Embryo Transfer

Saturday April 26:  Dh and I went to SAAMC for my embryo transfer this morning.  I drank 22 oz of water to ensure a full bladder for the u/s.  Last time I was in misery with an over full bladder but I was able to handle it a little better this go.  An embryo transfer isn't necessarily painful, just uncomfortable (esp with the u/s probe pushing on the bladder).  Dr. M was on duty today and I just love her.  She first told me about the quality of the embryos...I had 10 that fertilized if you remember from my last blog and they were rated by quality on day three.  Last time I had two 8A's (they are the highest quality with the most cells) but this time I only had one.  I also had a bunch of 7A's and 7B's, many 6's and one 3A.  Dr. M bought up that she'd allow me to transfer THREE this time!! Because I've had a failed IVF, they were allowed to add one more.  I was so very happy to hear that!! The 8A, 7A, and one 7B were transferred. The rest will be watched for another couple of days and will be frozen for later use.  Things went as smoothly as they possible could!! I know that's because of the prayer warriors out there.  THANK YOU.  

I have noticed something in the past about each of my failed transfers and I brought it up to Dr. M this morning to get her take on it.  Each time (besides my successful cycle with Skittle) after a transfer, within 48 hours my uterus has a small spasm or twitch.  I have always wondered if that could be a factor as to why the transfer didn't work.  Dr. M wasn't sure and didn't think there was anything I could do about it.  They've used Valium in the past but that only calms the brain and not the uterus.  So far, I have not had a spasm.  I ask that if you pray, will you pray specifically that my uterus won't spasm and that my body will accept these babies?  

You all have been such a huge blessing to me during this latest round of IVF.  Your comments and prayers have been felt.  Thank you! 

Here's the u/s pic from this morning.  The white dots are the fluid around the embryos.  

Next step is a blood pregnancy test on May 8.

Current meds: prenatal vitamin, 

antibiotic, prednisone, progesterone, and Estrace. 

More journaling

Saturday, April 19: Another disappointing appointment. My uterine lining is great at 10mm but my follicles STILL aren't growing like they should.  My 14mm follie on the left grew to 17mm, which is good but all the others only grew 1mm.  Not the growth Dr. R was looking for.  I didn't have my pre-op today either....I go back on Monday and all meds stay the same.

Monday April 21: Finally a good appointment! More blood work (everything looks fab) and another u/s. My follicles look "great!"  Dr. M was super upbeat and positive, reassuring me everything looked just like she'd like.  Uterine lining is 10.3mm and follicles are ready to go! Prayer IS the work!  Thank you to all who are praying for me.  There were 8 on my left (not all were big) and 6 on my right that were measured.  My numbers aren't as good as last ivf but I'm starting to see the positives in that.  My body is really hurting now though.  I was doing really well up to this point but I think my body has had enough.  I did my last stim injections this morning but my only butt shot is TONIGHT-my trigger shot.  And guess what? I'm giving it to myself...I'm trying really, really hard to stay calm and not freak the crap out right now.  20 mins from now and I'll be injecting myself.  Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! I've rubbed numbing cream on my bum (on the circle my nurse drew on my backside) and I really, really hope it helps.  Those muscle needles are no joke.  Eeeekkkkkkkk! Freaking out slightly now!!!

 

Lovely FaceTime photo of me before purposely hurting myself with a huge mother of a needle.  I tried to forget how big those suckers really are. DH had to count me down...

The numbing cream helped so so much! Obviously it only helps with the initial poke but I'll take what I can get! I felt it go to my muscle and that part really hurts. (Anyone who's ever had a inter muscular injection knows how that feels.). I did notice some blood in the syringe when I was done...which is a first. Maybe I went in at a bad angle?  I only had a spot of blood on my skin though which is very normal for me. I can definitely feel it in my muscle...holy wow. And for the record, I never EVER want to do that again!! 36 hours from now and my follicles will be coming out!! I'm so happy all my shots are done!!!! 

Wednesday, April 23:  I'm now waiting to be called back for my egg retrieval.  DH made it to San Antonio yesterday and he's done his part in this process.  My ovaries always feel better in the morning so I feel semi-ok right now.  I'm still bloated and crampy though...

Egg retrieval complete! They got 15 eggs!! One follicle actually contained two eggs! That's definitely a first for me!! 

On the way home from the clinic I threw up...a lot.  I was prescribed a patch to help with nausea, Zophran, and Phenergan and I STILL barfed! The bag that I was throwing up into in the car broke and so I ended up sitting in my own vomit most of the ride home.  Good times.

Thursday, April 24: I got the call from my doc this morning.  She said out of the 15 eggs, 11 were mature and 10 fertilized normally! Praise The Lord! I go in Saturday for the embryo transfer. 

Thank you all that pray for me! 

Journal Continued

Sunday April 13: How nice...it looks like every third day I'll have to do five injections.  Each Follistim vial I have is 300 IU.  I take 150 IU right now but I was told that it technically hold more like 400 IU and that I shouldn't waste any meds. That's all great in theory but that means an extra injection because I don't get my full dose when finishing off the vial. It's all part of this journey I guess.

Monday April 14: I'm a complete BONEHEAD. Seriously. I spent the weekend in Houston since I had a break between appts and I left today to come back to SA.  Well, I left my menopur in Houston. Yeah....it's a four hour drive from my parents house to my inlaws and uh...yeah.  I had the pleasure of driving to the west side of SA and then my gracious father agreed to meet me in Columbus, TX off I-10 to do a medication handoff.  My dad is completely awesome.  Eight hours of driving yesterday was enough for me.  I probably won't forget my meds ever again.

Tuesday April 15: Today was blood work and another u/s to check follicle growth.  It was pretty disappointing.  Lining was 5.5mm, which is fine for now.  Follicle growth is slow for the first time in my life. Dr. M said that it's normal for my protocol but it still wasn't fun to hear.  My left had a 9.6mm and my right had a 8.5mm follicle with a bunch of smaller ones. I shouldn't compare but my last IVF at this point was showing 11-12mm follicles. I go again on Friday and I stay on the same dosages for meds. (150iu follistim, 5 units Lupron, 1.3 hGH, 150iu menopur)

April 16: I can't believe I'm about to write this but I'm getting used to giving myself all my shots.  DH has literally given me hundreds of injections over the span of our infertility journey but up until now I had given myself a total of three.  My first one ever I balled my eyes out over the phone with my best friend talking me into it.  I had to give myself two injections last IVF so a total of three over my lifetime. Now I do that many in one morning!  

Side note: menopur stings going in...I don't like that one at all! (And that's the med I've used the most with IVF and IUI'S)

Here's a pic of my belly...4-5 injections a day is no joke. Both sides are equally as bruised: 

Friday April ?: Another round of blood work (three vials) and u/s.  My uterine lining is perfect at 9mm.  My follicles? Not as much.  My left ovary, my usual overachiever, has ONE follicle at 12mm and a couple less than 10mm. So disappointing.  My right, which is usually lazy, has seven pretty follicles all tracking (growing) together.  They are all between 11-13mm.  They are all still way too small as they can't come out until 18-22mm.  I get to come back in tomorrow for more blood work and another u/s to show how much growth I'm getting in 24 hours. I'll also have my pre-op. 

Stay tuned....

IVF #4 Journal

CD 3- I got my blood work done today on post.  Why does it hurt a lot sometimes and not so much other times?  I know when they use the "butterfly" style (don't know the technical term) it hurts less. Today hurt more than I think it should have.  I noticed that the more it hurts, the worse the brusing.  Tomorrow I start bcp's...


March 30, 2014- I started Lupron injections this morning (10 units).  I can't believe it's been a year since I've last done IVF.  Only another week on bcp's but Lupron will continue for a long time yet.  I'm leaving in 6 days for TX! 

April 8, 2014- Here we go again.  I'm sitting in the infertility/reproductive endocrinology waiting room and now it's 6:48am. So stinking early.  I've already picked up my meds in the ER pharmacy and walked to the 4th floor lab for my blood draw.  Ahhh the blood draw...I was given the option to have a band aid or a wrap for my arm and I decided to try the band aid since I think the binding wrap is worse than the needle poke. I chose wrong!! My needle hole refused to clot and as soon as I bent my arm the band aid center popped up and I started spraying blood everywhere. Ruined my favorite linen shoes! Blood was all down my arm and all over the floor and my bag of meds. Not cool...I'm now waiting for my ultrasound and to meet with the doc for my baseline appt.  I decided to go to the medication class this afternoon even though I could probably teach the class myself. I hope I can get a nap!!!

Ultrasound was...ok. I had 5 follicles under 10mm on each side.  I asked point blank about my egg quality and if he (dr. R) thought my egg quality was the cause of some of our infertility issues.  Long story short, yes.  My lab work is showing some egg quality issues (borderline) and because I only had 10 follicles this morning, it's pointing that way.  I make a lot of eggs...but they aren't good ones.  It was very hard to hear him talk about it.  I knew that was probably the reason I can't sustain a pregnancy but actually hearing it was a lot harder than I thought.  This whole process feels hopeless and pointless.  Sure, there is always a small chance it'll work but the gamble feels more risky than usual.  I'm waiting now for the medication class that I wasn't originally going to but decided it wouldn't hurt if I attended. Yippy fun fun. 

April 10, 2014- I'm in Houston for the next couple of days since I don't have a doc appt for another 5 days.  My medication protocol is a little intense this time.  At the med class I got my directions (the real reason I was there) and I learned I'll be doing four injections per day. FOUR.  That's a lot my friends.  I'll continue with the Lupron (going down to 5 units from 10), follistim, menopur, and a new drug that has shown in studies to help with egg quality issues.  Three injections in the morning, one at night.  I do get out of PIO this round! Yay! Only one butt shot instead of like 20! I start the four shot regimen

 tomorrow...

Here's a couple pics of the meds they gave me.