Another Ultrasound

Yesterday I had another appointment for an ultrasound and bloodwork. I'm getting too used to all these needle sticks. Basically, this was to check that the endometrium is thickening adequately and that the other hormone levels are good. Those tests came back fine. The plan now is to do the transfer next Thursday on February 7th. I continue with the estrogen pills and begin the big intramuscular progesterone injections Feb 4th. Curtis will have to do these injections unless I'm able to find someone else to help out. I'll be off work next Thursday and Friday on basically "bedrest".

We know the liklihood that this may not work. We understand, but still fear that possibility. We are trying to trust that God knows best for our future and our family. Please keep praying!!!

The next step

Yesterday the nurse called to let me know that my estradiol levels came back low, as they should be. So, that cyst is nothing to be too concerned about. I'm to continue with the estrogen supplements daily and I will have another ultrasound/blood work January 30th to see how things are progressing. The tentative date of transfer, should things progress on schedule, is Friday, Feb 8th.

Our prayer list is:
1) that ALL 3 embryos will thaw successfully and begin to divide and develop normally.
2) the drugs I'm taking will do what they are supposed to do (but not to excess like before) :) and that Curtis can give me the big shots in the hip without too much drama.
3) that the transfer will go smoothly
4) that the transfer will be successful despite the 25-30% statistic

Curtis and I were talking about how so far I have not met expectations on statistics. Dr. Jarrett expected my ovaries to not stimulate adequately when they actually OVERSTIMULATED. Also, the ICSI is supposed to be a sure thing for fertilization. NONE of those took and 6/7 of the others did which statistically should only be 60% success. We continue to be reminded that GOD is in control here and truly statics don't matter. So, that being said, we are prayerful that we defy the statistics again by achieving success despite the low odds. Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers. They continue to bless us daily!

Post Cycle Consultation

Today we met with Dr. Jarrett to discuss this past month's events and plan for the future. He explained how my estrogen and progesterone levels went WAY too high and not only put me at risk for Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which he said could have left me hospitalized for 3 weeks, but also levels that high are typically not successful for implantation.
So, he is confident that we did the right thing by postponing the transfer.

Conveniently, today is Day 1 of my next cycle- which seems a little weird telling you all that. . . but timing was perfect to get my estradiol levels and do an ultrasound to check my ovaries now. I still have a large cyst on my right ovary which may or may not be concerning based on how my lab levels come back. So, tonight I started an estrogen supplement to then begin to build up my endometriom lining again. This I will continue for a while until we decide and deem ready to do the transfer. If my hormone levels come back ok, that may be the week of February 18th.

Dr. Jarrett plans on thawing 3 of the embryos that are at the pronuclear stage, letting them develop futher and then decide whether we put 2 vs. 3 back. He said he wants to leave the blastocyst embryo frozen for now since it's difficult to thaw and transfer embryos that are at different stages of development. Overall it's a 25-30% chance of success. Keep praying!!!!!:)

Today was a busy, crazy day. Curtis met me for my appointment in Carmel- which took way longer than we thought. We quickly grabbed lunch and then back to our respective work. I'm very tired. Goodnight. More later. :)

Surprise update

Today the IVF lab called and left us a message that they had an update and to call them back. We wondered what in the world could they have to update us about since all the embryos were frozen last Tuesday. I called them back and they informed me that one of the eggs that didn't fertilize right away ended up fertilizing later. It then actually grew up to the blastocyst stage and even to the point of differentiating into cells that will form the baby and the placenta. They then froze that embryo today. She was calling to inform me of all this. So, I guess we have 6 total embryos frozen. The first 5 were frozen at the pronuclear stage just prior to any cell divisions. At the point that they thaw, they should continue to divide and develop. Here's hoping and praying!

I have an appointment scheduled with Dr. Jarrett for January 21st to discuss protocol for the frozen transfer (FET). We are remaining hopeful. . . . . .

Fertilization report

Early this morning a biologist from the IVF lab called to give me the report. It turns out that 5 of the 7 that were allowed to fertilize regularly have fertilized. Unfortunately none of the 3 that had ICSI fertilized. She did say, though, that just because a sperm is injected into the egg does not guarantee it will fertilize. Actually 2 did not survive the ICSI procedure. It is such a delicate procedure. It's amazing they can do that at all. I had the thought that apparently Curtis' sperm don't like being told what to do- kinda like their owner. :) Ha ha. They were going to go ahead and freeze the fertilized ones today. Hopefully we'll get at least a couple good ones to survive the thaw. Anyway, Dr. Jarrett is supposed to call me today to let me know what the next step is and answer any questions.

Egg Retrieval

Today we drove up to Clarion North by 9am to be checked in for my egg retrieval. We anticipated the possibility of this being done by laparoscopy due to the endometriosis having adhered my cervix to my bowel. I was hooked up to the IV and then we spoke with a biologist, the anesthesiologist and finally Dr. Jarrett. Dr. Jarrett said that he would try his best to do the retrieval without laparoscopy. I asked him if he was surprised that my ovaries stimulated so much. He said, "Yes, pleasantly surprised. Good job. Now I just need to get them out."

I then was taken to the IVF OR where I was hooked up to all sorts of monitors and then given a cocktail of meds to put me to sleep. It wasn't general anesthesia, but felt like it. I think it took about 20-30 minutes and he was able to do the retrieval normally with the needle aspiration although somewhat challenging. Yeah! Curtis was sent to do his part. Dr. Jarrett told Curtis afterward that he was able to extract 10 good quality eggs and was very pleased with that. There were more follicles than that, but many of them were so crowded that he wasn't able to aspirate all of them. So now the biologists are doing their part and will call us in the morning with the fertilization report. In a couple days they will freeze them all and then in a month we'll try the 2nd half of this process and hope that a baby will result from all this technology. Thanks for your prayers. Everything went as well today as it could have!

3rd Ultrasound

This morning I went in at 8am for another blood draw and ultrasound. I have about 17 follicles with 12 on the left and 5 on the right. They are getting quite large at this point. We were feeling discouraged when we left just anticipating that this cycle would be cancelled. Then early this afternoon the nurse called and said that my hormone levels were continuing to get higher. Dr Jarrett decided that we have two options. We could cancel this cycle and let my ovaries quite down and then try again. OR we could go through with the retrival and fertilization and freeze them all. Then in a month do a frozen transfer. We can't go through with the transfer now because I am at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation which can lead to some bad things including hospitalization and at worst death. Definitely don't want to risk that. We've thought it through and think that finanically and physically the frozen transfer would probably be our best bet. It's discouraging to think about having spent 3K on drugs and having given myself injections for a month for NOTHING. That's what it would be if we cancelled. So we'll try the frozen transfer and pray for the best. So that is the plan. I go in for retrival on Monday morning at 10:30. We'll let you know how it goes.

More news

Ok, so the nurse called this afternoon. I guess my hormone levels are shooting up faster than expected and a little more than they should be. I have to go in tomorrow for more bloodwork and ultrasounds. It could be that things are going too fast and my body may be ovulating too soon. So, she did say that there is a chance this cycle could be cancelled. . . . .We are praying against that and hope that you will as well. I'm not supposed to do my stimulating meds tomorrow. Pray that things slow down so this cycle can continue. I'm trying to be hopeful, but can't help but be somewhat discouraged. Earlier today I thought things were going great. Now not as much. But, still holding on. . .

2nd Ultrasound

This morning I had my 2nd ultrasound. It seems that my ovaries are developing follicles very well (at least my left one). My left had >10 that are nearing mature size and the right had 4-5. The nurse will give all of this information to Dr. Jarrett, but she said that I may be ready for retrieval sooner than expected, possibly as soon as this Sunday. She is supposed to call back this afternoon with the decision. This seems to be going quick! Quicker than we had thought, but I'm thankful that my body is doing what it is supposed to.

I am beginning to get uncomfortable. I can tell that my left ovary is working overtime because I am feeling more and more bloated with a definite discomfort on my left side. I'll keep you all posted after the nurse calls this afternoon.

First Ultrasound

Today I had my first ultrasound to see how effective the meds are at stimulating my ovaries to produce eggs. The nurse checked the uterine lining to see if it is thickening adequately, and it is. :) Also she checked the ovaries for developing follicles (which SHOULD contain eggs). My left ovary had about 10 including a few larger ones that were measured and 7-8 smaller ones that are still growing. My right ovary only had about 4 follicles. We expected the right ovary to be less reactive than the left due to the endometrioma cyst that was removed during my laparoscopic surgery. So, basically, things are progressing as they should be! Praise the Lord! The follicles are about
12x10 - 12x14 mm right now and mature size is 18x18.

I also had blood work done to check my estridol, progesterone, LH and FSH (I think). All this information was then given to Dr. Jarrett who determined that I should continue with my current dosage of FSH and return for another ultrasound and bloodwork on Friday. And so we go on..... The injections have gotten better by the way. I'm no longer getting light headed or passing out, but it still is a little unnerving. Oh well, just a few more days. Here is a glimpse at my poor stomach. Hence the title of this blog!

I'm just grateful that my body seems to be responding to the meds as it should. That was my first prayer through all this. Our 2nd prayer is for this IVF to be SUCCESSFUL the 1ST time.
Well, that is the latest news. I'll let you know how the 2nd ultrasound goes on Friday.