Over & Done

Well, we did it. We signed our life away.... O.k, so we really didn't. That's actually how I felt when we bought our new home last year.... And, it's kind of how I felt when we bought the car last Friday. Last night, I felt as though we were just moving forward. Yes, there were a ton of decisions to be made and papers to be signed.

Before we talked to the RE, the nurse got b/w from the both of us. DH also had to give a # 1 sample. She then took all of my vitals. Then, my RE completed a u/s. She had a hard time finding my 'good' side. Finally, she did. We have never had that happen before. We then completed the mock transfer. All went well. I was just a bit crampy afterwards. It was just like our IUI in February.

When then met with our RE in a conference room. She confirmed the call from Thursday. We will be doing ICSI. I got online when I got home last night. Looked up SART(a place where you can find IVF clinic statistics). It seems like most clinics have a 50% rate of using ICSI. I guess we are just part of another statistic. RE said she wasn't really sure we needed it. But, if it increases our chances... we are going for it!

We only had a few questions for her. We changed the calendar a little. Instead of going in on CD 6; we will be going in on CD 5. She wants to keep an eye on me. Since I am young and have mild PCOS, I am at greater risk for OHSS (overstimulating). Each time I go in, I will have an u/s and b/w completed. The main thing they will be looking at in the b/w is my E2 level. For each mature egg the E2 should be multiplied by 200. (Although, that direct of a relationship isn't always correct. Some of the eggs may not be mature.) She said if it gets over 4000, they get worried. If it gets over 5000, they harvest the eggs but save them for on FET cycle. If the levels get above 6000, the cycle is cancelled. I would love to have a lot of eggs to work with... but I want to complete this cycle... I want a fresh cycle.

Side Note: When we were in our appointment, I got an call form Ascend (the pharmacy). It went to vmail. Well apparently some more of my meds. went through! A refund check for $115 is in the mail as we speak! I will update about this more when I learn the details!

Short & Not sooo sweet...

This is going to be a short post... just like that short conversation I just had with a nurse from the clinic. It was totally unexpected.

When my phone started ringing, I had no clue it would be from the clinic. So yeah.. I wasn't in a rush. I finally answered. It was F, a nurse, from the office. She said that based on DH's SA we would need to have ICSI done when doing the procedure. She said his critical morphlogy was low. The first thing I said was, "Wait, I'm confused! What's this based off of?" She then told me that they keep the slides of all SA tests. They based their decision on DH's December test.

So now we have something else to consider. Actually, there's nothing to considered. Just as I always say.... what needs to be done, will be done.

Tomorrow is our appointment with our RE. Time to sign papers and get b/w for the both of us.

Meds, Meds & More Meds

Holy cow! That's all I can say. I couldn't believe it when I opened up the BOX today. It was waiting for me on the front porch when I got home from work.

Let me first back up. As you know from my last post, the pharmacy had contacted me Wednesday. Basically, they took my basic and insurance information. The representative then told us a maximum cost for my meds. And, to be honest, it was a TON less than I had anticipated. She thought my insurance may cover the: antibiotic, steroid, lupron and/or PIO. Later that night another representative called. They had already filed the claim with my insurance and my insurance had already paid. The lady went on to say... "Your final is $332 (and some odd change)!" I said...."oh wait, that can't be right." Apparently, I do not have coverage for the IVF procedure itself, but I have really good prescription service. In the end, I had a copay for a couple of this items and I had to pay full cost for the Lupron and PIO. I thought that part was very ironic. I had to pay full cost for two of items the first representative thought that I would have coverage for. I ended up asking them to call my insurance company again and double check. Thursday, mid-morning, I called them back. After doubling check, the price was right! So, we ordered and they shipped.

This is what I came home to today....

Also, got yet another VMail today at work. The receptionist for Dr. T's office called. She was just confirming our meeting for next Friday @ 4pm.

Checkmark! We stopped in at Wally World tonight. We found the Baby Aspirin. Add that to my pile of meds.

IVF Class... Do I really have to remember all of this?

We got through it! We got there early, of course. We arrived around 5:30pm. We sat in the waiting room just like it was any other appointment. This was definitely not like an appointment we've been to before. We are taking the next step.

The Clint Manager then came out and got those of us who were there already. We went back to a conference style room. Pretty quickly, the meeting was started. My RE ran the meeting. Some of the couples attending had another RE that works at the facility. For the 1st hour or so , Dr. T. talked about the ends-and-outs of IVF. She discussed: why people choose IVF, the details of the procedure from start to finish, possible complication, the risks of multiples... and so much more that I can't even recall everything. Then, a lab nurse talked with us for hour. She had a PowerPoint, as did Dr. T., to go along with her presentation. She talked with us about sperm collection and the process of egg collection (ER)and egg transfer (ET). We also learned about "grading." Main idea is that 1 is the best and 4 is basically horrible. I want all 1s. Then, the meeting ended with another 1hr and 15min talk with the Clint Manager. She talked with us about cost and about the medications that will have to be used. We also had to turn in the paperwork that we had filled out ahead of time. Along with that, there were a few other forms that we had to fill out at the meeting itself. We also had to get our pictures taken. This picture will be placed in the front of our file folder. Yuck! It was a great Polaroid!
Injections
This topic deserves a section of its own. Oh boy! We are in for it. I have to admit, I was.. still am, very nervous about giving/getting shots. I need to get over it quick. I will start giving/getting my shots in just a few weeks and will continue throughout the ENTIRE process. The Clint Manager said that once we get the meds. in the mail that we can come in to get a refresher course. They will also bag everything up for us!



3 hrs. 2o mins. later, we left! My head is still spinning. I a nervous, anxious, scared, overwhelmed and elated all at the same time. They went over so much, I am not quite sure I even remember the first part. I'm glad they gave us more folders with more information. We have tons of reading to get in.

Things to do:
1. Watch videos provided about Lupron (Suppression) and PIO (Progesterone in Oil) injections

2. Buy Baby Aspirin (Will start taking 81mg tablet once daily, 2 days of ER)
Directions:
1. Call Clinic on CD 1. Will schedule CD 3 bloodwork(b/w) and ultrasound (u/s). Clint Manager will order medications at this point.
Upcoming Appointments:
May 29th Consent & Sounding Appointment @ 4:00pm (Go over & Sign Consent Forms, b/w for the both of us and Mock Transfer)
Checkmark! DH got TV hooked up in bedroom today. That will come in handy during bed rest after the ET. Also, we stopped at Wally World on the way home last night. Picked up a couple pair of cute, colorful cotton stretch Capri's. These will be great while I am stimming!

My day off school was refreshing!