getting excited again

It’s 12 days to go before leaving Norway and we’ve done the first step for our next cycle in Sydney.  We know exactly which IVF clinic to go to. Actually we had always wanted to go to this particular clinic since the first time we were considering IVF back in 2010 as they have the best IVF lab in Australia (therefore the most expensive!) and I’ve read and heard about their amazing RE’s. But to be honest we couldn’t afford it back then, and of course life then brought us to Norway so we ended up doing IVF here. So really the first step for us is choosing the right RE. After days of searching through infertility/IVF forums, I finally decided to choose this doctor, I will go with his initials, Dr MB. I like what I read about him. He seems really open to trying different protocols and is really active in IVF research as well.

As we read that he could be really busy, husband and I stayed up until past midnight three nights ago to make an appointment with Dr MB (Sydney is 9 hours ahead) and we are now booked for December 3rd! So depending on how things go, we could start a cycle as early as December! So yes I am getting excited again!

Also another thing to be excited about is a work opportunity. I’ve been emailing back and forth with my ex manager in my last job (I left the job when moving to Norway) and it looks like I could be returning.. nothing confirmed yet, but it seems promising as they want to discuss roles when I have returned. To be honest, if I do get the job, I would be confused of how to manage an IVF cycle with its blood test, and ultrasound appointments. Oh well I’ll just see as I go, I guess.

Anyway, besides the RE appointment and work that make me excited, I feel like this week I just started feeling alive again. Since the last failed IVF/ICSI cycle (26 days ago), I had been very very tired and sleepy during the day. I would have an hour nap by 11am, woke up, then by 2 or 3pm I could barely hold my eyes open again and all day long I just felt like lying down. It’s so weird. This didn’t happen with my 1st and 2nd. Then out of nowhere, in the beginning of this week, suddenly I started feeling fresh again, I started going out and about without feeling lethargic afterwards. Bloody hormones! So yeah, there’s a lot of things to look forward to in the new year and as usual we can only hope that things are going our way this time.

 

 

jab me

I started stimulation yesterday. This time I’m on Puregon 150 IU. Only a bit higher than last cycle (125 IU). Uterine lining was nice and thin – as expected – at 2.9mm. As the doctor checked on my ovaries, I quickly looked at the screen and I got to see some small (quiet) follicles. I think I saw more follicles on my right ovary than on my left. Next scan will be on the 6th of September and I’m praying I’ll get to see more big follies this time.

I asked the doctor about my husband’s prednisolone and she said it shouldn’t have any effects on his sperms as he’s only taking it for a short period (3 weeks) and on low dose as well – really happy to hear that!

I started spotting again today (period stopped 2 days ago), it’s quite a bit and I blame it on the nasal spray. I had some spotting after my period on my first IVF cycle and it stopped a few days after starting stimulation. So nothing to worry about.

What else.. Oh I had acupuncture this morning and told my acupuncturist I had started stimulation yesterday, holy cow! it seemed like the needles just kept coming out from the box! I had 17 needles all over my body! I like them though, I always like acupuncture session during stimulation as I get more needles *No I don’t have a fetish for needles, lol* It’s just that It makes me feel like I have something more done to help the follies growing. Anyway we shall see if all the supplements and the needles make any difference this time..

DR day 8

Side effects have started. Hot flashes started since day 4 but it doesn’t bother me too much, easy solution e.g open the windows/go to the balcony for fresh air. But last night I got the worst DR side effect I’ve ever felt in all my cycles. Husband and I were waiting for our luggage at the airport (back from a trip to London) and out of nowhere, BANG.. I started having cold sweats and my head just started to feel very funny and fainty that I had to sit down on the floor! Husband was nowhere close to me, he was standing by the normal baggage belt and I was on the other side, by the fragile items belt. I started taking deep breaths, trying to keep myself calm.. 5 minutes, still not gone.. I was aware of the eyes that were looking at me funny.. anyway thank goodness suddenly I saw my husband walking towards me and he aked “why are you sitting on the floor?” and then “why didn’t you call me?” We had a good 15 minutes waiting until I started feeling better and got to walk out of the airport, and about another 15 mins before I felt completely normal. I started acupuncture again today, been off for 2 weeks due to holidays (hers and mine) so I hope it will stop any of these weird things from happening again.

Period is due today but no signs of it coming yet. I hope it’ll come tomorrow.. if not, then this will be my 1st problem with period during down regulation. Oh well.. as they say, no cycle is the same..

2 days left

We will know in 2 days. Beta day. I have prepared myself for the absolute worst. All the so-called “symptoms” are gone today. My breasts started to feel a lot less sore by yesterday afternoon and I don’t feel anything today. The same thing happened last cycle, all the symptoms were gone one day before beta and sure enough it was negative.

Finally did hpt this morning, 10dp2dt, it’s negative. It might be too early or it’s just not meant to be. I still have hope, a tiny one, but it’s there.

halfway to go

Day 7 and progesterone has done its magic on me – I really hope it is that evil drug that gives me all these PMS symptoms and does not mean period is on its way.

Let’s make a list, shall we?

1. Grumpy and teary. This started yesterday actually. I cried over stupid adds on TV.

2. Sore breasts. Today (finally) I woke up feeling heavy on my breasts.

3. Knee/joint pain. I know it’s weird but before AF my joints especially my left knee gets REALLY sore, makes me feel like I’m a 60-yr old lady who needs a walking stick. *a little exaggerating, but it is sore!*

4. Headache. I have one right now.

Now this last one I’m going to tell you, I know it’s NOT PMS. It’s progesterone. *WARNING: TMI*

CONSTIPATION. First off let me tell you, I’m a regular, first thing in the morning, once a day girl when it comes to number 2. I don’t have any problems in that area (until today), not even in my 2ww on the first cycle. That’s not the case today! As normal, early morning today I felt the need to go, so there I was sitting on the toilet and nothing..nothing happened! I was straining but then realized it might do something bad to my uterus (can it?) so I stopped. 10.. 15 minutes.. nothing. I gave up. I felt really grumpy all morning. So I drank lots and lots of water   and thinking to get some prune juice later. Then around 11, I started feeling it again and thank GOD this time I got them out! Phew..

*sorry, but I did warn you*

Anyway I went to the supermarket after the victory and looked for prune juice just in case.. couldn’t find them. So I just grabbed some more veggies and fruits and hope it won’t happen again!!

 

.

wait n see

Yep that’s all we can do from here! We had a 5-cell embryo transferred yesterday. To be honest I was still hoping the doctor would come with the news that we had another embryo to put back in yesterday. But that’s not the case. BUT I started feeling a lot better last night, I realized that we do have this tiny embryo inside of me, and it can grow as one healthy baby! No, I’m not putting my hopes up, I’m being realistic, and the reality is it could happen.

No bed rest for me, as the doctor said, just take it easy and try not to win any medals at least until Tuesday 😀 (any implantation should happen on Tuesday). So after the transfer I grabbed a taxi and went to have acupuncture while my husband went back to work. 

Unlike my first cycle, I haven’t felt anything in my body. Last time, once I had the trigger shot, my breasts reacted and I felt like I had a boob job done. Now, I feel so normal. The gas in my lower abdomen from egg retrieval finally subsided. I just realized 2 days ago that the “soreness” I’d been feeling in my lower abdomen since ER was actually gas pressure. I didn’t have this last time. So yes this past 3 days I’ve been passing lots of gas! especially the day after ER. 

Daily routines since ER are vaginal pessaries twice a day (Cyclogest 400mg) and albyl-E 75mg once a day. And yes I have stocked up on panty liners!

Blood test is scheduled for the 26th and hpt on the 30th. But I have made up my mind that if nothing happens – no bleeding- by the 26th, I will do hpt that morning. Crazy I know, but I will do it.

ER

Finally I get to write update about ER. Everything went well, I didn’t really feel anything afterwards, went home, had a 2-hr sleep, woke up and then BANG! the inside of my stomach, especially the right one, was soooo sore. It felt like I’d done 1000 sit-ups (not that I know how it really feels like). Few hours later I felt nauseous as well but lucky I didn’t throw up. It was the sedative side effect that got me. Anyway I felt a lot better by 8pm last night and now I’m feeling ok although the stomach is still a little sore.

Soo, we had 6 eggs retrieved, the doctor managed to get another 3 from the small follicles, but the embryologist said maybe only 3 or 4 that’s good. That’s fine with me!! It is now nearly 9am and we should get the fertilization report by 1.30pm.. I’m a little nervous but trying not to freak out.. wish us luck!

twinges pt2

My belly started talking to me yesterday, pretty much the same time as last cycle (stimulation day 5), but this time the twinges feel a bit stronger – perhaps due to higher dose? My belly is very tender now, especially after yesterday’s shot.. I must’ve hit a nerve, It was bloody painful! I could still feel it stinging even after an hour or so..

Anyway, I have 2 acupuncture sessions this week. Went in for another stimulation session this morning (the first stim session was on Thursday last week). I had maybe 5 needles on my belly and some more extra points on my legs. Stim session concentrates on increasing blood flow to uterus and thickening of uterus lining. I hope we will see some mature folicles and thickened lining on Friday!

4 days to go..

.. before my ultrasound. Hope everything will be ok. A little worried as I had weird period. I had my normal 5-day period (and on time too) but on CD7 I started bleeding again and continued until yesterday (CD9). It’s only light bleeding (look like my day 3 or day 4 period) and only came out in the morning and the rest were just spottings. Nothing yet today, hopefully it did stop altogether. I hope it’s just my wacky hormones.

Fortunately, this time down regulation has been very easy on me. I hardly have any side effects, maybe a few lightheadedness but that’s about it.. well maybe I should mention my food cravings as well! My appetite has significantly increased.. food..food..food! I have to say It’s a lot easier this time around and I feel like days passing really quickly. In a perfect world, I would have an easy stimulation, easy collection, get some nice embryos and  smooth transfer, and get pregnant! hey who knows?!

just because..

i’ve been sooo grumpy these last 3 days.. my poor husband has turned into my punching bag 😦 even waking up in the morning I feel on edge and just want to give it to someone! I cried for no reason at all on Friday & Saturday night.. I was cooking dinner on Friday night and I couldn’t seal a vegetable packet with some bag clips, I got sooo frustrated I ended up throwing the clips off the bench! My sweet sweet husband came to the rescue, gave me a cuddle and said  “don’t stress” .. pfffffff bloody bag clips never frustrate me this much..

spottings lasted until yesterday afternoon.. shouldn’t have any today..  sooo to sum up, I’ve had hot flushes, I’ve been grumpy, I’ve had headaches.. Ooooo how I love my nasal spray 🙄