[JNealP]

Ok, so the journey continues.

I read at some point along the way that the infertility journey was one full of ups and downs. I guess I didn't comprehend that, or maybe I just chose to believe that it wouldn't be that way for Sara and me. I guess this is a "down" leg of the journey.

I went yesterday to my urologist for a cystoscope. For those of you that don't know what it is, try not to imagine it. It was incredibly painful and stressful. Not a good day for me, to say the least. We went into the procedure thinking that Dr. Socher would be able to detect the problem and plan a fix, but it wasn't that easy. He was unable to isolate the blockage. He said that the ultrasound showed a blockage, but the cystoscope had limited capacity to find this blockage. He said that trying to fix a problem that was undetectable by that test would possibly cause more damage and ultimately make everything work in reverse. That is not an option.

Bottom line - he has referred us to a specialist in the area of male infertility in Houston. This guy in Houston is supposedly the BEST in the country for male infertility. Problem is, we are out of money. The tests that we have had done have already cost us over $1000. Insurance doesn't cover infertility.

Please pray for Sara and me that we will clearly know what we need to do. Do we go see this Dr. in Houston, or just wait everything out?

God, we need Your grace for this one...

Neal Price
neal@triumphchurch.com
www.myspace.com/jnealp1

[sarah16]

Wow, all I can say is pray and I hope you can come up with the answer of what to do next. We are always doing that and trying to take each month at a time. I have to remind myself of all the good in my life that God has given me.

[jencat215]

I am sorry for your physical pain (ugh a cystoscopy- I had several but I can imagine it is much worse for a guy!!!). I am for you and Sara. It really isn't fair how financially draining IF is. Someone had posted a link to where you send a letter to your senator or representative asking them to make IF treatments manditory. I'll try to find it again and post it for you. I sent it out to mine-made me feel like I was doing something! Our insurance only covers diagnostic testing. Well, that's great. We can find out what is wrong, but we just can't fix it!!!

If you have a blockage, why isn't it a medical problem-one that insurance should cover?

Stay positive. You'll get this problem fixed. You'll get your chance to be a great dad someday...

[JNealP]

Originally Posted by jencat215

Stay positive. You'll get this problem fixed. You'll get your chance to be a great dad someday...

Thanks, Jencat! I suppose the tone of my message was a little grim. I really feel positive. It's just one of those things where it's hard to look past your present circumstance and see the big picture. I'm working on having a much more positive outlook.

[jencat215]

Neal-I certainly didn't mean that you weren't positive. Asking for prayers and advice to me surely means you aren't giving up!!!

I know what you mean about the big picture. Why can I get pregnant, w/o too much difficulty, only to keep losing my babies? Now that I have lost my left tube I feel like I have lost a piece of me. It is hard not to feel like a piece of hope has gone too. But, my surgeon was so optimistic about my ovaries, right tube and uterus-no endo and everything from the outside looked great. I have a test, HSG, to check the flow of my right tube. I am not a particularly a religious person, but I have to believe that I am meant to be a mom someday. I have so much love to give...And I feel that all the women, and men, here are also meant to be wonderful parents. How can anyone go through all of this and not be!!!

Keep us posted on what you decide to do. I do hope you get to see that Dr. in Houston!

[jenedens6102]

Neal, we always enjoy having men on this forum to show that infertility doesn't just affect the women or the wives but the whole couple. We have male factor as well and unfortunately weren't given much hope that anything could be done to correct the issue. However, we did have success in February during a natural cycle. That was God's grace. Unfortunately we did miscarry but that was due to ectopic pregnancy. Please stay positive, stay focused on Christ and He will lead you in the direction you should go. We are here to support you!