During my last round of letrozole, I had asked my private consultant to write to my GP and request a laparoscopy as in over 6 years of trying to conceive I had not had one to have a really good look at what was going on inside.
New years eve 2019-2020 I went to see a Gynecologist at the hospital, I had planned what I was going to say, what I wanted to have done, I was fired up and I wasn’t going to be fobbed off this time. I was sitting in the same waiting room as the ladies going in to have their pregnancy scans, which was a bit of a kick in the teeth.
The male doctor called me in and led me to his room, where he shook my hand for a long time and rested his other hand on my shoulder, he looked at me and said “it is so lovely to meet you Robyn, I am so sorry you have had to sit in that waiting room and I wish you were here for other reasons”. My heart sang, what a lovely man!
He then went on to say that he had studied my notes and could see that I had been on a bit of a journey, he said what he had planned for me… a diagnostic laparoscopy, take away any endometriosis if they find it, put dye through my tubes to check if they are clear and ovarian drilling. How does that sound he asked me… I could have cried! Finally! Finally, someone who wants to help me without me paying them for it! He explained what would happen during the operation and that he would get me in as soon as he could to have it done.
I cried with relief on my way home, it felt like a massive weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I couldn’t wait to get on that operating table! Weird I know!
It wasn’t too long before I received an appointment. 9th March 2020. I couldn’t wait to have it done, in the hopes of answering my questions. I also had two customers who had had ovarian drilling and it had resulted in them having babies, it had a very good success rate within 6 months of having it done.
In the build up to the operation, Covid-19 was really starting to make the news, and people were beginning to panic buy! However, I was very lucky to still have the operation on the date I had been given, and only a few days after, non emergency operations were stopped.
So, the day had arrived for the operation, It was day surgery and I was told not to eat or drink after a certain time, and to be at the day unit by 11am. I got there early of course, and I just so happened to be last on the list, so I waited around thirsty and hungry for hours, watching Netflix on my iPad. I eventually went down to theatre at about 4pm.
When I woke up and came around the nurse explained to me that the doctor had not found any endometriosis, my tubes were clear and the drilling had gone as expected and the doctor was very happy with how it had gone.
There was a part of me that was disappointed that nothing had been found to be wrong. I know that seems silly, but if there was something wrong, at least we would have a reason as to why it just isn’t happening. Instead I am just left feeling like I am the problem and I am clearly just shit at getting pregnant. However, I was also feeling positive about the fact I had my ovaries drilled and that was going to get me pregnant!
I was advised to leave it 6 months and if I hadn’t conceived in that time then to go back to my GP and be re referred to the fertility specialist.
I will hold my hands up and say, I underestimated how I would feel after the operation, It took it out of me more than I thought it would. First it was the gas in my body and the horrendous shoulder pain that accompanies that, and of course the pain from the drilling etc. itself.
Around 10 days after the operation, we went into lockdown in the UK.
Tough Times & Chasing Lines 