We took the left fork...

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The last blog was "a fork in the road"... we decided to take a left.  As in west... west of Duke... I got a second opinion at UNC today.  Yes, I ventured into "Tarhole" territory... me the NC State fan!  It was painful at first seeing the disgusting color that is tarhole blue everywhere.  And then we drove around the massive parking deck for what seemed like hours searching for a spot.  And then we waited for an hour to see the doctor.  And then a man was almost arrested in the waiting room as we waited - long story... we were in no apparent danger.  Anyway, we got the 2nd opinion.

And the news you all have waited to hear is... I still need a hysterectomy.  BUT not tomorrow.  Not even next month.  We can wait on that "end of the road" surgery until we're ready.  She (Dr. Mersereau is her name - love her!) said I could remain on the monthly injections for up to a year if need be.  It's called Lupron and it has been holding off the pain for about 4 weeks now. 

She also wanted to do more testing to check my eggs... today she could not see any.  She is concerned that we have had my uterus tested to death, but not enough information about my eggs.  If they are good (testing will be done with estrogen stimulation), then we may be able to proceed with IVF or surrogacy.  If not, then we will not waste our time doing a hysterectomy and leaving the ovaries (which is the main cause of the pain anyway!)  and we won't waste our money preparing for a surrogacy that might not happen without eggs! 

I felt very good about her honesty, her ability to see the big picture, and her empathy as a woman with a uterus!  We know that WITHOUT A MIRACLE FROM GOD, I will never be able to carry a baby in my own belly.  But we are not going forward with the hysterectomy at this point, which means we are keeping that option open for God to work that miracle if He sees fit.  Otherwise, we will keep doing the monthly injections for pain control, test my uterus (she wants to make sure, not guess, if it is scarring back over - this will be done by hysteroscopy, very easy!), and test my ovaries.  And when the time comes for the hysterectomy, it will all come out - troublesome ovaries & all!  We will most likely move forward with the adoption process at this point and I guess I will be venturing more into enemy (UNC) territory more often in the future!

Thanks for all of you guys' continued support, prayers, love, & honesty.  Tonight I saw the most AMAZING sunset - I'm a sunset person.  I felt as if God was shining on my heart confirming my visit to UNC & Dr. Mersereau today.

Love,

"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor" ~ Isaiah 61:3

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