IVF appointment #9

This will never end.....
Today's ultrasound was showing a lot more hope. I was so happy and chatty that I didn't want to keep track of the follicles and sizes. I did notice the 2 Huge follicle on my right side and talked to my Dr. about it later. To sum it up he told me my body is finally responding better and he doesn't care to go under to grab those 2 because he has often found huge follicles can have no egg in them, so our focus is on the other ones that are almost mature and the ones that are already.
So again...we are going on 2 weeks of follistim (IVF drugs). I have been moody, but soo soo grateful we are able to do IVF and I just hope the best for the egg retrieval later this week.

IVF appointment #8

Today was a very hard day.
There was not much progress and to me it even seem like some we're not growing at all. I was bummed about of a lot of things going on and not to mention moody, very very moody.
Thanks IVF
Hope to get all my babies soon!

IVF appointment #6

We are now on daily appointments here.
I went in this morning knowing things were getting closer and the number I have now will be close to the number of mature eggs we get.
Both my Dr and I were very bummed that my ovaries are just not responding well for IVF.
I had 8 measurable follicles.
4 on each side.
I want to be bummed out and say Dr.s want to see 20 or more follicles but I have to once again just stay positive. So here is what I'm telling myself....
these could all be great quality eggs,I do have small ones that could hurry and grow over night and become amazing eggs for us to work with, and they can all survive the brutal freeze and unfreeze of IVF and they can all surpass PGS & PGD testing and come back normal.
Right?

IVF appointment # 1-4

So I feel ready to write this all down while I can still remember.
I started my cycle on May 31, so I went in on day 3 to see my Dr. for my baseline apt.
We did an ultrasound and blood work and everything looked normal.
I started that night on only the follistim shots at 225. I was to do this for 3 night then go back in for monitoring.
I went back in Thursday which was CD 6 and even though I thought I was feeling bloating and fatigue already, it was just a fluke. everything looked good at that appt. and I continue what I was doing. Two more nights of follistim at 225 and back in on Saturday, CD 8.
This morning I had 2 measurable follicles on each side and smaller ones showing. I was very discourage thinking I would have a lot more, but I have to keep telling myself we want quality over quantity for sure!
They showed me how to do another shot in the morning that will keep my body from ovulating at all. We kept my follistim the same but added menopur to the mix
Another two days of that and I went back in this morning...
we are now measuring 3 folliciles on one side and 4 on the other. slowly we are progressing here.
My Dr. called me and didn't want to change a thing, he said things are still looking good and to keep it right where it's at. I'll go back in two days from now.

Timeline IVF Cycle-
CD-1 (may 31)- started period
CD-3 (June 2)- Baseline appt. Blood work/ultrasound
CD-6 (June 5)- Blood work/ ultrasound small follicles showing
CD-8 (June 7)- Blood work/ ultrasound measuring 2 follicles on each side plus small ones, started Ganirelix to prevent premature ovulation and added in Menopur for nightly shot with my follistim
CD-10 (June 9)-Blood work/ ultrasound measuring 3 & 4 on each side plus small ones

3rd Ultrasound and Blood work

Came in for my blood work and ultrasound, the 1 follicle grew a little bit more. Nothing else has been happening.

2nd ultrasound and blood work

Sunday morning I drove into Newport Beach to his second office. I still had been taking 150 follistim and felt condfient things were happening.

I was disappoint once again when all the could see was the 1 on the left size that was growing. I know that sounds dumb, but when you are going through treatments you always hope more is better. I had 4 follicles when I had brinley so 1 doesn't always mean 1 baby, or 2 doesn't means twins. 

I was sad again when they wanted me to come back in tomorrow.

Usually when you start going in everyday it's close to your IUI, and I want more follicle to grow before the IUI. 

Oh well, I'll take my meds again tonight and go in tomorrow for another ultrasound and be so glad I have 1 follicle that is growing and hope this works for us.

Let the waiting begin...

I've done all I can do...now I will just sit here and wait!

Well, It's always so easy to update the blog after 2 days of IUI because I personally like to come straight home from the Dr. office and lay down as much of the day as I can, relax and help the miracle of IUI take place.
We had great outcome this cycle with the medication, ultrasounds look great, and high five to the husband who did his part and it was great numbers and all. I'm very pleased with this round and I want to say this did the trick...I will say that if it didn't take this round...I don't think anything else will do it but IVF, which we are open and ready for.  We all know follicles that drop don't mean much....but I just have to say for record...we had 4 and if one of those can't make it...well I'm convince my eggs are drying up or something.

We are starting tonight with the progesterone oil shots because I prefer them over the suppositories. So I know have to wait a week for 1st blood test then a week after that a blood test for HCG. Wish us luck!

HCG shot

I was actually so nervous going in the office today because I thought I had already ovulated and it would screw things up. But come to find out I had better news!
I went into the Ultrasound and to my surprise we checked the right side first and happy to see that little small follicle that I had no hope for was mature and could possible release an egg in there during ovulation. Then, we checked the left side and the 2 follicles that we have been watching where nice and plump. Ready and mature to *hopefully* release and egg in there.
I was very happy to hear about this.
Then I went into the room to have the nurse give me the HCG shot. Everything else went as planned and I came home to rest up for the big days ahead.

longer wait

I have very short cycles so I was shocked when I went in for another ultrasound today and they found a few small follicles on the other side too and wanted to wait another day for the trigger shot. Everything is still looking good but I'm shocked that my body seems to be slowing down to me. The follicle aren't growing as fast as last 2 cycles and we are waiting longer. It's all very scientific and spiritual at once. I know and believe in the help of modern medicine yet I have a strong faith in miracles. The uterus lining is now a 10.5 and my Dr said they like it over an 8 so that is great news.

Ultrasound update

Well, we had a great time going in together as a couple and seeing our follicles grow. They have gotten bigger and everything looks good, its just a matter of waiting a few more days to see. I have to go back in tomorrow for another ultrasound and maybe the trigger shot? IUI are good to go this week. We have 2 follicles still on the left side that are the biggest around 23mm so those will be our shot.There is one small one that just showed up on the right side but it probably won't mature quick enough to ovulate.  The lining has thicken up and we are all ready. Gosh, I feel like this one is going sooo slow and we are waiting forever!!!

too early ultrasound...

I went in a few days early because we don't want to miss if I ovulate early. So we schedule for an ultrasound for CD-10 and the ultrasound showed we are early...the follicles are still small and hopefully growing, the uterus is still not thick enough for the IUI.
So I wait 2 more days and go in for another ultrasound. Now, off to google what help follicles grow and thicken uterus lining more haha.
This cycle the Dr. said their was no real activity on the right side but more on the left side. He only measured 2 follicles so I'm not sure if there are anymore.
Uterus lining was 6
and follicles were around 11x17 in size

Progesterone level

 This morning I went in to get my blood drawn. They can not tell if I'm pregnant because they gave me the HCG shot last week to ovulate and it still can be in my system and give us a false positive.  In case you didn't know, when you pee on a stick or get a blood test they are looking for HCG. I think it's like anything about 10 is your pregnant. Most people have somewhere in the hundreds. Last time I had 17 and we had a fighter, Bryn.
I was asking the nurse what they were looking for when they take my progesterone levels though, She said if it's really low they can start me on progesterone earlier because that is what help your uterus keep the baby inside. If the numbers drop you can miscarry easily.
For example last pregnancy my first numbers were 22 (anything above a 10 is good), but then a week later when they took my progesterone and HCG my progesterone had drop down to a 12 and that's why I took progesterone shots every night my first trimester.
Why can't they see if I'm pregnant or not with progesterone??
   In this early stage the progesterone levels they are measuring can be left over from my follicles and not have anything to do if I'm pregnant or not. So lets say worst case, the eggs did not fertilize I still can have progesterone in my blood from the follicles and have a good level today.
So, I'm waiting for the results and will hear back by the end of the day!

I've patiently waited and got a call after 2pm
So far things are looking just great! My numbers came back at 21 which is just below last pregnancy...again we still don't know for sure if these means I'm pregnant, but that I don't need to take progesterone right now.

CD-13, 2 of 2 IUI

Another early day, and beautiful morning.
This day we weren't rush because hubby wasn't running off to basketball. It was still pretty early though and I popped out of the house before anyone else got up. My mom has been on grandma duty when I have to run over to the office, and if just melts my heart everytime I come  home and my baby girl runs to me and hugs me and doesn't let me go for a while. I just love being a mom and these moments that you don't want to forget are those.

This was a month ago when we were up in Big Bear, but you get the idea....heart melting.

Back to me at the Dr. office. I turned over the swimmers and sat down to eat the donuts I picked up on my way since I had a little extra time.  I watched the morning news and enjoyed the time to sit down to relax. When an hour had passed it was my time to see how everything was doing. 

I first had the ultrasound where we did not find any follicles! This is the best news, it means I ovulated right in the middle of both of my IUI's and it's giving me the best chance to get pregnant! 

Then it was time for the IUI, we switched rooms and got me prep. every time they show me the needle and show me to confirm my name on it. Saddly, this time around we only had about 10 million swimmers. I asked my nurse what they consider to be low? She said they like it to be from 10-20 million. So with us having 30 million the day before we were still looking good on his end of the procedure. We also talked about how normal sex gives you in the hundreds so getting in the millions right into the uterus is awesome. 

I have to say this time the IUI procedure wasn't painful at all...it wasn't even that uncomfortable. Everything seems much easier the second time around. After that she sets the timer for 10 mins and props my pelvic up.  I came home to a running, hugging baby girl and put her to bed for her morning nap and went in my room to lay like this......

just in case any of them wanted an escape. I should have just done a headstand, but this will do. 

1 week until I have blood drawn for my progesterone levels and then

2 weeks until the draw my blood for HCG (pregnancy hormone)  

CD-12, 1of 2 IUI

written 9-11-13

It's been a long day already.
I woke up very early to make sure I took my hubby's swimmers to the office as soon as the open. It was so quite outside and even though school started this week no one was on the roads yet. I drove to the office and waited out in the hallway because I got their a bit early.
As I handed over my "lunch bag" with the swimmers, I couldn't help but just pray and hope for the best. It takes them about an hour to "wash and prep" them. I went back downstairs and grabbed a bagel to eat.
The sun was coming out and more people were making their way into the building. I went back upstairs into the office and sat and waited.
When they called back my name the first thing we needed to do was another ultrasound. This time each follicle took up the whole ultrasound screen.
They grew!!
They got a lot bigger. Their were still 2 of them there, which means I had not ovulated yet, but would still because of the HCG shot. With everything looking great there we went to the next room for the actually IUI.
They told me she noticed that my hubby's swimmers had double since the IUI with Brinley. We had over 30 million swimmers, amazing! So I'm thinking in my head, this has to work! This is going to work, maybe, just maybe both egg will be fertilized.
An IUI is comparable to a pap smear. They have to find the cervix though and open it up and keep it open....this time it was uncomfortable and painful at moments. When we got all the swimmers up there, they tilted the bed to help gravity take its course and I was to lay there for 10mins. After though I wasn't ready to get up, I just wanted to lay in bed all day!
I did get up and go back home and have been resting as much as I can. It has made me feel very tired though. It was a good day though and I'm ready for another round of the same thing tomorrow!

HCG shot

written on 9-10-13

I went in again this morning to do another ultrasound. Since having Brinley the whole office got TV's mounted on the wall to be able to watch everything going on with the ultrasound comfy laying down on the bed. So I love going in and  seeing the progress. 

Dr. Anderson was their today and did the ultrasound, he said everything is looking good. They found the 2 follicles that were seen yesterday and did another measurement (1st-23x19, 2nd- 22x20) . They both grow nicely and went over the 20mm that they hope for. So he said we were all ready for the trigger shot. 

We went into the other room and the Nurse came in with the hcg shot that will tell my body to ovulate (I've read stuff on timing and I'm not sure so I can't tell you positively what the facts are). Now I rest and wait to go in again tomorrow morning for another ultrasound and 1-2 IUI. Can't Wait!!

My 1st IUI

written on September 10, 2011

It's been a few days....so let me take you back to my first dr. app after taking clomid.

It was Wednesday morning and my husband and I went in to see my RE and do an ultrasound to see how many eggs we were getting. He very quickly showed us 1 big mature one ready for ovulation, 2 medium ones and a small one. He wanted to wait 1 more day to see if the medium ones get any bigger.
So we came back the next morning (Thursday) and did the ultra sound right away and found out I had ovulated and the big one had dropped. I was scared at first because I didn't know if we could still do the IUI. but my good, highly skilled (20 years under his belt)  Dr. said we were fine.
He did want to do the IUI today to see if we can fertilize that first egg. The nurse gave me the HCG shot in my hip to help me ovulate again within the next 36 hours. Then we made my husband give up his guys.
Everything seemed like a pap smear. and they took the swimmers and washed them and put them in a needle with a catheter to place all the way up inside my uterus! We got 17  1/2 MILLION swimmers  (this is a huge shocker...normal intercourse can get you a few hundered up to the uterus, but the IUI can place millions in the uterus.  They hope to get 10-20 million, so with 17 million we were looking good!)

It took a bit longer because I have a "high maintenance cervix" unless you spent a good 10-20 mins. looking for it, you can't find it. Plus I have some curve balls in there. (could be our reason for infertility...we are still known as unexplained infertility)
So we went home and rested the rest of the day.
Here's the funny story,
because of my high maintenance cervix I was very tense for a long time and cause some of my muscles to stay tight the whole time (my left butt cheek) I did not realized this until we were at home and I was in pain every time I stood up, walked around or sat on my butt. My husband even tried to rub it out, but I laid there kicking and screaming and laughing out loud because of the pain. I could not walk without feeling the burning of the butt. and even into the next day.

Then came a black out at 3:30pm....all of So. CA lost power for a while. It wasn't until 11:30 pm that they came back on.
But because of the power outage we had to switch our location! Luckily our Dr. is awesome and has 2 locations! 1- in Newport Beach and 2- Mission Viejo (ours)  So our appt. got moved up to 7:45 with a 40 min. morning commute with the Mr.'s swimmers!
oh the morning just made us laugh.
Friday morning-
The office was pack because they had to double book everyone and deal with multiple dr's in one location.
The husband gave them his guys to get all cleaned up and we had about 13 million this time.
We did the ultrasound and saw that the medium ones dropped and the small one became bigger! great news!
So we got ready for an 2nd IUI.
 This time I tried to stay relax as the very nice nurse told me that I am one only patient with a cervix so hard to find. (lovely) I did warn her about my high maintenance cervix .
We went home and did some more resting to hopefully give these babies a chance to make it.
All in all....this was a great 1st treatment and I have been so happy with my Dr.