IVF Drama Unscripted: Out from hiding

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Out from hiding

I have decided to come back now that I am starting a fresh cycle. School sort of took over and I am now coming up for air.
We have decided to go forward with a FET cycle. Since Aunt Flo has not graced us with her presence since early July, I was put on Provera. I waited...and waited...and waited. She still was stubborn and didn't visit. So, after multiple progesterone tests showing low levels, they just put me on Estrace. I have been on it since Oct. 1. Since then I have slowly put on the LBs and feel like I am carrying a small inner tube around my waist. The joyous Prometrium and Progesterone injections will start on the 19th. Our little babies will join my thus-far-empty womb on the 24th. Not sure how many we'll thaw (is there a better and less dry word for this??!!) and transfer.

We had an appt. to sign our consent to transfer on Friday. The Type A (A for anxious) person that I am showed up for the appt 10 minutes early. The nurse took us 35 minutes late. I thought the doctors and nurses said it was important for me to stay calm right now. Apparently they were kidding, because they only added to my anxiety by making me wait in a room with a woman having her first PG sono. Nice! DH said I was a bit rude to the nurse who took us. Well, after she mentioned she was on a phone call that went long, I was miffed to say the least. What, she doesn't have the decency to alert us about this? It took 3-5 minutes to sign the paperwork. Sure glad we waited around for that lengthy meeting. Okay...maybe I am hormonal right now....

2 comments:

millie said...: Why don't the nurses understand that little courtesies go a long, long way?

Here's to a good thaw and an easy-peasy transfer.; October 19, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I Believe in Miracles said...: I hope your transfer goes well!! Good luck.; October 24, 2008 at 5:32 AM

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IVF #4 (fresh)

Meds = Antagonist Cycle. Follistem (adjusted dosages) both AM and PM; Menipur 150 in PM; Ganerelix; Metformin; Dexomethosome; Estrogen; Doxycycline; Medrol; Lovinox and progesterone injections

Retrieval = Everything went great! They got 31 eggs. I did get a moderate case of OHSS due to my egg count and estrogen levels. I received a Hespan infusion and had to continue being monitored while on a salty diet. They were concerned about the transfer and warned that I may have to have surgery to remove the excess water behind my uterus.

Fertilization Reports - 22 eggs fertilized. 18 made it to day 3. 10 made it to blast. 8 frozen on day 6.

Transfer (day 5 - blast) = I get to have the transfer! We decided to transfer two of our best embryos. One was at 100 cells and the other at 60-80, which the doctor said was great. It took many tries to get the catheter in, as I have a curved uterus and my bladder was too full. After relieving myself a bit, we had success and in they went.

2WW = Feeling super bloated from OHSS. Cramping until about day 11. Continued with progesterone, estrogen, and Lovinox (ouch!!). Scared and nervous, but feeling positive and optimistic.

Blood Test = Survey saiys: BFN, which was a bit of a shock. Next plan of attack is to use the frozen embryos.

IVF #2 (fresh)

We have the new doctor, so everything should be perfect now! The new place is super fancy and well organized. We even have our own nurse! The little things get us excited at this point. Having my own "nurse" to call seems to luxurious. I continued my healthy ways and added hypnosis to the list. This really helped with the injections and to keep me calm.

Meds = We started with Lupron and continued to retrieval; a ton of Menipur mixed with Follistem and Follistem by itself; vitamins; baby aspirin; oil based progesterone injection (and I thought the suppository was bad!); a slew of antibiotics and immunity boosting drugs. Even DH had to take something.

Retrieval = I was a wreck in the morning. I tried my hypnosis and nothing worked. My stomach was in knots.Hmmm...not as luxurious as it was in the beginning. First the lady giving me my IV line slipped and nearly ripped my vein out. The room was crowded, though we were hidden by a privacy curtain. A curtain as thin as the sheets at Motel 6. I had to WALK...yes, not kidding here....WALK into the OR before I was sedated. Pleasant, let me tell you. I ended up with hyperstimulation and was put on bed rest with a diet of salt and NO water. They said to call if I got really bloated. Let me think about that. I am not allowed to drink water and I have to eat salty foods. Not bloat - I don't think so. Weird thing....I didn't! Sadly we only got 7 embryos from 18 follicles. The doctor is baffled. Three fertilize and make it to day 3.

Transfer (day 3) = The doctor called to say the embryos looked so good, they are only putting in 2. We did Assisted Hatching this time. I had to go in with a full bladder. Has anyone even enjoying having to be spread eagle with a doctor between her legs while holding in about 2 liters of water. I don't recommend it. We transferred 2 little guys that received near perfect ratings. Watching through the sono made me cry. Ahhhhhh. I saw the little guys burst into their nesting place. The third guy made it to blast and was frozen.

TTW = Awful and sweet! The doctor had such high hopes for us this time and gave me a 50%+ chance of becoming pregnant. We were feeling so good. About 2 days before testing, I had a feeling I was getting my AF. I completely broke down and prepared for the inevitable.

Blood Test = BFN, as expected. We went in two weeks later for a follow up. Brand new protocol and trying again.

FET #1 (frozen)

Yippee - we get to use frozen embryos, which means no shots! Umm...WRONG!

Meds = 2-4 vials of Repronex; prenatal vitamins; baby aspirin; pill suppository progesterone (so not fun!)

Transfer = Why are they so painful! Only 2 of the 4 frozen embryos made it through the thaw. Bed rest for 3 days - strict!

TTW = This time I had to go back to work. Not too stressful, but with the holidays and report cards due...what can I say. Then we find out my brother and sister-in-law are 2 months along with their first. Sure, I was happy for them...but really that devil inside me was furious!

Blood test = After the morning we took the test I was a wreck. I have never felt so nervous and anxious in my life. Taking the SATs, making it through graduate school, and a root canal felt like meditation compared to this feeling. Later that afternoon, before hearing the results, I got my AF. We have another winner!

Next steps = FIRE DOCTOR!

IVF #1 (fresh)

We started the process in June 2007. I now know that this doctor was not as diligent as my current one. I did not know as much as I do now...but maybe that was a good thing!

I did everything right. I stopped drinking alcohol, ate SUPER health, got regular exercise, meditated, got acupuncture, and practiced positive thinking.

Meds = Repronex (2-4 vials/day); mid-cycle lupron type medication (name escapes me...something with a "C"); baby aspirin; prenatal vitamin; progesterone cream

Retrieval = 12 eggs; 10 look good; 8 fertilized

Transfer = 4 embryos; one at blast; bed rest 3 days

TWW = as pleasant as can be expected. Some stress.

Blood test = We got the results of our BFN just after leaving a birthday party for a friend's one-year-old daughter.

IVF Drama Unscripted