It took my a while to get on board with trying to start a family. B being 5 years older then me was more then ready and most of his good friends were already going on baby #2. We finally started but after 6 failed IUI attempts later (4 at the regime OB and 2 at CRM along with Clomid) we still weren't pregnant.
It was time to take the scary step into IVF. We went to an info seminar and met with the dr. I had a few tests which weren't horrible but gave us the green light that nothing appeared to be wrong (no cysts, etc). With the holidays fast approaching the clinic told me I would start round one mid January.
10 days of Lupron + 12 more days of other stim shots was a lot on my mind and body. My eggs just didn't want to mature quickly so it prolonged the shots. Finally, February 13 was my retrieval day. They were able to retrieve 10, and of those 9 were mature and could be fertilized. Here is a timeline to following:
February 15 update: 5 of the 9 went on to fertilize and divide.
February 17 update: transfer was scheduled for the 18th at 4pm
February 18: they weren't pleased with the results as wanted to give the eggs one more day so transfer moved to 19th.
February 19: went in to clinic with a full bladder and a Valium and found out only 2 were left. So opted to transfer both as this is what B and I had previously decided and the dr encouraged this.
Everything went well and my 1st blood test was scheduled for 10 days later.
February 27 results: HCG came back at 5- an extremely low positive result. It was told to me that implementation had likely started but maybe didn't continue. But, I was instructed to keep up with my meds (estrogen patches and progesterone suppository) and return in 2 days.
March 2 results: HCG came back at 45- they want it to double every 48-72 hrs so while still low, it meant there was still hope. I was instructed to come back in another 2 days for a replete test.
March 4 results: HCG rose to 137. Still hopeful so dr said come back in a week to test again (at this point it was a lot of mixed emotion). I was also told to schedule an ultrasound the week of March 13.
March 11 results: HCG rose to 3049- a huge shock to me and the dr. She was very pleased and seemed hopeful.
March 18 ultrasound and blood work: gestational sac found but no embryo inside. I honestly didn't understand what this meant. The dr said it was possible it was too early and to come back in one more week just to check again. HCG levels rose to 12,761 which was horrifying to hear- why did it keep going up when there was no baby? B called the dr for an explanation who said the hormone is produced by the sac so my body was still forming a home when it didn't have any inhabitants.
March 25: repeat ultrasound: still no baby At this point I should stop all meds and I could hopefully pass the sac and stuff. This was the longest road just to hear No! I was an emotional wreck. Being new to this I thought it seemed like a better plan to pass it naturally then to do a D & C. I don't have the exact date but perhaps the following weekend I woke up early 6 or 7 and didn't feel well. Neither Advil or Tylenol were helping my cramps and chills. I'll spare the details but the morning and early afternoon was incredibly painful and emotional. So much so I told B I wouldn't go through that again.
Before we could get the green light to go for round 2 I had to wait to get a real period along with my HCG levels down to 0. Another really long road where they just didn't want to drop. Honestly to the point I was afraid I didn't pass it all and would still need a D&C after all that. Finally, at the end of May my numbers were low enough to start all over. The Dr wanted to try a different set of meds which meant no Lupron and less shots! The shots started at the end of June while in Chicago which was interesting but I made do. Once I had a few eggs starting to mature I had to introduce a new shot to slow them down in hopes additional ones would catch up. Oh boy those hurt! But in the end my retrieval was scheduled for July 9 where they were able to retrieve 15.
July 11 update: of the 15 12 were mature and were fertilized. Of those 12 8 went on to fertilize and divide.
July 13 update: transfer scheduled for following day. 7 of the 8 were looking good.
July 14: once again went in with a full bladder (B was on jury duty so my mom took me- no ideal but was fine). They strongest 2 were chosen to transfer in. This time my bladder was so full it was uncomfortable so I was allowed to empty it a little. Everything went smoothly and I went home to relax and my mom "visualized".
July 15: 2 of the left over eggs were still looking good and we chose to freeze them.
July 23: 1st blood draw/ HCG test following transfer. HCG was 188 meaning it was for sure positive!
July 27: HCG rose to 1071! So next step was to schedule an ultrasound in 2 weeks.
August 13: ultrasound revealed 2 gestational sacs each with an embryo! We could see the flutter of the heart beating. It was so surreal. TWINS!
Everything I've wanted for so long. That night we had dinner at my parents where I showed them the picture and they were sobbing with joy!
August 19: repeat ultrasound since it was twins- everything still looked good - 2 babies, 2 heartbeats. So I was officially released to my regular OB. 1st appt scheduled for August 26th.
The last update to report as of now: for the last week I had been experiencing nausea but for the most part had it under control with ginger ale and Unisom. However on Friday night I threw up a couple times and couldn't eat. Finally at the end of the night had a small scoop of ice cream. Saturday was much of the same- so much throwing up. Ate some bread and Gatorade and that came up. Saltines and ginger ale- same. I was so dehydrated and uncomfortable. I finally ate a popsicle which stayed down and sipped some water. Was feeling much better. A call to the dr on call got me a prescription for an anti nausea drug but me being stubborn I didn't take it since the Popsicles were staying down. Really hoping today is a better day!
