Post by akcheryl on Mar 14, 2007 10:49:23 GMT -5
I thought I'd post a thread on how IVF is going so far.
As many of you know, I was diagnosed at the beginning of December with Stage 4 endo. After my lap, I spoke to several different doctors (a few OBGYNs, 2 GPs, a reproductive endocrinologist, a couple different surgeons, etc.), who all said that IVF is really my only chance of getting pregnant. My husband is also in med school, and this is consistent with what he's learned (in fact, when some of the other med students found out I'm stage 4, their responses were always "oh no, when are you going to do IVF?")...
So, I made an appointment with the best reproductive endocrinologist in the area. She has turned out to be a wonderful doctor and I feel completely comfortable with her.
At my initial consultation, I had an ultrasound which revealed a 3.7 cm functional cyst on my left ovary. I was put on birth control, as is normal with IVF, to "calm down" my ovaries and hopefully shrink the cyst. I also had blood work done, including HIV testing, RBR (for syphillis), rubella, TSH, T4, T3, FSH, LH, prolactin, progesterone, etc.
The fertility clinic also held a mandatory injection class, in which the head nurse went over all the different IVF medications, she explained everything that goes on during IVF (the doctor had already gone through the process before, but I'd rather hear it several times than never), and she demonstrated how to give both subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
I had problems with spotting while on the birth control (Femcon Fe), and while I was still taking it I actually started full-on red bleeding. I still had about 2 or 3 days left of taking the pill (out of 3 weeks), but I was told to go into the clinic for blood work and another ultrasound.
At the ultrasound, they saw that my cyst had shrunken, but it was still 2.6 cm and too large to start IVF injections. I was told to go off birth control for 2 days (to thin out my endometrial lining), and then go straight into another 3 weeks of active BC pills.
The second 3 weeks of BC were a bit better than the first (I had never taken BC at all before), but I still experienced a lot of breakthrough bleeding and cramping. I took my last BC pill last week, and had another appointment at the fertility clinic last Friday (the 9th).
The ultrasound on the 9th showed that my cyst was gone! I went to work and waited for a call from the clinic (the nurses have been wonderful about calling me and giving me instructions on what to do and when). About mid-day, I was told to start injections on Saturday, the 10th.
The first injection was nervewracking - I hate needles and didn't know what to expect. Just before 10pm, my husband prepared 4 vials of Repronex (a drug to stimulate my ovaries to produce multiple follicles). The injection wasn't quite as bad as I had worried it would be, and it helped to lay down on the bed while I was getting the shot.
So far, I've had 4 injections. Yesterday, on Tuesday, the 13th, I had blood work and another ultrasound. Unfortunately, my estrogen levels are a bit too low, so I was bumped up to 5 vials of Repronex (I had been taking 4 vials per night, but switched to 5 last night). I was also instructed to start subcutaneous shots (that go in my thigh) of Antagon (to halt premature ovulation) on Thursday night at 10pm.
I have another appointment for blood work and an ultrasound on Friday morning. Hopefully my estrogen levels will be higher this time.
Emotionally, I think my husband and I are doing as well as can be expected in this situation. We started ttc in fall of 2005, so we've had a lot of disappointment. In a way, it's depressing that IVF is our only real shot at having a biological baby, but I also have peace of mind that we're doing everything we possibly can. I know that there are very real chances that IVF will not work or that it will take several attempts and a lot of money, but I could not accept not trying - it's really helping me to know that we're doing everything within our power.
And while the shots, blood draws, ultrasounds, etc. aren't fun, I would do anything for my children (even before they're conceived). I could cry about the situation and the pain, but that wouldn't help anything and I don't want to live like that. So we're trying to be as positive as we can, and hopefully remaining stress-free (if possible) will help us in our endeavor.
As many of you know, I was diagnosed at the beginning of December with Stage 4 endo. After my lap, I spoke to several different doctors (a few OBGYNs, 2 GPs, a reproductive endocrinologist, a couple different surgeons, etc.), who all said that IVF is really my only chance of getting pregnant. My husband is also in med school, and this is consistent with what he's learned (in fact, when some of the other med students found out I'm stage 4, their responses were always "oh no, when are you going to do IVF?")...
So, I made an appointment with the best reproductive endocrinologist in the area. She has turned out to be a wonderful doctor and I feel completely comfortable with her.
At my initial consultation, I had an ultrasound which revealed a 3.7 cm functional cyst on my left ovary. I was put on birth control, as is normal with IVF, to "calm down" my ovaries and hopefully shrink the cyst. I also had blood work done, including HIV testing, RBR (for syphillis), rubella, TSH, T4, T3, FSH, LH, prolactin, progesterone, etc.
The fertility clinic also held a mandatory injection class, in which the head nurse went over all the different IVF medications, she explained everything that goes on during IVF (the doctor had already gone through the process before, but I'd rather hear it several times than never), and she demonstrated how to give both subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
I had problems with spotting while on the birth control (Femcon Fe), and while I was still taking it I actually started full-on red bleeding. I still had about 2 or 3 days left of taking the pill (out of 3 weeks), but I was told to go into the clinic for blood work and another ultrasound.
At the ultrasound, they saw that my cyst had shrunken, but it was still 2.6 cm and too large to start IVF injections. I was told to go off birth control for 2 days (to thin out my endometrial lining), and then go straight into another 3 weeks of active BC pills.
The second 3 weeks of BC were a bit better than the first (I had never taken BC at all before), but I still experienced a lot of breakthrough bleeding and cramping. I took my last BC pill last week, and had another appointment at the fertility clinic last Friday (the 9th).
The ultrasound on the 9th showed that my cyst was gone! I went to work and waited for a call from the clinic (the nurses have been wonderful about calling me and giving me instructions on what to do and when). About mid-day, I was told to start injections on Saturday, the 10th.
The first injection was nervewracking - I hate needles and didn't know what to expect. Just before 10pm, my husband prepared 4 vials of Repronex (a drug to stimulate my ovaries to produce multiple follicles). The injection wasn't quite as bad as I had worried it would be, and it helped to lay down on the bed while I was getting the shot.
So far, I've had 4 injections. Yesterday, on Tuesday, the 13th, I had blood work and another ultrasound. Unfortunately, my estrogen levels are a bit too low, so I was bumped up to 5 vials of Repronex (I had been taking 4 vials per night, but switched to 5 last night). I was also instructed to start subcutaneous shots (that go in my thigh) of Antagon (to halt premature ovulation) on Thursday night at 10pm.
I have another appointment for blood work and an ultrasound on Friday morning. Hopefully my estrogen levels will be higher this time.
Emotionally, I think my husband and I are doing as well as can be expected in this situation. We started ttc in fall of 2005, so we've had a lot of disappointment. In a way, it's depressing that IVF is our only real shot at having a biological baby, but I also have peace of mind that we're doing everything we possibly can. I know that there are very real chances that IVF will not work or that it will take several attempts and a lot of money, but I could not accept not trying - it's really helping me to know that we're doing everything within our power.
And while the shots, blood draws, ultrasounds, etc. aren't fun, I would do anything for my children (even before they're conceived). I could cry about the situation and the pain, but that wouldn't help anything and I don't want to live like that. So we're trying to be as positive as we can, and hopefully remaining stress-free (if possible) will help us in our endeavor.