My Second Attempt Log:
I decided not to announce my journey on the public board this time around. You ladies are all great, but I just did not want to focus on this attempt the way I did the previous one. I find reading about everyone else’s success and failures to be helpful, so I knew I would share either way, but just in my own time. I am keeping this log and will post after my BFP or after I recover from another No Transfer/BFN.
June 15, 2007….no transfer because there were no healthy females…all meds were discontinued.
June 28, 2007….AF started
July 3rd….consult/cycle review….decided to try again for a healthy female…this time around would not do a BCP cycle because doc will be on an extended vacation in September….
July 18, 2007…
Did not do bcp this time so had to go for bw & u/s b4 starting Lupron....u/s and bw confirmed ovulation and cleared to start Lupron. Results showed I had a cyst left over from my last period but nurse said doesn’t look like it will be a problem.
Started 20 units of Lupron until withdrawal period
July 27, 2007…withdrawal period starts…appt on July 30, 2007 for bw and u/s
July 30, 2007
Cleared to start Follistim at 150 units twice a day and Lupron dropped to 5 units once at night
Ultrasound showed 6 follicles in each ovary. Very happy about that because the plan (in my head) was to cancel cycle if I did not have at least 12 follicles. My thought is that this is a numbers game and I need plenty of eggs if I’m going to have a few girls in the group. On my first cycle, I only had 9 follicles before stims and we retrieved 11 mature eggs. This time around, hoping that I will have about 15 mature eggs. That would be like a miracle in my eyes.
August 2, 2007
2nd appointment for blood work and ultrasound. Things went okay. I had about 9 follies that were a decent size. Kind of disappointed in that. My left ovary just refuses to produce like it should. If this cycle is unsuccessful, I will discuss adding acupuncture to my protocol for number 3 in order to jump start lazy lefty. I was told that was helpful by a lady on this site. Nurse called to say that I will remain on Lupron at 5 units and Follistim at 150 twice a day until further notice. I’m sleeping much better this cycle. I think I was just very anxious last time and the stress showed itself at 3 in the morning. So far not symptoms. Well, I have been going potty like every hour on the hour, but not bad enough to call it a symptom. Towards the end during my last cycle, I could go more than one hour without a bathroom break. That’s better than having uncontrollable mood swings.
August 4, 2007
Another b/w and u/s appt. Things went fine. I have about 10 embryos at about a 6. I really wish I was a bigger producer. Finally starting to get symptoms. I was afraid for a minute that I was not responding to the meds because I felt the exact same. Meds decreased to 150 in the morning and 75 of follistim at night.
August 6, 2007
Morning appointment. Really wanted to sleep in this morning but had to be there bright and early. Looking like the earliest for me to trigger will be on Friday. 10 embryos that averaged about 10. Meds will continue at 150 in the morning and 75 of follistim in the evening. If I was a betting type of girl, I would place my shot for August 10th and ER for August 12th.
August 8, 2007
Morning appointment. Estrogen levels not really where they should be, but the doc I guess is trying to see if I get more follies that way. I don’t know. But it looks like I might not trigger until August 11th. Such a pain.
Oh, I have been asking about the cyst everyday and whether my cycle would be canceled. Today the nurse got a little snippy and asked where am I getting this stuff. She said I could stop asking because a cyst doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful cycle. So, I’m going to stop bugging her about the cyst.
August 9, 2007
Morning appointment and pre-op exam. Things went well. Looks like I will have about 11 mature follies. I’m still on 225 units of follistim a day. E2 levels aren’t what they should be, but the doc still hasn’t increased my follistim.
August 10, 2007
Morning appointment and pre-op exam. Still looking at about 11 mature follies. Had really hoped I would have at least 15 this time around. Will most likely trigger tonight for Sunday retrieval. It’s funny but I’m on exactly the same schedule as I was for the 1st cycle. Hope retrieval goes smoothly.
Trigger was tonight and it went fine. The nurse came by to give it. So it was really no fuss, no muss.
August 11, 2007
Not really experiencing any symptoms which is scary. I was in so much pain from the bloating last time that I’m nervous that this time things aren’t working. My E2 levels aren’t as high as they could be. My clinic really tries to avoid the high levels. I just wish they weren’t so conservative.
August 12, 2007
Retrieval day was a breeze. I got very nervous because they did not take me to the OR until 10:30 a.m. and I triggered at 10:30 p.m. on Friday. It was a very busy day there for a Sunday. The doc retrieved 16 eggs. By the time I was on the highway I was completely awake. Much different from last time when I was out of it for most of the day.
Went home and tried to get some sleep but wasn’t tired enough. Just took it easy and waited the day out.
August 13, 2007
Not so great news. Out of the 16, 11 were mature but only 8 fertilized. I have pretty much given up on this cycle. That’s not enough to make it thru PGD and have a girl. Oh well, I’m not out of this yet. I’m going to take a break for about 8 months and stop worrying about all of this. I’m going to do my job’s flexible spending account and hope for a good tax refund so that I can pay for the next cycle. A group of friends are thinking of going to Africa in December, so I will probably join them and put this behind me for a while. I have to go to Wal-Mart to get one of those vacuum suction things. I want to vacuum wrap the cloths I bought from last cycle (didn’t buy anything this time around).
August 14, 2007
2nd Day report:
All 8 are growing. Nurse believes that more than likely all 8 will make it to PGD.
5 are 4 cell grade A to A-
1 is 6 cell grade B-
1 is 5 cell grade B
1 is 2 cell grade B
I have a feeling that my 2 cell that won’t make it to PGD is probably a girl. Oh well, all there is to do is take progesterone tonight and wait for my day 3 report. I can’t believe I have spent a small fortune (for me) in less than 3 months. I’m going to be driving my old car for at least 3 more years.
August 15, 2007
Gave the IM shot yesterday. It was not as bad as I though it would be, but still painful. I don’t look forward to that, but if I have a transfer, I will probably love every minute of the shot. J
For some reason I did not get an update from my clinic today. That is very unlike them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to call. The PGD center called and said they biopsied the embryos but had no further info. She hopes to get me a full report tomorrow but there is no way to guarantee that will happen.
August 16, 2007
Okay, just got my results and out of my 8…5 are FEMALE. I am in shock and crazy excited. I just never thought I would have one girl but I GOT 5 and 3 are NORMAL!!!!!
My ET is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 CT. I’m so excited, I can hardly stand it. So glad they were able to let me know on Day 4. I wish I could have rushed over for a transfer J.
Preliminary Report:
3 normal girls!!!!!
2 normal males
1 abnormal male
2 abnormal females
Now i have to hope for a BFP but at least there is some hope. This way I can justify continuing to spend money on this DD project.....