An Entire Flock

Yesterday the doctor decreased my dosage because my levels were a bit high, and this morning I went in for another ultrasound and more blood work.  While we were there, the doctor told us that I have 15 follicles on each side.  Basically, Tim and I could potentially have a flock of Bird babies in our nest. (I know that's cheesy, but if you can't be cheesy with baby stuff, when can you be?)  Most likely, some of these follicles won't grow enough to make the cut, but it looks as if we might meet our 20-egg goal.  We'll know more in the next few days.  

If you're a science-minded person and are interested in seeing what the follicles look like (not my person follicles, though if I had a picture, I'm sure I'd post it :)) on ultrasound, here's a link: http://www.victoriafertility.com/uploads/image003.jpg  The follicles are the black, bubble-looking circles.  The goal is for these to grow between 16-18mm before breaking them open and extracting the eggs.  (Sometimes I feel like I'm a chicken when I talk about these things.)

So far I don't feel very effected by the hormones except that I am more tired than normal.  But who can complain about excuses to nap without guilt?  

On a separate note, I went to an acupuncturist yesterday because it's supposed to help with relaxation and fertility (some people claim it helps with the blood flow to the uterus, etc...).  It did seem a bit strange laying in the dark with needles stuck all over my body (though it didn't hurt) for 20 minutes, but by the time I finished, I felt ready for another nap--so relaxed and peaceful.  I recommend the experience.

I'm waiting now to hear from my doctor again.  He will decide if I should change my dosage and when my next appointment will be.  I'm so glad we are finally running full ahead with the procedures.  I'm ready for this Baby Bird.

Ready, Set, Go

Today was the first day of injections, and we are on the fertility road once again.

(A few specifics for those who have been through such an experience and are interested in numbers: My appointment this morning offered the wonderful information that I have no cysts, my uterine lining looks healthy (7.2mm), and I currently have six follicles on each side. Today, I began taking 150mg of Follistim and 150mg of Menopur.)

I am hesitantly excited about the process, and I expect no side effects from the hormone injections for another week or two (hopefully!). I take hormones shots again tomorrow night and then check in with my doctor Thursday morning to find out how many little follicles are growing (the follicles house the eggs that will make half of Baby Bird). This week I'll be working at school (every now and then), preparing for my "little" 15-17-year-old darlings who will greet me bright and early August 18th. I'll touch base again on Thursday after I hear my results.

Tuesday's the Magic Day

So tomorrow I have two appointments.  The first is at 9am for an UltraSound and blood work to ensure that NOW is the proper time to proceed with hormone injections.  After all this waiting, please let it be!!!!  I will also find out whether or not I need a cysts aspiration on Wednesday.   The second appointment is at 3pm to learn about the injections and to receive dosage information I assume.  

Not surprisingly, on this the eve of a new treatment, I have been rather anxious, asking questions like, "What if it doesn't work?"  and then countering with "Oh my gosh, what if it does work?" Basically, my brain doesn't want to give me a break either way.  Ah well.  Despite the questions and concerns, I am excited (such a complexity of emotions, I know) about once again being proactive on this baby quest.  I'll try to update tomorrow after the appointments to let everyone know if we will indeed be proceeding as planned.  

Thanks for all your happy baby-thoughts!

All I Can Say Is . . .

Wow.

http://news.aol.com/health/article/72-year-old-ivf-pregnancy/571249

Back on My Feet

So, for some reason (or a variety of reasons) the second hysteroscopy experience was relatively easy.  Dr. Haddad told me that my uterus is ready--never thought I'd write that--and that it's time to proceed.  I relaxed and slept for several hours after the procedure (and after a shot of Demerol for mild pain), but by the next morning, I had visitors: Suzanne and her IVF-beauty Kennedy.  By the time Sarah D called to come over and "take care of me," I was getting a delux pedicure and ready to go out to lunch and shopping.  

Of course my body couldn't let me get away that easily, so Sunday morning at about 4 am a 24-hour nasty stomach bug hit me and I spent most of the day unpleasantly.  The bright side: I lost a couple of pounds!  (As The Devil Wears Prada film states so eloquently, "I'm one stomach flu away from my goal weight.")  I figure I should get as much weight off as possible before I have the baby-excuse of eating for two.

Now, I wait until next Tuesday, July 28 when (hopefully if all goes well!) I go in for my first appointments--Day 3 UltraSound and BloodWork at 9am and then back at 3pm to learn about the fascinating world of injections.  

As promised in an earlier posting, I'll outline what the month should look like:

Day 3: above

Day 6: Ultrasound & Bloodwork (US & BW)

Day 8: US & BW

Day 10: US & BW

Day 12: US & BW

Day 13: US & BW

(A series of injections, ranging from 1-3 shots per night in addition to other pills, throughout this time)

Day 14: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight

Day 15: Egg Retrieval

Day 16-18: Grow, Babies, Grow!

Day 18: Embryo Transfer

Day 18-20: Bedrest (Sidenote: I think I'm dreading this part more than the waiting to find out if I'm pregnant.  Please feel free to suggest activities (or schedule visits to my bedside) during bed rest.  I won't have any anesthesia to make me drowsy, so it will just be me and my pillow/couch wide-awake and hanging out for three days!!!!)

After bed rest I continue US & BW every couple of days and know for sure a few weeks later when we see a heartbeat.  If it works, I see my fertility doctor for the first trimester before transferring to a regular ObGyn.  If it doesn't work, I make a consultation with my doctor to either try again or we start looking for our little Bulgarian, Armenian, Khazak, AnyKind of baby (and I eat tons of Phish Food, drink lots of margaritas, and cry for a few weeks--but I'm not focusing on that outcome right now.)

Think of us as we move forward and please be in touch!

In Touch

Thursday is my second hysteroscopy, and the BIG question on my mind is whether or not I will finish this fertility treatment before school begins again.  If all is clear, I think I should be able to start the hormone shots the following week.  Strange how I am so looking forward to injecting myself with meds that will most likely make me feel like staying in bed for a couple of weeks.  Oh the complex emotions of fertility!

However, it's been lovely to have a couple of weeks practically hormone free.  I have energy.  I've worked out twice.  (I know it's not much, but it's two times more than the past month!)  I spent time with my family in the pool this evening.  And, thankfully, I enjoyed Old Town Spring, the Premium Outlets at 290, and many snacks out with one of my bffs Lindsay (from Canada, O Canada--what aboot it, eh? :)) last week.

I know that feeling better is a product of many different factors (many medical), but I believe that one factor that cannot be overlooked is the support system that girlfriends offer--no matter what stage of life in which they currently reside.  Whether they've just had a baby, have older children, dealt with infertility for years, have recently married, or are fancy-free single gals, my support system has been deep and wide.  Last week reminded me that those friends, the ones walking through this experience with me, remain invaluable and a necessary part of this experience.

I heard someone say once that everyone is either headed into, out of, or are in the midst of a difficult experience.  My exhortation for the gals perusing this texts are to take a moment and think of that one friend (or handful of friends) willing to listen to incessant ranting or obsessive talk about those struggles you may be facing or may soon face.  Have a coffee with her, call her, or send an e-mail asap.  Above all, keep in touch and hang out regularly.   You need one another. 

Reproductively Challenged

I believe what Charlotte in Sex & The City states boldly when she says, "We're not infertile.  We're just reproductively challenged."  

During this waiting game, Tim often reminds me that we simply have a few issues, so we visit a doctor to sort them out.  Sounds simple, and yet nothing about the process feels simple.  The knowledge that any given day the entire process could be put on hold or stopped is hovering in the back of my mind recently (most likely because that would mean that I would still be doing fertility procedures early in the school year), and yet I continue reminding myself of what I believe firmly--that God determines my days and times.

I am hoping to have my second hysteroscopy--to make sure all the scar tissue is gone--next week and then move forward into an intense month of shots, ultrasounds, blood tests, egg retrievals, and embryo transfers.  In a later post, I'll detail the exact schedule for the month, so those who've never been through this experience can see just why it's always in the forefront of "reproductively challenged" people's minds.  Thanks for reading, and please feel free to pass this site onto anyone you know who may be sharing a similar struggle.  I'm just starting to meet people my age going through this type of life-craziness, and I think it's important we connect and remember that we are never alone in this adventure.