Posted in IVF, Pregnancy on 10/19/2009 03:29 pm by Michelle
It has been 21 days since the start of my last cycle and today we are to begin the process for Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET). As you recall from my last post, our issue is implantation. No area of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been as misunderstood as implantation failure. Before an embryo can implant in the lining of the uterine cavity, it must first break out or “hatch” from the shell that surrounds it. It is at this point where our doctor believes that my immune system is not allowing our embryo’s to implant. It is his best guess, as our embryo’s are perfect.
We (well me) only needs to take one shot to suppress ovulation this time, which in itself is exciting, as you really feel like a pin cushion during this process. Once I get my period, I will need to take Estrogen twice a day for up to 7 days. Then Progesterone is added twice a day (and you recall how I feel about the progesterone). Since the doctor is going with the assumption that my immune system is wonky, he will be adding two drugs: Intravenous Inter-lipid which is a mild steroid (I am hoping this does not give me whiskers) and Heparin, a blood thinner.
It is amazing how my mood improves once the process starts again – I am excited that this is the round that we get the great news we have been waiting for. Third Time Lucky.
Posted in Humour on 10/10/2009 10:07 am by Michelle
Dirk: I think your hot.
Mich: Thanks, I think your good-looking too. It makes up for all the stupid shit you do.
Posted in Humour on 10/05/2009 11:00 pm by Michelle
My husband Dirk posted a blog regarding his extremely poor memory. Yesterday I got to experience – something – not sure what to call it.
While helping Dirk prepare dinner, I was asked to cut a lemon in half for him. I grabbed the lemon, split it in two and handed him half. I then noticed the little sticker that the grocery clerk uses to id the produce. In my usually manner, I removed the sticker and promptly suck it to Dirk’s ear. I then finished what I was doing and moved on to another task in another part of the house. An hour must have past when Dirk yells from upstairs – in my alarm I run to the stairs to see if he is okay. While looking in the mirror, he noticed something on his ear and was alarmed to find a sticker. I actually stood there looking at him dumbfounded. He had no idea how it got there or how long he had been wondering the house with it on. In his alarm, he was worried that he had gone jogging with it on.
I am not sure what to say – it was not a sneak attach like I was placing a ‘kick me’ sign on his back without him knowing. I walked over and stuck it to his ear, giggled, then continued what I was doing. I am sure glad he’s good-looking.
Posted in IVF, Pregnancy on 09/28/2009 05:50 pm by Michelle
It has been a difficult week struggling with the reality that there maybe something more wrong with me then just my age. We were thinking this process would be easy – one round and we are pregnant. This is just a technical difficulty due to a hasty decision to get a vasectomy – we got this nailed. Besides, the women in my family smell sperm a mile away and get pregnant!
Today, we met with the doctor. The news is still very positive, we have exceptional embryo’s, especially at my age. This leads him to conclude a couple of options: a) We were just beaten by the odds or b) I have an over active immune system that is not allowing the embryo’s to implant.
With eight frozen embryo’s, the decision is made that this round will be a frozen embryo transfer (FET) which will be much easier on my body. There will be no fertility drugs, but I will be taking the estrogen and progesterone to prepare. As you recall from my previous blog, this is where crap gets messy. Finally, they will introduce a steroid and a blood thinner to ensure my immune system gives these embryo’s a fighting chance.
I leave the doctor’s office armed with literature on the FET process and a requisition for a few more tests. I feel great, like we keep hitting snooze on my biological clock.
Posted in IVF, Pregnancy on 09/21/2009 01:10 pm by Michelle
The wait is over – today I wake up early and go to the lab for a blood test. I plan to be the first person there. I get up a 7:30 am to be there for 8 am. To my surprise the place is packed with more grey hairs then seniors day at the grocery store. I take a number and try to wait patiently for my turn. These 12 days have been so hard and I just want the results. My turn comes and the blood is drawn. In my anxisous state I ask how long to process and fax the results over to my doctor. The lady tells me that the van to take the samples to the main lab for processing does not even arrive until 10 am – so it will be late afternoon until I get my results.
When I get home I relay these details to Dirk. He wants me to call the centre to ensure they call us stat with the results – the clinical coordinator promises she will. It is 12:30 pm when the call comes – she is sorry to report that the results are negative. This time I know better then to question the results. There is no need to pee on the stick to confirm.
BFN – Big Fat Negative.
Posted in Health, IVF, Pregnancy on 09/19/2009 04:00 am by Michelle
During the IVF process – I have discovered many things about my body that I think I should have already known – but it is not until you are deeply entwined in the process that you realize how much of an idiot you are about how the girl parts work.
After the multitude of shots to suppress ovulation, stimulate follicle growth, and drop mature eggs – your ovaries are really not working just yet. So, prior to embryo transfer, you will need to simulate two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen helps maintain the endometrial lining of the uterus, while progesterone prepares the lining for implantation of a fertilized egg.
Estrace pills are taken three times a day to ensure estrogen levels are being maintained. But the prometrium, that mimics the progesterone, is required to be taken inter-vaginally every eight hours.
Now, we have all had to insert a tampon or two in our day, so we are all familiar with the area and the concept. Put a pill on the end of your finger and push it in as far as you can. But hold on, no body told me there is going to be discharge that ends up yucking up the panties.
I started by wearing pantie liners – but this lead to a bad diaper rash. Great, not only am I impatient with the 12 day wait and have this stupid discharge, but I am now itchy and sore.
Posted in Health, IVF, Pregnancy on 09/17/2009 11:23 am by Michelle
As many of you know, Dirk and I are trying to have a baby. Dirk has been keeping the masses update via his blog on our IVF process, but I thought it was time for me to express my thoughts.
Our first transfer – I felt nothing. No sore boobs. No cramping. No anything. The outcome was negative, we were not pregnant. I am in shock – I do not believe the doctor – I question him like a idiot. Are you sure? Yes. What is my hCG? Zero. Just in case you are wondering – hCG (the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is produced during pregnancy and in the first weeks is usually between 5 – 426 mIU/ml, doubling every 48 hours. So zero is not a good number.
With our second transfer, I feel different. I have had sore boobs for about a week now. Several days I have had cramping – almost like I am going to get my period. I have had a headache now for 4 days. There are waves of nausea. And the topper, I was watching ‘Meet the Fockers’ and got teary – this is a comedy folks!!
Now I wonder, is this in my head? Am I making them up? Are these just signs of my period and that again this did not work?
I go to get a new toothbrush today and came home with a pregnancy test. I put it away and hope that I can make it until Monday before losing my mind. Patience.
Posted in Environment on 05/01/2009 04:59 pm by Michelle
Yesterday marked the end of the 30 day ‘Reduce Challenge’ and we still only have the garage bin a little under a 1/3 filled. Which is very remarkable for us. There are still a few areas we need improve on – paper towels seems to be our largest contribution to the bin. Here is a summary of what we did to reduce;
- Purchased a Compost for Food Scraps (still working on the Pet Waste Compost)
- Tried to improve our purchasing choices ensuring the materials could be recycled
- Items not picked up curb side, found recycle drop offs within the city (such as items as plastic, styrofoam
, milk cartons, and tetra packs need to be dropped off)
- Stopped buying bottle water (see http://mymindsink.com/kill-bottled-water/)
- Use cloth bags for all purchases – including clothing – most retailers also give a small discount off your bill when you use your own bag
- Stopped using paper napkins – this is different from paper towels
- Return metal hangers to the dry cleaners
It was an interesting 30 days and it did not seem to effect us too much – just me picking through the garbage a few times to pull out compostable and recyclable items – then lecturing my husband and niece.
I think we are on the right path and will continue this new Green way of living – I just hope they will not kick me out of the house.
Posted in Environment on 04/17/2009 02:34 pm by Michelle
It is now 17 days since we started the ‘Reduce Challenge’ – and we had to take the garbage out for the first time. The good news is that it was only half a bag. The bad news is that it was mostly paper towels and the dog has a bladder infection.
I know what you are thinking – what are we doing with the dog and cat waste. Right now, I am embarrassed to say, we have not picked up the dog poop in the yard. As for the cat, we have two bags sitting outside. I have been procrastinating if we can actual compost the waste.
After some research I found you can compost both just don’t use it with your vegetable garden, which could contaminate your home grown produce and land up in your (very unhappy) belly. If you have room in your backyard, you can bury an old garbage bin (note: far away from your vegetable garden) to use as a pet-waste composter. Composting cat-litter is also a responsible way to keep potentially hazardous parasites and waste — like e. coli, toxoplasmosis, ammonia, and nitrate — out of our landfills and waterways. That’s also why pregnant women and people with immune deficiencies should never clean a cat box.
Whether you’re scooping for a kitty or a pooch, composting your pet’s waste will prevent it from polluting waterways and from taking up space in landfills.
Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.”