July 16, 2014: Egg Retrieval Day!

                                                 TODAY IS THE DAYYY!! 

   It is egg retrieval day!!!  We have come so far and this is beyond exciting.  I am completely nervous and have no idea what the end result will be, but it is all in God's hands.  He is in full control.  For this part of the IVF process, they put you to sleep, because you have to be 100% still.  During this procedure, a needle is passed through the top of the vagina, under ultrasound guidance.  They aspirate fluid through the needle, and basically suck the eggs out of the ovary.  Once they have removed all of the eggs that have properly matured, they send them to the lab to be identified, placed in culture dishes, and incubated.  After a specific amount of time, the sperm and egg come together for the fertilization process, while the woman recovers at home.  The eggs are then being closely monitored by the Embryologist for fertilization. 

     My procedure felt very, very quick.  I remember waking up feeling quite groggy, tired, and hungry.  I was so excited, that I didn't really care how I felt.  My eggs were on their way to get fertilized. :)

                       With that being said.... we had SEVENTEEN eggs removed!!!!!!!
                                                                     17

Now, I await for the Embryologist to call me with my little babies update first thing in the morning, with their progress.  

July 14, 2014: Tonight We Trigger!!!

     The trigger shot is the final stage for the eggs maturation during the InVitro process.  They must complete their growth and development, before they can be retrieved.  This is done with an injection that contains hCG.  The timing of this shot is VITAL.  If it is given too early, the eggs will not be mature enough, and if it is given too late, they will be too old.  This can cause issues with the fertilizaion process, which soon follows the trigger.  This is the exact reason why towards these final stages of the IVF process, you go to the doctor every single day for bloodwork and ultrasounds for monitoring.  With that being said, timing is everything.   Once the shot is administered, the ovaries release the matured eggs within approximately 36 hours from the time the injection is given.

      Well the time has come!!!! It was time for me to finally get my trigger shot.  I had always been so nervous to actually reach this point in the process.  I knew everything had to go just right.  We had to trigger at the exact time given to us.  8pm.  The injection must be done in the hip.  It hurt a little bit, because that needle was quite larger than all my other ones.  But it wasn't so bad.  It was over before I knew it.  That was it.  The injection stage was finally over.  It all went by so fast..
 

July 14, 2014: The Retrieval is Scheduled!

I am so nervous, and excited and anxious, all rolled into one!!!  We will be retrieving in just 2 days!!! Eeekkk!! :) :)  I feel like I have been cruising pretty calmly up to this point.  Now my nerves are really starting to kick in.  Will the trigger shot hurt?  Will it make me feel funny?  Will it work?  Will I do it properly?  Will I have enough eggs?  It is all in His hands, and I just need to KEEP GOING!!!!

 

July 12, 2014: The Stimming Phase

Now that we are in the stimming phase, it seems so surreal.  I am icing my abdomen to help with the burning of my injections.  Some burn so bad, and others, you don't feel a bit.  I am also icing my veins for tomorrow's appointment.  Oh you know, just some more bloodwork!  I am hoping that this is the last night of stims and we will be able to trigger tomorrow.  The retrieval is getting so close!

 

July 9, 2014: Cleared to Continue!

I had my bloodwork and follicle scan done this morning.  I was cleared to do three injections tonight!  Tomorrow, I will be heading back to the doctor for more labs to be drawn.  I'm not sure which veins they are going to use.  My poor arms are bruised with track marks.  Anxiety is kicking in, and I'm becoming an emotional mess as all this is happening so fast.  Or so it seems.  At the end of the day, I am looking up and thinking positive.  :)  With IVF, you have to be closely monitored.  I go to the doctor just about every day for bloodwork and ultrasounds.  You have to trigger at the perfect time, and ensure that you do not get over stimulated and end up in the hospital.  Tip:  Lots of protein and SmartWater!

It is crazy to see what modern medicine can do for us and our bodies.  It can literally make dreams come true.  You just have to believe.  Never give up hope.  Especially when it is all you have left.  

A day in the life.... IVF

This is a normal view for an IVF'er.  Needles, needles, and more needles.  After a while, you sort of get used to the routine.  The poking.  The injection of the medication burning.  The bruising.  You take your meds with you wherever you may go.  Keep them in cold packs, and inject whenever it is time, wherever you may be.  Each one has a specific time it needs to be administered.  One time, while on a road trip, my husband did one of my injections in a gas station parking lot.  Eww.  :) 

Daily Motivation #21

Halfway through this cycle.  Feeling hopeful and praying hard.  Nothing but positive vibes.

IVF Update!

Well so far I have completed three days of Cetrotide Injections, and have started my Gonal-F and Micro-Ovridel Injections!  It's crazy how your daily schedule gets re-arranged to ensure you're doing everything at exactly the right time.  Currently out of town with the hubby and friends, and taking my medications along with me!  Doing injections in the car when we stop at gas stations and in a hotel room is a bit different from doing it in the comfort of your own home.  But.. eventually this reality becomes a part of your comfort zone, whether you're comfortable with it or not.  This is the IVF life.   

Estradiol Bloodwork soon to come! 

 

The Cycle Continues...

Oh you know, just a little Gonal-F...

Daily Motivation #20

June 30, 2014: IVF Has Offically Begun!

The day has finally arrived, and had been long awaited for.  From the beginning, I sort of always had this feeling that I may need to do IVF and here I was.  I was nervous and excited all in one.  I was excited because I knew I was possibly one step closer to finally becoming a mother.  I just had so much love to give.  I was nervous because of the process that it would take to get me there, especially with all the medications.  How would they make me feel?  I would be working full time during this process as well.  It was bitter sweet.  I would be on my feet ALL day, without much downtime to rest and relax, which I knew would take a toll on my body towards the end of this cycle.  The upside was that I would have something to keep my mind off of everything.   Not to mention my co-workers were the absolute best and understanding support system, and would take care of me like no other.  I was more than ready... Let's make a baby!  

                                               

Welcome to the world of IVF

 

Almost there!

All additional bloodwork complete... Now we wait for the green light!!

Staying Motivated!

Awaiting final approval to continue IVF!

Test Transfer Day!

Today was the day that they would be performing my test transfer.  I was quite nervous.  Basically what this means, is that they insert a catheter into the uterus as if they had an embryo in it.  They basically like to get a feel for the pathway they will be utilizing on the actual transfer day, and how easy the actual transfer will go.  This is to ensure that everything on your transfer day will go as smoothly as possible, and essentially they are not going in blind.  It doesn't hurt.  In fact, you don't really feel much.  I suppose that after so many catheters, needles, ultrasound probes, procedures, and drugs... you sort of become numb to these things.  All in all, it was a great day, and the test transfer went well.  The next time they do this procedure to me, they will be transferring my sweet little embabies inside of me.... right where they belong.  

They have all arrived!

Things were starting to get exciting!  ALL of my medications had finally arrived.  Let me tell you....it was alot!!  Boxes and boxes full of needles and drugs, and they were soon to be used!  I was scheduled to be heading back to the doctor.  They would be organizing all of my medications for me, as well as giving me the calendar with the schedule for all of the medications.  While we are there, we would also be sigining all of our consent forms to continue the process, of course doing more blood work, performing my baseline ultrasounds, and executing my test transfer.  Some of the medications had to remain refrigerated, so I went through each box carefully and stored everything accordingly.  This was all really happening.  I just hope something really beautful comes from all of this.  

 

Hello More Medications!

For the IVF medications, you cannot just go to any ol' pharmacy.  Walgreens, Kroger, etc.. no one is going to have them.  You have to go to what is called a Specialty Pharmacy.  I chose to utilize one in New York called 'King's Pharmacy'.  After calling around to EVERY specialty pharmacy my fertility clinic gave me a list of, I found that King's Pharmacy had the best pricing, and they would overnight all of my medications at no additional cost.  I also used a program called Compassionate Care.  It is a program that gives you a discount off of your medications if you are paying out of pocket.  Which I was.  This was all becoming so real!  We placed the large order, and they were going to be delivered to me the next day!  The great thing about the pharmacy is that they were well aware of the medications that I was ordering, and helped me out with a smooth transaction.  My mediactions were finally arriving!  The box was quite big and said that some items needed to continue to be refrigerated.  I took out the necessary items and put them in the refrigerator unless further use.  I couldn't be more ready to get stuck with a needle! 

Oh So Many Meds...

My poor skin.. Sooooo DRY!

Continuing the Journey....

My daily routine at the moment...

 

Results Are In!

Finally a day of positive news! I almost forgot what it feels like! As we slowly get all my lab results back, everything is looking great! I got the all clear to continue treatment and my next appointment is on the 25th! We will be organizing all of my medications, doing my baseline ultrasounds, as well as doing my test transfer. I can't wait for the day I see my little embies maturing. Excited & scared all at the same time :) :)

 

 

Cycle Day 3: June 9, 2014: IVF is Official

It feels like I have waited forever to finally start this process!  As many people who haven't struggled with infertility may not know, you can not just jump in to IVF.  It takes a lot to get to this point.  When you finally get there it feels like an eternity.  It was Cycle Day 3, June 9, 2014 and my first IVF had officially begun.  I was a ball of emotions.  I had completed my baseline blood work, and began my birth control.  I don't know what the future has it store, but I pray this works.  I plan on trying to stay as calm as possible, and not stressing too much.  My body is going to be going through enough, and I needed to sit back and let science run its course.  Now I just need to make sure all of my baseline blood work comes back great and I can continue to be cleared for this cycle.  Let the journey begin!