E2V

I began my E2V (I accidentally doubled my dose! YIKES!). I was so worried, but it looks like it didn't make too much of a difference. My E2 levels still needs to be higher according to RE. Tuesday is my IVIg and if all is going well, then FET is right around the corner on 1/18.

AF has finally showed

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am so glad AF has finally shown. I had a 70 day cycle this last time and the only reason AF showed was because RE had me take Provera to induce it. It was still late, but, better late than never!

This just means that I am one step closer to beginning cycle for FET in January. I have started taking BCP's today. Here is my schedule:

12/18 FET Cycle begins, begin Lupron 10U & Dexamethasone
12/22 Last BCP
12/23 Lupron reduced to 5U, continute Dexamethasone
12/27 E2 & US Appt
12/28 E2V IM Appt
1/1 E2V IM Appt
1/4 Stat E2 Appt & E2V IM
1/8 Stat E2 & IVIg Appt, E2V IM
1/11 CD 9 E2 & US Appt
1/18 Probable ET, begin Heparin

This just means that it will fly by. I have so much HOPE this time around. I pray this will be it for us. IF is so stressful and I feel depression every once in a while. Just today we went to DH's Christmas Party and everyone was talking about their grandkids. I just had to get out of there before I broke down. I went to the restroom and took some deep breaths until I was ready to face reality again.

9dp5dt

Can you believe it? It is already 9 days past 5 day transfer (14 days past egg retrieval/ovulation). I should know by now if I am preggo or not. Have I dared taken a HPT? After yesterday's urge, believe me, I have really considered it, but I have never seen a + HPT. As a matter of fact, every time I have taken one, I will usually spot or menses shows up immediately after. I don't know that I'm quite ready for that disappointment just yet.

I am trying to keep a positive attitude, but it is really difficult when the only symptom that I truly notice is sore bb's (which don't really hurt as much as they were before) and I know that is from the PIO. I know that a lot of women don't feel any symptoms, but the last time I was pregnant and felt absolutely no symptoms except sore bb's, it turned out to be a blighted ovum and I miscarried at 8 weeks 6 days. So I feel the need to feel something to know that everything is okay. My DH did comment to me today that my bb's were getting really big, so I'm trying to hold on to that as a positive sign. The other thing that has kept my hopes a little high is the fact that the RE transferred a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 blasts. From my understanding Grade 1 blasts are really hard to come by. They have to literaly be perfect to be classified as Grade 1. That is what I am holding on to.

My beta is tomorrow at 8:00 am. I'm not sure what time they will call with the results, but I am going to tell them to leave a message on my voice mail. Either way it goes, I don't know that I can deal with the results at work in front of 21 little faces. So I will just check my message when I get home and either cry my eyes out alone if I need to or call the important people and tell them the results.

I have to admit I am really scared. At points I just want to go ahead and POAS that way I can just get it over with, but then I think, if the RE scheduled me for tomorrow, why am I going to take an early test? I'm really confused right now and I just have to keep myself busy so that I don't over analyze every little thing.

It was about 9:00 pm and I was ready to go to sleep. I made myself a hot cocoa and sat down to watch a movie so I could drink it up. Suddenly my brother and his family showed up so I had to entertain them. At about 9:40 pm I am yawning and ready to go to sleep. I pray tomorrow will bring good news. GOD, please bless us with a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child.

8dp5dt

I woke up this morning to find a little bit of pinkish spotting on TP. I am really freaking out now. I am getting lower back pain like AF is coming and beginning to feel as if this FET is a bust. I guess all I can do is wait to see what happens, but the excitement is not there anymore!

Okay, it looks like pinkish spotting on TP was just a scare. Boy, did it work!

So I went to my acupuncturist appointment and on the way back this really strong urge to POAS came to me. I tried to stop it, but I couldn't, so, I stopped at CVS and went to the family planning section. I was looking at all of the tests and then I looked some more and still some more and finally decided I would not torture myself this way. So, I made myself walk out of there, WITHOUT a HPT.

I have noticed today that I have been peeing a lot! Also, I took a nap at acupuncturist, then came home and took another nap. It's really early now, about 9:00 pm and I'm ready to go to sleep. I hope this is all good! Good night.

7dp5dt

I can not believe it is already 7 days past 5 day transfer; that would put me at 12 days past ovulation. The last few cycles, I have been getting AF at around 14 or 15dpo. I am a little excited since I have read that women that have had the IVIg infusion with failed IVF's in the past have a higher rate of pregnancy. I have been praying that this is it for us.

Today, I have not really felt any symptoms other than sore bb's and a couple of cramps here and there. I have still been sneezing since yesterday and my nose is runny. I was at Walmart and the display for Claritin was completely gone. I'm assuming it is allergy season. I will see my acupuncturist tomorrow so I will make sure she places some needles for my allergies.

I think I am in need of a nap. I think it's because of my allergies, but my eyes are really droopy.

After nap I began to feel AF cramping. Other ladies that cycled with me have gotten a BFP, but I am still terrified of a BFN. They all POAS and tested early.

I went to eat at Olive Garden for dinner. I don't know if I ate too much or drank too much tea or what happened, but on the way home I began to get a headache. It seems to have subsided and I didn't need to take any medication to get rid of it. While at the restaurant, though, I went to the restroom to blow my nose, but as soon as I walked in I began to sneeze like crazy. Then my symptoms got so much better. Maybe it was because I cleaned my bird's cage and it was dusty or maybe it was from when I cleaned of the ceiling fan and all of the dust fell down. I know I shouldn't be doing too much housework, but I am getting so bored and DH is not doing a very good job of helping keep it clean. I am so tempted now to POAS. I don't know if I can make it 3 more days! I guess I've made it this far, I can make it a few more.

6dp5dt

I have had heartburn for the past 3 days like crazy, but then again, it is probably my fault because I always eat spicy foods. It was strange but today I ate a burger from Whataburger and it tasted so salty to me! I have been so hungry lately and before I leave from work, I am ready to eat, even though I snack throughout the day.

My but looks like it's growing and my boobs look huge! The sportsbra I've been wearing might be too loose because it hurts a lot more now when I try to roll over at night. So, I have just been sleeping on my back to avoid it. Again, last night, I woke up to pee and couldn't go back to sleep. Could it possibly be the nerves? Then I get hungry, or is that also the nerves in my stomach that make it feel like if I'm hungry?

My spotting has completely disappeared. I pray it was just implantation spotting. 4 more days before beta HCG and counting!

Also, since yesterday I have been feeling my nose kind of dry and itchy along with itchy eyes. I haven't really checked the pollen levels. Today, I sneezed all day long and my nose continues to feel dry and itchy, along with itchy eyes.

5dp5dt

Today I am 10 days past ovulation or 5 days past 5 day transfer. My spotting diminished now to only watery brown so that's a big relief. RE said it's not normal but not unusual, whatever that means, so we'll see what happens.

Something strange happened last night. I woke up to pee, as I have been lately, and when I went back to bed I couldn't fall asleep. So I tossed and turned for a while and all of a sudden, to my surprise, I was hungry! Right, like I was really going to get up in the middle of the night to eat. So after tossing a turning some more (I was probably up for about one hour) when I woke up in the morning I was starving.

After work, I was so hungry and right now I am so sleepy.

4dp5dt

I woke up last night because my bladder felt really full, to find that I had a little brown spotting. I didn't think much of it and since it was in the middle of the night, I basically forgot about it.

Later in the day, to my surprise, more brown spotting. I'm feeling a bit disheartened. I am only 4dp5dt and all I want to do is cry, but I know that it can be 1 of 3 things:
(1) implantation bleeding
(2) one embie implanted and the other didn't
(3) AF is on it's way

But I thought it was too early to have AF, so I searched the posts at my clinic and the RE said:

"The spotting and cramping are both probably not of significance. The former is probably the local irritant effect of suppositories and the latter...completely subjective.Geoff Sher"

That made me feel a bit better, but I am so nervous and I am trying not to be. I felt I have done everything right, but I guess something could always go wrong. All I can do is continue to pray hopes that God will bless us with a little miracle.

I had an awful day at work. My students are so out of control and I feel stressed. I'm guessing it's also because I have missed several days and they were just having the time of their life.

Also, I forgot to mention, but later in the evening as I was on the computer, I felt a weird cramp around my belly button area. It was like several little cramps, but they lasted for about 40 seconds or so.

3dp5dt

Okay, today is 3 days past 5 day transfer. Implantation should have already taken place. I have been doing a lot of meditating and a lot of praying, to St. Gerard, the Saint of Motherhood, and to God, to bless me with a healthy pregnancy.

Today, I called in to work. I figured one more day of rest would do me good. So I woke up early to inject Heparin and then fell back asleep. I woke up late. The only weird things I noticed were that I bearly ate breakfast (one tortilla w/chorizo & beans & a glass of chocolate milk), lunch (1/2 grilled cheese sandwhich), and dinner (2 tacos). I got a serious case of heartburn after dinner so I had to take some MOM to alleviate it. It took a while, but it eventually worked. I meditated for about one hour from 12:00 noon until almost 1:00 pm. Afterwards I did feel some type of cramping, but it was more like pinching sensations in my lower abdomen. I am trying to stay positive, but it is hard after everything I've been through. I hate to think that any little symptom will mean that I am pregnant, but I deeply and truly want to believe that it does.

Tomorrow I return to work for a short week. I only work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Before I know it, Monday will roll right around and I go for my beta. I am really excited but am trying to remain calm. DH keeps asking me if I'm pregnant and I tell him I don't know. DM calls every day to ask me if I'm feeling anything.

2dp5dt

2 days past 5 day transfer. Still feeling cramping and bloating. My lower back pain has gone away, but last night I slept with a little pillow under my back and another pillow lifting my legs. It was very comfortable. I have had to sleep with a workout bra because my bb's have been super tender since last week from the progesterone shots. Still haven't done too much, but have gotten up a little more to do a few things. I am considering taking tomorrow off just as a precaution.

1dp5dt

1 day past 5 day transfer. Still on bed rest and nothing different going on. Still feeling lots of bloating and slight cramping. I have also been eating my pineapple, which is supposed to help with implantation (the core, anyway). I only eat one slice because the fiber content is really high and I got cramping this morning from it. My back has been hurting a lot (lower back) but I think it's because I have been laying around doing absolutely nothing.

DH made me breakfast and then the best burgers in town for dinner. I love homemade burger, a la Norma!

Finally! ET

Yes, it's been a while that I've posted, but mostly it has been due to internet failure. I think we got it straightened out now.

Finally, the day has arrived. My ET is finally here. I had an acupuncture treatment at 9:00 am and my ET was this morning at 11:00 am. We had 2 beautiful blasts transferred. One was a Grade 1 and the other was a Grade 2. RE said the lining looked great and the transfer was easy. Implantation should occur within the next 2 to 3 days. No comes the wait. Betas are scheduled for 9/24 and 9/26. Next IVIG will be scheduled as soon as a heartbeat is heard. I pray that God blesses us with a child.

The nurses again decided they wanted to mess things up for me. On my calendar of meds it said that I would be using Heparin only once a day. When I asked the RE, he asked if he had switched me to Lovenox and I told him no. He said that if I was using Heparin, once a day would not be enough. I asked him to re-check my calendar and he of course changed the Heparin to twice a day. His staff is so incompetent, sometimes I wonder. Only because I question it, but if I were new, I would have no idea and would assume the nurses knew what they were doing.

After we got home I basically slept the entire afternoon and evening. Nothing out of the ordinary except a little cramping and slight bloating, but I think that is normal. DH is at my beck and call and I love it. I must take advantage of it since it doesn't happen too often. His lunch to me: Aw Shucks! It was very yummy.

IVIG w/Intralipids

My new cycle is now here. Today is the day of the IVIG with intralipids scheduled at 8:00 am.

We will be leaving for the weekend to Miami today so I am really excited.

OHSS Symptoms Going Away

It seems my OHSS symptoms are finally going away, slowly, but surely. I am not feeling the swelling and bloatedness so much in my abdomen area, but I can definitely still see it. I am so swollen I am ashamed. Just a few weeks ago I looked nothing like this, and now almost 10 pounds later, I feel and look like a pig! So much for wearing my bathing suit during my vacation. I will do a fresh veggies/fruit juice cleanse tomorrow and hopefully that will help reduce some of this. I still have some bruising from the injections and so I don't know how I'll be covering that up. The only problem is that nothing fits except for about three things! What am I to do?

Other than that, not much going on. It has been raining here for 15 straight days and we are expecting another 7 days of rain. In one place south of here it rained a little over 19 inches in the last 24 hours and so many places have become flooded...people have lost their homes...their personal belongings...their family. It is just so sad!

5 Days Past Egg Retrieval

Today, Stephanie, the embryologist called to give me the update on my little embryos. It seems we have 12 embryos that made it to the blastocyst stage that are ready to freeze. She said they are all quality 1 or 2, but most of them are quality 2. She said they will freeze them in groups of 2 so that when we thaw them, we can have them ready. She also said they will wait until tomorrow to see if any will make it to day 6, and if so, they will let me know.

Today should have been my egg transfer day if I had not gotten OHSS as bad as I did. I am still feeling the symptoms and have been on bed rest forever it seems. Yesterday, I told DH I needed to get out, so we went to Academy. It was awful. I couldn't take it anymore. I was so tired and my lower abdomen was beginning to hurt so we came home and back to bed I went.

I e-mailed my RE to see how much longer of this it will be and he said it could last up to 2 weeks. Great! And we're going on vacation on Saturday. I am so bloated and swollen, I look awful! Plus, nothing fits! I'm pretty okay with the fact that we have to wait until september and have not felt down or anything so that is a good thing. I'm looking forward to my vacation and I am definitely going to enjoy it. I will not schedule my LAc appointment until I come back because I decided I am taking a couple of weeks off.

Embryos at 3 Days

RE called this morning to tell me that we have 17 embryos that have made it to this point. Wow! That's a big difference--from 43 down to 17! Not that I'm complaining, I'm just glad we had plenty to start off with. I have been on bedrest, per RE's orders, and I'm still feeling really, really bloated. I try to eat, but it's bearly. I have been keeping hydrated with Gatorade, so I know that won't be a problem. I'm just ready to get up and go. Doesn't too much bed rest affect me too? I think a little going out tomorrow might just be okay.

2 days after Egg Retrieval

Today it has been 2 days since my eggs were retrieved and I am feeling sooooooo bloated I can't even eat. RE's office called me in the morning to give me time of ET: Monday, June 25 at 9:00 am. I should be there by 8:45. I told Angie I need an acupuncture session before and she said to call LAc and see if she can come in to office to do one. I never knew they did that. Also told her to have Jodiann call me back regarding OHSS symptoms.

I called LAc and she said she would see me at 7:30 am in her office. How wonderful of her is that. So I called Angie and let her know everything would be okay.

A little later Jodiann called me and I was telling her how I had been feeling and if there was anything that I could do or take to feel better. She said not really, but if I wanted I could go in and have RE check me to make sure I'm not hyperstimulating. She said it was up to me, but since it was Friday it would be best if I went so I did.

RE checked me on sonogram and found lots of fluid in my ovaries. He said he strongly recommends that I cancel this cycle. Otherwise, if I get pregnant it will only trigger OHSS even more. He said he'd like to let my ovaries rest about a month (leaving me out of July transfer and not cycling in August) and then FET in September. He said lots of bed rest. Better As much as I hate waiting so long, I'd rather be safe than sorry, so we will wait until September. I know this is happening for a reason and God knows exactly what he is doing so I am not questioning it and just accepting it.

LAc called me later and I told her the situation. She said that it's good we're waiting because the risks of OHSS are very high. Plus, like I told her, the hard part is already done, so I will continue seeing her every 2 weeks as before beginning next Thursday.

This will just allow me to not be too cautious on my vacation.

Fertilization Report

Today was the day after egg retrieval. I feel sooooo bloated. I can't even eat too much because I feel the distention in my stomach area (above belly button, mostly). I am trying to rest and not do too much, but it is getting really boring. Here is the fertilization report from RE:

• 43 eggs retrieved
• 38 good eggs
• 28 embryos (fertilized)

RE says I should have enough for two genearations. I don't know about that. He said by saturday he would know which ones are of good quality and would call me to let me know. Everyone is amazed at how many eggs were fertilized. I really hope we get pregnant with the first round of this, but if not, we have plenty left for backup. I don't know about 28 kids! I have been trying to drink gatorade because water makes me feel more bloated. I think tomorrow I am only going to eat liquid food to see if that makes it feel better. I know that OHSS usually doesn't kick in until about 3-5 days after but I already feel it. I also found this:

OHSS develops rapidly; therefore, patients should be followed for at least
two weeks after hCG administration. Most often, OHSS occurs after treatment has
been discontinued and reaches its maximum at aboutseven to ten days following
treatment. Usually, OHSS resolves spontaneously with the onset of menses.

A friend told me her RE recommended tomato juice and another lady said she was:

...was told it is the shift in fluid that they are so worried about. I
could not drink water it made it 1000% times worse. My RE said do not drink
water only drink gatorade. The Gatorade is supposed to help bring the shift of
fluid back in order. When your cells become dehydrated you loose all the
electrolytes, the gatorade or even powerade will help to put back these lost
electrolytes in order o bring balance back.

I'm not sure how true this is. When I asked RE he said there is nothing to help with it. I am having some difficulty breathing at times because it hurts, but I don't think its that bad. Well, I guess I'll wait for tomorrow to see how I feel.

Egg Retrieval

Today was my ER. 43 eggs were retrieved and I'm feeling the bloating. The procedure took longer than expected and I was the one that ever had the most at my RE's office. That's really pretty scary. I was in over an hour. Nurse said I went in a little after 9:00 and when I came out it was about 10:15. I was in recovery about 30 minutes and then allowed to go home. Embryologist said they would check follices and within 3 hours would know which were good and which were not. At that time they would also begin ICSI. She said they would give report to RE and he will call me tomorrow.

I came home ate and went to sleep until about 5:30ish. I am feeling bloated but not as bad as I would have thought. I am to start PIO shot today. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Egg Retrieval

I can not believe how fast time has gone by and how well everything has turned out. Tomorrow, finally, is my Egg Retrieval and I am so excited. Here are my egg retrival pre-operative instructions:

• the day before ER: DON'T EAT/DRINK ANYTHING after midnight. You may brush your teeth the morning of ER.
• don't wear jewelry. notify anesthesiologist if you are wearing dentures/contact lenses.
• wear comfortable clothing.
• be at SIRM 45 minutes before your scheduled ER. bring the consent forms, already reveiwed, and be prepared to sign in front of SIRM staff.
• a fresh sperm sample will be neede if your partner's sperm is to be sued, unless otherwise noted.
• expect to be at SIRM between 2 and 2 1/2 hours.
• because of the IV sedation, you will not be allowed to drive after the procedure. please arrange to have a ride home.

DH will take 1/2 day off and then DM will come over to take care of me until DH comes come in the evening. I pray that RE gets lots of healthy follicles and that I don't get OHSS. I look forward to my ET on Monday, if all goes well.

hCG Trigger Shot!

YAY! I am so excited. My E2 went down to 2778 today. That means that I will finally trigger tonight at exactly 10:30 pm. I am to discontinue Lupron, Heparin and baby aspirin until further notice. I am to begin and/or continue on the following:

• hCG 10,000 units once tonight
• Zithromax, once tonight, and then twice a day thereafter (with food)
• folic acid 3mg daily
• dexamethasone 0.75 mg daily
• prenatal vitamins

I am so excited! Did I say that already. Thank you God for making this all work out. If my E2 levels would not have gone down then we would have to have cancelled the entire thing. I pray that my ER (on wednesday) and my ET (5 days later, possibly on monday) will both have great success. I know that there are many and many people that have prayed, that are praying and will be praying for us and I also pray that being a mommy will finally become a dream come true!

So, my egg retrieval (ER) is officially set for wednesday, June 20 at 9:00 am. I am to arrive at 8:15. Instructions are: nothing to eat after midnight the night before. Brushing teeth will be okay. I am to wear absolutely no jewelry and wear comfortable clothes. DH will also need to be there sometime between 9:00 and 11:00 am to give a fresh sample. They are giving him a hard time at work so I don't want him to miss too much time unless he has to.

I have to add that yesterday DH did so well with administering hCG shot to me. I iced it and then he gave it and I didn't even feel it. Good job! That was a great start, so hopefully the PIO shots will go just as smoothly.

Day 2 of Prolonged Coasting

I went in for yet another E2 today. The results: a decrease to 8138. DH and I had a chance to speak with Dr. Saleh. He explained the pros and cons of prolonged coasting.

• Coasting means the stim meds are stopped and the follicles allowed to slow down before hCG administered. Usually does not affect egg quality if less than 3-4 days.
• Sometimes coasting doesn't necessarily mean E2 will go down, it could always go up.
• If E2 continues to increase, then the cycle will be automatically cancelled. The next cycle I could do would be in September so my ovaries can take a break. July would be too soon and there is no cycle in August.
• If E2 decreases (it could take a while) then cycle can continue and HCG shot administered.
• If after HCG is administered and OHSS symptoms are really bad, then follicles will be fertilized, left to grow to blasts and then frozen. If they grow to blasts it already means they are good follicles. These can be transferred at next round of cyclers and due to vitrification process (bypass crysalization step and no risk in losing any at thawing), the success rate of pregnancy is the exact same as a fresh cycle.
• It is really up to us if we want to cancel cycle, but just because we used 2 amps this cycle and produced tons of follicles, at next cycle I can be reduced to use 1 amp and produce absolutely nothing. This is a risk that we will be taking.

So the plan is this. I am to continue on Lupron and Heparin shots, along with ASA, Prenatal, Folic Acid and dexamethasone. My next E2 will be on Monday along with another U/S.

I just have to add that we went to a private party at the Dallas Petroleum Club yesterday. It was DH's boss' 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. It was a surprise party he threw for his wife. It was so great. They are wonderful people. Anyway, the Dallas Petroluem Club is a the premier private city club in Texas with national recognition (one of the top twenty in the entire nation). All I can say is WOW! I was speechless. I had O'Dourves and drank Don Perier. I had to go shopping for this one and find something that would make me fit right in. I thought I looked pretty good, but according to DH, he said I looked like "Marilyn Monroe!" What a compliment. He had never complimented me in this way! He was proud to be showing me off to his friends this time! I got so many compliments from everyone. I will try to put up a picture later. This was a very memorable ocassion.

Hyperstimulating! Begin Prolonged Coasting!

E2 is 9522! Yikes! Per nurse I am to stop all stims (Gonal-F and Menopur) and begin prolonged coasting. I should go in again tomorrow for another E2 and I will get further instructions then.

I am trying not to come to any conclusions but I can't help it.

I talked to one of the other RE's and he explained prolonged coasting to me. As it turns out he said:

At hCG we like the E2 to be between 1200 and 3000. It correlates about 150-200
per mature follicle.

Since my follicles at yesterday's appointment for not at least 1/2 at 14mm or more, my RE just reduced my dose (actually I stopped one of the stims) so that they wouldn't all grow too fast or at the same time or as he put it:

At this point your follicles aren't ready. We need half to be 14-15 mm before we
can start coasting. It is reasonable to lower the dose, but you have to keep
going for now.

When I questioned him ab0ut the E2 being so high and coasting he said:

I think the timing is pretty good. We sometimes do have to let the level rise
high before we start in order for the follilces to be mature. I bet today it
will be around 10,000, tomorrow 11,000 and then it will start to drop. It can
drop fast. You will probably be ready for hCG in about 3 days.

Now that I understand prolonged coasting (PC) I feel so much better about this entire thing. I was really worried. I also asked about the fertilization rate of the eggs, since it says in the pamphlets that it appears to be reduced by using this method, but the actual pregnancy rate does not appear to be compromised. He said:

We find the fertilization rate is fine, if the eggs are mature, but you will
need ICSI.

Then I asked about how I had read that men that are TTC and were a result themselves of ICSI can have difficulty conceiving. He answered:

There are not many men conceived through ICSI that have reached reproductive
age, since the procedure was invented in 1993. This a potential concern.

I don't want to worry about this, but it does concern me. I hate to say we'll have to cross that path when we get there, but for now I guess that's what I'll have to settle for.

We'll see what happens tomorrow. I had the most beautiful dream today when I took a nap. I put on my relaxation CD and I fell into a deep sleep, like always. Well, I dreamt that I had this beautiful blonde baby with blonde hair. I remember I was holding him but I kept asking mom my if she was sure he was mine. She would tell me to just look at him because he looked just like me. When I looked at him in my dream he was the same face and I didn't doubt for a second that he was really mine. It was the best dream I've ever had, yet so real.

Day 11 of Stims 2nd U/S & E2

I went in again today for my 2nd U/S and E2. Things were looking A-Okay. RE said I had lots of follies and said that in order to trigger at least half of them have to be at leas 14mm and we're not quite there yet. He measured 15 follicles (right: 15, 14 x 2, 12 x 3, 12++ (nurse said ++ means they are higher than 12 but not quite 13), 11; left: 16.5, 15.5, 13 x 3, 14 x 2).

He said he doesn't want to put the brakes on too soon because then I will have them collapse and/or become/stay immature just like when you take a cake out of the oven too soon. What a great analogy!

When I left, Jodiann said to continue on the same dose and to see him again on Saturday morning for a 3rd U/S and E2. Otherwise, everything looked good but if not careful I could hyperstimulate and I could get OHSS.

Well, Jodiann had called and left me two messages to call her (silly me I still had my phone on vibrate). When I finally called her around 3:30 pm, she said that my E2 was over 8,000! Oh my! I knew at the time that it was way too high! She said to stop Gonal-F and continue with the Menopur and everything else the same.

Well, I e-mail RE and he said:

Your risks of hyperstim are real. Maybe 10%. But that has not occurred. We
have to be careful mot to lose the eggs while avoiding hyperstim at the same
time. That will depend on how your ovaries respond. I have enclosed a pamphlet
to explain.

He also said:

The repeat was 6000. You are certainly sensitive to the meds as you were on only
2 amps.

Then I asked some other RE's on the message boards and these were the responses I got from two of them:

I think the timing is pretty good. We sometimes do have to let the level
rise high before we start in order for the follilces to be mauture. You will
probably be ready for hCG in about 3 days. --Jeffrey Fisch, MD

The level of E2 when the coast begins is not important but it MUST be <300
when the trigger shot of hCG is given.--Geoff Sher

I guess I just overanalyze things. I am trying so hard to keep faith and pray as much as I can that this will be it, but those doubts still terrify me. I really want this to work b/c this will be our last try at this, so when I hear bad news I can't help it.

My meds are the same I'm just dropping the Gonal-F:

• Lupron 5U SQ QAM
• .75 mg dexamethasone
• Heparin 5000 units BID
• Menopur 1 vial PM (FSH/LH)

Day 10 of Stims

Today I received my E2 levels from my RE. I am on the L5 protocol. I was told my baseline (5/30) E2 was less than 20. I'm not sure if there are there any specific optimum ranges that SIRM prefers at baseline. I e-mailed RE to find out if it can be too low or if having a real low E2 at baseline correspond with how fast/slow you’ll respond or if having a high E2 be a sign of PCOS?

I started stims on 6/4 and on 6/11 (7 days later) at my CD9 appointment, E2 was 2135. I'm intersted in knowing what the optimum range for E2 at CD9 is. I heard that it depend on how many follicles your ovaries are producing. Since RE told me my ovaries had produced too many follicles (he said they were 10++--not sure what this means) and he was afraid of hyperstimulating me so he reduced my dose of Gonal-F. I wonder if coasting like this affect the follicles’ quality. I have sent out these questions to RE's at SIRM. I look forward to hearing a response soon.

Also, I have another U/S and E2 level appointment tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers and praying that all will be well.

Sometimes I wonder if asking too many questions just tends to worry me more, but I also think that knowing exactly what is going on is very important.

Here are my meds for today:

• Lupron 5U SQ QAM
• .75 mg dexamethasone
• Gonal-F 75 units PM
• Heparin 5000 units BID
• Menopur 1 vial PM (FSH/LH)

Today was another day at home....very boring!

Day 9 of Stims

Today was the longest day ever. I decided I would take my acupuncturist's recommendation and stay home and relax. What a boring day I had. I woke up early to give my shots, had my veggie juice for breakfast and watched TV until lunchtime. Then, I had lunch, took out some food to cook for dinner and watched TV the rest of the afternoon. Around 3:00 pm, I decided I didn't want to cook anymore, so I was bad and ordered a pizza. Then I watched TV the rest of the day. It was awful. I had absolutely nothing to do. I think tomorrow I might just go to the movies or something. I hate it that all of my friends are working during the day. Here were my meds for the day:

• Lupron 5U SQ QAM
• .75 mg dexamethasone
• Gonal-F 75 units PM
• Heparin 5000 units BID
• Menopur 1 vial PM (FSH/LH)

Day 8 of Stims & CD 9 for IVF #2

Today is day 8 of my stimulating medications. I also had my CD 9 appointment with Dr. Saleh for the U/S and E2. It is looking really good, he said, but he needs to keep a close eye on me. My lining is 12.9, with a triple line/layer, which he said is great! The only thing of concern is that my ovaries are producing lots of follies. He said 10++ on both ovaries, which I really am not sure exactly what that means. He did say that he does not want to overstimulate me, so he will reduce the meds to avoid OHSS and all of them growing at the same time. He said my problem is definitely not proding eggs! I talked to Kylie and she gave me the new instructions to the meds as follows:

• Lupron 5 units QAM
• Gonal-F 75U QPM (lower dose)
• Folica Acid 3mg QD
• Dexamethasone 0.75 mg QD
• Heparin 5000U BID
• Menopur 1 vial QPM
• Prentatal vitamins 1 QD

This is for today, tomorrow, wednesday and thursday morning. It looks like I will be "coasting," like she said. Therefore, my ER will more than likely not take place until early next week rather than the end of this week.

I also went and saw my LAc and told her what was going on. She did my session and put the needles on my back again with the electrodes on them. She said the excess follies are a result of PCOS but there is no need of concern.

Day 6 of Stims

Yesterday was my IVIg Infusion. I slept for a really long time since even before they started the IVIG. Kylie said I was low in something and she had to pre-medicate me while still on the Dextrose with Benadryl, which literally knocked me out as she was injecting it in my IV, and also some steroid and something else that I can't remember. I couldn't even keep my eyes open, and I couldn't even understand what I was saying since the words wouldn't come out right. I was finally finished around 1:30 with the IVIG, but she still did another 100 mL of Dextrose. I think I was out of there around 2:00 pm. So I came home, slept (my mom made dinner for me), woke up and ate, watched some TV and dosed off again until almost 10:00 pm. Watched some more TV and fell asleep again until the next morning around 9:00 am and I still had a hard time getting up.

I have been bruising so bad from the Heparin! I don't remember having OHSS the last time at least not too bad except after ER. Lately, though, I've felt lots of bloating and everytime my bladder fills up (which has been a lot lately since Kylie said to drink 4 liters of water daily), my left ovary hurts and I feel a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen. I was told to eat pineapples, especially the core, around ET to help with implantation. I had never heard this before. Also, Dr. Zhou mentioned somthing in regards to this, but I'm not sure if it was her. I will ask her mondya when I see her.

The needles in my ears for the cravings were great. They really calmed my cravings. I think I will ask Dr. Zhou if I can get them again this week. She had me remove them today. I guess they can only be on there a certain amount of time. I don't think ate too much this weekend, but I feel that I have gained so much weight! I am appalled! I don't know where it came from or where it's at on my, but it is just outrageous! I remember Kylie saying that usually we can gain about 5 pounds from IVIG, but then I have some extra!

Dr. Zhou told me to save my energy and not to even spend my days driving around, but rather stay home and rest. I am such a busy bee that it seems really hard for me. Dr. Saleh was in Italy this past week? Probably enjoying himself with our $$$! BTW, they told me at his office yesterday that they were going to try to submit the "infusion" using another code to the insurance instead of infertilty to see if they would cover it.

I had a wonderful experience today that I want to share. Earlier in the week, my husband told me he commented to his boss' wife about us TTC via IVF. Well, she said she would like for her husband (my husband's boss) to lay hands on us and say a prayer for us to conceive. I didn't know this but he is a minister. I was very surprised, yet so excited at the same time to know of all the people that care. Well, his boss called him Friday to see if we could meet them for lunch yesterday. We went to their house and they showed us around a little and then, Jan (the wife), said that we should get to praying. I became teary eyed and hope that I would be able to make it through without making a scene. Well, we sat on the couch, and as Jay (the boss) began talking about how they had problems conceiving and then began praying, she came over to me and layed her hands on my abdomen and held my hands as she prayed. It was something that was so emotional and so powerful, in a sense, that tears just started coming down my face, and as hard as I tried, they were uncontrollable. I could not believe how much such a beautiful and wonderful prayer affected me. Well, as soon as we finished praying, we went out to our car to drive to the restaurant and it began raining, but it was a rain that was so different to me (or at least I saw it and felt it that way) that I felt as if God was giving an answer to the prayer.

It is getting so close!

Day 5 of Stimulating Meds

Today there were my meds:

Lupron 5U SQ QAM / .75 mg dexamethasone / Gonal-F 150 units PM / Heparin 5000 units BID / Menopur 1 vial PM (FSH/LH) / IVIG Infusion (30gm/250 mL)

Today was my IVIG Infusion. I think it went well. I got there at 8:00 am, but they didn't see me until almost 9:00 am. They started the 5% Dextrose and premedicated me with (1) Benadryl (since she said I had something too low that could make me have an allergic reaction to the IVIG), (2) a steroid, (3) something else I can't remember. Finally at 9:25 they started the actual IVIG infusion. Since it took about 4 hours I didn't leave until almost 2:00 pm.

I got to meet Kathleen today at Dr. Saleh's office. That was nice. I wish I would have had more time to chat with her, but I'm sure we will get together on another day. She is also cycling in June.

When I got home I began to get a bit of a headache so I took some Tylenol gelcaps and took a nap. My mom was over and she made some beef stew so I woke up and ate some. Afterwards, they left and I started watching TV, but dose off again. I later woke up, went to the restroom and went to the bedroom and didn't get up until about 9:00 pm. I didn't have a headache anymore, but I took some Tylenol anyway.

Day 4 of Stimulating Meds

The shots seemed a little easier for me today. I told myself that I was just going to do it and stop making such a big deal over it. It helped. I have just been making it hard on myself and it was making it really difficult, but today I put my foot down! Here were my meds for today:

• Lupron 5 units AM
• Heparin 5000 units twice a day
• Gonal F 150 units PM (change in dose from 375 units for 2 previous days)
• Menopur 1 vial PM

I was able to mix the Gonal-F and the Menopur into one shot so that was one less shot.

This morning I saw the acupuncturist and she put the needles on my back. That is such a sensitive area. I just jump even before she puts the needle in. I told her it's probably because I can't see what she's doing, besides that it's a very sensitive are. She also put the vibrating wires and I listened to my meditation CD as I lied on my belly. I was very anxious the entire time and I know it was because of the place the needles were in. She told me to go home and do nothing but relax. It was impossible today since I had to take my truck to get fixed. It was in the shop for the longest time. I think it was about 3 1/2 hours. Luckily, one of my aunts lives next to the shop I took it to so I called her and she went to pick me up.

Other than that, there is not much else going on. Tomorrow is my IVIG so I will need to be at my RE's office at 8:00 am. My mom will be coming with me since I do not want DH to miss too many days. I'd rather him take off on the ER and ET.

Day 3 of Stimulating Meds

I have made it through 3 days of stimulating meds. Today these were my meds:

• Lupron 5 units AM
• Heparin 5000 units twice a day
• Gonal F 150 units PM (change in dose from 375 units for 2 previous days)
• Menopur 1 vial PM

This has not been easy. First of all, I got the problem with the Gonal F all straightened out. I don't know why they didn't just send me 2 Gonal F pens if they knew I would need 2, instead of giving me a refill! So they were able to send it out today. The problem was that I went to a state park and I was not able to give the Gonal F & Menopur shots until almost 10:30 pm.

Day 2 of Stimulating Meds

Well, I have made it through day 2 of my stimulating meds. It just seems to get harder every day. Here is today's schedule:

• Lupron 5 units AM
• Heparin 5000 units twice a day
• Gonal F 375 units PM

Last night I could not go to sleep because I got the worst headache/migraine ever. I also felt very nauseated. Yesterday I started the Gonal F and the Heparin so I know it has to be one of those. I also have bruises from the Heparin. I decided I will use this one on my upper thighs since I think I'm running out of room on my abdomen area.

I saw my acupuncturist this morning and we talked. She placed extra needles on my forehead for the headaches and some needles in my ears for the cravings. I told her I have been eating so much it is beginning to worry me and I just can't seem to stop. She also used the vibration machine on my ovaries and said that on Thursday she will do it again, but on my back. She said no exercising, not even walking at a fast pace, which is what I had been doing, and no Elliptical either. Before I left, she placed some tiny little needles for the cravings in my ears and said she would take them of on Thursday when I returned. She told me that she was glad I started using Heparin on my upper thighs because then I wouldn't leave her any room to place her needles. Funny!

I am really concerned because like I said above, I just began Gonal-F yesterday, as it says on the schedule. The problem is that I primed it yesterday (37.5 units) then I used the 375 units last night and 375 units tonight. Well, now the pen only has 112.5 units left and I need 150 units for tomorrow night and everyday thereafter until Sunday. The pen says it is 900 units. Am I calculating this right? Why wasn't I sent out enough medication? I'm just concerned since I will be going out of town on a trip tomorrow and won't be back until the evening and it takes IVP Care a day/night to send it out. How will I get the medication? I have e-mailed my RE and hopefully this will get straightened out.

Start of Stimulating Medications

I was a little anxious about all of the shots I had to give myself beginning today, but I already did 2 of them this morning (Lupron & Heparin) and it was not that bad. I have 2 more to go this evening (Heparin & Gonal-F). I am really excited about this moving along so fast. Here are the dosages:

• Lupron 5 units AM
• Heparin 5000 units twice a day
• Gonal F 375 units PM

I went to my GYN appointment and it went rather well. I had my annual and CBC and asked them to expedite the results since my RE's office needs them ASAP. He said he would and for me to call him on Thursday to get the results. Then he will fax them over to my RE's office. He told me to keep him informed on how my treatment goes and that he hopes nothing but the best for me. Dora, the nurse, said the same thing and she said she would pray that this would be it for us. I feel very lucky!

On the downside, I went to my aunt's house today and saw that she had a Virgin Mary Statute sitting on an altar with other things. I commented on how beautiful it was and she began talking about the Bible and God... We had such a great converstation that I figured she would be a great person to tell we're doing in vitro so that she can pray for us. Well, I finally got the nerve to tell her and she just burst my bubble! She, never having had kids, said that her life was fully satisfied without any since she was able to give all her love to all of those children she babysat her entire life. She said she would never go against God's will and do something he would not be willing to support. Well that just made me feel fine and dandy. I have to say that this was not what I expected to hear from her. I know that deep down she regrets not having had any kids and she is just trying to find excuses, but because her husband never supported her (or because he just can't have any, according to her) she was trying to make me feel bad. I was feeling down for a little bit, but since I thought about it, I feel sorry for her and do not blame her for making me feel so awful.

Shots Anxiety!

I have had a pretty good weekend, but now I'm getting anxious because tomorrow I start my Stimulating Medications and I feel very anxious. I'm freaking out about all of the injections I have to give myself. I was already used to the Lupron, but tomorrow instead of 1 shot daily it will be 4 total!
I had been really calm until now. It's going to be tough for me!
1 Lupron, 2 Heparin, 1 Gonal F! Is it really going to be that bad or am I just thinking about it too much?

Baseline U/S & E2

Well, finally today was my baseline ultrasound and E2. The u/s came back great. I have no cysts on either ovary, although he had a hard time finding left ovary (this is usually the case). Other than that he said everything looked great. So I can begin my stimulating medications on Monday as scheduled. I am to continue Lupron, Dexamethasone, Prenatal, folic acid and baby aspirin and add Gonal F and Heparin. Then on Wednesday, I continue all of these (but decrease Gonal F) and add Menopur until my U/S & E2 on June 11. They will give me further intructions then.

I got a call from IVPCare and all of my medications have been approved by my insurance. They will send the final three and I should receive them tomorrow. Thank God at least that was covered. My next appointment will be next Friday, June 8th, for my IVIG Infusion from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The infusion time is $380 for the 1st hour and $170 for each additional hour. Normally it runs 4 hours ($890.00) but if it does go over then it will be $170 for every additional hour. I will also need to call to make payment for the actual IVIG to N. Texas Infectious Disease. I will call them tomorrow.

I went walking today. Finally, I got some new walking tennis shoes and had to put them to use. I walked about 2 1/2 miles. It felt really great! Other than that, I went and had lunch with my DH at Pei Wei. I can not believe how good it is there! I have to get out because I get bored really, really fast. Then I came home and made some flour tortillas. Would you believe they actually came out good!

Time is flying by!

Well, we just got back from out of town this morning (around 3:00 am). Like usual, when we go to Corpus my DH doesn't want to leave. I guess I don't blame him since he doesn't see his family much. Since I am on vacation, I never really pushed us leaving until he finally decided it was time. I think we left Corpus at about 8:00 pm and in the Corvette (which he is selling, BTW) it was the longest drive ever. I just couldn't get comfortable. So anyway, we had a great time and we ate so much that I thought I had gained at least 5 pounds, but I didn't. We would go out and finally I had to tell his cousins' wives why I couldn not drink. I did take one little, itsy bitsy taste of a Mexican Martini, but it was nothing like the ones I make so it was not hard to resist.

I can not believe how time is flying by! Next week, on monday, I will already be starting my stims for my IVF. I just can not believe it.

My acupuncturist appointment went well today. She said it's great that I've lost so much weight (since I was unofficially diagnosed with PCOS). I think that I have lost about 17 pounds since last March after I had the m/c. I became really depressed and I gained a lot of weight. I look back and can not believe that I actually weighed so much. WOW! So she said that I can continue with my eating lots of veggies, but that I have to start adding protein back into my diet. I'm not much of a meat eater (although not a vegetarian), so I asked if I could drink protein shakes and she said it was fine. I'm thinking I will drink both in the mornings and then eat a balanced meal for lunch and dinner. Sometimes I just eat fruit for dinner, so I guess it will take a little getting used to. I have already set up my 2 appointments for next week (Tuesday and Thursday) since I will see my RE on Monday (6/4) for my CD9 and then have my IVIG infusion on Friday (6/8)morning .

I really hope this is it for us, but I have finally come to the conclusion that if I do not become pregnant it is because God has better plans for me and although this will be something really difficult for me to overcome, I am preparing myself for it as best as I can.

Lupron ouchie!

This morning for the first time since I began Lupron, it really hurt when I injected it. I don't really know what happened, but for some reason, the dart-like motion just didn't happen. Rather, it hit the skin, then I went as slow as possible. It was awful! Also, today I started the Dexamethasone. I was told to take it in the morning because it causes insomnia. Maybe that's why I didn't need a nap today! I have been cleaning my house like crazy today. I seem to have so much energy or is it the dexamethasone? Not sure!

The shuttle will pick me up tomorrow at 7:15 am and my flight leaves tomorrow morning at 9:00 am. I am so excited. My summer vacation officially begins tomorrow and I will be at the beach for the weekend (or very near it anyway!) I really miss my DH (although I can actually enjoy my sleep at night without hearing him snore!--LOL)

I did something I didn't want. We will be celebrating my grandmother's 80th birthday on November 17th. WOW! So we (her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren) are planning a big birthday bash. We are all pitching in to help with funding. One of my aunts, the one organizing it all, asked if anyone had any other suggestions for the party. I suggested that we have a show for entertainment for her with the grandkids & great grandkids (18 and under) participating. She thought it was so great that she put me in charge! I really didn't want to be in charge I was just suggesting it, but I'm in charge now. I guess I will have all summer to come up with ideas on how to make that day unforgetable for her. I've already come up with some ideas which I think will be great, but I will work on them a little more next week when I come back from Corpus Christi.

One more thing I forgot to add. I began reading a book my Joyce Meyer, Confident Woman. It is great! Very positive, powerful and very influential!

Moving right along!

I guess I really don't have much to report today. I am really excited because IVF #2 is moving right along. I will begin Dexamethasone tomorrow which means that I'm one step closer to the procedure. Today was my students' last day of class so that means that tomorrow is my last day at work until August 21 I think. YAY! Now I can focus on this procedure and relaxing a lot more. The Lupron shots have not been bad at all. I thought that I would have gone nuts by now with so many injections. I guess I just haven't gotten to the hard part yet when I inject 4 shots a day! YIKES! Not looking forward to that! I am especially not looking forward to PIO shot!

BTW, I received a call from my DH today asking me how late I was working tomorrow so that he could buy me a ticket. I guess his conscious really got to him this time. So I ordered my ticket and I will be leaving on Saturday morning. Looking forward to seeing Josh & Sabrina and spending some time with them.

Feeling Down!

I'm not feeling much like myself today. I don't know what it is. Maybe I'm just tired, maybe I'm sad. What I do know is that DH is going out of town for his son's graduation tomorrow and I'm not. He could afford to pay half of a ticket for his uncle to come from Illinois, but he can not afford to buy me a $150.00 ticket! What rage! Then, he's trying to use reverse psychology on me making me feel bad because if he does buy me a ticket then he will be completely broke! Yet he has the nerve to tell me how much he's going to miss me! How dare him!

Okay, so I've been MIA. A lot has happened since I last posted. I had bloodwork drawn on 5/4 to check my progesterone level. On May 7th I went in to see nurse for consult on Lupron. Since progesterone level was greater than 5 I began my Lupron on May 9th. I had to pay full price for it since prior authorization takes about 4 days they said. On May 12th I had an acupuncture appointment and I am officially off of chinese herbal teas (since 5/6, if I remember correctly). She put some needles on my forehead since Lupron was giving me headaches and surprise, surprise! They went away. I talked to nurse and had her call in all other meds on 5/16 since Lupron has not been approved and it has already been over one week. I had another appointment on 5/17. I went in with DH for a calendar review. They went over all meds and showed DH how to inject PIO. He of course was freaking out. I don't know if I more afraid of the PIO injection or him giving it to me! I am on the L5 protocol. I am currently taking:

• 3 mg folic acid QD
• 1 prenatal vitamin QD
• 1 baby ASA
• 5/9: Lupron 10U QAM
• 5/15: Lupron 5U QAM (dose change)

My next appointments/medications are as follows:

5/25: begin dexamethasone 0.75mg QAM
5/29: acupuncturist appointment 1pm
5/31: baseline appointment with US & E2
6/4: begin actual stims meds

• Gonal-F 375 units QPM
• Heparin 5000 units BID

6/6: must pay for IVIG & change dose of meds

• Heparin 5000 units BID
• Gonal-F 150 units QPM
• Menopur 1 vial QPM

6/8: IVIG appointment 8am to 12pm
6/11: CD9 appointment with US and bloodwork (E2)
stop all but Heparin 5000 units QAM
expect further instructions
6/13-6/14: probablye HCG trigger shot
6/15-6/15: Probable Egg Retrieval
6/21-6/22: possible ET

I have received all of my medications but I am waiting for Gonal F, Menopur and HCG prior authorizations. My Lupron was finally covered today (since 5/4) with a $10.00 copay and I should be getting a credit of $189.03. It took them 17 days (11 business days)! OMG I sure hope it doesn't take them that long for the previous 3 because I don't think that I can affort them!

NO AF

I called nurse yesterday because, even though I just ovulated a couple of days ago, I'm afraid I won't get AF in time to start BCP's to do IVF in June. Before I was told I could take Provera to initiate AF, but when she called me todya, I was told that because I just ovulated, the ovum in my uterus could be affected somehow and so the Provera was out of the question. My next option would be to go in to have Progesterone blood level taken, and if it is around 5 then I can begin Lupron on Tuesday. I asked them to send me the requistion form so that I could go tomorrow to the Labcorp down the street. This way, they would have enough time to get results to determine whether I could start Lupron on Tuesday or not. I will also go in on Monday afternoon (4pm) for Lupron injection class. Later I can go in for the Nurse consult on the rest of the meds.

Balance due is expected to be paid by May 14th.

IVIg is NOT covered!!!!

This is the e-mail I received from RE's office on Monday:

You are correct, the $7355 is your remaining balance due by May 11.

For the IVIG, you will pay for the medication thru the pharmacy - $68-70 per gram, last I heard, closer to $70 – for your first dose during your stimulation portion of your cycle. The price of the actual medication fluctuates all the time. One day it can be at the lower price, the next day at the higher.

It is the supply/demand issue. The infusion portion would be paid to us the day of
your actual infusion. Upon diagnosis of pregnancy is when the second dose of
IVIG will be infused. Payment will be the same.

Outside of your medications for the cycle, you should not have any other charges. ICSI, freezing and storage are included in your Teacher’s Access Plan.

With a positive beta and appropriate rise, we will do OB ultrasound x2. If you know for sure you have maternity coverage, we will file those ultrasounds with your insurance company and it should be covered under your co-pay.

What a bummer!!!!

Is IVIg Covered?

I e-mailed RE on Friday:

Have you heard anything from the insurance company about covering IVIg? We will be getting I loan and I need to know how much to ask for.

Also, I know Dr. Saleh said to not start BCP's later than May 18th so I am a little concerned. My cycle has gone on longer than expected (now at CD29) and there is still no sign of ovulation. If I do not ovulate within the next few days, is there anything that I can take to help AF show up? I do not want to miss out on the June cycle!

Kylie answered:

You will start the Lupron injections on 5/23 and you will need to be on the
BCP by 5/16 at the latest. If you have no menses by 5/04/07 then call the
office after doing a home pregnancy test with the result. I will
discuss with Dr Saleh and we may start you on Provera to produce a
withdrawal bleed.

I had EWCM today (CD31) so we'll see if my temps stay up or not. Then I'll call and find out if I will take Provera or wait for AF to show.

week 43 of acu

Had acupuncturist appointment today. Told her IVF is scheduled for June. I will give her more info as it becomes available to me. I am to take these herbs from 4/28/07 - 4/3/07:

1. Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-6
2. Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
3. Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
4. Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
5. Glossy Privet Fruit (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi--Nuzhenzi)
6. Himalayan Teasel Root (Radix Dipsaci--Xuduan)
7. Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
8. Safflower (Flos Carthami--Honghua)
9. Turmeric Root Tuber (Radix Curcumae--Yujin)
10. White Peony Root (Radix Alba--Baishao)

I asked her if I was to drink the nasty "dinosaur-named one" from the last cycle. She said she had included it. After I told her I had a really hard time drinking it, but would keep drinking it if I had to, she switched it out for number 1 above. She said it was about the same thing, but not as strong.

For the next 7 days I am to take the following:

1. Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-6
2. Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
3. Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
4. Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
5. Himalayan Teasel Root (Radix Dipsaci--Xuduan)
6. Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
7. Red Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Rubra--Chishao)
8. Safflower (Flos Carthami--Honghua)
9. Turmeric Root Tuber (Radix Curcumae--Yujin)
10. White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

NKa & IVIG Appointment with RE

Today DH and I met with RE to discuss results. Let's see if I can remember it all. First of all he said it's really great that we are finding out the problems so that we can work on them. He said that I tested positive for all immune issues therefore my diagnosis is immune implantation failure. In other words, there can be one of two problems that is preventing me from becoming pregnant.

First of all, my NK seem to be hyperactive and the results were 12% when it should be 10%. Therefore, when embryo wants to implant into the uterus, the NK's attack it and prevent it from attaching. If the embryo does happen to get through, then the APA's form too much fat and eventually form a clot which prevents the embryo from breathing. So I will use IVIG to help against NK cells and then aspirin (81mg) and heparin to work on APA's. The IVIG therapy for increased NKa will be administered at least 1 week before ET (embryo/blastocyst) and will be repeated once more upon 2nd beta confirmation. I will not need any more infusions if I become pregnant. I don't know if I misunderstood him, but I recall him saying that there are not long term side effects. I forgot to ask about short term side effects. I will ask him later. He said I will not need to run tests for NKa or APA during pregnancy since 2 doses of IVIG is enough and the 2nd dose will be given @ 4 weeks so that should get me through 8 weeks and by then everything should be okay.

To fight against APA's, I will use heparin one (1) week before ET and then the entire pregnancy. There are risks of bleeding, but since it is not a high dose and just being used as a preventative, I should not worry about it. Heparin is used BID, but there is also Lovenox, which is used QD. He said they are the same thing, so I am hoping I can use Lovenox instead! He said there are not long term side effects from either of these.

Now, since the folic acid is 800mcg, I am to take 4 tablets of it to help with the +MTHFR. He does not see a need for me to continue taking my other vitamins: B Complex, Flaxseed Oil 1000mg, Calcium 1200mg + D, Omega 3 Fish Oil 1200mg, and Vitamin C 1000mg. He says I am just throwing my money away because they are all being excreted. He said the prenatal vitamin has all of the vitamins I will need. Plus, when I become pregnant and begin with the nausea, I do not want to take anything extra that I don't have to. I will have enough going on. So I will stop all other vitamins and will just take the following: Prentals, folic acid, and aspirin.

I asked RE about IVIG Study SIRM is doing, but he said that all it does is compare IVIG against intralipids. The main difference right now is that IVIG is about 2-3K and intralipids are about $300. WOW what a difference. The RE's at SIRM don't all want to use it so Dr. Sher has it going on at the Vegas Clinic. You have to be a patient at they clinic there in order to even qualify.

I also asked him about using Nuvaring instead of oral BCP's. He said that he definitely does not advise it because it is a long term (3 month) bcp. He strongly advises for a reversible, short acting BCP that is short dose.

As for my protocol, he says I will be on the L5 protocol. If for some reason my CD3 FSH and/or E2 resutls are out of range, he will adjust the dosage to L6, but does not see it happening. He said on the L5 protocol I will use the Lupron for 10 days, then have an u/s and E2. Then, I will start on 4 Follistim (300mg) and 1 Menopur/Repronex for 5-6 days. After this, he will probably reduce the Follistim to 225 mg and 1 Menopur/Repronex.

He had told us before DH did not need semen analysis, but I was concerned because when he had it done in July 2005, I remember he had to do it twice because the first time they said that they sperm were curling up at the end. RE said that taking the Proceptin should correct anything, and does not see a need for it, but if we feel it is needed, then DH can have it done. DH said will not do if RE does not recommend. I agree.

Finally, I asked again about having EMET done. He said he strongly suggestst that we do not waste our money on this. He said last month, 19 out of 20 women became pregnant and none of them had EMET done. He said hopefully I will be in this group in the June cycle. That gives me such high hopes! I am doing nothing but positive thinking from now on and I know that I will be pregnant and celebrating my pregnancy when I am in South Padres Island on Vacation. How cool will that be? In 2000 on 4th of July at South Padre, I celebrated my engagement and now in 2007 on 4th of July at South Padre, I will celebrate life!

I called my insurance company and I think that IVIG (Gammagard) is covered but RE needs to send a letter of pre-authorization. They said more than likely if he puts in the right codes and diagnosis then I shouldn't have a problem. I'm sure he knows what to do. I also asked about some preTreatment Medical Necessity with IVIg letter to insurance that I found on a website. I'll wait to see what he says about it.

NKa is Positive!

Today I received an e-mail from my RE:

I am sorry to inform you that your NK test was positive. That indicates that
your immune system is attacking the embryos and certainly explains why your IVF
cycles failed before. That will require IVIG. I suggests you make an appointment
to discuss.

Just great! Unfortunately, I've found out that insurance doesn't pay for it. I will call them tomorrow and see what they say. I will schedule an appointment with RE for Friday, if possible.

Acupunture week 41

I am on week 41 of acupuncture. That is 10 months and 1 week of acupuncture. Today we discussed RE's results. I will come back later to add info.

Beginning today (CD17-CD23), I am to drink the following herbs:

1. Chinese # 0508231-20050823-1-10
2. Chinese # 0606011-20060601-3-10
3. Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-10
4. Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
5. Gambir Plant (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis--Gouteng)
6. Glossy Privet Fruit (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi--Nuzhenzi)
7. Himalayan Teasel Root (Radix Dipsaci--Xuduan)
8. Oyster Shell (Concha Ostreae--Muli)
9. Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
10. White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

This is for my second week (CD24-CD30) I am to take the following herbs:

• Chinese # 0508231-20050823-1-10
• Chinese # 0610081-20061008-1-15
• Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
• Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
• Gambir Plant (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis-Gouteng)
• Himalayan Teasel Root (Radix Dipsaci--Xuduan)
• Prepared Fleeceflower Root (Radix Polygoni Multiflori preparata--Zhiheshouwu)
• Safflower (Flos Carthami--Honghua)
• Szechwan Chinaberry Fruit (Fructus Toosendan--Chuanlianzi)
• Trogopterus Dung (Faeces Trogopterori--Wulingzhi)

All right, this last one tastes as bad as it sounds, it smells like "Faeces" and it is a "-terori" to drink it. I have had such a hard time; it's not pretty. I have to cover my nose as I drink it and then continue holding it for about 5 minutes and even then I still have that disgusting flavor in my mouth!~ Ugh!

SHER Institute IVF Consent Appointment

Today I had an appointment at the SHER Institute with Dr. Saleh. I got there at 1:15 for a beta (routine) so I could have my Uterine Mapping (Mock Embryo Transfer). Dr. Saleh said everything looked great and that we were on our way. Then we sat in his office with him to discuss the consent forms and questions we had. He also said he did not see a need for PGD or EMET (Embryo Marker Expression Test). This will save us a lot. He seems pretty positive about this working out.

This is a really funny, and I mean funny, hilarious and embarrasing story. The last week when I spoke to Dr. Saleh, he was telling me the things that DH should avoid in order to help his SDI results get better. To my understanding, one of the things he said was to avoid hot dogs > 100F. Well, when we were talking to him, DH asked why he had to avoid hot dogs. Dr. Saleh seemed surprised, and asked what he meant. "Well," said DH, "my wife said you had told her I should avoid hot dogs. Why?" "Yes," I said, "I have it in my notes from when we spoke last week." He started laughing so hard and said, "I said to avoid saunas and hot tubs > 100F, not hot dogs." I was so embarrased, I felt like part of the commercial, "Wanna get away?"

• DH will continue on Proceptin. Since his results were in the good to fair fertility potential, he said he does NOT need to re-do the SDI in June. Also, he said he does NOT need to have Semen Analysis. All he needs is his bloodwork. I have the requisition form, so he just needs to go to a Labcorp with it.
• I need to come back in on Monday to have the NKa bloodwork. He said since he had already run the APA (Anticardiolipin Ab, IgM, Qn) through Labcorp and it showed that I had a problem (usually their testing is a lot less sensitive but since it detected it, it means it's pretty bad!). Basically this means that when I become pregnant and the embryo attaches to my uterus, my body (blood vessel) will begin to release fat. Since it releases so much fat, it becomes a clot and this in turn prevents oxygen from reaching the baby. He said I should begin taking 81mg of aspirin STAT and for the rest of my life (especially during pregnancy)! While pregnant, he will aldo have me taking Heparin injections throughout the entire pregnancy. Also, he has decided he will up my medicine when I begin IVF (he said last IVF I was using 4 vials and so now he will up it to 5). Also, last time we had 12 out of 21 eggs that were good, so he is expecting that we get about 20 good ones this time and hopefully have enough for all the kids we plan on having. He will wait until the eggs reach 18mm and then trigger ovuation. Then, he will wait for them (after ICSI) to grow to D5 (blastocysts) and then transfer 2 to 3 embryos at this IVF. He also said that I will need to take additional folic acid, beside the amount in the prenatal vitamins, during pregnancy due to the MTHFR mutations.

My blood results showed the following:

• Anticardiolipin Ab, IgM, Qn = 13H MPL U/mL--indeterminate (normal 0-9). These are the ATA results I discussed above.
• Lupus Anticoagulant Reflex (PTT-LA) = 53.2H sec (normal 0.0-52.0). He said nothing about this.
• WBC = 3.6L x 10E3/uL (normal 4.0-10.5)--he didn't seem concerned about this when I asked him.
• CMV Ab, IgG (Cytomegalovirus) = 3.2H index--positive (normal 0.0-0.8)--he says we all have this and since it is IgG and not IgM, it means that I got it years ago, so no need to worry)
• Varicella Zoster IgG = >1.09 H index--positive (normal 0.00-0.90). This everyone who has had chicken pox will have, but nothing to worry about.
• Factor II, DNA Analysis, Single G-20210-A mutation identified (Heterozygote) resulting in inherited thrombophilia and a 3-fold increase for venous thrombosis (will take asa and heparin for this)
• MTHFR, DNA Analysis, two mutations (C677T and A1298C--homozygous mutation) identified, resulting in elevated homocysteine levels (associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and venous thrombosis, and in women, pregnancy complications and an increased risk of fetal open nerual tube defects). For this reason I will be on dietary folic acid to lower homocysteine levels and reduce the recurrence of nerual tube defects).

Results for NK testing on Monday should be available within 10 days and he will discuss this with us then. He did say, though, that since I had the APA come out positive, there is a chance that I will also test positive for NK. He said he hopes I'm not positive for NK because it's a real hassle, but nothing that cannot be worked around if I do.

So we paid the deposit and we are set for the June 11 CD9 cycle. He said it doesn't matter that we will be traveling at the beginning of July. On the contrary, he said a vacation would be great. Plus, they have Labcorps everywhere so a blood test (beta) can be done. Tentatively, we will have ER on June 15th and then ET around June 20 or June 21. Beta will probably be on June 29th, so we will still be here in time to take beta here.

When I go on Monday, they will give me copies of all of the consent forms that we signed today, plus, they will give me the requistion form for Labcorp so that I can get the CD3 FSH and E2 drawn. After I begin BCP's (by May 1, but no later than May 18), I will schedule an appointment with the nurse for the IVF Nurse consult for a schedule of my IVF.

This is it! I must get back on my healthy eating habits strictly and exercise routine. I've lost 3 pounds this week, but I'm guessing it was all water retention. It will be really hard since sunday is Easter Sunday.

39th week of acupuncture

Here I am at my 39th week of acupuncture. I took my chart to LAc and she said that it is looking really good. "My ovaries," she said, "are waking up and doing what they are supposed to do," which is ovulation. That makes me feel great and I just hope that it only gets better. I must really stick to my diet now and my exercise routine. I asked her if it would be okay to lose some weight and she said that it was fine so long as it was not over 10 lbs. I am looking forward to my IVF #2 and will do everything in my power to make sure that everything goes smoothly. Here is my treatment beginning on CD6 (which is on wednesday 4/4) until CD12 (next Tuesday 4/10):

1. Chinese # 0508231-20050823-1-10
2. Chinese # 0510081-20051008-2-10
3. Chinese # 0606011-20060601-3-10
4. Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-10
5. Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
6. Glossy Privet Fruit (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi--Nuzhenzi)
7. Oyster Shell (Concha Ostreae--Muli)
8. Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
9. Tuber Fleeceflower Stem and Leaf (Caulis et Folium Polygoni Multiflori--Yejiaoteng)
10. White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

Then from CD 13 (next Wednesday 4/11) until CD 16 (saturday 4/14), I am to take the following set of herbs:

1. Chinese # 0508231-20050823-1-10
2. Chinese # 0606011-20060601-3-10
3. Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-10
4. Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
5. Glossy Privet Fruit (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi--Nuzhenzi)
6. Himalayan Teasel Root (Radix Dipsaci-Xuduan)
7. Oyster Shell (Concha Ostreae--Muli), but last day change to Chinese Thorowax Root (Radix Buplerui--Chaihu)
8. Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
9. Tuber Fleeceflower Stem and Leaf (Caulis et Folium Polygoni Multiflori--Yejiaoteng)
10. White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba-Baishao)

Phone meeting with Dr. Saleh

I spoke with my RE today regarding my upcoming IVF. I was really upset because I had been calling their office and e-mailing them and no one would return my calls. When I called again on Friday to see when someone was going to call me back, one of the nurses had the nerve to tell me that everyone was really busy with patients and that I had to have some patience! WTH! I am a patient as well and I think I deserve the same treatment as everyone else. So I sent an e-mail to Dr. Saleh.

So anyway, I don't even think I had finished hitting the "send" button on my e-mail when my cell phone rang. I was so upset and I had a feeling it was the doctor, but I did not answer. Then my home phone rang, but I didn't answer. A few minutes later my cell phone rang again, but I didn't get a chance to get to it, but finally my home phone rang again, and sure enough, it was Dr. Saleh. Here is a breakdown of our conversation.

1. I am to wait until next cycle to begin BCP's so my body is not to over stimulated with meds. This should be by May 1, but no later than May 18.
2. My CD3 FSH and E2 can be done either this cycle on CD2 (since CD3 falls on Sunday) or I can wait until next CD3, which I probably will do.
3. Seeds--eggs/sperm: Since DH's SDIA was 22.5 rather than <15>100^), NO smoking, NO alcohol (max 1 per day) is to start Proceptin (2 to 3 months) with a dose of 2 caps BID until the week of June 11 (that's a total of 10 weeks if he begins on April 1--today, which he did).
4. Soil--uterus: NK (pending); APA (pending with Millenova), but he sort of cheated, he said, and sent it in through Labcorp and it came up borderline abnormal. Nothing serious to worry about because it is something that can be treated with aspiring and/or heparin. He thinks it is possibly just an immune issue. He will wait until results come back from Millenova (I will redo bloodwork on April 9).
5. November 20, 2006 he did a Hysteroscopy and it was normal so he is sure there is not a problem with the cavity. This test will not need to be redone.
6. April 6 I will have a Uterine Mapping (Mock Transfer Trial) and we will sit down with them and finalize/sign all of the paperwork and put our deposit for the June 11 (CD9) cycle. We will also ask some other questions that are still pending.
7. April 9 I will go back in to have NK and APA blood draw again.

It seems to me that people in this office are not communicating and are really sending the wrong message to their patients. It kind of makes me worry, but I know that they are the best here in town and probably nationwide, so I will continue with them. I just have to watch them, keep track of everything they tell me and ask lots and lots of questions.

38th week of acupunture & herbal teas

Today is my stepdaughter's 15th birthday!

WoW! Has it really been over 1 month since I last posted on here! Well, let's go back. I saw LAc on March 3rd and began the following herbs from March 3 to March 9:

• Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
• Chinese # 0602101-20060210-2-10
• Chinese # 0609151-20060915-1.5-10
• Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-10
• Chinese # 0611021-20061102-2.2-10
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Nutgrass Galingale Rhizome (Rhizoma Cyperi--Xiangfu)
• Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

then I switched to the following from March 10-March 16:

• Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
• Chinese # 0602101-20060210-2-10
• Chinese # 0609151-20060915-1.5-10
• Chinese # 0610081-20061008-1-10
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Glossy Privet Fruit (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi--Nuzhenzi)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Nutgrass Galingale Rhizome (Rhizoma Cyperi--Xiangfu)
• Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

I saw LAc again on March 17th. As it turns out, I missed 2 days from this past week so beginning March 17 and March 18 I took the above and then for the next twelve days (March 19- March 30) I'm taking these:

• Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit (Fructus Corni--Shanzhuyu)
• Chinese # 0508231-20050823-1-10
• Chinese # 0606011-20060601-3-10
• Chinese # 0609151-20060915-1.5-10
• Chinese # 0611021-20061102-1-10
• Danshen Root (Radix Salviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
• Oyster Shell (Concha Ostreae--Muli)
• Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
• Tuber Fleeceflower Stem and Leaf (Caulis et Folium Polygoni Multiflori--Yejiaoteng)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

As far as I can tell, I think most of these are pretty new/different. I will come back tomorrow to post my updates.

32nd Week of treatments/herbs

Here I am, still TTC after 32 weeks of acupuncture treatments and herbal teas. I did not post 2 weeks ago, but I did see LAc on January 27th. I spoke to my GYN on January 26th and he confirmed to me some bad news that I guess I kind of expected, but didn't want to hear. He I guess this clears up some of the concerns that I have had as to why I have not been able to conceive. He reviewed what had happened back when I had the tubal pregnancy in 2004 because I had some doubts. Was it 1 pregnancy or 2? After reviewing the hospital report from when Dr. Sacovich performed the Laporoscopy in August 2004, he saw that Dr. Sacovich had made an incision in both tubes and had removed a mass on my left tube (it was not a pregnancy) and the tubal pregancy in my right tube. After the HSG in November 2004, it showed that my left tube was completely blocked and my right tube was clear, but somewhat swollen. This all means that the chance of me getting pregnant through my only somewhat good tube (right) are very slim since I only have tube to work with. As a result of the tubal pregnancy, though, it turns out that the chances of me having another tubal pregnancy are rather high if I TTC on my own. Therefore, he recommends that I TTC via IVF. The optimism that I began with year suddenlty turned to pessimism. I have been praying everyday to St Gerard, the patron of Motherhood, to try to bring my spirits up and I can see that it has been working.

I had a long talk with LAc on January 20th and after speaking with her I think I've had a change in attitude. I gues you could say she is my counselor as well as my LAc. She has a way with words and she has put the optimism back into my life and hope back into my heart. First she suggested that I have another HSG done to confirm the status of my tubes. Then, basically what we decided is that I will continue with acupuncture treatments every other week. She still recommends that I continue on my herbs just so that we do not lose what we have gained for when we plan our IVF. Acupuncture drastically improves the chances of conceiving as well as the egg quality. I honestly don't know how much the treatments are helping me because my cycles have been really strange. I will increase the treatments as I get closer to IVF, though because I know that during an IVF cycle they really help to relax the uterus.

DH and I have discussed another IVF cycle for June 11th, but we would like to have it done with PGD. It has been strongly recommended to me and I am conviced that it would be the best option. I am a worry freak so the thought of knowing there are no genetic abnormalities will surely be a great stress reliever on top of knowing that it will increase the chances of conceiving. The downfall is that we want to do it with the new RE and he is about 9K for one time plus other fees including about 4K for PGD. It seems like so much money, especially if it doesn’t work. If we do the Outcome Based Plan (3 times) it will be about 17K. What if it doesn’t work even with that? Our next step would be adoption and that is another arm and leg. I feel like we are running out of resources, funds and my body is running out of time. I don’t know what to do! I feel like stopping my acupuncture treatments, or at least the herbs, since the treatments might do me some good. The only positive thing that I've noticed since I began treaments June 2006 is that my cycles are now shorter, but my temperatures are still very erratic. I just feel like I'm wasting my time and money on all of it. I don't know what to do. To start I will contact GYN to set up HSG.

My current RE is Dr. Saleh at the SHER Institute. I will be having some bloodwork test done during spring break to check for other things. The Uterine Sonogram turned out really good, he said. This way we can clear up any problems I might/might not have before the next cycle. Also we will try and save some money so that we don't have to get too deep in the hole if we have to borrow.

Another problem I have had is that I had spotting at mid-cycle sometime. I did not ovulate, and my temperatures did not go up so I don't really know what happened. I had some red blood one the morning (only when I wiped) and the rest of the day it was spotting. Could it have been from BD'ing the night before?

If it doesn't work out, I've decided I'm open for adoption. I just saw pictures from a friend's trip to Guatemala. She finally met her son, last week and I felt so happy for her. She took the most wonderful pictures with him. I could see that as being me. I would adopt in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

So here are the herbs I took since January 27th to February 10th:

• Chinese # 0510081-20051008-1-10
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Danshen Root (Radix Alviae Mil Tiorrhizae--Danshen)
• Fleeceflower Root (Radix Polygoni Multiflori--Heshouwu)
• Glossy Privet Fruit (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi--Nuzhenzi)
• Plantain Seed (Semen Plantaginis--Cheqianzi)
• Red Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Rubra--Chishao)
• Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta chinengis--seed)--different mfg
• Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterus xanthipes--Dejecta)--different mfg
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

Begining today I will continue on the same herbs above for 3 days, then I will change to the following for 1 day:

• Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
• Chinese Thorowax Root (Radix Bupleuri--Chaihu)
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
• Fleeceflower Root (Radix P)olygoni Multiflori--Heshouwu)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
• Safflower Flos Carthami--Honghua)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)
• Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterus xanthipes--dejecta)--different mfg

and for the rest of the days I will take the following:

• Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
• Chinese Thorowax Root (Radix Bupleuri--Chaihu)
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
• Fleeceflower Root (Radix Polygoni Multiflori--Heshouwu)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Prepared Rehmannia Root (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata--Shudihuang)
• Safflower (Flos Carthami--Honghua)
• Trogopterus Dung (Faeces Trogopterori--Wulingzhi)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

30th week of acupuncture

As it turns out, the weather was really bad last weekend and I had to cancel my LAc appointment. Therefore, this past week I took no herbal teas and no Calm Spirit Pills, until my appointment yesterday.

I am on the 30th week of acupuncture and I am so fed up with it! I know that I am quickly approaching age 35 and it just depresses me like nothing before. The thought of not being able to have a child just makes me insane, yet the cost of doing another IVF procedure is just crazily outrageous. I suppose I will continue with my acupuncture treatments. If anything, it has shortened my cycles down to about 30-31 days. I guess that's a good sign. I will be using my Fertility Monitor this cycle to see if I can spot anything, and I will also be using my ferning microscope along with my BBT graph. Here are the herbs for this week:

LAc and I did a lot of talking today. I told her that I am feeling really frustrated because it has been so long. To top it all off, I had sore bb's for about 15 days, then spotting 4 days prior AF, then AF for about 2 days, then 2 days of light AF and then 2 more days of spotting. That was the longest cycle ever. She said what had possibly happened was that since I was doing good, she took me off some of the herbs, but by the looks of it, she will have to add them back in to my batch. I asked her if there is any supplement she recommends that might possibly help and she said to take Omega 3 (Fish Oil), B Complex, and my Prenatal vitamins. I told her I am already taking Prenantals, Flaxseed Oil and Vitamin C. She said if I am taking prenatals then I do not need any Vitamin C. She contradicted herself here because she was the one that had told me to take 1000mg of Vitamin C daily! She also said to use a heating pad at night on my lower back for about 20 minutes and to do the Femoral exercises like it says in Randine Lewis' book. She also said she would give me the Calm Spirit Pills for the next 2 weeks and then the 2 weeks afterwards, she is going to give me a different set which actually helps with PMS symptoms.

Here are the herbs I am to take this week, since yesterday until Friday:

• Atractylodes Rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis--Cangzhu)
• Chinese # 0505011-1-6
• Chinese Angelica (Radix Angelicae Sinensis--Danggui)
• Chinese Thorowax Root (Radix Bupleuri--Chaihu)
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Dried Tangerine Peel (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae--Chenpi)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Officinal Magnolia Bark (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis--Houpo)
• Red Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Rubra--Chishao)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

I am still wondering about the pregnancy prediction lady. Could it possibly be true. I know I did it for fun, but now I'm really hoping it's true. Here is exactly what she told me:

Would tell you that I am seeing GIRL and APRIL.. so that is either birth month, concieve month or the month you find out in.

When it comes to your daughter, would tell you that she is going
to be very gifted musically. Able to sing very well and in tune,
and learns to play the piano pretty much on her own. You will find that she just has very good rythm and an ear for music. Doesn't matter what type it is, just seems to like all of it for different reasons. I see
her with medium brown color hair, its going to be straight, and usually around her shoulders in length. She is a tall girl, but will mostly stay
"average" in height. end height should be around 5'5. She is someone who always has a smile on her face, and is very polite. you will find that she has strong shoulders, and if upset with someone will
certainly not show it on her face or in the tone of her voice. She is
someone who will hold it in, and wait for a place where she can just sit and think and sort out her issue with it, decidinig whether or not its worth bringing up and fixing or just moving on. Shes very mature for her age, and often sees good qualities in people.

When it comes to career paths, I do see her heading into a teaching career, but would say that its more so as a music teacher. Often teaching piano, or the flute and clarient, some people teaching voice lessons to and doesn't matter the age. I think that you will find that her "business' kinda starts around the age of 18. Just kinda happens naturally. Starts off helping a few people, and just grows from there.

When it comes to marriage, I see her closer to 23, they will have two boys of their own.

HOW TRUE COULD THIS BE? IT TURNS OUT SHE IS ALMOST ALWAYS RIGHT IN HER PREDICTIONS, BUT I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO GET MY HOPES HIGH!

28th week of Acupuncture

I saw LAc on Saturday. I am now on the 28th week of acupuncture (making it, what? 7 months of treatment!". That is just unbelievable. Saturday, Sunday and Monday I am to take the following herbs:

• Che Qian Zi (Plantago asiatica--seed)--from a different mfg
• Chinese # 0510081-20051008-1-10
• Chinese # 0511011-20051101-2.5-10
• Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
• Green Tangerine Peel (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride--Qingpi)
• Himalayan Teasel Root (Radix Dipsaci--Xuduan)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Red Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Rubra--Chishao)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)
• Zi Shi Ying (Fluoritum-ore)--from a different mfg

Tuesday through Friday, I am to take these herbs:

• Chinese # 0510081-20051008-1-10
• Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
• Green Tangerine Peel (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride--Qingpi)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Plantain Seed (Semen Plantaginis--Cheqianzi)
• Red Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Rubra--Chishao)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)
• Wu LIng Zhi (W0070-Trogopterus Xanthipes--dejecta)--from different mfg
• Xu Duan (X0180-Dipsacus asperoides--root)---from diffrent mfg
• Zi Shi Ying (Z0180-Fluoritum--ore)--from different mfg

Calm Spirit Teapills

Yesterday, I saw LAc once again for the first time in the year 2007. Last Thursday marked the 27th week since I have been seeing LAc. I had 2 days worth of tea left over from the last time (since I missed a day) so I am to continue those for yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday). Then she gave me the following herbs for tomorrow (Thursday) and the day after (Friday) until I see her again on Saturday:

• Chinese # 0505011-1-6
• Common Yam Rhizome (Rhizoma Dioscoreae--Shanyao)
• Dodder Seed (Semen Cuscutae--Tusizi)
• Fleeceflower Root (Radix Polygoni Multiflori--Heshouwu)
• Indian Bread (Poria--Fuling)
• Plantain Seed (Semen Plantaginis--Cheqianzi)
• Safflower (Flos Carthami--Honghua)
• White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba--Baishao)

And from a different manufacturer:

• Shi Ying (Fluoritum(ore))
• Xu Duan (Dipsacus asperoides(root))

In addition, she changed the Gan Mai Da Zao Pian to the following:

• Gan Mai Da Zao Wan
• Calm Spirit Pill (these are little pellets instead of tablets)
• they are called Teapills
• it has no sugar, no artifical colors and is 100% natural
• I am to take 8 pellets twice a day with warm water or juice
• The active ingredients are as follows:

• Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dan Gui)

  Lilium Brownii (Bai He)

  Radix Durcumae (Yu Jin)

  Fructus Jujubae (Hong Zao)

  Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (Suan Zao Ren)

  Radilx Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao)

  Blighted Wheat Fructus Tritici Levis (Fu Xiao Mai)

  Fructus Lycium Barbarum L. (Gou Qi)

When I was taking the first ones (Gan Mai Da Zao Pian) it would make me want to BD a lot more. DH was really happy! Also, it definitely has helped me to be more at ease and relaxed. I do not feel anxious, rushed or frustrated and I actually feel care free for the most part. I do not seem to rush when I do things and I do not rush when I walk. I used to walk so fast everyone would always ask why I was always in a hurry. I would say that was my normal pace. I seem so let things that used to bother me before just pass me by.

So here I am off to a new start in the new year! So far I seem to have a pretty positive attitude about TTC, but I know that my biological clock is ticking so I really need to decide what it is I want to do if I don't conceive by a certain time. I just don't know. I feel like I need to stop and just say that I've had enough and move on to adoption, but I feel that if I don't keep trying I might lose the opportunity. I know they say parenthood is not those who bear the children but those who love and raise them. I just haven't been able to get myself to that point. More than likely we will be doing another IVF coming up really soon.