Allergic to food

I'll start off today with some really GREAT news -- I'm an auntie again! My brother and his wife welcomed a beautiful baby girl on Friday, September 21, and her name is Isla. We are thrilled to have another gorgeous niece - we now have two nephews and two nieces! I can't wait to get to Arizona and love on that little bundle. Also, my dear friend N and her husband welcomed a baby girl on Saturday morning. I got to go see her on Sunday and she is just perfect -- a tiny little thing and so cuddly. Her name is Lyla, named after my friend's grandmother. Yes, the two babies are Isla and Lyla!

Yesterday we received the final test results that we were waiting for, from the set that Dr. Braverman ordered when we were there at the beginning of the month. It was a mix of really good news and not so good news. Here's how it shakes out:

1. I do NOT have PCOS. Dr. Braverman's exact words were, "no evidence of PCOS." So that is a big relief, not to have to worry about all of the complications (wonky cycles, sub-par eggs, etc.) that would come with that. Yay!
2. My ANA was lower, only 1:80 this time instead of 1:640 like last time. Dr. Braverman said that ANA fluctuates over time so the lower finding doesn't mean too much, and we're treating the ANA anyway with the Lovenox. But better that it's down than up!
3. I have a LOT of food allergies/intolerances. Even Dr. B was surprised at how many. I am allergic/have an intolerance to: Wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, and all dairy products that come from cows' milk. Eating them will cause inflammation that can interfere with the implantation process and lead to early miscarriage. So I have to give up all foods that contain any of those, which is basically most everything I eat -- from now until the end of the first trimester once I get pregnant. This will be especially difficult given that I am already a vegetarian, though now I am thinking that I may have to start eating meat again (at least temporarily). I did a gluten-free diet for two months back in May/June/July, and it wasn't so bad -- I was able to replace a lot of the gluten-containing products that I usually eat with some gluten-free versions. The problem, though, is that most of the things I was eating as substitutes then won't work now, because they typically use oat or rice flour in place of wheat flour, and oats and rice are now off the list. So that is a big bummer. I have been gluten free/dairy free since last Thursday, and just took the rest away yesterday. I am already missing yogurt and oatmeal desperately. Doing OK without bread, but I am sure there will be times when that's a struggle as well. There just isn't much I can eat and I find myself really HUNGRY a lot of the time. Gotta figure out some new, easy recipes that I can make for lunches at work, snacks, etc. Even breakfast is a challenge, since oatmal or yogurt with cereal were my staples.
4. J's sperm DNA fragmentation test came back in the borderline range, meaning than a slightly higher than normal proportion of his sperm have damaged DNA. This can lead to problems both with getting pregnant and staying pregnant. We are still able to try to conceive this cycle, but they are treating him "aggressively" with antiobiotics, a lot of antioxidants, and several lifestyle changes (e.g., no more artificial sweeteners, no laptop on his lap, no sitting with his legs crossed). I think giving up protein powder/shakes will be the toughest one for him!

The last two days have been a whirlwind of phone calls to doctors, pharmacies, infusion centers, and insurance companies to try to get everything straightened out in time for my ovulation this cycle. I've pretty much got it all straightened out; Lovenox injections start on Friday and my intralipid infusion will take place next week, probably on Monday. I am surviving my 11 pills a day and looking forward to the end of the next two weeks, when we'll find out if this cycle is successful or not. Keep your fingers crossed for us!