Monday, December 22, 2008
Transfer...
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Embie update...
Of our ICIS ones:
1-8cell
1-7cell
2-6cell
2-5cell
3-4cell
Of our naturally fertilized ones:
8-8cell
4-7cell
5-6cell
Friday, December 19, 2008
To many butt shots...
We are back in on Monday at 8:30am for our transfer. So exciting, I should get a call tomorrow with an update on how are little embies are doing!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Retrival...
So far OHSS has stayed away. I'm on bedrest and i shouldn't even being sitting up at the computer right now but i didnt' want to leave everyone in supense any longer. I have to chart how much liquid i drink and how much liquid i pee out. I have this little thing called "the hat" that fits over the toilet. They also monitor my weight twice a day and last night I was 121.5 which is a couple pounds higher than normal but this morning I was back at 118, so things are going well. OK i'll update at some point!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Finally...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Bedrest??
I will be dying of boredom starting now until after my transfer. Please Please take these follicles out of me!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Is that a bunch of grapes in my ovaries or...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Follies galore...
Monday, December 8, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
IVF and Vet visits...
So just because we are broke from our own medical bills, my little Snackers was attached by the neighborhood cat bully from across the street. 6 puncture wounds on her left hind leg and they were abscessed and all nasty. So Thursday evening we had to go to the vet where she was clipped and the wounds were flushed. She got a shot of antibiotics and we were sent home with pills for her. Not sure if anyone has every tried shoving pills down a cats throat, not easy! The best part is we have to go back Monday for another check because her wounds were so bad they might have to surgically remove all the dead tissue...Yea! cause we have a couple hundred extra dollars laying around.
Isn't she just beautiful, I feel so bad for her!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Quick IVF update...
Friday, November 14, 2008
IVF Consult...
I don't know to many details or dates at the moment, we are kinda taking it one thing at a time. I still have a left over cyst on my right ovary. A cyst is actually a leftover follicle. If that's there when we start stimulating that will grow way to big and might stop others from growing. So I'm going to start birth control pills today and will probably be on them between 2-3weeks. They should get rid of the cyst and bring my E2 level down. If everything looks good at that time we will begin stimulating.
Its not just going to be one drug I'm injecting this time. Its more like 3-4different drugs. Some are belly shots and some are butt shots(ouch). We had butt shot instructions yesterday. Luke had to learn to do it and that scared me. Their i was with my pants half off, bent over a chair and Luke had to stab my butt. But thankfully my butt is so tiny that I get to use 1inch needles instead of 1.5inch needles. It still burns though!
That's about all I can remember, I'll update as i find more out. I gotta go get ready to see the two little girls that make me realize how worth it this journey is!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Beta results
1.Who the hell shot my stork???
2.Where is that magically water that everyone drinks and gets pregnant because I would love a glass of it?
3.Who has a husband that all he has to do it look at you and your pregnant because can he come over and stare at me!
Apparently my Dr can shoot the sperm right into the path of 4-6 eggs ovulating and I still can't freakin get pregnant.
Here are some lies I'm sick of hearing...
1.Oh don't worry, you'll be next...umm no i won't because somebody always get pregnant before me.
2.Just relax, it will happen...no it won't because i don't make enough hormones!
3.It will happen when the time is right...but the time is right, right now damn it!
Ok enough of me being bitter its time to move on. We have an IVF consult this coming Thursday. So somehow in the next couple days we have to come up with $20,000. We are so going to be poor. But that $20,000 does get us 6 tries and if we don't deliver a baby with get the money back.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I caved...
Friday, October 31, 2008
How it feels...
Empty Arms
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I'm offically in...
So Today we went in bright and early for IUI #2. I didn't get an ultrasound because they said i didn't need one because they were sure i had ovulated. I still can't believe that my body did it on its own, without the shot but I am still trying to trust them. Luke provided us with 18.8million this morning. They assured us its normal for the count to drop on day 2, he felt bad but it still was an awesome count. We reassured him, he is still above average. Tomorrow i start my progesterone suppositories and I go in Friday morning to check my P4(progesterone) level to make sure my body is absorbing enough and then on 11/10 I go in for my beta. I know I'm going to totally cave and test the day before, I'd rather be let down at home and be told by the nurse. I definitely am not getting my hopes up, i know all to well that this doesn't work more than it does, I'm just happy to have finally got the chance at it.
Thanks for all the well wishes and I hope I get to share some good news soon!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Weekend Update...
So this morning I went in and my biggest were 15.5mm. I had one in each ovary and i had a 14mm, some 13.5's and some 12,11 and 10's. Today there is a potential of 7 follicles getting mature enough. When i was leaving the nurse was asking me if i had my trigger shot and it Luke had a cup to "deposit" in. That left a little curious and she said we will see you tomorrow one way or another. I took that to me either for a normal check or possible the IUI. Well about an hour later i got a call saying my E2 was at 1086 and my LH was at 46 meaning I am actually starting to ovulate on my own rather than using a trigger shot. Which is crazy because i thought my reproductive organs hated me and could do nothing on their own. SO...tomorrow morning is IUI day. I"m so so excited and a little nervous. More so due to the fact that I'm not allowed to take the trigger shot. I feel like i need it in order to ovulate but I trust my Dr knows what he is doing. And due to the fact that i am having weird little crampy twinges around my ovaries, i guess i really am ovulating on my own. Tomorrow we have to sign a waiver that we understand that the risk of multiples is very high for us. That makes me laugh but also makes me quite nervous. We do not want to be the next Jon and Kate.
9:00am tomorrow morning, wish us luck!!
Friday, October 24, 2008
CD 13...
So today i once again was in for my blood test and "vag cam" appointment. While I was getting my blood drawn Dr F walked in and said "Theres my tricky little patient". So I ask him what would be the final straw to make him cancel this cycle. He said if my E2 level keeps going up and a few follicles don't take off to dominate he would cancel. I then asked if it was possible to convert an IUI cycle to IVF. He said sometimes yes, so if this cycle fails I'm pretty sure we will convert to IVF. He also said he would apply what we've already paid to the IVF cycle(have i mentioned how much i love him). They would just pumped up my meds and get all these little follicles to grow like mad.
So then i go in to get my ultrasound and the tech tells me how perfect my lining is right now. For pregnancy it needs to be 7mm and above and I'm at a 9.5, thankfully something is going my way. Then we find 2 of my follicles have jumped from a 9mm to 11mm overnight yea!!! I still have some 9's and 8's and of course smaller but I'm so happy in just 24hrs 2 have made the jump to become dominate. I'm still waiting for my phone call to make sure all is still good so I'll be back on later to update!
Ok just got the call...E2 is 468 and I'm still injecting tonight and going in tomorrow morning. Dr seems happy I've had growth so this cycle is still on for now!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
CD 9
Friday, October 17, 2008
CD6 Follie check...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Its Time...
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Cautiously Optimistic...
So I'm still on my estrogen therapy which is causing me to break out in clusters of zits on my face. Its awesome, its makes me feel so pretty. I am also now using my progesterone suppositories which surprisingly aren't bad at all. I would do those any day, rather then having to supposit things in the other area(i.e. my enema). If all goes according to plan i should start stimulating in about 2.5weeks. Everyday i open my fridge i see my Gonal-F pen calling my name, is it crazy to be so excited about injecting myself in the belly everyday??? I am and i can't help it! So I'm thinking somewhere around Oct 25thish we should be BASTING!!! I tell myself everyday not to get excited about this. I know all to well that this is more likely not to work then to actually work. I also know every other time in the past i have gotten excited it has only led to awful disappointment and crazy hurt from every part of me. But I'm allowed to be excited right? I'm allowed to be "Cautiously Optimistic!"
Friday, September 19, 2008
Post-Op #2
This morning i went for my post-op appt to find out all the surgery details i was to groggy to remember. He had plenty of pictures to show me, it was gross yet really quite interesting. I even got to see my liver, appendix and bowel. Anyway here are the details.
He said i had numerous polyps removed. 2 of the polyps had stems on them and were creeping up my tubes. There was a couple spots of endometriosis removed. I had some fibroids in my pelvis area that were removed. I had a cyst removed near my ovaries that was to big to pull through the laproscopic holes so they had to cut it apart first. And my bowel was stuck to my uterus so that was cut away and placed correctly. How crazy is that he said i was either born that way or i could have had some inflammation that led to it. I was like holy sh*t but he assured me he had seen worse. Everything that was removed was benign so that was good. So our next step is a cycle of injectable fertility drugs plus iui's. IUI=Intrauterine insemination. To put it bluntly, I'm being turkey basted with the best of what Luke has to offer. Probably happening mid-late Oct, he basically removed my whole uterine lining so I'm on estrogen to replenish that. Starting 10/1 i begin my progesterone suppositories for 10 days and then wait for my period and begin treatment. I can't wait, I hope it works or we are out $2200 and will have plenty of heartache! But money and heartache won't stop us on this journey. If it doesn't work IVF is next!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Surgery Update #2
So the surgery lasted 4hrs, my first lap only took 1hr, shows you how hard my previous Dr check things out. I have numerous polyps in my uterus extending into my tubes. So all those were removed and he actually found some mild endometriosis. Even though its mild, he said endo is endo, so all that was removed. As for the uterus septum it was all muscles tissue, no fibrous stuff yea!! I still have to go on some estrogen for 28 days to build my lining up in all the places he had to cut polyps away so i suppose I'm waiting again. Once I'm done with the estrogen he have me use some progesterone suppositories(these sound fun) to bring on my period and then we will start treatment. Unsure what route we're taking we will talk about it next week at our post-op check, i will also find out more details about the surgery.
Oh and this just made me laugh, which made my stomach hurt!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Am I....
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jalapeno eye and stuff...
Anyway, here are some Labor Day pics:
Here is our goggle patrol...Jackie Benko, Bain Meloy and Paige Blough
Friday, August 29, 2008
My good/bad update!
First off, i love my new Dr, he was great and is much more aggressive. I had been warned that he is the best Dr in the area but his bedside manner sucked. Well i thought he was wonderful and he has a great personality. I firmly believe if anyone is going to get me pregnant it will be him or it just won't be possible to get me pregnant.
So here is the bad news. I need to have my lap surgery done all over again. He thinks that my polyp was never completely removed and my uterus seems to have something called a septum in it. If the septum is made of muscle that's good no problems but if its fibrous material, it needs to be surgically removed. It is a correctable problem and it won't reoccur. The only way to find out is by doing another lap. Which will cost us $750 since only part of it will be covered. My Dr did however feel bad that i just had it done so the 750 is a discounted rate.
So i go in for some blood work on Tues, just some basic stuff. They will check all my hormone levels, my thyroid and also if i have any insulin problems. After that comes back i will be put on birth control pills and stay on them without taking the placebo pills therefore stopping me from getting a period(not that i get one anyway) Then both me and Luke have to go on Doxycyclene to make sure we aren't carrying any bacteria "down there". Then Luke has to have a sperm culture done(he's so excited) and my culture will be done while in surgery. Surgery is scheduled for 9/11, thank god there was a cancellation otherwise I'd be waiting till Nov. If during surgery he finds out my uterine septum is fibrous he will cut out that fibrous material and i will be put on estrogen for a couple months while it heals. If my uterus is ok, after my post-op check i will be placed on Metaformin. Even if I'm not insulin resistant they say going on this drug actually helps pcos women ovulate on their own. Then from there we will talk about our next step, whether its another injectable cycle with or without IUI or if we want to go straight to IVF. We found out a lot of the ultrasounds i will need while on my injectable cycle will not be covered this time. So depending on the cost of that we might just scrap that idea and go right to IVF, that's still to be determined.
So i guess this scraps the new siding and things we have been wanted to do to the house. We are obviously going to blow through all our savings and extra money trying to get a baby. If it happens all this money and effort will have been well worth it. I feel like i need to start fundraising for myself...anyone wanna buy a candy bar?? Just kidding, i gotta laugh and joke or i might break down and cry!
So once again I'm waiting, ugh! Why why me, i don't get it. I swear, i'm a good person!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Can We...
Monday, August 18, 2008
Salesmen Suck!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Girls Beach Weekend Part Duex
Here is Maura and Mommy soaking up the sun!
I know, really bad picture quality here but I had to show it. I went down with 2 pregnant women with some serious Dorito cravings. Here is one of our binge sessions Saturday afternoon. No I'm not pregnant but i sure did eat like i was. Doritos, pretzels, cheese dip, salsa and spinach dip. Oh lets not forget Kohrs brothers ice cream 2 nights in a row. Heather you made me a lover of chocolate jimmies on my soft serve, yum!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
i'm a blog slacker
I'm going to see Dr Fiedler, he is one of only 900 board certified RE's(reproductive endocrinologist) in the country and the only one in the Harrisburg area. If anyone is interested you can check it out at http://www.harrisburgivf.com/. He is suppose to be one of the best Re's around, i have heard his bedside manner is a little lacking but I'm not looking for a best friend, I'm looking for someone to get me pregnant. He also offers a really great IVF program, as long as i qualify, which I've been told i do fit the criteria. For $20,000 you get 6 tries and if you don't deliver a live baby you get all your money back because he feels you should then be able to use that money for adoption. So I'm thinking he can't be that bad of a guy. Oh another good thing is i won't have to run back and forth to the hospital for my ultrasounds and the lab for my blood work, everything is done there and i get my results right then.
OK well I've rambled enough. Thanks to everyone for all the support you have given me in your comments. And thanks to my sweetie(you know who you are) for always being there to listen to my problems and read my email freak outs(hehe) and for sharing her 2 little sweeties who make it all better when i come to the door and they fight to hug me!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Its a bust!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Gonal-F Injections
So i was going to show you a video of my doing the injections but i can't get it to upload for some reason and i don't have time to try any longer tonight. The injections really don't hurt as bad as i thought they would. The worst part of this whole process is going every other morning for blood work and ultrasounds. My day starts at the Hershey Med center for blood work. My poor veins, I'm going to look like a heroine addict soon. After that i then go to Harrisburg Hospital for an internal ultrasound. The reason i don't' do everything at one hospital is because my Dr is affiliated with Harrisburg but Hershey can get blood work results back faster. Yeah, it sucks! I have been injected now for 6days.
According to my Dr everything is going very good. I just found out today that i have a 10mm follicle in the right ovary, yea!!! A good egg for ovulating is usually around 18-20mm so i'm half way there. My dose just got upped from 75 to 150iu's because my estrogen started to fall so i'm hoping this will get me more than one egg to ovulate. Not that i want 6 kids but i'd like to have at least 2 eggs ovulate so my chances of getting pregnant increase. Hopefully sometime tomorrow i will get that video posted!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Girls Beach Trip
I think both girls really loved the rides. It was quite a tiring day. I believe we were all asleep by 9:30 that night.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
This better work!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Post-op check
So next week i am going to have my little class on how to give myself the injections. Sitting here right now i feel like i will be able to give myself the injections but we'll see when it comes down to it. Luke may possible wind up doing it for me. I'm going to try my best though, i want a baby soo bad i think i can muster up the courage to jab myself!! So by mid-june i will start on my Gonal-F injections. I holding off for a couple weeks because Heather, Sharon and I are going to the beach the first weekend in June so i don't want to deal with it down there. Very excited for a girls weekend at the beach, the best thing is at least one night we will have a babysitter for Breanna and Maura and Sharon who is pregnant has volunteered her services as a DD for Heather and I for our night at Secrets!!! Thanks Sharon!
So i plan on posting my own video for you guys to see but until i start here is one i found on youtube if anyone is interested:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fADyj_nLKqs
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Surgery Update!
Here is a post surgery belly pic, you can see my bloody belly button and my other incision is on my lower left but its on your right if your looking at the pic.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Dance Machine Part Duex
Little Jackie Benko was once again our Monday night dinner entertainer. Pay special attention to her ending move...its a very nice leg lift!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Update
In a happy note, we got Luke's sperm analysis back. Everything is perfectly normal, in fact he has above average sperm quality. If you guys could only of seen his face when i told him this. He thinks he is just the most macho man right now. I even heard him bragging to his one friend on the phone earlier. Never tell him i am writing this in my blog, he would be so mad(or would he proud). Anyway i'm just happy to finally have some sort of good news!!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Yet another bump in the road!
Friday, April 4, 2008
HSG Test
One procedure down and the next one is on the 4/14. Can't wait for that...at least i'll be asleep for it!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Dancin Machine
Here is a little live action of our dancing entertainment! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Chandra and Eric are here and we are about to play the Wii!
Monday night traditions!
Thank god our couch is durable because for most of the night, it was the stage!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Flashback!
I know i'm a blog slacker but i really have nothing new to report. I was browsing through old files on my computer looking for something fun to post and i found this. It boggles my mind how fast they grow up and change...this is from last Aug at the beach. Heather i'm sorry for stealing your kids to make my blog cute but i can't think of 2 cuter girls to post!!
I will have much more to post on my infertility journey in the next few weeks...lots of fun tests and procedures coming up...Lucky me! Happy Easter Everyone!!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tests and more tests
Once i'm on the injectables(Gonal-F is what its called) i will be giving myself daily injections in my belly. I will also be monitored with ultrasounds every other day and sometimes everyday(thank god for medical ins.). Well, thats all for now, have a good friday!
Ski Trip
Thursday, March 13, 2008
How our story begins
Let me catch you all up to date with whats been going on for the last 6months. I have been offically diagnosed with PCOS(polycyctic ovarian syndrom)http://www.pcosupport.org/medical/whatis.php. Therefore i do not ovulate on my own at all! In order to even get a period it has to been brought on by a wonderful drug called Provera. I take it for 7 days and about 3-5 days after my last pill my period will show up. For the 1st 3 months after my diagnosis i was given a drug called Clomid http://infertility.about.com/cs/clomi1/a/Clomid.htm to induce ovulation. I would take it days 3-7. I have tried 50mgs, 100mgs, and 150mgs...of course nothing worked, no ovulation, therefore no baby! Let me tell you the side effects suck...hot flashes, tired, angry, sad, headaches, not a fun drug!
My cycle with 150mgs was monitor with ultrasounds and just to add one more thing to the mix, at my first ultrasound(internal, oh what fun) they found an endometrial polyp. Don't know much about this yet, i have a Drs appt tomorrow morning to find out whats going to happen. But since the Clomid is obviously not working i am onto the lovely world of injectable fertility drugs.
So that about sums up my story so far...this is an incredible hard thing to go through only those that have been through can understand. We really appericate everyones support and heres to hoping a baby will come soon.