Transfer Date Scheduled

They want me to recheck my TSH level on Thursday 4/3 and then do my lining check on Friday 4/4 if all goes well with my TSH check.  They also want me to add 2 estrace internally (1 in the morning 1 at bedtime) to give my ute some extra estrogen to plump up.  They also moved my transfer to Wednesday 4/9.

FET #3 is Underway

Surprisingly AF arrived today.   I honestly didn't think she'd show up until next Monday after having a +OPK just last Monday.  So I spoke through email with my nurse Dawn.   They want me to start my estrace pills and they will do a lining check next Thursday (4/3) with a tentative transfer date of the following Monday (4/7) or Tuesday (4/8)!!!!!

Positive OPK

Soooooo I've been taking ovulation tests daily.   My main goal of taking them was to be able to time when my next period will show up to be able to get the FET underway.   My subgoal was a piece of me always holds out a shred of hope for getting that absolute miracle BFP the cycle before a transfer.  It has happened.  I have seen it first hand with a very lucky lady on my fertility forum.   She was gearing up to do a FET, went to Europe or something, and found out she was pregnant!   Miracles do happen!

Anyways....... I popped the test positive on Monday (3/17) when I took one after work.   Sooooooo, that means AF most likely won't show up until March 31st (14 days later).  Which means my transfer will most likely be 15 to 20 days after that....so April 15th through 20th.  I'm hoping for Friday the 18th, so I only have to take 1 day off of work and then have the whole weekend to relax.   Of course, ironically, I have a newborn session scheduled for the 19th...ugh.   Of course the transfer won't even happen if the synthroid medication doesn't bring my TSH levels to normal range.

Positive OPK (ovulation predictor kit)......yes, I took a pic.  Going through infertility seeing anything with two lines on it is very exciting stuff!!

(LH line on the left, control line on the right)

Endometrial Scratch and What's Next

So the scratch happened last Friday 3/14 (today's Monday).   It was soooooooo much easier than I anticipated it being.  I popped 2 ibuprofen 1 hour beforehand and all I felt were dull cramps.   Now all I have to do is keep taking my synthroid and pray!

Next up is checking my TSH (thyroid) level on 4/4 or 4/7.   I will already be well underway in my FET schedule by then so hopefully it comes down a  lot by then.  The clinic wants it down to 3.7 but from my googling it really should be below 2.0.   It was 4.94 a couple weeks ago.  Hopefully the synthroid is working!!

Endometrial Scratch Scheduled

Sorry my posts are pretty boring lately.  Things move so slowly in between cycles.  Anyways, I scheduled my endometrial scratching for 9 AM on Friday (day after tomorrow).  I have heard mixed reviews on how painful the procedure is.    I am doing the procedure because it "is thought to increase the immune system cells and therefore the growth factors at the site of the endometrial scratch.  This is believed to make the womb lining more receptive to embryo implantation. Studies have suggested that implantation rates may be twice as high in patients who have an endometrial scratch before attempting to get pregnant."   Wish me luck!

Elevated TSH

So, the blood draws the my doctor didn't think I even needed uncovered something......elevated TSH.   I have an underactive thyroid.  My TSH level was 4.94.  Normal levels are 0.4 to 4.5.  Before you get excited that I am close to the normal threshold, normal for infertility is between 1 and 2.  So I am WAY over the normal range.   I am angry.  I am furious.  They didn't even test this level prior to starting my IVF.  There is NO way my IVF could have even worked.  I literally flushed money down the drain.  I flushed 2 embryos down the drain.  :(   Anyways, anger aside, I have been put on 50mcg of synthroid per day.  I will be rechecked in 4 weeks.  This puts the endometrial scratching on hold.  There is no way I am suffering through that just to be told the FET is postponed because my TSH levels are still elevated.  This will most likely put the entire FET on hold.  So instead of an April transfer it will most likely be a May transfer (God willing).   This sucks!

Immune Testing Blood Draw

Mike and I had our blood drawn yesterday for our immune tests.   He had 1 vial taken.  I had like 15 vials taken.  As the woman was entering my testing into the computer it even totalled like $1,700!  My copay was $50.  Thank the Lord I have insurance!  Although she said the insurance still might come back and not pay the whole thing.  Of course not.  Anyways, I eagerly await the results!  

I had the following tested:

TSH
Prolactin
AntiBeta 2 glycoprotein antibodies
Anticardiolipin antibodies
Lupus anticoagulant
Chromosomes
Hemoglobin AIC
Microsomal antibodies

Mike had the following tested:

Chromosome analysis

Endometrial Scratching Idea

So there is a relatively new technique out there called Endometrial Scratching.  When done the cycle before a cycle that will have a transfer, it boosts implantation rates by 20%!   I emailed Dr. Goldfarb to ask about this new technique and he didn't believe there was any efficacy to the study.  He said we could, however, still do the procedure if I wanted.  I kinda wish he was more on board with it because now I feel pretty unsure whether we should do it or not.  I think we are just going to do it.  What do we have to lose?

Here is a link to the article:  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/endometrial-scratching-boosts-ivf-odds-by-20-percent-says-study/

Immune Testing Requisition

So before we continue with any treatment, I really want Mike and I to have more testing completed.   Especially me.  I am going to have a slew of immune testing done to make sure my body isn't killing embryos within it.  I will have the following done through a simple blood draw (hopefully covered by insurance):

TSH
Prolactin
AntiBeta 2 glycoprotein antibodies
Anticardiolipin antibodies
Lupus anticoagulant
Chromosomes
Hemoglobin AIC
Microsomal antibodies

Mike will have the following measured through a blood draw as well:

Chromosome analysis