Went in for my Day 3 blood work and ultraound and FINALLY got my protocol!
- Marvelon (birth control pill) for 21 days
- Gonal F 300 IUI and Menopur 150 for at least 4 days starting Day 3 (Day 1 for the cycle will be July 27)
Very very excited. After 4 years of trying this is finally happening!
I also got notice of our first payment... $1800 for the Embryology Laboratory Fee. I think this is only for patients with some government funding. Since both my tubes were blocked, the government pays for a portion of the IVF. Every little bit helps...!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Day 1
So AF is finally here!
I can't believe I'm on the road to my first IVF cycle. Just called in for my Day 1.
I can't wait to get my protocol! I think it's bcp this month, but I will find out I suppose when I go in Day 3 (if that is in fact what they want me to do).
I can't believe I'm on the road to my first IVF cycle. Just called in for my Day 1.
I can't wait to get my protocol! I think it's bcp this month, but I will find out I suppose when I go in Day 3 (if that is in fact what they want me to do).
Friday, June 24, 2011
Moo
Happy to see so many visitors from ICLW! I love reading your comments. I didn't post yesterday so I am going to make it up for it today :)
One of the things that I have found with DHEA is my skin tingles. Specifically the bottom part of my face. I keep thinking maybe the hair follicles are starting to get restless. One of these days I'm going to scare myself by looking in the mirror! Of course, maybe this is just the result of looking at side effects online and then having phantom reactions. In any case, J has been notified :)
My wheatgrass shipment arrived yesterday in a cool looking container. It was a PAIN to take the frozen cubes out of the pack. The best I can describe it is that it came in a plastic bag ice cube tray. The directions say that you can just twist the bag a few times, and then while the bag is still closed grasp the two sides of the bag and pull and all the cubes of wheatgrass will separate nicely. Uhmm.... no. I ended up with wheatgrass juice all over the place. In the end I just cut open the bag and put it into another one. They did give a video on how to do this 'easily' so maybe I will watch it and see if that helps next time :)
The stuff tastes like grass. No big surprise - and it's not too bad. I am going to drink it one ounce of it every morning.
I am still waiting for AF. Day 30 today (usually I'm 28 or 29 days). I am also feeling a bit nauseous in the morning. Can you believe my friend (who I love dearly, she is now pregnant after her 4th try at IVF) asked me if I've peed on a stick yet? I've heard of miracle babies and all but I really don't think that is in my cards with getting my tubes tied last month! I am an optimist, but a realist :)
One of the things that I have found with DHEA is my skin tingles. Specifically the bottom part of my face. I keep thinking maybe the hair follicles are starting to get restless. One of these days I'm going to scare myself by looking in the mirror! Of course, maybe this is just the result of looking at side effects online and then having phantom reactions. In any case, J has been notified :)
My wheatgrass shipment arrived yesterday in a cool looking container. It was a PAIN to take the frozen cubes out of the pack. The best I can describe it is that it came in a plastic bag ice cube tray. The directions say that you can just twist the bag a few times, and then while the bag is still closed grasp the two sides of the bag and pull and all the cubes of wheatgrass will separate nicely. Uhmm.... no. I ended up with wheatgrass juice all over the place. In the end I just cut open the bag and put it into another one. They did give a video on how to do this 'easily' so maybe I will watch it and see if that helps next time :)
The stuff tastes like grass. No big surprise - and it's not too bad. I am going to drink it one ounce of it every morning.
I am still waiting for AF. Day 30 today (usually I'm 28 or 29 days). I am also feeling a bit nauseous in the morning. Can you believe my friend (who I love dearly, she is now pregnant after her 4th try at IVF) asked me if I've peed on a stick yet? I've heard of miracle babies and all but I really don't think that is in my cards with getting my tubes tied last month! I am an optimist, but a realist :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Welcome IComLeavWe'ers!
It's another IComLeavWe. This is my second time participating, and to be honest my heart wasn't really into it and I did a poor job.
Not this time! Now we have a plan, my surgery was done, and all I have to do is wait for AF to arrive. I really feel like a baby is within arms reach.
I ordered 200 frozen wheatgrass cubes from a local naturopath today. Final total = $202. I had every intention of growing and juicing it myself but it's just not going to happen. I am really hoping that this will help lower my FSH.
I also have been taking DHEA, a steroid. Fingers crossed that (a) it lowers my FSH and (b) I don't lose all my hair and get acne! Let me tell you, my libido is UP. Really good thing, because my husband is not complaining. That could change, of course if I turn into a balding, acne prone, deep voiced, hairy chinned wife.
The other downside is that I won't be able to compete in the Olympics. Another hope dashed!
Fingers crossed that they will do bloodwork and ultrasound on my Day 3 so I can see if my FSH has indeed gone down. I don't expect it to, but I'm really hoping to see a difference.
Not this time! Now we have a plan, my surgery was done, and all I have to do is wait for AF to arrive. I really feel like a baby is within arms reach.
I ordered 200 frozen wheatgrass cubes from a local naturopath today. Final total = $202. I had every intention of growing and juicing it myself but it's just not going to happen. I am really hoping that this will help lower my FSH.
I also have been taking DHEA, a steroid. Fingers crossed that (a) it lowers my FSH and (b) I don't lose all my hair and get acne! Let me tell you, my libido is UP. Really good thing, because my husband is not complaining. That could change, of course if I turn into a balding, acne prone, deep voiced, hairy chinned wife.
The other downside is that I won't be able to compete in the Olympics. Another hope dashed!
Fingers crossed that they will do bloodwork and ultrasound on my Day 3 so I can see if my FSH has indeed gone down. I don't expect it to, but I'm really hoping to see a difference.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Can hopes and dreams come true?
I had my followup appointment with my surgeon (an RE) today. While she is not my RE, she works at the same clinic.
She confirmed stage 4, and that I had tons of adhesions. My bowel was completely attached to my uterus. She separated them. There were tons of ovarian cysts too, she left those as per my instructions because I did not want to compromise any more ovarian reserve. Drained the fluid in my hydrosalpinges, and then clipped them.
And then she told me that since my RE was in the office, she would just be back to see if we could start my first IVF cycle next month. :cheer:
So it's official... I call in with my day one. I am about 2 weeks away I think. From there, they will put me on the pill for one cycle to try to calm down my endometriosis. The following day one will be my official cycle where we try for as many eggs as possible!
Definitely what I was hoping for, and I wanted to hug my surgeon for bringing this up so I didn't have to.
She also gave me a copy of my OR report, and showed me some photos that she took on her iPhone of the screen :lol:
So yeah, extremely excited about it. I really hope I am 'lucky' and it works the first time.
She confirmed stage 4, and that I had tons of adhesions. My bowel was completely attached to my uterus. She separated them. There were tons of ovarian cysts too, she left those as per my instructions because I did not want to compromise any more ovarian reserve. Drained the fluid in my hydrosalpinges, and then clipped them.
And then she told me that since my RE was in the office, she would just be back to see if we could start my first IVF cycle next month. :cheer:
So it's official... I call in with my day one. I am about 2 weeks away I think. From there, they will put me on the pill for one cycle to try to calm down my endometriosis. The following day one will be my official cycle where we try for as many eggs as possible!
Definitely what I was hoping for, and I wanted to hug my surgeon for bringing this up so I didn't have to.
She also gave me a copy of my OR report, and showed me some photos that she took on her iPhone of the screen :lol:
So yeah, extremely excited about it. I really hope I am 'lucky' and it works the first time.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
And I thought AF was a b!tch before...
When I left the hospital, the doctor gave me a prescription for Tylenol 3s. I filled it, knowing I wasn't going to use them but thought 'just in case'.
I'm glad I did. While I didn't use them immediately after my surgery, AF is here and fiercer than ever.
It is a completely different type of pain. It's like someone has their foot on my crouch, and is yanking my ovaries down and out. Tug, tug, yank.
I bared the pain for a couple of days and then gave up and took the T3s.
Really really hoping this is not going to be added to my monthly gift. I don't know if I can deal with the endo pain on top of this.
I'm glad I did. While I didn't use them immediately after my surgery, AF is here and fiercer than ever.
It is a completely different type of pain. It's like someone has their foot on my crouch, and is yanking my ovaries down and out. Tug, tug, yank.
I bared the pain for a couple of days and then gave up and took the T3s.
Really really hoping this is not going to be added to my monthly gift. I don't know if I can deal with the endo pain on top of this.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Back in the real world
So it's been a month since I have posted here. I really kinda dumped everyone and everything in my life - probably more as an escape because that is what I do to deal with things.
My surgery was May 3. I'm assuming it went well - I say this because my doctor didn't stick around to talk to me after. She spoke briefly to J, and told him 'no wonder she had so much pain, it was a mess in there' and confirmed that she clipped my tubes. My follow up is on June 14.
I cried after waking up. I knew it was going to be hard to have this surgery, and there I was, in bed, groggy, and minus a very important (albeit broken) part of me.
I was lucky that I got approved for four weeks off of work. The first two weeks were all about recuperating. I stayed home, on the couch. Well enough to get up and do my own thing after four days.
Having such surgery right before Mother's Day was kinda stupid. The day is hard enough already, and if I could have taken a drug that would have knocked me out for a week, I would have. I didn't want to talk to anyone, see anyone, do anything, think about my stupid tubes or my stupid ovaries or my f!@#ing endometriosis.
The next two weeks I was better. I stayed home, on the couch. But I was better emotionally. I just needed those weeks to grieve.
In the weeks I was off, I got two pregnancy announcements. One is a friend who has tried IVF four times. The other was a gloater.
I can't wait to give the first a huge big hug, and I am avoiding the second like the plague.
Have so much to say but will post tomorrow.
My surgery was May 3. I'm assuming it went well - I say this because my doctor didn't stick around to talk to me after. She spoke briefly to J, and told him 'no wonder she had so much pain, it was a mess in there' and confirmed that she clipped my tubes. My follow up is on June 14.
I cried after waking up. I knew it was going to be hard to have this surgery, and there I was, in bed, groggy, and minus a very important (albeit broken) part of me.
I was lucky that I got approved for four weeks off of work. The first two weeks were all about recuperating. I stayed home, on the couch. Well enough to get up and do my own thing after four days.
Having such surgery right before Mother's Day was kinda stupid. The day is hard enough already, and if I could have taken a drug that would have knocked me out for a week, I would have. I didn't want to talk to anyone, see anyone, do anything, think about my stupid tubes or my stupid ovaries or my f!@#ing endometriosis.
The next two weeks I was better. I stayed home, on the couch. But I was better emotionally. I just needed those weeks to grieve.
In the weeks I was off, I got two pregnancy announcements. One is a friend who has tried IVF four times. The other was a gloater.
I can't wait to give the first a huge big hug, and I am avoiding the second like the plague.
Have so much to say but will post tomorrow.
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