Tuesday, October 31

My Polycystic Ovaries


I had a transvaginal ultrasound yesterday and it revealed, as I expected, that I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Good news is the doctor assured me that there will be no need for surgery since the size of my cysts are still below a centimeter. I wouldn't want to have another D&C (raspa), oh please! The bad news, however, is that our plans for baby number 2 will be impossible for now (at least not forever).

What is PCOS or Stein-Leventhal syndrome? Basically, the condition is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles or absent menses, multiple cysts on the ovaries, and infertility. My doctor told me that I am having a hormonal imbalance. Because of this hormonal imbalance, my egg cells do not mature and are not released from the ovaries. Since they are not released from the ovaries, I do not have my monthly menstrual period. The follicles where these undeveloped eggs are contained accumulate as cysts. Look at the picture below.

Image source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/17209.htm


I feel really bad seeing the results. I'll be on the pill again to regulate my cycle. That means plans for Baby No. 2 will be shelved until further notice. I'll be taking Diane for 6 months to one year. I'm scheduled for another ultrasound after 6 months. I need to regulate my blood sugar levels, too. That means I'll be on a low sugar diet from now on.
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I read a blog of a woman who's suffering from secondary infertility because of PCOS. They are on their second year of trying to conceive Baby No. 2. We're been trying ever since Rap turned 3 years old. She posted a picture of her 3 year old son and wrote about this child being a "miracle". I feel the same way about Rap. He is really a miracle and a gift from God.

Most people, even those close to us, think that Rap was an unplanned pregnancy. Well, he wasn't in a way. Daddy Jun wanted to have a family right away. He was already earning that time and felt that the next step in his life should be having a family. I was a fresh grad from college and was so in love. When we asked for Mama's permission for us to get married because I was already pregnant, she was furious. Papa did not talk to me for a month. I had to endure the pain of them hating me during my first trimester. I'm glad Daddyjun showered me all the love and care I needed during that time. Everything turned out fine eventually.

Rap was well taken care of inside my tummy. I started having my regular pre-natal checkups since he was four weeks inside of me. Maybe that's why he's grown up to be a smart boy. When Rap came out, everybody adored him especially from my side of the family. He's the first apo of my parents. He's the first grandson bearing the Flores name.

Six months after Rap was born, I started to bleed profusely and had a D&C or raspa. My doctor told me that I had polyps in my uterus and she had to scrape it out. After that, my cycles went haywire. I took pills for nearly 3 years to have a regular cycle. I stopped taking them during the time we were trying for Baby No. 2. Yesterday, I learned that I had to take pills again to have monthly menstrual cycles. Because if I don't, the cysts would require surgery.

Rap wasn't unplanned after all. God planned everything. He gave me Rap at the right time, while my ovaries are still healthy to conceive a child. It is really a miracle that he was conceived after all.

Sunday, October 22

Mama's Home

Mama's home after her three month vacation in the US and Canada. She arrived last Wednesday, but I was too sick to meet her at the airport. I'm glad she's home so I can stop worrying about Papa, the canteen, and the house at Pasig. Of course, the best part of her homecoming is the pasalubong!

I got a pair of pants and a blouse. Ate Betsy (a cousin from San Diego) sent me a bottle of Victoria Secret's Sweet Temptation body splash to add to my collection. I now got 7 bottles, yipee! One scent for each day, taray! Ate Titang (another cousin from Vancouver) personally made a set of earrings and necklace for me. Mama said she's making jewelries as a hobby during her days off. Tita Fely (Mama's college friend from New Jersey) sent me some Bath and Body Works' Mango and Mandarin lotion. Rap got 4 soccer shirts, chocolates, and a jacket. Daddyjun got a shirt, too.

The family had a feast of our traditional weekend Sinigang na Baboy, Steamed Fish, and Adobong Samaral. I brought the Magic Sing and they sang their hearts out (except me because my voice's still hoarse).

It was nice seeing everybody together in the house. I know that my parents enjoyed what we had today. Here are pictures that I took:

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Friday, October 20

Got hit by the flu... but still blogging

It's the first time in years since the flu struck me. The last time I got the bug was way back in grade school. I may be diabetic but I'm a toughie when it comes to influenza. Yesterday was a different story.

Wednesday, I got a runny nose and started to sneeze nonstop (no joking!). I thought it was just an allergic to reaction that I get so often nowadays since we moved here in Makati. I cleaned our room and dusted everything. I took a bath afterwards. This always works every time I get allergic rhinitis. But to no avail. I spent the whole afternoon napping while I let CJ play Neopets. That night, I started to take cold medications, ascorbic acid, and lots of water.

I woke up Thursday morning feeling a little bit better. So I thought. I prepared Daddyjun's lunch bag as usual. Made him breakfast. As soon as he left for work I decided to change the sheets. I thought that the week-long bed sheets may be the culprit. I changed ours and Rap's bedsheets, cleaned the room (again ), and sprayed some anti-dust mite spray on the beds and curtains. By noon I felt the pangs of headache. By mid-afternoon I was already hot with temperature of 39 Celsius. CJ was the only one with me in the house. Mama was doing some grocery shopping and Rap and Junin were still in school. I slept and waited for them instead. When Junin and Rap finally arrived, I asked him to get some medicines for me. He gave me some Bioflu, water and ascorbic acid. He offered to cook some hot noodle soup. I was feeling really dizzy at this time. My joints were aching and my legs were shaking every time I stood up. I was worried that I might not be able to be well enough for Rap's game on Saturday. They are having their football quarter finals at the Ateneo. I conditioned myself that I have to be well ASAP.

Junin brought the noodle soup in a bowl up to our bedroom. I pulled myself together and finished everything up. I wasn't able to taste and smell any of it, though. But the warmth that I felt in my throat was soooo gooood! By the time the soup was gone, I was sweating all over. And I felt well afterwards. I still stayed in bed until 8pm just in time for Daddyjun's arrival from the office and our dinner. My legs were not shaking anymore and my head started to feel okay.

Today, I'm feeling better. I still have a stuffed nose and I have a nasty cough that made my voice raspy. I even went with Daddyjun to get the car tuned up and did some groceries. And of course, the body may be weak but my blogging spirit ain't gonna rest.

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Note to self

Here are the lessons I have learned:

First, I should always take my daily dose of Vitamin C. I have a bottle of ascorbic acid in the medicine box but I only take it when I feel the early onsets of colds and cough. An ounce of prevention is still worth more than a pound of cure;

Second, I must not push myself to the limit. I should have asked Junin to change the sheets instead but I don't want to look lazy in the eyes of my mother in law. I may be in-charge of changing our bedsheet but yesterday was an exception; and

Lastly, I should have taken flu medications as soon as I felt it.

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Just a thought...

I may have contracted the virus when I went to the NBI office in Carriedo last Monday. I had to claim my clearance and there were lots of people. Not to mention the pollution I was exposed to riding the jeepney from Makati to Sta. Cruz.

Wednesday, October 18

Our Home (by next year)

We'll be moving out next year from our apartment to our new home. We opted not to take a condo unit near Makati. For one, it's expensive and small. We were able to find a house and lot at the back of Robinson's Cainta. It's cheaper and bigger at 100 sq. m. Just enough for the four of us and our furnitures.

Some of Daddyjun's officemates tell us of the awful traffic in that place. I'm not surprised at all. I'm a Cainta girl. Although Greenwoods would be nearer, though. We decided that we can't get a bargain like this anywhere near the Metro. At the same price we'll be paying, we would be getting a house and lot in Laguna. Both routes are traffic, but at least we wouldn't pay the expensive toll fee at the SLEX. Plus, phone calls wouldn't be long distance.

Rap will be transferring to a new school that will be nearer to the place. Daddyjun and I are eyeing Lourdes School Mandaluyong. Rap wants a school that has a football field. He wants to continue playing football.

This will be our future home. Construction will be done by March or April.

Thursday, October 5

Burned Out

Someone close to me is suffering psychologically. We have recently discovered that what's making her sick is not because of her physical weaknesses but of psychological stress.

I'm sad because I consider this someone as a pillar of strength. All along, as it turned out lately, she was just letting us see a happy face. I'm sad because I see the kids suffering, too. They're coping in their own way. I had a recent talk with the older child(who is just thirteen) and she tells me everything she can think of telling me. She needs someone to talk to. The younger one is still absorbed with his cards and his friends. The husband is kind and gentle. He also helps in the household chores. His only fault is that he can't financially provide more for his family.

How does a mother become so depressed and unfulfilled?

When one is young, restless, and in love, one cannot see the bigger picture. The time comes when one realizes that, yes, love, ALONE, doesn't make the world go round. Marriage is not made up of love ALONE but also of bills, bills, and some more bills.