Finally I got the call!!
12 mature
8 fertilized
I go in on Saturday at 7:45 a.m. for the transfer. Since my uterus is off the side and smaller, I have to have an even more full bladder than normal. It's not going to be fun, but he said if I pee everywhere once they've got the catheter in my uterus, that's fine. haha
As a side note, I counted, and I've been to the RE 26 times in 4 months! Holy geez! At least it is fairly close to my house (30 min). I'm on a babycenter message board, and one of the ladies there has to drive 5 hours each way to her RE. She is committed!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Egg Retrieval
I went in at 8:30 a.m. yesterday for the egg retrieval. Of course the IV didn't work the first try, but luckily it did the second. Why does that always seem to happen? You'd think I'd be used to needles by now, but IVs are so much worse than belly shots (not the kind you do at the bar! haha). Around 9 a.m. they took me back for the retrieval and Bill went to "do his part". I was sedated but not completely under for the retrieval. It was a strange feeling. I felt one or two of the sticks to get the egg, but mostly I was out of it. The minute they were through though, I was up!
WE GOT 18 EGGS!! Seven more than expected! Now I am just waiting to get the fertilization report. RING PHONE, RING!!
WE GOT 18 EGGS!! Seven more than expected! Now I am just waiting to get the fertilization report. RING PHONE, RING!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Almost There
I started my stims and HCG on Saturday. The shots are not nearly as bad as I expected. I'm actually kind of having fun with them now.
My first ultrasound was on Wednesday (day 5 of stims). I had 18 follicles, with the biggest at 12mm. My estradiol was at 578. No change in dosage, but I did start my Ganerilix (to stop spontaneous ovulation) Wednesday afternoon.
Today I went back for another ultrasound. I had one 18mm follicle, two 15mm, and about 7 between 9mm-11mm. My Estradiol was 1290. They're slightly concerned that my estradiol is rising too quickly, so I have to go back tomorrow for another blood test.
I will likely trigger with Lupron Sunday or Monday with my egg retrieval Tuesday or Wednesday. From the start of my stims to embryo transfer will only be about 2 weeks. I can't believe how much easier than expected this whole process has been. I've had no side effects really...a little cramping and fullness in my ovaries, but that's it. I have made about 5 trips to my RE in the last couple weeks, but after my abscess fiasco, it's no big deal.
Will update after the egg retrieval!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Baseline Ultrasound
My baseline ultrasound went well today. They counted 14 follicles.
I can't believe I might be pregnant in a of couple weeks!
Check out all the meds I got today!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
IVF / ICSI - Starting Meds Soon!
I have way too much to think about.
I will be stopping my BCP on March 22 and having my baseline ultrasound. As long as there are no cysts on my ovaries, I will start my Follistim + HCG injections on March 26th.
We got the results from the semen profile yesterday. Turns out that I was right to be nervous about it. Only 250,000 made it to the top, meaning that we have a 15% chance of fertilization issues. Instead of taking the 15% chance that fertilization will not occur, we will be using ICSI. In IVF they usually put some sperm in with the egg and which ever sperm gets the egg first is the winner. With ICSI they inject one single sperm into each individual egg. Now I have to figure out if our insurance will cover ICSI. I called BCB.S yesterday and we need written documentation from the doctor stating why we need ICSI before they will consider paying for it. Even after they have the documentation, they still might say no. The procedure is an extra $1500-$1700 on top of the usual IVF costs. My understanding is that our part of IVF cost is $430. I find this hard to believe though, and am assuming we will owe more than $430. Insurance is so confusing.
And for my prescriptions, I need pre-authorization too. I am supposed to call the pharmacy back on Monday to see if my authorization has gone through. I've talked to the insurance co. several times, and they assure me that the meds are covered so hopefully we won't hit any bumps in the road. Last I heard, our part of meds cost should be around $300
On an unrelated note, I planted some blueberry and raspberry bushes. I really hope they do well and produce lots of fruit for me to eat! My main problem will be keeping the deer away. I planted a rhinoculous and the next time I saw it, it was completely torn up from the ground, missing it's pretty flower. Seriously though, the deer are driving me nuts. I plan to make a homemade deer repellent - rotten eggs and garlic. That'll teach 'em!
I will be stopping my BCP on March 22 and having my baseline ultrasound. As long as there are no cysts on my ovaries, I will start my Follistim + HCG injections on March 26th.
We got the results from the semen profile yesterday. Turns out that I was right to be nervous about it. Only 250,000 made it to the top, meaning that we have a 15% chance of fertilization issues. Instead of taking the 15% chance that fertilization will not occur, we will be using ICSI. In IVF they usually put some sperm in with the egg and which ever sperm gets the egg first is the winner. With ICSI they inject one single sperm into each individual egg. Now I have to figure out if our insurance will cover ICSI. I called BCB.S yesterday and we need written documentation from the doctor stating why we need ICSI before they will consider paying for it. Even after they have the documentation, they still might say no. The procedure is an extra $1500-$1700 on top of the usual IVF costs. My understanding is that our part of IVF cost is $430. I find this hard to believe though, and am assuming we will owe more than $430. Insurance is so confusing.
And for my prescriptions, I need pre-authorization too. I am supposed to call the pharmacy back on Monday to see if my authorization has gone through. I've talked to the insurance co. several times, and they assure me that the meds are covered so hopefully we won't hit any bumps in the road. Last I heard, our part of meds cost should be around $300
On an unrelated note, I planted some blueberry and raspberry bushes. I really hope they do well and produce lots of fruit for me to eat! My main problem will be keeping the deer away. I planted a rhinoculous and the next time I saw it, it was completely torn up from the ground, missing it's pretty flower. Seriously though, the deer are driving me nuts. I plan to make a homemade deer repellent - rotten eggs and garlic. That'll teach 'em!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
IVF Protocol
I went back to the doctor yesterday to get my IVF protocol! I will be starting birth control pills this Thursday and taking them for 2 weeks. After the BC, I will start my injections for 12 days. I will be taking Follistim injections with HCG, then a few days later, I will start Ganirellix and eventually a shot of Lupron to trigger the release of my eggs (antagonist protocol). According to my RE, 20 eggs is a reasonable expectation from the egg retrieval! After they retrieve the eggs we will wait 3 days to transfer the embryo to my uterus.
I mentioned in a previous post that I was going to talk with my RE about transferring 2 embryos instead of only 1...she wasn't keen on this, so we'll just be transferring 1.
Our last hurdle will be my husband's semen profile this Thursday. His original analysis came back good, so I can only assume the profile will go well, but I'm still a little nervous. During the profile, they take the semen and put it into a spinning machine with a medium. After 30 minutes, if at least one million sperm make it to the top of the machine, then we're good to go. If 100,000 make it to the top, we have a 15% chance of sperm issues. If less than 100,000 make it to the top, we have an 85% chance of sperm issues. We'll also be taking the injection class this Thursday.
As far as my abscess, it is looking good. I will be packing the wound for 1 more week, and then finally I will be done with that..it only took 1 month! geez ;)
I mentioned in a previous post that I was going to talk with my RE about transferring 2 embryos instead of only 1...she wasn't keen on this, so we'll just be transferring 1.
Our last hurdle will be my husband's semen profile this Thursday. His original analysis came back good, so I can only assume the profile will go well, but I'm still a little nervous. During the profile, they take the semen and put it into a spinning machine with a medium. After 30 minutes, if at least one million sperm make it to the top of the machine, then we're good to go. If 100,000 make it to the top, we have a 15% chance of sperm issues. If less than 100,000 make it to the top, we have an 85% chance of sperm issues. We'll also be taking the injection class this Thursday.
As far as my abscess, it is looking good. I will be packing the wound for 1 more week, and then finally I will be done with that..it only took 1 month! geez ;)
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