January 29, 2016
Back in the saddle, er, stirrups again. We are a go for transfer numero dos!
Sorry I've been MIA. I honestly needed a break from the whole fertility thing. The holidays were absolutely amazing and I had a really nice time kicking back with family. We hit the ground running when we got back to town and I did some travel for work. I got to go to Sundance for the first time and I loved it! My goal - make it a yearly tradition.
I'd started my birth control early Jan and my last day was the 24th. Which brings me to my baseline ultrasound this morning. I'll be completely 100% honest with you. I've been very lax, almost indifferent heading into this transfer. I know it was from not letting myself get too excited like I did the last time, but today, being there, I started to get optimistic and excited again. It really stemmed from my doctor.
He is just so wonderful. I was sitting in the stirrups for almost an hour. He sent his apologies but he was in a procedure - no biggie. I wouldn't want him rushing mine either. Caught up on Facebook. Because, what else do you do nowadays when you're killing time, right?
When he came in, even though he was running late, he was very patient with me and I never felt rushed. My lining was super thin, like he wanted it to be starting out and I had not a single follicle to be seen, which kind of reassured me this was the right thing to do. After he finished, he told me to get dressed and meet up in the other room.
I had my whole list of questions to go through with him.
#1. After reviewing my chart do you want to revise treatment at all?
No. He was happy with my lining and felt good about the protocol. I did ask if it was possible to do extra PIO everyday instead of endometrin (because it is SOOOO expensive. Think $6-$8 per pill three times a day for your whole first trimester. Ouch.) He said that he felt it absorbed better in the uterus than PIO, but once I was pregnant, he'd consider switching me to just PIO.
He did however suggest I consider Heparin or Lovenox. He said he didn't know if it'd help, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. He thought if there were any issues with implantation or my body rejecting the embryo this may take care of it. Since our embryo last time was such good quality, something to consider. Heparin is cheaper, but you take two shots. The nurse said it also burned more and caused more bruising. Lovenox is quadruple the price but in single vials. (Side note, I posted about the difference in a mom group I am in and someone was kind enough to offer to donate their meds. People truly are AMAZING and generous, especially in the infertility community.)
#2. Are we still looking at the same probabilities for success?
He said 50-60% for one embryo, 70%- a little higher for two embryos and of those about 30% chance of twins. So...doing the math - about a 21% chance of twins if we do two embryos. When I rationalize it this way - we had a 60% chance and were unsuccessful last time - 21% really shouldn't scare me.
#3. Should we monitor progesterone throughout the cycle?
Nope. He said he doubles up on progesterone with PIO and endometrin and there should be adequate amounts. Testing for progesterone is not accurate because of the way it is absorbed.
#4. What were his thoughts on embryo glue.
He basically told me he thought it was a lot of hype. It's essentially a protein mixture that the embryo is put in. He said it was a $500 additional charge and if he thought it would help he'd suggest it, but he didn't think it was worth it or would offer any advantages. I really appreciated his not trying to upsell me and being honest.
#5. His thoughts on endometrial scratching.
He said it was something he typically did after a woman had recurrent unsuccessful IVFs or miscarriages. He said he essentially roughed up the cervix and the theory was my body would go into overdrive repairing itself and building a thicker lining and be more receptive to implantation. He said he felt like it might help and certainly wouldn't hurt. He QUICKLY said, well "It WILL hurt. Very much, but it won't hurt your chances." He said if we were going to do it though, it had to be today. Gulp. How much is it? "Oh, no! I wouldn't charge you. If you want to do it, I can do it right now." Seriously? Not charge me? Sign me up.
So, off I went to undress from the waist down. Again. He said he'd insert the speculum like when you get a pap and insert a little tube so he could get in to where my uterus is. He used this little object, which felt like a daggar to scrape around the lining. And. It. Hurt. BAD. It was a minute of my gripping the table. He felt awful. He did his countdown. Thirty more seconds. Holy hell. I kept trying to consciously tell myself to relax relax relax.
When he was done, he was very apologetic and told me to lay there 5-10 minutes to gather myself and when I was ready come back into the office. After a few minutes I stood up and my legs were shaky as I readied myself.
After that, it was back to the office where I filled out some paperwork, collected my prescription, made my appointment for next week and was told what to price in case I decided to do the Lovenox or Heparin. And, I was on my merry way.
I swung into Walmart with my trusty GoodRX app, which if you don't have, you SHOULD! Way cheaper than some of the fertility pharmacies and picked up my Estrace and Medrol. My wonderful, wonderful friend was so kind to donate her unused meds from her last cycle to me so I have delestrogen, some endometrin and PIO here waiting.
This evening my coordinator called and told me my estrogen was perfect. PERFECT! It was 100 last time, so high, but they attributed it to my being on birth control. This time, coming off birth control it was 5. Just where they want it. Now to build up a nice thick lining. I'm drinking my POM juice and my son and I had a dance party to get my blood moving.
I'm just gearing up for my first shot to the tush of this cycle. All in all, feeling good. Pretty optimistic. Once my period is done, I'll do a few castor oil packs and V-steams. I'm trying out a new acupuncturist next Thursday just down the street from me. My hope is she can do two before transfer and one the day of.
We've been incredibly blessed. Every time I start to panic, I find a blessing. My friend who gave me her meds. The mom in my lovely mom group who donated her meds to me as well. A reader here (you know who you are) who found my fundraiser and donated anonymously to me. A cousin of mine donated money to us, completely shocking me. Ever since he heard what we were doing he'd been putting aside money from every paycheck. It literally brought me to tears.
It's so easy to get overwhelmed, but my life is good. I love my son. I love my husband. I laugh daily. I know, trust and believe that every need we have along the way is provided for. God is in control and he will be in control this cycle as well. The woman taking my blood today told me to relax. When I stress, my liver functions poorly and the cycles aren't as successful. I know that with my head. I will keep reminding my heart.
God Bless!
Back in the saddle, er, stirrups again. We are a go for transfer numero dos!
Sorry I've been MIA. I honestly needed a break from the whole fertility thing. The holidays were absolutely amazing and I had a really nice time kicking back with family. We hit the ground running when we got back to town and I did some travel for work. I got to go to Sundance for the first time and I loved it! My goal - make it a yearly tradition.
I'd started my birth control early Jan and my last day was the 24th. Which brings me to my baseline ultrasound this morning. I'll be completely 100% honest with you. I've been very lax, almost indifferent heading into this transfer. I know it was from not letting myself get too excited like I did the last time, but today, being there, I started to get optimistic and excited again. It really stemmed from my doctor.
He is just so wonderful. I was sitting in the stirrups for almost an hour. He sent his apologies but he was in a procedure - no biggie. I wouldn't want him rushing mine either. Caught up on Facebook. Because, what else do you do nowadays when you're killing time, right?
When he came in, even though he was running late, he was very patient with me and I never felt rushed. My lining was super thin, like he wanted it to be starting out and I had not a single follicle to be seen, which kind of reassured me this was the right thing to do. After he finished, he told me to get dressed and meet up in the other room.
I had my whole list of questions to go through with him.
#1. After reviewing my chart do you want to revise treatment at all?
No. He was happy with my lining and felt good about the protocol. I did ask if it was possible to do extra PIO everyday instead of endometrin (because it is SOOOO expensive. Think $6-$8 per pill three times a day for your whole first trimester. Ouch.) He said that he felt it absorbed better in the uterus than PIO, but once I was pregnant, he'd consider switching me to just PIO.
He did however suggest I consider Heparin or Lovenox. He said he didn't know if it'd help, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. He thought if there were any issues with implantation or my body rejecting the embryo this may take care of it. Since our embryo last time was such good quality, something to consider. Heparin is cheaper, but you take two shots. The nurse said it also burned more and caused more bruising. Lovenox is quadruple the price but in single vials. (Side note, I posted about the difference in a mom group I am in and someone was kind enough to offer to donate their meds. People truly are AMAZING and generous, especially in the infertility community.)
#2. Are we still looking at the same probabilities for success?
He said 50-60% for one embryo, 70%- a little higher for two embryos and of those about 30% chance of twins. So...doing the math - about a 21% chance of twins if we do two embryos. When I rationalize it this way - we had a 60% chance and were unsuccessful last time - 21% really shouldn't scare me.
#3. Should we monitor progesterone throughout the cycle?
Nope. He said he doubles up on progesterone with PIO and endometrin and there should be adequate amounts. Testing for progesterone is not accurate because of the way it is absorbed.
#4. What were his thoughts on embryo glue.
He basically told me he thought it was a lot of hype. It's essentially a protein mixture that the embryo is put in. He said it was a $500 additional charge and if he thought it would help he'd suggest it, but he didn't think it was worth it or would offer any advantages. I really appreciated his not trying to upsell me and being honest.
#5. His thoughts on endometrial scratching.
He said it was something he typically did after a woman had recurrent unsuccessful IVFs or miscarriages. He said he essentially roughed up the cervix and the theory was my body would go into overdrive repairing itself and building a thicker lining and be more receptive to implantation. He said he felt like it might help and certainly wouldn't hurt. He QUICKLY said, well "It WILL hurt. Very much, but it won't hurt your chances." He said if we were going to do it though, it had to be today. Gulp. How much is it? "Oh, no! I wouldn't charge you. If you want to do it, I can do it right now." Seriously? Not charge me? Sign me up.
So, off I went to undress from the waist down. Again. He said he'd insert the speculum like when you get a pap and insert a little tube so he could get in to where my uterus is. He used this little object, which felt like a daggar to scrape around the lining. And. It. Hurt. BAD. It was a minute of my gripping the table. He felt awful. He did his countdown. Thirty more seconds. Holy hell. I kept trying to consciously tell myself to relax relax relax.
When he was done, he was very apologetic and told me to lay there 5-10 minutes to gather myself and when I was ready come back into the office. After a few minutes I stood up and my legs were shaky as I readied myself.
After that, it was back to the office where I filled out some paperwork, collected my prescription, made my appointment for next week and was told what to price in case I decided to do the Lovenox or Heparin. And, I was on my merry way.
I swung into Walmart with my trusty GoodRX app, which if you don't have, you SHOULD! Way cheaper than some of the fertility pharmacies and picked up my Estrace and Medrol. My wonderful, wonderful friend was so kind to donate her unused meds from her last cycle to me so I have delestrogen, some endometrin and PIO here waiting.
This evening my coordinator called and told me my estrogen was perfect. PERFECT! It was 100 last time, so high, but they attributed it to my being on birth control. This time, coming off birth control it was 5. Just where they want it. Now to build up a nice thick lining. I'm drinking my POM juice and my son and I had a dance party to get my blood moving.
I'm just gearing up for my first shot to the tush of this cycle. All in all, feeling good. Pretty optimistic. Once my period is done, I'll do a few castor oil packs and V-steams. I'm trying out a new acupuncturist next Thursday just down the street from me. My hope is she can do two before transfer and one the day of.
We've been incredibly blessed. Every time I start to panic, I find a blessing. My friend who gave me her meds. The mom in my lovely mom group who donated her meds to me as well. A reader here (you know who you are) who found my fundraiser and donated anonymously to me. A cousin of mine donated money to us, completely shocking me. Ever since he heard what we were doing he'd been putting aside money from every paycheck. It literally brought me to tears.
It's so easy to get overwhelmed, but my life is good. I love my son. I love my husband. I laugh daily. I know, trust and believe that every need we have along the way is provided for. God is in control and he will be in control this cycle as well. The woman taking my blood today told me to relax. When I stress, my liver functions poorly and the cycles aren't as successful. I know that with my head. I will keep reminding my heart.
God Bless!
