Hello everybody,

I'm Kelly 25 dh is Ed 30. We have two children ages 5 and 3 (below in picture) named Rebekah & Hannah. We have been ttc for 3 years now and we've done a lot in this process in trying to make our efforts successful. In 2004 I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly cystic ovarian syndrome for those who do not know what that is) I was placed on medication called metformin to regulate my cycles, it didn't work. In august 2005 I had my first lap and hsg the hsg didn't prove anything but the lap removed 2 fibroids, endometriosis and drained a lot of poly cysts on both ovaries. The dr was sure we'd conceive then, but we didn't. We continued ttc from 2005--2006 on our own w/o no success. In Oct 2006 I saw my gyn who then referred me to a infertility specliast. She put me on strong BCP and wanted me to abruptly stop them (like i had with my 2nd child) in January.. that didn't work. They ran another HSG and started me on clomid on cycle days 5-9. January I had another HSG and soon after started clomid, w/ no success. February we did another round of clomid and I ovulated, but failed in ttc. In April I was referred to a reproductive endocrinologist who has been metering my metformin and running metabolic panels on me. We've also been working to get my weight under control. A few weeks ago I had a 7lb cyst burst and start to hemorrhage on my right ovary so I was admitted and they did emergency surgery to remove and drain it. The right ovary they said will never ovulate again, bc the tumor damaged the eggs, but it will throw off hormones. So I didn't loose it, thankfully. After the gyn on base spoke with my RE they came to the collective decision IVF would be our best bet so I have an appt in a few weeks with my RE to start this process. Needless to say it's been a long drawn out up hill battle and what sucks is ppl who was in the 2week wait with me has already given birth and are on their way to TTC again.. talk about sad.

Anyway thats our struggle, its gonna be nice to meet y'all!!

[Anne07Nov05]

Welcome, Kelly! I'm Anne, 29, also a military wife! (Navy diver; 16+ yrs AD.) We have one son, Thatcher Holden, 22 months, and having been TTC #2 for about a year.

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles... you have had WAY more than your fair share. It's completely sucks that it's so hard for some people. It sounds like you have proactive doctors, so that's good.

A 7 lb cyst... wow, that's really big. I'm glad you're okay from it, although I know the last thing you need is one more obstacle. For what it's worth, I'll share a similar story: It took my sister 4.5 yrs to conceive #1. When she was 13 wks pregnant, she developed a massive cyst on her ovary, which cut off blood supply to the ovary and killed the tissue. They had to go in and remove it. (Thankfully her little girl was fine!) She was so upset about this since she already had so many TTC issues (including PCOS and endometriosis), plus the ovary that was removed was the one that had released the egg that got her pregnant the first time, so she viewed that as her "good ovary." (She'd been monitored closely during the TTC process, and conceived via IUI, so that's how she knew which ovary it was.) Anyway, the point I'm getting at is that she conceived #2 when her DD was 16 months old... it happened for her MUCH faster than her first time, even though she only had one ovary to work with... so don't give up hope. (I know... we get sick of hearing that phrase, but it's true...) Hopefully this latest obstacle won't set you back.

I definitely understand being frustrated about seeing people who started TTC with you already having babies already. One of my good friends had her first child a few months AFTER I started TTC #2... and now she's already 4.5 months pregnant again. It's hard to realize that in the time I've been TTC, she has delivered a baby AND gotten pregnant again... I'm happy for her, but just so frustrated with my body.

I wish you the best, and look forward to having you on this board!

Thanks so much Anne.

That is so great to hear about your sister. It really makes me feel hopeful. It makes the second time I"ve had tumors like this removed off or out of my ovaries/uterus, when I first came in I was screaming at them to just do a hysterectomy. I really don't feel I can endure anymore medical problems.

I'm like you I'm happy for my friends, but at times I feel they don't remember what it was like to struggle once they got pregnant. I've lost a few friends because I guess they feel we no longer have anything in common or what? No clue, but I wished they would realize that I am happy for them, its just hard for me to sit and listen to all their plans and milestones with nothing to share myself except my "newest dr appt" or my newest "test" you know? It truly does after a while become so frustrating you feel like just giving up.

Anyway, best of luck and hopefully we'll both be getting a bfp soon.