A Plan - Kind Of

Okay, so what is it called when you apologize or repent for something and then keep doing it?

Again - sorry for no update for so long. No excuse.

Michael has had a few interviews which went well, but he is still looking. I think being home all day every day is starting to get to him now, despite being the total homebody that he is.

We had a visit with our fertility doctor this week. He went over where we have been and our plan for the future. When he mentioned that we had been trying to conceive for about 4 years as part of where we've been, Michael said he had no idea it had been that long. Of course, since I still keep track of my cycles for some unknown reason, and we're on Cycle 55, it wasn't exactly a surprise. Since they can't find a single thing wrong with either of us, it leads them to believe there is likely a genetic issue with our embryos. However, since our embryos don't seem to make it past Day 3 after egg retrieval, they can't do any testing on them.

We are doing some additional testing on both of us, but realistically, the doctor does not expect to find anything. But - we all feel like since this is our last shot at conceiving, we might as well rule out everything possible. I will have a repeat HSG (hysterosalpingogram) where they shoot dye into your uterus and tubes. The doctor doesn't think I have a blockage, but wants to make sure my tubes aren't dilated - which could cause implantation issues because of fluid seepage. If one or both of my tubes are dilated, they can remove them or block them before the IVF. Neither of which sounds particularly fun. The other test we are doing is karyotyping for both Michael and me, which is just a blood test that shows any chromosomal abnormalities present in either of us. The chances of finding anything are less than 5%. If they DO find anything, the next step would likely be egg or sperm donation, depending on which one of us has the chromosome issue.

We have done one timed intercourse cycle, 4 IUI's and of course, the 2 IVF's. I responded better to the first IVF cycle, so the plan is to go back to that protocol, skipping the birth control beforehand and upping the dosage of meds. Hopefully, that will result in higher quantity and quality eggs.

First, though, we'll do these tests and if everything is a-okay, we'll start the Lupron with my next cycle and then do IVF in late December / early January. I'm trying to keep it all flexible and fluid in my head because as most of you know, once I have a plan I have a tough time deviating from it.

Go with the flow, Allison, go with the flow.