We had the IUI today. Everything went smoothly - the actual IUI took about 1 minute. Then I had to lay there and marinate for about 5 minutes. That's it! The doctor said I responded really well to the medicine so this cycle looks good despite the cyst.
I had to tell work I had a "minor medical procedure" because I had to reschedule a meeting. We didn't know we were going to have the IUI today until Sunday, and they only had 2 appointments left - so it wasn't like we got to pick our times.
It's kind of weird - we don't go in together for the IUI. Michael goes in first and then they do some sort of sperm washing process - as my doctor says - to get the uber-sperm. Then I go in 2 hours later for the actual IUI. Michael had to come all the way out to Fairfax from DC at 1 PM, so the poor thing took the rest of this beautiful day off.
Now, I take progesterone supplements (not orally - ugh) for 2 weeks until I either start my period or have the blood test on 5/29 to determine if I'm pregnant. (I can't take any of those home pregnancy tests because the drugs will screw up the results.) Keep your fingers, toes, hair, everything crossed for us! Positive thinking, everyone!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mother's Day
We had my mom & Tony and Ashley & Tom over for brunch this morning. The weather was perfect, so we even got to sit outside and enjoy it for awhile. All in all - a good Mother's Day. The morning was a little hectic because I had to go back to the doctor to check the progress of the follicles AND get all the stuff ready for brunch. Luckily, Michael's pretty handy in the kitchen.
The ultrasound showed that the 2 follicles on the right are lookin' good - 19.6 and 16.5. The left side was still quiet. The nurse was one of the nicest and most thorough that I've had there. She said - oooh, it looks like you get to have a trigger shot for Mother's Day! It was cute - she was seriously excited. My bloodwork all came back fine, so I'll do the trigger shot tonight. Our IUI is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
I had to laugh at the sheet with the instructions that they gave me. It says what to do on what days. The line that cracked me up says:
The ultrasound showed that the 2 follicles on the right are lookin' good - 19.6 and 16.5. The left side was still quiet. The nurse was one of the nicest and most thorough that I've had there. She said - oooh, it looks like you get to have a trigger shot for Mother's Day! It was cute - she was seriously excited. My bloodwork all came back fine, so I'll do the trigger shot tonight. Our IUI is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
I had to laugh at the sheet with the instructions that they gave me. It says what to do on what days. The line that cracked me up says:
Day 2 (day after trigger) - it's a free day! No injections, no bloodwork, no ultrasound, no intercourse.Guess I should be relieved that it's a day we don't HAVE to. ;-) Lumping it in with those fun things like injections just made me laugh. (Michael, I promise I don't think of it that way!)
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Lotto
Sometimes I joke that I really should play the lottery. 10% of women suffer from unexplained infertility. I'm one of the lucky few. 10% of women who take ovarian stimulation drugs suffer from ovarian cysts. Wow - lucky me! With odds like these, why shouldn't I play? Maybe I should place a wager on the Preakness... Anybody want to front me the funds?
But seriously, I AM lucky. So many women who are dealing with infertility don't have the support of their friends and family. Or don't feel like they can share what they are going through. Michael and I have become closer through all of this. We have talked through things we'd never have discussed if everything had happened according to plan.
And you have all been so wonderful. Heck, you're reading this blog, aren't you? None of you says things that minimize my situation or make me feel judged. I couldn't ask for more from you all. I just had dinner last night with 3 of my closest friends and they are the most understanding, supportive women I could ever hope to call my friends.
Okay - enough sap (totally blame the fertility drugs). On to the follicle report for the day. I had bloodwork (in both arms since the nurse couldn't find a vein in my left arm) and the ultrasound/wanding. The doctor said that the cyst on my right ovary has grown a bit, but it's still nothing to worry about. I have 2 good follicles on my right ovary - 12.6 mm and 13.3 mm and 3 follicles under 10 on my left. That means that the 2 follicles on the right are likely the ones that will release eggs. They won't do the trigger shot that will make me ovulate until those follicles are close to 20 mm. Ill continue the Follistim shots and go back for more bloodwork and an ultrasound on Sunday morning to see how much those follicles have grown. (Don't worry, Mom - they promised it wouldn't interfere with Mother's Day brunch.) Oh - and they figured out the insurance mess, so my prescriptions are all okay. I'll pick them up tomorrow.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Hopefully, one of these days, I can join your ranks! (Even though that is what I want most, the thought of being a mother still terrifies me - guess it's just one of those things...)
But seriously, I AM lucky. So many women who are dealing with infertility don't have the support of their friends and family. Or don't feel like they can share what they are going through. Michael and I have become closer through all of this. We have talked through things we'd never have discussed if everything had happened according to plan.
And you have all been so wonderful. Heck, you're reading this blog, aren't you? None of you says things that minimize my situation or make me feel judged. I couldn't ask for more from you all. I just had dinner last night with 3 of my closest friends and they are the most understanding, supportive women I could ever hope to call my friends.
Okay - enough sap (totally blame the fertility drugs). On to the follicle report for the day. I had bloodwork (in both arms since the nurse couldn't find a vein in my left arm) and the ultrasound/wanding. The doctor said that the cyst on my right ovary has grown a bit, but it's still nothing to worry about. I have 2 good follicles on my right ovary - 12.6 mm and 13.3 mm and 3 follicles under 10 on my left. That means that the 2 follicles on the right are likely the ones that will release eggs. They won't do the trigger shot that will make me ovulate until those follicles are close to 20 mm. Ill continue the Follistim shots and go back for more bloodwork and an ultrasound on Sunday morning to see how much those follicles have grown. (Don't worry, Mom - they promised it wouldn't interfere with Mother's Day brunch.) Oh - and they figured out the insurance mess, so my prescriptions are all okay. I'll pick them up tomorrow.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Hopefully, one of these days, I can join your ranks! (Even though that is what I want most, the thought of being a mother still terrifies me - guess it's just one of those things...)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
I Love HMO's
Heard from the pharmacy today after trying to refill my meds from last cycle. I had some leftover, so I just started with those. Apparently, the insurance company will only approve one of the three medication refills for some odd reason. I'll need to figure that out tomorrow. I only hope that it's really approved and I haven't been giving myself these shots for no reason!
I had a few questions about the cyst I posted about earlier. Basically, since the cyst isn't producing any estrogen, it won't affect my egg production or that ovary. It will just go away with time.
If anyone wants to know about the meds & how IUI works - here it is in a nutshell. The shots I am giving myself are Follistim which stimulate my ovaries to produce more & better quality eggs. (It's way stronger than Clomid.) They'll check my blood and do another wanding to see how my follicles (which release the eggs) are progressing from the Follistim. Once I have several follicles around 20 mm, I will give myself a "trigger shot" called Ovidrel which causes me to ovulate (release the eggs). 36 hours after the trigger shot, we'll do the IUI. That means they'll take Michael's sperm and put it directly into my uterus. The swimmers have less distance to travel and the timing works since we know when I ovulated. Once I have the IUI, I take progesterone to ensure my lining stays thick enough for implantation and then just wait until I either get my period or take a blood test 15 days later. That's 15 days of pure torture!
Phew! This became longer than I intended. Hope that answers at least some questions. Feel free to post other questions in the comments (you can even do it anonymously) or just ask me.
I had a few questions about the cyst I posted about earlier. Basically, since the cyst isn't producing any estrogen, it won't affect my egg production or that ovary. It will just go away with time.
If anyone wants to know about the meds & how IUI works - here it is in a nutshell. The shots I am giving myself are Follistim which stimulate my ovaries to produce more & better quality eggs. (It's way stronger than Clomid.) They'll check my blood and do another wanding to see how my follicles (which release the eggs) are progressing from the Follistim. Once I have several follicles around 20 mm, I will give myself a "trigger shot" called Ovidrel which causes me to ovulate (release the eggs). 36 hours after the trigger shot, we'll do the IUI. That means they'll take Michael's sperm and put it directly into my uterus. The swimmers have less distance to travel and the timing works since we know when I ovulated. Once I have the IUI, I take progesterone to ensure my lining stays thick enough for implantation and then just wait until I either get my period or take a blood test 15 days later. That's 15 days of pure torture!
Phew! This became longer than I intended. Hope that answers at least some questions. Feel free to post other questions in the comments (you can even do it anonymously) or just ask me.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Is bad news bad if you already knew it?
Went in this morning for Day 3 bloodwork and ultrasound. What I affectionately refer to as "The Wand" showed a cyst on my right ovary, but they said as long as my estrogen level came back normal, I could go ahead and start the injections for next cycle. The nurse just called with my bloodwork results - and said the good news is that my estrogen is fine - the bad news is that I'm not pregnant. Ummmm... yeah, pretty much already knew that, but thanks.
So, I get to turn into the human pin cushion again starting tonight. Good thing I have my yoga class first. I can get good and relaxed before I have to stab myself in the stomach. ;-) I'm just happy I don't have to take a break for these darn cysts this time and we can move ahead. I go back for another wanding on Friday to check the progress of my follicles, so I'll probably post again after that.
So, I get to turn into the human pin cushion again starting tonight. Good thing I have my yoga class first. I can get good and relaxed before I have to stab myself in the stomach. ;-) I'm just happy I don't have to take a break for these darn cysts this time and we can move ahead. I go back for another wanding on Friday to check the progress of my follicles, so I'll probably post again after that.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Virgin Post
Okay, guys. I am putting myself out there now. Instead of all the e-mails & phone calls with my "progress", I am just going to post here in cyberspace for you to see whenever you want.
I had a hard time telling you all that this cycle failed. Somehow I feel that I've let you down, in addition to letting myself down. Logically, I know we are doing all we can do and that it will take time, but month after month I can't help feeling like a failure. Feeling like I can't do the one thing all women are supposed to be able to do at the drop of a hat.
Anyway, despite that last paragraph, I am going to try to stay positive on this blog - but it might also be a good place for me to vent. Please don't feel like you have to respond. I just thought you might like a place to know what is going on. I didn't restrict this blog because then you would all have to log-in to check it, but please only share it selectively, if at all. I plan on putting my personal "bidness" up here.
Thanks, everyone.
I had a hard time telling you all that this cycle failed. Somehow I feel that I've let you down, in addition to letting myself down. Logically, I know we are doing all we can do and that it will take time, but month after month I can't help feeling like a failure. Feeling like I can't do the one thing all women are supposed to be able to do at the drop of a hat.
Anyway, despite that last paragraph, I am going to try to stay positive on this blog - but it might also be a good place for me to vent. Please don't feel like you have to respond. I just thought you might like a place to know what is going on. I didn't restrict this blog because then you would all have to log-in to check it, but please only share it selectively, if at all. I plan on putting my personal "bidness" up here.
Thanks, everyone.
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