October 26, 2010
Good news, and some questionable news
So we had our second ultrasound today, and got (mostly) good news. The baby is looking great and growing right on track (7w4d), and we actually got to HEAR the heartbeat today (155) which was totally amazing.
I had a hard time enjoying the experience though, because they also found “something else” in there besides the baby. The RE (not mine, another one of the team docs) thinks that it could be either part of the baby that was just overlapping on the ultrasound, or part of a twin that stopped developing. Either of those options could be dealt with, but I now have myself convinced that it’s a second head or something. 
Hormonal pregnant women should not have to deal with unknown issues.
And the worst part is that they can’t get me in for another ultrasound (on the more high-powered machine in the OB office) until a week from tomorrow. Like I wasn’t worried enough before.
October 29, 2009
Ready, set…go! (If he knows what’s good for him!)
This afternoon I have my second consultation with the new RE. After a long month of blood tests, ultrasounds, and an MRI thrown in for good measure, I am so READY to move forward. The last time we met, my RE said that he couldn’t make any recommendations until he knew more, and very politely (and without my realizing) steamrolled over any questions I might have had. He is very thoughtful, but kind of intense, and I’m still trying to figure out how to interact with him. He reminded me that I have had some very serious issues and that I shouldn’t want to do another round of IVF unless he can convince me that’s the right next step. Now, I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think there are many other options open to a (healthy, 20-something) woman who does not ovulate. 😉
So needless to say, I am extremely interested to hear what he has to say today. I’m anxious – not worried, just ready – to know the results of my MRI and the blood clotting tests. Besides those tests, everything else was a repeat and I can pretty much guarantee what he’ll find there. I also want to make sure that I ask all the right questions, and actually get answers for everything that I need!
Here are my Q’s:
- Protocol – I’ve been doing what I think is called a “long Lupron” protocol (BCPs, Lupron, Follistim) and always overrespond. Questions – Should we consider the “antagonist” protocol? What does that entail?
- Fertilization – We’ve never had more than one embryo to work with, despite 18-19 eggs harvested. Should we consider ISCI?
- Retrieval – What are we going to do to ensure that I don’t have bleeding this time?
- Transfer –
- With both of my previous cycles we’ve done 3-day transfers. Should we consider 5-day? Pros/cons?
- If we end up with multiple embryos to work with this time, can we consider transferring two? Does it depend on the embryo quality? I’m pretty sure I know the pros and cons, but confirm.
To all you IF veterans, is there anything I’m missing???
October 2, 2009
A beautiful…uterus?
So the ball is finally rolling with our new RE…my first official consult with him was yesterday, although we have previously met with his nurse and have been working our way through the “pre-op” screening (blood tests, ultrasounds, etc.).
I received a VM Wednesday morning at 9am, saying that I was scheduled for my “procedure” that day at 11:30. What?!? I knew that I needed to have something called a hysteroscopy (uterus + camera…you get the idea), but I had been waiting to hear back from the nurse with an appointment time. Apparently it needs to be done on days 6-12, and Wednesday was day 12 – the nurse must have forgotten and then tried to squeeze me in. Not impressed. After keeping me waiting for almost an hour for my baseline ultrasound, this was defintely strike two.
Luckily, my work is very flexible, and I just so happened not to have any meetings that morning, so I popped over for what I was told was going to be an “easy” procedure. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say they had a very hard time getting in there…it was NOT pleasant. But on the plus side, apparently I have a “beautiful uterus.” 😕 It was actually pretty cool, you can watch along on the screen as they do it, and I even got to see the openings to my fallopian tubes. They did a few other tests and cultures while they were…ahem…there, so hopefully that will be it for a while.
Then yesterday I met with the doctor (after keeping me waiting for 45 minutes…the exact amount of time that I was late for our missed first appointment, grr!), only to find out that they hadn’t received my stim/egg sheets from my previous IVF cycles. For you non-IFers, those are the details about the specific levels of medications I was taking, along with the resultant estrogen level and number of follicles, documented day by day. The RE can’t make recommendations for next steps until he has seen that information, so that was another frustrating setback. However, he wants to do some more tests before making a decision, which we discussed, so the meeting wasn’t a total waste.
Next on the agenda are genetic testing for both S and I (to make sure there isn’t some rare factor that is impacting our ability to conceive), a brain MRI (to make sure there isn’t a tumor or something else weird going on in my head), and clotting tests (to figure out why I bled internally after our last ER. I said to him “I was hoping that you’d just come up with a new concoction of drugs and send us on our way…!” 😛 A testiment to his true skill as a doctor, he assured me that he wouldn’t be treating me right if he didn’t search out every possible piece of information before making his decision and diagnosis. He reminded me that I am in the 1% of difficult cases (go big or go home, right Jess? ;-)) and that after everything I have been through, he should be convincing me that whatever we do next is the right move. I truly appreciate feeling like he’ll be treating me with kid gloves, especially after our past experiences, but it’s a little frustrating to have yet another instance of “hurry up and wait.”
So the MRI is October 17th and our follow-up appointment is October 29th. Hopefully that means we can get moving in early November – and maybe we’ll even be pregnant by Christmas!!
September 9, 2009
RE impressions
Now that I’ve had a chance to simmer down a little bit, I thought I’d share some of my impressions from yesterday’s meeting.
- My new RE – Dr. Toth at the Vincent Center of Mass General Hospital – seems extremely kind and thoughtful. I’m reserving judgment until I see what he recommends based on our previous IF history, but he clearly knows what he’s doing. Besides being the chief, he’s obviously in high demand!
- His nurse also seems very nice – funny, down to earth, and just really a good person. During IVF cycles, I’ll be interacting more with her than with the doctor, so it was nice to feel comfortable with her right off the bat.
- The lab is on the same floor as the main office, and it seems like only IF patients use that particular lab. Yesterday during my blood test, I warned the phlebotomist that I hadn’t eaten or drank anything yet that morning (makes it harder to draw blood, FYI) and that I have tough veins…and not only did she get it in first time, but I didn’t even feel the needle going in! Yay for people who know what they’re doing!! 😉
- The location is super convenient – when I get to the point in my cycle where I’m going for a blood test and ultrasound every other day, I’ll just have to hop off the subway halfway to work, do my business, and get back on for 4 more stops!
- The best part of all is the VIEW. The office is located on the 10th floor, with a gorgeous view of the city of Boston. S actually stopped on our way out to take a picture (I’ll post it later tonight. :-))
The only bad parts of the office were the receptionists – a pair of surly young ladies – but (since I didn’t meet with the doctor) at least I didn’t get charged a co-pay! 😉
September 8, 2009
Rough morning.
This morning was our first appointment with the new RE, which I was super excited for…but the whole morning was a total fiasco. S was delayed with a client so we left a half hour later than planned, and then got stuck in the WORST traffic I’ve seen in a long time. And let’s just say that S is NOT a patient person in traffic… It took us an hour and fifteen (painful!) minutes to get to the hospital – 45 minutes past our scheduled appointment – at which point the RE had to take in his next patient and we officially missed our appointment.
His nurse was gracious enough to meet with us and get a lot of the introductory paperwork started, and the doctor stopped in to say hello between appointments. They were willing to get started with the blood work (proving that I’m not secretly pregnant) and other tests (again, proving that the problem is not related to S in any way…ahem! ;-)) so at least the morning wasn’t a total waste, but the next available appointment time isn’t until October 1st! So much of IF is hurry up and wait – SO FRUSTRATING!! Then, to top it all off, my boss forgot that I had an appointment and thought I was just MIA! Grrrr….
August 26, 2009
My fairy godfather
In preparation for my appointment with the new RE in a few weeks, I called last week and left a message asking to speak with my “old” RE (he was on vacation all week). I was kind of worried about it because it felt a lot like breaking up with somebody (!), but I wanted him to know that I was going elsewhere before he was notified of my request for medical records. Purely on the basis of location, a change was necessary, but I still felt badly about it.
I just got off the phone with him and I feel SO much better. Not only did he completely understand my need for a change, but he said that they are the best fertility center in Boston and that my appointment is with the best doctor they have!! He told me to make sure they know about my history, specifically:
— I have PCOS, with high testosterone and larger-than-normal ovaries
— I “dramatically” overrespond to fertility meds
— I was previously hospitalized for internal bleeding after an ER (maybe check for bleeding conditions?)
I also told him that I had heard that center was considered “conservative” and asked what he thought. He said yes, possibly, but that it is better to be somewhere that will closely monitor me, because I am essentially considered “high risk.” That made me feel good – not that I’m high risk (although I’m not surprised, I’m type A about everything else, why not be an overachiever here too? ;-)) – but that he truly felt (and told me!) that I was in exactly the right place.
He closed the conversation by wishing me well and making me promise to follow up with him, once I’m PREGNANT! What a sweetie… 😉
Life by the Day 