Thursday, June 9, 2011

First NaPro Appt

Yesterday, I had my first appt with a NaPro Ob/Gyn. In terms of duration, it wasn't as long as any of my previous Infertility Appts. But, it was the first time we left a doctor's office feeling happy and with renewed hopes for our future.

We briefly discussed my Medical History and she went through my Creighton Charts. She asked a few questions about Painful Periods, Pelvic Infections and so on. After hearing all this, she said it appears I have no problem getting pregnant but it's only with staying Pregnant. She also reminded us that Low Progesterone can cause Ectopic Pregnancies (which I never knew until I read the Creighton Book) and explained that the 3 possible reasons for recurrent pregnancy losses are:
  1. Clotting Disorders
  2. Chromosomes
  3. Hormonal Abnormalities
Since my previous doctors had covered all the blood work for the first two, I was left with the third one. And the only thing I have to do this cycle is to get my P+3, 5, 7&9 blood work for Estradiol & Progesterone. Is that all? :(
I mean.. I was expecting more tests, Ultrasound Series and so on from all your blogs.

She also quickly checked my cervix and found some Cervical Ectropion (thanks to Dr.Google for the spelling) and that explains why I have an abundance of Cervical Mucus & all the Baby Stamps. She said it shouldn't be a problem unless I am having difficulty identifying my Peak Day.

As of now, she isn't suspicious of Endo because of my pretty good mucus scores. Hmmm, I am wondering about this from what I have read on all your blogs. I have read about some of you who have had good Mucus & Endo. :( She mentioned something about Late Ovulation but didn't tell anything about PCOS. Hmm, I often wonder if I have PCOS but my bloodwork & ultrasounds have never shown that.

To conclude, my thyroid is normal, I don't have any clotting disorders, my uterus and fallopian tube seem ok (from the HSG Report) and our Chromsomes are good. Hmmm, if all this is ok, what is it that is preventing me from staying pregnant. In the back of my mind, I hear words like Endo & PCOS. But then, I remind myself that God has a plan for me. If I have Endo/PCOS, he will reveal it to me when the time is right or maybe I will never know about it. I have such deep fears inside me but then I know this journey is not going to be easy. How can I complaint when so many of my dear Blooger Friends have struggled so much to hold a baby in their arms?

Now ladies, if you could tell me about the tests you had during your first Napro Appt. I know I am on the right path but I need to know if I am doing all I can to improve our chances of having a baby.

And a small prayer I found:
Lord Jesus, give us the insight to make wise decisions, integrity to face the truth and courage to make difficult choices.

10 comments:

  1. Hi!

    I think there are more things that could be done according to Napro.

    I am no expert in RPL, but when I had my miscarriage I was sure everything had been done to prevent it. For example I had P+ 7 blood work (thyroid can be cause for losses ) or pre peak B/W. She is doing only the partial NaPro B/W series. Not sure why.

    Also: From the mucus scores you can sometimes know the likelyhood of endo, but the only, only way to know for sure is a laparoscopy.

    Also sometimes a reason for losses are uterine abnormalities or infections/inflammation which are also only detected via a lap and a biopsy.

    Another possible factor for losses are ovulation abnormalities. Inmature follicles etc, this is only detected via U/S series.

    I think she is on the right track, but as you are feeling not addresing everything.

    PCOS: Do you have long cycles? sugar issues? have been tested hormonally for this? PCOS is not that related for losses, but endo is. If you would like to discuss more send me an email anytime.

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  2. I am glad you got into see the Napro Dr and I don't have much to add in terms of other tests, as those are the same ones i have had. Both of my miscarriages they think were caused by low progesterone, but then I took 2 years even with supplemental progesterone to conceive, so it definitely turned into an ovulation thing with me. Anyway, what I am trying to say is, maybe the progesterone is the key to this (have you been on it before) and I hope that is the case and that you don't have to go through surgery for endo, etc.

    I have been diagnosed with PCOS, but my cycles were fairly normal - 28-30 days, 13-14 day LP. I was on metformin for the entire time I was TTC 2000mg a day and I think it helped. They asked me to stop it now that I am pregnant. I was diagnosed because of my insulin intolerance tests - hence the metformin, also my androgen levels were a bit high (I think that is what it was), etc. Has she tested for that?

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  3. I hope it is something that can be fixed quickly like with progesterone. I am sorry for all your losses.

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  4. I saw you on the yahoo forum. I am glad that you are seeing a napro dr now. It will not be a quick fix, but it will be worth it in the end.
    I agree with the others that there are more things to check. I had to use yellow stamps at first bc I also had tons of WB days. I had endo and did not even know it. I had no pain etc. I had it really bad. Once I had surgery to remove it, I stopped using yellow stamps.
    1) Definitely get the hormone work up for PCOS.
    2) Get an us series to watch your follicles grow and rupture.
    3) laparoscopic surgery to check for endo
    Good Luck!

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  5. Thank you so much for your wonderful comments! I am learning so much about NaPro. I don't know if they have done the bloodwork for PCOS but I guess they would have covered it. I have to go thru my reports but so far, none of my doctors have told that I have PCOS. I had normal results for Insulin Resistance, TSH, Prolactin, LH & FSH. Ultrasounds have always shown normal ovaries. Yet, I have long cycles (32 days-40 days). So that leaves me in doubt.

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  6. I did those same tests - an entire pannel of bloodwork checking my thyroid, any vitamins lacking, etc, and group B strep testing because I lost my last baby very late. I was treated with antibiotics for group B strep and put on 50,000 mg of vitamin D. (To reduce inflamation and because I basically had no vit D in my stystem!) My P+3, 5, 7&9 all came back excellent as did my thyroid stuff. I think if you had any infection issues it would show up in TEB or FEB though. I'm pregnant again and my dr is consulting with Hilgers while I wait because she doesn't know what to do with me. Since my progest levels are high, the only answer they have for my losses is the group B strep. In the meantime, I am on an absolute sugar free diet, doing 100 mg progest just because it won't hurt to add that in, taking my D, and waiting for plan B. I hope you find your answers. God bless you.

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  7. Yeah the whole PCOS thing...I did not look like a candidate at all. It seems as if you and I were in the same situation. My numbers were a bit off and my cycle days were only a few days longer than normal. Dr. Hilgers sinced this could be an issue but not for sure until he went in and did the laparascopy and that was when he discovered that I was for sure a PCOS patient.

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  8. dont ask me while I spelled sinced that way...silly....I meant sensed! ha

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  9. My first appt with a NaPro dr:

    Looked at my charts.

    Did a pelvic exam. Ruled me out for endo. Diagnosed me with pelvic flood disorder (really tight muscles).

    Said my charts were diagnostic; no need for tests: Short LP with limited mucus indicated a wimpy follicle/CL

    Prescribed HCG injections to strengthen my hormones/cycle.

    (The rest of the story: HCG turned me into a train wreck and same NaPro doctor ordered prog. for me. I also convinced same Dr to order thyroid panel and submitted my info to Dr. H himself for a 2nd opinion).

    I am praying you have great success... I love NaPro and the CrMS.

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  10. 40% of women everywhere suffer from painful pelvic cramping before, during and after their periods. Cramps can be accompanied by heavy bleeding, mood swings, fatigue. Here you can find out more about what are the causes and signs of continuously women’s pain, what are its symptoms and how it is diagnosed and treated.

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