Ok, well Tyler is making holding off on testing a very difficult task. He asked about how long the Ovidrel should stay in my system and I told him about 10-12 days from the time it is given. Well its been 11 days for me and of course he is asking if I should test.
While neither one of us wants to get our hopes up too high we are both just feeling so good about this month and we are both dying to know. LOL
I told Tyler that technically I should wait till AT LEAST till this Friday and that in all honesty that I should just wait till Sunday and test when the doc told me to.
My heart is very hopeful on this, I just keep praying that this is our time, we all could use this sort of family combined good news.
I will keep the updates coming. Keep those fingers crossed for us, because its almost time to know.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Cycle Day 19 9/25/09
Well, its been almost a week since my IUI proceedure. Its hard to not get too hopeful. I want to be hopeful beyond belief, I mean this cycle had so many better indicators than other cycles, but I know there are no guarantees.
I keep thinking about when I will get to find out. I try to keep it out of my mind, but I really want to know if things are going to work out in our favor. I still can't get over it, 3 eggs 3! And they were all mature and ready to go. I didn't need the injections, I didn't need to add additional drugs, I just needed to fine tune the plan that we were already working with. It feels good to know that Tyler and I made the right decision about increasing the clomid.
Those kind of decisions can really make a difference in situations like this and you always want to second guess it and question if it was the right way to go.
I am not really paying attention to 'possible symptoms' between having the HCG shot still in my system, and my mind, I know its possible to have tricks happen. A woman's body is a cruel and complicated thing. And any man who says a woman has it easier, feel free to take my place any day. LOL
But overall things seem to be going well. I am just waiting for Oct 4th to find out if everything we did this month pays off.
I will continue to update. Maybe the next one will be filled with the best news of all.
I keep thinking about when I will get to find out. I try to keep it out of my mind, but I really want to know if things are going to work out in our favor. I still can't get over it, 3 eggs 3! And they were all mature and ready to go. I didn't need the injections, I didn't need to add additional drugs, I just needed to fine tune the plan that we were already working with. It feels good to know that Tyler and I made the right decision about increasing the clomid.
Those kind of decisions can really make a difference in situations like this and you always want to second guess it and question if it was the right way to go.
I am not really paying attention to 'possible symptoms' between having the HCG shot still in my system, and my mind, I know its possible to have tricks happen. A woman's body is a cruel and complicated thing. And any man who says a woman has it easier, feel free to take my place any day. LOL
But overall things seem to be going well. I am just waiting for Oct 4th to find out if everything we did this month pays off.
I will continue to update. Maybe the next one will be filled with the best news of all.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Cycle Day 14- IUI 9/20/09
Well today was the day. We had to be there at 8:30 this morning to get the ball rolling.
Tyler went back at around 8:45 and came back out at about 5 to nine. So the hour wait began while they washed and prepped his sperm. But unfortunately that hour turned into 3 hours. And let me tell you, my panic button was being pushed.
Finally I went back and got prepped myself. With Charlie sitting in the chair behind me and Tyler at my side holding my hand, I was ready. Ready for what I hope is the end of our long 3 1/2 year long journey.
Dr Batres (another one of the REs in the office) came in and gave me the scare of my life. He looks at me and says, "They're dead, they're all dead!" While Tyler looked confused, I knew what he meant, and my heart fell out of my chest and straight through the floor. He then smiles and tells me that the sperm is fine and looks great. Man I swear I was about ready to cry. I thought that maybe the wait was too long and in turn we lost our chance. But he reassured me that he has done successful IUIs with sperm that had waited 8 hours. So, if someone could get pregnant with 8 hour old sperm surely I could get pregnant with 3 hour old sperm. LOL
He figured that my eggs would be dropping sometime between 10:30am-1pm today... so if thats the case, the sperm should have very little travel time to find at least one of those eggs.
Tyler and I have 'homework' for tonight and I will start my progesterone tomorrow night. And if I do in fact get pregnant, the progesterone will help our little bean to stick.
I am supposed to test in 2 weeks which will be Oct 4th. I hope I can hold out that long and I hope that our long journey will finally end will good news.
I will keep the updates coming in hopes that I can keep my sanity.
Tyler went back at around 8:45 and came back out at about 5 to nine. So the hour wait began while they washed and prepped his sperm. But unfortunately that hour turned into 3 hours. And let me tell you, my panic button was being pushed.
Finally I went back and got prepped myself. With Charlie sitting in the chair behind me and Tyler at my side holding my hand, I was ready. Ready for what I hope is the end of our long 3 1/2 year long journey.
Dr Batres (another one of the REs in the office) came in and gave me the scare of my life. He looks at me and says, "They're dead, they're all dead!" While Tyler looked confused, I knew what he meant, and my heart fell out of my chest and straight through the floor. He then smiles and tells me that the sperm is fine and looks great. Man I swear I was about ready to cry. I thought that maybe the wait was too long and in turn we lost our chance. But he reassured me that he has done successful IUIs with sperm that had waited 8 hours. So, if someone could get pregnant with 8 hour old sperm surely I could get pregnant with 3 hour old sperm. LOL
He figured that my eggs would be dropping sometime between 10:30am-1pm today... so if thats the case, the sperm should have very little travel time to find at least one of those eggs.
Tyler and I have 'homework' for tonight and I will start my progesterone tomorrow night. And if I do in fact get pregnant, the progesterone will help our little bean to stick.
I am supposed to test in 2 weeks which will be Oct 4th. I hope I can hold out that long and I hope that our long journey will finally end will good news.
I will keep the updates coming in hopes that I can keep my sanity.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Cycle Day 12 9/18/09
Well today was my cd12 u/s and labs. I was feeling good about things, side effects from the clomid kicked my butt, but I reminded myself that it would be worth it if something good could come from it, and it sure did.
I know from past IUI's I have had that if I take clomid on cd3-7 that I will need the Ovidrel on cd12 and then I have the IUI on cd14. So, I was hopeful that I knew my body well enough and that it would follow pattern.
I went back for my u/s and waited. When the door opened I saw a woman which surprised me at first because all of the REs in my office are male. She explained to me that she was a resident working with the clinic and that she would be performing my u/s today. No biggie.
Well, she started with my left ovary (the problem ovary) and I have 2 mature follicles on my left. She then went to me right and I had 1 mature follicle there. 3 follicles just waiting for my IUI. I was so happy and excited that I almost started to cry. She then checked my endometrium and it had thickened and was right where it needed to be. I was thrilled. The higher dose of Clomid worked!
So, after I got done with my u/s they pulled my blood for my LH and then I met with Dr. Batres to talk about how things are looking. He was very pleased with the way things were looking and told me to count on coming back on Sunday, cd14! I knew it.
I went and got my Ovidrel shot so that I would have it for tonight, plus I filled my progesterone for when I would need it come Monday night.
My nurse called back this afternoon and said yeppers, go ahead with my shot tonight and to be there at 8:30 Sunday morning. I am very excited and happy. I really have a good feeling about this month, its OUR month. I will write more on Sunday.
I know from past IUI's I have had that if I take clomid on cd3-7 that I will need the Ovidrel on cd12 and then I have the IUI on cd14. So, I was hopeful that I knew my body well enough and that it would follow pattern.
I went back for my u/s and waited. When the door opened I saw a woman which surprised me at first because all of the REs in my office are male. She explained to me that she was a resident working with the clinic and that she would be performing my u/s today. No biggie.
Well, she started with my left ovary (the problem ovary) and I have 2 mature follicles on my left. She then went to me right and I had 1 mature follicle there. 3 follicles just waiting for my IUI. I was so happy and excited that I almost started to cry. She then checked my endometrium and it had thickened and was right where it needed to be. I was thrilled. The higher dose of Clomid worked!
So, after I got done with my u/s they pulled my blood for my LH and then I met with Dr. Batres to talk about how things are looking. He was very pleased with the way things were looking and told me to count on coming back on Sunday, cd14! I knew it.
I went and got my Ovidrel shot so that I would have it for tonight, plus I filled my progesterone for when I would need it come Monday night.
My nurse called back this afternoon and said yeppers, go ahead with my shot tonight and to be there at 8:30 Sunday morning. I am very excited and happy. I really have a good feeling about this month, its OUR month. I will write more on Sunday.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Cycle Day 3 9/9/09
Well today I had my cd3 u/s. It was the first chance to look at my ovaries since my surgery in July. I am very happy to report that my ovaries look great! No sign of cysts on either side! Thank goodness!!!
I told Dr. Moutos that we had talked it over and decided to go ahead with another IUI and he was happy with our decision. He wants to make sure that we do what WE feel we need to do and to not second guess our decisions.
So, I got my script for the 100mg of clomid and started that today. I will take that through cd7 and starting on cd8 I will then start taking the estrogen. I go back on cd12 which will be Sept 18 for another u/s and blood work. I am hoping to have 2 or more mature eggs in hopes that one of them will take. Depending on those results will depend on when we do the IUI.
And so our journey continues, and I hope this time we get a happy ending.
I told Dr. Moutos that we had talked it over and decided to go ahead with another IUI and he was happy with our decision. He wants to make sure that we do what WE feel we need to do and to not second guess our decisions.
So, I got my script for the 100mg of clomid and started that today. I will take that through cd7 and starting on cd8 I will then start taking the estrogen. I go back on cd12 which will be Sept 18 for another u/s and blood work. I am hoping to have 2 or more mature eggs in hopes that one of them will take. Depending on those results will depend on when we do the IUI.
And so our journey continues, and I hope this time we get a happy ending.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Its time to start...
I thought after 3+ years of trying to conceive (TTC) that it was time to start writing about what is going on and when it goes on.
So, the back story.
I got pregnant with our son Charlie back in 2003. This was after I was told I would never be able to have children or that if I were to get pregnant that it would be short lived.
Well, my pregnancy was straight from hell. I spent most of it in the hospital or in a bed. I was miserable. I truely wouldn't have wished it even on my worst enemy.
My delivery was awful. I knew my water broke on Nov. 2nd, the nurses told me it didn't and to go home. I went for my appt on the 4th and after being sent home again Charlie was born via emergency c-section.
My recovery was a nightmare. Bleeding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and being told it was normal.
I had several surgeries between the time of Charlie's birth to the Spring of 2005. And I still wasn't well.
After moving to Arkansas, I found a wonderful OB, a true angel to my family, who found that I had been living with Ovarian Cancer.
More surgeries occurred and after my battle I was told that I could still have children, it may only be one more, but it was possible.
So in April 2006 Tyler and I started trying. I got pregnant several times, all which ended in miscarriages. And in 2008 I decided to talk to my doctor about moving onto something else.
We went through multiple tests, more me than Tyler, but still both. Everything looked great. My tubes were clear, I was ovulating, Tyler's sperm count was beyond perfect. But nothing to show for any of it.
And thats when my doctor put me on 50mg of clomid, to give my body that extra little boost. Sure enough I got pregnant, Sept 2008. And within days of getting the news, I ended up in the ER being told that they were sorry and that I was starting to miscarry. Something about that time crushed me more than the others. Maybe it was because of the hope I had placed, I am not sure. But at that point I had lost 8 children and my heart just couldn't take anymore.
My OB wanted Tyler and I to see a RE (reproductive endocrinolgist) AKA fertility doctor, to see if maybe they could help us substain a pregnancy and then when I was ready I would go back to him.
I was very torn, but Tyler reminded me that there was nothing wrong with at least talking to the RE and see what options were available.
Oct 2008 we went and met with Dr. Moutos, angel number 2. He told us about TTC with an IUI with clomid and how he was confident that would be a good place for us to start.
Tyler and I spent a lot of time talking, making sure that IF we did this, that we were both on board and felt 100% comfortable with our decision. We decided to wait till after the holidays and then make our decision.
We went back in Jan 2009 to meet with Dr Moutos and tell him we were ready to try things his way and to give and IUI a chance.
On Jan 20th I got my period and I started the ball rolling with calling to schedule my cycle day (cd) 3 labs and u/s. I went in on the 22nd and got everything done and my script for the clomid and started taking it that day. On Jan 31st, I went back in for an u/s and blood work. This was going to check to see how many eggs I had and if I was ready to ovulate. I had one good egg but I did need to give myself a shot of Ovidrel (medicine to make your eggs drop). I went back on Feb 2nd for the IUI proceedure and kept my fingers crossed. Due to my m/c rate they put me on progesterone to help if I were to get pg.
Two weeks past and no pregnancy. It was time for round 2.
I went in for my cd labs and u/s on Feb 23... only this time they told me that my endometrium was thin and that could be causing problems, so that I needed to take estrogen after finishing the clomid and that that should help thicken it. Ok, another problem but an easy solution.
I went in on cd12 which was Mar 2 and again I only had 1 egg but I was ready to ovulate on my own, so I came back the next morning for my IUI. Another failed attempt.
March 24 came and I went in for labs and my u/s again. Things were looking good so I started my clomid. But my doctor also said he wanted to test me for Lupus, since lupus can cause m/c he wanted to rule it out. So they took some extra blood and I though nothing of it.
I went in on April 2nd for my u/s and again only 1 egg but again I needed the ovidrel to help it drop and I went in on April 4th for my IUI. Two weeks later and disappointment.
Then came the boom, my test results were back, I have Lupus. So that would explain why I have been having m/c. I am angry with my body for failing to do its job.
At this point Tyler and I decided to break because he was getting ready to leave for some training with the Army.
We talked to my doc and he said when it got closer to when we were ready to start trying again that we would come up with a good plan.
While Tyler was away we talked about trying as soon as he got back, but maybe just trying on our own, but with meds. So in July when I got my period I scheduled my u/s only this is when things started going crazy. They found 2 cysts! One on each ovary. The one on my left was the size of an orange and the one on the right the size of a golfball. So trying was out of question because I had to go on birth control. While I was on the b/c the pain got unbearable so I went back for another u/s and the cysts hadn't changed much so it was time to talk about surgery. ANOTHER SURGERY!!!
I figure, why not, I need to get rid of the pain. I scheduled it for Aug 6th and started getting things in order. But then they decided I needed to get in sooner so it got pushed up to July 30th.
It was supposed to be a simple Lap, remove any endo if needed and get rid of those stupid cysts.
But I ended up with complications. at 5 days post-op I had massive drainage from my belly button and after a CT scan we found I had an underlying infection. great! Then 3 days later I find out I have a blood clot in my arm from where the IV was placed during my surgery. So I certainly had to take care of those things first. But I was finally able to stop taking the b/c.
On Aug 20th I finally had my post-op appt and we talked to Dr Moutos about continuing on with trying. He said it was up to us, we could continue on our own or we could keep with the IUIs, that it wasn't time to move onto IVF. At first Tyler and I decided to just get a higher dose of clomid and continue on our own. But after much discussion we have decided to keep with the IUIs.
My period started yesterday, so I will be going in tomorrow morning to start my 4th cycle with IUI treatments.
I will write after my appt and once I know the game plan
So, the back story.
I got pregnant with our son Charlie back in 2003. This was after I was told I would never be able to have children or that if I were to get pregnant that it would be short lived.
Well, my pregnancy was straight from hell. I spent most of it in the hospital or in a bed. I was miserable. I truely wouldn't have wished it even on my worst enemy.
My delivery was awful. I knew my water broke on Nov. 2nd, the nurses told me it didn't and to go home. I went for my appt on the 4th and after being sent home again Charlie was born via emergency c-section.
My recovery was a nightmare. Bleeding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and being told it was normal.
I had several surgeries between the time of Charlie's birth to the Spring of 2005. And I still wasn't well.
After moving to Arkansas, I found a wonderful OB, a true angel to my family, who found that I had been living with Ovarian Cancer.
More surgeries occurred and after my battle I was told that I could still have children, it may only be one more, but it was possible.
So in April 2006 Tyler and I started trying. I got pregnant several times, all which ended in miscarriages. And in 2008 I decided to talk to my doctor about moving onto something else.
We went through multiple tests, more me than Tyler, but still both. Everything looked great. My tubes were clear, I was ovulating, Tyler's sperm count was beyond perfect. But nothing to show for any of it.
And thats when my doctor put me on 50mg of clomid, to give my body that extra little boost. Sure enough I got pregnant, Sept 2008. And within days of getting the news, I ended up in the ER being told that they were sorry and that I was starting to miscarry. Something about that time crushed me more than the others. Maybe it was because of the hope I had placed, I am not sure. But at that point I had lost 8 children and my heart just couldn't take anymore.
My OB wanted Tyler and I to see a RE (reproductive endocrinolgist) AKA fertility doctor, to see if maybe they could help us substain a pregnancy and then when I was ready I would go back to him.
I was very torn, but Tyler reminded me that there was nothing wrong with at least talking to the RE and see what options were available.
Oct 2008 we went and met with Dr. Moutos, angel number 2. He told us about TTC with an IUI with clomid and how he was confident that would be a good place for us to start.
Tyler and I spent a lot of time talking, making sure that IF we did this, that we were both on board and felt 100% comfortable with our decision. We decided to wait till after the holidays and then make our decision.
We went back in Jan 2009 to meet with Dr Moutos and tell him we were ready to try things his way and to give and IUI a chance.
On Jan 20th I got my period and I started the ball rolling with calling to schedule my cycle day (cd) 3 labs and u/s. I went in on the 22nd and got everything done and my script for the clomid and started taking it that day. On Jan 31st, I went back in for an u/s and blood work. This was going to check to see how many eggs I had and if I was ready to ovulate. I had one good egg but I did need to give myself a shot of Ovidrel (medicine to make your eggs drop). I went back on Feb 2nd for the IUI proceedure and kept my fingers crossed. Due to my m/c rate they put me on progesterone to help if I were to get pg.
Two weeks past and no pregnancy. It was time for round 2.
I went in for my cd labs and u/s on Feb 23... only this time they told me that my endometrium was thin and that could be causing problems, so that I needed to take estrogen after finishing the clomid and that that should help thicken it. Ok, another problem but an easy solution.
I went in on cd12 which was Mar 2 and again I only had 1 egg but I was ready to ovulate on my own, so I came back the next morning for my IUI. Another failed attempt.
March 24 came and I went in for labs and my u/s again. Things were looking good so I started my clomid. But my doctor also said he wanted to test me for Lupus, since lupus can cause m/c he wanted to rule it out. So they took some extra blood and I though nothing of it.
I went in on April 2nd for my u/s and again only 1 egg but again I needed the ovidrel to help it drop and I went in on April 4th for my IUI. Two weeks later and disappointment.
Then came the boom, my test results were back, I have Lupus. So that would explain why I have been having m/c. I am angry with my body for failing to do its job.
At this point Tyler and I decided to break because he was getting ready to leave for some training with the Army.
We talked to my doc and he said when it got closer to when we were ready to start trying again that we would come up with a good plan.
While Tyler was away we talked about trying as soon as he got back, but maybe just trying on our own, but with meds. So in July when I got my period I scheduled my u/s only this is when things started going crazy. They found 2 cysts! One on each ovary. The one on my left was the size of an orange and the one on the right the size of a golfball. So trying was out of question because I had to go on birth control. While I was on the b/c the pain got unbearable so I went back for another u/s and the cysts hadn't changed much so it was time to talk about surgery. ANOTHER SURGERY!!!
I figure, why not, I need to get rid of the pain. I scheduled it for Aug 6th and started getting things in order. But then they decided I needed to get in sooner so it got pushed up to July 30th.
It was supposed to be a simple Lap, remove any endo if needed and get rid of those stupid cysts.
But I ended up with complications. at 5 days post-op I had massive drainage from my belly button and after a CT scan we found I had an underlying infection. great! Then 3 days later I find out I have a blood clot in my arm from where the IV was placed during my surgery. So I certainly had to take care of those things first. But I was finally able to stop taking the b/c.
On Aug 20th I finally had my post-op appt and we talked to Dr Moutos about continuing on with trying. He said it was up to us, we could continue on our own or we could keep with the IUIs, that it wasn't time to move onto IVF. At first Tyler and I decided to just get a higher dose of clomid and continue on our own. But after much discussion we have decided to keep with the IUIs.
My period started yesterday, so I will be going in tomorrow morning to start my 4th cycle with IUI treatments.
I will write after my appt and once I know the game plan
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