February 21, 2010

Welcome ICLW!

::waving hello:: I'm Amanda and I've been married to my high school sweetheart, C, for three years. We currently live in central Arkansas, thanks to C's job, and are originally from the Houston area. We have two very spoiled dogs! Here is our story, thus far:

I was diagnosed with PCOS April 2008 and we actively began TTC. We hadn't been taking precautions for quite some time but never called it "TTC" until we learned about my PCOS. A year passed with nothing so my gyno prescribed me Prometrium and Metformin and sent me on my way. I was super excited, I fully expected a BFP from those two medications. By July, I was back at my gyno to schedule an HSG and a SA for C and I began seeing a RE. That is when it all went to hell. His SA came back zero and my gyno informed me that my husband was sterile. I immediately made an appt with a local urologist and C provided two more SAs. Both were heartbreakingly zero.

Our uro did a testicular biopsy in October that confirmed azoospermia and his advice was to "just adopt". We made an appt with a MFI guru, eight hours away in Houston for a second opinion. In response to learning this, our uro laughed and told us to let him know if the MFI guru found any sperm b/c that would be a real miracle. We began researching donor sperm and dealing with the pain of C not being able to father children. We were devastated and the second opinion was simply a formality in order to ease our minds before we moved on to donor sperm.

Imagine our surprise when Dr. L, our MFI guru, found four sperm in C's fourth SA. Only one was motile but we were overjoyed nonetheless and cried our eyes out. At the end of December, C underwent his second testicular biopsy in order to freeze testicular tissue for us to use for IVF. They believe there are six sperm in the frozen tissue. At this same appt, we learned the cause of C's azoo. He was born with a genetic birth defect called a Y Chromosome Micro Deletion. It's nice to have an answer but it made us incredibly sad at the same time. We are currently aiming for a June IVF with C undergoing his third biopsy so we can use fresh sperm with the frozen as back-up. We're excited, anxious, terrified and all kinds of other mixed up emotions.

Trying to coordinate an IVF cycle in Houston from Arkansas is a nightmare but luckily, we have great Houston doctors and all of our family lives there and have been a big help. We're rushing to do last minute fixes to our house before we bring a baby home and we're both trying to get into better shape. Mainly, we are praying it all works out and we are hopeful that it will.

11 comments:

  1. Wishing you the very best of luck with any upcoming treatment. It is wonderful that they were able to find at least a couple of sperm.

    ~ICLW

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank goodness you went for the 2nd opinion! Your DH's diagnosis is devastating, but it sounds as though you have a strong marriage...and he's willing to go for another biopsy so you can both have your dream...that is inspiring and admirable. Good luck on your June IVF!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello from ICWL, that's fantastic you guys advocated for each other & went on to get a second option. Best of luck with IVF this summer:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Best of luck with your ICSI - we went through it too, and I am thrilled that this technology which didn't exist 20 years ago can create families like mine, and hopefully yours too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so sorry about all the struggles you have encountered. Glad to hear they were able to find some sperm, yay for MFI guru! Wishing you all the best in your upcoming treament!
    ~ICLW~

    ReplyDelete
  6. wishing you all the luck in the world!

    i just finished coordinating an egg donor in florida, a gestational carrier in oregon, my husband in alabama, all to do a transfer in dallas. it will drive you bonkers until the minute it all comes together and you still we have no idea how you managed to pull it off.

    ILCW

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yay for a second opinion! I can't believe the uro told you to "just adopt." There are other options too! Regardless, I sympathize with all of the arrangements. Just did my cycle in Cali with my donor coming from NC and my husband and I in MO and him not able to come during the time. You will get through it! Lots of luck.

    ICLW

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Amanda (and C)

    i've been following your blog for a while now and as a guy with azoo was literally jumping up and down when I read about finding the swimmers after the biopsy...then felt gutted when I read about the Micro Deletion.

    It's such a poxy roller-coaster ride, but we're behind you sharing it all with you and hoping it all works out in the end.

    Strength.

    ICLW
    HopelesslyTTC

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hah to the uro doc. You showed him. I hope your IVF cycle is a success.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! Talk about overcoming some huge odds! I'm so glad that the sperm Guru was able to laugh in the faces of those other docs!

    My husband and I are facing our own unique challenges, as I was born with functioning ovaries....but no uterus. So yeah, I'm a sucker for "beating the odds" type stories. =)

    I truly hope you and your hubby are able to meet your bio babies some day soon!

    -ICLW

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow best of luck with the IVF - what a miracle that they were able to find some sperm for you! Fingers crossed that the IVF is an instant success xxx

    ReplyDelete