HERE WE GO 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HERE'S THE SAD UPDATE:
I REALLY THINK THIS THING IS NEVER GOING TO WORK OUT, I AM SO HEARTBROKEN. I WENT IN TODAY FOR MY BASELINE ULTRASOUND AND BLOOD WORK, I AM GOOD TO GO AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO START MY BIRTH CONTROL PILLS TODAY, AND START MY LUPRON INJECTIONS ON SUNDAY. GOOD, GREAT!!!!
SO I CONTACTED MY CHIEF ON THE SHIP AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE WAS MAD, PISSED (AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO, THE SHIP IS DEPLOYING IN A MONTH OR TWO AND THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ME FAST. AT FIRST, HE DIDN'T REALLY SAY MUCH, JUST THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE CAPTAIN AND GET BACK TO ME, BUT THIS WAS REALLY BAD TIMING, I SHOULDN'T BE GETTING PREGNANT....
HE ASKED ME ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS, LIKE "WHY DIDN'T YOU PURSUE THIS WHEN YOU WERE ON SHORE DUTY IN CA" AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WE DID, 3 TIMES AND HIT A ROAD BLOCK EACH TIME AND IT'S DOCUMENTED IN MY MEDICAL RECORD. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T THINK WE COULD AFFORD IT FOR A YEAR OR WTO AND WE HAD KIND OF PUT IT ON THE BACK BURNER TO PURSUE LATER. HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE CAPTAIN AND GET BACK TO ME.
THEY CALLED AT ABOUT 8AM TODAY AND SAID THAT "WE AREN'T TAKING YOU, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES WE'LL PLAY THEM RIGHT BACK WITH YOU, YOU HAVE TO CONTACT YOUR DETAILER, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW". SO I CALLED MY DETAILER (PERSON WHO WRITES MY ORDERS TO A NEW COMMAND) AND LEFT A MESSAGE. HE HASN'T CALLED ME BACK BUT THE SHIP DID, THEY SAID, "YOU ARE STILL ATTACHED TO US, REPORT TO RSO ON MONDAY AND DON'T BE LATE" THAT'S WHEN I ASKED ABOUT, "WE'LL WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS $2000 IN MEDICATION I JUST PURCHASED AND IT'S TIME SENSITIVE (LIKE 4-6 MONTHS) AND THE $1000 IN DOCTORS VISITS THIS WEEK THAT I'LL HAVE TO REPEAT IF I EVER WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN?" AND HE SAID, "THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, YOU ARE ON SEA DUTY AND YOU CAN'T GET PREGNANT" . I TOLD HIM THAT I WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WEREN'T TAKING ME ON THE SHIP. I TOLD HIM THAT THE DOCTOR SAID TO START MY LUPRO SHOTS ON SUNDAY AND I TOLD HIM I WAS STARTING THE MEDICATIONS (VERY RESPECTFULLY, VERY RESPECTFULLY!!!!), AND HE TOLD ME HE WOULD SEND ME TO CAPTAINS MAST IF I DID. I WANTED TO TELL HIM, "IT'S MY RIGHT AS A WOMAN, AS A PERSON TO PURSUE INFERTILITY TREATMENT" BUT I AM NOT SURE IF MY RIGHTS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE I AM IN THE MILITARY OR NOT.
SO HERE I AM BALLING MY EYES OUT AFTER I GET OFF THE PHONE WITH MY CHIEF. I WENT TO NAVY LEGAL BUT THEY LEFT AT 1200 TODAY BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY. I TALKED ON THE PHONE TO THE DUTY CHAPLAIN AND HE RECOMMENDED I SET UP A MEETING WITH LEGAL AND MEDICAL AND FIND OUT IF MY CHIEF CAN REALLY TELL ME THIS. I WENT TO MEDICAL AND EXPLAINED IT TO THEM. THE DOCTOR RECOMMENDED THAT FOR MY SAFETY AND HEALTH, I NOT TAKE THE MEDS BECAUSE IF I END UP ON THE SHIP IT COULD GIVE ME REAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IF I AM NOT MONIITORED PROPERLY. BUT THEY HAD NO CLUE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MY CHIEF COULD TELL ME THAT. BOTH THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT (WHO WAS PRIOR MILITARY) AND THE MILITARY DOCTOR SAID THEY DON'T THINK HE CAN TELL ME, "YOU CAN'T PURSUE INFERTILITY TREATMENTS" BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE SO THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED I TALK TO LEGAL ABOUT IT. WELL, I AM DUE TO REPORT ON MONDAY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY. I'VE REALLY MADE MY CHIEF MAD SO HE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A PLANE TICKET WAITING FOR ME TO JOIN THE SHIP DOWN IN SAN DIEGO.... I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF I'LL GET TIME TO TALK TO LEGAL.
SO NOW I AM STUCK...
1. SHOULD I START THE MEDICATIONS AND RISK GETTING PUT ON THE SHIP, OR NOT TAKE THEM BUT THEN END UP BEING STUCK HERE AND NOT ABLE TO DO THE IVF BECAUSE I DIDN'T START THE MEDICATIONS?
2. IF I START THE MEDICATIONS, WILL I EVEN BE ABLE TO GO ON THE SHIP, BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE MONITORED WITH AN ULTRASOUND AND HAVE MY BLOOD CHECKED. THAT WOULD BE GOOD, BUT THEN......
3. CAN MY CHIEF REALLY SEND ME TO CAPTAINS MAST FOR TAKING THE MEDS AND PURSUING THE INFERTILITY TREATMENT
4. IF HE CAN, CAN I AFFORD HAVING 1/2 MY PAY TAKEN FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS AND BEING REDUCED IN RATE AFTER I JUST GOT PROMOTED? (AS PUNISHMENT THEY TAKE AWAY 1/2TO3-4 OF PAY FOR 1-6 MONTHS, PUT PEOPLE ON RESTRICTION, REDUCE THEIR RANK....
IF ANYONE, ANYONE HAS ANY ADVICE, RECOMMENDATIONS, PEOPLE TO TALK TO, HELP ME LOOK FOR LAWS, ANYONE ELSE IN THE MILITARY OR WITH A SPOUSE/FAMILY MEMBER IN THE MILITARY THAT COULD RUN THIS BY THEIR LEGAL PERSONNEL ASAP..... I COULD REALLY USE THE HELP.
Some of you know about mine and Mark's IVF trials and tribulations, so I'll try and spare you all a REAL long story but there's finally some REAL excitment!!!
I applied for an INCIID IVF scholarship (<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=programs&id=38">http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=programs&id=38</a>) in August and the application finally went for review in December. I got an email in December that we would be notified of whether or not we were selected sometime in January. I haven't heard anything from them yet, but they request that you not call or email on the status of the application, and I have to respect that. But I just can't risk waiting any longer and not being able to do the IVF again this time around. I hate the feeling and fear of "here we go again". I am due to check into my ship on Friday the 16th and my ship is out to sea until the first week of February. There is a possability that I will be flown out to the ship. Our major 6-9 month deployment is scheduled for April 06. So, unless I get into the clinic this week, I'm probably out of luck.
Most people ask me, "why wait until now to do IVF, why not do it before you get to the ship". This is the CLOSEST we've ever gotten to the IVF, we've had 3 close calls in the last 2 years, October 2004, February 2005, and October 2005 but this time we are REALLY going to do it. To me, the ship is really irrelevant at this point. I am not trying to shirk my duties as a sailor although I do feel a bit guilty about it all happening right before I am suppose to check onto the ship, but THE HEART WANTS WHAT THE HEART WANTS. I want a baby so bad and I am just not willing to wait another 9 months, I am just not!!!
I called the IVF clinic we had choosen and my first appt. is on Wednesday at 11. Luckly I've already had a lot of the initial testing, blood results, uterus and fallopian tube procedures (fill them up with saline and look for things). I talked to the nurse today and asked her what the likelyhood of starting the meds this cycle would be (I already have all my meds, unused from the last 3 "close calls"), I am to start my period tomorrow or Wednesday which would mean that would be perfect for some baseline testing, provided the doctor doesn't want to repeat any of the tests, and I'll start 30 days of various medications, have a retrieval in mid february, a transfer 3-5 days later and then a 2 week wait to know if I am pregnant.
YOU GUYS, I AM SO EXCITED, SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE SUCH A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS TIME, I AM SO EXCITED.
And Poor Mark is worried about everything, "how will we buy diapers for the baby if we spend all the money on IVF, what about a crib, clothes, a car seat, stroller" He's so worried. I just keep reassuring him that it will all work out. We've patiently waited and now I am putting my foot down and I am not waiting any longer.
I know you guys will give me support through all of this! I'll be updating my website as things occur and hope you can all think good thoughts and keep us and this IVF in your prayers.
Sorry to ramble......
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HERE'S THE SAD UPDATE:
I REALLY THINK THIS THING IS NEVER GOING TO WORK OUT, I AM SO HEARTBROKEN. I WENT IN TODAY FOR MY BASELINE ULTRASOUND AND BLOOD WORK, I AM GOOD TO GO AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO START MY BIRTH CONTROL PILLS TODAY, AND START MY LUPRON INJECTIONS ON SUNDAY. GOOD, GREAT!!!!
SO I CONTACTED MY CHIEF ON THE SHIP AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE WAS MAD, PISSED (AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO, THE SHIP IS DEPLOYING IN A MONTH OR TWO AND THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ME FAST. AT FIRST, HE DIDN'T REALLY SAY MUCH, JUST THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE CAPTAIN AND GET BACK TO ME, BUT THIS WAS REALLY BAD TIMING, I SHOULDN'T BE GETTING PREGNANT....
HE ASKED ME ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS, LIKE "WHY DIDN'T YOU PURSUE THIS WHEN YOU WERE ON SHORE DUTY IN CA" AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WE DID, 3 TIMES AND HIT A ROAD BLOCK EACH TIME AND IT'S DOCUMENTED IN MY MEDICAL RECORD. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T THINK WE COULD AFFORD IT FOR A YEAR OR WTO AND WE HAD KIND OF PUT IT ON THE BACK BURNER TO PURSUE LATER. HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE CAPTAIN AND GET BACK TO ME.
THEY CALLED AT ABOUT 8AM TODAY AND SAID THAT "WE AREN'T TAKING YOU, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES WE'LL PLAY THEM RIGHT BACK WITH YOU, YOU HAVE TO CONTACT YOUR DETAILER, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW". SO I CALLED MY DETAILER (PERSON WHO WRITES MY ORDERS TO A NEW COMMAND) AND LEFT A MESSAGE. HE HASN'T CALLED ME BACK BUT THE SHIP DID, THEY SAID, "YOU ARE STILL ATTACHED TO US, REPORT TO RSO ON MONDAY AND DON'T BE LATE" THAT'S WHEN I ASKED ABOUT, "WE'LL WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS $2000 IN MEDICATION I JUST PURCHASED AND IT'S TIME SENSITIVE (LIKE 4-6 MONTHS) AND THE $1000 IN DOCTORS VISITS THIS WEEK THAT I'LL HAVE TO REPEAT IF I EVER WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN?" AND HE SAID, "THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, YOU ARE ON SEA DUTY AND YOU CAN'T GET PREGNANT" . I TOLD HIM THAT I WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WEREN'T TAKING ME ON THE SHIP. I TOLD HIM THAT THE DOCTOR SAID TO START MY LUPRO SHOTS ON SUNDAY AND I TOLD HIM I WAS STARTING THE MEDICATIONS (VERY RESPECTFULLY, VERY RESPECTFULLY!!!!), AND HE TOLD ME HE WOULD SEND ME TO CAPTAINS MAST IF I DID. I WANTED TO TELL HIM, "IT'S MY RIGHT AS A WOMAN, AS A PERSON TO PURSUE INFERTILITY TREATMENT" BUT I AM NOT SURE IF MY RIGHTS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE I AM IN THE MILITARY OR NOT.
SO HERE I AM BALLING MY EYES OUT AFTER I GET OFF THE PHONE WITH MY CHIEF. I WENT TO NAVY LEGAL BUT THEY LEFT AT 1200 TODAY BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY. I TALKED ON THE PHONE TO THE DUTY CHAPLAIN AND HE RECOMMENDED I SET UP A MEETING WITH LEGAL AND MEDICAL AND FIND OUT IF MY CHIEF CAN REALLY TELL ME THIS. I WENT TO MEDICAL AND EXPLAINED IT TO THEM. THE DOCTOR RECOMMENDED THAT FOR MY SAFETY AND HEALTH, I NOT TAKE THE MEDS BECAUSE IF I END UP ON THE SHIP IT COULD GIVE ME REAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IF I AM NOT MONIITORED PROPERLY. BUT THEY HAD NO CLUE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MY CHIEF COULD TELL ME THAT. BOTH THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT (WHO WAS PRIOR MILITARY) AND THE MILITARY DOCTOR SAID THEY DON'T THINK HE CAN TELL ME, "YOU CAN'T PURSUE INFERTILITY TREATMENTS" BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE SO THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED I TALK TO LEGAL ABOUT IT. WELL, I AM DUE TO REPORT ON MONDAY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY. I'VE REALLY MADE MY CHIEF MAD SO HE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A PLANE TICKET WAITING FOR ME TO JOIN THE SHIP DOWN IN SAN DIEGO.... I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF I'LL GET TIME TO TALK TO LEGAL.
SO NOW I AM STUCK...
1. SHOULD I START THE MEDICATIONS AND RISK GETTING PUT ON THE SHIP, OR NOT TAKE THEM BUT THEN END UP BEING STUCK HERE AND NOT ABLE TO DO THE IVF BECAUSE I DIDN'T START THE MEDICATIONS?
2. IF I START THE MEDICATIONS, WILL I EVEN BE ABLE TO GO ON THE SHIP, BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE MONITORED WITH AN ULTRASOUND AND HAVE MY BLOOD CHECKED. THAT WOULD BE GOOD, BUT THEN......
3. CAN MY CHIEF REALLY SEND ME TO CAPTAINS MAST FOR TAKING THE MEDS AND PURSUING THE INFERTILITY TREATMENT
4. IF HE CAN, CAN I AFFORD HAVING 1/2 MY PAY TAKEN FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS AND BEING REDUCED IN RATE AFTER I JUST GOT PROMOTED? (AS PUNISHMENT THEY TAKE AWAY 1/2TO3-4 OF PAY FOR 1-6 MONTHS, PUT PEOPLE ON RESTRICTION, REDUCE THEIR RANK....
IF ANYONE, ANYONE HAS ANY ADVICE, RECOMMENDATIONS, PEOPLE TO TALK TO, HELP ME LOOK FOR LAWS, ANYONE ELSE IN THE MILITARY OR WITH A SPOUSE/FAMILY MEMBER IN THE MILITARY THAT COULD RUN THIS BY THEIR LEGAL PERSONNEL ASAP..... I COULD REALLY USE THE HELP.
Some of you know about mine and Mark's IVF trials and tribulations, so I'll try and spare you all a REAL long story but there's finally some REAL excitment!!!
I applied for an INCIID IVF scholarship (<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=programs&id=38">http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=programs&id=38</a>) in August and the application finally went for review in December. I got an email in December that we would be notified of whether or not we were selected sometime in January. I haven't heard anything from them yet, but they request that you not call or email on the status of the application, and I have to respect that. But I just can't risk waiting any longer and not being able to do the IVF again this time around. I hate the feeling and fear of "here we go again". I am due to check into my ship on Friday the 16th and my ship is out to sea until the first week of February. There is a possability that I will be flown out to the ship. Our major 6-9 month deployment is scheduled for April 06. So, unless I get into the clinic this week, I'm probably out of luck.
Most people ask me, "why wait until now to do IVF, why not do it before you get to the ship". This is the CLOSEST we've ever gotten to the IVF, we've had 3 close calls in the last 2 years, October 2004, February 2005, and October 2005 but this time we are REALLY going to do it. To me, the ship is really irrelevant at this point. I am not trying to shirk my duties as a sailor although I do feel a bit guilty about it all happening right before I am suppose to check onto the ship, but THE HEART WANTS WHAT THE HEART WANTS. I want a baby so bad and I am just not willing to wait another 9 months, I am just not!!!
I called the IVF clinic we had choosen and my first appt. is on Wednesday at 11. Luckly I've already had a lot of the initial testing, blood results, uterus and fallopian tube procedures (fill them up with saline and look for things). I talked to the nurse today and asked her what the likelyhood of starting the meds this cycle would be (I already have all my meds, unused from the last 3 "close calls"), I am to start my period tomorrow or Wednesday which would mean that would be perfect for some baseline testing, provided the doctor doesn't want to repeat any of the tests, and I'll start 30 days of various medications, have a retrieval in mid february, a transfer 3-5 days later and then a 2 week wait to know if I am pregnant.
YOU GUYS, I AM SO EXCITED, SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE SUCH A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS TIME, I AM SO EXCITED.
And Poor Mark is worried about everything, "how will we buy diapers for the baby if we spend all the money on IVF, what about a crib, clothes, a car seat, stroller" He's so worried. I just keep reassuring him that it will all work out. We've patiently waited and now I am putting my foot down and I am not waiting any longer.
I know you guys will give me support through all of this! I'll be updating my website as things occur and hope you can all think good thoughts and keep us and this IVF in your prayers.
Sorry to ramble......