Immune Protocol:

I received my immune protocol from Dr. B. Yay!  It's a LOT.  It's extremely detailed but I'm thrilled to try something new! All pending my local RE's cooperation and if the embryo thaws properly, I'll be doing a "natural" FET alongside 1000 other meds (only slight exaggeration).  The only reason it's natural is that for the first time ever, I won't be doing BCP's OR Lupron injections.  That means less cycle manipulation but less control for my RE.  I really hope she agrees to all of it as the only plan B we have is to ship the embryos to someone that will comply with Dr. B's protocol.

The meds include: Baby aspirin, Letrozole (only for a couple days), Lovenox, Progesterone in oil, trigger shot, Prednisone, timed IV intralipid infusions, and benadryl. (plus a massive amount of supplements)

CD 2: Baseline u/s and bloodwork

I had my baseline this morning.  My uterine lining is still pretty thick (almost 9mm) but that was expected as it was over 15mm for my IVF cycle.

Here's the sticky part. I knew I'd run into issues with relaying information from Dr. B to my local NP.  I brought in the email from Dr. B's nurse with all the details of the protocol in writing for me.  Dr. B's nurse even faxed the protocol over a week ago to the Birmingham office so my RE would see it. My NP agreed to try and help me the best she could...and of course, I got the call I was dreading.

I don't have the words to describe how I'm feeling towards my RE right now.  She's said some pretty awful things to me in the past, which might be partly why I was already on the defensive when she called. I almost lost my mind with her on the phone just now.  I don't think I've ever been so angry at a doctor before.  She is completely unwilling to step outside the box for me.  She said that I sprung all of this on her (???!?!?WHAT?!?) and that she is not prepared to figure this all out.  I'm not sure what there is to figure out? Dr. B wrote out exactly what needs to happen and when it needs to happen.  She is refusing to write the RX for the IV intralipids as she "doesn't believe in it."  I asked if it will hurt anything and she said NO.  Then why can't I try it? She said she won't stop me from doing the infusion but she won't write the RX for it. UMMM, ok.  I explained that I've done 4 fresh transfers and 4 frozen and that I will not continue to do the same things over and over and get no baby.  She started getting testy with me but by the end of our conversation, she at least agreed to talk to a cancer center to see if another doctor there will write the RX so I can have the infusion there (as the RE clinic isn't set up for it.)  I even offered to pay a home health nurse to come administer it if she would just write the dang RX. NO go.  She also wasn't understanding all the blood work Dr. B wanted (basically monitoring me on the meds he wants me on...which is a GREAT thing!) and got all hissy at what this protocol entails. (Twice weekly fasting labs, labs 4 hours after a Lovenox injection to watch blood clot timing, etc.)  Being my own medical advocate is exhausting.

CD 3: Acupuncture
I still hate acupuncture.  That is all.

I had to leave a semi nasty (ok, not nasty, just firm) voicemail for the nurses in Birmingham.  I was told yesterday that I would get a cycle calendar and meds would be ordered by today. I got a call back within 5 min and was told all meds are being called in right now.  Ha! I had to argue to not have to repeat an SIS (water u/s) as I had a doc all up in my business (INSIDE MY UTERUS) in Sept so an SIS was NOT necessary to do again.  "Well, I have to get that cleared with Dr. H." Guess what?  She cleared me just last month...ARG. I better not have to do it again...

I start letrozole on Sunday and don't have another appt until CD 12 (which of course has to be in Birmingham at 7:30am on a Sunday. Sigh). 

Intralipids just aren't going to happen.  My RE is completely refusing to write the RX, even though Dr. B faxed over exactly everything she needs to do for it. All she has to do is sign her name...and I will set everything up with an infusion place I found in Birmingham. I have a couple more days to beg and plead...Will you pray she somehow sees the light and lets me do them?  Will you pray that our little embaby thaws properly?  Will you pray that my lining is perfecly thick and the transfer goes smoothly? This transfer is happening with our without the intralipids...DH and I both feel that pushing this any farther from my lap surgery in Sept is just not a good idea.  I'll keep you posted.