Okay. I admit it. This waiting is driving me crazy! I thought for sure that I could get through these next couple of weeks without a care in the world. I mean ... what is done is done. It is out of my control. But instead I have been feeling every twinge in my body and trying to determine if a given twinge at any moment is a good thing or a bad thing. I just want to know already!! I have a really good friend who struggled to get pregnant for over two years. I always knew that she was a super strong woman simply for the fact that she had to go above and beyond to just get pregnant. She is now, without a doubt, the strongest woman I have ever met. Kudos!
The hcg trigger shot has not come without any side effects. It never even crossed my mind that I would experience any side effects from the shot. But unfortunately I have experienced quite a bit of nausea over the last few days. I even lost my breakfast on Tuesday morning. That was fun. It is one thing to be nauseous because I am pregnant but it is another thing to be nauseous simply because of the hormones that have been injected into my body. Not fair. Thankfully, the trigger shot should be totally out of my system in the next few days. I have also had quite a bit of abdominal discomfort (not really pain). I think (and remember I am not a doctor) that this is a result of ovulating multiple eggs. The follicle that holds the egg is actually a fluid filled sac. After an egg is released from the follicle the fluid has to go somewhere ... right?. A woman typically only ovulates one egg at a time so it is not common to feel any discomfort. I believe because I released at least four eggs the amount of fluids released from the follicles has caused me some discomfort. The fluid eventually gets reabsorbed by my body and the pain subsides. I had the most discomfort on Tuesday (1dpiui) and Wednesday (2dpiui). This would make sense. The pain has all but disappeared now.
I have also made the decision to test out my trigger shot. I swore up and down that I would not POAS until at least 14dpiui. I lied. I just need to be doing something and this gives me something to do. I know ... I am lame. So I bought some cheap tests on the Internet and I plan to keep myself busy by taking a test each day until I get a negative. Then I will know for sure that the trigger shot has left my body. The I will keep up the marathon until I get another positive :) or until I start my period :(. I am going to hope for the positive!
Mary
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
that was romantic
I have been inseminated!
I was doing the post insemination "try not to fall asleep while laying flat on your back for ten minutes" and I couldn't help but imagine my uterus going, "What the hell is this? Who invited them? This is a sperm free zone!" It is a most bizarre feeling.
The procedure itself was super fast. It was so fast that I wasn't even completely naked before the RE busted into the room. I think she was more embarrassed. I am use to people seeing me naked at this point. I mean heck she was going to get all up close in personal in a few minutes anyhow. The procedure itself was rather painless minus the speculum from hell (again). Though I have never seen a speculum with a light attached. That was nifty! I always get humored when a new doctor goes searching for my cervix. They can never find it! It is amusing but in a painful and definitely not fun sort of way. The procedure went as follows ... I confirmed the specimen. I basically just confirmed that the test tube had my SS # and the donor # that I had ordered from the sperm bank. Then the RE took the sample out of the test tube with a syringe. Can I just comment that I was amazed at how small the sample actually is? The RE said that we had a sperm count of 48 million post thaw with 67% motility post thaw. I think this is really good for a frozen sample. The RE then connects this super long catheter to the syringe that is used to bypass my cervix and place the DS directly into my uterus. It took all of 30 seconds. I then spent the next ten minutes laying down and willing my little soldiers to start swimming for the fallopian tubes. Go! Go! Go!
I will now spend the next two weeks overanalyzing every feeling and praying that my period does not show-up. In the meantime, I am going to spend the rest of the day cheering on the boys swimming around in my fallopian tubes!
Say a little prayer!
Mary
I was doing the post insemination "try not to fall asleep while laying flat on your back for ten minutes" and I couldn't help but imagine my uterus going, "What the hell is this? Who invited them? This is a sperm free zone!" It is a most bizarre feeling.
The procedure itself was super fast. It was so fast that I wasn't even completely naked before the RE busted into the room. I think she was more embarrassed. I am use to people seeing me naked at this point. I mean heck she was going to get all up close in personal in a few minutes anyhow. The procedure itself was rather painless minus the speculum from hell (again). Though I have never seen a speculum with a light attached. That was nifty! I always get humored when a new doctor goes searching for my cervix. They can never find it! It is amusing but in a painful and definitely not fun sort of way. The procedure went as follows ... I confirmed the specimen. I basically just confirmed that the test tube had my SS # and the donor # that I had ordered from the sperm bank. Then the RE took the sample out of the test tube with a syringe. Can I just comment that I was amazed at how small the sample actually is? The RE said that we had a sperm count of 48 million post thaw with 67% motility post thaw. I think this is really good for a frozen sample. The RE then connects this super long catheter to the syringe that is used to bypass my cervix and place the DS directly into my uterus. It took all of 30 seconds. I then spent the next ten minutes laying down and willing my little soldiers to start swimming for the fallopian tubes. Go! Go! Go!
I will now spend the next two weeks overanalyzing every feeling and praying that my period does not show-up. In the meantime, I am going to spend the rest of the day cheering on the boys swimming around in my fallopian tubes!
Say a little prayer!
Mary
Sunday, February 20, 2011
always expect the unexpected
I had high hopes for today. I still have high hopes but I also have some extra nervous energy as well.
I went in today for a monitoring appointment (on cd 11). Of course the nurse that scheduled my appointment forgot to actually put the appointment in the computer so they were not expecting me. Oops. This is why I always bring the actual appointment cards with me! The nurse who made the mistake was actually there today and felt horrible about the mistake. However, because I had to be seen today, they were able to get me in right away to see another RE. This was let down #1. I really feel comfortable with the RE that I have been seeing through this process so I was sort of caught off guard with the change in doctors.
The good news. I really ended up liking this other RE. The u/s showed that I have four mature follicles (two follicles on each side). The follicles are measuring at 18mm, 18mm, 19mm, and 20mm. This is a somewhat higher number of mature follicles and as a result I am at an increased risk for multiples. I was a bit shocked that the decision about whether to continue with this cycle was left up to me. I think this is because four follicles is still considered to be a "borderline" number. And of course yesterday I told Kara that there was no reason to come to the appointment with me. I was instantly regretting that decision. I'm a numbers person (duh!) so I immediately asked the RE to provide me with the statistics. It comes down to the fact that statistically I have a 5% chance of triplets and a less than 1% chance of quads. There are also several other factors involved including my age (I am 29. Not young but also not of an advanced maternal age.) and the frozen DS (we will not know the official numbers until the day of the insemination). Both of these factors lower my risk of multiples just a bit. So I did what any other person would do in this situation and I asked the RE, "What would you do?" So ... after what seemed like hours (it was actually only a couple of minutes) we have decided to proceed with the IUI. I had to make an immediate decision because unfortunately there is no stop button for ovulation. That would be nice. I would at least like a pause button of some sort. So the nurse gave me my HCG trigger shot before I left (my ass felt it big time) that will cause me to ovulate in the next 24 to 36 hours and I am scheduled for the IUI tomorrow morning. Yikes!
I really feel as if we have made the right decision to proceed. I think I would have had more regrets in the long run had I thrown in the towel on this cycle. I also saw the doctor in the hallway as I was leaving and he reassured me that I had made a good decision. This helped a bit. Kara and I knew that there would be a lot of unknowns in this grand adventure but I never knew how heavily these unknowns would weigh on my mind.
Then again ... two weeks from now I could start my period and these fears will be long forgotten. Oh the crazy world we live in.
Mary
I went in today for a monitoring appointment (on cd 11). Of course the nurse that scheduled my appointment forgot to actually put the appointment in the computer so they were not expecting me. Oops. This is why I always bring the actual appointment cards with me! The nurse who made the mistake was actually there today and felt horrible about the mistake. However, because I had to be seen today, they were able to get me in right away to see another RE. This was let down #1. I really feel comfortable with the RE that I have been seeing through this process so I was sort of caught off guard with the change in doctors.
The good news. I really ended up liking this other RE. The u/s showed that I have four mature follicles (two follicles on each side). The follicles are measuring at 18mm, 18mm, 19mm, and 20mm. This is a somewhat higher number of mature follicles and as a result I am at an increased risk for multiples. I was a bit shocked that the decision about whether to continue with this cycle was left up to me. I think this is because four follicles is still considered to be a "borderline" number. And of course yesterday I told Kara that there was no reason to come to the appointment with me. I was instantly regretting that decision. I'm a numbers person (duh!) so I immediately asked the RE to provide me with the statistics. It comes down to the fact that statistically I have a 5% chance of triplets and a less than 1% chance of quads. There are also several other factors involved including my age (I am 29. Not young but also not of an advanced maternal age.) and the frozen DS (we will not know the official numbers until the day of the insemination). Both of these factors lower my risk of multiples just a bit. So I did what any other person would do in this situation and I asked the RE, "What would you do?" So ... after what seemed like hours (it was actually only a couple of minutes) we have decided to proceed with the IUI. I had to make an immediate decision because unfortunately there is no stop button for ovulation. That would be nice. I would at least like a pause button of some sort. So the nurse gave me my HCG trigger shot before I left (my ass felt it big time) that will cause me to ovulate in the next 24 to 36 hours and I am scheduled for the IUI tomorrow morning. Yikes!
I really feel as if we have made the right decision to proceed. I think I would have had more regrets in the long run had I thrown in the towel on this cycle. I also saw the doctor in the hallway as I was leaving and he reassured me that I had made a good decision. This helped a bit. Kara and I knew that there would be a lot of unknowns in this grand adventure but I never knew how heavily these unknowns would weigh on my mind.
Then again ... two weeks from now I could start my period and these fears will be long forgotten. Oh the crazy world we live in.
Mary
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
the good news is ...
I have experienced no side effects from the clomid. Actually, I guess that is not 100% true ... My left ear is always hot! And yesterday I really had the urge to punch someone ... oh wait ... that wasn't a side effect of the clomid but a side effect of my job! My fault. I got them confused.
The bad news is ... I think I am getting a cold. Really!?! Now?!? I have a ton of drainage in my ears. I can't hear anything and my nose is all plugged up. Joy. I am going to hope with all hope that it is not a full blown cold and maybe just allergies. I did clean out the garage on Sunday afternoon and there was a ton of dirt and dust flying around. Anyhow, I will keep drinking my OJ and eating my oranges. I really don't want to take any medicine. Grr!
Mary
The bad news is ... I think I am getting a cold. Really!?! Now?!? I have a ton of drainage in my ears. I can't hear anything and my nose is all plugged up. Joy. I am going to hope with all hope that it is not a full blown cold and maybe just allergies. I did clean out the garage on Sunday afternoon and there was a ton of dirt and dust flying around. Anyhow, I will keep drinking my OJ and eating my oranges. I really don't want to take any medicine. Grr!
Mary
Saturday, February 12, 2011
cycle #1
We have officially started Cycle #1 of our trying to conceive (TTC) journey! There are a lot of mixed emotions with that sentence. I think you could select any adjective in the dictionary and it would somehow apply to the feelings I am experiencing at the current moment. I jokingly sent Kara a text message when this cycle started the other day that I had a feeling that this would be the last time (for a very long time) that I will get excited to start my period.
I have mentioned on more than one occasion that there are a lot of unknowns in this journey. One of these unknowns is whether or not it is going to be difficult for me to get pregnant. The other big unknown is how much this journey is going to cost us. Because the cost of donor sperm (DS) is a significant cost and obviously an expense we would need any month in which we decide to TTC, Kara and I have decided to be somewhat aggressive in our attempts each cycle. Therefore, our cycle this month will go as follows ...
I went for a baseline u/s yesterday. This was on CD 2. The baseline u/s is necessary for a couple of reasons. The first of which is to make certain that I do not have any cysts on my ovaries. This is important because I will also be taking a fertility drug known as clomid that can actually cause cysts to develop. I will get to more on this drug in just a bit. The baseline u/s is also important because it allows the RE a view of the follicles in my ovaries. There should be a lot of small follicles in my ovaries at the start of a cycle. The follicles are actually what encases each egg in my ovary. There is a essentially a race that goes on in a woman's body each month. The follicles compete to become the "biggest" follicle of the bunch and eventually an ovary will release an egg from the most dominant follicle. This is ovulation. So anyway ... the baseline u/s went just fine. Although I am sure my female readers would agree that an internal u/s on CD 2 is not the most pleasant experience! I am only just beginning this experience and already feel as if I have no shame. Joy.
I started taking 50mg of clomid today (CD 3). I will take the clomid through CD 7. This drug is used to stimulate ovulation. It essentially helps to produce eggs. This occurs because clomid reduces the amount of estrogen being produced in my body. This causes the pituitary gland to produce more hormones to raise my estrogen levels. The pituitary gland also produces more FSH and LH hormones which stimulate follicle and egg production in my ovaries. Therefore, the goal is to make certain that come ovulation time I have a couple of mature follicles. It is unknown at this time how my body will react to the clomid. I could have no reaction or there is a slight chance that I will overstimulate (produce too many follicles). If this were to occur, then we would not continue with the insemination this month. This is why it is important for any woman taking clomid to be closely monitored by a doctor. I personally do not want to become the next octomom!
I am then scheduled to go back for another u/s on CD 11 to check the progress of my follicles. This apointment will determine the date of the intrauterine insemination (IUI). More on that later.
So that is it for now. I'm just hoping that I don't become a hormonal mess in the next few days (the lovely side effects of clomid)!
Mary
I have mentioned on more than one occasion that there are a lot of unknowns in this journey. One of these unknowns is whether or not it is going to be difficult for me to get pregnant. The other big unknown is how much this journey is going to cost us. Because the cost of donor sperm (DS) is a significant cost and obviously an expense we would need any month in which we decide to TTC, Kara and I have decided to be somewhat aggressive in our attempts each cycle. Therefore, our cycle this month will go as follows ...
I went for a baseline u/s yesterday. This was on CD 2. The baseline u/s is necessary for a couple of reasons. The first of which is to make certain that I do not have any cysts on my ovaries. This is important because I will also be taking a fertility drug known as clomid that can actually cause cysts to develop. I will get to more on this drug in just a bit. The baseline u/s is also important because it allows the RE a view of the follicles in my ovaries. There should be a lot of small follicles in my ovaries at the start of a cycle. The follicles are actually what encases each egg in my ovary. There is a essentially a race that goes on in a woman's body each month. The follicles compete to become the "biggest" follicle of the bunch and eventually an ovary will release an egg from the most dominant follicle. This is ovulation. So anyway ... the baseline u/s went just fine. Although I am sure my female readers would agree that an internal u/s on CD 2 is not the most pleasant experience! I am only just beginning this experience and already feel as if I have no shame. Joy.
I started taking 50mg of clomid today (CD 3). I will take the clomid through CD 7. This drug is used to stimulate ovulation. It essentially helps to produce eggs. This occurs because clomid reduces the amount of estrogen being produced in my body. This causes the pituitary gland to produce more hormones to raise my estrogen levels. The pituitary gland also produces more FSH and LH hormones which stimulate follicle and egg production in my ovaries. Therefore, the goal is to make certain that come ovulation time I have a couple of mature follicles. It is unknown at this time how my body will react to the clomid. I could have no reaction or there is a slight chance that I will overstimulate (produce too many follicles). If this were to occur, then we would not continue with the insemination this month. This is why it is important for any woman taking clomid to be closely monitored by a doctor. I personally do not want to become the next octomom!
I am then scheduled to go back for another u/s on CD 11 to check the progress of my follicles. This apointment will determine the date of the intrauterine insemination (IUI). More on that later.
So that is it for now. I'm just hoping that I don't become a hormonal mess in the next few days (the lovely side effects of clomid)!
Mary
Thursday, February 3, 2011
when is the last time you checked our credit card limit?
We have ordered our little soldiers! It is bizarre to think that I spent $850 on something that is in all reality FREE. I think I will buy some oxygen next week. I heard that the going rate for some good quaility oxygen these days is fairly steep. All kidding aside ... You cannot put a price on this process. We would go to the poor house if it meant bringing a child into this family. Also, if my future child is reading this blog someday, remember the concept of inflation. I don't want you to think that you had cheap parents!
Mary
Mary
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