Tuesday, August 14, 2012

TTC #2, PCOS, and Arthritis

The last time I saw my RE was almost a year ago. I went to have my first annual post baby and get script for regular BCP since we were done BFing. My ovaries were cyst free and they said my ute looked great.

We had originally planned to try again this spring, but I broke my knee at the end of January and my leg has been shit ever since. I've always had chronic joint problems (skeletal, joint, and bone problems run in my family, one of my many genetic gifts) but this latest injury was the clincher for my left knee. Basically, I've known since HS that my knee caps are loose and don't track anywhere near where they should, and this causes them to slide out from side to side. Sometimes it's excruciating and sometimes it's just kinda annoying, but every time it happens it either breaks or wears down the cartilage in the joint. Nothing ever happens when the joint is engaged (when my knees are bent) but when my quads are relaxed and I'm doing something completely mundane, like turning to sit down. This last time I was in line at a ski lift and turned to talk to a friend, popped the damn thing out both to the left and the right and managed to chip off most of the cartilage I had left and then some bone. BTW this all happened on the first day of my vacation. Literally adding insult to injury. >:(

So I had an MRI, flew home in my leg immobilizer, and had arthroscopic surgery to get all the pieces out. Unfortunately my quad completely shut down during that week. My surgeon said it's not uncommon, every time I moved it I was pushing my knee cap back out and causing more pain, so my brain had pretty much shut off that muscle. That meant recovery was a bitch and a half because when you don't use them even for a little while, muscles atrophy. I was pretty much in bed for a full month, and my mom, ILs, and sister took turns staying and helping take care of E for almost 6 weeks. There is reconstructive surgery to fix the chronic issues in my knees, but the success rate isn't that great and it's just a stop gap before they replace the whole thing. Anyway, I'm not where I was before, but I'm finally comfortable with the idea of being pregnant again.

I put a call in to my trusty doctor and started Met in June, first cycle off BCP was July 13th. I'm charting of course, using OPKs, and supplementing with vitex like I did last time. PCOS wise I feel I'm doing pretty well, I can still ovulate without clomid (YAY!) and this cycle was actually 9 days shorter than my average (sweet). My LP was a couple days shorter than usual, but I'm not going to worry about it yet.

Weight is still a big concern for me with a second pregnancy. Last time by the day I delivered I was up 50 pounds. Most of that was my own fault, and then starting around 35 weeks my BP started to go up and I started to gain a lot of water weight. Like 3 or 4 pounds a week. Then I had a c-section and learned the true meaning of swelling. Dear God in heaven. Anyway, I'm actually a few pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant with E, but I look completely different. My stomach still has that postpartum pouch so many of us get and can't seem to shake. I'm at peace with it for now though, my biggest concern is not to repeat the same mistakes as last time not just to be cute, but so my gimpy leg can stand a chance under all that pressure.

For now we're just taking it one day at a time and one cycle at a time. My doctor is cool with us doing our own thing, but wants to see me if I'm not KU after 3 cycles to do another cyst check. I'm feeling confident, which is still weird for me when it comes to this stuff. Here's hoping my next call to the office will be to announce my BFP!

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