May 22, 2000
Here we go again. Where do I begin? Back in April I met with Dr. Trolice who is the new doctor at the Arnold Palmer Reproductive Health Institute. We hit it off and agreed to start Lupron on May 3. I mentioned during that interview that I was having some chest discomfort and agreed to get things checked out by my regular doctor. I went to Skip and he ran an EKG which came back abnormal (arrhythmia, sinus tachycardia and incomplete right bundle branch block). I made and appointment with a cardiologist (Dr. Andreae). Dr. Trolice originally agreed to proceed with IVF upon verbal approval from Dr. Andreae. I got verbal approval and then Dr. Trolice said he wanted a copy of Dr. Andreae’s office notes – I got the notes and then Dr. Trolice said he wanted to talk to Dr. Andreae. To make a long story short, he refused to proceed with IVF until I had had a complete cardiac work-up with Dr. Andreae. You know me – this ticked me off!
So, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Riggall for May 5th. I was certain that the month was wasted because I was on cycle day 24. Well, to my surprise Dr. Riggall thought that was perfect for starting Lupron so I started the next day, May 6th.
I went in for my down regulation check on May 15th and even though I hadn’t started my period, my E2 level was 35 which was perfect for starting stims. To my surprise, I got AF that afternoon. Even though my body was ready for stims, we decided to hold off until Wednesday the 17th so we were guaranteed retrieval wouldn’t be before the end of the month (John’s in trial). So, on Wednesday, May 17th I started 3amps of Gonal-F daily.
Now that you’re caught up to speed, I’ll update you on today’s appointment. My lining was an 11! YIPPEE! My E2 was 189 and I have 16 small follicles. The largest one is 12 and the others are 9 or less. So, it seems we’re on our way! 🙂
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May 24, 2000
(day 8 stims)
I had a great appointment today. My lining was a 12 and I had 19 follicles: 5 on the right (11, 11, 10 and 2<10) and 14 on the left (12, 10.5 and 12<11). My E2 was 533.
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May 25, 2000
(day 9 stims)
Today appointment was a smidge disappointing but still good. I lost 9 of my follicles during the night. My lining was 13 and I still have 10 follicles although it looks like only 5 of them are really progressing: right – 17 and 12.5; left – 13.5, 13, 12.5 and 5 at 10. My E2 was 962. Dr. Riggall thinks we’ll retrieve on Monday or Tuesday. Although I’m a little disappointed at losing so many, I’m still really pleased. I keep telling myself that I only had 5 mature eggs when I got pregnant with the boys so I just may have twins in my future again! I really have a gut feeling that this cycle is going to work. Everything is going perfectly according to my first cycle so I’m very hopeful. John is even getting a gut feeling that this is going to work!
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May 26, 2000
(day 10 stims)
Today’s appointment was surprising to say the least. I had 22 follicles! Evidently there were quite a few hiding yesterday!!! My lining was 14 and my E2 was 1272. I had 7 follicles on the right (16, 15, 15, 13.5, 10.5, 11 and 9). I had 15 follicles on the left (15, 14.5, 13.5, 13, 13, 12.5, 12, 11.5, 11, 11 and 5<10). I’m still plugging along slowly but surely. I’m getting so excited now. The only down part is how bad I’m cramping. I don’t remember ever cramping this bad! I get rechecked tomorrow and hopefully will have a date for retrieval! Wish me luck!
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May 27, 2000
(day 11 stims)
My follicles (which I affectionately refer to as the F-troop) are still plugging along. I had 20 that the RE could find today. My lining was 16 and my E2 was 1847. I had 6 follicles on the right (20.5, 15, 14.5, 12.5, 10 and 8) and 14 on the left (17, 17, 15.5, 15.5, 14, 13.5, 13.5, 12, 12, 11.5, 11.5, 11.5, 10 and 9). The doctor wants me to do one more day of stims and get rechecked tomorrow. He’s pretty confident that we will have a retrieval on Tuesday! 🙂 I’m feeling so good about this cycle. I don’t know if it’s because I’m taking an antidepressant this time or what but I just know in my heart that this cycle is going to work. Time will tell!
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May 28, 2000
(day 12 stims)
HCG trigger tonight at 8:00!!! I’m so excited! Retrieval is set for Tuesday at 9:00am. I can’t wait! My lining looked good today at 15 and my E2 was 2775. Dr. Riggall found 22 follicles today, 6 on the right (20, 17.5, 17.5, 16.5, 13.5 and 12) and 16 on the left (21.5, 21, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15, 14.5, 14.5, 14.5, 11.5 and 3<10). Dr. Riggall’s only concern is that I’ll hyperstimulate. He said my E2 level is way higher than last cycle which I guess isn’t good from a hyperstimulating standpoint. But, it’s great news as far as getting good follicles. So, here’s hoping! 🙂 Here’s a picture of today’s follicles (left side):
Follicles
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May 29, 2000
(Pre-op)
I had a great pre-op appointment today. I still can’t get over how quick this cycle has gone! Retrieval is tomorrow at 9:00 – where did the time go? My lining was 16 today which is great and I had 24 follicles – 7 on the right (23.5, 18, 17.5, 16.5, 14.5, 14 and 1<10) and 17 on the left (20.5, 19, 16.5, 16.5, 16, 16, 15.5, 15.5, 15, 14.5, 14, 13, 11.5, 11.5, 10 and 2<10). Dr. Riggall said the cutest thing “you’ve got enough here to finish your family!”. I take that to mean he’s real hopeful that this is going to work. Regardless, I’m more sure than I’ve ever been that this is going to work! The only bad part about today’s visit is I’m anemic – yuck! Iron pills here I come. Wish me tons of luck tomorrow!
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May 30, 2000
(RETRIEVAL)
The retrieval went really, really well although the recovery isn’t going great. I am hurting so bad! My laparoscopy didn’t hurt this much. Dr. Riggall is really scared that I’m going to hyperstimulate because of my high Estradiol levels – I pray he’s wrong. They retrieved 21 eggs today and 15 were mature enough to ICSI. I won’t know the fertilization rate until tomorrow but I’m real confident that we’ll have a good rate. Wish us luck!
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May 31, 2000
(1 day post retrieval)
I am SO excited! Dr. Riggall called this morning and said we have 12 “perfect” embryos! Yippee! Looks like we’re go for retrieval on Friday. I’ll find out more tomorrow about what time. Wish us luck!
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June 1, 2000
(2 days post retrieval)
What a wonderful 4th anniversary this was. The doctor called this morning and said we had 11 beautiful embryos left. He decided to go ahead and freeze 4 of them because they feel they freeze better on day 2 than day 3. So, on our 4th anniversary, we have 4 frozen embryos and 7 fresh ones – I’m on top of the world! Transfer is set for 12 noon tomorrow and I’m really getting excited. I know in my heart of hearts that this is going to work (and even if it doesn’t we know have frozen embryos). Even if none of the embryos survive the freeze, it’s exciting frozen embryos – we’ve never had any before! This is it, tomorrow I’m going to be pregnant!
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June 2, 2000
(TRANSFER)
“I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it”! What a great day to get pregnant. All 7 embryos were still hanging on although 3 of them had already stalled at 4 or less cells. So, we had 3 8cells and a 6 cell to work with. We decided to go ahead and transfer the 3 8cells even though Dr. Riggall was a little hesitant. Two of the 8’s were grade I (less than 10% fragmentation) and 1 was a grade II (10-25% fragmentation). Actually one of the 8’s was a perfect embryo with no fragmentation. The transfer went really smoothly and everyone in the room was cutting up about me having triplets. The embryologist came in and asked how it felt to be pregnant. I was confused and he said that the technical definition of being pregnant is having live embryos inside you – so, I’m technically pregnant with triplets! John was so adorable – once they rolled me into the recovery room he immediately came over and kissed my belly three times. The rest of the day he talked about my pregnant glow. I sure hope he’s right. I feel pregnant so I hope my positive attitude will carry me the next nine months! Go triplets go!
Triplets
Sorry the pictures are so blurry – I only got a video tape and had to take pictures of the t.v. screen
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June 5, 2000
(3dpt)
Today was my 4th day on bedrest and I can honestly say I’m going nuts! A very dear friend of mine watched the boys today and it about killed me to not get up and do some cleaning or organizing! I know I’ll be begging for bedrest once it’s over but right now I’m dying to get up!
I’m still having tons of cramps, especially on the left where the majority of follicles were. I’m peeing every 5 minutes which John attributes to me being pregnant – I just think it’s the decaf tea I’ve been drinking. I’m still fairly confident that I’m pregnant – with triplets even. I’m not quite sure how I would manage twins & triplets but I pray they all survive and thrive!
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June 6, 2000
(4dpt)
I am SO over this bedrest it isn’t even funny! Thank goodness today was the last day. I’m still having a lot of ovarian cramping and today have been feeling a burning sensation around the ovary area. If it doesn’t get better I’m going to call the doctor to make sure everything is okay.
The progesterone in oil (2cc daily) is really starting to get to me. I don’t have any side effects but my muscles are getting tired of all the oil being injected into them. They are started to retaliate and scream out “no more”.
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June 7, 2000
(5dpt)
Well, paranoia officially set in today. I’m still optimistic but I’m starting to have doubt. Doubt….. what a horrible weed it is. If you don’t squash it, it will over run your optimistic garden! The only reason the paranoia started today was because ALL of my cramps suddenly disappeared. Try as I may, I just can’t feel them anymore. Funny how an IVF woman would actually wish for cramps. My mind keeps telling me that if I were pregnant the cramps would get progressively worse because the follicles would fill with fluid and start emitting progesterone to help support the growing embryo. I would be an instant millionaire if I could figure out a way for IVF women to take a pregnancy test the day after transfer!
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June 8, 2000
(6dpt)
Doubt was a fleeting feeling – I’m back to be sure that this cycle worked. At 3am this morning I had a HUGE wave of nausea which is very unusual for me so I’m back to thinking that this cycle worked. In fact, if (excuse me when) it does I’m going on record that 3am June 8th was the moment of implantation. Today I’ve been extremely tired, cramping is back full force, I’m nauseous and if I think about it my left boob is sore. Okay, I’m stretching it with the boob thing but the other symptoms are totally real. Please, oh please don’t let this cycle blow up in my face. I just believe with ALL my heart and soul that I’m pregnant and it will be devastating if I’m not. Only 6 more days until I test!!!!!
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June 11, 2000
(9dpt)
I am in complete and utter shock! I went to Jacksonville with the boys and enjoyed a wonderful weekend with my friend Eva and her son Michael (7 months). The entire weekend I had period type cramps and had a bowel movement every day which is highly irregular for me. I was so sure that I was pregnant that Eva and I even told 2 strangers that I was pregnant. Anyway, the entire drive home from Jacksonville all I could think about was taking a pregnancy test. I held my pee all the way from Jacksonville until I got home and immediately ran upstairs to take a test. I knew in my heart that the test could be negative for 2 reasons – one it’s really early and two because I took the test at night after only 2-1/2 hours since my last bathroom trip. Anyway. I peed on the stick and watched as it filled up the first window – no line! I was disappointed but reminded myself that it was still early. I put the test on the counter and finished my business. I went into the other room to lay down on the bed and I counted 3 minutes which is the time you’re supposed to wait before checking the results. I went back to the bathroom and said my little prayer that the test showed a line. I also prayed that I have the strength to handle there not being a line. I sat on the toilet holding the test in my hand scared to death to turn it over. I waited what felt like an eternity, took a very deep breath and held it as I flipped over the test. When I flipped it over there was a faint but P-O-S-I-T-I-V-E line! I about died! I ran downstairs to tell John and couldn’t stop shaking. I’m still shaking and it’s been 4 hours since I took the test. I just can’t get over seeing a faint line – especially at only 9dpt – I secretly hope that there is more than one but couldn’t be happier that I’m just indeed pregnant. It’s going to be a long 3 days until Wednesday’s official beta results!
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June 12, 2000
(10dpt)
I’m still in complete and utter shock. I’ve got the HPT sitting on my computer monitor and I just can’t keep from staring at it. What an incredible site! Who would’ve thunk that 2 little lines could bring a woman to tears!
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June 13, 2000
(11dpt)
Only a few more hours until I get the official results. The closer it gets the more nervous I get. I did 2 more HPTs today and they were both faintly positive. I would have loved to seen dark positive but I’ll take any positive! Wish me luck!
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June 14, 2000
(12dpt)
It’s official – two years to the date of when the boys were conceived – I’m pregnant! The nurse called this morning and said my beta was 90! More than likely that indicates a singleton which is fine with me! I think life would be a smidge easier if I had twins and a singleton! I’m so far above cloud 9 I can’t even see it anymore! I just can’t believe there’s a baby growing inside me!!!!!
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June 16, 2000
(14dpt)
I had my repeat beta test today and it came back as 181. I was a little disappointed that it didn’t come back higher but the nurse assured me that the doctor was pleased. Dr. Riggall wanted to see a minimum of a 66% increase which would have been 150. Still, I think I could relax a little more had I more than doubled. My first ultrasound isn’t until June 30th which seems an eternity away! Wish us luck!
For more of our journey, read my 2000 Pregnancy Journal.
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