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Archive for January, 2007

CD 8

I’ve never been good at coming up with snappy or witty titles for my posts. So there you have it. Today is CD 8, which meant a return visit to Shady Hell. I didn’t get a doctor today, just the sonographer. I find this far preferable to the times that I get a doctor and no sonographer, because frankly… Margaret’s better at this than they are. She’s been wanding patients for 17 years. Seriously!

Anywhozit, nothing terribly exciting today, except Dracula managed to draw blood with only one stick. Hooray for her! Still early, so nothing terribly interesting. Two follicles on the right ovary measuring 9.6 and 10.2. Another 10 or 12 follicles smaller than that. 14 on the left ovary, all under 10mm. Lining was 9.6, so at least I know there’s some estrogen floating around somewhere.

They’ll call me later today after they review my bloodwork to let me know when to schedule my next appointment (and whether my dosage needs to change). I’m anticipating a Friday appointment, but who knows. I suspect Saturday would be preferable, which is why I’m betting on Friday, but I suppose it could be Sunday. Either way, I’ve made an appointment for Friday morning just in case. Gotta snag that 6:45am slot!

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CD 8

I've never been good at coming up with snappy or witty titles for my posts. So there you have it. Today is CD 8, which meant a return visit to Shady Hell. I didn't get a doctor today, just the sonographer. I find this far preferable to the times that I get a doctor and no sonographer, because frankly… Margaret's better at this than they are. She's been wanding patients for 17 years. Seriously!

Anywhozit, nothing terribly exciting today, except Dracula managed to draw blood with only one stick. Hooray for her! Still early, so nothing terribly interesting. Two follicles on the right ovary measuring 9.6 and 10.2. Another 10 or 12 follicles smaller than that. 14 on the left ovary, all under 10mm. Lining was 9.6, so at least I know there's some estrogen floating around somewhere.

They'll call me later today after they review my bloodwork to let me know when to schedule my next appointment (and whether my dosage needs to change). I'm anticipating a Friday appointment, but who knows. I suspect Saturday would be preferable, which is why I'm betting on Friday, but I suppose it could be Sunday. Either way, I've made an appointment for Friday morning just in case. Gotta snag that 6:45am slot!

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Housekeeping

I recently updated my list of blogs in the sidebar. I think I might have missed a couple, and I do occasionally look at Julie’s Big List O’ Blogs to see if there’s anyone new. But I was wondering if there are any infertility bloggers you all recommend. Are there any you’re particularly enjoying these days that I don’t have listed (or even if I do have them listed, I suppose). Or, even though De-Lurking Week is over… perhaps you’re reading this blog and I don’t have you listed. Could you let me know? Also, if you’d prefer your blog NOT be listed (or be listed differently), please let me know. It won’t keep me from reading your blog, but I do know some people prefer not to have links directly to their blogs.

That’s about it. Everything else is normal.
Nightly Follistim injections? Check.
Accompanying nausea? Check.
Worst migraines I’ve had in close to a decade? Check.
Two funerals a week apart, neither local, each involving a 5 to 9 hour drive? Check.
31st Birthday? Check.
Wondermous husband who surprised me by telling me he’s taking me out to dinner tonight to celebrate the aforementioned birthday? Check.

What more could a girl ask for? Next update probably Wednesday after my CD8 bloodwork and ultrasound. Anticipate increasing Follistim dosage slightly and returning Friday. We’ll see if I’m correct.

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Housekeeping

I recently updated my list of blogs in the sidebar. I think I might have missed a couple, and I do occasionally look at Julie's Big List O' Blogs to see if there's anyone new. But I was wondering if there are any infertility bloggers you all recommend. Are there any you're particularly enjoying these days that I don't have listed (or even if I do have them listed, I suppose). Or, even though De-Lurking Week is over… perhaps you're reading this blog and I don't have you listed. Could you let me know? Also, if you'd prefer your blog NOT be listed (or be listed differently), please let me know. It won't keep me from reading your blog, but I do know some people prefer not to have links directly to their blogs.

That's about it. Everything else is normal.
Nightly Follistim injections? Check.
Accompanying nausea? Check.
Worst migraines I've had in close to a decade? Check.
Two funerals a week apart, neither local, each involving a 5 to 9 hour drive? Check.
31st Birthday? Check.
Wondermous husband who surprised me by telling me he's taking me out to dinner tonight to celebrate the aforementioned birthday? Check.

What more could a girl ask for? Next update probably Wednesday after my CD8 bloodwork and ultrasound. Anticipate increasing Follistim dosage slightly and returning Friday. We'll see if I'm correct.

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the beta that wasn’t

Today was supposed to be Beta Day. My google calendar agenda (emailed to me every morning at 5am) even told me so because I’d forgotten to change it. Anyway, CD3 marks a new beginning, of course (vs. CD1 which marks another end). Every new cycle has the potential to work, even though I know it won’t. Still, in the interest of new beginnings, my new google spreadsheet is up and running for IUI #6 (it’s really just a new tab in the same old spreadsheet).

I got to see my beloved Margaret, sonographer extraordinaire, this morning. “Gosh it’s been a while,” she said. Yep, a whole two weeks. But you know, if I’d made it all the way to beta day, it would have been even longer before I got to see Margaret again, so at least I have that going for me, right? This morning she declared that not only are my ovaries “perky” as per usual (Margaret is the person who inadvertently named my blog) but that I am the poster child for PCOS. Er, I’m not sure that’s something to be proud of. Apparently in the two weeks I was twiddling my thumbs at home intead of having thrice-weekly dates with an ultrasound wand, I missed the Shady Hell Holiday Party. Margaret, apparently, wore a stunning black pants suit and looked very skinny (she IS very skinny, so that isn’t a shock). I’m curious what Dr. T. wore, but I didn’t ask.

I realized, when I noticed that the same doctor I had for Day 3 monitoring last cycle was the doctor doing monitoring today for my Day 3 appointment, that I had exactly a 28 day cycle. No wonder the time seemed to fly right by. My last period started December 27th, this one started January 24th. How’s that for perfect timing? I’ve never had a cycle last exactly 28 days. EVER.

The good news is that if I have a similar cycle to IUI #5, it won’t interfere with my plans to be in Florida visiting my father in February (18th-20th). I’ll be at the tail end of the 2ww. I thought that could be a problem, because if my period came earlier, I’d miss my CD3 monitoring appointment, but NO! I forgot! This is my very last IUI cycle! So I’ll just make sure to fill my script for BCPs before I leave for Florida so that I can start taking them in preparation for IVF#1 if I need to. I mean, not that I’ll need them. Because, after all, the 6th time’s a charm, right? Or, um, not?

Anyway, this is it, folks! Last IUI. The very last one. Soon it’s on to the fun of, um, injections? Oh wait, I’ve already done that. Dates with an ultrasound wand? Nope, been there, done that one, too. Um. Oh! right! Egg Retrieval! Haven’t done that one before, and boy am I looking forward to that one… oh, wait. No I’m not! Well, at least I don’t have to keep taking my temperature every morning. There was no greater torture, in my opinion, than taking basal temperatures every day.

By the way, you’d think having two periods so close together (yes, 28 days is a short cycle for me these days), I’d be in less pain … but HOLY COW THIS FREAKING HURTS! I think I almost prefer when my period was a twice a year event. Except in as much as it interferes with baby-making.

Well, let the games begin! (hah! I had to create a new label for this post. IUI #6. Sheesh. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson by now, wouldn’t you?)

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the beta that wasn’t

Today was supposed to be Beta Day. My google calendar agenda (emailed to me every morning at 5am) even told me so because I'd forgotten to change it. Anyway, CD3 marks a new beginning, of course (vs. CD1 which marks another end). Every new cycle has the potential to work, even though I know it won't. Still, in the interest of new beginnings, my new google spreadsheet is up and running for IUI #6 (it's really just a new tab in the same old spreadsheet).

I got to see my beloved Margaret, sonographer extraordinaire, this morning. "Gosh it's been a while," she said. Yep, a whole two weeks. But you know, if I'd made it all the way to beta day, it would have been even longer before I got to see Margaret again, so at least I have that going for me, right? This morning she declared that not only are my ovaries "perky" as per usual (Margaret is the person who inadvertently named my blog) but that I am the poster child for PCOS. Er, I'm not sure that's something to be proud of. Apparently in the two weeks I was twiddling my thumbs at home intead of having thrice-weekly dates with an ultrasound wand, I missed the Shady Hell Holiday Party. Margaret, apparently, wore a stunning black pants suit and looked very skinny (she IS very skinny, so that isn't a shock). I'm curious what Dr. T. wore, but I didn't ask.

I realized, when I noticed that the same doctor I had for Day 3 monitoring last cycle was the doctor doing monitoring today for my Day 3 appointment, that I had exactly a 28 day cycle. No wonder the time seemed to fly right by. My last period started December 27th, this one started January 24th. How's that for perfect timing? I've never had a cycle last exactly 28 days. EVER.

The good news is that if I have a similar cycle to IUI #5, it won't interfere with my plans to be in Florida visiting my father in February (18th-20th). I'll be at the tail end of the 2ww. I thought that could be a problem, because if my period came earlier, I'd miss my CD3 monitoring appointment, but NO! I forgot! This is my very last IUI cycle! So I'll just make sure to fill my script for BCPs before I leave for Florida so that I can start taking them in preparation for IVF#1 if I need to. I mean, not that I'll need them. Because, after all, the 6th time's a charm, right? Or, um, not?

Anyway, this is it, folks! Last IUI. The very last one. Soon it's on to the fun of, um, injections? Oh wait, I've already done that. Dates with an ultrasound wand? Nope, been there, done that one, too. Um. Oh! right! Egg Retrieval! Haven't done that one before, and boy am I looking forward to that one… oh, wait. No I'm not! Well, at least I don't have to keep taking my temperature every morning. There was no greater torture, in my opinion, than taking basal temperatures every day.

By the way, you'd think having two periods so close together (yes, 28 days is a short cycle for me these days), I'd be in less pain … but HOLY COW THIS FREAKING HURTS! I think I almost prefer when my period was a twice a year event. Except in as much as it interferes with baby-making.

Well, let the games begin! (hah! I had to create a new label for this post. IUI #6. Sheesh. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now, wouldn't you?)

Read Full Post »

the beta that wasn’t

Today was supposed to be Beta Day. My google calendar agenda (emailed to me every morning at 5am) even told me so because I'd forgotten to change it. Anyway, CD3 marks a new beginning, of course (vs. CD1 which marks another end). Every new cycle has the potential to work, even though I know it won't. Still, in the interest of new beginnings, my new google spreadsheet is up and running for IUI #6 (it's really just a new tab in the same old spreadsheet).

I got to see my beloved Margaret, sonographer extraordinaire, this morning. "Gosh it's been a while," she said. Yep, a whole two weeks. But you know, if I'd made it all the way to beta day, it would have been even longer before I got to see Margaret again, so at least I have that going for me, right? This morning she declared that not only are my ovaries "perky" as per usual (Margaret is the person who inadvertently named my blog) but that I am the poster child for PCOS. Er, I'm not sure that's something to be proud of. Apparently in the two weeks I was twiddling my thumbs at home intead of having thrice-weekly dates with an ultrasound wand, I missed the Shady Hell Holiday Party. Margaret, apparently, wore a stunning black pants suit and looked very skinny (she IS very skinny, so that isn't a shock). I'm curious what Dr. T. wore, but I didn't ask.

I realized, when I noticed that the same doctor I had for Day 3 monitoring last cycle was the doctor doing monitoring today for my Day 3 appointment, that I had exactly a 28 day cycle. No wonder the time seemed to fly right by. My last period started December 27th, this one started January 24th. How's that for perfect timing? I've never had a cycle last exactly 28 days. EVER.

The good news is that if I have a similar cycle to IUI #5, it won't interfere with my plans to be in Florida visiting my father in February (18th-20th). I'll be at the tail end of the 2ww. I thought that could be a problem, because if my period came earlier, I'd miss my CD3 monitoring appointment, but NO! I forgot! This is my very last IUI cycle! So I'll just make sure to fill my script for BCPs before I leave for Florida so that I can start taking them in preparation for IVF#1 if I need to. I mean, not that I'll need them. Because, after all, the 6th time's a charm, right? Or, um, not?

Anyway, this is it, folks! Last IUI. The very last one. Soon it's on to the fun of, um, injections? Oh wait, I've already done that. Dates with an ultrasound wand? Nope, been there, done that one, too. Um. Oh! right! Egg Retrieval! Haven't done that one before, and boy am I looking forward to that one… oh, wait. No I'm not! Well, at least I don't have to keep taking my temperature every morning. There was no greater torture, in my opinion, than taking basal temperatures every day.

By the way, you'd think having two periods so close together (yes, 28 days is a short cycle for me these days), I'd be in less pain … but HOLY COW THIS FREAKING HURTS! I think I almost prefer when my period was a twice a year event. Except in as much as it interferes with baby-making.

Well, let the games begin! (hah! I had to create a new label for this post. IUI #6. Sheesh. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now, wouldn't you?)

Read Full Post »

It’s like deja vu all over again. Goodbye, IUI #5; Hello, IUI #6. Originally, my beta was scheduled for Friday. Now that appointment has been changed to a Day 3 Monitoring (BW/US) appointment.

Shocking, I tell you, simply shocking. Do you think it was my husband’s high fever on IUI day? Or my high fever for 7 days after IUI day? Or the terrible fall I took in my laundry room? Yeah, I don’t think it was any of those things either. I think it was the fact that IUIs have abysmally low per cycle success rates, which is why I’m ready to be off this IUI train. One more and then I move to IVF.

I can’t say I’m particularly thrilled about moving to IVF, except that the per cycle odds are somewhat higher than with IUI and at least it will feel like I’m doing something instead of marking time in my calendar until the next cycle.

Still, I’m quite tired of this whole game.

Read Full Post »

It's like deja vu all over again. Goodbye, IUI #5; Hello, IUI #6. Originally, my beta was scheduled for Friday. Now that appointment has been changed to a Day 3 Monitoring (BW/US) appointment.

Shocking, I tell you, simply shocking. Do you think it was my husband's high fever on IUI day? Or my high fever for 7 days after IUI day? Or the terrible fall I took in my laundry room? Yeah, I don't think it was any of those things either. I think it was the fact that IUIs have abysmally low per cycle success rates, which is why I'm ready to be off this IUI train. One more and then I move to IVF.

I can't say I'm particularly thrilled about moving to IVF, except that the per cycle odds are somewhat higher than with IUI and at least it will feel like I'm doing something instead of marking time in my calendar until the next cycle.

Still, I'm quite tired of this whole game.

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yowie yow yow youch!

I’m 12 days post-IUI, which is where I was when I found out I was pregnant last cycle (in july/august). I’ve had a lot of odd cramping and spotting, identical to the weirdness that I had last time. As of yesterday I was vaguely considering the possibility that maybe this IUI had worked. As of today, I’m pretty sure it didn’t. I think today might be CD1, or maybe that will be tomorrow, but holy cow am I all kinds of crampy right now. And while I know that I had a lot of bleeding last time and it turned out I was pregnant… I find it really hard to believe that it would happen that way twice.

Le Sigh.

Beta is Friday. I do not expect good news.

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