My name is Jessica. I want to share my story because I've found so much hope and comfort in reading others'. And because putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) is part of the healing process for me. I'm someone with a strong desire to communicate and share. A musician by birth and occupation, for me expression is compulsive. Like a child who blurts out a secret and ruins a surprise, I just can't help myself.
M and I have been married since 2007. For a while we tried to avoid pregnancy. We were both finishing degrees, I am a singer who was trying to build a career. Blah, blah, blah. The story is generic. You get it. In 2012 (I nearing age 30 and M nearing 35) we began actively trying to start our family, such an exciting time for people who never thought fertility would be an issue! I'm one of seven children, my mother's siblings all have large families. M's family has no issues, either. Fertility was something I foolishly took for granted. After a year of trying unsuccessfully, we began to get the basic tests done. This is annoyingly time consuming, even more so when you have an HMO, (which I LOVE). Getting referrals, finding the right docs, getting the appointments, etc. This takes time.
M tested normal. All my levels tested normal. The next steps were for me to undergo some more specific examinations: HSG and an ultrasound. The HSG was the most painful thing I can imagine, and it showed blockage of my tubes. The ultrasound showed a suspected endometrioma, as the specialist said, "probably stage III or IV endometriosis." So casually. Her advice? "In vitro is probably the only chance you have of conceiving."
As someone with ethical and practical reservations concerning in vitro fertilization, my heart sank. I asked about laparoscopy, as I'd become aware of the method, and her response was to tell me that a surgery would not increase my chances of conceiving. I was disappointed to hear that but also skeptical based on the testimonials of friends I know. Besides not being entirely comfortable with the mass production of embryos and possibilities of multiple births associated with in vitro, I wanted to get to the bottom of what was wrong with my body! Fertility was certainly a priority, but even more so is having a healthy body, and the thought of using an artificial solution that doesn't even address the cause of my infertility didn't sit well with me. I have become an advocate of finding natural solutions to health problems, because I believe they tend to treat the cause of problems much better than conventional methods. That being said, I believe in a hybrid approach between conventional and holistic medicine. And so my journey of research began.
Thankfully, through friends who have had much success, I came to know of a special institute that focuses on healing the whole woman and helping couples conceive naturally, something that is singularly important to me. They work with women to help them understand the subtleties of their cycles and reproductive health. Using surgical, medicinal, and dietary methods as well as day-to-day monitoring of a women's biological fertility markers, they have had tremendous success in treating infertility while preserving the integrity of the reproductive anatomy and returning it to a state of wellness if there is a problem. In approaching treatment this way, they are able to allow couples to conceive children naturally, AND...statistically, the success rate of their methods is as high as that of in vitro fertilization.
The good news didn't stop there for me- there are only nine surgeons in the world who are trained to perform NaPro Technology-based laparoscopies- not only as the only means of confirming a diagnosis but as a method of treating endometriosis with methods that help prevent the return. And one of those doctors is in my HMO network. Score!
As quickly as I could, I arranged to become a patient of Dr. Jillian Stalling in Peoria, IL. I've never had a doctor listen as genuinely and carefully as she listened to me, and I knew from the beginning that I was in the best hands possible. Two months later I had a laparoscopy turned laparotomy, (see HERE), and was given a 40% chance of conceiving naturally, not bad for someone with my condition!
I trust that if I continue working with Dr. Stalling and remain vigilant in my lifestyle and diet choices that I will someday be blessed to welcome children into our lives.
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