Our test was negative.

Beta is One Day Away

One more day to get through (Friday) and we'll be at our beta day on Saturday. My appointment is at 8am. I'm hoping they call with the result earlier rather than later. I think last time I found out around 11:30 am or so. DH is going to be with me - I'm so glad. I was alone when I got the call about IVF #1. That was one of the worst days of my life. I know DH feels the same.

I'm feeling okay. I'm sure it's way to early for symptoms, anyway. But you always hear about (or as in my case, read about online) people who had a million and one symptoms prior to finding out they were pg.

So Upset Earlier...

The IVF nurse called and left a message on my cell phone. Unfortunately, I was in a workshop all day and couldn't really check my messages/or call her back. When I got to my car and listened to the message, she said that my progesterone was fine, but my estrogen was low: 128. The last time it was checked it was at 775, so that's a huge drop. She just said that I should increase my estradiol tablets to two a day instead of one.

After I drove home and really thought about it, I started to get pretty worried. Last time we did IVF, the same thing happened, but I remember the doctor saying she thought it might have been a lab error and not my actual level. So here it happened again, just a few days away from my beta. Pretty worried is an understatement. I was freaking out.

I talked to DH and he said I should try to get a hold of the nurse to ask her for more information. I tried emailing her, but the email came back to me. I decided to call the on-call line for the nurses. I'm so glad I did. I would have been worrying all night about it.

She said that there haven't been any studies done that show that low estrogen prevents you from getting pregnant. She also said that they have been doing their own internal study and have see women with higher estrogen not get pregnant and women with lower levels get pregnant. That made me feel better. She said they just wanted me to increase the dosage to bring it up a bit higher, but they are not worried about it.

I have been trying so hard this cycle - trying so hard not to cry, trying so hard not to get super-emotional, trying so hard to not take out my stress on dh, my family, or my friends, trying so hard to be positive and think about the good things that could be happening, tryng to just hold it together in general.

DH said he thinks I just hit a wall tonight. I started getting all choked up on the phone with the nurse and then after I hung up, I just started sobbing. I just couldn't keep it in anymore. I have to admit - I do feel much better. Maybe I should have cried a bit sooner :)

Things To Do During the 2ww....

Hmm...I'm hoping that this last week of my 2 week wait goes by quickly. I'll be busy during the days with a job-related workshop that I'm attending, but I know I'm going to need ideas for things to do in the evenings. I just don't want to sit around either watching television or thinking too much about Saturday's test.

Any ideas?

Baby's First Pics

This was our ultrasound right after the transfer. At the bottom "x" there is a little patch of light - that's where the embryo was placed.


This is a picture of what our embryo looked like on the day of the transfer.

My bloodwork from Tuesday came back fine. My estrogen was at 800 and my progesterone was greater than 20. Both levels are good. I had to go again today and have it retaken. Hopefully it will be okay.

I have been taking it easy. Bedrest for 24 hours. Now just hanging out around the house. Not doing much of anything. I get kind of antsy, though! Everytime I look out the window, I keep seeing weeds that need to be pulled. I just don't want to do anything to strenuous right now - it might be fine, but I don't want to think - what if???

Steve said he's giving me 5 minutes on the computer and then he wants me back on the couch :)

They transferred our one little 8 cell embryo. It had started to fragment but the doctor said it's possible for it to correct itself once it's inside me. As my husband reminded me, 3 "perfect" embryos decided to not implant last time, so maybe this one will.

They'll check my estrogen and progesterone on Thursday (of this week) but I won't have a beta pg test until June 28th.

Transfer tomorrow!

We got the call - our embryo made it through the night and is at 4 cells. We're doing a transfer tomorrow!
Could I be any happier?

(Well, ask me in 2 weeks!!!)

When I talked to the nurse earlier, I asked her why we might have gotten such a low number. I reminded her that we had done such an aggessive protocol and that we had less than with IVF #1.

She said I probably have a diminished ovarian reserve, but the doctor could tell me more when we speak next time.

So I may not have many eggs left at all.

Our Not-So-Great Fertilization Report

They called us about the eggs around 1pm or so. The nurse said that of the 5 they retrieved, only 3 were mature, and only 1 fertilized. We are pretty upset, as you can imagine. I'm holding onto hope, though, that this little one is a fighter.


Looks like I'll probably be back in on Tuesday for a 3 day transfer. She said one of her patients who had the exact same thing happen just delivered a little girl. So at least it's possible that it could still work.

DH calls them the Fab 5 - that's how he's referring to the eggs they retrieved today. He's been trying to make me laugh and to make me feel better. He's such a good guy.

Egg Retrieval Day

Today was our ER day. The doctor was able to retrieve 5 eggs. We were both pretty disappointed that it wasn't more. We hope that at least some of them (if not all) will fertilize today and make it to day 3 or 5.

We really hoped we might be able to freeze some, too, but I don't think it's very likely.

All Set for Tomorrow

My estrogen was 2751 this morning. My progesterone was 6.0. The nurse said that's good - it means it's working.

So far, so good.

Thursday's Appointment

Brenda asked me if I had different ultrasound techs doing the u/s yesterday and the day before. I know yesterday I had 2 different people doing the u/s - the one person is the regular tech. The other person is new and being trained for IVF. I get the impression she's done ultrasounds before, just not for in-vitro. She started on her own and wrote down the measurements. When the regular tech checked the numbers against the day before, she found that the newest numbers were smaller.

The regular tech re-did the u/s and used her numbers on the report. I think she tends to measure all the way to the very edge of the follicle, where the newer tech wasn't doing that.

I had the regular tech do an u/s today - and ALL IS WELL! I was worrying for nothing!

Right: 23 20 17 16
Left: 20 19 18 17 16 and 10.

So I'm up to 10 and at least 4 less than 10...yay! I'm feeling better about things.

Just got the call: Egg Retrieval will be at 9am on Saturday (have to be there at 8:30am.) Trigger shot tonight at 9pm.

Today's appointment

Well, somehow I appear to have misplaced a follicle. They counted 8 today and somehow counted 9 yesterday. Not sure what happened - maybe one was counted twice yesterday?

I didn't have any growth on the left side at all. Is this normal? (Of course, I'm freaking out a little bit...)

The right had growth - up to 17, 17, 14, and 18.

My estrogen was 1686 and my progesterone was 1.4. I have to go back in tomorrow morning for another u/s and bw. Does anyone know what my progesterone should be at this point? I forgot to ask.

I am feeling pretty full right now - I hope ER is soon.

The nurse called and said my E2 is at 1292. Retrieval should be Friday or Saturday. I go back in for another u/s and more bw tomorrow morning.

June 10th, 2008

I had another appointment this morning. I'm still waiting on the office to call me with my Estrogen results. Plus they need to tell me the plan for tonight and tomorrow.

Here's what I had follicle-wise:

Right 17 16 14 11.5
Left 16 14 14 13 11

I had one more today. Yay :)

Today's update (edited)

Well, I arrived at the clinic and found out there was no power. We had really bad storms and tornadoes in the area yesterday. Some areas are still without power today. The staff found flashlights and managed to do everything they needed to do without most of the power. (They had a backup generator.) I had an ultrasound done in the dark and had my blood drawn in room I'd never been in before (but it had a window with lots of sunlight.)

I had 8 follicles that she mentioned...4 on each side.

Right - 15 13 10 11
Left - 11 10 10 10

E2 - 843.9

I go back in tomorrow morning for a repeat u/s and more bw.

Another u/s and bw appointment tomorrow morning...

Thursday my estradiol was 161 and Saturday it was 474.

Thursday they saw around 11 follicles, but they were pretty small. Saturday they saw 1 at 10.5, 1 at 10, and 4 that were close to 10. I guess the others were too tiny for now.

Crossing my fingers for a good "report" tomorrow!

After 3 days of stims...

After 3 days of stim shots (Bravelle and Menopur or Repronex), I had an ultrasound (u/s) and bloodwork (bw) done. My u/s showed 11 follicles. All are less than 10 right now. My estradiol was at 161.

I go back in tomorrow (Saturday) morning for another round.

I talked to the nurse about my reaction to the Repronex. She said it's common. She suggested I dilute the mixture with a tiny bit more water and then ice it after. If that doesn't work I can do intramuscular shots (hmmm....let me think about that....no thanks!) or I can reorder the Menopur since the backorder is done.

I'm trying the first option for now!

No more headaches really...well, the little ones I've had I've managed to take care of with Tylenol. Still having hot flashes. Oh well.

I'll try to post tomorrow with an update on my estradiol and follicles. :)

This is what one day of meds looks like with a Microdose Flare protocol. I do two injections of Lupron - one in the a.m. and one in the p.m. I also do one shot of 3 Bravelles and 2 Menopurs mixed with one cc saline.

Oh, and one baby aspirin in addition to my prenatal.

Side Effects

I am just a barrel full of side effects - Lupron has given me major headaches, irritability, and hot flashes. Last night my head hurt so bad that I had to try to sleep while sitting up. Even that didn't work.

I started my stim shots last night and gave Repronex (instead of Menopur) at try. I have an itchy spot on my stomach about the size of a half dollar. I also have a bruise on my stomach from one of the Lupron injections.