I saw the RE today and he did a quick ultrasound to ensure the Clomid didn't cause any cysts. I got the 'all clear' so we decided the plan this cycle will be the exact same as last cycle.
I picked up the Clomid prescription today and have already taken the first two tabs.
Next Thursday I'll return for the baseline ultrasound which is where he will look to see how many mature follicles there are and then decide when to do the trigger shot.
(Hopefully James won't have to chase me around the house to administer the trigger shot this time!)
Let's do this!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Big. Fat. Negative.
As suspected, the IUI didn't work.
I had a virus run rampant through my body Friday night through Saturday morning and I spent that time with my head in the toilet. Fun!
I spent the rest of yesterday sleeping, giving my body time to rest and recover.
We'll give IUI another shot but need to talk to my RE this week for any suggestions on what he thinks we can do differently and to ask if we should wait a month given that I'm recovering from a nasty virus.
We'll see what's next and I'll update when I know.
Thanks again to everyone who has given us support, it's meant the world to us!
I'm convinced we'll get that baby!
I had a virus run rampant through my body Friday night through Saturday morning and I spent that time with my head in the toilet. Fun!
I spent the rest of yesterday sleeping, giving my body time to rest and recover.
We'll give IUI another shot but need to talk to my RE this week for any suggestions on what he thinks we can do differently and to ask if we should wait a month given that I'm recovering from a nasty virus.
We'll see what's next and I'll update when I know.
Thanks again to everyone who has given us support, it's meant the world to us!
I'm convinced we'll get that baby!
Monday, March 17, 2014
A 'no update' update
I'm 9 days past the IUI and, unfortunately, showing signs of PMS.
You're safe in assuming I'm grumpy about it because A) PMS makes you grumpy and B) PMS means the IUI didn't work.
Well... damn.
Silver lining?
James has been offered a position at Booz Allen Hamilton (most recently of Edward Snowden fame) and we're told his benefits include fertility treatments.
I want to see this with my own eyes before getting too excited but, he was told about it by a female colleague.
At least this means the next treatment won't be completely out-of-pocket (hopefully).
We should have the details in the next couple weeks when he completes the new employee orientation.
In the mean time it was a very busy week at work and I kept myself busy cleaning this weekend. So there hasn't been too much time to dwell over it all.
When I know our next step, I'll update again.
Thanks for hanging in there with me everyone.
You're safe in assuming I'm grumpy about it because A) PMS makes you grumpy and B) PMS means the IUI didn't work.
Well... damn.
Silver lining?
James has been offered a position at Booz Allen Hamilton (most recently of Edward Snowden fame) and we're told his benefits include fertility treatments.
I want to see this with my own eyes before getting too excited but, he was told about it by a female colleague.
At least this means the next treatment won't be completely out-of-pocket (hopefully).
We should have the details in the next couple weeks when he completes the new employee orientation.
In the mean time it was a very busy week at work and I kept myself busy cleaning this weekend. So there hasn't been too much time to dwell over it all.
When I know our next step, I'll update again.
Thanks for hanging in there with me everyone.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Some reassuring statistics
I came across this today which was incredibly reassuring about our chances.
Q: How high a sperm count is needed for IUI?
A: A count above one million washed appears necessary for success, with a significant reduction in pregnancy rates when the inseminated count is lower than 5-10 million (in other words, in most cases one should consider 5 million a lower limit for success, 10 million for cost-effective). Higher success rates are with washed counts over 20-30 million, while increasing counts over 50 million did not appear to offer advantage.
So, at 31million, James was able to provide the highest amount proven needed and anything more than that wouldn't have increased our odds.
I think I better step away now from reading clinical studies. At this point, we've done the absolute best we can. I caught that I was going to ovulate earlier than expected thus moved up the IUI. There were 3 mature eggs and James certainly provided the best we could have hoped for.
My friends have been doing their part by praying and thinking good thoughts for us. Even my Aunt Maggie got in on the action yesterday and told me to hold my phone to my belly as she sent a series of texts (directed mainly to the sperm)!
Come on Mother Nature, let's do this!
Q: How high a sperm count is needed for IUI?
A: A count above one million washed appears necessary for success, with a significant reduction in pregnancy rates when the inseminated count is lower than 5-10 million (in other words, in most cases one should consider 5 million a lower limit for success, 10 million for cost-effective). Higher success rates are with washed counts over 20-30 million, while increasing counts over 50 million did not appear to offer advantage.
So, at 31million, James was able to provide the highest amount proven needed and anything more than that wouldn't have increased our odds.
I think I better step away now from reading clinical studies. At this point, we've done the absolute best we can. I caught that I was going to ovulate earlier than expected thus moved up the IUI. There were 3 mature eggs and James certainly provided the best we could have hoped for.
My friends have been doing their part by praying and thinking good thoughts for us. Even my Aunt Maggie got in on the action yesterday and told me to hold my phone to my belly as she sent a series of texts (directed mainly to the sperm)!
Come on Mother Nature, let's do this!
Saturday, March 8, 2014
31.68 million reasons to be hopeful!
We showed up right at 8AM and soon after James gave his "specimen". We were told to come back at 10AM for the insemination.
We took Ryan to PetSmart to look at the fish and kitties for a while then made our way back to the clinic.
It's a Saturday and we were the only ones there so I was called back pretty much right away.
James' numbers were phenomenal! They confirmed what I had been told which is they like to see about 5million sperm after the wash. James had 31.68 million after the wash and the motility and progression were fantastic - hoorah!!
The insemination part was quick and easy. Afterwards they left me with a timer that would go off in ten minutes. I was to lie there quietly and wait for the timer.
She asked if I'd like a magazine and I said no, I intended to "visualize". And, that's exactly what I did.
I laid there with my eyes closed imagining those 31 million sperm navigating their way to one of my three eggs and breaking through. Then I visualized that growing into an embryo and all the way up to a baby then being born. I pictured Ryan playing with his little sibling.
Then the timer went off and I got up. I couldn't help but picturing all those sperm then going "woooah" and falling down all the length they had already swam. While that's not actually the case, it was amusing to picture!
Now, you might think that with 31 million sperm and three eggs, our odds would be excellent.
We took Ryan to PetSmart to look at the fish and kitties for a while then made our way back to the clinic.
It's a Saturday and we were the only ones there so I was called back pretty much right away.
James' numbers were phenomenal! They confirmed what I had been told which is they like to see about 5million sperm after the wash. James had 31.68 million after the wash and the motility and progression were fantastic - hoorah!!
The insemination part was quick and easy. Afterwards they left me with a timer that would go off in ten minutes. I was to lie there quietly and wait for the timer.
She asked if I'd like a magazine and I said no, I intended to "visualize". And, that's exactly what I did.
I laid there with my eyes closed imagining those 31 million sperm navigating their way to one of my three eggs and breaking through. Then I visualized that growing into an embryo and all the way up to a baby then being born. I pictured Ryan playing with his little sibling.
Then the timer went off and I got up. I couldn't help but picturing all those sperm then going "woooah" and falling down all the length they had already swam. While that's not actually the case, it was amusing to picture!
Now, you might think that with 31 million sperm and three eggs, our odds would be excellent.
The truth is, the odds are incredibly low.
However, I insist of being positive and thinking positive until the day I get a + result on a home pregnancy test.
What's next?
I'm scheduled for a blood draw on 3/20 to determine pregnancy. Until then I go about life as usual and try not to obsess.
The hardest part about the TWW (two week wait) is not falling into the trap of "symptom spotting". So many women trying to conceive do this far too much and I've seen & heard many disappointed women who were so sure they were pregnant because they were tired/hungry/nauseas/sore etc and end up disappointed because they read far too much into these symptoms.
One last note:
Again, I'd like to thank everyone for being so supportive. It feels good to be able to talk about this journey and not keep it secret as if infertility is something to be ashamed of.
"May the odds be ever in your favor!"
However, I insist of being positive and thinking positive until the day I get a + result on a home pregnancy test.
What's next?
I'm scheduled for a blood draw on 3/20 to determine pregnancy. Until then I go about life as usual and try not to obsess.
The hardest part about the TWW (two week wait) is not falling into the trap of "symptom spotting". So many women trying to conceive do this far too much and I've seen & heard many disappointed women who were so sure they were pregnant because they were tired/hungry/nauseas/sore etc and end up disappointed because they read far too much into these symptoms.
One last note:
Again, I'd like to thank everyone for being so supportive. It feels good to be able to talk about this journey and not keep it secret as if infertility is something to be ashamed of.
"May the odds be ever in your favor!"
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Not one, not two, but three!
You'll remember from yesterday that the plan was for me to return tomorrow (Friday) for an ultrasound to check that the one little egg follicle has progressed and that would most likely determine that we'd need to do the trigger shot on Friday night and do a Sunday insemination.
You may also remember that the doctor did not see my right ovary at all and found the one follicle on the left ovary.
This morning I took OPK and Fertility monitor tests and they both showed "peak" fertility.
So naturally, I panicked.
I was sure that meant that our timetable would be too late and we were probably already too late to catch this cycle and we'd have to abandon and try again next month.
I called the doctor right at 8AM and told them the test results from the morning.
The nurse spoke with the doctor and he said I needed to come in today for another ultrasound.
I spent the day convinced that I'd be told we're abandoning this month and I was coming to terms with it.
The ultrasound surprised us all. The RE today was only able to see my right ovary but saw two mature eggs (20mm and 25mm)!
So between yesterday and today I went from one decently growing follicle to having three. This is great news!
But, it does bring the timetable forward so it was good I went in today.
Tonight at 10PM I will take the trigger shot and Saturday at 8AM we go in for the IUI process.
I can't even express how excited I am!
Now I need all my friends & family (framily!) to cross your fingers and send us all the positive vibes you can spare that one of these eggs will fertilize and become our third baby.
Send some babydust my way, please!
You may also remember that the doctor did not see my right ovary at all and found the one follicle on the left ovary.
This morning I took OPK and Fertility monitor tests and they both showed "peak" fertility.
So naturally, I panicked.
I was sure that meant that our timetable would be too late and we were probably already too late to catch this cycle and we'd have to abandon and try again next month.
I called the doctor right at 8AM and told them the test results from the morning.
The nurse spoke with the doctor and he said I needed to come in today for another ultrasound.
I spent the day convinced that I'd be told we're abandoning this month and I was coming to terms with it.
The ultrasound surprised us all. The RE today was only able to see my right ovary but saw two mature eggs (20mm and 25mm)!
So between yesterday and today I went from one decently growing follicle to having three. This is great news!
But, it does bring the timetable forward so it was good I went in today.
Tonight at 10PM I will take the trigger shot and Saturday at 8AM we go in for the IUI process.
I can't even express how excited I am!
Now I need all my friends & family (framily!) to cross your fingers and send us all the positive vibes you can spare that one of these eggs will fertilize and become our third baby.
Send some babydust my way, please!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Quick update
After five days of Clomid the ultrasound today showed 1 good follicle (15mm) in my left ovary.
I was super ecstatic to see it!
On Friday I will have another ultrasound to see if it's reached 19mm and if so, I'll do the trigger shot Friday evening and return Sunday morning for the insemination.
Today the CBE Fertility Monitor gave a "high" reading which matches with the ultrasound so it confirms that it's working properly.
I just can't say how happy I am to see that follicle and I'm treasuring it like it was an embryo. I'm talking to it and telling it how much we all want it to grow and become our baby.
Call me crazy but I am determined to be positive!
Will update on Friday after the next ultrasound.
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