Doctor's appointment

I'm just writing a quick post because I am exhausted from a long car ride that included being stuck in D.C. rush-hour traffic. I just wanted to say that my appointment went great. My doctor is really encouraged by my cycles, is sure that I am ovulating and thinks I will get pregnant without the help of drugs. That being said, I asked him if I could start taking Clomid or Femara, and he said that'd be fine. He suggested Tamoxifen, since another doctor in the practice, who is a NaPro doctor, has been starting to use it with patients. Does anyone have experience with this drug? I've read about it on wikipedia and I know it's used to treat breast cancer. I was just wondering if anyone has any personal experience

I will start taking it probably this week, since it's taken on days three through seven. I am getting estradiol drawn on day three and then estradiol and progesterone drawn on peak +7. I think. I don't have the information in front of me.

I also am now officially at forty pounds lost on the doctor's office scale. And that was even with a full bladder (although I did get to take my shoes off. The nurse actually told me I could disrobe as much as I'd like. I'm like, "Don't tempt me!"). My doctor was really happy that I'd lost another five pounds, despite the fact that he said last time I could maintain now. I have been maintaining - adding back in some fats - but I still lost. Then when I got home, I weighed myself here, bladder completely empty and fully disrobed of course, and weighed the lowest I've weighed yet and the lowest I've weighed since college. The amount put me into a new decade of weight and one that I only dreamed about being in for years.

I just can't wait until I get pregnant so the positive effects of this diet can be fully seen. I hope it will be the encouragement that others need to stick to it. I mean, my weight loss might inspire some, but not as much as a pregnancy would. And for selfish reasons, I hope God decides to use me in that way!

I did get the adoption physical done, except for the TB test, and my doctor even commented that I'll probably get pregnant after I send it in. I know that is often a myth, but he is my doctor and he does happen to think I'm going to get pregnant real soon. He even said he expects a call about a positive test in the near future.

I also told him how way back at our first appointment with him, he said how the metformin and the diet will make me feel "whole" again. I said that for many months after starting treatment, I still didn't feel whole. That is, until November. I said I now know what he means. He was happy about that and said usually when a patient tells him they feel whole, they're pregnant within six months! 

So I feel very positive and upbeat right now. I hope this feeling lasts through a new cycle starting. I'm on 12 days post peak (by the way, he said my luteal phases are a great length), and will probably start a new cycle tomorrow. I start the Tamoxifen on day three, so that is right around the corner. 

I also listened to a book on CD during my drive, and it gave me great insights into my struggle with infertility and my faith. It's called Left To Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza and is on loan from Lifehopes. I'm sure some of you have heard of it. I didn't finish it yet, but already it has really made me excited to go deeper into my faith. I don't want to waste this time of struggle and hardship. I often think about how if I am to become pregnant, that I'd look back on how I handled this painful time and wish I'd suffered more gracefully. I want to turn over a new leaf and do just that before it's too late. I'm going to post more about my thoughts in the coming days.

Oh, and one more thing. I know some of you have asked in the past about my progesterone level I talked about in October, that my doctor had deemed perfect. I found out today it was 16.7. He reiterated that it is ideal. I know sometimes blood work can't be compared to other blood work taken at a different lab, but that is mine, for what it is worth. I also asked him about my LH and FSH, and he said when it was tested in October, one was 5 and the other was 4, making it a 1:1 ratio (he told me which was which, but I can't remember). He said that for all intents and purposes, I don't have PCOS anymore, but obviously that's because it is being controlled with medication and diet. If that were to be stopped, it would come back. I just love knowing that I am currently free of it, though!

So this obviously didn't end up being a short post. I always have good intentions to be quick, but then I just write and write! I am about to bake some low G.I. Christmas cookies so I will take pictures and do a post about them. My mom made the cookies last week and they were delicious. You'd never know they were made with Splenda and white wheat flour! I am going to go one step further, though, and make a low G.I. frosting as well. I hope it comes out good!