Countdown...

We are stayed up in the hotel here in Jacksonville in anticipation.

We are to be at the clinic at 7a. We still have to sign some consents... the oocyte cryo as I was wondering if we might decide on possible embryo cryo if it looked like it might be a possibility. At this point, we are probably going to cryo some oocytes, but not embryos. It will be up to the FS to decide to fertilize two or three eggs. And I will be on pins & needles to even see if they will make it to transfer or not.

So, here is how we expect tomorrow to flow...

7a: arrive at clinic, sign consents, confirm payment for oocyte cryo, pre op stuff
8a-9a: procedure, doctor will discuss with Nick number of eggs retrieved, number of eggs that will be fertilized
9:30a: discharged, pick up meds from pharmacy to deliver back to clinic (loaned me some), head to hotel to meet MIL & baby to do breakfast & drive the 3+ hrs home

I am almost hoping to just sleep & then when I wake up, the next big step will be completed. We will know how many mature eggs we have to begin with. Our clinic gives fert reports the second day after transfer, so by 10a Wednesday morning, I will know if we have embryos, how many, & what day transfer will be.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Retrival Scheduled

For Monday.

I only had ten days worth of stims, so cue the emotional craziness. Yesterday was a mess trying to get them for tonight & I was dreading this morning to rummage up the meds, but one of the IVF nurses called early this morning. One of the satellite offices had some meds I could borrow. I made the three hour round-trip this morning.

I am alternating between aggravation & calm-ness (okay, not a word, but ya get what I'm saying?)... more calm than I thought I'd be.

I am currently visiting my g'parents so DH is not here to give me the trigger shot. I am hoping it'll work out for my cousin to do the injection. I have read of others doing their own triggers, but any advice on that? I am not sure how logisticallly I could? We have to do in the booty... upper quadrant.

Otherwise, we are trying to reduce stress as much as possible. Went to the beach today & heading to the zoo tomorrow evening. It all still feels out of body. The doctor seems optimistic about the cycle based on our first IVF. He will decide Monday if he will have two or three eggs fertilized. I am not sure what we will cut off on the number of eggs to justify oocyte freezing... maybe four? We had most follicles in the 14-16 range, so I know there will be several many (most?) will be immature.

Better go. This evening was a reminder of making sure E gets a nap... tomorrow we will nap!

Almost to Final U/S

Had our 3rd u/s today and we still have 12 follicles on the right side & 6 follicles on the left side. Most of them seem to be in the same range of sizes, so that is good! I find out tomorrow morning when our next appt will be once the nurse consults with the doctor. Will probably be Thursday at the fertility clinic.

I also asked about the oocyte cryo & it'll be a little be extra money, but only half of what I thought. She said they'd freeze even 5 eggs, but hopefully we will have 8 or 10 to freeze over what is fertilized. Will talk more to the doctor on Thursday, but we are probably only going to have 3 fertilized at egg retrieval.

I am still feeling a bit uncomfortable, but thrilled we actually do have that many follicles. I know follicles don't equal mature eggs, but it's still over three times what we had last time.

Will update more later as we know.

For future reference; the sizes I caught of the follicles...
RT: 7,8,9,9,10,10,10,10,10 (missing three of them)
LT: 2,3,5,6,8,8

Ganirelix Start

This morning, we began the Ganirelex injections. I sat in the parking lot at McDonald's & bared my hip. Didn't hurt so much during the injection, but it really hurt afterwards. Like stabbing/achy pain. Anyone else familiar with this?

The stims & ovaries haven't felt as bad, but I have been wearing loose clothes & sleeping a lot. I don't know if it's the meds, but I have been pretty tired lately.

I have another u/s tomorrow morning. I am guessing the afternoon call from the nurse will include setting up a (final?) appt in Jax on Wednesday or Thursday. Appears we may trigger Thursday or Friday still.

So, that is pretty much it. I am nervous that I don't have much belly tenderness... but, I will know more after tomorrow's appt.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening!

You Won't Believe It...

Because I still don't believe it.

At the scan, the technician counted 12 on my left side & 6 on my right side. All ranging in size from 2-10 with seven size 8s. Umm, that HAS to be wrong.

Here's why I think so... the technician that usually works for the satellite office was not in, so someone else did the u/s. I even asked if it was difficult to keep all the different "separated" so as not to confuse the same ones more than once. She was very sweet & replied "Yes, which is why I should stop talking & play closer attention".(I tend to ask a lot of questions!) We also only started with nine antral follicles & I carry the diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve.

So, Monday is my next u/s with the normal technician, so maybe that will reflect a bit more accurately the number. I start Ganirelex Sunday morning, too. Appears we may still be looking at ER next Saturday or Sunday.

BUT, if that is correct, WOW! How in the world?! How is my body rocking out all these follicles? It may seem silly, but tue fact that literally everything is different this cycle makes me a bit nervous. If there are that many more eggs, maybe oocyte cryo would be an option.

We will just keep chugging along. I bought a comfy dress today to wear, my Mom bought some yoga pants for me, & we bought some jersey knit to make a skirt out of! I need gentle waistband clothing now! Pretty uncomfortable in any position & tire easily.

Wanted to update you all! Will post more later.

Three Days In

Three days of stims so far & I just started f.low today. Not heavy or anything, but I had cramps all night & most of the day. Also lots of ovary tenderness. Not sure if that's the meds or cycle starting. But, if it's the meds... it's huge! Last time, I didn't feel anything until nearly a week into stimming.

Tomorrow we have an u/s. Super early in the morning, but much better than driving to the clinic. It may take a bit of time to get the stuff set up with the hospital's lab, but I guess it'll be okay. It'll be odd to bring little E with me to the u/s + b/w, but it's just gonna be how it'll have to be.

I am trying not to overthink, but I am so anxious to find out how my ov.aries are doing. I'm sure no one else remembers, but we do not want to have any embryos cryo'ed. I know, I know, that completely limits any future success. Last time, we didn't produce enough eggs to even have that option, but it may be a possibility this cycle. Our clinic is actually a forerunner in the oocyte/egg freezing area, but am not sure how much extra it'll cost over the traditional cycle & if they will even freeze only 3 or 4 eggs. Before (2.5yrs ago), she said it takes, on average, 10 eggs to produce a live birth. But, I'd rather pursue that than just toss the "extra" eggs out. Depending on how tomorrow's appt goes & how many follicles we have then, we will see what we potentially will be working with. After that, I plan to call the oocyte cyro nurse to chat.

I'm sure there is something going on in there... it hurts to sit up or lean over, I have to recline most of the time! I say that & we'll only have 4 follies tomorrow! ;) Oh, well, we can only do what we can do!

I assume I will start the Ganirelix Saturday or Sunday. Has been nice to not have the Lupron so far. Better get going, little E has dragged his Fisher Price lawnmower on the bed...

Good Evening, All!

Photos

IVF Start Date!

So, we officially started IVF #2 today! And I am officially excited!

As far as antral follicles, I am starting with 4 on the right side and 5 on the left side. Am actually pleased with that. In May, there was only 7 for that cycle. I am scheduled for the next u/s on Friday taking 4 Bravelle plus 2 Menopur. The injection hurt the whole time! Like stung for about 20m following. That didn't happen with the first time around, but I assume the increased concentration of the injection.

Not too much more to report! Hope you all had a wonderful day!!

So Close

Tomorrow morning, I head three plus hours away for our IVF start appt. Just the initial bloodwork & ultrasound + nurse consult to sign paperwork & review meds. I am guessing our next u/s will be here in town on Friday, but I wi know for sure tomorrow by the end of the appt.

We got the meds in last Thursday & I am still amazed at the copay. Since we have a coverage cap for the IVF, I am wondering if they will still allow med coverage if we need to cycle again (even though we will pay most of the clinic's fees out of pocket) as our authorization is valid for a year from today.

But, I really hope we don't have to worry about another cycle!! :)

I will update, at least, for my own records how many antral follicles we are starting with.

Getting very excited, nervous, & emotional already! Hard to fall asleep when I am thinking so much about it!!

Quick Update: IVF #2

We finish BCPs Friday in anticipation of a start date of next Tuesday.

Got the call from the pharmacy today... I am still in shock at what the copay is... much less than I even anticipated! The meds are being delivered tomorrow. And, get this, 40 vials of Bravelle & 20 vials of Menopur are in the box. WHOA! And, hopefully that will be enough for the stims. I am guessing we will stim the same number of days this time as last time... 10 days. Wonder if it'll be less or more?

I go for my first u/s of the cycle Tuesday & then start stims that night. Hoping I will have more than the 7 antral follicles I started with in May when they found the polyp. Hoping for three eggs at retrieval!

Will update with more later. Just wanted to put it all done there!