surgery, I researched a lot about endometriosis and diet, and it turns out a dairy-free, gluten-free diet, with no red meat and low sugar is ideal. I've followed the diet and I did notice improvement during the 2 cycles that preceded my operation. I am going to continue following the diet, perhaps even become vegan. I know it sounds extreme, but if that is what it takes, I'm willing to do it. I don't want to go through surgery again, if I can avoid it.

The year is almost over. Halloween advertisement is at its full force. Costco has Christmas decoration items for sale. This is probably my last winter in America- we intend to move back to Brazil next Spring. Will I be pregnant by then? I don't know. I want to believe I will, but it may take another 6 months before we conceive.

Depression wise, I'm still taking Cymbalta 60mg. Nothing has changed. I may as well need medication for the rest of my life, unless things change.  A very happy thanksgiving to my Canadian Friends!

God bless,

Ivana