Second Beta

March 2, 2016

Today was beta 2 day! I wasn’t as nervous going in this time knowing I had a strong number Monday, and I’d gone to the pharmacy to pick up my meds yesterday and taken a pregnancy test at Kaiser which turned immediately despite diluted urine, so I felt my numbers must be increasing.

Estrogen 535

Progesterone 42

HCG 2743

At first I got a bit uneasy because my numbers were slightly under the 48 hour doubling rate – 193 to be exact. I had a 89% doubling rate meaning my doubling time was closer to 52 or 53 hours. But, Google happy that I was, all the medical sites clearly stated doubling was 48-72 hrs when your HCG is up to 1200 and 72-96 hrs 1200-6000. After that it is >96 hrs. So, I’m still on the higher end of that.

Now, totally wish my coordinator had said that, but she DID tell me it’s a great number and not to worry it was slightly under. Still think the whole 72-96 hr doubling rate would have been worth mentioning, but ah well.

She did say my estrogen had dropped, but asked if tonight was my delestrogen shot. She said that was the reason. The day before my last draw I’d taken it, so it was on the lower end today because I’m due for it again. As far as my progesterone dropping a bit, I was a bit worried, but she said that they want it over 25, so even though it dropped, at 42, it’s still well over their mark they shoot for.

It’s so bizarre. This whole TTC journey is just so nerve-racking. I feel good and confident (after I talked myself down) but I just need to trust. So far this baby is growing nicely, so keep on little one.

My nurse from my OBs office called. Again, we went through the when was your last menstrual cycle. I’m not certain how many times I will have to say it doesn’t matter, I did a frozen embryo transfer on the 16^th. I don’t think that is an option to plug into their computer, and they instinctively treat that as “ovulation” day projecting my due date, but I have to keep restating the embryo was 5 days old. She kept insisting I was exactly 4 weeks and I was saying, “No, I’m 4 weeks 6 days.”

Ah well, it will get sorted out. I go into my OB on the 23^rd, so I will be 7 weeks 6 days. It will be exactly one week after my ultra sound with my RE. I wanted to try and push it a week, but they really were adamant I go between 7 and 8 weeks, so I think it’ll be fine. I still have to drive in for the blood draws at my fertility clinic because my insurance won’t cover them. The nice thing about this, is all my prenatal visits are covered, so I’m going to double dip as this for my second ultra sound so I don’t have to pay out of pocket at my RE for the second one.

I just can’t wait to hear the little heartbeat. There is such peace in knowing the heart is beating strong.

For now, I’m pregnant. The betas are looking good! My boobs are very sore, that is for sure and I’m tired. Other than a few moments of nausea this afternoon, I’m feeling great.

God bless! 

First Beta

Feb. 29, 2016

Happy leap day! It was also beta day! Sooooo much better than the last one.

Are you ready for it? Drum. Roll. Please....

HCG 1468!
Estradiol 1344
Progesterone 52.84

My doctor said my levels were right on target and my HCG was high for my date. 13dp5dt or the equivalent of 18 days past ovulation. I'm just excited to know this little guy / gal is burrowing in and getting snugly for the long haul.

I have to go back Weds to check on doubling. Ideally, HCG doubles every 48-72 hrs; however I read that once it's over 1200 it slows down a bit. We shall see what the number is Weds - praying for good numbers.

My husband is out of town, so once I got my son dropped off to school I hopped in the car and headed to my draw. The traffic was a bit of a nightmare and it took me over an hour to get there, but I knew it'd be quick to do the blood draw and I could head home to work. The lab tech was my usual woman, so sweet.

When I went to check out the receptionist asked me if I'd cheated and this time I was able to say yes with a smile :) "Congrats! From here on out you pay out of pocket."

LOL, funny how that is the second thing out of their mouth. Yeah yeah yeah. I get it.

I was getting rather agitated I didn't hear sooner from the doctor's office. They close at 5 and it wasn't until 4:30 that I finally heard back from the nurse. I know first betas they usually make the call between noon and 1, so once it hit 4 I emailed and left a voice message. My coordinator finally called me back and gave me a long explanation for why she hadn't called sooner just leaving me on the phone rolling my eyes like "get to it already." She started with my estradiol, then my progesterone and then I hear "Where did I put your HCG, I swear it was right here."

COME ON ALREADY!!!

1468! Yippee!

So, back on Weds for a second draw, then I believe a week later for a third and then back for my first ultrasound the following week. I don't know the date for sure, but if they are working on weeks, I'd be 6 weeks 6 days for the first ultra sound on March 16.

Pray for a good doubling number for me! I'm so excited. Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God!

So far so good

July 31, 2014

Well, I've been off herbs for almost a week now and so far so good. I've been sleeping great. I woke up a few times last night, but the night before I slept from 10:30-5:30 without waking up at all. I literally cannot remember the last time I've slept that long and hard. It was heavenly!!! My sleep started improving about five days before stopping herbs, so I don't think it was the herbs adversely affecting it. I also haven't been having any mini hot flashes. I was getting them here and there - nothing drastic like they use to be, but enough to unnerve me.

My hormones seem to be cooperating. My temp had been elevated for about a month and over the last week, just before discontinuing herbs, my temps have been dropping. I've also been getting fertile cm and cervix. I took a HPT test today to see and hardly any line at all. It looked more like an evap after it'd been sitting out for an hour so I think the low HCG has dropped even lower, or disappeared in my system. We'll see over the next few days if I ovulate and can verify it with a temp hike.

All in all. Doing pretty good. I was worried taking a break from the herbs would slow my progress, but maybe my body needed a break from everything. Or, maybe my body is just on an upswing and it'd be working even better with the herbs. Either way, I feel like conquering the horrid UTI and healing my body of that is the most important for overall health (and fertility health.) Who knows how long I'd been battling it.

I must also add my super exciting news. A friend of mine who has been battling infertility is pregnant. She is the one who introduced me to my TCM. She went to them her first round of IVF and got pregnant. Her second round, she didn't, and didn't get pregnant. Although they pulled some eggs, the quality wasn't great. Her third round, she did acupuncture and herbs for a six or seven month round and they pulled 18 mature eggs, 15 fertilized which were all viable at day 5. At transfer day there was a near perfect one and one pretty darn close. Her u/s is next week.

Her doctor was amazed at the difference the eight months made between transfers and asked what they'd done. Fasting. Prayer. TCM and acupuncture. He was baffled and told her she could be a donor. For any naysayers, there is something to this. The only difference between round 2 and 3 was TCM and acupuncture. The faith, prayer and fasting were there all along. The bible tells us to prepare our fields.

I never knew it'd be in the form of needles and a sludge concoction of herbs, but hey, I'm busy preparing my field. ;)

Possible Chemical Pregnancy

May 31, 2014

Well, the good news, I finally got a BFP. The bad, I started spotting within hours and bleeding shortly after that. I'm trying to look at the optimistic side of this. I can conceive. Whether it was egg health, poor endometrial lining, low progesterone, etc that prevented the pregnancy from "taking" I don't know. BUT, and the big BUT is, it's a step in the right direction.

I know the naysayers will say it may be the POF elevating HCG hormones, but remember, the last time, I had no endometrial lining, had not ovulated, my hormones were preventing me from ovulation and the thing that led to diagnosis was that I never did bleed.

Five months ago, I started treatment with the dismal diagnosis that I would never ovulate nor conceive. Three and a half months ago, I ovulated. Each month my LP got longer. This month, I conceived.

It was a pitiful faint line and I didn't even tell my husband because I wanted to make sure it darkened tomorrow (remember, a faint positive led to my diagnosis of POF) but when I started spotting I told him right away. I told him to not get too excited because I was spotting and my temp had dropped today, but I did get a positive pregnancy test. I said it was good news really...my body was obviously getting stronger, my eggs healthier...for whatever reason it didn't take, but we knew it COULD in the future.

I tested ridiculously early because we didn't know my actual ovulation date this month. I was either 8 days or 10-11, but I decided to test today because I'm taking herbs and wanted to discontinue at the first sight of a line.

I just called my TCM. They also agree it was most likely a chemical pregnancy, but actually seemed very happy at the news. They told me to reduce my herbs, but keep taking them. In the off chance it is a viable pregnancy, the herbs will support my system until we get a more strong positive. I am to call them with any change.

This journey is definitely a rollercoaster, but it has certainly humbled me. I said a long prayer and have put my trust in God. I have prayed for a HEALTHY pregnancy and HEALTHY baby, so if this was not a healthy egg, God and natural selection know. On the off chance it is implantation or hormone fluctuations, we will know soon enough.

For now, I am at peace knowing my body is healing. It's come SO LONG! The fact I was able to conceive defied all odds and I KNOW I will be able to conceive and go on to have a healthy baby. I know and trust.

God Bless.

Happy or Sad?

May 8, 2014

It's funny. A few months ago I would have been ecstatic to get my period, and part of me still is (ok, a huge part of me still is)...but, it's surprising how quickly my expectations have multiplied. It's almost since I had a period, I just expected I'd easily fall pregnant this month. Nope.

So, today, AF arrived. This morning my temp took a drastic drop and I got that foreboding feeling. I kept trying to tell myself there was a chance it was an "implantation dip" at 9 DPO, but knowing how short my LP was last month, I figured AF was around the corner. I noticed a little spotting a bit earlier and then after lunch a very light flow started. I also had some pretty serious cramping and backache. I don't really recall serious cramping before when trying to conceive but I only actually had two cycles off birth control and then "Viola" baby! So, I've little to compare it to. Besides, my hormones were VERY out of whack starting this whole process, so I've no clue what my new normal is.

An implantation dip is a drastic dip, I think they say at least .3 degrees within the days of implantation, typically 6-12, most likely around 7-9. Some people believe in it, some don't. It happens far more on pregnancy charts.

The scientific basis is that you have another estrogen surge after ovulation around the time that progesterone, the hormone that increases your temperature in case fertilization occurs, drops. In pregnant women, sometimes that estrogen surge is stronger. Once the egg implants, it releases HCG which tells the corpus luteum to keep producing progesterone until the placenta takes over later in pregnancy. I deduce the dip appears more on pregnancy charts because it shoots back up once the corpus luteum gets the memo to up the progesterone production again.  All I know is that when I charted before I never had a dip until I conceived my son. It dipped on his chart 7 DPO and it went triphasic, meaning the temps after the dip raised above my post ovulation temperatures from days 1-6.

I'm trying to see the silver lining. I went from no period and being told (basically) I would never get one nor ovulate, to ovulating after my body geared up several times with a short LP phase of 5 days (technically since I started menstruating on day 6 it would only be five) to this cycle, my body gearing up ONCE and following through with a successful ovulation and my luteal phase extending to 8 days with my period starting 9 DPO. If my body can gear up, ovulate and extend my LP again by 3 days I will be just about "normal."

So as crummy and disappointed as I feel right now, my body is actually healing quite nicely. I will be honest though. I just want to have a good cry. It's so unfair. In the grand scheme of things, I know I've been dealt a great hand overall and I feel so incredibly selfish I'm getting so woe is me over this, but it Just. Plain. Sucks.

I'm back to my TCM on Saturday so I'll discuss with them my short LP and go over with my doctor if I should start any supplements like royal jelly to start assisting my egg health. She's back from China this week, so it'll be good to get her input on my cycles and how my pulse feels.

My OBGYN had said after 6 months she'd be happy to retest my levels to see how the TCM was working out. My last test she ran was on Jan. 25, 2014. I started acupuncture on Weds Jan. 29 and herbs the following month on Fri. Feb. 21. My six months from the diagnosing blood draw will be July 25. If no BFP by then, I will request an updated lab. This time, I want it drawn on the appropriate CD3 (cycle day 3.) That is the most accurate day to measure LH and FSH. Since I'd had no period before, we just worked with what we had.

Plodding on. Happy and sad.