So much had happened since the first week of March in our IVF journey.
I have taken my last or 28th birth control pill last 5 March 2018. On same day, DH and I went to the Clinic for our injection teaching visit. I need to inject 3 fertility drugs (Suprefact, Luveris and Puregon) to myself, thus, the teaching visit.
On the same day, we signed all our IVF consent forms which was administered by our nurse where she gave us different kinds of needles to be use with my Suprefact, Luveris and Puregon.
Our baseline visit was supposed to be on 8 March 2018 but because of a snowstorm on said date, it was moved a day earlier to 7 March 2018.
So what did we do on baseline visit? Well, firstly, I did a transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) so they can check on my lining and my 2 ovaries. Lining and ovaries are both good except that my right is still on top. The Clinic advised me to always sleep on my right especially when I start my stimulations because oftentimes when the follicles are heavy, the ovary will fall down. The Clinic cannot retrieve on my right if my right is still on top on the day of retrieval and we really do not want that. The more eggs, the merrier.
Secondly, I did a bloodwork to check that all my hormones are all at par. No higher nor lower the required range. This went well too so the Clinic gave us a go signal to start our IVF cycle.
Thirdly, DH did his sperm collection for freezing where we paid CAD420.00. The Clinic has frozen 2 vials of DH's armies to be use as backup on retrieval day.
Fourthly, we were required to pay in full our IVF cycle round with ICSI for a total of CAD7,175.00 (less CAD500.00 downpayment). I will go through our IVF with ICSI expenses in the coming days.
Lastly, we went to the pharmacy to pick up my first batch of fertility medicines needed for my stimulations. The second picture under this is the second batch of my fertility medicines.
The nice thing that come up with my meds above is that my insurance paid 80% of my CAD3,328.32 meds. I so love working with UPS with all the benefits we have especially on medical because they have infertility coverage. UPS has also given us a room (a supervisor and EDA's room) to be use every 8:00 PM for my injections as shown below. We will always be thankful with UPS for all the support they have given me and my DH throughout our IVF cycle journey.
Yeah, we have been busy this month and either we are ready or not, bring on the needles. But, hey, I survived the needles for almost 2 weeks no matter how painful they were with the help of my nurse DH starting from 8 to 17 of March 2018.
I know I do not have a 6-pack abs nor a flat one but I sure know I toned them a little before we ever started our IVF cycle as shown below but read on and see what happens with my belly after all my stimulations, LOL.
In a day, I need to have 6 injections because of my age. The Clinic thought I may not produce more eggs but with God's grace I responded too well in all my stimulations. I took these fertility medications at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM each day for almost 2 weeks.
Well, they underestimated this healthy 38 year old wanna be mama, LOL, coz on our first stim scan, my lining is at 7.5 (a triple line, yey) compared to baseline lining of 5.2. My left ovary produced 5 follicles with 20.1 mm biggest in size. My right ovary, 5 follicles, as well, with 15.88 mm biggest. We were so happy with these results at day 4 only of my injections especially DH seeing follicle scan for the very first time. My bloodwork, though, showed that my ovaries reacted earlier than expected on the puregon shots because my estrogen level is getting higher. And so from 13 to 17 of March 2018, we were required to go to the Clinic to do ultrasounds and bloodworks, except on 14 March where there is a blizzard.
On my second stim scan, I have an amazing lining of 9.5 (triple line) with 11 follicles. Largest sizes on my left is at 25.6mm and right is at 18.86mm. The Clinic told us that my 11 follicles are maturing which will result to an earlier retrieval and transfer day than previously scheduled. My bloodwork shows that I am a candidate of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) because of the increase in my estrogen level. Baseline visit only shows an estrogen of 175. On my first stim scan, estrogen went up to 3,500+. This second stim scan, we need only 800 but not over 10,000. However, bloodwork came out at 6,000+. Thus, the Clinic gave me the meds below, Dexamethasone, to balance my estrogen with my progesterone.
Third stim scan, I have a 9.96 lining with 13 follicles on board and they are all big. Also, my right ovary has fallen to its right position so there is a greater chance that they will retrieve on it. My bloodwork shows a 10,000+ estrogen level. Clinic, however, assures us that it is still good number for mild OHSS and it should not go beyond 15,000 until our last scan.
My final stim scan, 17 March 2018, I have a total of 20 follicles ready for retrieval. My estrogen level is at 11,265 and the Clinic had us stop all my stimulation injections on 18 March 2018. Oh, and I have had a very bloated belly button as a result of army injections. See below and compare it above, LOL. I look like pregnant already, giggling here.
With all the beautiful results above, we pulled the trigger on the night of 17 March 2018, the same day as our last scan and bloodwork.
I did 46 injections from my stimulations of Suprefact, Luveris, Puregon and the Ovidrel trigger shot; and 5 bloodworks. I received 51 needles and still counting as we go to the next stage of our IVF cycle journey.
DH and I are just beyond happy for all these baby steps Father God has given us. He knows how scared we are on this journey but He also sees how faithfully we have believed and hoped for the last 9 years. We are so looking forward to this cycle and we believe this is our most precious time God has given us. Claiming our miracle baby/ies in Jesus name, amen.
Thirdly, DH did his sperm collection for freezing where we paid CAD420.00. The Clinic has frozen 2 vials of DH's armies to be use as backup on retrieval day.
Fourthly, we were required to pay in full our IVF cycle round with ICSI for a total of CAD7,175.00 (less CAD500.00 downpayment). I will go through our IVF with ICSI expenses in the coming days.
Lastly, we went to the pharmacy to pick up my first batch of fertility medicines needed for my stimulations. The second picture under this is the second batch of my fertility medicines.
The nice thing that come up with my meds above is that my insurance paid 80% of my CAD3,328.32 meds. I so love working with UPS with all the benefits we have especially on medical because they have infertility coverage. UPS has also given us a room (a supervisor and EDA's room) to be use every 8:00 PM for my injections as shown below. We will always be thankful with UPS for all the support they have given me and my DH throughout our IVF cycle journey.
Yeah, we have been busy this month and either we are ready or not, bring on the needles. But, hey, I survived the needles for almost 2 weeks no matter how painful they were with the help of my nurse DH starting from 8 to 17 of March 2018.
I know I do not have a 6-pack abs nor a flat one but I sure know I toned them a little before we ever started our IVF cycle as shown below but read on and see what happens with my belly after all my stimulations, LOL.
In a day, I need to have 6 injections because of my age. The Clinic thought I may not produce more eggs but with God's grace I responded too well in all my stimulations. I took these fertility medications at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM each day for almost 2 weeks.
Well, they underestimated this healthy 38 year old wanna be mama, LOL, coz on our first stim scan, my lining is at 7.5 (a triple line, yey) compared to baseline lining of 5.2. My left ovary produced 5 follicles with 20.1 mm biggest in size. My right ovary, 5 follicles, as well, with 15.88 mm biggest. We were so happy with these results at day 4 only of my injections especially DH seeing follicle scan for the very first time. My bloodwork, though, showed that my ovaries reacted earlier than expected on the puregon shots because my estrogen level is getting higher. And so from 13 to 17 of March 2018, we were required to go to the Clinic to do ultrasounds and bloodworks, except on 14 March where there is a blizzard.
On my second stim scan, I have an amazing lining of 9.5 (triple line) with 11 follicles. Largest sizes on my left is at 25.6mm and right is at 18.86mm. The Clinic told us that my 11 follicles are maturing which will result to an earlier retrieval and transfer day than previously scheduled. My bloodwork shows that I am a candidate of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) because of the increase in my estrogen level. Baseline visit only shows an estrogen of 175. On my first stim scan, estrogen went up to 3,500+. This second stim scan, we need only 800 but not over 10,000. However, bloodwork came out at 6,000+. Thus, the Clinic gave me the meds below, Dexamethasone, to balance my estrogen with my progesterone.
Third stim scan, I have a 9.96 lining with 13 follicles on board and they are all big. Also, my right ovary has fallen to its right position so there is a greater chance that they will retrieve on it. My bloodwork shows a 10,000+ estrogen level. Clinic, however, assures us that it is still good number for mild OHSS and it should not go beyond 15,000 until our last scan.
My final stim scan, 17 March 2018, I have a total of 20 follicles ready for retrieval. My estrogen level is at 11,265 and the Clinic had us stop all my stimulation injections on 18 March 2018. Oh, and I have had a very bloated belly button as a result of army injections. See below and compare it above, LOL. I look like pregnant already, giggling here.
With all the beautiful results above, we pulled the trigger on the night of 17 March 2018, the same day as our last scan and bloodwork.
I did 46 injections from my stimulations of Suprefact, Luveris, Puregon and the Ovidrel trigger shot; and 5 bloodworks. I received 51 needles and still counting as we go to the next stage of our IVF cycle journey.
DH and I are just beyond happy for all these baby steps Father God has given us. He knows how scared we are on this journey but He also sees how faithfully we have believed and hoped for the last 9 years. We are so looking forward to this cycle and we believe this is our most precious time God has given us. Claiming our miracle baby/ies in Jesus name, amen.
