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How it all began | |
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Jon and I tried to get pregnant for almost 5 years without luck. I miscarried, had a blighted ovum (both of which required a D&C), and had numerous false positive pregnancy tests. We went to a fertility clinic to be checked out (Jon's swimmers were fine), tried the least invasive method there, but nothing seemed to stick. Finally, my last gynecologist, Dr. Hwang thought I might have endometriosis and suggested I undergo laparoscopy to confirm this. A tiny camera was inserted into my abdomen through a tiny incision in my bellybutton. After the surgery (2003) it was confirmed that I had advanced endometriosis and it was interfering with the release of my eggs. We were given two options: surgery or hormonal injections (GnRH analogs). "The goal of hormonal treatment is to simulate pregnancy or menopause because these two conditions inhibit the disease. The growth of the misplaced endometrial tissue is suppressed and can even shrink." We chose the injections. Dr. Hwang said that after 6 months of injections, we could try to conceive again and the chances would be 'good'. He warned me that the side effects would include cessation of menstruation and ovulation, hot flashes, and fatigue. I received my first shot May 20th 2004, the second a month later in June and a third in July. That summer was the hottest summer I've ever experience in Pusan (and no, not because of the hot flashes). We had a six-week heat wave that no amount of air-con could abate. I was teaching a pretty heavy schedule of summer classes and I remember thinking my students were wilting in the stuffy classrooms. I also felt sorry for them because I seemed to have a total lack of energy and felt I wasn't giving my 'all' as a teacher. I literally shuffled my way to school in the morning, and went straight home after my 2 o'clock class. Once home, I'd strip down to a wrung out long damp t-shirt and would fall asleep on the living room floor in front of a fan till Jon came home at 6 and made me some dinner. I didn't have much of an appetite and no extra energy. Finally, in mid-August, I told Jon that those injections were just too much and I didn't think I wanted to continue. I needed to get more energy before the fall semester started up at the university. He agreed. However, as September
progressed, I still felt I wasn't regaining my strength and energy level. It was
really frustrating. In October, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary,
and planned to go to Seoul for a conference (October 9th and 10th). Just
before we left, my legs became so swollen (a condition called edema) that I couldn't
bend at the knees. I
went to PNU Hospital, and saw an orthopedist and a kidney specialist. They
ran some tests and gave me a diuretic, but told me to come back on the
Monday for more tests. On the day we left for the conference I passed out
in the elevator. Jon got scared and wanted me to stay in Busan, but I
refused. Things weren't any better in Seoul - I was so miserable. After that
weekend, I went back to PNU Hospital for a series of tests and saw several
specialists: cardiologist, neurologist, nephrologist, internal medicine,
and an ear/nose/throat specialist. No one could explain the edema, the
fainting or dizziness.
Finally on October 15th, the kidney specialist sent me down to get an ultrasound done on
my bladder and kidneys to check for a possible blockage. During this ultrasound, the technician
exclaimed..."Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant!" To which I responded:
"Oh, I'm not." And she said: "Oh yes you are...and it's big!" and showed
me the monitor. And then I started crying and laughing at the same time. |
