Tuesday, August 09, 2005
I've Been Inseminated!
Life has just been so crazy lately! So much to write!
Today was insemination day - my third IUI cycle. I remembered today that it has been almost exactly one year since my last pregnancy......... At my age, after one year of trying with no success, you are ruled officially infertile..... Insemination was great, we had millions & millions of sperm and 86% motility which is very high! This means 86% were moving. For all that are new to this - not all sperm move - the more that are moving, the greater the chances are that one will swim to the egg! When I saw Dr. Hirata on Wednesday she was amazed by the size of my follicle in my left ovary - she said it was great! So - we shall see what happens - we keep thinking maybe third time is a charm?!?!?!
I am trying not to stress and think too much about things. I have been experiencing a lot of internal turmoil lately with my upcoming birthday. August 25th, my birthday, is one year since my Grandma had her stroke, 363 days since she died. I am not sure how to ever have a "Happy" birthday again.... I know she would want me to be happy, however, I'm not sure how to do that. For the rest of my life it will be the day my Grandma had her stroke, I wasn't in town, etc. etc. I should find out right about that day as well if this third IUI took. Maybe I will have something to be happy about.......... we'll see..........
I spoke to the IVF clinic in Colorado. I loved the doctor! He was amazing! Not only is he concerned about my endometriosis, he is also concerned that I have had two failed pregnancies. He wants to ensure that we don't spend $15,000 and end up with another miscarriage. There are some new tests out that check for various proteins in the uterus. If you are lacking the protein you could clot which can lead to miscarriage. He sent me the names of all of the tests and Dr. Hirata has agreed to run them all through Kaiser - this will save us a few thousand dollars. Also - it was determined I am not a good candidate for the CO study...... It would delay the IVF process and he agreed with my endo. that I cannot wait. I was all set to proceed with Colorado when Dr. Hirata gave me some new info. yesterday.....
UCSF has a research study going on right now. It is comparing Gonal- F (a US IVF drug) to another drug that has been used for IVF in Europe forever. With the study you get all meds. for free (a couple thousand dollar savings,) $500 off the IVF cycle and $500 cash at the end of the study. I called yesterday & have my first appointment tomorrow. They have only 30 days left to finalize their study patients etc....... This has to move quickly.
Hopefully this IUI will take and we won't need to do this, however being the realist that I am, I know that is not too likely. Luckily this is on the horizon right behind this. If we have to go the IVF route my first tests will begin sometime during the last week of August. So - embryo transfer would probably be sometime in September / October.
In addition to all of this, we have still been moving forward with all of the adoption paperwork. I am still finalizing the Dear Birthmother letter and Will and I just finished answering the 50 questions that have to be submitted with our adoption application. Luckily we were able to get away last weekend to get this done, it is amazing what going away for a night can do! I will have to write later about our road trip - it was so much fun and so unlike Will and I.
To top all of this craziness off, I just received a promotion at work to Sr. Financial Analyst.... I am so appreciative of my job and my company........ I am so busy that I don't have time to think about any of this!!!
Finally, my dear friend Lori (who lives two doors down) is being induced on Thursday morning - this means little Antonio James will be arriving soon. I am SOOOO excited about this, I can't even put it into words. It is the next best thing to having my own child. I am so thrilled about being Auntie Shana - it is such an honor!!!
So - that is my world, it is 10pm and as all of you know, way past my bedtime! I will try to write soon in between work, IUI, IVF, adoption & playing with the new bundle of joy!! :)
Today was insemination day - my third IUI cycle. I remembered today that it has been almost exactly one year since my last pregnancy......... At my age, after one year of trying with no success, you are ruled officially infertile..... Insemination was great, we had millions & millions of sperm and 86% motility which is very high! This means 86% were moving. For all that are new to this - not all sperm move - the more that are moving, the greater the chances are that one will swim to the egg! When I saw Dr. Hirata on Wednesday she was amazed by the size of my follicle in my left ovary - she said it was great! So - we shall see what happens - we keep thinking maybe third time is a charm?!?!?!
I am trying not to stress and think too much about things. I have been experiencing a lot of internal turmoil lately with my upcoming birthday. August 25th, my birthday, is one year since my Grandma had her stroke, 363 days since she died. I am not sure how to ever have a "Happy" birthday again.... I know she would want me to be happy, however, I'm not sure how to do that. For the rest of my life it will be the day my Grandma had her stroke, I wasn't in town, etc. etc. I should find out right about that day as well if this third IUI took. Maybe I will have something to be happy about.......... we'll see..........
I spoke to the IVF clinic in Colorado. I loved the doctor! He was amazing! Not only is he concerned about my endometriosis, he is also concerned that I have had two failed pregnancies. He wants to ensure that we don't spend $15,000 and end up with another miscarriage. There are some new tests out that check for various proteins in the uterus. If you are lacking the protein you could clot which can lead to miscarriage. He sent me the names of all of the tests and Dr. Hirata has agreed to run them all through Kaiser - this will save us a few thousand dollars. Also - it was determined I am not a good candidate for the CO study...... It would delay the IVF process and he agreed with my endo. that I cannot wait. I was all set to proceed with Colorado when Dr. Hirata gave me some new info. yesterday.....
UCSF has a research study going on right now. It is comparing Gonal- F (a US IVF drug) to another drug that has been used for IVF in Europe forever. With the study you get all meds. for free (a couple thousand dollar savings,) $500 off the IVF cycle and $500 cash at the end of the study. I called yesterday & have my first appointment tomorrow. They have only 30 days left to finalize their study patients etc....... This has to move quickly.
Hopefully this IUI will take and we won't need to do this, however being the realist that I am, I know that is not too likely. Luckily this is on the horizon right behind this. If we have to go the IVF route my first tests will begin sometime during the last week of August. So - embryo transfer would probably be sometime in September / October.
In addition to all of this, we have still been moving forward with all of the adoption paperwork. I am still finalizing the Dear Birthmother letter and Will and I just finished answering the 50 questions that have to be submitted with our adoption application. Luckily we were able to get away last weekend to get this done, it is amazing what going away for a night can do! I will have to write later about our road trip - it was so much fun and so unlike Will and I.
To top all of this craziness off, I just received a promotion at work to Sr. Financial Analyst.... I am so appreciative of my job and my company........ I am so busy that I don't have time to think about any of this!!!
Finally, my dear friend Lori (who lives two doors down) is being induced on Thursday morning - this means little Antonio James will be arriving soon. I am SOOOO excited about this, I can't even put it into words. It is the next best thing to having my own child. I am so thrilled about being Auntie Shana - it is such an honor!!!
So - that is my world, it is 10pm and as all of you know, way past my bedtime! I will try to write soon in between work, IUI, IVF, adoption & playing with the new bundle of joy!! :)
