Showing posts with label MIA ovary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MIA ovary. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The final IUI

I love my RE clinic, I really do.

As soon as I walk through the door the receptionist always asks "where's my Spider-Man today?" referring to Ryan. 

Every single nurse that walks by me says "hello Jessica, how are you?". I feel like I'm getting individual treatment and that's the benefit of going to a small practice. You never feel like a number or statistic. 

I've heard of clinics turning women down for treatment due to various factors simply because they want to keep their success rate statistics high. That's utter bullshit. My office is not like that and I appreciate it so much.

When the nurse took me back to get the ultrasound she asked if I was going to do another IUI and I said yes. She said something along the lines of "are you sure it's not time to move on to IVF? I hate to think of you spending all this money on IUI's". I know that you might read that and think she was being rude but it really wasn't. 

I told her that insurance pays for both she got excited and said "Do it girl! We want to see your pregnant!". 

I told her that I had come to that same conclusion and had gotten my insurance ducks in a row to proceed on to IVF.

Then Girl Doctor came in. 

Side note: my RE's office has two doctors - who I refer to as Girl Doctor and Boy Doctor.

She was able to see both ovaries without any trouble. No cysts so I'm cleared to proceed with this IUI cycle.

Then I told her that if this doesn't work, I'm moving on to IVF. She said she was 100% in support of that decision.

We spoke about logistics and she told me she thought it would be beneficial if I lost 10 pounds. She only mentioned it because I asked and I'm glad I did. I appreciated the complete honesty, I needed to hear it.

Also, I made the decision then that if we do have to go the IVF route, I want Girl Doctor taking over my cycles. 

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Boy Doctor. He's fabulous and incredibly kind and attentive. Girl Doctor is a bit more matter of fact. 

However, Boy Doctor has rarely been able to find my right ovary. I don't know why this is but he tries and tries and moves that wand around like he's checking my tonsils. But, my right ovary always seems to elude him. 

Girl Doctor finds it in seconds. So, she is my best bet for egg retrieval purposes in my opinion. 

She explained that I'll come in on the first day of my period just like with IUI cycles and I'll be put on birth control for 2-3 weeks. Then we'll start injections and go from there.

I didn't talk to James about it last night at all, I guess I wanted to mull it all over before I spoke to him.

This morning as we're getting ready for work I told him about the appointment. He agrees also that it's time for IVF. We both agreed that waiting until October/November would be a good idea, too.

This gives me time to lose that ten pounds, save up more vacation days and save money. Even though all these treatments are paid for, it's not without some costs to us. Affordable costs for sure, but costs none the less. 

So there we have it. This is it, our fifth and final IUI. 

Come on sperm, hook up with my egg - you know you want to!




Thursday, July 17, 2014

Right Ovary: MIA - Last seen in April

Monday I had my baseline ultrasound to start this cycle of IUI.

Once again, my right ovary was nowhere to be found. This is frustrating because that can impede a successful IVF cycle should we need to go that route. If they can't see the ovary, they can't remove eggs. I've read other women who have had this problem and no eggs could be retrieved from the unseen ovary.

Alright well, that's a problem for the future, right? Right now we're not in an IVF cycle, so that is a bridge I don't need to stress about crossing. 

I started gonal-f on Monday and I have to say, easy peasy. I can stick that needle in my stomach all day long. 
You know why?
Because, I don't feel a damn thing. 

Two c-sections has left my stomach numb from the belly button to about the c-section scar (same deal for a friend who has also had two c-sections - no feeling there at all).

I'm now wishing I could take ALL shots in my belly. In fact, I intend to ask my doctor if the trigger shot must be done in the bottom. My guess is, yes, it has to be. But, it doesn't hurt to ask. 

Also, when (not if) I do get pregnant, I'll have to take a Lovenox shot every single day and I'm hoping that is done in the same area. 

So, Saturday I'll be going in for another ultrasound to see how the follicles are coming along and I hope my right ovary makes an appearance.

The nurse did mention that OHSS is a concern at my age with Gonal-f and if there are more than two mature follicles, the cycle will be cancelled due to the risk of multiples. 

Next week, for ICLW, I'll be paying it forward by giving away a lucky gift to a commenter. 
So, watch this space!