Making some progress!

Well today's visit went better. My estrogen and lining are finally starting to improve. I have about 6 follies growing on my left side and only about 2 on my right side. Since I had a slower than normal start, I will have to stim a little longer than usual (likely to be about 13 days), probably until Tuesday or Wednesday. We are planning the egg retrieval for Thursday or Friday. Since I don't have very many follicles growing, the doctor thinks we will be doing a day 2 or day 3 transfer next weekend sometime.

For now, I continue all of my meds and start an additional one on Saturday. I will also continue doing acupuncture every couple days as well. My next doctor appointment will be on Monday. By then we should know when the actual egg retrieval will be.

Until then, we'll cross our fingers and hope for the best!

Slow Start

I had a quick ultrasound and blood work done today at the clinic. I was a little disappointed to her say that I am off to a "slow start" as she suspected I would be. I sure hope everything is going okay. The doctor was in a bit of a hurry as she had to go do a transfer for someone after my visit. She said she saw a few small follicles growing, on my chart she said there were 3 to 4 on the left and 3 to 4 on the right. However, it is still early, so we'll know much more on Thursday's visit. But those words do worry me. . .

So far the migraines have been horrible, and the only thing I can take is Tylenol. I'm looking forward to going back to work tomorrow in hopes it will take my mind off of things.

For now, we just hope they keep growing and more appear so that my entire cycle doesn't get cancelled. We'll know more on Thursday!

Grow Follies Grow!

Well we made it back from a successful trip to Florida, Carson did amazingly well on the plane. It was a wonderful trip, just wish it could have lasted longer! We visited Busch Gardens where we got to meet Elmo, Zoe, Grover, Cookie Monster, Abbie and Big Bird. We also stopped at the Clearwater Aquarium to see Winter, the star of A Dolphin's Tale. They filmed most of the movie at the Aquarium, so it was an exciting place to visit the week of the movie release! We also had some family come to visit us and got to spend time on the beach and at the pool. Overall it was a great trip, below are a couple photos I thought I'd share!

Today was my baseline visit at the fertility clinic. Dr. Pritts did the mock transfer to make sure everything will go okay the day of my actual transfer which will be in a couple weeks. They also did an ultrasound and took some blood work to make sure my estrogen is below 50. Today was also when the payment was due for the IVF which came to $9800. My next doctor appointment will be on Monday for a repeat ultrasound and blood draw.

I started my shots tonight, it's been a few years and I'm on some meds I've never been on before so it was a little confusing since each medication has it's own needle. The 450 IU of follistim was pretty routine, you use only one needle to administer the medication, which will be helping me to grow multiple follicles. Then I had to draw up the Luveris with one needle to mix the medication and use a separate needle to administer, this medication also assists with egg production. I am still taking 9 pills a day as well and on Thursday will most likely start a third shot, Ganirelix.

So for now, it's just pills, shots, acupuncture and eating healthy . . .

They've arrived!

Here's my money shot, literally! This is what $5,000 in meds looks like and to think I'll be putting all of this into my body in the next few weeks. Just a forewarning as to why I may be a bit hormonal!

 

Here is a pic of some of the needles I'll be using, from left to right: Progesterone needle, Luverix needle, and Follistim pen

I'm looking forward to having a week off to go to Florida before officially starting these next Friday. Gald I don't have to try to smuggle all of these on the plane with me! 

I have my baseline doctor appointment next Friday morning at 10 a.m. Hopefully I'll get the "all clear" to start my 3 shots a day (too bad these ones aren't alcoholic)! I'll be starting with Follistim 450 IU and a Luverix shot at night, then will be adding another shot, Ganirelix, after a few days of being on the first two. 

I probably won't have another update for you all until next Friday, so have a great week!

Today's the big day!

I got to start my birth control today, I'm so excited to get this started!

I got a phone call with my total cost for my meds, I was slightly wrong with my estimate of $3,000. They said it is going to total $6,460, YIKES! This is because they've switched my protocol from my last IVFs and are putting me on the highest dosage of Follistim to hopefully increase the quantity of eggs my body will produce. I'm having a little sticker shock right now. I have a call into the doctor office to see if there is another pharmacy that may be a little cheaper. We are hoping to get the meds delivered this Thursday or Friday before I go on my trip to Florida.

So here is my tentative schedule for the next few weeks.


For the next 10 days I'll be taking:
Birth Control - used to control the timing of the cycle and to temporarily shut down your ovaries

Metformin - to improve my quality and quantity of eggs

Levothryoxine - to get my thyroid levels where they need to be to sustain a pregnancy

DHEA - to improve my quality and quantity of eggs

On Friday, Sept. 23rd:
I'll have my baseline visit at the fertility clinic which includes:
   • Ultrasound - to be sure there are no eggs growing and to
      check that my lining is thin
   • Bloodwork - to check my estrogen levels
   • Mock Embryo Transfer - to be sure there are no surprises
      the big day of the real transfer
   • Payment - because they want there money :)
   • Start taking Follistim and Luveris - to stimulate follicles
      and grow eggs!

From that point on I will have an ultrasound and bloodwork done every few days to monitor how my body is reacting to the medications and to be sure I am not being overstimulated.

Looking forward to going on a vacation before the really important part begins. Thank you all for your support!

Meds are on their way!

Finally.

I am excited to report that I will be getting some of my prescriptions this weekend from a local pharmacy, and some via mail through a fertility pharmacy . . . I finally feel like we may actually be going through with this after all!

I had a chance to talk with the nurse, sounds like my protocol this time will be quite different from those I've been through in the past. I will not be using Lupron this time, which will make things go a little quicker. I am also going to be taking some meds I've never taken before. I haven't seen the bill for the meds yet, but am expecting it to be around $3,000. They are putting me on the highest dosage of Follistim possible, this medication is VERY expensive. If I remember correctly, each injection costs around $300-400 per DAY.

I'll post my protocol when I get it in the mail, and pics of the medications when they arrive. A very exciting day indeed!

I don't know if I've shared this with too many of you before, but I'll put this link up here for good luck. This was the first time we ever got to see Carson's beating heart over 3 years ago. The most amazing time in my life! Copy and paste into your browser. . .

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/angelabiermeier/?action=view&current=07-53-49.mp4

Enjoy!

Frustrating . . .

Before going through with our IVF, there were many tests that needed to be done in preparation before we can proceed. Jeremy and I have already completed all of our blood work, additional testing and surgery. I think coordinating these between our Family Practice Doctor, OB, Fertility Doctors and Insurance were the hardest part. You see, when you are labeled as having infertility, EVERY test you have from that point on is questioned as to whether it is fertility-related or not. Insurance will cover nothing if it is at all related to infertility.

As if that part is not frustrating enough, playing phone tag with doctors and nurses is another joy I've been dealing with. I have to get my meds ordered and to me by this weekend in case my cycle starts. I've been trying to get this done since last week and the fertility nurse has dropped the ball yet again. I'm hoping to hear from her tomorrow. I have to be home when the meds are delivered because some of them require refrigeration, which means I need to get them ordered tomorrow for a Thursday delivery. We'll see if it all works out!

Let's just hope I can finally start this IVF, I'm SO excited and hopeful. . . .