Getting ready for my doctor appointment

Tomorrow I'm headed back to the doctor to just meet, kind of regroup and find out where do we go from here. I have so many questions that I feel like I need to write them down and organize my thoughts so I don't forget during my appointment. 

When my husband and I first met with our RE (reproductive endocrinologist) he diagnosied us with unexplained infertility. He explained to us that on our own we only have about a 4% chance of conceiving each month, that blew my mind those are not good odds. He also explained that just adding medicine to help with ovulation wouldn't up our chances, but combining medication and iui would up our chances to about 20% each month, that would at least increase our chances to that of a fertile couple. And if we were to get pregnant using iui the first 3 cycles would be our best bet after that the percentage of pregnancies decreases significantly. 

This past cycle was our 2nd iui. Now I'm wondering if we count it as a success since I did get pregnant or as a failure since the pregnancy ended in miscarriage.  

I have compiled a list of questions I hope to remember during my appointment:

1. Should I be concerned that I have had 2 miscarriages? (Because I am)

2. Are there tests we can run for repeat pregnancy loss (RPL)?

3. Where do we go from here?

4. Do we continue with iui? If so, how many?

5. Do you think the miscarriages could be dur to poor egg and/or sperm quality?

6. If the miscarriages were due to poor egg/sperm quality, would IVF be a better choice since the development of the embryos can be watched?

Those are my questions so far. I'll keep you updated on what I learn at my appointment. Have a great night. 

XOXO
Brooke

Still Dropping

I went this morning for another blood draw to check my hcg levels again. And as awful as it is I was glad to hear that my levels are dropping on their own, now down to 18.  This means I don't have to worry that this was an ectopic pregnancy or about having to have a d&c. 

I will be headed into the doctors office on Tuesday to talk with my doctor about where we go from here. 

For now I'm going to enjoy my frozen yogurt, Pitch Perfect, and snuggling with my husband on the couch (since he'll be working all weekend).

Will keep you updated, hope you all have a great weekend!

XOXO

Brooke

Excitement followed by disappointment

On Sunday morning I took a home pregnancy test as instructed by my doctors office and was shocked to see a SECOND line appear!! I quickly found the stash of clearblue digital tests I had been saving for this moment and used one. The word PREGNANT appeared on the screen!  I was in total shock. I hadn't thought this cycle had work, but thankfully I was wrong. I couldn't wait for my husband to get home from work ( he's currently working the night shift) to tell him! He was so excited!

I went to the doctor on Monday to have my blood draw to check my hcg levels and my first beta was 110. Which was a good number since my nurse said they like to see at least 80, so my number was above that :)

Today I went for my second blood draw to confirm that my hcg levels were rising appropriately. Unfortunately the news I received was not what I wanted to hear: my levels had dropped from 110 to 73.  My nurse said I have to go Friday for another blood draw to see what the levels are doing. 

I am at a loss for words. I tried to remain cautiously optimistic but I couldn't help getting excited. I have been able to get pregnant twice now, once last March whcih ended in a miscarriage at 7 weeks, and now almost a year later, which seems to be a chemical pregnancy or very early miscarriage.  I am trying to remain positive that one day I will get to be a mom but it is hard when I feel like my body is failing me. 

Will keep you updated on my numbers Friday and where we go from here.

XOXO
Brooke 

Time to wait

I have finished my medicine for this month. No more pills, no more shots!

On New Years Eve I spent my morning back in the doctors office having another ultrasound.  This time they were looking for follicles to see when we would be scheduling my iui. I was looking forward to this ultrasound with high hopes for multiple follicles since they had bumped up my dose of Gonal-F. The results were okay, but not exactly what I was hoping for:

Right Ovary: 19mm follicle 13mm follicle 

Left Ovary: 19mm follicle 12mm follicle

So I had two really good sized follicles (meaning I had to have my blood drawn) which was good but the other two were too small and won't be mature enough to ovulate. I was really hoping for 3-4 mature follicles just to up our chances. (Last cycle they told me we had between 2-3 follicles, so we are starting this cycle off with possibly 1 less follicle already.)  

After the ultrasound I had my blood drawn to check for my lh level. The nurse called me in the afternoon letting me know I would be triggering that night at midnight and coming January 2 for the iui. What better way to ring in the New Year than with a shot in the belly! 

We had friends in town with us for New Years Eve which was great fun we spent the evening playing cards against humanity and laughing our butts off! And after counting down to midnight and kissing my hubby I enjoyed a nice shot of ovideral :)

On Friday my husband and I made our way to the doctors office by 9:30. My hubby completed his part by 9:50 and was off because he had to go to the base to study.  So I relaxed in the waiting room  for about an hour while everything was prepared for the iui. 

I was taken back by 11:00 and on my way home by 11:30.  I am always so surprised how simple the iui process is, no pain or discomfort and over in minutes.  So this month we have 2 good looking follicles and 29 million swimmers to hopefully make some magic happen.  I have now enter the Two Week Wait. This might be the most difficult time of the cycle. There are no doctor appointments, no medicine to take, just time to sit around and wonder, wish, hope, and pray! 

I hope everyone is having a great start to 2015! I hope and pray these weeks go by quickly and there are positive results at the end! 

XOXO

Brooke

Cycle Day 2: Baseline

Well I got up extra early so I could make it to my appointment by 8:00.  My doctors office is usually only 35 minutes from our house but with traffic in the morning it can take up to an hour. So I was out the door by 7:00, thinking the rain would cause extra traffic, not so much  I made it to the office by 7:40! 

This appointment was just a baseline ultrasound. They check my uterine lining and to make sure my ovaries are clear of cysts. Everything was good and I got the all clear to start a new cycle. 

Fun way to spend Christmas Eve

After the ultrasound I met with a nurse who gave me my new medication schedule:

Cycle Day 3-7: letrozole 2.5mg

Cycle Day 5-6: Gonal-F 50iu

Cycle Day 7-8: Gonal-F 37.5iu

Cycle Day 9: ultrasound follicle check

I'm excited to start this cycle. The doctor is upping my meds this cycle so I will be interested to see how that effects my follicles.

I'll be back soon to update again!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

XOXO

Brooke

A New Start

After going through 2 years of infertility I am getting ready to start a new month of trying and have decided to try and keep track of what I (and my husband) are going through on this journey trying to have children.  

So far we have tried for 24 months: 12 unmedicated, 5 with oral medications, 1 with oral and injectable medications, 1 with oral and injectable medications plus an IUI, and have suffered 1 miscarriage.   

Today starts a new month and we will be starting another IUI cycle.  I will be off to the Dr tomorrow morning for my baseline ultrasound and to get my medication calendar.  

Will update tomorrow after my appointment.

Have a great night!

XOXO
Brooke