How I Got Here

Somewhere in the mid 90s - around 1993 my period started to become very heavy and non-stop. I was sent to a gynecologist who never gave me a diagnosis, just put me on the pill with the added remark of "well this is a good thing, because now you can have sex without being concerned about pregnancy" Great thing to say to a 16-year-old. I remain on BCP for about 14 years.

January 2006 - I meet my husband. We did online dating, I'm not ashamed to say it. We met online in November of 2005, but officially met in person in January and started dating in February 2006.

March 2008 - we get engaged. Easter Sunday, driving back home from a family meal.

January 2009 - I go off of BCP. My GP had recommended that I go off of the pill at least six months prior to when I wanted to get pregnant to allow my cycle to stabilize.

February - April 2009 - completely normal, 28 day cycles. No cramps, light flow. This is something that I had never had on the pill - always horrific cramps and VERY heavy flow.

May 2009 - we officially start trying to conceive. I wanted to wait until close enough to the wedding so that I could fit into the dress if we were successful. Also in May, I convocated with my Education degree.

June/July 2009 - no period, but negative pregnancy tests - chalk it up to wedding stress. I get a job offer for a permanent, full-time teaching job.

July 2009 - we get married.

August 2009 - move for work, causing bills to double as we own a house and had to rent one in our new location as well. Financial troubles ensue. By October my job becomes a living nightmare with Satan as a boss. This continues through to June.

May 2010 - my father undergoes a routine heart test and is kept in the hospital for a multiple bypass. The bypass is successful and I deal with yet another stress. Also in May, I get a job transfer to a location closer to our home. Satan takes the next two months to try to make me more miserable. The financial strains get worse. At the end of June we move back to our house, making the living arrangement much more tolerable.

July 2010 - my body hates me and starts to fight back. My period comes heavy and with huge clots and refused to go away. The GP says to watch it for a month. I do and it never stops.

August 2010 - the GP refers me to an OBGYN for the bleeding. Still bleeding.

September 2010 - start new job - LOVE it. Still bleeding.

October 2010 - get a call from the office of the OBGYN, I google the name of the doctor and panick. Still bleeding. Ask for a different referral as the comments I see on the OBGYN are not positive and have me scared.

December 16, 2010 - see new OBGYN. She is amazing. She does a biopsy in office because I'm STILL bleeding.

January 11, 2011 - call from OBGYN. Results are back. Complex Hyperplasia with Atypia. Basically, one step away from cancer. She refers me to an oncologist.

January 26, 2011 - nearly pass out at work and still waiting to see oncologist. Call OBGYN, who discovers that the cancer centre lost my paperwork. Oncologist requests I come to ER to see him ASAP. Go in same day.

January 28, 2011 - D&C performed to stop bleeding and control hyperplasia. Put on three months of medroxyprogesterone to control hyperplasia.

February-April 2011 - normal, light periods. Very little cramping. drugs seem to be working.

April 21, 2011 - see oncologist for followup. He decides that since my symptoms have disappeared, he will do followup biopsy. Schedule appointment for May 7 to find out results.

May 5, 2011 - appointment cancelled, stress goes up.

May 14, 2011 - results appointment. Hyperplasia gone. Now have Squamous Metaplasia which the oncologist says is nothing to worry about. He is pleased with results and decides on one more month of medroxy, then gives the all clear to start TTC again.

June 4, 2011 - on the advice of a friend I start acupuncture treatments for fertility. Can't get an appointment with the ob/gyn until August.

July, 2011 - the acupuncture appears to be working - my body is showing all the signs of trying to ovulate normally. Started chiropractic treatments for my back pain.

August, 2011 - meet with OB/GYN - she orders an HSG (dye test) to make sure my tubes are open

August 25, 2011 - have HSG - left tube operating normally, right tube wouldn't allow dye in, making OB/GYN and radiologist concur that it was spasms, not blockage. Given go-ahead to start Clomid, follicle tracking, and HCG triggers next cycle.

October 17, 2011 - After the previous marathon cycle (56 days), finally get to start the Clomid. 50 mg/day on CD 3-7.

October 24, 2011 - First follicle tracking ultrasound. One good 18mm follicle showing up on the left ovary. Several other smaller ones as well, but nothing to speak of. Take OPK in the evening - it is positive for the first time in over two years.

October 25, 2011 - First HCG trigger shot.

October 26, 2011 - Felt definite ovulation pain in early afternoon - only about 20 hours after the shot.

October 28, 2011 - Followup ultrasound for follicle tracking. The follicle has released the egg and ovulation is confirmed. Fingers crossed. *sidenote* my lining is about 27 mm thick - hopefully hyperplasia has not returned

November 9, 2011 - 14 DPO. Before taking HPT, notice that AF has reared her ugly head. Cycle over, failed. Call OB/GYN to book next follicle tracking U/S. Get call back from Dr. B telling me that she needs to do another test to check for polyps, as my last U/S and the HSG from August didn't look too good. No Clomid next cycle.

November 14, 2011 - Hysterosonogram. CD 6 and lining is down to 11 mm. This means that nearly 16 mm of lining were shed during 4 days of AF. Still too thick. No polyps or irregularities of lining noted by Dr. B or radiologist. Dr. B. insists on doing another biopsy - she thinks hyperplasia is back again.

November 28, 2011 - Endometrial biopsy. This two week wait (for results) is going to be painful. Biopsy not nearly as bad as the previous ones, but still pretty rough!

December 12, 2011 - biopsy results. Simple Hyperplasia without Atypia. Best possible results given the circumstances. Begin treatment with Provera on the 14th.

March 7, 2012 - Endometrial biopsy. Results will determine whether I start fertility treatments again or go back on Provera for another two or three months. Worst pain I've had yet with a biopsy - hoping it's because the lining is much thinner (must research this).

March 8, 2012 - Have decided that instead of waiting three weeks for the results of the biopsy, I am taking matters into my own hands and starting Clomid on CD 3 of the next cycle... just to see if it works. Either the hyperplasia is there and it will be a lost cause, or it isn't and at least we had the potential of conception.

April 2, 2012 - Call from Ob/gyn reveals that the pathologist sent out for a second opinion on my biopsy - either way, it's still hyperplasia, we just don't know how bad it is yet. Wait some more. Clomid doesn't seem to be causing ovulation... looks like I do need the trigger shot afterall.

April 10, 2012 - Call from ob/gyn with results. Complex Hyperplasia with Atypia. Same as a year ago. I just blinked and lost a year. Back to the onocologist for treatment and ob/gyn is going to refer us to ARTUS (fertility centre and RE).

June, 2012 - Met with RE.  She can't do anything until the Hyperplasia is cleared up.  She recommended doing IVF as soon as possible after Hyperplasia clears.

August 2012 - Another biopsy.

September 2012 - Biopsy results... all clear.  Oncologist wants another four months of meds before letting me stop them.  Lord help me!