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Back on the Horse October 8, 2004

My period finally started yesterday. I knew it would suck, but it’s being a total bitch. Thankfully, I can take something other than Tylenol for the pain now. Brownies help, too.

I talked to my IVF coordinator a little bit ago. She called to discuss my protocol for my FET. She’s going to mail me my calendar (Yay! A calendar) and my prescriptions, but I got the basic rundown over the phone. I’ll start birth control pills tomorrow. I’ll be using a different brand this time, so hopefully they won’t make me quite as sick this go round. I’ll be starting Lupron on 10/27 and Estrace on 11/12 if I’m suppressed at my baseline ultrasound. Then depending on how my lining does, it looks like my transfer will either be on 11/29 or 12/1. This is definitely a long protocol for a FET, but I’m glad to get the ball rolling again.

I also got my progesterone result back. It came back at 33. She said that was fine given the fact that I wasn’t pregnant at the time and the fact that I’ll be on an increased dose of PIO for my FET anyway. I also asked for for my beta number since all I got on Monday was “It’s negative.” My beta came back less than 2. That’s negative, all right.

I’m doing a lot better today. Every day is easier. It’s amazing how resilient the human spirit is. I’m sure I would be having a much harder time if I didn’t have this FET to look forward to. Of course I’m not looking forward to getting poked and prodded again, but I am looking forward to having a second chance. One of my online friends who also just had a failed IVF shared this quote with me today, “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” I like that.

Comments»

1. Brenda Sumner - October 8, 2004

SO we’ll almost be cycle buddies?

I start Lupron on the 14th… and do baselines on the 24th.. start estrace that day should the numbers look ok. So we’ll be about a week apart? I guess? LOL.. I take estrace for 18 days before they check my lining.

ALso talked to the doc about the more concentrated progesterone that you told me about…. and they’re gonna order it for me this time around. So my ass thanks you as well.

2. Heather - October 8, 2004

I’m so glad you’re feeling better, and I really admire your attitude toward this whole thing. I could really take a lesson off you, and I’m going to try to do that.

It’s time for me to “saddle up.”

3. Julianna - October 8, 2004

Amanda dear, I have some questions regarding your transfer.

Did they already have the embryos in the catheter when they tried to get into your cervix?

For me, now please remember I was on 10 mg Valium and a Vicodin but my dear husband says it is so, my doctor inserted a catheter that seemed to be the model or guide for another catheter.

My doctor left the room when she had the one catheter placed (a nurse was watching that nothing moved on the ultrasound) and then the embryologist entered the room with a smaller catheter that seemed to go inside the one stationary in my uterus. The embryos were only put into the delivering catheter at the second all was ready. Were your embryos already in the catheter they were trying to get into your uterus??

I do
n’t want this to make you question things, I just want your next transfer to be easier. I keep reading about your blastocysts and how good they were. You are so blessed you have 3 left for FET.

I just want to help and excuse me for butting in.

4. amanda - October 9, 2004

Thanks, Heather.

Brenda, I’m so glad you got the go ahead for your FET. Almost cycle buddies sounds great. Oh, and yes, your ass will be a little happier this go round.

Julianna, you’re not butting in at all. You know you can ask me anything. During my transfer they did use two catheters as well. The harder one that was inserted first and the softer one containing the embryos. They tried numerous types of the first catheter, then they tried numerous types while using the cervical clamp. Several times (I can’t remember exactly how many) my RE inserted the soft catheter containing the embryos even though the hard catheter wasn’t all the way past the scar tissue in my cervix, because she said sometimes the softer catheter has an easier time getting by such obstacles. After each time the soft catheter was inserted without success, it was handed back to the embryologist (I assume so that he could check and make sure the embryos were still in there). Then after nothing was working I was given the shot of Demerol, had to wait for 45 minutes, and the whole process repeated. My RE finally got the hard catheter past the scar tissue and up the 90 degree turn in my cervix right when everyone was about to give up. Then the plunger was pushed on the soft catheter to release the embryos. I can’t remember if the soft catheter was up there already when she finally got the other one into place or if she went and got it again at that point. I was in so much pain that it really is a blur to think back on.

I still am furious about that transfer and plan to talk to my RE about it. For my FET they will dilate my cervix before any catheter insertion is attempted, and like you, I’ll be on both Valium and Vicodin. Hopefully things will go much more smoothly this time around. I hope I explained this well enough to answer your questions.

I am thankful to have such highly rated blasts in the deep freeze. But, it also makes me wonder about the end result of my FET, because the blasts they transferred during my fresh cycle were “perfect” too. Hopefully just doing a FET instead of fresh will make all the difference.

Thanks for making sure that things will be easier for me next time. Love ya, Julianna.

5. Anonymous - October 9, 2004

It’s amazing how resilient the human spirit is.

Yes, it is. And yes, you are.

Marla

6. Anonymous - October 9, 2004

best of luck with this cycle –

Dana

7. sherry - October 10, 2004

I’m so glad you have something to look foward to, while your period is being so bitchful. I can’t wait to hear about how things are going…

8. Anonymous - October 11, 2004

Wow, that is a long protocol. I really hope they have sorted out the transfer mess of last time. Hopefully if it’s the same people doing it, they will have learned from their mistakes and it will go smoothly.

I am so glad that you are feeling better. As for keeping busy, I think this is a good time to spoil yourself a little: magazines, bubble baths, home facials, a good novel, whatever give you little shots of pleasure.

Kim
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