Pink Lilly Dreaming

Just got my beta back @ 17dp5dt.  206.  ARRRHHH I am going to lose my mind.  I am SO frustrated with all of this.  I am going to meet with a Consultant on Friday. I have no idea what they are going to tell me and assume they will have me 'wait it out' for a few more days/weeks IDK.  This SUCKS :(

Lori emailed me yesterday afternoon to tell me that she had the results of my 3rd frozen GSN embryo that went back for re-testing.  Well, it came back as a PERFECT XX!!  It is also a Hatching Blast! I am SO happy right now, I could cry . 

So, out of my 11 embies that went to GSN, I had a total of 5 GSN normal XX embryos.  I still can't believe it. Maybe this *will* be my cycle? Just in a FET.  

My "Snowbabies" (as dh & I are calling them) are:

1 x Hatching Blast

1 x BB Blast

1 x Early Blast

The day we left LA, I had my DH take a pic of the building HRC is in so I can look at it and think of those little frozen embryos.   If I knew how to post a pic I would attach it to this blog post.

I got my beta back today.  118 @ 15dp5dt.  It is still rising.  *Sigh*  I go back again on Wednesday for another blood draw and ultrasound.  If the hcg is still rising I will be referred to a specialist, whom I presume, will be discussing my options and next move.

I am so frustrated by this.  I just need some answers.

I thought I ought to update my blog with the happenings of the past week.  It has been a very tough week and I am left with all sorts of questions.

2dp5dt: I experienced much lower back pain and had cramping on and off.

3dp5dt: The cramping continued as did the dull lower back pain.

4dp5dt:  The cramping became much worse and it felt like I was just about to get my period.  I was really worried but spoke to a nurse who said that cramping was completely normal after IVF.

5dp5dt: We arrived back to the UK and I tested.  BFN

6dp5dt: I didn't test this day but I felt 'pregnant' with many of the early symptoms I had with my last 2 pregnancies (DS & the ectopic).

7dp5dt:  I tested again with a FRER and a tiny, tiny, shadow of a line appears around 12 hours after I tested.  I only noticed as I held it up to a candle.  I assume it is most probably an evaparation line.

8dp5dt:  Still feeling crap so tested on a whim before I went to bed.  A little pink line appears - only a sliver of a line.  

9dp5dt: Tested again and yes, there is a second line.  Sadly, I was not jumping for joy as I knew that a faint positive so late in the game rarely ends in a viable pregnancy.  

I had my first beta draw later that morning and it came back at 33.  Many tears as although it is positive, it is very, very low.

10dp5dt: Blue veins very noticeable all over my wrists, hands and chest.  Feelings of nausea. 

11dp5dt:  I tested again and the second line was a little darker than the previous, but still very faint. 

I had my 2nd beta draw today and it came back at 56.  That little ray of hope: shattered. Although It did not double, it did increase.  Sadly, it is looking more and more like another ectopic.  I am feeling so angry and just so, so sad.  I had 2 perfect opportunities at IVF, transferred a total of 4 XX embryos and my body, my fallopian tube, has let me down.  Those little embryos wanted to stick, they wanted to implant, but my body let them implant in the wrong place.  I am so angry.  Why is this happening to me? 

1dp5dt...Crampy!  Very crampy and beginnings of a sore lower back (although probably from all the lounging on the bed LOL 

I had my transfer this morning.  We transferred TWO GSN Blasts (one starting to hatch) and we have TWO GSN Blasts frozen!!  They are also retesting a Hatching Blast so we might end up with 3 frozen.  I am so happy right now, I cried when Dr Potter told me we had 4, I am in total shock.  

I am back at the Lodge resting up and praying beyond belief for those two tiny pink beans.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts. I am so, so grateful

Oh, and out of my 11 ALL were girls!  Can you believe that? Good old Microsort!

I think I am going to start testing at 5dpt - which will be Friday!!

ETA: I forgot to mention we stopped at McD's on the way for an infamous 'Egg McMuffin' :)

I am happy to say that we have 11 off to GSN!  My transfer is set for Sunday.  Hoping, praying and thinking positively for 2 perfect girls.  Grow embies, grow!

Out of our 31 eggs retireved only 16 were mature.  I was expecting this as I did have a number of smaller ones lurking around.  Out of the 16, 12 have fertilized.  I think they were watching a 13th one but it may or may not be joining the party. Lori tells me they the 12 are looking excellent.  Of course, this is double what we were working with last cycle so I am happy.  I am only asking for two perfect girls!  Not too much to ask for really.

The good news is that my E2 was a little over 3000, so not quite as 'at risk' of OHSS as I thought.

I am happy to report that we got 31 eggs at ER!   I am back at our hotel resting up. I am in quite a bit of pain - very much more than last time. I am hoping it doesn't last too long.

We arrived in LA late last night and I had my first ultrasound at HRC this morning.  Everything looked great and I was given instructions to trigger one day earlier: so tonight! 

It looks as though I will get at least 20 eggs so I was given the OHSS talk and instructed to drink Gatorade and increase my protein and salt intake.  This is a huge difference to last cycle where I only had 9 retrieved, therefore, I will be triggering with only one Ovadril injection (in the tummy).

ER is planned for Tuesday, 19th October, with ET on Sunday the 24th.  Everyone is feeling confident and I am feeling so positive about everything. We are going to use GSN and I am hoping that we have at least 2 girlies to transfer.  As my next baby will be my last, I told Dr Potter I am secretly hoping for twins :)

I will update again after ER.  

P.S I met up with the lovely cars3uk at The Lodge this morning- it is so comforting knowing that other UK girls are around.  I am hoping we all get our Summer 2011 babies...

I had my 3rd and final ultrasound in London this morning.  I am feeling very bloated, despite drinking 3 litres of water per day! 

The results:  My lining is measuring nice and thick at 12.6mm

Right Ovary:  4 follicles between 9-11mm, 2 follicles at 12mm, 4 follicles at 13mm, 2 follicles at 14mm, 3 follicles at 15mm, 1 follicle at 16mm, 1 follicle at 17mm and 1 follicle at 18mm.

Total of: 18

Left Ovary: 10 follicles between 9-11mm, 1 follicle at 13mm, 1 follicle at 15mm and 1 follicle at 17mm

Total of: 13

So, a huge difference from Wednesday!  Although, interestingly, my left ovary is being just as lazy as last cycle.  I wonder why? 

My E2 came back at 6887 (in the UK measurment). Converted, it is: 1913

We fly out tomorrow and I will update again when I can.  I have such a great feeling about this cycle.... Long may that feeling continue LOL

I had my 2nd ultrasound this morning - after 5 days of stims (although I take that 5th dose tonight, so really, only after 4 days).  I am feeling fuller and I found the ultasound slightly uncomfortable.

Results:  My lining is excellent and measuring 11mm.

Right Ovary:  On the right side I have 5 follicles that are between 3-6mm and 3 that are 10 and one that is 14mm.

Left Ovary:   I have 4 follicles which are between 3-6mm, 4 which are 10mm and one at 15mm.

The u/s tech seemed confident that everything looked great.  I am still waiting on my E2 results and will update when I hear back.

ETA: My E2 am back at 3011 (which is 820 in the US measurment).  I have heard back from my nurse and my Gonal-F is being dialed down to 225 tonight then 150 tomorrow.

I had my first U/S this morning - just as AF arrived (yay!).  The tech was lovely and remembered me from my first monitoring appointment back in April.

I can report that my uterine lining is thin and 'A Grade' and I am happy to say that I have 10 follicles on each ovary.  All are measuring between 3-6 mm.  At this pont last cycle, I had 15, of which 9 were on my right and 6 on my left.  

I am waiting on my blood results (E2) and will update when I hear back.

All in all I am happy. I will now wait to hear back from Lori before starting stims tomorrow night.

ETA: My E2 came back at 176 which, once converted to the US measurment, is 49.  I have been given the go ahead to start my Gonal-F & Menopur tomorrow night.  Yay!

I have booked an acupuncture session at HRC for before and after ET.  I have heard great things about the benefits of acupuncture so I am going to give it a try.  The sessions cost a total of US$400 - payable cash on the day.

The acupuncturist has recommended I eat lots of fresh pineapple and avoid cold drinks/ice leading up to ET and during bed rest.  I had read this before but I was interested to hear her recommend it.

Next thing to do is book travel insurance...

My husband made the transaction and we are now all paid up with HRC.  I also begin Lupron tonight.  I will be on 10 units for the next 5 days. 

I am feeling excited and I am looking forward to just getting to LA and getting pregnant with my Daughter!  I know I have walked this road before and I am feeling as relaxed as ever.   Thinking positive pink thoughts...