FET #2 underway

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Because of the holidays, I skip my baseline and self medicate by taking my estrogen pills.

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:

• 11.6% motile (normal 50-100%)
• 18.3% normal form (normal 30-100%)
• NO white blood cells found

11dp5dt beta (4 days early)

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Beta comes back at only 6.  I am told to cease and desist all medication.  This cycle is a bust.  I take it better than my first failed cycle.  Guess it gets easier each time.

10dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Sadly the next morning my test line was still very faint.

9dp5dt +HPT!

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

So I really wasn't planning on POASing (peeing on a stick) this cycle but I woke up in the morning from a dream induced orgasm.  I thought it was for sure a sign!

Turns out it was (very faint positive):

8dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: final light brown spot in the AM.

7dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: still lightly brown spotting.

6dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: started spotting (brown and light).  Hoping it was implantation bleeding.

Embryo transfer

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Embryo transfer went well.  1 of 3 blasts are thawed and assisted hatching is performed.

Progesterone shots

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Start progesterone shots today.  With my IVF I used suppositories so this whole shot in the butt thing is new to me.

Baseline check

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Baseline went well.  FET #1 is a go!

FET #1 about to start

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I again prayed for my period to start so I could start my first FET.

Our video on Redbook.com

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Redbook is doing a piece about infertility.  http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/dealing-with-infertility

My husband and I submitted some videos about our woes to Redbook and they were selected to be on their website:  http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/infertility-video-series?click=pp#v1212312908001

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:

• 33.2% motile (normal 50-100%)
• 27.2% normal form (normal 30-100%)
• white blood cells found

Started acupuncture

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I've read acupuncture really helps IVF success so I've started seeing Maki at the Hamor Health Connection.  (Though the photo below was from a different woman who I only went once to but scared the crap out of me.)

Turned 30 two days after negative beta

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Turning 30 two days after my negative beta was a really rough experience for me.  Had a little melt down with hubby in the middle of the driveway, but luckily my dog Digbee consoled me:

14dp3dt - beta test

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Get my blood drawn at 7:30 am.  Never got the call so hubby had to call the clinic around 4:00 pm.  It's a negative result.

12dp3dt - home pregnancy test

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I've decided to POAS (pee on a stick).  I got a BFN (big fat negative).  Not holding out much hope for beta.

Embryo transfer

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Our first embryo transfer was a very emotional experience.  We ended up having 5 good embryos on day 3.  2 of which were transferred (1 of the 2 has a picture below) and 3 were frozen (on day 5).

Fertilization report

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

17 retrieved
12 mature
7 fertilized

Egg retrieval

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

The egg retrieval procedure was interesting.  It took me a while to come to off the drugs.  They retrieved 17 eggs.

HCG injection

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

The HCG shot was a huge production.  My mom, a retired nurse, came over and administered it right on time.

Internal ultrasounds and bloodwork

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Ultrasound checks and bloodwork checks on 7/15, 7/18, 7/20, and 7/21.

Here's a bruise from one of the blood draws:

Follistim starts

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Start 100 on the Follistim pen.

Baseline check

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Baseline check and bloodwork go smoothly.  I'm a go to start taking Follistim starting the next day.

First time I ever WANTED my period to start

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I actually WANTED my period to start so I could get my baseline ultrasound and get the show on the road.

IVF #1 underway - lupron shots begin!

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

First lupron shot administered!

Pre-IVF testing (find a blocked tube!)

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Lauree:

• Blood: AB+
• TSH 1.96 (normal 0.40-5.50)
• Hysterosalpingogram shows normal uterus but the left fallopian tube is completely blocked
• Anti-Mullerian Hormone 3.7ng/mL (normal 0.0-6.9)
• No STDs
• No hepatitis
• Negative for cystic fibrosis gene

Mike:

• Blood: A+
• No STDs
• No hepatitis
• Negative for cystic fibrosis gene
• Semen analysis: 33% motile (normal 50-100%)

Meeting with RE from Cleveland Clinic

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Met with Dr. Cynthia Austin of the Cleveland Clinic.  Wonderful woman.  Put out minds at ease about IVF.  Discussed how IVF works and said she wishes all her candidates could be as perfect as me.   Decide to being IVF protocol if all the tests come back normal (which they do).

What next appointment with OBGYN

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.) 

After speaking with Dr. Weibel, we decide to look into in vitro fertilization (IVF).

IUI #3

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Sperm parameters pre-wash:

• volume: 3 milliliter
• count: 28 million
• % motility: 20%

Sperm parameters post-wash:

• volume: 0.35 milliliter
• count: 1 million
• % motility: 60%

Mike's bloodwork is normal

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike had bloodwork to determine if there may have been anything else going on and it came back normal.

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:

• 7.9% motile (normal 50-100%)
• 17.3% normal form (normal 30-100%)
• 47% live (normal 50-100%)

IUI #2

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Sperm parameters pre-wash:

• volume: 4.5 milliliter
• count: 142 million
• % motility: 40%

Sperm parameters post-wash:

• volume: 0.34 milliliter
• count: 4 million
• % motility: 90%

IUI #1

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

IUI went ok.   I just remember being super duper excited that we were finally going to achieve pregnancy.

Sperm parameters pre-wash:

• volume: 2.5 milliliter
• count: 5.2 million
• % motility: 50%

Sperm parameters post-wash:

• volume: 0.35 milliliter
• count: 1.96 million
• % motility: 80%

Talking about IUIs

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

We met with Dr. Weibel and decided with the small improvement in Mike's sperm we should go ahead and try intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:

• 14.2% motile (normal 50-100%)
• 19.1% normal form (normal 30-100%)
• 25% live (normal 50-100%)