Tag Archives: male factor infertility

Plans for Round 4

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We had the follow up appointment today. I think it went well and I’m ready to tackle this next round. We decided to start up again in July because my parents are coming to visit in June (they’ll likely be here for a stims in July. That’ll be nice for them to experience the process. I’ll make them do my shots lol) and then I also have 5 days of PTO that I need to take before they expire at the end of June. We’re still not sure where to go. I want to go somewhere up north (Maine/New Hampshire) that’s quiet and secluded. Maybe near a lake. Just the two of us. Do any of you perhaps have any recommendations?

I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a second opinion. I’m still on the fence. This  appointment went so well and I really do trust my RE. The only other person that has been recommended to me is another RE at the same clinic but I’m having a serious attack of conscience re: not wanting to hurt my RE’s feelings. How ridiculous is that? I really love my clinic so don’t want to switch anyway so this new RE has been at the back of my mind for a few days. Also, N isn’t keen on leaving our RE just yet either. He believes in him. So I’ve decided to stick with Dr G just one more round. Especially after today’s appointment. And if I change my mind after doing some reading and getting opinions I’ll have most of June to get a second opinion. Anyway,  onto the appointment. I’ll do bullet points like I did with everyone else.

1. We’re going to do the Microdose Lupron Flare protocol. Or Microflare or Flare or whatever. He said he’s taking the gloves off and wants to try to get 18-20 eggs out of me. I’m excited about the prospect of getting that many eggs but let’s see what happens. I’m not going to get my hopes up too high. I thought he was pushing my E2 before at around 2000+ but he said we can go up to 5000 since we’re doing a freeze all. Whoop! In the past I haven’t felt too many crazy symptoms from stimming but I think I should prepare myself for crazy town. Now I haven’t read much about this protocol so if anyone has done this or knows someone who has, do you have any information please?
2. I did repeat bloods last weekend and all my results fell within normal range. I did, however, notice my antral follicle count was only 10. That bummed me out. But he said that my TSH came back at 2.66 and they want it at 2.5 or below. He said any other doctor wouldn’t give this another thought but since we’re trying to get pregnant he’d rather it be within range. They tested again today and if it’s still above 2.5 then I’ll get some meds during stims to help. Again, I know nothing about thyroid stuff. I wonder if my shitty diet has something to do with it.
3. He did bring up donor sperm. He said it’s going to be harder for us because of my sub-par eggs and N’s sperm but he’ll only seriously suggest donor sperm if we’re sick of all these failures. But if we’re in it for the long haul then so is he but he has to let us know that donor sperm is an option. I’m not opposed to any donor of any kind but I’d like to exhaust all our options first.
4. I can’t remember why we did this but he tested me for Fragile X today as well. I think it has something to do with embryo or egg quality and Fragile X being a reason. I’m not sure but we tested for it anyway.
5. I asked him about clomid for N to get his count up and he said he’s not opposed to it but N would have to get a prescription from a urologist. We’ll set that appointment up soon. Another reason to take a break. I have a feeling clomid only works after 3 months but let’s see what a urologist says.
6. I asked about PICSI an he sent and email to the embryologist for their opinion. I’m going to push for this. I read that it only increases live pregnancy rates by 15% but it’s 15% we didn’t have before.
7. And lastly, my pesky little cyst is a non-issue. Yay!
And there you have it. I’m excited for round 4 but I’m also excited for the break. Work is going to be pumping since it’s the end of the school year, so I’m glad there’s no IVF to distract me. I feel like it’s going to be over in a blink so that’s even more exciting.
Today I feel good about this appointment. I feel good about this protocol. I feel good about taking a break. I feel good about N being eager to try clomid (or anything for that matter).
I feel good.

Beers and Tears

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And with that our third IVF cycle comes to an end. Our poor little embryo turned out to be unbalanced.

Our poor little embryo.

We’re doing okay. I’d say we’re relieved to the back of this shitty cycle. The follow-up appointment is on Tuesday. I’m anxious to get in there and hear what he has to say. I wonder if he’s ready to pull out the big guns yet. What would the big guns be I wonder?

Anyway, I don’t have anything else to report. I’ll post an update on Tuesday.

It Only Takes One

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Well that’s all we have left so hopefully this old saying rings true.

My husband said the other night that hopefully his father will help us out this round. If you’re out there dad, you’re certainly keeping us on our toes but we will of course name the baby after you if you let us keep it.

 

Thanks for the continued prayers and support and crossed fingers. I really appreciate all of you. I’ll have results next week.

❤ ❤

 

Please!

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I didn’t get a call on Sunday for some reason but yesterday I heard that we only have three embryos left on day three.

I cried. Will we ever get more than 3 embryos to biopsy? The numbers are just getting worse and worse the more cycles we do. If this cycle fails I’m going to start looking at other clinics. And I really don’t want to do that. I love my clinic. I despise the distance with every ounce of my being but I know that driving in to Boston for appointments and such isn’t going to be fun either. Do I just stay the course then? Because the commute is my only gripe at this stage.

Anyway. So, three. They supposed to be biopsied tomorrow. Please please please guys, just hang in there. We need some good news, please.

IVF: Season 3, Episode 6 & 7

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Date: 4.21.16 – 4.22.16

Starring: 75iu Menopur, 300iu Gonal-F, 250mcg Ganirelix, 3mg Melatonin, Ubiquinol, Pre-natal, Vit C, D, E, B12.

Produced by: 8 follicles (5 on L, 3 on R) ranging from 10 – 13 mm. Estrodiol at 1012 on day 7.

Directed by: Slight, very slight tightness in the belly area. Sharp pains on the right and left side. No other symptoms.

Synopsis: So far so good. Let’s start yesterday. No monitoring but N did work late so I had to inject myself. I don’t enjoy it. I prefer that he does it but I got through it, thank goodness. I stabbed myself twice with the Menopur. Not sure if anyone has done this before. I stabbed and got such a fright, I yelped and pulled it out and proceeded to laugh at myself for a few minutes. What an idiot. Got it in the second time. Here’s tidbit of info. When N injects the Menopur I feel the burning around the injection site and to distract myself I scratch next to my belly button. I don’t know why, it’s automatic but it cracks N up all the time. So when I was injecting myself I didn’t have any free fingers to scratch as the medicine was going in because I was holding the syringe with one hand and plunging with the other like a complete noob. I ended up awkwardly scratching with my left pinky. Weirdo. And then I dropped the Gonal-F pen before the injection so it was riddled with tiny bubbles I couldn’t do anything about. I just hope that was the last of the night time injections that I do myself. Menopur is a 2 man job in my house.

So this morning at my appointment I was very happy with quiet nurse. She said everything was good. I saw a good amount of follicles but didn’t ask anything. She just said I’m doing really well and they all seem to be growing at the same rate which is awesome. And to make the day better, they let us leave work early so I was actually able to answer the phone call (No reception in my dungeon office. They must do that on purpose) Sadly, I failed at my ‘blissful ignorance’ pledge. We still have 8 follicles which I think is okay for day 7. They’re ranging between 10 and 13mm. My estrogen is at 1012. I’m not sure if that’s okay but the doctor did say he’s going to push body as much as he can. I’m to keep with the same dose of meds which is fine by me. And I’m to go back on Sunday. It feels like a lot of appointments. I don’t like these people that much. I did have to inject myself with Ganirelix after the phone call. I’ve done this before so it wasn’t a train smash (except for the damned blunt needle). I feel like when you add Ganirelix then you’re almost at the end so, yay.

So, so far so good. I was bummed for a second that we only have 8 but then my IVF friend who I told you about sent a pic of a pregnancy test that was faintly positive at 5dpt so that made my day. Like really really.

Best enjoyed with: Split pea soup yesterday and for lunch today… and tonight I’m breaking the rules with shitty box mac n cheese. yay Friday!

Outtakes:

It-all-makes-sense

source: upandout

IVF: Season 3, Episode 3-5

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Date: 4.18.16 – 4.20.16

Starring: 75iu Menopur, 300iu Gonal-F, 5mg Melatonin, Ubiquinol, Pre-natal, Vit C, D, E, B12.

Directed by:
Left Ovary – biggest at 11mm
Right Ovary – biggest at 12mm and 11mm

Synopsis: This really has been the most boring cycle. And tiring. It’s probably the melatonin but I’ve been a zombie all week. But all in all, I’m happy about the mundanity. No surprises, no stress.

All shots have gone off without a hitch. Had my first monitoring appointment this morning. She said I have 5 on one ovary and 3 on another but didn’t say which had which. But shout out to my right ovary for having the 2 biggest so far. My lazy girl has come to the party finally! The voicemail the nurse left wasn’t very informative. She just said, everything is going well and to go back on Friday with Ganirelix. No estrodiol levels or anything. At first I wanted to call to find out but I’m okay not knowing. It’s too early for anything and I don’t want to go on a comparing frenzy anyway. Calm and boring is the name of this game.

So far so good 🙂

Food: Been generally healthy (low carb, low sugar, no booze), minus the cake and prosecco on Sunday. No interesting recipes. In fact, we need to go grocery shopping.

Outtakes: (Prince Eric’s face cracks me up)

How-it-was-supposed-to-be-

source: collegehumor

 

IVF: Season 3, Episode 1 & 2

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Date: 4.16.16 – 4.17.16

Starring: 75iu Menopur, 300iu Gonal-F, 5mg Melatonin, Ubiquinol, Pre-natal, Vit C, D, E, B12.

Synopsis: We’ve had a very full weekend. Day one of stims was actually yesterday but I was so tired I couldn’t be bothered jumping on the laptop. On Friday we went to see a Journey tribute band for N’s cousin’s birthday. I did drink and we got to bed after 2am so I was feeling a bit rough when we had to be up for a rehearsal for our friends’ daughter’s baptism and we spent most of the day with them. N and his friend bought Oculus Rifts but J’s came last week and N is still waiting for his so we spent most of the day playing with J’s. We got home just in time for shots. I actually had to set an alarm because I forgot that we had to be home for them. I’m glad about that. I’m not letting this round run shit. Shots were easy albeit burny. I was quite dizzy afterwards though. I’m feeling the same now. Dizzy and a weird metal taste at the back of my throat. But so far so good.

Today was the baptism. N is godfather. It was a good service and I even said a prayer for all of my ttc sisters out there. Especially my dear friend who I met on an IVF FB group. Today was her 6th transfer. They retrieved 11 eggs and immediately froze 9 fertilized embryos. She then prepared for an FET and they thawed her babies on Tuesday and thankfully she was able to transfer 3 beautiful embryos this morning. She’s been a rock for me since we were cycle buddies last year. I got a bfn and she got a bfp that, sadly, ended up being an ectopic. I’m really hoping that this is it for her. She’s been a real shining light in spite of going through so much. If you have a spare thought please use it on my friend K who is awesome and who I love very much :). Her beta is on my retrieval day. I’m hoping it’s going to be great days for both of us.

Okay, Fear the walking dead is on now. I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Food:
Yesterday
Breakfast: Skipped it. (whoops)
Lunch: Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Dinner: Lamb sausage from Whole foods, fried egg and avocado.
Today
Breakfast: Leftover sausage and avocado
Lunch: Buffalo Chicken sandwich, Cake, chips, Prosecco
Dinner: See lunch.

Outakes:
She-wants-the-S

Baseline Appointment

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Well Hello! I’ve been thinking about how I want to document this new cycle. I find myself referring back to the other 2 and they are a mess. I’m very envious of Dani‘s documenting of her cycles. Very cool. I’m going to try to do it like the last cycle. There was at least some semblance of organization. We’ll start that on Saturday when stims start.

This morning I was up at 3 (which really should be illegal) because one of the cats was puking and the other was trying to get into the food cabinet. It was a great start to the day. I’m amazed at how many people drive up to Boston at 5 in the morning. That made me sad. Everyone looked grumpy and cold. Maybe I was just projecting. I was in such a haze waking up, I forgot my water so I knew the blood draw would be “fun”. Then when I was laying down with my legs in the stirrups I realized I hadn’t taken my underwear off just as she walked in. Silly.

She really struggled to find my right ovary again. She said that as the cycle progresses it would become easier to find. She said she found it eventually but I wonder if she just said that to make me feel better. I didn’t ask for the antral follicle count because I’m sure I fell asleep on the table. There’s a first time for everything.

The day progressed very slowly. I don’t think I didn’t any work. The nurse called and I’m to start meds on Saturday. 300iu Gonal F and 75ml of Menopur and then my first monitoring appointment is next Wednesday.

This day has been awfully long and I’m just waiting to finish this post so that I can go to bed and if the universe is listening it will let me sleep all the way to Saturday just in time for my first shot.

In closing, I’m so excited for everyone right now. Starting stims! Just finished retrieval! In the 2ww! Pregnant! Doing that mommy thing! You’re all doing wonderfully and I am so very proud of all of you! Here’s to April!!!

Okay, I sleeps now.

CD 1 for real this time

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Just a quickie update. CD 1 has arrived. No bells or whistles just very slowly, teasing me since Saturday afternoon. But nonetheless here it is.

My blood pregnancy test in on Saturday after which I’ll be on birth control until the 11th. Start stims on the 12th and tentative retrieval set for the 28th.

My endometrial biopsy is on Monday. I’m a little nervous about that but I’m trying to put it out of my mind for now.

I don’t have anything else to report. Sending you all loads of strength to get through tomorrow if you see any “I’m preggo” April fool’s jokes. Boycott Social media for the weekend I say. Safer that way.

Updates Updates Updates

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I went to the wtf appointment by myself yesterday. We had words about it but whatev’s, I’m over it now. I was doing really well when the doctor came to get me. We were chit chatting about the weather and stuff but when I sat down he got really serious and quiet and apologised for the negative and he can’t imagine the toll this is taking on us, blah blah blah. I was fine up until then, then I had to blink away tears and make an awkward joke. I can’t even remember what it was.

So he said a few things. It could be my lining so we’re going to do an endometrial biopsy and another hysteroscopy at the same time. Thankfully we’ll do this with the next cycle while I’m on bcp’s so there’ll not be a delay. Yay! He said it could also still be other genetic issues with the embryos that they can’t pick up in PGS. Bleh. We’ll try this next round with the biopsy and go from there. He keeps saying that all his translocation patients have to work a little harder and have to do more rounds than any other couple would so I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for a long road.

I asked if there’s a chance I could have endometriosis and he said that from what he has on file and what I’ve told him that it’s not likely and if I did that it wouldn’t be worse than stage 1 or 2 and he wouldn’t want to do a laparoscopy out since it’s invasive. 20 bucks says by round 5 I’ll be booked for one, stat :).

What else did he say? Oh, I asked about egg quality and he checked his notes and said that the folks in the lab commented that they weren’t the prettiest and they weren’t jumping up and down about them but also that in his experience he’s seen women with the same comments go one to have successful pregnancies and we’re getting fertilization and blastocysts so he’s not worried about that.

3c34a1a41f153b74fd2d59eff440b0ff07164563574b38166e7ec758cb320dcd.jpg

As for protocol, my first round I was on a 75iu Menopur and Gonal F  and we slowly increased and triggered with HCG in the butt. I ended up with 14 eggs, 13 mature. The second I was on 150iu Menopur and Gonal F (I believe) and we slowly increased and triggered with HCG in the tummy. I ended up with 12 eggs, 7 mature. So he decided to do a mix of both rounds and use a Lupron trigger next time. So we’re doing 75iu Menopur and 150 Gonal F and we’ll go from there. Also, the clinic has switched from Ganirelix to Cetrotide for insurance purposes. Yay for no more blunt needles!

I also got to meet the new nurse D. He was really sweet. I feel bad for being mean to him now. But all in all it was a good appointment I think. I always forget to ask questions. But I think I covered everything. Whatever, can we just start? If my body plays along, we should be ready to kick things off in 16 days. Whoop! Let’s go!

minionsyay_meme-www.memegen.com

And some shitty insurance news of course… Because what IVF cycle would be complete without insurance woes. So they still haven’t paid my claim for the genetics testing. I called about a month ago and the young lady said that the claim was there but that it takes about 40 days. Okay, fine. It’s now been 2 months and I called again (I really should have called sooner) only to find out that some genius tagged the claim as Fitness & Wellness and not Medical so no one’s looked at it…for 2 months… 2 months.

553766372af43.image

Thankfully, the guy (another D.. his name is D. Not D as in, well, you know), gave me his email address and he said he’d have them expedite the claim and he’d get it sorted out asap. Yaaaa…What?  Nope, D found another issue. Apparently, I’d sent the wrong bill. It didn’t have any of the codes that were needed.

Captain-Picard-Facepalm

But again, D said to just call the genetics lab and have them send over the correct bill and to forward to him directly so that we can get it fixed up real quick. Great. I quickly hopped on the line with the genetics lab and very nice yet somewhat unsure-of-herself older woman told me that they should send me an itemized bill in about 5 business days. I have a feeling I’m going to have to follow up on this but for now we’ll leave it up to the infertility gods.

2vb7j2o

Anyway, that’s all I have for now. Life is going to be dull again for the next 16 days but I’ll find some stuff to blog about.

Time to catch up on what’s going on in your lives.

xx