We had a regroup yesterday with our doctor, and the news was better than we thought.
I'll just take it sequentially. First of all, I did officially have OHSS. Apparently another girl that was cycling at the same time as me had it too, and I should feel lucky because she was hospitalized! So, although gaining 21 pounds sucked, I am definitely happy I didn't have to go into the hospital to be drained.
My estrogen level was 6440 and my lining was 16.5 the last time they measured. Apparently these aren't even "close" but are way over the ranges CCRM will work with, before they call off the cycle.
They retrieved 20 eggs. Only 18 were mature. And actually, 1 of the 18 was too far along, so we basically started with 17.
5 of the 17 fertilized abnormally which means that they had 1, 3 or 4 pro nuclei (PN) instead of 2. In a normal fertilization there are 2 PN (one from the egg and one from the sperm). These 5 were classified as 'chromosomally abnormal' and were discarded :(
Another 7 of the 17 fertilized normally (i.e. they saw 2 PN on day 1). Since there were only 7 at this point, they decided to freeze them immediately. The best day to freeze is day 5, but when you only have 7, it's a big risk to wait 5 days because many of them are likely to stop growing. And apparently freezing on day 1 is the 2nd best option if you can't wait until day 5. Oddly, freezing on day 3 has the worst results. So, while we were thinking that freezing them right away was the worst possible thing, we found out it really is the second best option.
The last 5 of the 17 never showed signs of fertilization, but they did start to cleave on day 2 so they were frozen on day 2 which is the 3rd best time to freeze, after day 5 (best) and day 1 (2nd best). Because these 5 made it to day 2 they were able to be graded. 3 of them are grade 4- (which is like an A- in school) and 2 of them are grade 3 (which is like a B).
So, what happens next?
Well, things go quiet for a while. Everyone is waiting for me to have a period, and then another period, and when that second period starts I'll go back on meds. This time I will be wearing estrogen patches for while and then taking progesterone in oil shots. Those will be the big needles that have to go into a muscle, and the nurse said it's not just a long needle but it's a fat one too because the oil is so thick. And they won't let me take a shot of whiskey before!
I'll be on the patches and shots for a couple of weeks (knowing me, longer). Then they'll thaw out the 7 embryos that are on day1 of their lives, and the next day they'll thaw the day 2 embryos so that all 12 will be the same age. All 12 will go on together to day 3 and we'll see if they look healthy or sluggish. We will still try to let them reach day 5 before transferring. This is different from what the embryologist originally told us. She said they usually have to transfer them right away if they are frozen on day 1.
It takes 30 seconds to freeze an embryo, and they can actually thaw and refreeze them with almost no impact on the overall success rate. So, after we reach day 5 (thinking positively here), and after they transfer 2, if there are some blasts left, they will refreeze them.
So, now we are taking a 5-6 week break. We're probably not going to post any updates unless we just happen to have something interesting to share. But we'll be back in August to pick up right where we left off.
XOXO,
Amy and Kelly
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Waiting for my 'water' to break
How could I have failed to mention that I gained 21 pounds between Wednesday and Saturday last week?! That was certainly the 'biggest' thing on my mind, I can't believe I didn't bring it up. Anyway, I went in for an ultra sound yesterday, and they made sure I wasn't retaining fluid around my kidneys or liver or spleen, and I am not. It's only really around my uterus and ovaries.
I am still on the Ganirelix shots to help with that, and I always notice a big difference about 3 hours after I take the shot. I have also been up no less than 5 times every night to use the bathroom.
This morning I weighed myself, and I am down 9 pounds from Saturday, so that means the grand total weight gain (I am assuming water weight) is still 12 pounds. I really don't understand how the salty diet is supposed to help with this problem, but I am sticking to it.
I forgot to start taking my Tetracycline after the retrieval. I was confused about what to do with my post-retrieval meds since the original instructions were given when we planned on doing the transfer right away. Duh, I should have known I would still need to take the antibiotics after the retrieval. I started them on Monday night.
Yesterday's blood work showed that my calcium level is low and I am to take 3000mg of calcium (Tums antacids) every day for the rest of the week. Yuck. Also, my H&H levels are low, but I don't really know what that means, what causes it, or what I should do about it.
I have nearly reached information overload, I think. I am starting to get things mixed up.
One more thing that showed up in my blood work yesterday, and surely this is a joke, is that my sodium level is low in spite of all the salt I am eating. You've got to be kidding me!
I am still on the Ganirelix shots to help with that, and I always notice a big difference about 3 hours after I take the shot. I have also been up no less than 5 times every night to use the bathroom.
This morning I weighed myself, and I am down 9 pounds from Saturday, so that means the grand total weight gain (I am assuming water weight) is still 12 pounds. I really don't understand how the salty diet is supposed to help with this problem, but I am sticking to it.
I forgot to start taking my Tetracycline after the retrieval. I was confused about what to do with my post-retrieval meds since the original instructions were given when we planned on doing the transfer right away. Duh, I should have known I would still need to take the antibiotics after the retrieval. I started them on Monday night.
Yesterday's blood work showed that my calcium level is low and I am to take 3000mg of calcium (Tums antacids) every day for the rest of the week. Yuck. Also, my H&H levels are low, but I don't really know what that means, what causes it, or what I should do about it.
I have nearly reached information overload, I think. I am starting to get things mixed up.
One more thing that showed up in my blood work yesterday, and surely this is a joke, is that my sodium level is low in spite of all the salt I am eating. You've got to be kidding me!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Embryology report
We got the embryology report this morning.
Of the 20 eggs they retrieved, 18 were mature enough to go through ICSI. ICSI is where they inject a single sperm into a single egg; as opposed to just letting them all swim around together hoping they find each other.
Of the 18, only 7 fertilized. Usually 70-80% fertilize, so this is considered 'lower than normal'. And because of the low rate of fertilization they will be freezing them all immediately, on day 1, instead of waiting until day 3 (usually the minimum) or day 5 (preferred).
Today they are at the day 1, '2PN stage'. And usually when you have to freeze at the 2PN stage, after you thaw them, you go ahead and transfer them the next day, which would be their day 2. It's much more typical to do the transfer on day 3, and preferable if you can transfer blastocysts on day 5 which is about the time they'd usually be entering the uterus out of the fallopian tubes in a natural pregnancy.
Overall, they are considered 'at risk' at this point. That basically means we will transfer them earlier in their life cycle than usual and will probably transfer more eggs at once.
There were 5 more eggs than had not yet shown signs of fertilization as of this morning, so they are going to observe those until tomorrow to see if they do eventually fertilize, and if so, they will freeze them for backup.
Now we know for sure that we won't be able to donate extra embryos to another couple as I had hoped. This is because we have to donate at least 6 to give them multiple chances for pregnancy. And since we only have 7 to begin with, it's not going to be an option.
But on the bright side, it looks like they're going to let the embryos decide whether to live or die inside me for the most part, instead of in the dish, which actually makes me very happy. One of the biggest problems I have had with this whole process is creating all these embryos only to let them die in the dish. So, in a roundabout way, this is a blessing!
Of the 20 eggs they retrieved, 18 were mature enough to go through ICSI. ICSI is where they inject a single sperm into a single egg; as opposed to just letting them all swim around together hoping they find each other.
Of the 18, only 7 fertilized. Usually 70-80% fertilize, so this is considered 'lower than normal'. And because of the low rate of fertilization they will be freezing them all immediately, on day 1, instead of waiting until day 3 (usually the minimum) or day 5 (preferred).
Today they are at the day 1, '2PN stage'. And usually when you have to freeze at the 2PN stage, after you thaw them, you go ahead and transfer them the next day, which would be their day 2. It's much more typical to do the transfer on day 3, and preferable if you can transfer blastocysts on day 5 which is about the time they'd usually be entering the uterus out of the fallopian tubes in a natural pregnancy.
Overall, they are considered 'at risk' at this point. That basically means we will transfer them earlier in their life cycle than usual and will probably transfer more eggs at once.
There were 5 more eggs than had not yet shown signs of fertilization as of this morning, so they are going to observe those until tomorrow to see if they do eventually fertilize, and if so, they will freeze them for backup.
Now we know for sure that we won't be able to donate extra embryos to another couple as I had hoped. This is because we have to donate at least 6 to give them multiple chances for pregnancy. And since we only have 7 to begin with, it's not going to be an option.
But on the bright side, it looks like they're going to let the embryos decide whether to live or die inside me for the most part, instead of in the dish, which actually makes me very happy. One of the biggest problems I have had with this whole process is creating all these embryos only to let them die in the dish. So, in a roundabout way, this is a blessing!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Ready Set Extract!
We made it through the first step!
We arrived at the hospital this morning at 8:45. They had reserved a special place for us to park in the underground garage and we took the elevator up to the floor where the surgeries are performed. Pretty special.
Amy went in first to get prepped. Three sticks to get a good IV started...pretty traumatic! They didn't let me go in until after she had stopped crying and calmed down. I'll have to admit, hearing about the difficult time getting the IV started made me a little nervous (I was next).
Was not long before they pulled me out of Amy's prep room and gave me my own. Had to put on one of those gorgeous matching gowns with the air conditioning in the back.
Sure enough, it took three sticks for my IV as well. They said the dehydration is what makes the IV hard to get going. Not fun......
While I was getting ready, Amy headed back for the egg extraction procedure.
When I met the Dr......it made me feel a little better....really cool Dr. (cowboy) Horn. Good bedside mannerisms...explained the procedure and made me feel comfortable.
The anesthesiologist shot something into my IV....and that was all it took...I was out within 5 seconds and did not wake up until I was in recovery. Don't even remember being wheeled out of the prep room or moving myself onto the surgery table in the OR.
Amy was finished before I was and there with me right after I woke up. Good news on both the extractions. We will get a call tomorrow with the specifics around the results, but indications were that Amy was able to lay 20 eggs.....a lot more that we thought.....and we struck gold with my stuff as well (only on the left side, but should be plenty).
Nurse Ann was there with us all morning.....and the best neighbors in the universe picked us up and drove us home. They went to get my Percocet at Walgreen's.....and paid for it....$0.35!
Been recouping all afternoon. I've got some pretty good pain drugs and an ice bag, so not in too much pain.......Amy is only allowed to take Tylenol but she's doing well as well....
Nurse Jo and Nurse Ann have gone out to get us some dinner. Amy is still supposed to eat as much salt as she can and is still taking Ganirelix shots for 3 more days to control the fluid.
More tomorrow!
We arrived at the hospital this morning at 8:45. They had reserved a special place for us to park in the underground garage and we took the elevator up to the floor where the surgeries are performed. Pretty special.
Amy went in first to get prepped. Three sticks to get a good IV started...pretty traumatic! They didn't let me go in until after she had stopped crying and calmed down. I'll have to admit, hearing about the difficult time getting the IV started made me a little nervous (I was next).
Was not long before they pulled me out of Amy's prep room and gave me my own. Had to put on one of those gorgeous matching gowns with the air conditioning in the back.
Sure enough, it took three sticks for my IV as well. They said the dehydration is what makes the IV hard to get going. Not fun......
While I was getting ready, Amy headed back for the egg extraction procedure.
When I met the Dr......it made me feel a little better....really cool Dr. (cowboy) Horn. Good bedside mannerisms...explained the procedure and made me feel comfortable.
The anesthesiologist shot something into my IV....and that was all it took...I was out within 5 seconds and did not wake up until I was in recovery. Don't even remember being wheeled out of the prep room or moving myself onto the surgery table in the OR.
Amy was finished before I was and there with me right after I woke up. Good news on both the extractions. We will get a call tomorrow with the specifics around the results, but indications were that Amy was able to lay 20 eggs.....a lot more that we thought.....and we struck gold with my stuff as well (only on the left side, but should be plenty).
Nurse Ann was there with us all morning.....and the best neighbors in the universe picked us up and drove us home. They went to get my Percocet at Walgreen's.....and paid for it....$0.35!
Been recouping all afternoon. I've got some pretty good pain drugs and an ice bag, so not in too much pain.......Amy is only allowed to take Tylenol but she's doing well as well....
Nurse Jo and Nurse Ann have gone out to get us some dinner. Amy is still supposed to eat as much salt as she can and is still taking Ganirelix shots for 3 more days to control the fluid.
More tomorrow!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Twas the night before.....
Today has been icky. I can't wait to lay these eggs! Ha
I had bloodwork done this morning to make sure we had done the trigger shot correctly. The trigger shot has a longer needle than the others and had to go into a muscle. The rest were only subcutaneous shots.
My bumm is still sore so I was assuming we did it correctly anyway, but the bloodwork confirmed it. It also confirmed my estrogen level is 'REALLY high', according to the nurse. She called to make sure I was feeling okay because my level was so high. I asked her what my symptoms were supposed to be, and she said the bloating was probably very uncomfortable (duh) and that I was probably quite irritable (you think?).
I couldn't sleep last night because it hurts to lay on either side. My ovaries feel like they're being stabbed. And my bumm was too sore to sleep on my back. And when I tried laying on my stomach my nose started running.
Tomorrow morning can't come soon enough.
And if I never drink another Gatorade in my life it will be too soon!
I had bloodwork done this morning to make sure we had done the trigger shot correctly. The trigger shot has a longer needle than the others and had to go into a muscle. The rest were only subcutaneous shots.
My bumm is still sore so I was assuming we did it correctly anyway, but the bloodwork confirmed it. It also confirmed my estrogen level is 'REALLY high', according to the nurse. She called to make sure I was feeling okay because my level was so high. I asked her what my symptoms were supposed to be, and she said the bloating was probably very uncomfortable (duh) and that I was probably quite irritable (you think?).
I couldn't sleep last night because it hurts to lay on either side. My ovaries feel like they're being stabbed. And my bumm was too sore to sleep on my back. And when I tried laying on my stomach my nose started running.
Tomorrow morning can't come soon enough.
And if I never drink another Gatorade in my life it will be too soon!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Big Chill
Well, it's decided. We will have to do a 'freeze all'.
This morning in the ultra-sound they found fluid accumulating in my ovaries (or maybe the uterus, not sure which), and my lining is still too thick. Also, the bloodwork showed that my estrogen level has gotten too high.
I am stopping all my shots except for 2 special shots I have to take tonight. One is called Ganirelix and the other is my trigger shot, called Novarel. We will do the trigger shot tonight at 10:45 pm and then go in for the retrieval at 8:45 am on Saturday morning.
They'll retrieve the eggs, fertilize them, and then freeze the embryos.
Apparently it can take as little as 3 weeks to get my body ready for another transfer. We'll find out more when we meet with the doctor on Monday for a 're-group'.
Bummer....
This morning in the ultra-sound they found fluid accumulating in my ovaries (or maybe the uterus, not sure which), and my lining is still too thick. Also, the bloodwork showed that my estrogen level has gotten too high.
I am stopping all my shots except for 2 special shots I have to take tonight. One is called Ganirelix and the other is my trigger shot, called Novarel. We will do the trigger shot tonight at 10:45 pm and then go in for the retrieval at 8:45 am on Saturday morning.
They'll retrieve the eggs, fertilize them, and then freeze the embryos.
Apparently it can take as little as 3 weeks to get my body ready for another transfer. We'll find out more when we meet with the doctor on Monday for a 're-group'.
Bummer....
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
70/30
Yesterday afternoon the nurse called to tell me that my lining is getting too thick again and that there's a 70% chance we're going to have to do a freeze-all. That means they would go ahead with the retrieval as planned, and the fertilization, but they would freeze the embryos instead of transferring them this month, and I would come back later (I'm assuming next month) for the transfer.
That said, she noted that my lining had not thickened between Sunday and Tuesday, so they will continue to watch it. This morning when I went in for an ultra-sound they measured the lining at 1.63 cm (compared to 1.6 yesterday and Sunday).
They reduced my Follisitm down to 75 units and my Menopur down to just one powder, and everything else is the same. I am just waiting to see what she has to say today when she calls me back with the blood results.
Our chances of getting pregnant with frozen embryos is significantly lower than with fresh ones. According to CCRM's success rates from the past few years, our chances of a live birth would go down from 62% to 48% for my age group.
Speaking of which, I don't really know which age group I should be looking at. It breaks at 35 and I am turning 35 in 2 months. The bad news is that, for fresh embryos, the probability of success drops when I move into the 35-37 year old age bracket. The good news is that, for frozen embryos, the probability of success actually increases! Imagine that. Either way, it's still going to be lower if we have to use frozen embryos.
That said, she noted that my lining had not thickened between Sunday and Tuesday, so they will continue to watch it. This morning when I went in for an ultra-sound they measured the lining at 1.63 cm (compared to 1.6 yesterday and Sunday).
They reduced my Follisitm down to 75 units and my Menopur down to just one powder, and everything else is the same. I am just waiting to see what she has to say today when she calls me back with the blood results.
Our chances of getting pregnant with frozen embryos is significantly lower than with fresh ones. According to CCRM's success rates from the past few years, our chances of a live birth would go down from 62% to 48% for my age group.
Speaking of which, I don't really know which age group I should be looking at. It breaks at 35 and I am turning 35 in 2 months. The bad news is that, for fresh embryos, the probability of success drops when I move into the 35-37 year old age bracket. The good news is that, for frozen embryos, the probability of success actually increases! Imagine that. Either way, it's still going to be lower if we have to use frozen embryos.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Day 10 and counting
This morning they checked again and it looks like all my follicles in the right ovary are over 1.0 cm now, so that's good. There's even one in there that is 1.96 cm so it's ready to go! The rule is that they will wait until at least half of them are between 1.8 and 2.0 cm before they trigger me. It's now looking like the retrieval is going to be on Saturday or Sunday.
Kelly's doctor has to leave town on an unplanned trip this weekend, so he will not be able to do Kelly's retrieval, but his partner will do it instead. Also, my doctor is not working this weekend, so I will have one of the others from CCRM doing my retrieval. Should we be worried?
My nurse said I needed to eat even more salty foods (she recommends Chinese) and drink even more salty fluids (she recommends Gatorade). She said if I wasn't going to the bathroom every hour then I am not drinking enough.
I finally can feel what's going on inside me now. Every time I sit down it feels like there is something inside me stabbing at my ovaries. It only happens when I sit and goes away almost immediately after I get situated. I am also starting to get bloated, which is the thing everyone said is the worst part of this whole process. Apparently it gets even worse in the 2 weeks after the retrieval. Yipee!
Oh, and a terrible thing happened today at the doctor's office. The first place she poked me to take my blood "didn't cooperate" so she had to poke me again! Horror of horrors!
Kelly's doctor has to leave town on an unplanned trip this weekend, so he will not be able to do Kelly's retrieval, but his partner will do it instead. Also, my doctor is not working this weekend, so I will have one of the others from CCRM doing my retrieval. Should we be worried?
My nurse said I needed to eat even more salty foods (she recommends Chinese) and drink even more salty fluids (she recommends Gatorade). She said if I wasn't going to the bathroom every hour then I am not drinking enough.
I finally can feel what's going on inside me now. Every time I sit down it feels like there is something inside me stabbing at my ovaries. It only happens when I sit and goes away almost immediately after I get situated. I am also starting to get bloated, which is the thing everyone said is the worst part of this whole process. Apparently it gets even worse in the 2 weeks after the retrieval. Yipee!
Oh, and a terrible thing happened today at the doctor's office. The first place she poked me to take my blood "didn't cooperate" so she had to poke me again! Horror of horrors!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Type B personalities
Two more days have passed and my follicles are still growing very slowly. At this morning's appointment the nurse said 'you're definitely not making Type A babies in there.'
The right ovary is showing some follicle growth, but the left, not so much. The nurse referred to the left as the 'cheering section' and said they weren't doing much of anything over there. I'll take the trigger shot when most of the follicles reach 1.8-2.0 cm (and the retrieval will be 36 hours later), but only about half of mine are over 1.0 cm at this point.
It's day 8 of the stimulation process, and under the original plan I would be triggered Monday night and we would retrieve on Wednesday. Considering that they cancelled my appointment altogether for Monday and said come back for another ultra-sound and bloodwork on Tuesday, I am assuming we're not retrieving on Wednesday and maybe not even on Thursday.
The nurse assured me there is no time limitation, we'll just keep going until they're ready. They did reduce my Follistim down to 150 units starting tonight. That doesn't really make sense to me if that is what makes the follicles grow, but I'm not the doctor, obviously.
The right ovary is showing some follicle growth, but the left, not so much. The nurse referred to the left as the 'cheering section' and said they weren't doing much of anything over there. I'll take the trigger shot when most of the follicles reach 1.8-2.0 cm (and the retrieval will be 36 hours later), but only about half of mine are over 1.0 cm at this point.
It's day 8 of the stimulation process, and under the original plan I would be triggered Monday night and we would retrieve on Wednesday. Considering that they cancelled my appointment altogether for Monday and said come back for another ultra-sound and bloodwork on Tuesday, I am assuming we're not retrieving on Wednesday and maybe not even on Thursday.
The nurse assured me there is no time limitation, we'll just keep going until they're ready. They did reduce my Follistim down to 150 units starting tonight. That doesn't really make sense to me if that is what makes the follicles grow, but I'm not the doctor, obviously.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Slow but sure
Not much growth in my follicles since Wednesday's measurement. There was a little bit, but just not as much as they expected to see. That said, they didn't increase the dosage of any of my medications, so they must not be too bothered. The nurse said it might mean, if I continue to respond slowly, that our retrieval gets moved out to next Thursday or Friday. This is not the first time I have been called a pokey turtle.
On the bright side, we get to skip driving down to south Denver tomorrow morning for another checkup. We were supposed to go in on Saturday and Sunday, but now we just have to go on Sunday. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the CCRM facility in south Denver, and they only see patients on the weekend between 7 and 9 am.
The nurse also reminded me that I am supposed to be eating a lot of salty foods during this process. It seems like someone told me that at some point, and that I wrote it down somewhere, but I had forgotten. She said live it up because this is the only time in your life a doctor is going to tell you to eat more sodium!
Nurse Ann went to Target and got me some Gatorade because it has loads of sodium. Quite unhealthy, really. Also, in honor of national donut day, she brought back cream puff pastries that were made in the shape of a swan. Since that's not technically a donut, I think I qualify for having one tomorrow. Donuts are currently banned from my diet, but I think having just one in honor of national donut day is allowable, don't you?
On the bright side, we get to skip driving down to south Denver tomorrow morning for another checkup. We were supposed to go in on Saturday and Sunday, but now we just have to go on Sunday. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the CCRM facility in south Denver, and they only see patients on the weekend between 7 and 9 am.
The nurse also reminded me that I am supposed to be eating a lot of salty foods during this process. It seems like someone told me that at some point, and that I wrote it down somewhere, but I had forgotten. She said live it up because this is the only time in your life a doctor is going to tell you to eat more sodium!
Nurse Ann went to Target and got me some Gatorade because it has loads of sodium. Quite unhealthy, really. Also, in honor of national donut day, she brought back cream puff pastries that were made in the shape of a swan. Since that's not technically a donut, I think I qualify for having one tomorrow. Donuts are currently banned from my diet, but I think having just one in honor of national donut day is allowable, don't you?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
TMI
Not much has changed in the way I feel during this whole process. I occasionally have a small cramp-like pain in my belly, but not even as much as my normal menstral cramps. I was expecting to be bloated, and I am not. I was expecting to be irritable, and I am not. I don't think I am, that is.
The only thing I have finally noticed is that....you know how you "know" when you're ovulating every month? And that's when only one egg is being released. Well, imagine that times 10 (for the 10 eggs that are getting ready to release in me). That "symptom" you have that lets you know you're ovulating, I have that x10. Gross, I know, but it's the only real impact I have seen from the stimulation meds at all. I am amazed.
We did tonight's Follistim pen shot way in the upper thigh, almost to the crease in my leg, and a little bit on the inside of the thigh as opposed to the outside area. Note to self: bad place for a shot! It still hurts....almost like we hit a nerve or something. You know that shooting pain you get with a pinched nerve? Like that.
I've got another check-up tomorrow at the doctor's office. All my appointments are around 7:00 am - ugh! We're still tracking toward next Wednesday for the retrieval. I can't believe it's getting so close.
The only thing I have finally noticed is that....you know how you "know" when you're ovulating every month? And that's when only one egg is being released. Well, imagine that times 10 (for the 10 eggs that are getting ready to release in me). That "symptom" you have that lets you know you're ovulating, I have that x10. Gross, I know, but it's the only real impact I have seen from the stimulation meds at all. I am amazed.
We did tonight's Follistim pen shot way in the upper thigh, almost to the crease in my leg, and a little bit on the inside of the thigh as opposed to the outside area. Note to self: bad place for a shot! It still hurts....almost like we hit a nerve or something. You know that shooting pain you get with a pinched nerve? Like that.
I've got another check-up tomorrow at the doctor's office. All my appointments are around 7:00 am - ugh! We're still tracking toward next Wednesday for the retrieval. I can't believe it's getting so close.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
And then there were 10
I went in for another ultra-sound and bloodwork this morning. We skip tomorrow, and then I start going in every day as we near the retrieval date. Everything looked good this morning. The only thing that was a little disappointing was seeing that only 4 follicles were stimming on the left and 6 on the right. In some recent ultra-sounds they were able to count 6 on the left and 8 on the right, so I was hoping for more. But 10 is still a good number, and hopefully they will be able to retrieve 10 eggs next week.
I am actually thankful that I don't have "too many" follicles. I have heard that women with too many follicles find this process very painful and there are some risks that I basically don't have to worry about. Keeping a positive attitude :)
Nurse Jo was stellar on the needles tonight. She's got the Follistim pen down to a science.
I am actually thankful that I don't have "too many" follicles. I have heard that women with too many follicles find this process very painful and there are some risks that I basically don't have to worry about. Keeping a positive attitude :)
Nurse Jo was stellar on the needles tonight. She's got the Follistim pen down to a science.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
What's your drug of choice?
You might have guessed that we got good results from the follow-up ultra-sound on Sunday, yay! Although the cyst on my right ovary is 2.2 cm (which sounds big to me), the second ultra-sound made them even more sure it's just endometriosis. The lining of my uterus had also thinned down to 5mm.
My new shots are Menopur (2 powders plus 1cc of dilutent) in the morning and Follistim (300 units) at night.
The Menopur shot is the most painful because the medicine burns when it goes in. I am taking that shot in the belly since that is the least painful place to get poked and it's the most painful shot. For the 2 evening shots I take one in each leg. I am also still taking Dexamethasone, so I am on 4 meds in total now, plus the prenatal vitamins which, I found out, make me nauseous if I don't eat enough food with them!
My next appointment is on Wednesday to see how we're progressing.
My new shots are Menopur (2 powders plus 1cc of dilutent) in the morning and Follistim (300 units) at night.
The Menopur shot is the most painful because the medicine burns when it goes in. I am taking that shot in the belly since that is the least painful place to get poked and it's the most painful shot. For the 2 evening shots I take one in each leg. I am also still taking Dexamethasone, so I am on 4 meds in total now, plus the prenatal vitamins which, I found out, make me nauseous if I don't eat enough food with them!
My next appointment is on Wednesday to see how we're progressing.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Leaving things in capable hands....
Well......I gave my last round of shots until Thursday. I am heading back to Arkansas for a business trip tomorrow and back on Thursday. I'm going to miss giving my favorite patient her shots three times daily... :)
Nurse Jo is on the case though. She actually has a nursing background and is more than capable to administer the shots while I am away. THANK YOU Nurse Jo!!!!
Nurse Jo is on the case though. She actually has a nursing background and is more than capable to administer the shots while I am away. THANK YOU Nurse Jo!!!!
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