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Friday, December 30, 2011

10dp5dt - More Testing!

I went out and bought 3 more HPT's yesterday in order to confirm my BFP!  I took another in the middle of the day and it was still positive!  I'm very happy, but now I'm even more anxious for my beta and ultrasound next Tuesday, January 3rd.  It seems so very far away, now that I've caved and POAS!

I soooo hope and pray all goes well with my pregnancy!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

9dp5dt - Gave In!

I decided to give in and take a HPT yesterday afternoon because I was so sick the day before - not only did I have pms on steroids, I was also just miserable it seemed as if everything was hurting. My back, lower tummy, side, head, nausea, and pms. I honestly thought I was having horrible side effects from all of the IVF medications. I prayed....POAS, and closed my eyes and prayed some more and saw what appeared to be a very faint plus sign. I rubbed my eyes and cleaned my glasses....looked again and yes it was definitely a plus sign that was getting darker and darker. I was so excited, I called my husband to confirm that I was actually seeing what I thought I was seeing. So I'm gonna go to the store tomorrow and stock up on more HPTs, the one I used was a cheapie - I just gotta make sure its still positive. So far, I think God answered my many many nagging prayers for a BFP!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

8dp5dt - PMS?

I've been so sick for the past couple of days.  It feels like my period is about to start at any moment now, but it seems to be taunting me at the same time.  I'm constantly running to the restroom to check because it feels wet down there, but there is no blood.  I feel a horrible combination of nausea, headache, mild stomach and back aches.

I know that PMS and pregnancy symptoms are sorta the same, I'm just hoping and praying that my symptoms are of the later.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

5dp5dt - Anxious!

I'm getting ready to get out and battle the crowds today, not because I need anything - my shopping is done.  I just really need to keep busy - occupy my mind.  Just trying to stay positive and continuously praying that these little beans are sticking and growing strong.  I decided not to take a HPT before my BETA and ultrasound scheduled for JAN. 3 - hopefully I can hold off that long.  I was scheduled to go in earlier but my schedule will not permit - by then I will be about 15 days post transfer.  That's crazy just thinking about it, I guess I love the torture.

I don't have any real symptoms, just dull lower back pain.  My breast are very sore and slightly swollen - I'm sure from the progesterone suppositories (3 x per day), those things are so messy.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Transfer Done!

I'm so happy and so very blessed that today went so well.  We were able to transfer two 5AA blasts!  Dr. S. says they will give me a call tomorrow and let me how many will make it to the freezer, although she estimates approximately 7 blasts will be frozen.  I'm so bad because I didn't get my print out before I left, but I do remember that of the original fantastic 14, all made it to day 5 - some are better than others though.  (2) 5AA, (3) 4AA, and I don't remember the rest but 11 were blasts.

Now I'm at home on bed rest trying to take it easy, hoping and praying my little jelly beans stick and I get my BFP on 1/2/2012, BETA day.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

ER Day 3 - Fert Report

Today is actually ER Day 4 but I'm sort of late with this post.  I received the call yesterday, early in the morning - btw I really look forward to those early morning calls.   He said my little embryos were looking gorgeous!  Whoa, really!  Thank you LORD!

(13)  8 Cell
(1)  4 Cell (the little slow poke of the bunch)

However, he advised that he would not be calling me this morning, since they don't do day 4 reports,  :(.  The good news is that I'm scheduled for my 5-day blast transfer tomorrow morning, yay!    

Saturday, December 17, 2011

ER Day 2 - Fert Report

Progress so far:

Of the 14 embryos retrieved and fertilized, as of this morning:

(10) 6-Cell
(4) 4-Cell

All growing normally.  Yay!  I can't wait for tomorrow morning's call - he says they should be up to 8-cells by then.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Fert Report

All 14 of my embryos fertilized!  Oh my, I'm so excited.  We are tentitively looking at a 5-day transfer scheduled for this Monday.  I'm just hoping and praying that all continues to go well!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Retrieval Day

After stimming for 12 days - I finally got to empty the basket today, what a relief.  I'm very sore, but nothing that a couple of tylenol won't take care of.   14 follies were retrieved, thank God!  I should be getting call regarding their status tomorrow - but the nurse told me that my lining looked beautiful.  Hopefully all this equates to a BFP in a few weeks.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Stim Day 8

I had another ultrasound today, my little follies are steadily progressing.  I have a few leads, but they are all within 2 mm of each other - the nurse says that's what they were hoping for.  They've grown, I think the largest one was bout 12 mm.  They also upped my dose of Menopur again, to 450 IU starting tomorrow, Stim Day 9.  Hoping to get the green light to trigger by Saturday, so I'm just praying that everything continues to go well and we don't have any problems.

Although I have aching ovaries, I'm not as uncomfortable as I anticipated I would be at this point, so I'm counting my many blessing!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Stim Day 6

Yesterday, I went in for Stim Day 6 blood work and my 1st scan since starting the stims.  So far, so good - no more fluid in my uterus and they counted 14 little follies, all under 10 mm.  My Menopur dose was raised from 225 IUs to 375 IUs so well see if these little babies will start growing a little faster.  I'm scheduled to go back in tomorrow morning for another scan, possibly trigger on Saturday, and retrieve on Monday if all goes according to plan.  Just hoping and praying for no problems.

Kayla  gave me the award below:




Similar to the Liebster Blog Award, certain rules also apply in receiving this award: 
  • Thank the person who passed the award on to you.
  • List 7 things that people may not know about you.
  • Pass the award to 15 other bloggers and don't forget to notify them as well. 
The hard part is trying to pick 15 bloggers not chosen by others.
  1. I love to bake.
  2. My husband and I were foster parents to a new born baby girl 2 years ago, she was returned to her mother after 14 months.  We were heart broken, but her mother seemed to really love her as well.
  3. I currently attend Law School full-time.
  4. I gave birth to a baby girl when I was 17 years old, and a senior in high school.  She is now 18 years old about to graduate high school and start college.  Yes, I raised her - (rather, we raised one another), she is such a blessing now - especially since I'm having such a hard time conceiving.
  5. I'm not crazy about the fur babies, that's just me I'm not a good pet owner
  6. Most people assume my daughter is my sister, lol!
  7. I'm currently doing IVF, my husband and I haven't told anyone - so if I get knocked up, everyone will be shocked.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Stim Day 4

These finals have been kicking my butt, so I've had no time for blogging this week.  The good news is that it's almost over, I have two more exams to go then I'm done until January 9th.

IVF wise, I started my stims last Thursday - they decreased my Lupron and started the Menopur once per day.  I'm scheduled to go back to doctor this Tuesday for bloodwork and another ultrasound.  Hoping and praying I don't have any fluid in my uterus - since last week they told me that I had a little bit of fluid but not enough to end my cycle, so I'm a little freaked about that.

I'm just tired - I don't know if it's all the meds or just me being busy.  So far, my side effects have been moodiness, hot flashes (uhhh), and mild headaches.  I hope all this means the medication is working?  I would hate to be suffering in vain.  I'm so excited, just praying for a BFP around Christmas time!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving Gone!

Whoa!  Is it me or does Lupron make you really moody?  I'm so irritable lately, I think mainly because I'm always so nauseous from all these medications.  My belly is so so bruised already!  I'm really normally not a "Drama Queen", but oh how I've turned into one.

  1. Lupron Injections 
  2. Prenatal Vitamin
  3. Slow FE Iron Tablets (AM and PM)
  4. Questran Powder Mix (result of my endo bowel resection surgery)
  5. Antibiotic (AM and PM)
My poor husband has been catching it and I don't really know if he deserves it this badly.   Thanksgiving was a blur, I'm sure I still came across as really bitchy no matter how hard I tried to suppress it.  We opted not to tell our friends and family that we are doing IVF, mainly because I didn't feel like answering a thousand questions.  So I'm sure my bitchiness did not go over too well.  

Things pretty much went down hill for me after one of my cousins announced that she was pregnant and not just a little pregnant.  She's about to be 8 months along, but says she just realized she was pregnant a few weeks ago when she passed out at work thinking she may have had "high blood pressure", went to the doctor and found out she was in fact pregnant.  She was not happy about her pregnancy, since she thought she was done having children (her son is 13-yrs old) and she certainly did not want anymore.   Honestly, I think she's still in absolute shock.  Wow, effortless!  While I, "the non-pregnant one" was walking around super sick and nauseous, she "the pregnant one" was prancing around with not one symptom.  Go figure!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Moving Forward!

My hysterosonogram and test transfer went well - I'm good to go!  My husband's semen analysis received a thumbs up as well.  I started my Lupron shots on Friday and will be taking my last BCP today!  I'm so happy because that's one less pill I have to take.

I was so nervous about the shots, yikes!  The good news is that is was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, just burns a tiny bit.  Except, I refuse to give it to myself - I make my husband do it because the way I see it, he needs to be completely involved in this process with me.   Believe me, he did not want to give me my shots, lol!  These people have been taking me through the ringer - not to mention my modesty is completely gone - I think everyone has seen my vajayjay!  The least he can do is give me my shots, damn it!

So, next I'm scheduled to go in on December 1st for an ultrasound and blood test, to determine if it's time to start my Menopur/Bravelle combo.  Hopefully by December 13th, I'll have a basket full of eggs for retrieval.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Emotional Roller Coaster

For the past week I have been an such an emotional roller coaster.  It's bad enough that this semester is quickly ending, my finals and comps are just around the corner, but to add to it all - the doctors office called last week regarding my infectious disease tests.  The nurse said that my Hepatitis C test had come back positive and I needed to get further testing to see if it was a false positive since the numbers were so low.  OMG!  What on earth????  I was freaking out, mentally going through every chapter of my life looking for anyway that I could have come into contact with such a disease.  I've never done drugs, I don't have any tattoos, and I don't know anyone with Hep C.  Well after a very long 4-day wait, I received the news that my other tests are negative but I am extremely anemic and may need an iron injection.  Ouch!  I was like can I please just give the pills a try, but other than that I'm good to go.  No Hep. C for me!

Today I am scheduled for my hysterosonogram, test transfer, and consents.  Then if all goes well I should start the Lupron injections on Friday and take my last BCP on Sunday.  According to my calendar, I should start the Menopur on December 2 and possibly retrieve on December 13.   I'm staying on the Lupron for an extra week, because I don't want to have my retrieval during the week of my finals.  I'm just hoping and praying that all goes smooth from here on out and there are no further problems.  Praying for a completed and successful cycle!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Waiting, Nausea, Books

Now I wait!  I started my birth control pills on Saturday and later that night I got really sick in the stomach and very nauseous.  I was thinking nooooooo, I can't be getting sick already, this is just step 1.  All day Sunday, I just felt kinda blah - I think I may be getting a cold or something.  My head feels like it's about to explode from the sinus pressure.  The good news is that I don't think the BCPs made me sick, since I took the second one about 4 hours ago and I haven't experienced any nausea or stomach problems.

If all goes well with my bloodwork, I should start my Lupron injections in a few weeks.  I'm kinda scared but excited at the same time.  By then I should be either done or finishing up with finals, so if everything pans out just right - I will be able to complete this entire cycle during the holiday break from school.  Now that's what's up! 

So I guess I should be hitting the books instead of blogging, lol!  Although blogging is much more fun!

Friday, November 4, 2011

It's Here

I feel like I'm moving at lightening speed!  My period came the other night - today is day 2 of my cycle so I had to go into the office for blood work and am scheduled to start my birth control pills tomorrow.   This whole thing is crazy wild....it's been like a puzzle just falling together.  I hope it continues this way!

First of all, on Tuesday my husband and I were initially set for a new patient appointment at the RE's office  inquiring about starting IVF, since we were pretty sure was our only option at this point.  Once we arrived we were informed that there had been a problem with our insurance referral and they were running around trying to get the issue resolved.  Turned out that my PCP had not completed the referral or it was held up in some business office or something.  I was so upset because I had moved so many things around in my schedule in order to make the appointment.  I work and attend law school so I don't have a whole lot of time.

My husband wanted to reschedule but I opted to just pay for the visit out of pocket and work on the reimbursement later - finals are quickly approaching and I don't have time to rework this thing again.  The way I see it is, our insurance doesn't cover IVF or meds anyway, the only thing covered was my initial consultation and diagnostic testing.  If I'm gonna spend $15,000, what's a thousand or so more gonna hurt?  So finally, we make it back and the doctor comes in after going through my file and history - apparently fully aware of the chaos.  She asked if we would be interested in participating in a marketing IVF study that was going on in their office, using FDA approved drugs - which involves a $3800 out of pocket cost to us only.  The good thing is it's basically a study comparing two leading drugs - I guess the drug companies are in a battle to see who has the best fertility drug.  OMG!  Yes, that day had just gotten 100% better - doctor you just saved us over $11,000.  Thank you so much, I'm so glad I didn't reschedule!

Hopefully, everything goes well with my blood work so that I can continue in the study.... I think ovarian reserve is one of the things being tested.  I'm 35, with stage 4 endo.....just hoping and praying I still have few good eggs.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Crappy Cramps!

I'm about to get my period at any moment now, which is good and bad.  Good because on Day-2 I get to start the blood work for my IVF.   It's bad because I have stage 4 endometriosis and these cramps have no mercy on me, but thank God for Tylenol 3.

I'm so excited and scared all at the same time because we have put off getting IVF for the past 3 years at least because I always hoped that there would be some other way.  IVF seemed to be much too invasive, all the needles, doctors visits, poking and prodding.  I didn't even want to think about the $15,000 (plus) out of pocket cost, since our health insurance does not cover IVF or meds.

Well now is the time - it's seems like a light bulb just all of a sudden popped on inside my head saying, "Hello!  You're 35-years old now!"  So I realized if we are really going to have a baby, now is the time to get on with it.

So the wait begins....come on Aunt Flo and quit torturing me with your PMS cramps!