It's the Big Day - FET Day

I know I have not been writing in a while, but now I have the chance to write since yesterday was the FET day. Dr. H called me early in the morning and told me that she would like to do a day 3 transfer rather than a day 5 transfer for she believes the embies will survive better in my womb. And that she will be transferring 3 in. WHOA 3 I never imagined I would transfer 3, but whatever it takes I will do. The FET was a bit tough, my bladder so full I kept thinking I would pee on Dr. H. Luckily she calmed me down and w/in seconds the procedure was done. I waited in the hospital bed for an hour after, just resting the Valium was getting to me. Then got a chance to go home, and so the bed rest begins.

WHOA, Injection Galore!!

Holy cow, I have never seen that many medications/injections ever in my life. WHY...
It's 7:15am in the morning and I am walking into something I wish I could cover my eyes and it would go away.
Nurse L called us about 2 days prior to schedule us in for the inject able classes that happen every month. Anyway, I walked in open minded so did my SDH, he walked in with an open mind thinking nothing about it.
Right when I walked into the room I wanted to walk right back out. Way too many injections.
I remember seeing the:
1. Meupur
2. Ganirelix
3. Follistim
4. HCG Trigger Shot
Those are the ones we practiced on, not really but Nurse M gave us an introduction of what we will be looking forward to. It was quite an interesting "injection class" we had about five other couples in the class, they seemed like they we relaxed and ready to go. hmmm I wonder if they are pregnant? I hope so, I don't wish anyone infertility. It's a very sad thing to go through. One of the couples seemed super sad, she is young and said that she was going through this process the second time, the husband seemed tired and did not want to be there. I hope they are pregnant! Injection classes did scare me but it opened my eyes to the fact that we are going into this at 100% and I hope and pray that this will help us. I know myself and I would be devastated if it did not work, devastated!!!

It's Official - IVF here we come

After our June 2008 meeting w/Dr. H. we had decided that the best option for us would be IVF. My SDH researched like crazy to see what IVF is and what it entails. We decided that we will start in August of this year. I was not ready for a July start date. Just researching the whole process freaked me out, there is so much to do. Now that I think of it, I wish I started in July. But I am happy with whatever decision we made to get this process started.

Doctor H told me during the June meeting that whenever I am ready to proceed with the IVF process to just contact Nurse L and let her know you are ready to proceed and to make sure you call her on the very first day of the period.

I started my period on August 5th and called Nurse L right away, she asked me to come in that Thursday, day 3 of my period. My first appointment went well, Doctor H wanted to check everything out with the Ultrasound and also do a Mock Transfer. I was super nervous about the mock transfer, thinking back to that day. I should not have been nervous that day after everything that comes after that day (does that make sense?). The mock transfer went well, Dr. H inserted a catheter into the uterus, it felt slight cramp a couple of days before you start your period, but not bad at all. I was happy with the Doctor, the nurses and facility that I felt comfortable and was super charged about the process.

She finally handed me a prescription for BCP's for the month and told me to only take the active ones. For the next 21 I took the BCP's. I thought to myself, hold up "I'm trying to get pregnant here and I'm on BCP's." That didn't make sense until I asked her what the correlation was and she described to me that, it's like cleaning the system. All the appointments are in the morning, early, before work. I hope I last :-) I will, I have to!!!

Doctor SAY WHAT?

What...IVF are you kidding me, the only people who do IVF are celebrities. Not me no way!!!
Why and how did this happen. Dr. H recommened, loud and clear that she believes IVF is the best treatment for us. She even stated that you can try IUI and Clomid but it will not work. "It's like putting a billion sperm to an egg and not one will fertilize the egg." I was so expecting her to say," take Clomid and you will be pregnant in a month." She told us that my SDH has some sperm issues...great (arghh). I did not know exactly what is IVF and what the process was, (homework tonite).

The whole conversation with Dr. H that day seemed like a blur. I was not at all ready for the answer she had given us. But of course, she does know what she is talking about and the clinic I am going to is very much known in the community. Dr. H told us that if you guys start in July you can be pregnant in August. At that point, I was not listening to her at all, I was ready to go home and cry. As soon as I got in the car, I did so and my SDH told me to not to worry lets look into this and get back to her. Mission: What in the world is IVF and will it hurt????

Tests never stop...

After meeting w/the Fertility Specialist, we started more tests FUN…not! Actually, the cool thing was that Dr. H wanted both SDH and I to have blood tests done at the same time. At that point I didn't mind taking these blood test because we would be going together. The results take a couple of weeks to get back to Dr. H. Without any hesitation we made appointments at the local Quest Diagnostics and started those tests. We took the blood tests in May of this year. I also picked up the hard copy of the HSG test results and took it down to Dr. H’s office to review. I am super glad my Ob-gyn asked me to take these tests ahead of time.

The following month, I got a call from the Nurse's office at the Fertility Clinic. She wanted me to schedule an appointment w/Dr. H for a full review of our blood test/HSG results. At that time she would also be telling us what protocol, she wants us to follow in order to achieve our pregnancy goal. I got an appointment w/her for mid June in the late afternoon. More to come.

My very first encounter w/a Fertility Specialist...

...Was super cool. She gave me so much hope, hope that I lost long time ago. Dr. H told me not to worry and that we will conducting some tests w/your Thyroids, she would also look at my results from the HSG test (she needed the hard copy results) and we will figure out what's going on. She also asked my SDH if he could come in to do the Kruger Test (the strict sperm analysis) test. SDH was super supportive about it, we had given Dr. H his previous test results from when he went to see his regular physician to do a similar test but not as strict. Everything seemed to be going good. I was happy w/this specialist. Right after meeting w/Dr. H we met w/the Financial Director and she gave us some quotes on different prices for the different services they provide. I am terrible w/this stuff even though I graduated w/a degree in Finance. Anyway, I was a bit concerned because our insurance did not cover anything after seeing an OB-GYN for pregnancy related issues. But my SDH and I discussed that we felt this clinic was the one for us and it's best we stick to this one. I pray everything will work out, I even asked my sister, sister-in-law and mother-in-law to pray for us everyday. I hope god hears all our prayers!

I remember a couple of days after meeting w/Dr. H, she sent a very nice letter to my OB-GYN and to my general Physician about how she may help us and maybe w/her initial protocol of taking Clomid, that we may become pregnant very soon. I am sure all Fertility Clinics send out a letter but something about her made it seem very special. This clinic was different and I was happy w/it. More to come....

Fertility Specility

It's now April/May 2008 and still no progress toward getting pregnant.  My OB/GYN recommends I see a Fertility Specialist, I actually did not hesitate at all, I was so open to the idea of seeing a specialist. Once I got the referral from my OB/GYN I called right away and lucky for me or the timing must have worked out for myself the Fertility Clinic have once a month meetings for couples who are having a difficulty time getting pregnant. I signed up for the April meeting and my SDH "super darling husband" (He does alot and is very supportive through this whole process) came with me to attend one of the April session. One of the main Doctors, Dr. W owns this facility and has been running it for many many years, he is a pioneer to this field. He knows all about the background of this field, very intelligent person. He talked about taking medications to help Ovulation may help get  pregnant to In Vitro Fertilization. It was an awesome session and the people who work at the Facility were super nice. I told my SDH I want to see the Doctor we were recommended to see at this Facility. On April 29th 2008 we did. I will write more tomorrow about my Fertility Specialist Journey...

Counting days is not fun...

You are taught in the beginning to count the first day of your period at Day One followed up to the day before your next period cycle starts or the the last day before the new one begins. Counting days gets really old too soon, it was fun in the beginning when you are about to embark on this baby making process but after counting everyday for about two years, it gets super old. We even bought the Ovulation Watch on the Internet, used it for 2 months and got sick of using that. I don't know how others do it, but you have to put it on at the same time every night and make sure it reads properly every night. I did not enjoy that, sleeping with a tight watch, I was not comfortable with it. It just did not work for us. But don't get me wrong, I heard it works wonders. You have to have the patience and be determined to use it every night at the same time. It was hard for me to get in that regimen. Anyway we started counting days once again after the HSG test, the Radio Tech guy told us that this HSG process cleans up the ovaries and the uterus areas so this may help you increase your chances of getting pregnant faster. WHOO HOO!!! YAY Right, kept counting days again for many months after my March procedure - days seems to go by and nothing was happening...oh well..keep waiting "it will happen when it happens."

Why is everything such a waiting game!

April 1st 2008: “it’s been almost a month since my experience w/the HSG test, and I am thinking now what.” Well days are passing weeks are just flying by and I feel like I am just waiting for something to happen or an answer for all the questions I have regarding finding out what’s going on w/me, Why can’t I get pregnant?” Everyday, I see strollers, babies, and think, why can’t I just have one.
You know, when we first started trying I was convinced that this is it, this is the month we will achieve this goal, it’s now two years later and I am still wondering gosh how naive was I to think that two years ago I could get pregnant that easily. In the beginning when I would hear about friends getting pregnant by “just looking at their husband,” I thought wow…I feel super sad. However, now when I think about it, I no longer feel sad or unhappy for my self, “how selfish of me to feel that way before.” It may not be my time to feel excited but it is their time. I accepted the fact that my time will come and I am actually thrilled and excited for everyone who becomes pregnant. This was a huge mental turning point for me, because today as I type away I have hope, that my destination will be a baby. I lost hope many months ago, which I will talk about in later blogs.
Back to my April 1 story: waiting in the lab room to take my day 27 shot for blood levels that my OB-GYN had asked me to do (BTW I was referred to an OB-GYM by my regular Physician). Anyway, back to my story, I called the nurse to find out what my day 3 blood results were, and my HSG results were. She stated, “That they look good and would like to refer me to an Endocrinologist,” I said okay. Why is she referring me to an Endocrinologist am I a lost case! The nurse sent over the referral via regular mail, there was a phone number on the referral sheet, and w/out any hesitation, I called to make an appointment. The woman at the specialist facility answered and asked me to come with my DH to a Fertility workshop that they hold every month. That does not sound too bad might as well find out more about this so called Endocrinologist. On April 9, we attended the Fertility workshop, where the two doctors of the facility talk about their facility and what makes them so different from everyone else. I got there with an open mind so did my DH, we had no idea what was going to happen and what they would be telling us. I made sure I picked up all the paperwork, financial paperwork and business cards. I like to collect stuff like that it helps keep me in the know……to be continued.

HSG?

I forget to properly describe that the HSG exam is called in full wording:HysterosalpingogramBelow is the website I visit alot to read about the everything medical:webmd - Hysterosalpingogram

HSG is What???

It's now March 6, 2008. I am waiting in the waiting room to given this HSG Procedure. My original appointment was on February 8, 2008 but I went into that Imaging Center sick, really sick. I guess I got food poisoning or stomach flu. But the Nurses as well as the Radiologist looked at me and said no, I would not recommend we do this procedure today. So that was another month passed w/out getting this test done. As soon as I got home that day, I made another appointment for the following month and since they will only do the HSG test on day 7 to day 10 of your period, it made the appointment time to really occur every once a month. The next available was March 6, 2008; I was not going to miss this appointment, no way!

Back to where I started, waiting in the waiting room for my name to be called. It seemed forever until they were going to call my name and they did w/in minutes I was in the room w/the nurse telling me to remove all clothing from bottom. My DH came w/me, He has been supportive! Coming to all appointments and all meetings, I am very lucky to have someone who wants to be with me and listen to all the stuff I didn't pick up on and trust me it's so much information that there are things that you just don't pick up but my DH listens intently which helps with this process. Okay, back to the waiting room situation.

As I was waiting, I was thinking of what this would be like, what will happen to me, what I will feel. I remembered from all my online reading to take one or two Motrin has to help with the uneasiness. The Nurse brought me into the exam room. I remember thinking how cold and uncomfortable this room is and it was because all you see was this huge x-ray machine with a hospital bed right underneath it, creepy. I got on the table lying down with a pillow under my head. I was really luck DH was w/me. The Radiologist walked in, he was not hesitant to start this procedure, told me what to expect and how long the procedure would take. He stated the procedure would take 15 to 20 minutes, not bad.

My anxiety was taking over me. I was getting nervous, him preparing and putting stuff together the nurse standing there just bored out of her mind, made things really hard to focus. The Radiologist started his deal and inserted the catheter using the clamp to open the area he took the catheter through the Vagina area to the cervix, easy huh. Not for me, his catheter kept falling out. Every time he would put the catheter it, it would bounce out. He had a difficult time finding the uterus. I was thinking oh gosh, why is this taking so long. I started to cry so DH held my hand and told me it would be okay. It was not okay, I was not in pain but the anxiety was killing me. I was ready to finish with this procedure. The Radiologist tried about five times to get the catheter in until he was successful and he was because once he got it in and I relaxed myself he pumped in a special oil too x-ray the uterus to the both the ovaries. He asked me to stay put and took one x-ray then turn to one side and then the next side. Not bad but I did feel a slight cramp when he first pumped in the oil but it was not too bad. He told me that everything looks good and I could see the whole process on the x-ray TV located next to this hospital bed.

Thank God!

He then removed the catheter the bored Nurse gave me a pad, because I would have a good amount of bleeding she also told me that w/this oil you have about a 10% chance greater that you may be get pregnant, I guess this oil apparently washes away all the dust and cleans up the organs. That stays in effect for about 3 months after you do this procedure. After, the bored Nurse handed me the pad the Radiologist came over and stated to me that you were one of top toughest patients to insert the catheter too but we got it done.

I thought about that comment later in the day and I am actually a very easy person when it comes to medical stuff but why did that comment bug me, one answer, I was too anxious about this procedure. Therefore, that is my HSG story. As I stated in the last blog, this is just the start of many Doctor Appointments I will be writing about. Hold on tight, it is going to be a whirlwind of a journey, I will probably never ever forget.

Let's Get This Party Started

So when I last left off, I can you a bit of insight to this baby journey. I wanted to talk about what we started doing to get where we are now. In January of this year 2008, I started to see my regular Physician to see what is going on, why is this impossible to have a child. She took blood tests to see if it were my Thyroid, she said the first test came back borderline meaning I could have Hyperthyroidism but the next test came back perfectly normal. She then referred me to a Gynecologist to do some further testing and during this time, I asked my DH to take his tests as well. Luckily, for me he was super cooperative and did take the sperm test. The Gynecologist first saw me and asked a bunch of questions regarding do I regularly ovulate and how many days, the whole deal...she then wanted me to take the basic test to check my Thyroid levels, make sure they are at the levels that will help me achieve my dream baby. She also wanted me to get an HSG test done...what the...is a HSG test?

I started my homework too see what an HSG test is. But at the same time I realized at that point: this is going to be the beginning of a very long journey and I was okay with that because I knew what I really wanted, and that was a baby! And until we reach that goal, my Husband and I decided we will do everything we can to achieve it...it going to be a very bumpy road but we will get there, I promise!

This is My First Post

Welcome!

I want to refer to this web blog as a baby blog. Here is a little background about me and my story. My husband and I have been trying for about two years to achieve the goals that many couples dream of: having a baby. Many couples achieve their goals of starting a family w/in months but for many inlcluding myself having to wait month after month to achieve this goal is a tough process. It's been two years of trying and trying and trust me the goals of achieving this very miracoulous goal can get very emotional, ask my DH...we have been married for five years now and he has probably seem more tears from me than that of his sister and mother combined.

I have started this baby blog because this will help me ease the emotional streeses of this the baby wish I want to achieve.