Week 2 - IVF Journey

So today starts two weeks into our IVF treatments. I am getting used to the pills now. I still have stomach pains and headaches daily but the nausea has gone away. For now. I got a call from my nurse and we setup my MET (Mock Embryo Transfer) and the two hour injections class that both Mac and I have to attend. I'm only going to the class to take notes. I can't look at those needles, therefore I do not give myself the shots. I would pass out if I had to. Thank God I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband that wants to help. Wait... is it that he wants to help or that he gets some sort of sick pleasure from jabbing a sharp metal object into my stomach every day? Hmm? LOL... I'm just kidding. I know I have a great man and am thankful for that.

So both things are being done on September 2nd. The MET (Mock Embryo Transfer) is just that... a mock drill for the real thing that will happen some time mid September. It measures the angle and depth of my cervix and uterus and the thickness of my uterine lining. They do this by inserting a long catheter through my cervix to my uterus. It's necessary to ensure the actual embryo transfer goes smoothly and embryo implantation is optimized. Doesn't that sound lovely. Oh and I forgot to mention that I have to do this with a full bladder. Yup... I know... fun!!!

That's all I have for now. Need to go feed myself because these pills make me hungry. Another bad side effect. I love food so it's not all that bad... but I could do without the weight gain and bloated feeling all day. Yuck!

Week 1 - IVF Journey

So we just got back from the beach yesterday, wishing I was still there, but its nice to sleep in my own bed. We started the treatments on Wednesday and its been crap. I have to take birth control pills for 21 days before the fun 10-12 days of injections start. The pills are the worst and making me very sick. I wake up nauseous with sharp shooting stomach pains. I don't miss these things at all. They suck big time. I have 17 days left and I hope they go by fast.

I'm going to lay down now. Will post again soon.

Our IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) Journey

I'm sorry I've been out of touch. I know it's been a couple months since I last updated about our struggles with conceiving. I'm here now and going to try to fill you in without missing something, but a lot has happened in our lives.

For starters, Mac and I were told by our RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) that we could do another IUI cycle and risk having another ectopic pregnancy (your chance doubles when you've had one previously), or we could go forth with IVF. Those three letters send a wave of emotions through my body every time I say them. I spent a lot of time asking why this was happening to us. "I can't believe we have to go through this... we're healthy 35 year olds... what's the problem?" Well I'm done asking because I get no where. The more I ask the more I stay in this place of self pity. After a lot of discussion, we decided that we wanted to do this, but we had to come up with the money. I had half of the cost in a savings account that I received from my accident settlement and the other half we would need to get a loan. Yikes! We already had two car loans, a mortgage and an used up equity line of credit loan... what were we to do? One of the options was to decrease some of the loan amounts, but no dice for the mortgages or the car loans. Mac made a decision and traded in his fully loaded 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T w/a HEMI and custom wheels. That car was his baby, but now he was making a sacrifice so he could try to have a baby of his own. I was in awe of his commitment to see this through to the end.

After we made the decision to go forth with IVF, we talked to our RE and he wanted us to take two months off to make sure the chemo drugs were out of my system. He gave us an option of doing one IVF treatment per cycle or try their Shared Risk Program (SRP). The SRP allows couples who don't have any insurance coverage for IVF to try up to six times for one flat rate. If you don't get a live birth after six tries you get a full refund. We can also cancel at anytime and get a full refund. Once we gave the the okay I had to go in for a few tests and since all came back good our RE went ahead and presented our case to the SRP committee. They approved us for the program and a contract was drawn up. We just got the contract last night and I delivered it this morning with the full payment. We're on our way!!!!!

I will start the medical treatments as soon as my next cycle starts, which should be in the next two weeks. The IVF process takes longer then a normal cycle and an IUI cycle, so we want to get started now. We have to go to a self injections class (two hours long) so Mac can learn how to mix the meds and then inject them into my stomach. He got pretty good at this with the last two IUI cycles, but now the injections have tripled. Then I have to go through a Mock Embryo Transfer. Not looking forward to it. The first IVF process from day one should last approximately 26-30 days.

My protocol looks like this:

Step One - Ovulation Induction

Hormone injections are given to stimulate multiple egg production rather than the single egg normally produced by the body each month. Daily gonadotropin injections are then added to stimulate the development of the eggs (3 to 4 shots a day for 10-14 days). These are usually given subcutaneously (under the skin) and are much less uncomfortable than the previous generations of medication. I will then go to the doctors every few days so they can monitor the progress of ovulation induction with ultrasounds and blood estrogen levels. Once I'm ready to trigger Mac will need to give me an injection in the rear... not looking forward to that at all.

Step Two - Egg Retrieval

An egg retrieval is performed by placing a special needle into the ovarian follicle and removing the fluid that contains the egg. This is a relatively minor procedure and is performed by visualizing the follicles with a vaginal ultrasound probe. A needle is directed alongside the probe, through the vaginal wall, and into the ovary. To avoid any discomfort, strong, short acting intravenous sedation is provided.

Step Three - Fertilization and Embryo Culture

Once the follicular fluid is removed from the follicle, the eggs are identified by the embryologist and placed into an incubator. The eggs are fertilized with sperm later that day by conventional insemination (meaning Mac's swimmers have to do the work).

During conventional insemination approximately 50,000 sperm are placed with each egg in a culture dish and left together overnight to undergo the fertilization process.

The eggs will be checked the following day to document fertilization and again the next day to evaluate for early cell division. They are now called embryos and are placed in a solution called media to promote growth.

On day two or three after fertilization, the embryos will be evaluated for blastocyst culture. If there is a sufficient number of dividing embryos they will be placed in special blastocyst media and grown for two or three additional days.

Step Four - Embryo Transfer

Embryos may be transferred on day 3, 5, or 6 after egg retrieval. Transfers on day 5 or 6 are called Blastocyst Transfers. They are placed through the cervix into the uterine cavity using a small, soft catheter. This procedure usually requires no anesthesia. It is similar to the Mock Embryo Transfer which will be performed prior to the actual IVF cycle. I'm pretty sure that I may have to get the anesthesia.

Step 5 - Testing for Pregnancy

If I'm pregnant, they will follow my progress with blood work and ultrasounds for four weeks before referring me back to my obstetrician for continued care.

So now you have an idea of what we're willing to go through to have a child of our own. It's not for the faint of heart. You have to be mentally, physically and emotionally strong. Don't get me wrong, I have my weak moments, but I also have God walking with me through this journey and he is who gives me strength.

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." - Exodus 15-2

Thank you for following along on this incredible roller coaster ride with us. Stay tuned for updates and I will try to do better at updating our blog.

LY!

Baby by Justin Beiber (acoustic cover)