IUI Round 2: I-Day!

This morning we headed in to the Clinic for the IUI.  We dropped off Dave's sperm sample then waited around while it was processed until we could do the procedure itself.  Once we were ensconced in the room, Shelley the nurse went over our numbers: my hormone levels were looking really good, Dave's sperm count and motility were really good...in short, everything was good.  We went through the process of triple-checking names and dates of birth, then Dr Swift bustled in and we went through the insemination rigmarole all over again.

I was hoping it would be easier this time, but alas, it wasn't to be.  But finally, after much prodding, poking, and pinching, the deed was done.  He ominously said that if we didn't succeed this time we'd have to have a talk about my cervix, but I wasn't really listening because of the stress and discomfort, so I'm not sure what he meant.  I think he was suggesting I might need some sort of surgical procedure to straighten it out.

I questioned the instructions they'd given me for after-care, because they've put me on double the amount of progesterone as last time: one pessary morning and night.  Dr Swift said he likes having lots of progesterone anyway, and because my pregnancy test last time showed a lower progesterone than they would like, they're not taking any chances this time.  The pessaries are messy and unpleasant and inconvenient, but if they help, I'll do whatever it takes!

After Dr Swift left, Shelley got me some panadol and a glass of water and said there was no rush for us to leave.  So I rested for a few minutes and we talked.  We agreed that if we do manage to produce a child, we definitely don't want to have to go through this whole process again to produce another.  If we get one, we'll be happy.  It's very exhausting, emotionally and physically, and very draining.  I was happy I made the decision to have the whole day off today.

Now we have another Two Week Wait.  We go back on the 15th for the pregnancy blood test.  Fingers crossed.

IUI Round 2: Progress Report 2

I had the scan this morning with Dr Flynn, who had a different technique to Dr Swift, which was a bit off-putting.  But otherwise everything went fine.  He said I only have one follicle this time, to Dave's great relief, but that it's "a beauty".  His recommendation was that I have a trigger injection today and we do the IUI tomorrow, as I suspected we would have to.  After the scan, I had another blood test just to check everything was progressing nicely, and they gave me the trigger shot.

At lunchtime the Clinic called and confirmed what I had suspected: I was already beginning to surge so the trigger probably hadn't been necessary, but it didn't hurt either.  So we're all go for tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately the timing this round isn't great: we've both ended up having to have a day off due to the time of day, and my work has a whole-company meeting tomorrow for the end of financial year review.  But, like my friend pointed out, this is more important.  We're at the mercy of my body, and my body says tomorrow is the day!

I'm not feeling as excited and hopeful as last time.  It's not that I'm feeling negative, exactly.  It's more just a kind of, I don't know, lethargy I guess.  I've never been the most patient of people (I heard that!), so I basically just want it to be over and me to be pregnant.  Fingers crossed it happens tomorrow!

IUI Round 2: Progress Report

Day 11 today.  I had my first blood test on Monday, Day 9, and my hormone levels were higher than they had been on Day 11 last cycle, so I responded more quickly this time on the higher dose.  I had another blood test today, and the clinic has booked an ultrasound scan for me tomorrow morning as it looks like I'm starting to surge.  Unfortunately, Dr Swift is away this week due to school holidays, so the scan will be done by another doctor, Dr Flynn.  He's in the same clinic as Dr Swift, and is the obstetrician of someone else I know who is pregnant, so I'm sure he'll be fine.  But of course there's always a bit of nervousness when you see a new doctor.  Hopefully Dr Swift will still be able to do the IUI itself when it happens.

My own feeling, based on my own knowledge of my body, is that the IUI will be on Friday.  Not the most convenient time, but never mind: we're at the mercy of my hormones.  I'm certain we won't be holding out until Monday.

After the scan tomorrow I have to have another blood test and they will hopefully be able to tell me exactly when we'll be doing the IUI.  The blood tests are becoming a drag.  My veins seem to be a bit shy, so the nurses tend to use the same one that is a little bolder than the others, but that one has started getting a bit scarred so it is getting painful.  The injections each morning are just routine now, though.  Who would have thought that jabbing myself with a needle each morning would become so ho-hum?

IUI Round 2: Starting Again

I got my period yesterday, a little earlier than I was expecting, but that might work out for the good with the timing - we may end up being able to do the IUI on a Monday again, which would be great.  Unfortunately, I hadn't dropped in to pick up my drugs for this round yet, so we had a bit of a scramble this morning to go in and get them so I could start my injections again today.

I got a new injection pen, which is easier to use than the last one, and a new set of needles.  I did the injection with the new pen in the clinic with Jo while we were there, to make sure I was doing it okay.  I'm starting out on 75 IUs this time, so I may respond more quickly.  I'm scheduled for my first blood test on Monday.

Overall, I don't feel like I'm in as positive a space as I was last round.  It's not that I'm disillusioned with the process itself yet, it's just that I have other stuff going on in my head that's making me feel a bit negative.  I miss my home and my family, and I'm going through another phase where it seems like everyone I know is either pregnant or a new parent.  My birthday is this week, another reminder that my time is running out, so to speak.  I'm trying to stay positive, but I'm not really sure how I'm going to handle this cycle.  We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose!

IUI Round 1 Result: Negative

A week or so ago I suddenly started getting really tired, which I thought might have been a positive sign.  But then over the weekend I started feeling cranky and had a little spotting, and I just generally got the feeling that my period wanted to come and we weren't successful.  By this morning I had pretty much convinced myself that the result was going to be negative, but we went through the blood test process anyway.

A little after 2pm, I got the phone call.  Unfortunately, my suspicions were correct.  At least I hadn't built myself up so much that the result was a shock.  I thought I took the news pretty well - I didn't even cry, which was a surprise.

I'm trying to stay as positive as I can.  There are several positive things I can take away from the experience.  As Mum pointed out, the process is no longer a mystery.  My body responded really well to the meds I took before and after the IUI itself, and I produced two "beautiful" follicles and a good thick lining.  I also feel like I know my body and my cycle better and have more confidence in that knowledge.  And like Jo the Clinic nurse says, the odds on the first cycle are pretty low because they are still adjusting my treatment to suit my body.  The odds go up the more cycles we do.

We decided to have a cycle off before we try again.  Mostly for financial reasons, but also I'd like to give myself a break emotionally.  There's no medical or technical reason why we can't just roll straight into another cycle, but I'd rather take some time to regroup before trying again.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support.  I've had so many messages from family members and friends both old and new.  It really does mean a lot to know you guys are all looking out for us and sending us positive vibes.  Thank you all so much.

(Okay, now I'm getting a bit teary.)

IUI Round 1: D-Day!

Or should I say, I-Day.  On Saturday after my blood test the Clinic said my hormone levels were still going up but it looked like we were safe until today, but they suggested quite matter-of-factly that we "have intercourse" over the weekend, just to be safe.  We went back in for another blood test this morning and Jo the clinic nurse thought I'd better have an ultrasound scan to check how many follicles had developed.  Dr Swift could squeeze us in for the scan and said everything looked good: I had 2 nicely developed follicles and a nice thick lining and he was predicting that we'd have to do the IUI itself today, but we had to wait for the blood test results to be sure.

At 2pm the Clinic called and confirmed we were on for today, which made me very happy - we both had the day off so it was really good timing.  Dave produced his sperm sample and we headed to the Clinic for our 3pm appointment.  We had to wait for half an hour to prepare the sample for the insemination, then we went into the lab room and waited for the doctor.  The nurse went over what happens next while we waited.  It felt like we were waiting for ages but Dr Swift finally turned up.  It all felt a bit surreal after that.  There was discussion of speculums.  And mucus.  There was some trouble with the procedure and it took longer than it was supposed to.  The doctor had to use a special tool to open up my cervix, which hurt.  I was uncomfortable and felt like my legs were going to cramp.  But finally, after 15 minutes (instead of the promised 5) we were done.  Once again, we were instructed to have sex over the next couple of days.  I felt a bit shaky and uncomfortable afterwards and was so happy I could go home and rest.

Now we start the dreaded Two Week Wait.  Starting tomorrow, I have to use vaginal pessaries for progesterone as an added precaution - it's possible that one of the reasons we haven't gotten pregnant so far is that my body doesn't produce enough progesterone.  So I take these pessaries until they tell me otherwise.  If I don't start bleeding, I go back on Tuesday the 24th of May for my pregnancy blood test!  If I do start bleeding, I have to call them for further instructions.

I hate waiting.

IUI Round 1 Progress Report 1

On Wednesday I had my first ever IUI cycle blood test.  Unfortunately, my hormone levels were still fairly low, so Dr Swift suggested I increase my Puregon dosage from 50 IUs to 75, which I started on Thursday.  This morning I went back for another blood test and now have matching bruises on the insides of both elbows - people are going to start thinking I'm a druggie or something!

After my test this morning, the Clinic called this afternoon and told me that my hormone levels have started going up - which is good and bad.  Good, because it means that I'm responding to the Puregon...But also bad, because the weekend is about to start!  They asked me to go back in for another blood test tomorrow morning and warned that if it looks like my hormone levels are about to surge we might have to do the insemination tomorrow.  Which would be fine for most people, but of course we both work on Saturdays so it could be logistically tricky.  Hopefully my body plays ball and holds off until Monday, as we both have Mondays off, which would make it much easier.  But I am unfortunately at the mercy of my hormones.

It's getting exciting and nerve-wracking now that we're approaching D-Day of our first cycle.  Statistically, I know that our chances of success are slim, but it's still hard to not be excited.  I'm so thankful that we've had such an easy run of it so far - no major side affects, very little fiddling with dosages and so on.  Fingers crossed!