Thursday 23 August 2007

The Frustrating Case of the Missing Left Ovary


Back in May, I had an ultrasound to check all my bits were in place to start IVF. Then, the nurse couldn't find my left ovary, said it was behind some bowel gas. I have always, always been gassy. (Soz for the TMI). Seriously - my best friend in high school used to say "How are you ever going to get married with that trumpet playing every morning?"

This morning, I met Mr Wandmonkey for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised - I actually said "Wow, he's much skinnier than I thought!" I think I was expecting a big fat black dildo - he was very sleek and slimline. So during todays probing, Nurse Rosa's checking all my innards out, pointing things out to me. The good news is, my right ovary is coming along nicely. She counted eight follies on rightie, the largest being 11mm. Not ready to trigger though - which I was a bit (VERY) bummed about. Darn those expectations - they get you every time.

Then onto left ovary. Leftie? Leftie? Bueller? (That was for you Mony) Where the fuck my left ovary is, I have no idea. Nurse Rosa was SO lovely and apologetic. Because it bloody hurt - she was digging around in there for over ten minutes. Probe indeed. She finally asked "So, are you even sure you have two ovaries?" Ummm - no, I'm not sure. She said it could be obscured by bowel gas, but I've heard that before. I go back on Monday for another scan, this time with a sonographer. I told Nurse Rosa that I'll stay off the baked beans.
So, shit! Any assvice would be greatly appreciated. The good news is, she told me that my right ovary is doing well, and producing more follies than people sometimes get from both ovaries. The bad news is, I'm doing IVF and it frankly sucks. I wish I could create a baby with my husband without medical intervention. It's cold, clinical, unnatural, and makes me cry. A lot.

19 comments:

Mony said...

How interesting. Perhaps you don't have a left ovary? I only discovered my split (didelphys) uterus when I started the IVF ride. I never knew. I think as long as the right one is performing well, then don't stress too much (ha!) I also had an under-achieving left ovary (more usless than Grace..Ed Rooney's secretary) and all, bar one of my eggs came from the right.

Glad the Wandmonkey wasn't to fearsome.

Unknown said...

So I'm assuming you never had an HSG?? Well, I hope your date with the sonographer provides some answers. I've come across a few other blogs where the doctor had trouble accessing either righty or lefty for whatever reason; the reason they were given was because maybe they had not emptied their bladder? Well, I hope you get an answer on Monday. But I'm glad that at least your right ovary is responding well to the meds!!

Best wishes hon :)

minus one said...

I had my first experience with a disappearing ovary last month. Dr. was not too concerned about finding it as it was my right ovary and I don't have a right fallopian tube. A few days later it reappeared, I didn't get an explanation, but my Dr. isn't very good at those anyways.

Hope yours reappears! Sounds like your right is doing just fine.

Betty Boop said...

In my first cycle my left ovary went awol. She could see what she called "bowel shadowing" (now I'm wondering if it was bowel gas!) Eventually she found it by using the ultrasound on my tummy as the ovary had moved up quite high. Needless to say I had a difficult egg collection and was in quite a bit of pain for about 3 days afterwards. I hope yours comes out of hiding in time for EPU

Von said...

Hhhmmm interesting.
But let's look on the bright side of things. You have 8 on your right side. That is a good response.
Try to keep positive.........
Von.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Becks said...

I had the case of missing ovaries too. If they cant find mine they ask me to put my hands under my bum to tilt things for a better view - you could always try that. Good luck.

Angie said...

8 follies sound good to me!

Delenn said...

They always have a problem finding my left ovary, but they do eventually (after a lot of hurt) find it hiding behind the uterus. I guess Lefty likes hide n seek.

I hope everything turns out fine, and it sounds like you are getting good results despite that.

IVF sucks, I totally agree.

AwkwardMoments said...

i have no assvice for ya - just well wishes

Unknown said...

Chin up Top Cat, 8 on one side is still good - in fact much better than we ever managed. Even on the highest dose of drugs (anyone remember when drugs were fun things?), we only ever got two - and on one memorable attempt, none.

'Fraid you're right though, IVF sucks . The bit I hated was when they put the embryos back inside my wife. There was the life we should have been able to create together in bed (or, you know, on a beach, at the park, during a particularly boring wait for the bus, whatever), and instead it was being inserted by a stranger in a mask while my wife sat in uncomfortable stirrups and I stood around like a spare part. Talk about romantic.

Still, despite all that I sincerely hope you find yourself in the same position soon!

raw said...

Wow - so I'm not the only one whose left ovary decides to go into hiding. The good news - the further along I got with my stims, the more visible it became. As Dr. Spiky Hair so kindly referred to it "you know, like when a tree branch is ripe with fruit." Oh, please.

Gemini Girl said...

I also have a strange missing ovary.

In my case though, I had my right tube and ovary removed (only to find out during a third surgery that I still had a partial right ovary).

We didnt know if the right ovary would respond to the meds. It didnt. So like you, my left ovary compensated for my partial right non-working ovary). You never know how many you will have. I thought I was at a disadvantage, but turns out they managed to pull out 20 from my left ovary alone.

IVF is nevera fun thing. It must be harder for you since you had a baby naturally the first time around. We've been there and if you need encouragment, let us know!

Dr. Grumbles said...

Well, I hope you get answers about your left ovary (like if you even have one)!

Even though you're not ready to trigger yet, sounds like righty is performing well! Good luck!

Chastity said...

Oh yes, it really would be nice if we could all just produce a baby by simply having sex w/ our husbands, sounds so easy!

I hope they are able to figure out the mystery of your left ovary. Sounds like things w/ the other are going well, and I'm sure you'll get that trigger in the very near future!

Carrie said...

I've no idea where your left ovary is but I wanted to say that I understand how you feel about the IVF. It is cold, clinical and unnatural and I'm sorry its making you cry.

Anonymous said...

So why were you expecting a big fat black dildo? I'm just curious! :)

As for the IVF process, I hate feeling like we have to pay thousands of dollars just for the chance to try to make a baby. I want to ask the clinic to play some music during fertilization, so there is a little ambience or something.

The Oneliner (Christina) said...

oh my word! that must be so frustrating. weird? i bet it turns up, prolly just running late.
love the trumphet comment.

Geohde said...

They better sort the lefty issue our before retrieval. I don't see how they can get any eggs from that side if it can't be found with the probe, anyway.

Good thing that righty is doing a good job.

JJ said...

Well Im glad to hear that Righty is picking up the slack! Goodness...come out come out wherever you are lefty!
Being in this seemingly never ending journey is so BLAH...Im sorry IVF is in the future..but hope it brings success!!