IVF - and so it begins..AGAIN!

Well, it all began on March 18th, (yes, Cooper's birthday) I had my first appointment at the Iowa City Clinics in Davenport. Tom and I were planning waiting, however my position at McGraw-Hill was being eliminated and not knowing if I was going to find something within the company, I wanted to take advantage of the great infertility insurance they had, so I made my appointment back in February and the soonest they could get me in was March 18! I took it, because I know it's not a quick/easy process and the sooner the better. Well, it all worked out and I did find another position within the company so it wasn't really that big of a deal, but since I had my appointment made and all, we just went with it. I did inform my new boss but they were fine with it, heck what could they do???

So March 18th, I went down to Davenport with a Friend of mine, Tom stayed back and worked, we knew the process so we didn't think it was necessary for him to take off work, knowing he'd have to take time off once the the time got closer, plus he doesn't have a lot of vacation time. So Julie and I went down, she went shopping and I met with the doctors. They really just looked over my previous IVF cycle and went from there. Not much changed. The first thing the doctor said to me was "I did your retrieval" but he wasn't doing it this time. The doctors there seem pretty "old" and are about to retire, but hey, if he did it one successfully, I'd be more than happy for him to do it again, but we will have a different (younger) doctor. And those were his words! Anyway, as I was sitting there, all he did was update few things and asked a few questions. After he, Dr. Davis, was done, the nurse came in with all the paperwork and my instructions for the next few months. It just so happened, my cycle that month, did not fall during the times they do IVF. They have down times, so I had to wait an extra month, not a big deal.

So in the meantime we had to do a few things, first being I had to have a thyroid and Tom had to have a semen analysis and that had to be done in Davenport, note-we live an hour away, so it would work for me to bring the sample to Davenport. So Tom and I made a special trip to Davenport a few weeks after, we had about a month to do it. I know TMI huh?? I'll get on with it...So in the meantime, I had to start a birth control pill on the first day of my next period and call to check in and make sure I received all my medicines which I ordered right away thinking my flex spending was going to quit if I had not got my new job, so I had everything but 1 thing at my house, ready to go!

When the time came and everything was scheduled, I received the date to take my last pill - June 2nd! June 4th I had to make a trip down to Davenport, Tom came with this time, for an ultrasound, what they look for here is how my ovaries look. The pill helps control everything, this way they can measure and see what and how much medicine I need. I swear there is a science and for someone to have to figure that out, is a genius!! Crazy! So after my ultrasound, we meet with the nurse who goes over all our meds and makes sure we have everything and gives up a demonstration on how to give the injections and so on. Tom is a pro so it was pretty laid back. LOL After everything in Davenport, we had to make a trip to Iowa City, which is where the procedure is done, to pick up a prescription, which we knew we had to pick up because its one where the doctor has to call in so we get the right stuff. We made a day out of it, went shopping and of course had supper in Iowa City at shorts burger and shine I'm pretty sure I blogged about it. It was the best burger I've had!

June 5th, Wednesday, was my first injection in my thigh. For 2 days I only had one shot, actually it was one shot in the morning and one shot in the evening, the same medicine - Leuprolide

June 7th, I added another shot, this was in my belly. Morning and evening shot of Leuprolide and an evening shot of Follistim in my belly.

June 10th, Monday, blood draw (all blood draws were in Dubuque thankfully) after the results I was told to start another shot, so a total of 3 shots. Leuprolide in the morning and evening, one shot of Follistim in the evening and one shot of Monpur in the belly. So 2 shots in my belly and one shot, am and pm, in my leg/thigh area.

June 12th, Wednesday, blood draw in AM and Ultrasound in Davenport. Every ultrasound they measure my follicles, this is what houses the egg. They want these to be at least 19mm in diameter, I think, and to have at least 20. Don't quote me on the numbers but that's what remember. I don't know how many I had at this appointment. Continue with all meds as noted above.

June 14th, Friday, blood draw in AM and Ultrasound in Davenport. This ultrasounds was good, however the sizes of my follicles were not quite ready so that means we have to come back. But when we leave there, it's just hearsay, until they hear back from the doctors in Iowa City, so at this point they thought my trigger shot would be possibly that day or the next. Once we heard back from the doctor they said "nope, keep doing your shots and come back Sunday for another ultrasound" :(

June 16th (Father's Day), ultrasound. Yeah, fun Father's day huh? My ultrasound was early so we got back home probably before noon. The nurse called and said we'd like to see Monday! NOOOOOO!! We thought forsure my trigger shot would be today. The nurse in Davenport was really shocked as well. Same meds again.

June 17th, Monday, no blood draw, just Ultrasound. This ultrasound was a little better but still not quite larger, I was like "come on" The drive to Davenport is so boring I didn't want to have to go down again. However, the nurses called and said well, the doctors think you're good to go. They would like to see them a little bigger, however they think if we wait I may over stimulate, if that were to happen I might not get as many eggs as they like, so this day was trigger day. Trigger means, the BIG SHOT/NEEDLE its the HCG shot with produces my eggs. They tell you the exact time to inject it, then 36 hours from that time is your egg retrieval day. So 9:30 was the time. Tom put it straight in my ass! Not really, more like my hip/glute area. It's an intramuscular shot - ouch!

June 19th, Retrieval day!! We had to be in Iowa City an hour before hand because Tom had to donate his sperm, you know we can't do this without that! Once that was done, got right in and put me in my gown and robe, the nurse and doctor did there things and explained everything. I swear Iowa City is the best! Everyone is kind and helpful and they really make you feel at home. The anesthesiologist came in, put an IV in and I walked back to the operating room. Tom in the meantime went to get a massage, yes there is a massage parlor in the hospital. We've walked by it numerous times and he always said he was going to get one. Well, he had to wait about 45 minutes to an hour, so why not. Well, I was out within 45 minutes, so they say, felt more like 10 hours when you're put out, but the nurses said "we can't find your husband, he's not in the waiting room" I'm like "he's probably getting a massage" It was too funny, anyway, he got back a few minutes later (the massage parlor was closed) and came back to my room. I was in a little pain, it feels like menstrual cramps. The nurses informed me they retrieved 19 eggs! They gave me the number to call the next day to tell me all the stats. They then gave me some medicine and off we went once I was able to use the restroom, just to pee. Tom wheeled me down to the car and off we went. I started feeling crappy, because I was hungry, they don't want you to eat, so I was hungry. I wanted Chick-fil-A and Tom found one, he had to into the mall to get it but it was good! I didn't eat much because I thought I was going to throw up, but I didn't. I rested on the way home, stopping a couple of times thinking I was going to throw up but all was good. Came home to visit with my brother Luke who was home visiting dad! Here we had to start a new shot - progesterone in oil, this I'll take for the next 5 to 6 weeks, everyday. It's an intramuscular shot as well and it goes in my hip like my trigger shot, just not as big of a needle.


June 20th called the IVF line, it's a voice messaging system that informs me what they retrieved and how many are inseminated.  I had 19 eggs retrieved and 14 were inseminated via ICSI and that my transfer day will be in 5 days. It's either 3 or 5 days depending on how they are growing or something. So I had to call back Saturday to get my transfer time.

June 22nd called to get my transfer time - Monday at 1:15

June 24th transfer day!! We had to be there a half hour early. (We went extra early to stop and eat at our favorite burger place again)! Tom got into his scrubs and I got into my gown and robe. He gets to come back with me during the transfer. We waited quite a while in the procedure room but once the doctors and nurses all came in, we were in and out in 20 minutes. We got to see the whole procedure. They put the ultrasound wand on my belly and you can see them inject the eggs, yes 2, into my uterus. I then had to sit there for about 10 minutes and we were good to go. We went straight home, because they don't want me doing anything all day! Mom and dad came up with a casserole to eat supper with us. It was so nice having them there, especially to help with Cooper.

And here are our babies!

If you look close enough, the 2 that are circles, number 4 and 6 are the two they transferred into my uterus! Please pray they took, we'd be happy with just one though!

June 28th started my Estrogen patch. Since I'm now 38, they say our estrogen decreases and we need this to help carry a baby. I don't know I just do what I'm told. They are not fun, they itch and get all gross and stuff. But if it's worth it, I don't care.

July 3rd Pregnancy Test day!! So excited but so nervous! I went in early to the lab, it's a blood draw and they fax the results the same day. I got a call around 2:30, I was nervous because the last time I got a call right away like 9am, so I was thinking "oh great, I'm probably not pregnant and  they are probably figuring out what to do next. But I was wrong...I'M PREGNANT!! My number was 52, they are testing my HCG, which is your hormone level and anything over 50 is considered pregnant. They also tested my estrogen and that was low, so they put me on an estrogen pill as well as my patches. I was ecstatic but still not 100% confident because the nurse didn't seem to excited, unlike last time where the nurse called and is like "CONGRATULATION, YOU'RE PREGNANT" maybe because this is my 2nd time around I was expecting more..anyway I was doing the happy dance. They wanted me to go for another one on Friday the 5th, however we were in Chicago, but that doesn't matter, so...

July 5th in Chicago, I had to find a lab, which I found on the 3rd and talked to a lab in the area, the Iowa City nurses faxed the work order and I went in Friday morning and got my blood drawn, they said it wasn't marked same day, it was but these 2 guys at the lab were kind of flighty, I don't know, I didn't get a good vibe probably because I'm so used to the lab I go to here. So the nurse called and said they did not do same day test so keep doing the same medicines, still doing the progesterone shot, estrogen pill and patch, as well my thyroid pill, and we'll call you tomorrow with the results.

July 6th received a call about 10am that they received my blood test and your number is only 62 :( I just about cried. She said they like to see the number higher, but still did not rule anything out. She said "there is a sign of pregnancy however it's not progressing" so of course, I assume I'm not pregnant! The nurse told me to go Monday to MY lab between 10:30 and 11:00am, this is 72 hours since my last blood draw and to keep taking my meds. It wasn't a good day, I had lots of tears but Tom said "don't worry about it, it will all work out!

July 8th blood draw in Dubuque! I went between 10:30 and 11:00, received a call at 1:30 (mom was there) and my numbers were 214! OMG, what a relief! The nurse said that is awesome and that your pregnancy looks to be right on track! She wanted one more test on Wednesday, this time betweeen 11:00 and noon. Wow, talk about a roller-coaster of emotions.

July 10th blood draw. I got there about 11:30, came home and didn't hear from the nurse, again I'm thinking bad thoughts when I don't hear from them right away. I called, left a message and about 15 minutes later the nurse called and said they had to call the lab for my blood test, they forgot to fax them. Anyway, the nurse said CONGRATUATIONS RACHAEL, YOU'RE PREGNANT! My number was 632! No more blood work!! Same shot, estrogen pill and patch plus they want me to up my thyroid pill, so I'm taking 2 extra pills a week for that.

Now just another ultrasound next Thursday, the 18th. I'm going to Davenport for this just because but normally I would do this in Dubuque. I'm not sure what they are going to be able to tell, not sure if you can hear a heartbeat yet, but at least I'll know if there is one or two, I think I'll know! More to come after my ultrasound.