The phone call this morning was good news. We have 100% fertilization! All 4 embryos are growing. We will have our transfer on Friday morning. We show up at 7:30 and I will do acupuncture before and after transfer. I think I have decided that we will transfer whatever is still growing. If all 4 make it to day 3 then we will put back all 4. At my age the chance of high order multiples is very slim.
We went back to the clinic for the check up on my bladder. It is feeling better so they decided it was okay to remove the catheter. I was really glad to get rid of my little friend. One of the meds they put me on for the bladder spasms turns your urine an orange/red color. I think everyone thought I was carrying a bag of blood, it looked really gross. Not something you are used to seeing at a fertility clinic.
I still have some mild discomfort but its manageable. I am very happy that it will heal and there will be no permanent damage.
Now I just get to rest and patiently wait for my 4 little embryos to come back home to mommy.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Day From Hell
Should I start with the bad news or the bad news?
First, we only got 4 eggs. Not great. Better than 3 but not great. Our odds just went down. I had over 10 follicles. The doctor says he doesn't know what happened other than my age. Now we have to hope and pray that they are mature and that they fertilize and divide and grow. It only takes one right?
Second bad news, pain, extreme, excruciating pain. I woke up and felt like I had to pee. I mean pee like then, like pee so bad it hurt. They got me up and walked my still drugged up body to the bathroom. I peed, no real relief. I walked back and told the nurse. She got me some Tylenol and they sent me on my way.
I get back to the room and head for the toilet. I sit there in extreme pain. I'm sweating and nauseaus from the pain. I was for the Tylenol to kick in but it doesn't. I call the clinic. I am told to get out of the bathroom and rush back to the clinic.
They quickly get me back in my same room and the doctor comes in very apologetic. He thinks he must have either punctured or scraped my bladder. They do an ultrasound and everything looks okay. The doctor says my bladder needs a break so it can heal so I need a catheter. They get everything ready and start. The pain was wicked. I am crying and wiggling all over. I can't stand it. I have a high pain tolerance and I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. She removes the catheter and asks if I want an IV and pain management and then try again. Didn't have to ask me twice, I jumped on that idea. She quickly put the IV back in and loaded me up with Dilaudid and other meds. It takes a little bit but I soon get some relief. They run an entire bag of IV fluids through to fill my bladder. After an hour they try again with success.
I was sent home with a script for meds, including more pain meds. The catheter will stay in until tomorrow. I have been in bed resting. I have taken 2 of the pain pills, I find if I don't the pain does start to come back. So me and my pee bag have an intimate relationship.
Tomorrow when I go back we will get our fertilization report. Please pray or send out good intentions that all 4 eggs are mature and will fertilize normally and divide as they should.
First, we only got 4 eggs. Not great. Better than 3 but not great. Our odds just went down. I had over 10 follicles. The doctor says he doesn't know what happened other than my age. Now we have to hope and pray that they are mature and that they fertilize and divide and grow. It only takes one right?
Second bad news, pain, extreme, excruciating pain. I woke up and felt like I had to pee. I mean pee like then, like pee so bad it hurt. They got me up and walked my still drugged up body to the bathroom. I peed, no real relief. I walked back and told the nurse. She got me some Tylenol and they sent me on my way.
I get back to the room and head for the toilet. I sit there in extreme pain. I'm sweating and nauseaus from the pain. I was for the Tylenol to kick in but it doesn't. I call the clinic. I am told to get out of the bathroom and rush back to the clinic.
They quickly get me back in my same room and the doctor comes in very apologetic. He thinks he must have either punctured or scraped my bladder. They do an ultrasound and everything looks okay. The doctor says my bladder needs a break so it can heal so I need a catheter. They get everything ready and start. The pain was wicked. I am crying and wiggling all over. I can't stand it. I have a high pain tolerance and I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. She removes the catheter and asks if I want an IV and pain management and then try again. Didn't have to ask me twice, I jumped on that idea. She quickly put the IV back in and loaded me up with Dilaudid and other meds. It takes a little bit but I soon get some relief. They run an entire bag of IV fluids through to fill my bladder. After an hour they try again with success.
I was sent home with a script for meds, including more pain meds. The catheter will stay in until tomorrow. I have been in bed resting. I have taken 2 of the pain pills, I find if I don't the pain does start to come back. So me and my pee bag have an intimate relationship.
Tomorrow when I go back we will get our fertilization report. Please pray or send out good intentions that all 4 eggs are mature and will fertilize normally and divide as they should.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Just a Few More Days
My appointment this morning revealed that my follicles aren't quite ready yet. I am to stay on my stims for 2 more days. On Sunday night I take the last shot, a trigger shot, that will cause the eggs to mature. On Tuesday I will have the eggs retrieved. They are measuring 10 follicles so hopefully I will have at least 10 eggs. My estrogen levels are doubling every 2 days which is very good. My estrogen isn't as high as it was in January but I am growing less eggs this time. You can certainly tell that I am nearly a year older.
I was upset because I found out that the clinic is closed on Sundays. If I were to have a 5 day transfer like we did in January, it would be on Sunday. That means I have to either transfer on day 3 or 4. Day 3 embryos should be 8 cells and day 4 embryos begin compacting and are called morulas. Morulas are hard to grade because they are just a tight ball of cells, you can't really see the individual cells any longer. Grading is important because it lets you pick the best of the best. I have decided that since we will have fewer embryos this time it may not matter as much. I was also told that women of advanced maternal age often do well with transfers earlier than 5 days. Bottom line is I have no control over it and I have to trust the doctors and go with the flow.
This cycle has certainly been tougher than the one in January. I am cranky every day. My ovaries feel like tennis balls in my groin. I feel them every minute of every day. I am so ready to get the eggs out but I still have 3 more days.
I just have to keep my chin up and keep going. If we get a baby out of this I will never look back and it will all be forgotten. Hopefully this isn't all for nothing.
I was upset because I found out that the clinic is closed on Sundays. If I were to have a 5 day transfer like we did in January, it would be on Sunday. That means I have to either transfer on day 3 or 4. Day 3 embryos should be 8 cells and day 4 embryos begin compacting and are called morulas. Morulas are hard to grade because they are just a tight ball of cells, you can't really see the individual cells any longer. Grading is important because it lets you pick the best of the best. I have decided that since we will have fewer embryos this time it may not matter as much. I was also told that women of advanced maternal age often do well with transfers earlier than 5 days. Bottom line is I have no control over it and I have to trust the doctors and go with the flow.
This cycle has certainly been tougher than the one in January. I am cranky every day. My ovaries feel like tennis balls in my groin. I feel them every minute of every day. I am so ready to get the eggs out but I still have 3 more days.
I just have to keep my chin up and keep going. If we get a baby out of this I will never look back and it will all be forgotten. Hopefully this isn't all for nothing.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Slow and Steady
I had an appointment in Oklahoma City on Friday. The nurse measured 15 follicles. All of them were still small. I was instructed to stay on the same dose of medications.
After the appointment we hit the road to come to New York. The drive was totally uneventful except for Drew getting a speeding ticket. We took a little different route and came north to Buffalo and then across New York. Lake Erie is amazing!
We made it to Latham and checked into the same hotel where we have stayed each time. This time the doctor obviously negotiated a corporate rate for his patients so it is more affordable. We have a junior suite which has a king bed, separate sitting area with a sofa and table and chairs, a large work desk, mini fridge, microwave and wet bar. It works great for a long stay.
Monday we went to the clinic. It was nice seeing Greta (nurse) who I deal with over the phone. She gave me a big hug. She did the ultrasound and counted 5 or 6 follicles on each ovary. Again my estrogen is taking some time to catch up. I did make it over her goal of 300+.
It was a hard day. Part of me is so pissed because I should be home with newborns, not here, not doing this again. Doing the IVF all over again just brings back the joy and the loss of the twins.
After the appointment we hit the road to come to New York. The drive was totally uneventful except for Drew getting a speeding ticket. We took a little different route and came north to Buffalo and then across New York. Lake Erie is amazing!
We made it to Latham and checked into the same hotel where we have stayed each time. This time the doctor obviously negotiated a corporate rate for his patients so it is more affordable. We have a junior suite which has a king bed, separate sitting area with a sofa and table and chairs, a large work desk, mini fridge, microwave and wet bar. It works great for a long stay.
Monday we went to the clinic. It was nice seeing Greta (nurse) who I deal with over the phone. She gave me a big hug. She did the ultrasound and counted 5 or 6 follicles on each ovary. Again my estrogen is taking some time to catch up. I did make it over her goal of 300+.
It was a hard day. Part of me is so pissed because I should be home with newborns, not here, not doing this again. Doing the IVF all over again just brings back the joy and the loss of the twins.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Sleep?
Last night was the third night in a row with little sleep. I really need to focus today and I don't think it's going to happen. I called the clinic and the nurse said I can take Benadryl to see if it helps. She said any of the meds I am on can give you insomnia. Lack of sleep certainly isn't helping with the cranky factor!
One piece of good news, it looks like our cat Tanaka is back to normal. He didn't eat yesterday so I wondered if he was sick. He is impossible to medicate so if he was sick and needing meds we were going to have to kennel him. I'm glad I get to worry a little less about him.
Tomorrow is another trip to the doctor. I will have an ultrasound to see how the follicles are growing and bloodwork.
One piece of good news, it looks like our cat Tanaka is back to normal. He didn't eat yesterday so I wondered if he was sick. He is impossible to medicate so if he was sick and needing meds we were going to have to kennel him. I'm glad I get to worry a little less about him.
Tomorrow is another trip to the doctor. I will have an ultrasound to see how the follicles are growing and bloodwork.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Hormones and Hormones
My nightly injections started on Monday night. It's a little more complicated this time. I am on 3 injected drugs but thankfully they can all be mixed together so I only have to poke myself one time. I take 225 IU of Follistim, 225 IU Menopur and 5 units Lupron. I am also taking a low dose steroid which will hopefully keep my body from rejecting the embryos that are transferred.
I have appointments on Friday, Monday and Wednesday. It looks like we will be leaving on Friday to head to New York. I need to be there for the appointment on Wednesday. We would rather have 3 days to get there.
I have been listening to my nightly meditations and they do help me relax. I have also been having a protein shake every morning and I put a heating pad on my stomach each night to help increase blood flow. I am trying everything I can.
I have appointments on Friday, Monday and Wednesday. It looks like we will be leaving on Friday to head to New York. I need to be there for the appointment on Wednesday. We would rather have 3 days to get there.
I have been listening to my nightly meditations and they do help me relax. I have also been having a protein shake every morning and I put a heating pad on my stomach each night to help increase blood flow. I am trying everything I can.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Pills, Needles, Syringes and Vials, OH MY!
The FedEx man just dropped off some of my meds for the IVF. Funny how opening boxes of needles, syringes, pills, liquid vials, gauze, alcohol wipes and sharps container can make you feel giddy. A stop at the local pharmacy tonight and I will have everything I need to get started. My baseline ultrasound and bloodwork will most likely be on Tuesday. I have my fingers crossed that everything is where it needs to be to begin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)