I am 6 weeks, 3 days pregnant and went in for my very first ultrasound. It was incredible!
Joe and I went in the room and I was up on the table waiting for the US tech to come in. All of a sudden, everyone came in: my RE, the embryologist and two nurses. They all wanted to see and that made me happy!
Joe was by my side saying, "Please let it be one, please let it be one, please let it be one..." We all got a good giggle out of that one.
She then starts the US and says, "I only see one!" I was 95% relieved and maybe 5% disappointed that it wasn't twins. No BOGO for me this time!
She points out all the little things like the yolk sac and gestational sac and the HEART BEAT! At this point I'm shaking and crying and they all tell me to hold my breath for a moment so they can get a good look at everything. Of course that made me giggle so I stopped crying. At least for a moment. And then she turned up the audio and I heard the "da dum, da dum, da dum." Those were the most glorious syllables I've ever heard. Sweeter than any music any voice or instrument has ever made. The crying started all over again! I have never before cried such tears of joy as I did today!
She told me the heartbeat was 115 and all 4 people at once said, "it's a boy!"
Who knows, (and who cares honestly?!) as long as my sweet baby is healthy. They released me to my Ob/Gyn who I will see in 2-3 weeks. I'm a regular old pregnant woman now!!!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
IVF Take 2!!!
This is well overdue, but in the spirit of completion, I am compelled to share the wonderful news. IVF cycle #2 worked!!! Here's our photo:
We did an Antagonist cycle with the following meds:
Cetrotide
Gonal F
Menopur
Generic HCG trigger
Z Pack
Medrol
Vivelle Dot patches
Crinone progesterone
Baby aspirin
I added pineapple (including the core) and lots of relaxation. My official beta blood test isn't until Thursday, December 30, but the home test is proof positive.
Praise God!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The results
Most, if not all of you now know that my first IVF didn't work. We transferred two beautiful, almost perfect embryos on day 3, but the result was negative. I don't have a lot of humor and clever writing to share, but we are forging ahead with cycle #2 immediately!
I'll try to post more frequently for those of you interested.
I'll try to post more frequently for those of you interested.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Immature eggs
I'm pretty much on cloud nine after hearing about my 11 eggs and just KNOW that they'll all be perfectly wonderful and beautiful and fertilized and growing like weeds. (insert record scratching noise here) And then Suzanne calls. Later than promised and not sounding good. My eggs, despite their perfectly sized follicles, are immature! She's rarely seen this and has no explanation.
Thank GOD I asked for the split ICSI because none of them fertilized naturally, and six fertilized with ICSI. But they didn't look great and she wouldn't know anything until the next afternoon. More than 24 hours must pass before I learn the status of my wonderful little eggs that I worked so hard on. If they don't grow, then I have completely wasted the last 6 weeks of my life with birth control pills, shots, craziness, moodiness, excitement, hope, optimism....My cycle would be over and I would start all over again.
Please oh please God, let my embryos grow. Let them grow as nicely as the weeds that take over my flower garden every year. Let them grow as quickly as the hairs on my legs. Let them grow at record speed so I can hold on to my hope for my IVF miracle baby. Was He listening to my prayers? Yes! God was listening and my embies had grown to perfect 4 cell, grade 4 and 4+ (out of a 1-5 scale with 5 being the best) embryos ready to transfer into my uterus. I've made it through so many levels of this process and now I get to the final step of transfer. Praise God!!
Thank GOD I asked for the split ICSI because none of them fertilized naturally, and six fertilized with ICSI. But they didn't look great and she wouldn't know anything until the next afternoon. More than 24 hours must pass before I learn the status of my wonderful little eggs that I worked so hard on. If they don't grow, then I have completely wasted the last 6 weeks of my life with birth control pills, shots, craziness, moodiness, excitement, hope, optimism....My cycle would be over and I would start all over again.
Please oh please God, let my embryos grow. Let them grow as nicely as the weeds that take over my flower garden every year. Let them grow as quickly as the hairs on my legs. Let them grow at record speed so I can hold on to my hope for my IVF miracle baby. Was He listening to my prayers? Yes! God was listening and my embies had grown to perfect 4 cell, grade 4 and 4+ (out of a 1-5 scale with 5 being the best) embryos ready to transfer into my uterus. I've made it through so many levels of this process and now I get to the final step of transfer. Praise God!!
Retrieval Day
My egg retrieval was scheduled for Wednesday, November 3, 2010. I was told I had approximately 20 follicles, so I was hoping for a high number of eggs retrieved. Here's how it went:
I arrived at the Mobile Infirmary at 8:00 a.m. I couldn't figure out what to wear for the big day! I think I changed clothes a few times and finally settled on some comfy linen shorts and my new ruffled sweat shirt. I arrive and check in and wait. The check in area was full of people, all were significantly older than me, but I was feeling mostly calm and excited about the procedure. I get called back and change into a cute hospital gown complete with blue booties for my feet. The nurse starts my IV (which didn't hurt too bad, but I don't like it in my bony hand, I like it inside my elbow) and the wait begins. Joe's being kinda pissy because work things are stressing him out so we had a minor tiff, but it resolved itself after I put the smack down on him and told him to straighten up!
The Embryologist, Suzanne, comes back to say hello and says we'll be doing all natural fertilization. I had read on my message board about a girl who had 20 eggs retrieved and none of them fertilized, so I was terrified of that happening to me. I asked Suzanne if we could do a 50/50 split with natural and ICSI (google it) and she agreed. Dr. Inge (not my regular RE) would be doing the procedure. I was slightly disappointed because I love my Dr. K, but Dr. Inge is super nice and began educating Joe and me on myosis. I haven't heard that word since 4th grade biology!
A few moments later, Suzanne has an unfamiliar DUDE with her who happens to be the Crinone (a drug I'm taking) representative (i.e. sales guy) and asks if he can observe. At this point, so many folks have seen my tootie, I don't really care anymore, so I say sure.
They roll me back to the surgery room and move me over onto the main surgery table. I'm starting to feel a little loopy, but I'm still coherent and realize they're strapping my arms down on each side. Yikes! That freaked me out for about 2 seconds and then I was OUT. La la land for me until I woke up in recovery with some pretty strong menstrual type cramps. I was crying a little too, not sure if it was from the anesthesia or the cramps. Unfortunately, for this surgery, the good drugs were out of the question. They very generously offered me Tylenol. Tylenol??!!! What the hell is that going to do for these monster cramps I'm having?! The nurse told me (very sweetly) that I would just have to grin and bear it because they don't like to give narcotics for IVF egg retrieval. So that's what I did. Bear it, but no grinning.
I immediately wonder how many eggs they retrieved and was slightly disappointed to learn it was only 11, but that was still considered a great number, so I was happy. Can't wait to hear more about their growth!
I'm beginning to feel a little more normal and awake, so I drink some sprite, eat some crackers and off I go. But not before Joe brings me a super duper cute stuffed white kitty that looks like my Lu! A snuggle buddy for me until the baby comes along and I guess I'll share then.
I get home, sleep the day away, take some more Tylenol and pretty much lie around for two days. By the third day I'm back at it, selling credit card machines!
I arrived at the Mobile Infirmary at 8:00 a.m. I couldn't figure out what to wear for the big day! I think I changed clothes a few times and finally settled on some comfy linen shorts and my new ruffled sweat shirt. I arrive and check in and wait. The check in area was full of people, all were significantly older than me, but I was feeling mostly calm and excited about the procedure. I get called back and change into a cute hospital gown complete with blue booties for my feet. The nurse starts my IV (which didn't hurt too bad, but I don't like it in my bony hand, I like it inside my elbow) and the wait begins. Joe's being kinda pissy because work things are stressing him out so we had a minor tiff, but it resolved itself after I put the smack down on him and told him to straighten up!
The Embryologist, Suzanne, comes back to say hello and says we'll be doing all natural fertilization. I had read on my message board about a girl who had 20 eggs retrieved and none of them fertilized, so I was terrified of that happening to me. I asked Suzanne if we could do a 50/50 split with natural and ICSI (google it) and she agreed. Dr. Inge (not my regular RE) would be doing the procedure. I was slightly disappointed because I love my Dr. K, but Dr. Inge is super nice and began educating Joe and me on myosis. I haven't heard that word since 4th grade biology!
A few moments later, Suzanne has an unfamiliar DUDE with her who happens to be the Crinone (a drug I'm taking) representative (i.e. sales guy) and asks if he can observe. At this point, so many folks have seen my tootie, I don't really care anymore, so I say sure.
They roll me back to the surgery room and move me over onto the main surgery table. I'm starting to feel a little loopy, but I'm still coherent and realize they're strapping my arms down on each side. Yikes! That freaked me out for about 2 seconds and then I was OUT. La la land for me until I woke up in recovery with some pretty strong menstrual type cramps. I was crying a little too, not sure if it was from the anesthesia or the cramps. Unfortunately, for this surgery, the good drugs were out of the question. They very generously offered me Tylenol. Tylenol??!!! What the hell is that going to do for these monster cramps I'm having?! The nurse told me (very sweetly) that I would just have to grin and bear it because they don't like to give narcotics for IVF egg retrieval. So that's what I did. Bear it, but no grinning.
I immediately wonder how many eggs they retrieved and was slightly disappointed to learn it was only 11, but that was still considered a great number, so I was happy. Can't wait to hear more about their growth!
I'm beginning to feel a little more normal and awake, so I drink some sprite, eat some crackers and off I go. But not before Joe brings me a super duper cute stuffed white kitty that looks like my Lu! A snuggle buddy for me until the baby comes along and I guess I'll share then.
I get home, sleep the day away, take some more Tylenol and pretty much lie around for two days. By the third day I'm back at it, selling credit card machines!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Retrieval Eve
I have my egg retrieval tomorrow morning at 9:30 and I am so ready. I've been feeling pretty normal up until today. I actually think it's more exciting than Christmas Eve! My ovaries started hurting and I can't stand up straight. I'm walking like a little old lady all hunched over because it feels better than my normal upright stance. Here are my results two days before retrieval:
Right ovary: 5 follicles ranging 8.0 - 17.8
Left ovary: 15 follicles ranging 9.9 - 21
Estrogen: 2986
LH: 1.3
Lining: 8.6
Day before retrieval results:
Estrogen: 4481
HCG 227
These are very good numbers so I hope we get lots of perfect eggs tomorrow!
Please say lots of prayers for Joe and me tomorrow. I'll post as soon as I'm up and about.
Love,
Lindsey
Right ovary: 5 follicles ranging 8.0 - 17.8
Left ovary: 15 follicles ranging 9.9 - 21
Estrogen: 2986
LH: 1.3
Lining: 8.6
Day before retrieval results:
Estrogen: 4481
HCG 227
These are very good numbers so I hope we get lots of perfect eggs tomorrow!
Please say lots of prayers for Joe and me tomorrow. I'll post as soon as I'm up and about.
Love,
Lindsey
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sex Toys and Stimulation
I have discovered an AWESOME new name for my ultrasounds.....dildocam! The ultrasound wand looks just like a phallic adult toy at your favorite local adult novelty store. And to make matters cooler, it has a cute little condom over it. Before the Dr. came in the room, I scavenged the cabinets for the box because I couldn't believe they bought cases of Trojans to cover the ultrasound wand. The very sterile medical looking box says "ultrasound sheaths." Too bad for Trojan, they coulda made some real $$$ on the infertile folks. Unfortunately for me, the dildocam isn't quite as fun as a real sex toy. Not that I would know anything about that.
On Tuesday I had a date with dildocam and a crabby redheaded nurse (who always seems to want to stick needles in me!) which was day 5 of my "stimming." That means 5 days of taking injections that stimulate your ovaries to grow. Here are my results:
Right ovary: 3 follicles
Left ovary: 11 follicles
Estrogen level: 291
Endometrium lining: 5.9
These results are very good according to Dr. K and Dr. Google. I go back in tomorrow and that's when the real growth should occur. Here's hoping for giant ovaries that make me look 6 months pregnant! Come on bloated belly! (in my best craps dice throwing voice)
On Tuesday I had a date with dildocam and a crabby redheaded nurse (who always seems to want to stick needles in me!) which was day 5 of my "stimming." That means 5 days of taking injections that stimulate your ovaries to grow. Here are my results:
Right ovary: 3 follicles
Left ovary: 11 follicles
Estrogen level: 291
Endometrium lining: 5.9
These results are very good according to Dr. K and Dr. Google. I go back in tomorrow and that's when the real growth should occur. Here's hoping for giant ovaries that make me look 6 months pregnant! Come on bloated belly! (in my best craps dice throwing voice)
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