Round 2
I have been a total slacker. I've taken a break from writing to enjoy the glorious month off where I wasn't been poked, prodded or otherwise bothered with needles and ultrasounds. It was simply amazing after nearly 7 months of weekly (or more) testing and medications. It was much needed and I'm feeling great.
That being said, by some lovely twist of fate I ended up sick from Halloween until November 20th. If you're wondering, that's over three weeks. So while I wasn't taking a thousand hormones, I was one two rounds of prednisone, two antibiotics and an antiviral for Influenza B, bronchitis, sinus infection and finally pneumonia. Despite that, it really was nice to take a break. We did a lot the last month, I celebrated my *gasp* 29th birthday, Matty and I escaped for a weekend to Milwaukee and enjoyed Thanksgiving with our family. That makes up from the rest of the crap.
We started prepping for our transfer on 11/13, which surprisingly included more daily injections for 8 days. I thought the poking was over after the egg retrieval, and well, I was wrong. This time around it was much more relaxed. I was on different medications and everything was spread out instead of rushed like it was with our fresh transfer. I only needed one ultrasound and round of blood work on 11/20 because everything was absolutely perfect. My lining was 13mm, and my estrogen and progesterone were spot on (I don't remember the numbers). We had our transfer on 11/30...yes that's right, 4 days ago! Here's a pic of our little embaby, perfect in every way.
I haven't posted as much this time around, and it's not because I haven't wanted to share our story or because I felt like I needed more privacy. It simply was because I needed a break from everything related to IVF. I've mentioned before on how this has been more taxing on me mentally than I anticipated, and it really has been. I needed this last month to dig my heels in and regroup. Having our fresh transfer fail hit me really hard. We were so confident that Pete was going to stick and we would be preparing for a baby in July. I don't think I really ever believed that it wouldn't work. It was a reality bitch slap, so to speak. And frankly, I needed a break. I am so grateful for everyone who has reached out to Matt and I, when we decided to be public about our infertility and this journey, I could have never imagined the love and support we have received. It has truly made this whole process tolerable.
This transfer has been so different in many ways. Our fresh I was all "hurry up and go!" It was a rush to get my body ready for the transfer after the retrieval, I never felt like I was able to recover. This time was leisurely. Blissfully slow and leisurely. It was done more like a natural cycle and allowing my body a longer time to get my hormones where they needed to be for the transfer. The transfer itself went without a hitch. This time I did not work the night before (I was all in a tizzy last time rushing from work to transfer) and gave myself 3 days after to bum around before going back to work. And while I drove myself, and Matt, absolutely nuts it was worth it. This embryo (known as Oren's G, Oren for short...my phone auto corrected "pregnant" to "oren's g" while chatting with Karolina and it just stuck) is the same grading as the previous as a high quality borderline BB that thawed beautifully per the embryologist.
I'm on different medications than last time. I'm taking baby aspirin, doing 4 estrogen patches every other day, and am covered in sticky residue and octopus sucker marks all over my belly. I'm doing progesterone two ways like last time, up the crotch 3x a day and orally once a day. I started with the progesterone in oil, like last time, that is injected in the ass with the 1 1/2 inch needle. For some reason this time I developed horrible pain in the injection site about 12 hours after the shot. So bad that I moved to my thigh, that proved to be a mistake when I couldn't walk up the stairs. After nearly crying to Dr. Jacobs to do something, anything, else he graciously put me on 400mg orally. That's a hell of a lot of progesterone. One of the side effects is drowsiness. Yeah, it literally knocks me out like I had 5 shots of vodka and then took some benadryl. Despite it putting me to sleep, I'm on day four of being awake at or before 5am. I have no idea why, I can't fall back to sleep, so I mope around because I hate mornings. So is life.
Another thing I've done differently this time around is acupuncture weekly, the day before transfer and the day after. I had two sessions last round, but I've been committed to doing it consistently this time. I love it. I find it relaxing, and as silly as it sounds, soul cleansing. I have another appointment on Friday and if little Oren sticks I'll continue going weekly most likely throughout the pregnancy. Along with the acupuncture I've been using a meditation app called "Mindful IVF", it's European and fantastic. It's centered around the whole IVF process and has a meditation for each step of the way. I also really am finding a lot of benefit from this especially as someone who can find anything to stress about and also has a history of anxiety. I cannot recommend this enough for anyone going through IVF, it is well worth it. I've found this time around I am calm and confident. I know that whether or not this works I'll be ok and our time will come to have another baby. I'm being kinder to myself. I beat myself up so bad last time during the two weeks post transfer, constantly worried and taking pregnancy tests daily. I let that all go this time. I wont be testing early and I feel utterly at peace.
So that brings us to now. I'm 3dp5dfet which is IVF talk for three days post five day frozen embryo transfer, and I feel great. Matty says I'm a whole lot more hormonal on this oral progesterone, and in his defense I go from teenage boy to menopausal woman constantly. I'm not crying though, so I consider that a win. It's hard to tell if I have any symptoms. The progesterone itself mimics pregnancy symptoms. I've had some cramping on and off, which I had last time too. I did have a headache yesterday which is unusual for me, I don't typically get them. And some nausea, but again, progesterone. I'm enjoying the next week of PUPO or IVF talk for pregnant until proven otherwise, and enjoying it being December with my family.
Thank you all again for following us on this journey, until next time.
That being said, by some lovely twist of fate I ended up sick from Halloween until November 20th. If you're wondering, that's over three weeks. So while I wasn't taking a thousand hormones, I was one two rounds of prednisone, two antibiotics and an antiviral for Influenza B, bronchitis, sinus infection and finally pneumonia. Despite that, it really was nice to take a break. We did a lot the last month, I celebrated my *gasp* 29th birthday, Matty and I escaped for a weekend to Milwaukee and enjoyed Thanksgiving with our family. That makes up from the rest of the crap.
We started prepping for our transfer on 11/13, which surprisingly included more daily injections for 8 days. I thought the poking was over after the egg retrieval, and well, I was wrong. This time around it was much more relaxed. I was on different medications and everything was spread out instead of rushed like it was with our fresh transfer. I only needed one ultrasound and round of blood work on 11/20 because everything was absolutely perfect. My lining was 13mm, and my estrogen and progesterone were spot on (I don't remember the numbers). We had our transfer on 11/30...yes that's right, 4 days ago! Here's a pic of our little embaby, perfect in every way.
Hello, sweet beeb
Before the transfer
This transfer has been so different in many ways. Our fresh I was all "hurry up and go!" It was a rush to get my body ready for the transfer after the retrieval, I never felt like I was able to recover. This time was leisurely. Blissfully slow and leisurely. It was done more like a natural cycle and allowing my body a longer time to get my hormones where they needed to be for the transfer. The transfer itself went without a hitch. This time I did not work the night before (I was all in a tizzy last time rushing from work to transfer) and gave myself 3 days after to bum around before going back to work. And while I drove myself, and Matt, absolutely nuts it was worth it. This embryo (known as Oren's G, Oren for short...my phone auto corrected "pregnant" to "oren's g" while chatting with Karolina and it just stuck) is the same grading as the previous as a high quality borderline BB that thawed beautifully per the embryologist.
I'm on different medications than last time. I'm taking baby aspirin, doing 4 estrogen patches every other day, and am covered in sticky residue and octopus sucker marks all over my belly. I'm doing progesterone two ways like last time, up the crotch 3x a day and orally once a day. I started with the progesterone in oil, like last time, that is injected in the ass with the 1 1/2 inch needle. For some reason this time I developed horrible pain in the injection site about 12 hours after the shot. So bad that I moved to my thigh, that proved to be a mistake when I couldn't walk up the stairs. After nearly crying to Dr. Jacobs to do something, anything, else he graciously put me on 400mg orally. That's a hell of a lot of progesterone. One of the side effects is drowsiness. Yeah, it literally knocks me out like I had 5 shots of vodka and then took some benadryl. Despite it putting me to sleep, I'm on day four of being awake at or before 5am. I have no idea why, I can't fall back to sleep, so I mope around because I hate mornings. So is life.
My 5am snuggler
Another thing I've done differently this time around is acupuncture weekly, the day before transfer and the day after. I had two sessions last round, but I've been committed to doing it consistently this time. I love it. I find it relaxing, and as silly as it sounds, soul cleansing. I have another appointment on Friday and if little Oren sticks I'll continue going weekly most likely throughout the pregnancy. Along with the acupuncture I've been using a meditation app called "Mindful IVF", it's European and fantastic. It's centered around the whole IVF process and has a meditation for each step of the way. I also really am finding a lot of benefit from this especially as someone who can find anything to stress about and also has a history of anxiety. I cannot recommend this enough for anyone going through IVF, it is well worth it. I've found this time around I am calm and confident. I know that whether or not this works I'll be ok and our time will come to have another baby. I'm being kinder to myself. I beat myself up so bad last time during the two weeks post transfer, constantly worried and taking pregnancy tests daily. I let that all go this time. I wont be testing early and I feel utterly at peace.
So that brings us to now. I'm 3dp5dfet which is IVF talk for three days post five day frozen embryo transfer, and I feel great. Matty says I'm a whole lot more hormonal on this oral progesterone, and in his defense I go from teenage boy to menopausal woman constantly. I'm not crying though, so I consider that a win. It's hard to tell if I have any symptoms. The progesterone itself mimics pregnancy symptoms. I've had some cramping on and off, which I had last time too. I did have a headache yesterday which is unusual for me, I don't typically get them. And some nausea, but again, progesterone. I'm enjoying the next week of PUPO or IVF talk for pregnant until proven otherwise, and enjoying it being December with my family.
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