4 weeks 6 days
Three days ago I had my first blood test (called a beta test) to confirm this pregnancy!
I was so excited to get that phone call from the clinic to tell me that I am in fact officially pregnant.
The beta level on Monday was 489.7. This is an excellent number, not too high, not too low. A low number (below 100) would be worrisome as that could mean the pregnancy wasn't viable or not progressing. A really high number (over 1500) could be evidence of twins or it could also be evidence of an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube). Yes, even with IVF it is possible to still have an ectopic pregnancy, although it is rare. The nurse asked me to come back in on Wednesday for a second test to make sure the beta levels are rising appropriately. Ideally, beta levels will double in 48 hours.
Yesterday I went in for a 2nd test. The results were 899. The test was taken exactly 48 hours after the first one, but it didn't quite double. They were looking for results closer to 1000 (489.7 x 2 = 979.4).
It may not be anything to worry about, but I am. According to what I've read and from what other people have experienced it could be nothing, everyone is a little different and every one's levels increase at different rates. I was only off by 80.4, but I just don't know what to think.
I'm going in again tomorrow morning for another test. I've been trying to keep busy and occupied last night and today so I don't worry too much about tomorrow.
The good news is that my symptoms have continued to increase. I've never been so excited to feel like crap! The morning (all day) sickness is starting, and I'm completely exhausted all the time. I attended a training workshop today and fell asleep during the presentation and again in the car on the way back (no I wasn't driving!!) and then had a nap for about an hour once I got home.
Now I'm off to bed.
Wish me luck tomorrow.
Showing posts with label IVF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IVF. Show all posts
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
More Pink
9dp3dt
A little more pink entered my life at 4:15 this morning.
After yesterdays breakdown after seeing pink I had a similar one after seeing this pink:
Once I realized that second line was appearing I woke D up and made him look at it. He was really worried when I shook him awake and he realized what time it was. He kept asking if I was ok, is something wrong? I just kept repeating, everything is fine, I just need you to come look at something.
When we got tot he bathroom I shoved the pee stick in his face and asked "what do you see?"
"Pregnant"
Once I had him convinced that a line of any shade, no matter how light, is a positive we had a big hug and a little cry in the bathroom. He asked "so what does this mean, you're a little bit pregnant?"
No dear, there is no such thing as a little bit pregnant, there is pregnant or not. That is all.
I think I will keep taking tests every morning to make sure I'm not just in some kind of dream. It's all very surreal!
We have not told any of our family yet. I want to do that in person and D wants to wait until after we get the official blood test from the FC on Monday. I'm not sure that is going to work out as his parents are going on a big trip starting Tuesday. So either we tell them this weekend, or not till they get back in November.
I'm on call this week so I'm not supposed to leave town, but I think I can make this exception to leave town to tell my parents that after 2 years, 9 months, 2 days, 2 surgeries, 33 cycles, 4 rounds of Femara, 2 failed IUI's, 72 injections, hundreds of blood draws and internal ultrasounds, I am FINALLY pregnant.
A little more pink entered my life at 4:15 this morning.
After yesterdays breakdown after seeing pink I had a similar one after seeing this pink:
Once I realized that second line was appearing I woke D up and made him look at it. He was really worried when I shook him awake and he realized what time it was. He kept asking if I was ok, is something wrong? I just kept repeating, everything is fine, I just need you to come look at something.
When we got tot he bathroom I shoved the pee stick in his face and asked "what do you see?"
"Pregnant"
Once I had him convinced that a line of any shade, no matter how light, is a positive we had a big hug and a little cry in the bathroom. He asked "so what does this mean, you're a little bit pregnant?"
No dear, there is no such thing as a little bit pregnant, there is pregnant or not. That is all.
I think I will keep taking tests every morning to make sure I'm not just in some kind of dream. It's all very surreal!
We have not told any of our family yet. I want to do that in person and D wants to wait until after we get the official blood test from the FC on Monday. I'm not sure that is going to work out as his parents are going on a big trip starting Tuesday. So either we tell them this weekend, or not till they get back in November.
I'm on call this week so I'm not supposed to leave town, but I think I can make this exception to leave town to tell my parents that after 2 years, 9 months, 2 days, 2 surgeries, 33 cycles, 4 rounds of Femara, 2 failed IUI's, 72 injections, hundreds of blood draws and internal ultrasounds, I am FINALLY pregnant.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Spotting
7dp3dt
Today I am 7 days past (7dp) my 3 day transfer (3dt) or 10dpo (days past ovulation). I swore that I wouldn't test until Wednesday but this morning I broke down and tested.
BFN
Not surprising as its still early. Many people don't get a BFP until 14dpo so there is still a chance. Or at least that's what I told my self this morning and what I truly believed until I got home from work.
When I went to the bathroom after work, there it was, plain as day... Pink.
Pink, right there on the toilet paper.
Now, this can mean one of two things;
1- AF is coming
2- AF is not coming
Confused?
Me too.
Normally, without any drugs, I have an LP (days between O and AF) of between 12-13 days. This would mean I would normally expect AF on Wednesday of this week. And normally, I spot for 1-2 days prior to AF. So if I "expect" AF on Wednesday then I spotting today would be normal.
But this is not a normal cycle. This is a cycle on steroids. Ok not steroids literally... The progesterone supplements that I'm on now have the potential to lengthen my LP so who knows when I can actually "expect" AF.
So if this is not AF spotting then what is it?
Implantation spotting is the other option. Implantation spotting occurs when the embryos implant into the uterine walls, this sometimes creates a little blood that eventually makes its way out. This usually happens around 7-8dpo or in my case 4-5dp3dt; 7dp3dt is a little late for implantation spotting but not unheard of.
What is my spotting today? I don't know and there is no way of knowing other than to wait it out.
I'm not feeling very positive right now. To me, the timing if the spotting is more indicative of AF. I feel it's too late for implantation spotting.
When I came out of the bathroom I was bawling, D immediately knew that something had happened and let me cry into his shoulder for a while. I swear I heard him choke back a sob or two as well.
We are heart broken, but still hold that sliver of hope that this could still work out.
Although I don't see how.
Today I am 7 days past (7dp) my 3 day transfer (3dt) or 10dpo (days past ovulation). I swore that I wouldn't test until Wednesday but this morning I broke down and tested.
BFN
Not surprising as its still early. Many people don't get a BFP until 14dpo so there is still a chance. Or at least that's what I told my self this morning and what I truly believed until I got home from work.
When I went to the bathroom after work, there it was, plain as day... Pink.
Pink, right there on the toilet paper.
Now, this can mean one of two things;
1- AF is coming
2- AF is not coming
Confused?
Me too.
Normally, without any drugs, I have an LP (days between O and AF) of between 12-13 days. This would mean I would normally expect AF on Wednesday of this week. And normally, I spot for 1-2 days prior to AF. So if I "expect" AF on Wednesday then I spotting today would be normal.
But this is not a normal cycle. This is a cycle on steroids. Ok not steroids literally... The progesterone supplements that I'm on now have the potential to lengthen my LP so who knows when I can actually "expect" AF.
So if this is not AF spotting then what is it?
Implantation spotting is the other option. Implantation spotting occurs when the embryos implant into the uterine walls, this sometimes creates a little blood that eventually makes its way out. This usually happens around 7-8dpo or in my case 4-5dp3dt; 7dp3dt is a little late for implantation spotting but not unheard of.
What is my spotting today? I don't know and there is no way of knowing other than to wait it out.
I'm not feeling very positive right now. To me, the timing if the spotting is more indicative of AF. I feel it's too late for implantation spotting.
When I came out of the bathroom I was bawling, D immediately knew that something had happened and let me cry into his shoulder for a while. I swear I heard him choke back a sob or two as well.
We are heart broken, but still hold that sliver of hope that this could still work out.
Although I don't see how.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Transfer Day
Today was transfer day!!
Sometime I still can't believe we made it here. It's surreal.
This morning D and I drove down to the FC for our day 3 transfer. When we arrived, we were taken back to the same prep/recovery area that I was in for the retrieval on Friday. We were the only transfer this morning so it was pretty quiet in that area. At our retrieval, there was one other couple back there with us but I don't know what stage they were at... maybe they were doing their transfer that day? Either that or they didn't make it to day 3 or they have amazing embryos and went to day 5! I really hope for them it's the latter.
Anyway, it was quiet...
After I changed, we were brought into the same procedure room as Friday and the nurse checked to make sure my bladder was full enough. It probably could have been a little fuller as they were still having some trouble getting a good picture of my uterus because of my enlarged ovaries. A few minutes later, the RE came in. This is an RE that I'd never met before. He explained the procedure to me and what would be happening step by step. He then had a conversation with the Lab tech and the nurse to confirm identities and an embryo information and generally make sure that everything is food to go.
In the procedure room there is a window, almost like a take-out window with shutters that connects to the lab. During the ER, the contents of each of my follicles were passed through this window and the lab techs confirmed the presence of an egg. This time, the lab loaded 2 of our embryos into a catheter and handed the catheter to the RE. The catheter was wrapped inside a paper package with my name on it and I was asked to confirm that it was in fact my name.
It was.
Phew!
Next my legs were put up into stirrups and the procedure began. First a warmed speculum was inserted. Side note: why don't all doctors warm speculum's??? They are always freezing! Anyway, it was nice that is was warm... Then, the RE and the nurse worked together to track the insertion of the catheter through my cervix and into my uterus.
D and I were both able to see the ultrasound screen which was really cool! They stopped a couple times to take some measurements, and when he found a nice cozy spot in my uterus he stopped and gently pushed the embryos from the catheter to nestle in my uterine lining.
It was THE most AMAZING thing to see. I wish I had taken a picture. No, you can't actually see the embryos, they are still microscopic at this point, but they put them between 2 air bubbles and you can see the bubbles. As the bubbles were released from the end of the catheter, they shone so brightly on the screen, like sparks of light!
Sparks of life!
D and I watched those little sparks for as long as they were on the screen before the nurse took instrument off my belly. The catheter was removed and handed back to the lab where they inspected it under microscope to ensure the embryos are no longer there. When we got the all clear from the lab (literally, they called out "All clear"), I was released from my stirrups and allowed to get dressed and go home.
While I was changing, the nurse brought out a copy of our Embryo Transfer Record. Today we transferred two 8 cell / grade 4 embryos. That is the highest day 3 quality you can have. We are very hopeful that this will work. The remaining 8 will be frozen for future use.
For freezing:
1@ 8 cell / grade 4
2@ 8 cell / grade 3
1@ 10 cell / grade 4 - this one is slightly over developed for day 3, that's why this wasn't used today.
1@ 9 cell / grade 3
1@ 7 cell / grade 3
1@ 5 cell / grade 4
1@ 12 cell / grade 3
I really hope we don't have to use these. At least not anytime soon... maybe to give this little one a sibling?
Today, I'm just thankful to keep my little sparks safe and happy in my tummy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sometime I still can't believe we made it here. It's surreal.
This morning D and I drove down to the FC for our day 3 transfer. When we arrived, we were taken back to the same prep/recovery area that I was in for the retrieval on Friday. We were the only transfer this morning so it was pretty quiet in that area. At our retrieval, there was one other couple back there with us but I don't know what stage they were at... maybe they were doing their transfer that day? Either that or they didn't make it to day 3 or they have amazing embryos and went to day 5! I really hope for them it's the latter.
Anyway, it was quiet...
After I changed, we were brought into the same procedure room as Friday and the nurse checked to make sure my bladder was full enough. It probably could have been a little fuller as they were still having some trouble getting a good picture of my uterus because of my enlarged ovaries. A few minutes later, the RE came in. This is an RE that I'd never met before. He explained the procedure to me and what would be happening step by step. He then had a conversation with the Lab tech and the nurse to confirm identities and an embryo information and generally make sure that everything is food to go.
In the procedure room there is a window, almost like a take-out window with shutters that connects to the lab. During the ER, the contents of each of my follicles were passed through this window and the lab techs confirmed the presence of an egg. This time, the lab loaded 2 of our embryos into a catheter and handed the catheter to the RE. The catheter was wrapped inside a paper package with my name on it and I was asked to confirm that it was in fact my name.
It was.
Phew!
Next my legs were put up into stirrups and the procedure began. First a warmed speculum was inserted. Side note: why don't all doctors warm speculum's??? They are always freezing! Anyway, it was nice that is was warm... Then, the RE and the nurse worked together to track the insertion of the catheter through my cervix and into my uterus.
D and I were both able to see the ultrasound screen which was really cool! They stopped a couple times to take some measurements, and when he found a nice cozy spot in my uterus he stopped and gently pushed the embryos from the catheter to nestle in my uterine lining.
It was THE most AMAZING thing to see. I wish I had taken a picture. No, you can't actually see the embryos, they are still microscopic at this point, but they put them between 2 air bubbles and you can see the bubbles. As the bubbles were released from the end of the catheter, they shone so brightly on the screen, like sparks of light!
Sparks of life!
D and I watched those little sparks for as long as they were on the screen before the nurse took instrument off my belly. The catheter was removed and handed back to the lab where they inspected it under microscope to ensure the embryos are no longer there. When we got the all clear from the lab (literally, they called out "All clear"), I was released from my stirrups and allowed to get dressed and go home.
While I was changing, the nurse brought out a copy of our Embryo Transfer Record. Today we transferred two 8 cell / grade 4 embryos. That is the highest day 3 quality you can have. We are very hopeful that this will work. The remaining 8 will be frozen for future use.
For freezing:
1@ 8 cell / grade 4
2@ 8 cell / grade 3
1@ 10 cell / grade 4 - this one is slightly over developed for day 3, that's why this wasn't used today.
1@ 9 cell / grade 3
1@ 7 cell / grade 3
1@ 5 cell / grade 4
1@ 12 cell / grade 3
I really hope we don't have to use these. At least not anytime soon... maybe to give this little one a sibling?
Today, I'm just thankful to keep my little sparks safe and happy in my tummy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Yesterday's Report (Fertilization Report #2)
I realized this morning that I didn't update with yesterdays lab report. I looked forward to that call so much yesterday morning. I got up early and made coffee and sat watching the phone with my fingers crossed. Luckily they called really early again so I didn't have to wait long. All 10 made it through the night again! The nurse who called didn't have a detailed report but said that they are of mixed quality. She put me on hold and talked with the lab techs and they said I'd be transferring on day 3 (today). Apparently I didn't have enough high quality embryos to qualify for a day 5 transfer.
There is a significant increase in success rates when transferring on day 5 rather than on day 3. In our IVF teaching the statistics they quoted were 60% success rate on day 3 transfers and 80% on day 5 transfers.
So you might ask why do anything other than day 5??
The reason day 5 transfers are so much more successful is because they were already strong enough to make it to day 5 outside of their natural environment. Not many embryos are that strong, and there is a risk that you could lose all embryos before getting to day 5 and have none to transfer.
Embryos flourish in their natural environment - the womb, so if they are not doing so great int he lab, it's better to get them back in their natural environment as soon as possible. Before day 3, the embryos have not developed enough to properly judge which ones are developing better than the others which is why they wait until the 3rd day so they can choose the best to transfer back.
Originally I was hoping that I'd be able to do a day 5 transfer so that I'd be confident in that 80%. It would also mean that I had a bunch of amazing looking embryos; so many that I could afford to take the risk. But that's not the case. Mixed quality meant that of the 10 I had, some were really good and some were only ok. If I pushed for a day 5 transfer, I could be risking losing all of them. I'd rather have them safe in my belly were I could nurture them and keep them safe instead of in a lab.
Generally with a day 3 transfer, they transfer 2 embryos to increase chances of success. With day 5, the will only do 1 except in extenuating circumstances; eg. over 40. Transferring more than 1 embryo on day 5 does not increase the chance of success, only the chance of twins.
D and I had a discussion last night and both agreed that the risk of twins was acceptable on a day 3 transfer and would transfer two if that's what the RE recommends.
I'll be back later with a transfer day post!
There is a significant increase in success rates when transferring on day 5 rather than on day 3. In our IVF teaching the statistics they quoted were 60% success rate on day 3 transfers and 80% on day 5 transfers.
So you might ask why do anything other than day 5??
The reason day 5 transfers are so much more successful is because they were already strong enough to make it to day 5 outside of their natural environment. Not many embryos are that strong, and there is a risk that you could lose all embryos before getting to day 5 and have none to transfer.
Embryos flourish in their natural environment - the womb, so if they are not doing so great int he lab, it's better to get them back in their natural environment as soon as possible. Before day 3, the embryos have not developed enough to properly judge which ones are developing better than the others which is why they wait until the 3rd day so they can choose the best to transfer back.
Originally I was hoping that I'd be able to do a day 5 transfer so that I'd be confident in that 80%. It would also mean that I had a bunch of amazing looking embryos; so many that I could afford to take the risk. But that's not the case. Mixed quality meant that of the 10 I had, some were really good and some were only ok. If I pushed for a day 5 transfer, I could be risking losing all of them. I'd rather have them safe in my belly were I could nurture them and keep them safe instead of in a lab.
Generally with a day 3 transfer, they transfer 2 embryos to increase chances of success. With day 5, the will only do 1 except in extenuating circumstances; eg. over 40. Transferring more than 1 embryo on day 5 does not increase the chance of success, only the chance of twins.
D and I had a discussion last night and both agreed that the risk of twins was acceptable on a day 3 transfer and would transfer two if that's what the RE recommends.
I'll be back later with a transfer day post!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Fertilization Report #1
This morning D and I were woken up by an amazing phone call! The FC called before 9am this morning to give me my fertilization report. Of the 12 eggs retrieved, all of them were mature. This is important because only mature eggs will continue to develop and that's why the FC will only ICSI mature eggs.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is where they select 1 of D's sperm by microscope and inject it into one of my eggs. Because all of mine were mature, were all fertilized by ICSI.
It is normal for some of the embryos to stop developing at some point in this process. After all, they are out of their natural environment... Anyway, one little guy didn't make it through the night, but 11 did and that's amazing!
If the FC is going to call before 9am tomorrow morning, I'm going to have to get to bed early tonight!
Now that the "fun" injections are over I'm entering a whole new era of fun in the form of progesterone suppositories!! Sound exciting? They're awesome.
Not so much.
Definitely better than injections, but still... I'm not looking forward to the wonderful side effects these are going to give me because they will mirror all early pregnancy signs - just to screw with me.
I'll be back tomorrow with another update/
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is where they select 1 of D's sperm by microscope and inject it into one of my eggs. Because all of mine were mature, were all fertilized by ICSI.
It is normal for some of the embryos to stop developing at some point in this process. After all, they are out of their natural environment... Anyway, one little guy didn't make it through the night, but 11 did and that's amazing!
If the FC is going to call before 9am tomorrow morning, I'm going to have to get to bed early tonight!
Now that the "fun" injections are over I'm entering a whole new era of fun in the form of progesterone suppositories!! Sound exciting? They're awesome.
Not so much.
Definitely better than injections, but still... I'm not looking forward to the wonderful side effects these are going to give me because they will mirror all early pregnancy signs - just to screw with me.
I'll be back tomorrow with another update/
Friday, October 5, 2012
Retrieval
CD16~18
Yesterday was a really busy day getting everything at work ready for me to take a week and a day off. Work is busy right now so that was a little difficult. Earlier this week I had to go to my boss and move my vacation from Wednesday to Friday. He looked at me a little funny so I explained that I was having a procedure and it kept getting pushed back. He agreed to move my vacation but said "I'm rather to change things around for people who are going on vacation, not staying in a hospital... that's not a fun time off" Then yesterday when I handed in my time sheet (it was due today) he came back to me and said "now you have me confused... I thought you said this was for medical reasons, why are you using vacation days??" So I had to explain that yes, it was for medical reasons, it's two procedures a few days apart but I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time around each day to relax so I'm using vacation. What I didn't tell him is that I didn't want to have to get a Dr.'s note in order to get that much time off. The note would have had the name of the FC on the letterhead and that would have given me away.
Last night before bed I took an Ativan to help me sleep. I was surprised that it also took a bunch of the pain/uncomfortableness away that I was feeling in my tummy as well it was nice. It wore off about 4 am and I woke up when the pains came back. Boo.
We got to the clinic around 8:00 am and since we were a little early we went for a drive to get some ginger ale and Gatorade for afterward before going to wait in the waiting room. We were only waiting for a few minutes until the nurse came to get us. She brought with her a brown paper bag containing an empty bottle for D to leave his sample in and directed him to the collection room and I was brought back to a different area to get changed.
I put on two hospital gowns; one forward and one backward so that I was completely covered and I was allowed to keep my socks (Yay! - my feet are always cold so I was happy I could keep my socks). Just as I was getting set up for my IV, D was brought back to me. The IV went in without a hitch and they started the saline. A few min later they took me to the washroom before going to the procedure room.
Once in the procedure room, they set my legs up in stirrups. She kept asking if I was comfortable... no I'm not comfortable! My legs are twisting out at odd angles and you have a direct view of my vag! But I have no pain so I consider that as 'comfortable' as I'm going to get. They then gave me two different drugs in my IV line and that's when things start to get blurry.
I could still feel most of the needle sticks as they were poking around my ovaries and even through the drugs they gave me, it still hurt and I turned into a big ball of wimp and started crying. Part of it was that it hurt, but the other part was just the emotional aspect of it. They upped my drugs part way through, but the procedure was so quick that they didn't really take into effect until after it was over so by then I could hardly get up off the table and I was sleeping in the recovery room instead of getting ready to go.
We got home around11:30 and I've been sleeping on and off ever since. At one point I attempted to text my friends to let them know I was fine and the results but I was so out of it couldn't figure out how to send the text! It was hours later after I woke up from a nap that I thought it was strange that none of them had texted back and I went looking for the text in my sent items and it wasn't there! It took another 20 min or so to figure it out!
Overall, today was a success and they retrieved 12 eggs. - A perfect number!
I will get a phone call tomorrow to let me know how many of those 12 are mature and now many fertilized. Fingers crossed we don't loose too many over night.
Yesterday was a really busy day getting everything at work ready for me to take a week and a day off. Work is busy right now so that was a little difficult. Earlier this week I had to go to my boss and move my vacation from Wednesday to Friday. He looked at me a little funny so I explained that I was having a procedure and it kept getting pushed back. He agreed to move my vacation but said "I'm rather to change things around for people who are going on vacation, not staying in a hospital... that's not a fun time off" Then yesterday when I handed in my time sheet (it was due today) he came back to me and said "now you have me confused... I thought you said this was for medical reasons, why are you using vacation days??" So I had to explain that yes, it was for medical reasons, it's two procedures a few days apart but I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time around each day to relax so I'm using vacation. What I didn't tell him is that I didn't want to have to get a Dr.'s note in order to get that much time off. The note would have had the name of the FC on the letterhead and that would have given me away.
Last night before bed I took an Ativan to help me sleep. I was surprised that it also took a bunch of the pain/uncomfortableness away that I was feeling in my tummy as well it was nice. It wore off about 4 am and I woke up when the pains came back. Boo.
We got to the clinic around 8:00 am and since we were a little early we went for a drive to get some ginger ale and Gatorade for afterward before going to wait in the waiting room. We were only waiting for a few minutes until the nurse came to get us. She brought with her a brown paper bag containing an empty bottle for D to leave his sample in and directed him to the collection room and I was brought back to a different area to get changed.
I put on two hospital gowns; one forward and one backward so that I was completely covered and I was allowed to keep my socks (Yay! - my feet are always cold so I was happy I could keep my socks). Just as I was getting set up for my IV, D was brought back to me. The IV went in without a hitch and they started the saline. A few min later they took me to the washroom before going to the procedure room.
Once in the procedure room, they set my legs up in stirrups. She kept asking if I was comfortable... no I'm not comfortable! My legs are twisting out at odd angles and you have a direct view of my vag! But I have no pain so I consider that as 'comfortable' as I'm going to get. They then gave me two different drugs in my IV line and that's when things start to get blurry.
I could still feel most of the needle sticks as they were poking around my ovaries and even through the drugs they gave me, it still hurt and I turned into a big ball of wimp and started crying. Part of it was that it hurt, but the other part was just the emotional aspect of it. They upped my drugs part way through, but the procedure was so quick that they didn't really take into effect until after it was over so by then I could hardly get up off the table and I was sleeping in the recovery room instead of getting ready to go.
We got home around11:30 and I've been sleeping on and off ever since. At one point I attempted to text my friends to let them know I was fine and the results but I was so out of it couldn't figure out how to send the text! It was hours later after I woke up from a nap that I thought it was strange that none of them had texted back and I went looking for the text in my sent items and it wasn't there! It took another 20 min or so to figure it out!
Overall, today was a success and they retrieved 12 eggs. - A perfect number!
I will get a phone call tomorrow to let me know how many of those 12 are mature and now many fertilized. Fingers crossed we don't loose too many over night.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Trigger Day
OK, A quick summary of the last 3 days. I went to the clinic every morning and this is what my number were:
Monday October 1, 2012
Right: 13,12,11,11,5@10,3@9 = 12
Left: 11,9 = 2
Total = 14
E2 (Estrogen) = 9,192
Tuesday October 2, 2012
Right: 16,15,15,14,14,12,12,4@11 = 11
Left: 13,12,12,10 = 4
Total = 15
E2 = 13,435
Wednesday October 3, 2012
Right: 21,18,17,16,16,15,15,14,14,12,11 = 11
Left: 18,17,15,14,14,14,12,11,10 = 9
Total = 20
E2 = unknown
If you remember from Saturday my numbers were:
Right: 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 10
Left: 12, 10, 10
So when I went in on Monday and none of the follicles were any bigger I was a bit worried. I was concerned that not only had they not grown, they appeared to have shrunk. Yes there was more of them, but I still needed them to get bigger.
When I met with the RE Monday morning he thought he might have to increase my Puregon dose since nothing had grown. But when the nurse called me in the afternoon, they lowered it instead! I was shocked, but apparently an E2 level of over 9000 is really high at that stage.
Tuesday morning I felt better when I saw that there was some growth and my E2 level didn't raise too much so I was left at the the same dose for another day. Before he had the results of my E2 test the RE mentioned that we were walking a fine line between encouraging growth and risking cancellation because of a high risk of OHSS.
This morning I was really happy when I saw significant growth over yesterday. The RE said two things could happen depending on my E2 levels today: One, I continue stimming for one more day to try to get a few of the smaller ones (under 15) a little bigger; or two, trigger today. It turns out that my E2 levels were high (although I don't know the number) so I am triggering today!
The trigger shot is designed to time ovulation for between 36 and 39 hours after the shot is administered so timing is critical. I must take the shot at exactly 9:00 pm tonight and my egg retrieval is booked for Friday morning at 9:00am.
I happy, scared, excited, terrified...
The other good news is that tomorrow is needle free! 49 needles down, 1 to go!
Monday October 1, 2012
Right: 13,12,11,11,5@10,3@9 = 12
Left: 11,9 = 2
Total = 14
E2 (Estrogen) = 9,192
Tuesday October 2, 2012
Right: 16,15,15,14,14,12,12,4@11 = 11
Left: 13,12,12,10 = 4
Total = 15
E2 = 13,435
Wednesday October 3, 2012
Right: 21,18,17,16,16,15,15,14,14,12,11 = 11
Left: 18,17,15,14,14,14,12,11,10 = 9
Total = 20
E2 = unknown
If you remember from Saturday my numbers were:
Right: 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 10
Left: 12, 10, 10
So when I went in on Monday and none of the follicles were any bigger I was a bit worried. I was concerned that not only had they not grown, they appeared to have shrunk. Yes there was more of them, but I still needed them to get bigger.
When I met with the RE Monday morning he thought he might have to increase my Puregon dose since nothing had grown. But when the nurse called me in the afternoon, they lowered it instead! I was shocked, but apparently an E2 level of over 9000 is really high at that stage.
Tuesday morning I felt better when I saw that there was some growth and my E2 level didn't raise too much so I was left at the the same dose for another day. Before he had the results of my E2 test the RE mentioned that we were walking a fine line between encouraging growth and risking cancellation because of a high risk of OHSS.
This morning I was really happy when I saw significant growth over yesterday. The RE said two things could happen depending on my E2 levels today: One, I continue stimming for one more day to try to get a few of the smaller ones (under 15) a little bigger; or two, trigger today. It turns out that my E2 levels were high (although I don't know the number) so I am triggering today!
The trigger shot is designed to time ovulation for between 36 and 39 hours after the shot is administered so timing is critical. I must take the shot at exactly 9:00 pm tonight and my egg retrieval is booked for Friday morning at 9:00am.
I happy, scared, excited, terrified...
The other good news is that tomorrow is needle free! 49 needles down, 1 to go!
Saturday, September 29, 2012
And they're off!
Today's clinic visit was short and sweet.
Bloodwork - check!
Ultrasound - check!
Meet with RE - check!
Right: 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 10
Left: 12, 10, 10
If you're counting along, that's 9 follicles! Right on schedule :) We;re moving along nicely. There is still a real possibility to over respond but we're keeping a close eye on it. I was concerned that I since I had never taken suppressants I would over suppress and not grow any follicles, so I'm glad that's not happening.
I go back on Monday to check again.
Bloodwork - check!
Ultrasound - check!
Meet with RE - check!
Right: 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 10
Left: 12, 10, 10
If you're counting along, that's 9 follicles! Right on schedule :) We;re moving along nicely. There is still a real possibility to over respond but we're keeping a close eye on it. I was concerned that I since I had never taken suppressants I would over suppress and not grow any follicles, so I'm glad that's not happening.
I go back on Monday to check again.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Look beside you
CD9~CD11
First let me explain today's Cycle Day (CD) number. Normally, CD1 is the first day of AF and stims or other drugs start on CD3. However, because this is an IVF cycle, and my body procrastinated with AF, things happened a little differently.
My calendar told me to start stims on Sept 20th no matter what day AF started and since AF started the same day as I was to start stims it was kinda like CD1 and CD3 at the same time (i.e. CD1~CD3). This was ok because of all the other drugs I've done so far (OBC and Suprefact). Those got my body to essentially a baseline zero and would have kept me there whether I started stimming on CD1 or CD7, it still would a been a forced 'CD3'. If that makes any sense...
My FC refers to my CD as the later day (CD11) but in my head it's still really early and feels like CD9 so I'm counting both.
My first visit back to the FC since I was given my calendar almost a month ago was on Tuesday (CD6~CD8). [See, this is why I've been double counting - on the first FC visit this cycle I was still bleeding and that's not usually the case.] Anyway, Tuesday's visit was pretty uneventful. I had the standard U/S & BW and met with one of the RE's and a nurse. There was no measurable growth yet.
I'm not worried and as the RE pointed out, they want to make "wake up" my ovaries slowly so that I don't overstimulate in order to get the highest quality eggs. He did say that if my E2 (estrogen) levels were low he'd call in the afternoon to raise my Puregon dose. I didn't receive a call so I continued at 100 units for Tuesday and Wednesday night.
I went back to the FC yesterday morning (CD10~12) to check follicle sizes and E2 levels and things are finally starting to grow!
Right: 10, 10, 9, 9
Left: <10 p="p">
Well, at least the right side is growing. Lefty is still lazy!
I go back tomorrow morning to check again.
Yesterday was a busy day. Not only did I visit the FC, I also had a consultation with a new Naturalpathic Doctor. While I liked my ole one, she just didn't have the experience with fertility issues or the availability that I need. This new ND had done lots of research on infertility and has even spoken at a meeting of the local infertility support group. Not that I have ever been to a meeting, but I read their blog.
I'm happy that I will be able to have 2 more appointments with her before Egg Retrieval. The first will be to complete a physical before she can officially treat me and the 2nd will be for acupuncture. The FC said that if I could find an acupuncturist who can see me on the day of transfer both before and after transfer, that it has been proven to increase the odds of success. I'm really happy that I can get at least one session in before retrieval and possibly be able to book the two appointments on transfer day. I'll try for it, but I won't get upset if it doesn't work out. The ND doesn't seem to thing it's as necessary for it to be on the same day, the next day would be just as good.
********
Part of my job is to attend to tenants units with contractors if the tenant is not home. Today I had to babysit a contractor in a number of units while they worked for hours. I forgot to bring my Ipod with me so I wrote this post while I waited.
In one of the units, there was a piece of art on the wall that had a great saying. I wish I had my Ipod because it would have been a good instagram (which I just started using) but a good "old fashioned" digital photo will have to do.
First let me explain today's Cycle Day (CD) number. Normally, CD1 is the first day of AF and stims or other drugs start on CD3. However, because this is an IVF cycle, and my body procrastinated with AF, things happened a little differently.
My calendar told me to start stims on Sept 20th no matter what day AF started and since AF started the same day as I was to start stims it was kinda like CD1 and CD3 at the same time (i.e. CD1~CD3). This was ok because of all the other drugs I've done so far (OBC and Suprefact). Those got my body to essentially a baseline zero and would have kept me there whether I started stimming on CD1 or CD7, it still would a been a forced 'CD3'. If that makes any sense...
My FC refers to my CD as the later day (CD11) but in my head it's still really early and feels like CD9 so I'm counting both.
My first visit back to the FC since I was given my calendar almost a month ago was on Tuesday (CD6~CD8). [See, this is why I've been double counting - on the first FC visit this cycle I was still bleeding and that's not usually the case.] Anyway, Tuesday's visit was pretty uneventful. I had the standard U/S & BW and met with one of the RE's and a nurse. There was no measurable growth yet.
I'm not worried and as the RE pointed out, they want to make "wake up" my ovaries slowly so that I don't overstimulate in order to get the highest quality eggs. He did say that if my E2 (estrogen) levels were low he'd call in the afternoon to raise my Puregon dose. I didn't receive a call so I continued at 100 units for Tuesday and Wednesday night.
I went back to the FC yesterday morning (CD10~12) to check follicle sizes and E2 levels and things are finally starting to grow!
Right: 10, 10, 9, 9
Left: <10 p="p">
Well, at least the right side is growing. Lefty is still lazy!
I go back tomorrow morning to check again.
Yesterday was a busy day. Not only did I visit the FC, I also had a consultation with a new Naturalpathic Doctor. While I liked my ole one, she just didn't have the experience with fertility issues or the availability that I need. This new ND had done lots of research on infertility and has even spoken at a meeting of the local infertility support group. Not that I have ever been to a meeting, but I read their blog.
I'm happy that I will be able to have 2 more appointments with her before Egg Retrieval. The first will be to complete a physical before she can officially treat me and the 2nd will be for acupuncture. The FC said that if I could find an acupuncturist who can see me on the day of transfer both before and after transfer, that it has been proven to increase the odds of success. I'm really happy that I can get at least one session in before retrieval and possibly be able to book the two appointments on transfer day. I'll try for it, but I won't get upset if it doesn't work out. The ND doesn't seem to thing it's as necessary for it to be on the same day, the next day would be just as good.
********
Part of my job is to attend to tenants units with contractors if the tenant is not home. Today I had to babysit a contractor in a number of units while they worked for hours. I forgot to bring my Ipod with me so I wrote this post while I waited.
In one of the units, there was a piece of art on the wall that had a great saying. I wish I had my Ipod because it would have been a good instagram (which I just started using) but a good "old fashioned" digital photo will have to do.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Procrastinator
Even my body likes to procrastinate!
A couple of days ago I mentioned that it felt like my period was going to start and I was happy that it was going to be on time. Well... it didn't start.
I was told to call the clinic on Wednesday (today) if AF hadn't shown up yet before I could start stims on Thursday. All day yesterday I felt it coming on, and I was spotting; all day today too, but nothing!Since the clinic is only open until 4, I called around noon to let them know that I still hadn't started.
The nurse told me to make an appointment for tomorrow morning to come in and have some blood work done and have an ultrasound to find out what was going on. She mentioned that the couple days of spotting I've had could be it, all I was going to get, but that I should come in just to be sure.
She also said that if my period should start tonight or tomorrow morning, I can call and cancel the appointment and go ahead and take the drugs as originally scheduled tomorrow.
I've been going to the washroom every few hours to check and still nothing all day.
All day that is until about 5:30. Finally a little more than just spotting! I'm not calling to cancel just yet, but it looks like my body was just waiting until the last possible minute, just to screw with me!
A couple of days ago I mentioned that it felt like my period was going to start and I was happy that it was going to be on time. Well... it didn't start.
I was told to call the clinic on Wednesday (today) if AF hadn't shown up yet before I could start stims on Thursday. All day yesterday I felt it coming on, and I was spotting; all day today too, but nothing!Since the clinic is only open until 4, I called around noon to let them know that I still hadn't started.
The nurse told me to make an appointment for tomorrow morning to come in and have some blood work done and have an ultrasound to find out what was going on. She mentioned that the couple days of spotting I've had could be it, all I was going to get, but that I should come in just to be sure.
She also said that if my period should start tonight or tomorrow morning, I can call and cancel the appointment and go ahead and take the drugs as originally scheduled tomorrow.
I've been going to the washroom every few hours to check and still nothing all day.
All day that is until about 5:30. Finally a little more than just spotting! I'm not calling to cancel just yet, but it looks like my body was just waiting until the last possible minute, just to screw with me!
Monday, September 17, 2012
It feels like the first time
I'm trying to go to bed early tonight because I'm still dead tired from J's awesome bachelorette on Saturday night but for some reason this time of night is when I do my best thinking and writing.
As I was getting ready for bed tonight, I discovered that I'm spotting. This probably means that my period will start tomorrow, right on time. I was told I'd get a period between 3 to 5 days after stopping the pill. Tomorrow will be 4.
Upon this discovery, I went down stairs with a big smile on my face and told D that AF was starting. This is not how I usually look when I tell him that do he was a little confused!
"Is that a good thing?" he asked.
"Yes" I said. "this could be my last period for a long time"
"I hope so" he said.
It feels wired and kinda scary to have this feeling again... Hope... Real hope.
For all we know this could actually be the first time we've ever had any chance at success. This is like our first time (hence the cheesy song title).
Hope is a pretty scary thing, but without it, we couldn't go on. A little hope is a good thing. A lot of hope is terrifying... In my experience, with infertility, the higher your hopes the farther you fall when you fail.
There are still no guaranties with IVF. This could still fail. I could still fail. There are still many hurdles to get over before we even get to transfer. I don't want to dwell on the negatives. But sometimes I have to remind myself not fly too close to the sun or I could get burned.
That glimmer is just so attractive...
That glimmer of hope.
As I was getting ready for bed tonight, I discovered that I'm spotting. This probably means that my period will start tomorrow, right on time. I was told I'd get a period between 3 to 5 days after stopping the pill. Tomorrow will be 4.
Upon this discovery, I went down stairs with a big smile on my face and told D that AF was starting. This is not how I usually look when I tell him that do he was a little confused!
"Is that a good thing?" he asked.
"Yes" I said. "this could be my last period for a long time"
"I hope so" he said.
It feels wired and kinda scary to have this feeling again... Hope... Real hope.
For all we know this could actually be the first time we've ever had any chance at success. This is like our first time (hence the cheesy song title).
Hope is a pretty scary thing, but without it, we couldn't go on. A little hope is a good thing. A lot of hope is terrifying... In my experience, with infertility, the higher your hopes the farther you fall when you fail.
There are still no guaranties with IVF. This could still fail. I could still fail. There are still many hurdles to get over before we even get to transfer. I don't want to dwell on the negatives. But sometimes I have to remind myself not fly too close to the sun or I could get burned.
That glimmer is just so attractive...
That glimmer of hope.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Birth Control
Birth control and I have a long and sordid history.
I first started taking it when I was 16. I still remember writing to Jules and asking her what she thought of the idea. I believe it was her who reminded me that I could go to the Dr. and ask for it and he wouldn't be able to tell my mom. I took her advice and went to my Dr. He gave me 3 months worth of free samples and encouraged me to talk to my mom.
After a few months on the pill I lost my virginity to my high school sweetheart. With my next period I had the most painful cramps I'd ever experienced. I thought I was dying. My mom took me to the hospital and of course the ER doc had to ask all of those standard questions...
"Are you on any medications?"
Me in a whisper "the pill"
Oh did I mention my mom was still in the room with me? Because yes she was.
"Are you sexually active?"
Me in a whisper "yes"
And right there I died of embarrassment!
The good news was that my mom could not be mad because how can you be mad when your daughter is lying in pain in the emergency room?
It turned out to be a cyst that ruptured on my right ovary. I still wonder to this day if it was the trauma of that day that caused the damage and blockage of my right tube. Anyway, for the next few years the pill and I got along just fine. I went to university and in my second year I started to notice a change in my moods. I broke up with my previously mentioned high school boyfriend and started on some antidepressants. I did a little research and found that one of the common side effects of the pill is depression. Since I no longer had a boyfriend I figured I could experiment a little and go off the pill and see if that helped with the depression. It defiantly did. I was able to go off all other medication cometely and felt more like myself than I had in years.
Over the next few years I went back on the pill a couple of times while I was dating someone but hated every minute of it. When I started seeing D, he was terrified of the fact that I wasn't on any birth control. I agreed to go on it but warned him of the massive mood changes that were to come. He agreed that if they were really that bad he would find a way to be ok with out me taking it. I was only on it for 1 month before he came over to find me crying in bed because my boss was mean. Granted, my boss at the time was a class A jerk face but this was an extreme reaction. I stopped taking the pill and both D and I have been happier ever since.
That is until this business with infertility.
Who would have thought that part of the treatment for infertility would involve taking birth control pills! I mean, every one knows the firsts step in trying to get pregnant is to go off the pill. I have now been taking the pill as part of my protocol for IVF for the past 16 days. I have definitely noticed a change. I was really scared of this part, but it hasn't been as bad as I feared. Yes, I've been crying at stupid things on tv. And maybe I over reacted about the comment from my chiropractor... But I was afraid that I would be inconsolable when ever I thought too much about our situation. I wasn't and for that I'm happy.
I am ecstatic to say that tonight was my last BCP!
I'm so happy to finally be done with it! I'm also hoping that this heartburn I've had for the last week will finally go away now...
I first started taking it when I was 16. I still remember writing to Jules and asking her what she thought of the idea. I believe it was her who reminded me that I could go to the Dr. and ask for it and he wouldn't be able to tell my mom. I took her advice and went to my Dr. He gave me 3 months worth of free samples and encouraged me to talk to my mom.
After a few months on the pill I lost my virginity to my high school sweetheart. With my next period I had the most painful cramps I'd ever experienced. I thought I was dying. My mom took me to the hospital and of course the ER doc had to ask all of those standard questions...
"Are you on any medications?"
Me in a whisper "the pill"
Oh did I mention my mom was still in the room with me? Because yes she was.
"Are you sexually active?"
Me in a whisper "yes"
And right there I died of embarrassment!
The good news was that my mom could not be mad because how can you be mad when your daughter is lying in pain in the emergency room?
It turned out to be a cyst that ruptured on my right ovary. I still wonder to this day if it was the trauma of that day that caused the damage and blockage of my right tube. Anyway, for the next few years the pill and I got along just fine. I went to university and in my second year I started to notice a change in my moods. I broke up with my previously mentioned high school boyfriend and started on some antidepressants. I did a little research and found that one of the common side effects of the pill is depression. Since I no longer had a boyfriend I figured I could experiment a little and go off the pill and see if that helped with the depression. It defiantly did. I was able to go off all other medication cometely and felt more like myself than I had in years.
Over the next few years I went back on the pill a couple of times while I was dating someone but hated every minute of it. When I started seeing D, he was terrified of the fact that I wasn't on any birth control. I agreed to go on it but warned him of the massive mood changes that were to come. He agreed that if they were really that bad he would find a way to be ok with out me taking it. I was only on it for 1 month before he came over to find me crying in bed because my boss was mean. Granted, my boss at the time was a class A jerk face but this was an extreme reaction. I stopped taking the pill and both D and I have been happier ever since.
That is until this business with infertility.
Who would have thought that part of the treatment for infertility would involve taking birth control pills! I mean, every one knows the firsts step in trying to get pregnant is to go off the pill. I have now been taking the pill as part of my protocol for IVF for the past 16 days. I have definitely noticed a change. I was really scared of this part, but it hasn't been as bad as I feared. Yes, I've been crying at stupid things on tv. And maybe I over reacted about the comment from my chiropractor... But I was afraid that I would be inconsolable when ever I thought too much about our situation. I wasn't and for that I'm happy.
I am ecstatic to say that tonight was my last BCP!
I'm so happy to finally be done with it! I'm also hoping that this heartburn I've had for the last week will finally go away now...
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
1 down... Around 45 more to go
Today was my first injection for IVF.
Of course I've done injections for other cycles, but this is a new medicaiton for me and is a diferent type of injection.
The injections I've done before have been a drug called Puregon. It comes in a pen form. You put on a fresh needle, dial up the dose, inject the needle and press a button to release the medication. I will use this drug again later in my cycle (next week actually), but this drug I'm using now is different.
This drug is called Suprefact. It is used to suppress my own natural horemones so that my RE has complete control of my horemones through drugs. It comes in a vial and I have a bunch of regular syringes that I have to fill from the vial and inject into my stomach. The way you hold the pen is much different from the way you hold a regular syringe. For the pen you just have to press the button, but for the syringe, you have to push down on the plunger. The needles on the pen are also a lot thiner and therefore pierce the skin easier. This morning I wasn't sure if it was going to go through or not!
The only side effects I've had so far was some redness and itching around the injection site, but that went away within a few minutes.
Of course I've done injections for other cycles, but this is a new medicaiton for me and is a diferent type of injection.
The injections I've done before have been a drug called Puregon. It comes in a pen form. You put on a fresh needle, dial up the dose, inject the needle and press a button to release the medication. I will use this drug again later in my cycle (next week actually), but this drug I'm using now is different.
This drug is called Suprefact. It is used to suppress my own natural horemones so that my RE has complete control of my horemones through drugs. It comes in a vial and I have a bunch of regular syringes that I have to fill from the vial and inject into my stomach. The way you hold the pen is much different from the way you hold a regular syringe. For the pen you just have to press the button, but for the syringe, you have to push down on the plunger. The needles on the pen are also a lot thiner and therefore pierce the skin easier. This morning I wasn't sure if it was going to go through or not!
The only side effects I've had so far was some redness and itching around the injection site, but that went away within a few minutes.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Protocol
I went to the clinic this morning and met with my nurse.
My nurse.
Yes I have a dedicated nurse at the clinic for my IVF cycle. Lets call her Red. She is who I call if I have any questions about my cycle. Of course she doesn't work 7 days/week, but there will be other nurses who would be able to answer too. It will be nice to have a constant nurse through this process who is there looking out for me in addition to my RE. I can call and talk to Red but I can't call and talk to the RE.
After the usual u/s and blood work, Red came in and when over how the IVF cycle works.
Starting tonight (in about 20 min) I take the Birth Control Pill (BCP) every night until September 14th.
Three days before I finish the BCP, I also start taking a drug called Suprefact. The purpose of the Suprefact is to ensure that my own hormones stay suppressed and won't interfere with the what the drugs are doing. This is an injection that I have to do every morning until they tell me to stop (probably around retrieval)
Once I stop taking the BCP I will get another period. On September 20th I will add in the stimulating drugs. There are two, both injections. (If you are keeping track, that's 3 injections per day!!!) The first is the same drug as I've used for both of the failed IUI's and the other is a micro-dose of hCG. The micro-dose hCG is intended to improve egg quality.
My next appointment is September 25th and at that point I should be able to start seeing growth. I'll go back in every other day for a few times and then every day until retrieval. Retrieval is expected to be in the first week of October.
I'm nervous and excited and scared and happy and and and.... all at the same time!
My nurse.
Yes I have a dedicated nurse at the clinic for my IVF cycle. Lets call her Red. She is who I call if I have any questions about my cycle. Of course she doesn't work 7 days/week, but there will be other nurses who would be able to answer too. It will be nice to have a constant nurse through this process who is there looking out for me in addition to my RE. I can call and talk to Red but I can't call and talk to the RE.
After the usual u/s and blood work, Red came in and when over how the IVF cycle works.
Starting tonight (in about 20 min) I take the Birth Control Pill (BCP) every night until September 14th.
Three days before I finish the BCP, I also start taking a drug called Suprefact. The purpose of the Suprefact is to ensure that my own hormones stay suppressed and won't interfere with the what the drugs are doing. This is an injection that I have to do every morning until they tell me to stop (probably around retrieval)
Once I stop taking the BCP I will get another period. On September 20th I will add in the stimulating drugs. There are two, both injections. (If you are keeping track, that's 3 injections per day!!!) The first is the same drug as I've used for both of the failed IUI's and the other is a micro-dose of hCG. The micro-dose hCG is intended to improve egg quality.
My next appointment is September 25th and at that point I should be able to start seeing growth. I'll go back in every other day for a few times and then every day until retrieval. Retrieval is expected to be in the first week of October.
I'm nervous and excited and scared and happy and and and.... all at the same time!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Let the craziness begin!
On Thursday last week I started spotting. I thought for sure that AF was on her way because I usually spot a little before hand, I figured on Friday she'd be here with full force. Well, Friday came and the spotting stopped. Saturday, nothing. Sunday, nothing.
I started letting my mind wander...
What if that was implantation bleeding??
Is it possible that I am one of cases that suddenly gets their BFP right before starting their first IVF??
No... that can't be...
But we did have that little jaunt in the woods while on vacation...
No... stop thinking like that, it's stupid.
But M spotted for one day and got a BFP...
All weekend this went on and on in my head... what if???
Finally on Monday morning I broke down and tested. I figured two things... One, I would know and stop this crazyness in my head, and two it would bring on AF because she always shows as soon as I test.
Of course the test was negative! I mean, really, what was I thinking?
And first thing this morning my period started!
The good news is that I am finally starting my first round of IVF. I'm realizing now that it's been three quarters of a year since we found out that IVF would be our only/best option, so this is a long road coming. I go to to the clinic on Thursday to get my drugs and my calendar and then I can finally, hopefully, plan the next few months of my life.
I other news, my blog was spammed yesterday!! I wonder how they got here in the first place...
I started letting my mind wander...
What if that was implantation bleeding??
Is it possible that I am one of cases that suddenly gets their BFP right before starting their first IVF??
No... that can't be...
But we did have that little jaunt in the woods while on vacation...
No... stop thinking like that, it's stupid.
But M spotted for one day and got a BFP...
All weekend this went on and on in my head... what if???
Finally on Monday morning I broke down and tested. I figured two things... One, I would know and stop this crazyness in my head, and two it would bring on AF because she always shows as soon as I test.
Of course the test was negative! I mean, really, what was I thinking?
And first thing this morning my period started!
The good news is that I am finally starting my first round of IVF. I'm realizing now that it's been three quarters of a year since we found out that IVF would be our only/best option, so this is a long road coming. I go to to the clinic on Thursday to get my drugs and my calendar and then I can finally, hopefully, plan the next few months of my life.
I other news, my blog was spammed yesterday!! I wonder how they got here in the first place...
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Neglect
I have been a little neglectful of this blog recently. I can't explain why. Yes, we have been on a break, but it's not like there hasn't been anything going on.
Anyway, let's catch up...
We had an appointment with our RE to sign out consent forms for IVF on August 14th. The appointment went as expected. We were brought back into one of the exam rooms and given the forms to read over. There were a few decisions that I wasn't expecting to make... like what we agree to do with any 'leftover' embrios and what would we do if either of us die. They were tough decisions and I'm glad we were left alone in the room to discuss them. These are very personal ethical decisions which are the decision of D and I alone so I won't elaborate here.
Now I am just waiting for my next CD1 which should be any day now, and then I will be officially beginning my IVF cycle. The IVF will take about 6 weeks, 8 weeks till testing, but for the first 4 I am on my own taking BCPs and suppressants. They need to shut down my ovaries before stimulating them to ensure that all of the follicles grow at the same rate to the same size.
I've been feeling pretty crampy over the last few days but AF has yet to start, she's toying with me! If she would wait until tomorrow, that would be perfect timing. It would mean that my next period (yes, I will have one more before this is over) would be after Julia's wedding and my egg retrieval would be more likely to be on a weekend. But I'm impatient, and I want to get started now!
In other news, August 23rd seems to be a pretty popular birthday. Two of the three pregnant people around me gave birth that day. Both little boys. My cousin had a C-section after a long labour and gave birth to O.wen. And a friend gave birth to her third, Ry.ker, at home (her second homebirth). I'm glad it happened that way, get them all over with. Quick, like ripping off a bandaid. The next hurdle is meeting the babies for the first time, hopefully I can put that off for a bit. Maybe until after IVF...
Anyway, let's catch up...
We had an appointment with our RE to sign out consent forms for IVF on August 14th. The appointment went as expected. We were brought back into one of the exam rooms and given the forms to read over. There were a few decisions that I wasn't expecting to make... like what we agree to do with any 'leftover' embrios and what would we do if either of us die. They were tough decisions and I'm glad we were left alone in the room to discuss them. These are very personal ethical decisions which are the decision of D and I alone so I won't elaborate here.
Now I am just waiting for my next CD1 which should be any day now, and then I will be officially beginning my IVF cycle. The IVF will take about 6 weeks, 8 weeks till testing, but for the first 4 I am on my own taking BCPs and suppressants. They need to shut down my ovaries before stimulating them to ensure that all of the follicles grow at the same rate to the same size.
I've been feeling pretty crampy over the last few days but AF has yet to start, she's toying with me! If she would wait until tomorrow, that would be perfect timing. It would mean that my next period (yes, I will have one more before this is over) would be after Julia's wedding and my egg retrieval would be more likely to be on a weekend. But I'm impatient, and I want to get started now!
In other news, August 23rd seems to be a pretty popular birthday. Two of the three pregnant people around me gave birth that day. Both little boys. My cousin had a C-section after a long labour and gave birth to O.wen. And a friend gave birth to her third, Ry.ker, at home (her second homebirth). I'm glad it happened that way, get them all over with. Quick, like ripping off a bandaid. The next hurdle is meeting the babies for the first time, hopefully I can put that off for a bit. Maybe until after IVF...
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Surgery or no surgery?
This past two weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster with good news and bad news and confusion all around!
Last Tuesday I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. F to sign the consent for surgert and go over the risks etc. With Dr. M, he tested my tubes last May and it showed they were open, then during the surgery he declared them both closed, but he did not perform another test. Dr. F is not really comfortable taking the word of Dr. M when his reports are conflicting so she ordered another test; a more accurate one than the one I did last May. It's called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).
During the HSG, a contrast dye is inserted into my uterus and forced through my tubes while images are recorded on an x-ray. As it turns out, my left fallopian tube is open! But my right is still blocked with nice fat hydro. The image below is NOT mine but it shows kinda what mine looked like.
Notice on the left side that the dye looks like smoke, but on the right it is more solid? That is because on the right the dry is being trapped and contained rather than being released into the abdomen. There was a slight anomalie with mine. At the base of the right one there was a small area that also looked like smoke. This meant that my right tube, while diseased, might possibly be open too. If both tubes are open, then I wouldn't need surgery!
Because the test on my right tube was ambiguous, Dr. F got a second opinion from one of the other RE's at the clinic. They agreed that the tube should be treated as closed because the area of 'smoke' was so small.
What does this mean?
Basically, since I have one open tube, I actually have a chance at a successful Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) which is much much cheaper and less invasive than IVF. If I choose to do IUI, then I don't need to do surgery.
With the blocked tube, there are studies that show IVF is more successfull if the tube is removed. However, there are no studies on IUI and blocked hydro tubes, so she can not say that removing the tube would be beneficial.
If we are going to do IVF, I should have the surgery. But if we would rather do IUI, then I would't need to have the surgery. However, if we try IUI and it doesn't work and we want to persue IVF, I would need to have the tube removed at that point. So, we need to make a decision.
IUI has only a 10-12% chance of success and a 5-10% chance of ectopic (pregnancy in the fallopian tube) whereas IVF has a 60-70% chance of success. And we can only do IUI on the months that I ovulate on the left side since that's the only tube that's open. And those percentages were before I asked her about D's SA results. OF course, he was out walking the dog when I was talking to her so she couldn't give me the numbers, but his count is low so our chances are probably a little lower than 10%. We figure we will likely end up doing IVF eventually, but it's really hard ignore the fact that IUI will cost $350, while IVF will cost $10,000.
I have decided to go ahead and do the surgery on May 9 as planned and we will have to think about whether we want to do an IUI or two before IVF. A successful IUI would be like winning the lottery, and you can't win if you don't play. We are thinking about buying one 'lottery ticket' before going all in with IVF. I keep second guessing that choice though.
Technically we have some time, I'm turning 32 next month and D is the same age. The only thing that puts us into a time crunch is that D is supposed to be on a drug to supress his immune system a little so that he doesn't develop a resistance to Remicade (the drug to treat his Crohn's Disease) but he's not taking it while we TTC. His GI says it's safe, but everything I've read says there is a risk of major birth defects if the male partner is taking it and both RE's that we've had say it's not safe. So he has not been taking it for 2.5 years now and I'm constantly worried that he will build up a resistance to his miracle drug. (You should have seen him before he got on this, he was sooo sick and in sooo much pain all the time I can't watch him go through that because my body is screwed up and can't have babies).
But really, what's another few months for a chance to "win the lottery"?
Last Tuesday I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. F to sign the consent for surgert and go over the risks etc. With Dr. M, he tested my tubes last May and it showed they were open, then during the surgery he declared them both closed, but he did not perform another test. Dr. F is not really comfortable taking the word of Dr. M when his reports are conflicting so she ordered another test; a more accurate one than the one I did last May. It's called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).
During the HSG, a contrast dye is inserted into my uterus and forced through my tubes while images are recorded on an x-ray. As it turns out, my left fallopian tube is open! But my right is still blocked with nice fat hydro. The image below is NOT mine but it shows kinda what mine looked like.
Notice on the left side that the dye looks like smoke, but on the right it is more solid? That is because on the right the dry is being trapped and contained rather than being released into the abdomen. There was a slight anomalie with mine. At the base of the right one there was a small area that also looked like smoke. This meant that my right tube, while diseased, might possibly be open too. If both tubes are open, then I wouldn't need surgery!
Because the test on my right tube was ambiguous, Dr. F got a second opinion from one of the other RE's at the clinic. They agreed that the tube should be treated as closed because the area of 'smoke' was so small.
What does this mean?
Basically, since I have one open tube, I actually have a chance at a successful Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) which is much much cheaper and less invasive than IVF. If I choose to do IUI, then I don't need to do surgery.
With the blocked tube, there are studies that show IVF is more successfull if the tube is removed. However, there are no studies on IUI and blocked hydro tubes, so she can not say that removing the tube would be beneficial.
If we are going to do IVF, I should have the surgery. But if we would rather do IUI, then I would't need to have the surgery. However, if we try IUI and it doesn't work and we want to persue IVF, I would need to have the tube removed at that point. So, we need to make a decision.
IUI has only a 10-12% chance of success and a 5-10% chance of ectopic (pregnancy in the fallopian tube) whereas IVF has a 60-70% chance of success. And we can only do IUI on the months that I ovulate on the left side since that's the only tube that's open. And those percentages were before I asked her about D's SA results. OF course, he was out walking the dog when I was talking to her so she couldn't give me the numbers, but his count is low so our chances are probably a little lower than 10%. We figure we will likely end up doing IVF eventually, but it's really hard ignore the fact that IUI will cost $350, while IVF will cost $10,000.
I have decided to go ahead and do the surgery on May 9 as planned and we will have to think about whether we want to do an IUI or two before IVF. A successful IUI would be like winning the lottery, and you can't win if you don't play. We are thinking about buying one 'lottery ticket' before going all in with IVF. I keep second guessing that choice though.
Technically we have some time, I'm turning 32 next month and D is the same age. The only thing that puts us into a time crunch is that D is supposed to be on a drug to supress his immune system a little so that he doesn't develop a resistance to Remicade (the drug to treat his Crohn's Disease) but he's not taking it while we TTC. His GI says it's safe, but everything I've read says there is a risk of major birth defects if the male partner is taking it and both RE's that we've had say it's not safe. So he has not been taking it for 2.5 years now and I'm constantly worried that he will build up a resistance to his miracle drug. (You should have seen him before he got on this, he was sooo sick and in sooo much pain all the time I can't watch him go through that because my body is screwed up and can't have babies).
But really, what's another few months for a chance to "win the lottery"?
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