This is what I recently found

You're not alone. The following organizations provide support and patient advocacy.

American Fertility Association (AFA)

666 Fifth Avenue
Suite 278
New York, NY 10103
888–917–3777(Helpline)
www.theafa.org

The American Fertility Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about reproductive disease, and supports families during struggles with infertility and adoption. The AFA provides a broad range of services designed to help people gather information about medical treatments, options, coping techniques, legal and insurance issues, and other concerns. The AFA services focus on increasing awareness of the medical and social issues around reproductive health and infertility, as well as prevention efforts that target young people to help them make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive lives.

Fertile Hope

P.O. Box 624
New York, New York 10014
888–994–HOPE
www.fertilehope.org

Fertile Hope is a national non–profit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support, and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. The organization is striving to advance fertility research, help advance the understanding of fertility risks and preservation options, allow and encourage personal educated decisions, make preservation treatments available regardless of economic status and help patients cope with important planning issues.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

7910 Woodmont Ave, STE 1350
Bethesda, MD 20814
888-623-0744 (Helpline)
301-652-9375 (Fax)
www.resolve.org

RESOLVE is a non-profit organization mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders, and to provide support services and physician referral and education. The mission of RESOLVE is to provide timely, compassionate support and information to people who are experiencing infertility and to increase awareness of infertility issues through public education and advocacy.

GROWING FRUSTRATION

I AM TOTALLY FRUSTRATED.

I am going to do the insemination in july and I am I was thinking about doing it in Atlanta because I am trying to switch jobs, but my two (YES TWO!!!!) medical coverages, definity health and blue cross blue shield will not cover anything!  No labs, ultrasound, medications... I know that it didn't cover inseminations but everthing is going to be paid out of my pocket. What also upset me is the FACT THAT VIAGRA IS COVERED UNDER MEDICAL INSURANCE.  WHY???????????????  That is not a medicine that is needed for your health.. pitiful.

I am going to start or join a fertility rights advocacy group and hopefully get some thing changed.

 Fertility and Adoption benefits need to be a normal part of medical coverage. PERIOD!!  I am not rich.. Thank God my doctor is "working" with us through a payment plan.  
I will have to pay 325.00 to start and then I have to leave with them two checks for 325.00 that will be deposited every thirty days.  Hopefully it will work the 1st time.. If I doesn't .. (the doc said that he wants to do 3 iui's and then start ivf - GOOD GOD.. I truly hope it doesn't get to that..) if not...this is how it is going to go..

July - 1st IUI  325.00
aug   325.00
sept 325.00
if doesn't work
 
october 325.00
nov  325.00
dec   325.00
if it doesn't work

jan  325
feb  325
march  325
if that doesn't work....

ivf.....  - $12,000.00

We'll I made my first appointment - I guess I won't be pregnant by the end of July.. I seems like the I need to bet on August. But that is ok, at least I feel like I am getting something done...instead of just sitting and waiting.  Today is june 22 and the first appointment that I can get it July 30th. The doc just wants to meet me and see my records. Then I guess there begin the succession of doctor appointments. I have to focus, relax and stay positive. Right now I am working a part-time job and the manager is not working with me, when it comes to days off. I have not asked for any since working but last night I brought it up to him and he was not helpful at all.. So........

My strategy - work as much as possible to save for these procedures and then when I start having to go to appointments at the end of next month quit.

Second JOB

I recently picked up a second job so that I can save for the fertility treatment. I think that I am going to get it done in Atlanta because as I showed in the previous post, the pricing is much different.
Anyway, I am working nights and saving all my money in a separate bank account.

While I was working a man and woman came through my line (I work at a clothing store as a cashier at night - almost 80 hours a week..I thought it was going to almost kill me but it is actually ok.
I am lucky to be able to handle the additional work). They had a big cart with baby clothing in it and I was helping them, the woman was pregnant and I remarked how lucky the baby would be.
She told me that they had fertility treatments to have this child and it took 8 TIMES!!! along the way they also had three miscarriages. He husband said that it is the most difficult part
to lose a baby because it makes it very difficult to keep the treatment going to the next month. But it finally worked and they had this thing called a baby fund. I have plans to do that too.
I think that is smart thinking.   It did make me think about how difficult this journey is and also how much perserverence you both have to have.

Listening to them made me a little more focused and stronger. I am not the only one....I am not the only one.

I just have to remember that.




I will tell you about my plans for the baby fund soon..

I think it is a great idea.

Today is NOT a good day

Normally my period is right on target. It is usually around every 25 to 28 days. I skipped a period or almost thought I did and for a moment I began to allow my mind to wander
and dream about the real possibilities of having a child in my arms next year.  Maybe the doctor was wrong!  I waited to get a pregnancy test because I really didn't want to know if I
wasn't  and if you know what that feels like, it is very irriating. Anyway, I got a pregnancy test and took it this morning. Guess what? My period started last night and it was a negative test.
I was so crushed I almost cried but I didn't. I just got angry and I have been so much of the day. I use this blog to track and log my feelings and information so that other women like me
can maybe use this to help them for support, but today it is one of those low moments when the one that needs support is me.

One thing for sure, this really wears you down emotionally.

My Laproscopy Stitches

One thing about the laproscopy that I had. When the doctor says to take 5 days off.. Do so!

I felt better (except for the sore throat) after a couple of days and I was able to sit up and walk around ok.  My husband told me to wait to return to work until the doctor told me to and I really kind
of thought it was excessive (I was ready to go back to work - I felt great!) until I went to work the first day.  Urrrrrrrrrg!  It was very difficult to sit up straight for long periods over a computer. My doctor cut me in four spots - on the bikini line, one slit on each hip maybe less than a inch across and one in my navel.

He complete split my belly button and now I don't have one any longer. (There goes my belly ring!)  Anyway, It felt like something was pulling on my stomach and it made it hurt until I almost had to
lay down in my chair.  That went on for about a week or so. When I would go home I went straight my bed every night to lay down.

My stitches took about 2 months to come out!

Go figure that one!

I would clean my skin and take a shower but the stitches, I guess wasn't ready because one day I looked down and it was gone.  My doctor told me that they would fall out.  I guess I should of had faith. But you when you are at work, everyone has a story. "My stitches came out in a week, mine came out in a couple of days....what is wrong with you, maybe you should call your doc!"  I called the doc and
they told me that they would be able to take them out if I needed them to but I decided to wait. It was not that big of a deal.

My stitches came out neatly, and the skin is flat again (what I mean by that is when I first had my stitches when you rubbed your finger across it, it felt like a bump, the doctor said that would go away and it did) and it healed nicely.

The skin around my cut is dark though. I wonder if that will lighten up in time.

One thing for sure, I notice a change in my period almost immediately.  I was a slave to pain meds during that time and I now I can have a period without all the pain and being so doped up.

So if nothing else happens, I do have that immediate benefit.

Looking for another clinic..

I am looking into another fertility clinic. I am in the process of switching jobs and I am leaving the area. I will be in Atlanta, GA and I contacted many of the clinics.
I just started calling..


*Note - Fertility Clinics range in price so be sure to shop around.

Example -

Knoxville TN = The doctor I am going to 975.00 for IUI procedure. (medical insurance pays for labs and meds)

Atlanta GA =  IUI (496.00 insemination, 220.00 for ultrasound) - $716.00  (medical insurance pays for labs and meds)

Difference of $259.00

It pays to shop around. Always remember to go to the best doctor at the best price. Reputation, live births and all that is important. Money is a factor, but not the only one.

*Also remember to ask about the hours. Some clinics stay open late to acommodate working adults.