Starting IVF

So today, the process has begun.

I went to the Fertility Clinic and had to wait for nearly 1.5 hours to be seen.  I didn't even have to have bloodwork or any ultrasounds done today.  But I'm glad I was there so late because I was able to see my Fertility doctor, who seems to have the magic touch.  When she does procedures on me, it doesn't seem to hurt as much (mind you, it STILL hurts, just not as much).

So today, she did an Endometrial biopsy, which is supposed to be done on Day 6, 12, and 21.  Today is Day 7 for me.  I couldn't do it yesterday because I was away for the weekend.  I had no idea why she was doing it.  At first I thought it was because she wanted to check my uterine lining to see whether implantation is do-able.  But nope, she was doing it to stimulate the lining for the next cycle in order to increase the chances of implantation.

I found this little article: http://fertilityblog.fertilitystories.com/2006/05/endometrial-biopsy-implantation.html

I ain't gonna lie, it hurt like a bugger.  It was more of a cramping pain, but it was still pain.  I had to keep deep breathing throughout the process.  Luckily she kept trying to distract me.

She's going away the last two weeks of June to an conference in Rome (nice!) so she said that if we aren't able to do the IVF until she returns, at least she'll be up-to-date on any new develops and she can report back to me.  In which case, I may need to take the BCP to manipulate my cycle a little.

And since she was down there, I asked her to take a swab for STIs because I've heard that chlamydia can be genetic, which apparently is another reason that some people have fertility issues.  They probably don't think of it because no one will believe they themselves have an STI when they've been faithful.  You just never know!

I'm debating whether to start acupunture again.  I think I need to stress manage more though...maybe I'll have to figure out some good meditation techniques instead.  That's already stressing me out...hahahaha...

HAPPY INFERTILITY AWARENESS WEEK!!!

So...I'm spotting...

I've done 2 treatments of IUI already and so this time around we're going to move on to IVF.  I had a talk with my gynecologist and she actually said that in her experience, all her friends who have had endometriosis, were unable to get pregnant without IVF.  Obviously that sounded like more of a personal, rather than professional experience.

It's going to be a month of testing first and then the procedure will probably happen in June...so here it goes!

To Ashlee

Hi Ashlee,

I apologize for the delay in writing this to you.  I only saw your comment today on my blog regarding our Fertility Class.  I wanted to comment on your personal blog, but wasn't sure how public your situation was, so I thought I'd just write you a note on my blog to say "Thanks!"  It's nice to know I'm not the only one going a bit stir-crazy.  And I think being the "Cool Aunt" has a nice ring to it! :) 

After being stranded in the UK for an extra 5 days I told myself "no more exotic places! Just easy places from now on!" but I'm sure if I don't end up having children, I'll change my mind once again :).  I hope all is well with you.  Thanks again!

Abigail

Updates

So, yet another friend is pregnant.  I just keep wondering when it will be my turn.  I feel like I just can't focus on anything else.  It's getting to be a bit depressing.

I just got back from vacationing and I was one of the travellers who ended up being stranded overseas and travelled quite a distance to get home.  I'm home in one piece and more determined than ever to make a baby happen.  Whether its through adoption or IVF.

I started looking into adoption...nothing concrete...just a quick perusal to see what that world is like and stumbled upon a great blog:

http://www.filly.ca/life/relationships/friends_and_family/An_Adoption_Story.asp

One common thing is that it can take at least 15 months from starting the process of adoption to actually receiving your child.  I'll keep you posted as to the progress of this decision.

In the meantime, I'm actually taking Robitussin 3x a day (2 teaspoons) because I've been hearing so much about this method.  I missed the ability to go to the fertility clinic to start the IVF process this month because I was stuck overseas so I thought...why not just try Robitussin.  This probably won't work either since I was supposed to start it 5 days before ovulation and I started it at 2 days.  But, it doesn't hurt.

I know its been a while...

For my two followers...I thank you for following me :). 

I realize I haven't written in a while and its because the last IUI session had been yet again unsuccessful.  I was REALLY hopeful this time because everything looked so good...the timing of the IUI...my hubby's sperm...the number of eggs I had produced.  But when that darn red spot showed up...I was devastated.  This time, it hit me hard...I couldn't stop crying for two days.  I was so glad that it was the weekend so I could wallow and be left alone.

We're on vacation now, which is good because it let me just not think of reality for a second.  Just eat whatever I want, drink whatever I want, be as tough on my body (biking, walking for hours, sleep less) as I want....  So it's been good.  It's made me start to realize that adoption may not be a bad option.  I just didn't want to be a failure and I felt like adoption was a failure to my ability to conceive.  Especially when no one really knows what is going on with my body.  Endometriosis does have a lot to do with it, but it was taken care off, so shouldn't be a problem...so I've been told.

Being open to adopting, is the first big step.  So we're going to try one IVF session and if that is unsuccessful, I am going to at least look in to adopting.  All the meanwhile, we may try IVF two or three more times.  If at the end of the year there is still nothing, then we will probably start filing adoption papers.  Although this Robitussin method might be an option (??):  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/robitussin-pregnancy-in-a-5-bottle-of-hope/article1529730/

But I wanted to share an snippet of an e-mail sent to me by my friend which just made me cry.  She told me that she was expecting only after having tried for a couple of months and I had congratulated her and here is her response:
"I just want to tell you that I think you are the most thoughtful, amazing person.  I know you are happy for me and John, but I also know that it's another reminder of the challenges you and Adam are facing.  And I want you to know how much I truly appreciate your kind words when I know that inside, you are struggling with things.  And I can't help to think about how unfair it is.  Even though I'm obviously so incredibly happy, I also wonder what I did to deserve this.  Why am I so lucky?  So anyway, thank you for being such a great friend!"

Month 3, Day 13 and 14

Day 13
I was told now I have 5 (from the 3 she told me the day before) eggs that may be put to good use, but in total it looked like I had about 8 follicles that were growing.  So I got the multiple births talk and the possibility that they may have to perform a reduction should all 5 eggs get fertilized.  They would probably reduce it to twins.  All I could think was...I just want one to take.  I'll worry about the rest later.

I got an HCG (10,000) shot to get the process of ovulation going.  Tomorrow will be our first IUI session.

Day 14
Bright and early!  Arrived to the clinic at 7am to begin the IUI process.  Hubby had to go into THE ROOM and produce some sperm for this baby to happen!  Then once we submitted it for washing, we had to wait for about an hour and 45 minutes.  We tried to pass the time by going to McDonald's...I brought my iPod Touch to watch my episodes of Gossip Girl...and my book.  There just doesn't seem to be enough things to do to keep me occupied!

Then the time came for the IUI.  I was a bit worried because the last time I had it done, I ended up having really bad lower back pains for a week that did not allow me to walk properly. I think it was just the shock from the pain.  So I was very candid with my fertility doctor and she re-assured me it would be fine.  And when she did it, it WAS fine!  She must have magic fingers because I swear to gosh it was like night and day from the last time.

So today she said because of all the follicles, my left ovary is bulging and I may feel really bad cramps today from the "eggs popping."  I was actually told to drink lots of Gatorade (1L per day) and saltier food items like V8, protein shakes, McDonald's, Chinese food.  WHAT???  I can't believe I'm actually TOLD to eat those things!  LOL.  She said its because of the fact I have so many follicles, I'm going to have a lot of water (I'm actually not sure where?  Hmmm...) but I guess she just wants my body to absorb more water right now because she said to try to avoid free water for now.  And my estrogen was high...so I'm basically screwed.

Just now I took a shower and my right nipple is enormous!!  And painful!!  My hormones must be wacky.

Thoughts
I just want one egg to take.  I'm crossing my fingers.

Me and hubby also had the possible abortion talk.  I know it may not be considered an abortion to some, but if all the eggs do fertilize and we have to perform the reduction via amniocentesis, it would be at week 11.  I really don't think I can handle having 5 kids, emotionally or physically.  But I guess we will take one step at a time.  I just hope one egg takes.  Please cross your fingers for me.

Month 3, Day 12

Fertility Clinic Visit:
Another dose of Orgalutran and Puregon injections.
Apparently it looks like my right ovary is producing like 6 or 7 eggs, but only 3 of them is expected to "work."  And apparently my left ovary is on vacation, only producing one egg.  My left ovary is lucky...I want to be on vacation :S
One more visit tomorrow and then most likely IUI on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I guess I'll have to cancel my naturopath appointment.  This is what makes it hard...when I'm just not sure that I'm supposed to do acupuncture.

Still so tired...kinda can't wait for the break from having to do my early fertility clinic visits after Wednesday.  Although I'm not looking forward to the IUI procedure.  The last time I did it, I had really bad back pains for a week.  I think it was because I braced myself for the pain...it hurts when they try to open your cervix!!

Month 3, Day 11

Fertility Clinic Visit:
It's looking like my eggs are growing nicely.  I had to get another does of Orgalutran and Puregon.  Gosh I feel tired.  As soon as I got home, I zonked out for 2 hours!  My poor husband was waiting to go for lunch and was getting hungry!

I don't know if its a good thing or not when the ultrasound tech talks about my ultrasound as she is doing it.  She asked me if I had done a sonohystogram (sp?) and if the results were okay.  I said yes.  And that was the end of the conversation.  When I saw the fertility doctor, she didn't say anything.  So what am I to think?

Well, maybe IUI in the next couple of days...we'll see if it works!

So tired...

I can't believe how unbelieveably tired I am. I don't know if it's stress or all these hormone injections. I just feel like melting into the ground and staying there.

I'm thinking ovulation really wants to happen because of the cervical mucous I'm having but my body is fighting it (well the orgalutran injections are). Geez, my body must be so confused.

Well, we had sex two nights ago...probably no help. Did I just make sex sound boring....oops.

Thoughts:
Why do all these hormone injections sound like scientific drugs used on monkeys?

Sent from my iPod

Month 3, Day 9

Fertility Clinic Visit.

I'm producing 3 good looking eggs (why...thank you), but I had to start on Orgalutran injections (on top of my Puregon injections) to ensure that they don't ovulate before we want them to. That's what happened last time.

The Orgalutran injections hurt like a bugger. I ain't going to lie. But is it weird that I'm getting used to getting bloodwork (my arms look like I've been shooting up) and the transvaginal ultrasound EACH time I go to the Fertility Clinic?

I do admit I have caught up a lot of leisurely reading while waiting my turn.

Thought:
I can never decide which credit card to use when I pay for my fertility drugs to rack up my points on. I think if I used my Airmiles card each time, I'd have enough to fly somewhere by now.
Sent from my BlackBerry device.

Month 3, Day 8

So today was a bad day emotionally.  I just wasn't "present" anywhere I was.

I think I ovulated early, just judging by my cervical mucous.  So I don't know what is happening.

I had an e-mail conversation with a friend today and she didn't know what IUI was, so I explained it to her.  Her response to me was how great it was because there are so many other options, so much hope.

My response was so negative and bland, I actually felt bad.  I had said:
"I have to be honest. I wonder if its a good thing that we have all these options. Maybe it would have been better not to and then I don't spend years (and lots of money...I'm spending almost 1000 a month on hormones alone) hoping one of these options would work and intead maybe concentrate on something like adoption."

I'm so glad I have my Fertility EClass....

Month 3, Day 7

So I thought I'd tell you my current situation.

I am taking January of this year as Month 1 since this is when I really started aggressive treatment. Keeping in my mind that we've been trying since 2006.

Fertility Clinic:
So as of today, Month 3, Day 7, I have been on Puregon 125u injections for 4 days now. As well, I'm on Sythyroid 0.025mg once a day to correct my irregular low thyroid hormone.

Naturopathic Medicine:
I've been on Omega-3 liquid once a day and Basic Prenatal vitamins 3x a day. As well, today I started acupuncture. Today was focused on the rise of my yin and to help with the ovulation (follicular) phase of my cycle.

It was my first ever acupuncture and it was different. It did hurt sharply at first but then it dissipated. At one point one needle started to hurt afterwards because I moved. Apparently it was placed between two tendons and when I moved it just got lodged into the wrong place. There were 4 needle points.

Feelings:
I broke down after hearing a song. I bawled. I was just frustrated and wondering if it'll ever happen for me. I've been avoiding "bad" foods, my teas, cough medicines, and junk food. I've been trying to eat better and cook more, but now all I want to do it curl up with a costco size bag of chips and a 2L pop in front of the TV and do nothing.

Sent from my iPod

The beginning...

I've been wanting to blog for a while now but my hubby didn't want all our friends knowing everything that is happening with us, so I decided to create this blog with a fake name.  I guess I'll see how anonymous blogspot can be.

So I thought I'd start from the beginning.  My hubby and I have have been together for a while now, but when we first got married, I just wasn't ready to have a child.  We had both never lived alone, so I didn't feel ready to bring a child into the world when we were still trying to get used to each other.

After a few years of marriage, we finally decided to start trying to conceive (TTC).  After a few months of trying, I took a trip and when I returned, I suddenly felt like I wasn't ready to have a baby because I still had other things I wanted to do with my life.  When I brought this up with my hubby, he accused me of being selfish.  We had a fight that lead to divorce talks.

Fortunately, we realized that we both loved each other and wanted to stay together and work through our problems by improving our communication.  We knew we needed to share our feelings, even if it may risk hurting the other.  I kept my hubby from knowing how I really felt, and that was frustration from TTC.  So to fill the void I was feeling, I decided to enroll back into school to keep me pre-occupied.

Now, you don't know me, but I am a perfectionist.  I am a definite Type A personality that wishes things to happen as soon as I put my mind to it.  so it was frustrating that my friends and family around me could try in the first month to have a baby and voila!  A baby. 

After a couple of months of taking a break from TTC, we decided to start trying again.  After two years of TTC...still nothing.  So my hubby encouraged me to see my gynecologist (GYNE) to get tested in case there were any fertility issues.  I resisted for a while because at this point in time I denied that anything was wrong.  I didn't want to know if something was wrong.  If I found out something was wrong and that I couldn't have children, I would be horribly devastated.

Almost a year later, I finally made the call, but with my GYNE being so busy, I didn't get an appointment until a few months later.  When I finally saw my GYNE, she had me run several tests and we found out I had a cyst on my right ovary and polyps in my uterus.  She sent me to a fertility specialist (FS) for a consult and the FS told me I had to have surgery to remove the cysts and polyps or she didn't think IUI or IVF should be done.

So I had the surgery done late last year.  I had never had surgery or ever been "put under" so I didn't get much sleep the night before the procedure.  It was pretty quick, but I had a bad reaction to the anesthetic where I couldn't stop vomiting.  I recovered a day or two later.  I had a D&C to remove the polyps and it was discovered I had cysts on both ovaries so they were both removed and it was confirmed to be endometriosis.

Prior to the surgery, we continued to see the FS for ovulation monitoring and tried naturally.  Since the surgery I've been placed on hormone injections.  The first month I was placed on Bravelle which resulted in the production of one egg.  We attempted IUI, but it was unsuccessful.  The second month I was placed on Puregon and produced 3 eggs, but ended up ovulating earlier than expected so no IUI was performed and we tried naturally.  I was hopeful that I was pregnant (since I had 3 eggs floating around), but unfortunately, it didn't.

So here I sit, third month of being placed on hormones after 4 years of trying.  It is currently Day 7 of my cycle and today I started acupuncture.  I decided to start seeing a naturopath to help me in conjunction with my FS.


Throughout my journey so far, I have figured out things I have come to dislike:

1. Going to the zoo.  That was the most difficult thing I have encountered since beginning this journey.  Everyone at the zoo is pregnant or onto their third or fourth child.  After being there for a couple of hours, I felt like crawling into a hole and never coming out.  I even texted my husband informing him I am not sure I ever wanted to go to the zoo again.
2. People constantly asking me when I was going to have a baby and that it is about that time.  I just always feel like shouting "YOU DON'T THINK I'M TRYING???" 
3. People telling me to relax and that it'll come in time.  When?  When will it come?
4. Its upsetting to hear "don't worry" all the time.  When does this phrase start to run dry?

I'm hoping that blogging will give me a perspective on timelines (a fault I have because I often think one month feels like a year of TTC) and allow me to share my feelings with others in order to help me (and hopefully you) from going insane.

You are welcome to post any questions that you may have for me.  Let the blogging begin! :)