Catholic Cysters Corner Part II

[mrs.annielynch]

I just moved to CO and started going to a dr who works with the creighton method. Previously, I used the Billings method. I have PCOS and just had a 50 day cycle & spent the last 2 1/2 with awful cramping. I tried to have an ultrasound to find out what was going on, but I had to get established with a dr here first. He's working with me about getting set up with Dr. Hilgers at Pope Paul VI for the NaPro stuff. I'm really interested - my husband comes from a family of 11 and we have really struggled with the realization that we may or may not be able to have any. However, I've been trying to figure out our insurance stuff. We have Blue Cross Blue Shield which is out-of-network. Has anyone who has done this had BCBS? Do you know if any of the NaPro lab work is allowed? Thanks!

[anselmi]

Hey! I lived in Denver for a year and went to Dr Anselmi who is a Creighton dr that works with dr hilgers...just curious if that is who you are going to. I sent in all my lab work to dr hilgers and got set up with him and then had a lap with him in '08. I also have BCBS, yes it is out of network and it sucks! The original lab work cost me $750! Depending on what your deductable is and how close you are to meeting it, it may not cost that much but it just really sucks that they are out of network with most insurances. Thankfully he is totally worth it. After having surgery with him, he helped me have monthly periods, i was going three months without one at a time. Then once I was ready to get pregnant, it only took us two months on his perscriptions to get pregnant! Please ask away with ANY questions you have! I know he is expensive, if you can afford it...its totally worth it!

Good luck!

[katieranck2202]

I just found this thread and I am so happy to find others in my same situation. I frequent another infertility board, and I am one of a few that practice the Church's teachings while treating Infertility.

I have been married for over 5 years, starting practicing NFP from the start, first to TTA and then to TTC. Was diagnosed with PCOS a year later and was given Metformin from the beginning. I spent a year with a regular RE, but didn't get too far. For the past 2 years, I have been working with a NaPro doc in Cincinnati, Dr. Mattingly, and he has helped me so much. I have gone from irregular annovulatory cycles to fairly normal length and ovulatory cycles. Right now I am waiting for 4 more good cycles before scheduling a Lap with Dr. Parker in Columbus, another great NaPro surgeon. I just wanted to say Hello and I look forward to talking with you guys.

[anselmi]

katie-Welcome...its always nice to see others practicing the Church's teachings! I'm so jealous that you have NaPro drs in your area, I have to go to Dr. Hilgers in Omaha because there are absolutely none in Houston. But I guess if there isn't one in the area going to the one that created NaPro is a good concellation!

Does your dr think you have endo? I had a lap in 2008 and dr hilgers was able clean out some endo and confirm my pcos. He also cut a ligament in there that made my periods less painful...always an added bonus!

Well, welcome to the group and good luck!

Oh how did your dr get you to have ovulatory cycles? Are you ttc right now or are you waiting for the lap?

[katieranck2202]

I was thrilled to find a NaPro doctor when I moved to the area 2 years ago. I only recently went to Columbus for the consult. I am also very lucky in having a support group that gets together once a month in which we all go to Dr. Mattingly, so it helps me to help others with their struggles.

He doesn't think I have any kind of severe endo, but I have gotten to the point in treatments that it is the next logical step. I have never experienced any symptoms, but having been on two full years of treatments (clomid, femera, and now femera with HCG injects), I haven't experienced any + test.

When I started with Dr. M, I was still very much annovulatory. It took me almost 8 cycles to have an ovulatory cycle to even have the hormone study done (and 8 cycles at over 40+ days meant it was almost a year). He started me on Femera at that point and I added in HCG injects 6 months ago. Recently, my P+11 b/w has shown improvement, so I am hoping I won't need the Lap. Dr. P wanted 4-6 more "good" cycles with the treatment I am doing before a lap can be done, so I am still TTC now.

I like having people understand what I mean when I say P+11 and such. For most people, I have to translate.

[anselmi]

Well it sounds like you are in great hands! Before I was ttc, I was just on prometrium to have periods then that stopped working so I went to progesterone in oil shots. When we started trying I got on clomid and it only took two months! I thought I was going to have the wedge resection, as did dr hilgers. It will happen for you!
Just a tip, I don't know how dry you are up there with all the meds, but I used preseed, you can buy it online, to help carry the sperm. It mimics peak type mucus. You just apply it internnaly like monastat and they have an external lube too! I'v always been quite dry so i had to have something but i found out that most other lubes, ky and astroglide... block the sperm where preseed helps carry the sperm like your peak type mucus to the egg. Its just one of those extra helper things...A lot of women on here swear by it including me...sorry you didn't ask for it but it is good advice i wish i had when we started.

goodluck with everything and keep us posted!

[katie_girl]

Hey you guys!! We are also TTC!!! I thought about going to the Pope Paul V1 institute in Omaha, Ne (I live in Lincoln, Ne) but I have been with my Dr. here in lincoln for almost 11 years!! He is the only NFP Dr in Lincoln and he is taking great care of me. Right now I am in the middle of an ultrasound series to see if I even have any sign of ovulation - which Dr doesn't think I do. He said that everything else looks great and the only problem is I probably dont ovulate. He said by this next Monday he should know for sure and I might be able to start Clomid NEXT cycle!!! He said ideally, we should be pregnant by March!! I am so excited!!! Do any of you ladies know how much Clomid cost? I was considering trying to pay out of pocket for it, because I know once the insurance company sees that im taking fertility meds they will say adios to me in that department....

Im so glad I found this thread!!! I love my Catholic faith and its sooooooo wonderful to be able to talk to people who understand NFP and not think you are crazy!!!

[katieranck2202]

Do any of you ladies know how much Clomid cost? I was considering trying to pay out of pocket for it, because I know once the insurance company sees that im taking fertility meds they will say adios to me in that department....

The generic of clomid is cheap, $9 for 5 pills, because it is on the generic list at Walmart, Kroger, Target, etc.

[monikak]

I'm new to this site but would love to talk to other Catholic Women dealing with PCOS. I'm 26 years old and have been battling with PCOS, for a while now, I don't have all the classic symptoms but I feel like I have the ones that r most bothersome. I have been dealing with the hiritism on a daily basis, taking oral progesterone and threading constantly, but its really embarrising,frustrating. I've tried lazer and it didn't work, every time I go back to the doctor they keep pushing birth control. I have tried low dose birth control in the past but it made me feel funny, the symptoms. I'm not married/ sexually active, but plan to be in the near future and I don't want to resort to something I don't believe in, but they keep trying to push it,like its my only option. I have been contemplating electrolyis. Any advice, words of wisdom?

[texasgirl115]

Hi Monikak! Welcome! I'm in a similar situation right now - I'm taking birth control but am not married so I don't have too many qualms about it, but I hear there are some other options available if you go to the right doctor. A lot of women on this thread see doctors in a system called NaPro which is aimed at treating fertility issues in a way that is consistent with Catholic teaching, and I think you can see them for PCOS problems too. I am hesitant to change doctors now, since I am doing so well, but I do have some big qualms about some of the practices my doctor participates in, so I think I will probably have to find someone else if I'm not able to get pregnant easily when the time comes. I have some hair issues myself, and I got some laser done awhile back, but I would recommend that you get your hormones under control before doing something like that, as it won't be as effective and its really expensive. Also, if you have a lot of hair, laser if probably more cost-effective than electrolysis, because with electrolysis you will require a lot of treatments. Use this board to find a good PCOS doctor if you can. I wish you the best of luck!

Catholic Cysters - I have a prayer request to make of you. To some of you this probably seems a really trivial matter, but I have had a really (REALLY) hard time getting through college, and am in my 7th year (with a little break in the middle) of undergraduate studies. I am in what is God willing my last semester and am having a bit of a hard time here at the end, and I am not sure I am going to pass all of my classes. Without telling you my whole life story as to how this happened (although if there is any cyster who has similar problems and would like for me to share I would be more than happy to help in any way I can) I ask that you say a prayer for me, that I will make it through these last tough days.

Also, I am an RCIA sponsor, and was wondering if anyone had any gift ideas for my candidate. She will receive the sacraments on the 21st of November (the Feast of Christ the King). Say a prayer for her while you're at it!

Have a great week, and God bless you all!

[anselmi]

The best place to find an nfp doctor is onemoresoul.com If you want a NaPro dr you need to find a dr in your area that does CRM (which is the creighton method) There is another type of nfp called couple to couple (CCL) but I don't know what type of medical help they give. NaPro was created by the dr that created the creighton method for charting your cycles. It is all amazing work that they do. He gets down to the reason for your problems instead of masking them with birth control. He treats your hormone imbalances. Hopefully you live in an area that has a NaPro dr if not you can do what i do and go to the man that created this all himself...it may be more expensive but it has totally been worth it for me becaue im pregnant! Goodluck! And please ask any quesitons you may have!