Acupunture & IVF

After reading many things on Soulcysters (SC) I decided I would start investigating acupuncture for myself. I've never had to done and I don't know anyone personally who has. From what I've read on SC and on the Internet it's been known to increase the success rates with infertility especially in IVF. It's also been know (with time) to regulate a woman's menstrual cycle who has PCOS. AMAZING I thought! I looked on my insurance website and found that I have a wellness program with my plan and although it's not covered there are participating therapists that offer a discount.

I found out from RSI that a lot of patients do get acupuncture and a lot of people have a session right before the transfer. It's said to relax the uterus therefore increases the implantation rate ending in a positive pregnancy.

I found a therapist that is in Wayne, PA and is 5 min. from RSI (the Wayne office is where I will have the retrieval & transfer) and it's 20 min. from my office.

I went to my first appointment on Wednesday, April 1st...it was interesting to say the least. I'm not sure what I think about it. I have a VERY hard time relaxing at anytime of my life let alone, 2 meds that have my hormones running wild, I was on-call for work, and the thought that it's really here. When Peyton said to me to just relax and rest my mind I thought it would be easy. She placed 13 needles at different points on my body and they were determined by my tongue & my pulse. 1 on my forehead, 1 in each ear, 4 on my stomach, 1 in each hand & 2 on each leg. She handed me a buzzer & said relax i'll be back in 25 min. 25 min...you want me to lay here for 25 min. I wanted a massage or something not just to lay there alone with needles in the body! I will say that I was able to fall asleep after I told myself there was nothing I could and I wasn't going to get off that table with needles sticking out of me.

She returned in what seemed like 45 min. and did some "Asian bodywork." NO CLUE for 5 mins. on my legs and that was that. I do have to say that I could feel my blood flowing a bit and had like a tingling feeling (not bad rather good) at some of the needle points!

I go back this coming Wed. April 8th for 2nd treatment....I'll be sure to share that experience as well.

Lurpon 10 units--started Monday, March 30

Lupron was the drug that Aunt Sheri had to show me how to use that Monday night. I give myself 10 units each day and I will continue to do that until the egg retrieval. I'm still doing very good at that and haven't had any issues. I hate to jinx it but it's not near as bad as I was expecting. I alternate my thighs but I also have my abdomen to use as well.

I continued to take Provera 10 mg and they extended that 2 days for a total of 12 days. That ended yesterday, Sunday, April 5th. We'll see if I get AF since I've been on the Lupron as well as the Provera for a week now.

Sorry....no updates!

A lot has happened since I last posted.....boooo me! The reason I started this blog was so that I could go back when this "journey" is all over and remember it all. I'm not doing a very good job at keeping up with that bargain. I need to get better at it.

So.....Let me go back a week. Last Monday, March 30 my cell phone rang in the middle of the day & it was the Dr. Office (Aunt Sheri) I was worried because there was no reason for them to be calling as I was still taking the Provera & nothing was to happen until after I got AF. She starting off by saying, "you got all your meds in the mail right?" I said, "YES!" She said, "well, I talked to Dr. Munabi today and he doesn't want you to go on the BCPs due to the stroke so we're ready to get this started...ARE YOU?!?" I was shocked! I thought we had at least 3 more weeks before the shots began and before I really had to start obsessing over this again. All of that came to a shrieking haul. She said to meet her at my mom's house at 7:30 pm that night for an inject lesson. So, I came home from work that day...quickly explained to Austin that this was happening & it was all starting TONIGHT! He's so wonderful & just goes with the flow. I then packed a cooler with the Gonal-F, the bag of other injectables, the needles, the red sharps container & a box of alcohol swabs and off I went!

It was a very nice night at my parents as Ashley & Lascelles as well as Sarah & Aunt Sheri where there to take this all in. Ashley RAN to the office when she saw the needle as she was ready to pass out! LOL

Aunt Sheri went above & beyond explaining everything to me and allowing me to ask a million questions with great answers. She was so patient as she walked me through the process of giving myself the shots in my thighs. I did really well (that's what she told me anyway!) And so that's the story of how this whole thing started just one week ago.

More to come.........gotta keep everyone up to speed!

Quote of the week

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Moving on.......IVF

We've made the decision, though it wasn't easy, it makes the most sense....IVF!!!!!

I never thought I'd have to deal with IF let alone be the couple that has to go to the extreme. It definitely helps that I have Aunt Sheri to ask all my questions (she'll tell ya I have tons!) The RE gave me the script for Provera to bring on AF and "get this party started!"

Today is Day 4 of 10 of Provera and then I'll just have to wait for AF. Austin & I have an appt. with Dr. Munabi on Thurs, April 2nd for a full explanation of IVF, ask any questions & to sign all the consent forms. I will then take BCP's for 3 weeks (I think) and will use Lupon shots during this time. I will then use Gonal-F and when we they are ready for them to release I'll use. Pregnyl. If all goes as planned we're looking at a mid May retrieval date.

The shipment came today with all these drugs, needles, syringes, alcohol swabs, a sharps container all in an iced cooler. The bill also came & I cringed thinking I didn't want to see it. I have to say I'm sooooo thankful & blessed that we have great insurance!! I looked over the summary & found the section that said, "Patient Responsibility --- $70.00!" Aunt Sheri said she signed or a package of the exact same drugs this week and the total for that patient was $3200!!! WOW! Thank you Jesus!

My chart will be reviewed at the Clinical Meeting on Tuesday and a Protocol will be established. I'm thrilled that we're moving on and just hoping & praying that this will be the ticket! Please pray for us as well...God knows what He's doing!

Another BUST

It's been way too long since I've updated so for that I apologize. I am going to sum up what's going on. I went back to the RE on CD19 and there were NO follicles responding at all. My E2 went from 50 CD2, 58 CD15 & stayed exactly the same on CD19 58! I took the news well as I knew before I left the office that Round 2 was also going to be a failure/Bust! It's just frustrating that my body isn't cooperating.

The positive is that Austin & I had already discussed the next step and I felt totally confident with the decision that we made.

I'll explain that in the next few posts!!

A LOT to think about...

I'm not trying to jump the gun but I just need to mentally prepare myself for the news that Round 2 of Clomid is another bust. I'm not responding at all. NO mature Follies! I talked to the nurse prac. today and she really suggested we think about IVF and skip straight injectables due to HOM. She said, my chances are SO high and we'd have to go into this knowing we'd be willing to SR. I was unaware of how far along (10-12 weeks) you have to be before they SR and just really have a hard time with that. It's a total personal preference but for me I don't know how I couldn't think about it everyday after.

The good news of the day is that my insurance will cover the injectables Gonal F or Follistm with pre-authorization at a $40.00 co-pay! PTL That's an answer to prayer. The bad news is that IVF w/o medication will cost approx. $8,000. It's just so much to think about. I know we don't have to rush but heck I'll be 30 YES 30 years old in 23 days!!! WOW, I'm old! ;o)

At least the weather is getting warmer and I have that to look forward to.

~*~*~ Happy St. Patty's Day ~*~*~