2nd Beta Test

Hcg Level was 195 at 16DPO
That makes my 'doubling time' 36.82 hours.
Which means, so far so good and right on track according to this beta data base.

Nurse relayed that Progesterone was greater than 45 "just what they want to see".

First Ultra Sound on Dec 17th.

Incredible.

BETA test

My HCG level was 80 mIU/ml at 14 DPO. The clinic will be looking for the doubling rate of this number upon my return Weds. This beta site was fun .

OHSS - Part Two

It has returned. I feel just as I did post Egg Retrieval; extremely bloated and having to urinate as if I have been in a pub for 4 hours slamming pints. Luckily it's nothing more than that. I read that this is somewhat common for women going through IVF and then become pregnant - the ovaries swell right back up again. Hopefully it won't last the TWELVE WEEKS that I also read about.

BFP!

I tested Thanksgiving and got a FAINT one and was dubious. I tested Friday and it was darker. Tested today and it was Darker!

So just for my records; I first tested and got a BFP on 10DPO / or 5dp5dt! This pic taken 12DPO / 7dp5dt.

5 blasts on ice

wOw

Transfer Day!

8am - Had acupuncture here!

9:15am - At the clinic for the transfer. The Embryo report on this day, day 5, was 2 "excellent" blasts and 11 more close behind. We opted to transfer one today. We froze the other and with luck, will freeze more tomorrow. The procedure was very similar to what I read your procedures to be like: Hubby dressed out and went in the room with me. The embryologist showed us a video of the Blast that was to be transfered. And D kept us all in stitches today. My husband won 20 bonus points with me today. He was GREAT! I really admire the staff at this clinic and there was just a lot of good vibes. (I think the big doc was hoping we would transfer two)


11a- back for follow up at the acupuncture clinic and I love this doc. She's the maternal acupuncture doc I always wanted and never knew I did ;-)

noon- sushi

3p - home in front of fire and cuddling with dog.


more about blasts here - ofcourse this was not our blast, but it sure did look just like this. with the inner cell mass as such.


Happy Happy Day.

Day 3 Embryo Report

13 embies still growing!?!


1- 5 cell good
1- 6 cell good
2- 8 cell good
4- 8 cell excellent / good
5- 8 cell excellent

They said we're 'going to blast' . Transfer on Saturday morning. Nurse said we need to decide to transfer one or two. Yikes. This is a big question. We're nervous about twins and I'm not really one of those who secretly hopes for twins. - Yet I am confident that I can handle what I am given - or not given.

Back to Doctor Google for some advice. Your advice / experience is welcome!

Embryo Quality Report

48 hours post ER

We still have 13 embies - and I am shocked.
3=2 cell good
1=3 cell good
3=4 cell good
2=4 cell excellent / good
3=4 cell excellent
1=5 cell excellent

Nurse said they are apparently doing great in the incubator and we are looking at a 5 day (blastocycst) transfer on Saturday morning - Unless some degradation happens this evening in which case we will be called in for a transfer tomorrow.

(pic posted is not mine but pasted from this excellent site http://www.advancedfertility.com/4cell.htm)

Fertilization Report

13 of the 14 eggs fertilized. (The nurse said that 60% fert. rate is normal at this clinic). so, Yeah!

Quality report will be tomorrow.

so many hurdles.

As far as recovery from the ER, I am just a little sore. Not even taking the pain med they presecribed - yet. So many drugs; Today I am on an antibiotic, a steroid, and a progesterone suppository.

Retrieval Report

They gave me warm booties and a warm blanket and a chill pill as soon as I walked in the door. How 'bout that? I wish every procedure I had thus far at the clinic had been like that. What a difference a blanket can make when you're waiting in a cold fluorescent room.

They got 14 eggs. (no news on maturity, but before I went under, the doc doing the harvesting said he reviewed 9 big ones prior to walking in the door)

Another hurdle accomplished.

I am not particularly sore. But I slept like a fool today. As soon as I got in the car (noon) to now (6p) I've been sound asleep and couldn't lift an eyelid or keyboard. It's been a nice day.

AND BIG GOOD NEWS for me ; I was anxious about the PIO shots which are 1.5 " and D. would have to administer. Supposedly the oil hurts going in and we would have to keep this up for many weeks. I asked about alternatives and they gave me a newer drug call endometrian - suppositories. Thrilled about this!

Stim Check #3 - Trigger tonight

13 Follies (11-21mm).
E2 = 2937
Progesterone = 1.52

Doc says everything is A-OK!

ER at 10 on Monday Nov 17th.

So this means I only stimmed for 6 days. (Monday thru Saturday morning) The norm is >8. I didn't ask about the disparity b/c doc appeared very confident about successful retrieval. Besides, it's out of my control. Doc mentioned lead egg might be past it's prime by ER, but the remainder should be perfect.

Stim Check #2

11 eggs measured and recorded today
(from 9mm to 19 mm)
E2 =2363
Progesterone = 1.07

My ovaries are SORE! The wand even made me yelp today. Can't imagine how they're going to feel by Monday.

They want to do ER on Monday, yet have asked me to drive back in tomorrow AM for the 3rd straight day in a row. (my drive is 1.5 hours each way)

In the Woe is Me category:
1. My beloved Gran is on her deathbed and in utter dementia 6 hours away. Family plans and ER / ET pose a little logistical challenge.
2. Immediately following Stim Check #2 this AM, I told my husband which day ER would be. one hour later he told me was going out of town on that day to buy / or sell a motorcycle. In one hour he had completely forgotten his meagre part in this ! 'Scuze me while I go inject myself some more.

Stim Check #1 - recalled to clinic

First stim check was this morning. About 13 antral follicles measuring from 9-16mm. Doc said multiple times, "You're doing just fine."

Clinic just called with E2 lab results and they need me back in first thing in the morning. 1500. After 5 or 6 days of stims. (even on low dose IUI cycles, I never got above 300 by O day)

It can't be too critical b/c they told me to do my normal med dose tonight.

Rhetorical Questions: will they cancel? or if they continue with ER and have to do it early will the eggs be mature enough?

U/S CD 1

All clear and ready to start injections! E2 Levels were fine. My first Lupron shot was this morning. Monday starts the Gonal - F. New doc / intern was doing the wanding and he could not find my ovaries. I was able to crack some jokes and ease his stress. He counted about 8 antral follicles on each side.

It's about that Time

I've been on BCP for about 6 weeks. (I bled for 9 days during it and that wasn't supposed to happen, but the clinic didn't seem to care). Next monday, Nov 3, I stop the BCP pills. Thursday I have the first U/S of the cycle to determine if there are cysts or not, and that night I am supposed to start the Lupron. I know it's all going to turn into a whirlwind after that first doc visit. If cycle goes as planned, I should have an egg or two growing by Thanksgiving. I haven't had babies too much on my mind the past couple of months, so I suspect I need to go look at some pics; also visualizing my future baby should help get me excited.

IVF Drugs

I finally received them all they came via FedEx, UPS, and USPS . The nurse told me the retail value was almost $4000!

Almost everyone of these drugs has a warning label, "Do not use if pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant" ???? This does not play well with my psyche.

I am almost finished with my first pack of BCP. The nurse told me to skip the blank ones and move on the next pack. "What, no period?" She said I didn't have to have one. Well that just doesn't feel natural. I am accustomed to having my period. We're given periods for a reason in nature, right?

I will do as I am told and not question the authority on the matter. I will take these drugs that all have warning labels .

First IVF Meeting, Protocol and Mock Transfer

Protocol for IVF#1 = Microdose Flare Lupron

We spent the better of 4 hours at the clinic today for the IVF meeting, and it was my best day there yet! I was under the wings of the awesome IVF Coordinating Nurse Debbie. She insured my blood was drawn on the first prick, that we didn't have to wait around for anything - like the normal 2 hour waits. We sat in her office for an hour going over the protocol and calendar. She's down to Earth, a straight Shooter, and very intelligent on her subject. (I am very happy to report this b/c I have had stressful experiences with my very busy docs and the clinic - the only one in the state- and I did have a bad taste in my mouth about it)


I had a mock transfer that went well and again, the docs told me that I have the ovaries of a 25 yo. (20+ antral follicles?) The proof will be in the quality of the eggs that they ultimately harvest. Daren had to have blood tested and his soldiers were analyzed further.


I have to go out of town to a bz meeting the first couple days of Nov, so they are going to start stimming me on Nov.6 . They predict the transfer to happen right before thanksgiving week.

So basically I have the Month off! Whoopee!

We did decided to freeze the successful embryos that won't be transferred back to me.

So here's my protocol: Microdose Lupron (all our tests have been normal with the exception of an iffy high estrogen test once. Hence this is the protocol the doctor chose)

9/23 - 11/3 = Birth Control Bills - to suppress my ovaries
10/2 = Daren and Virginia take antibiotics to knockout unknown/hypothetical infections
11/8 = start Lupron for suppressing
11/10 = start gonal - f for ovarian stimulation
continue both of these (suppressing and stimulating at the same time??)
11/18 = take ovidrel to release eggs, take anti-biotic to prevent infection
11/20 = Egg Retrieval
11/20 = start steroids, progesterone and estrogen
11/23 = Embryo Transfers
continue Progesterone until first trimester complete.

This is subject to change of course and only skims the surface . The Lupron, progesterone, ovidrel and gonal - f are injections. Some are twice daily!