Single Sisters: IUI, IVF, Pregnancy and Beyond --MARCH 2012

[LilyM1388]

Summer - I am so sorry, you must've been devastated, and I can imagine how it would be so hard to be lying there on the table, trying to comprehend what the doctor was trying to tell you. Is there a donor co-ordinator or a nurse or someone who could give you some more info on the new potential donor in the meantime (before you appointment)? Do they have written profiles they can send you? I'm glad they are going to give you a free cycle, but you need to be happy with your choice of donor. Huge hugs to you!

Ann - I'm sorry about the hsg from hell! I'm glad DrSquid has chimed in with her advice...

Heather - are you still in hospital? What are the blood type complications that you are referring to? I hope Paige is okay!

Raining - hope you have sorted out those glitches! I can only imagine how weird it must be, after all the co-ordination, to finally have things almost ready to go...

Penny - how are things going with you? When are you off to Atlanta?

Lisa - hurrah for 6 more work shifts! I've got a few loose ends to tie up, and I really should get around to just doing it, but I keep putting it off! It's good that you'll have plenty of time before your due date - working right up until the end is not something I recommend at all!

Ashdin - good to see you back, like Lisa says - we miss you!

Countrygirl - has the rain eased up your way? Hope the insurance assessors have been and are getting the ball rolling for the repairs.

AFM: just went to the OB. The munchkin is back to being fully engaged, but my cervix is high and closed, so no signs of anything happening yet. The doctor's going to let me go until next Tuesday (assuming nothing happens in the meantime) and then we'll have to have the conversation about when to induce.

I don't mind if it's another couple of days - under the heading "nothing like leaving it 'til the last minute", when I got my car capsule installed last week, I realised how stupidly small and inappropriate my Beetle is, and how difficult it will be to get the capsule in and out... So even though I love my car, I decided - nope, you've got to go. To cut a long story short, I used this car broker dude, who bought me a car at auction yesterday, but it won't be ready to go until the end of the week... Which is why a few extra days grace won't upset me too much... But of course, that's all in the hands of the baby...

[drsquid]

ann- as a resident we mostly just stepped on the pedal for xray while the ob did the exam. where i work on the west coast, im sure there are obs that do the studies as well, but we radiologists do them here. i was told in 2002 or so that no one should really be using tenaculums anymore because the equipment is better. theoretically if your cervix is super hard to get to hold still etc then maybe, but as a last resort, not the first step. also, the interventional doc where i work apparenlty says sometimes you can get a wire across then the catheter across that etc. i have stenosis and they couldnt get the catheter in, and it was annoying and a bit sore (though i liked when it hurt a bit cause i thought.. yes, they are gonna pull this off, they are in the right spot etc). but if you use the next flexible catheter there is a harder plastic bit that helps you guide it, and you can snug that up against the cervix. it sounds like they did all that but with the added torture of the tenaculum . *hugs* im sorry you went through that

[oneforlis]

Anne- I am so sorry you had that experience. I didn't have a clamp either! Just the speculum and flexible catheter to inject the dye. Some bad cramps as it hit my tubes but no where near what you described. I hope that you can find someone to do a better job of it for you as I know it would be a lot better if you knew they were open before going through more IUI's. Hugs

Lily- Glad you are hanging in there. Can't believe that there are no changes in cervix so guess you just need some more time Hope the car arrives before she does

Heather- Are you talking about Rh compatabliity with blood type as I am not aware of issues other than that with just blood types in general? Most of the donor sites do indicated Rh issues when choosing donors but if memory serves me well there are some that just don't come out and discuss it unless you read theri FAQ page. I specifically chose an Rh compatible donor for both for me so I would not have to worry about bleeding risks etc. I hope you are healing okay and Paige is doing well. The problem with the pic I get sometimes is if the file is too large. I then have to crop the pic o a picture program on my computer and then upload the cropped own otherwise the file is too big for the FT site.

AFM: Exhausted day to say the least. I am hoping the next two weeks of work go by fast becuase I am more and more tired.My back, feet and shortness of breath when he is up against my lungs iss kicking my a**. Mom and I spent 2 hours packing up some of my closets and stuff on high shelves I cant get down without help. So about 8 boxes done then we headed to BabiesRUs where 2 more hours later we filled my car with just the basics to get me through the start as well as a stroller for her. I still have to get the car seat, stroller for me, breast pump and bouncer as they were out of two of my pics for those.Thankfully I had some gift cards given to me but still $500 and I still have that to spend on the rest plus baby furniture. Sigh It was fun in the beginning, but oh so exhausting. We went across the street to Costco to pick up some fruit and I could barely stand up any longer. Now ready for bed Hoping the house will close in two weeks or less so I can get stuff done before he comes. Work for the next two days so praying for fast and easy shifts!
Night all!

[pennybee]

Summer, my heart is breaking for you! I can't believe that happened and I can't believe you were on the table with a full bladder before you heard the news. I am so sorry! I am glad your RE is going to give you eggs for free, but you should have some say in who the donor is. I believe the clinic should take responsibility for this cycle failure (as they seem to be), because they are the ones that screened this donor, fertilized the eggs, grew the eggs. I know we all have to take risks when we cycle and that there are no guarantees, but this outcome is so unfair (and frankly unacceptable). You put your trust in to your doctor and clinic and they failed. So don't let your vulnerablity at this time force you into accepting a donor that you are not comfortable with. Give yourself time to process everything. I think it's good that you have a few weeks before you are meting with your RE. It will give you time to clear your head and sort your thoughts. FRozen eggs are a good option because you know they are there. But I would ask your RE how many they will thaw, will they guarantee a minimum # of high quality embryos to transfer, what their success rates are with frozen eggs vs fresh, etc. If you are not happy with the answers or your donor options, I'd push for them to consider allowing you to select another fresh donor.

Take good care of yourself right now. It will take sometime to get your footing again, but it will happen. Huge Hugs!

[greenm76]

RE- HSG mine was also not pleasant because they had a hard time getting the catheter in. I think they ended up clamping me and then she inserted what I think was an expander before finally inserting the catheter. Hoenstly, I think the worst part was the dye. Ann I hope you can fidn a solution but I do think the HSG is the only way to check the tubes.

[greenm76]

Lisa - wow...sounds like you had a shopping marathon! I am ordering stuff onlien because I can't deal with the stores. kudos to you. It looks like you started to get some things for him. So close now and I hoep you get in your house before he arrives. I hear you about the expense. I've spent about $750 already and I still have so much more to get! Hopefully I'll get some of what I need at my shower.

Lily - yay for new car! Hopefully baby will come just in right timing.

Wow baby is a squash today. I can certainly feel it too. Lisa I am also getting kicks to my lungs (not pleasant) and he has a way that he likes to put some body part directly in my belly button. I am going to seriously talk to my doctor because I dont want to stay pregnant a minute longer than I have to. I am waay too sick and I really need some relief so I am think I am going to discuss induction after I cross 37 weeks. Plus I am not gaining weight and I dont think that is any good at this point. I am currently still 5 lbs below my pre pregnancy weight.

[greenm76]

Oh Heather she is so sweet! Thanks for the info on her weight and the tearing (so terrified about that but what you said makes me feel a little better).

I am hoping that due to my lack of weigh tgain they will take me seriously on the 37 week mark. He is measuring ahead of schedule and should be full term with matured lungs by 37 wks so hoping they dont brush me off. I'll let you all know what they say.

[kshan]

Heather, she is beautiful!!!!! I am so happy for you!

I have to run now but will don updates hopefully tonight.

[pennybee]

Heather, she is so precious! I am so happy for you. I hope the jaundice issue resolves quickly. I am happy to hear the tear is no causing too much a problem anymore. When you are up for it, I'd love to hear more about your birth story and how the first few days/week are going. Do you have any help right now or are you on your own. Gosh, I need to say it again, little P is just precious. I bet you can't stop looking at her! Hugs!

[ashdin]

Heather - OMG! How will you ever be able to not look at her every second? She is sooo cute!

So ladies, I know I've been M.I.A lately. I'm really not sure how it happened. I think my brain needed a bigger break from ttc than I realized. I have not thought about it much for the last couple of months, I guess because I knew there was nothing to be done until I waited the 6 weeks for labs. Honestly, it's been great. It's now time to go get the labs (recurrent loss panel) done and come up with a plan. No hurry though, because I won't be trying again until June. I am going to go for lab tomorrow so that if there is any other workup/treatment that needs to be done before June I can get started. Still not completely back in the mindset to deal with the rollercoaster, but I'm working my way there slowly.

I have some catching up to do. Hope everyone is having a good week and hang in there, its almost Friday!