Below are my records for our TTC journey upto this point:
(most recent is at the bottom)
May 22nd, 2011
Today is Sunday May 22nd, 2011 and I have just been told by
my fertility specialist that my blood test for pregnancy is positive! I am
still in quite a bit of shock; I had been diagnosed with unexplained
infertility 15 years ago, after the birth of my daughter. I thought my dream
for having another baby was just a dream. When I met my husband and after we
were engaged, we decided to seek additional help (in January of 2010). After
cycle monitoring (a daily occurrence of blood tests and ultrasounds), I was
diagnosed with PCOS and Insulin Resistance. The Fertility Specialist noted the
cause of my infertility was annovulatory cycles. This means I was producing
more than 20 follicles but they were not maturing and therefore I would not
ovulate. I also had a large polyp which was removed in October of 2010. I
was quite upset, thinking I would not be able to have children of my own since
I could not produce any eggs. The doctor did not give up and assured he would
do everything he could. Once we were married (January 11th, 2011), we decided
to start actively TTC and the doctor put me on Provera then 100mg of
Clomid and 1500mg of Metformin. The cycle showed improvement but still no
follicles over 13mm. So the next cycle, my dosage of Clomid was increased to
150mg. Halfway through the cycle, it was cancelled since there were no maturing
follicles and once again I was given Provera. For the next cycle, the doctor
prescribed 5mg of Femara and 75iu of Gonal-F injection. On CD9, my dosage of
Gonal-F injection was increased to 150iu. By CD12, I had many maturing
follicles and was given the option of Aspiration (where a needle is inserted to
remove some of the follicles to reduce the chance of multiples and the risk of
developing OHSS (Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome). I declined since I did
not want to diminish my chances of fertilization. On CD15, I had 26 maturing
follicles and I was given an Ovidrel (trigger) shot to induce ovulation. 2 days
after the shot, I developed OHSS and was given 20mg of Prednisone. This is
quite painful and very uncomfortable. It hurt to sneeze or to breathe deeply
unless I was laying down. I also gained 15 pounds in just a few days and it was
all in my stomach area. A few days later, my symptoms subsided and I felt
great! On CD23 (7DPO), I felt twinges at night while laying in bed. I knew it
was implantation. On CD26, I started to do HPT’s and they came out positive. I
was in shock but also didn`t really want to believe it since there was a
possibility it could still be the Ovidrel in my system. I also was thinking it
could be the OHSS since my symptoms returned the same day I tested positive. I
called the Fertility Specialist and they booked me for a blood test. Well, my
blood test was today and it was positive..... both me and the nurse cried on
the phone for a good 2 minutes (we had become quite attached during the process
of TTC). Today is CD28 (12DPO) and I think I am the happiest woman that ever
lived!!!
10DPO
May 29th, 2011
Well, it has been a rough week. Since I was on fertility
drugs and then had to take an HCG trigger shot to induce ovulation, I developed
OHSS (Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome). The side effects of this for me are
engorged ovaries, fluid in the abdominal cavity and lungs as well as shortness
of breath. I was given Cabergoline and Prednisone and need to drink 3 litres of
Gatorade a day (a tough task for me because I don't really like Gatorade). I
was in so much pain from the swelling that it was hard to sleep; I was only
comfortable in a reclined chair or in a hunched over position. I was also told
to go to the emerg. and get an Albuim IV, which I went to get but was informed
it was a human product which could leave me open to blood born pathogens so R
and I decided against it. This was on May 25th, the same evening I started
getting morning sickness. I was sick all night and could not keep down the
pills that the doctor gave me so I went back to the doctors. They gave me
Diclectin (a pill for morning sickness). For the next 2 days, things went
great, I was finally getting some relief and my weight and abdominal girth
(from the swelling) was finally going down and I was no longer feeling the
effects of morning sickness. On the 28th of May, I went to the walk in clinic
for an unrelated matter. They examined me and sent me to the Emerg. The Emerg. Dept.
performed some blood tests and were concerned about my HCG count which was 491.
He explained that 491 at 5 weeks pregnant was very low and there must be
something wrong with the baby. He booked me in for an ultrasound for the 30th.
I was devastated and cried in the parking lot of the hospital for quite some
time. When I returned home, R was waiting. We discussed what the doctor had said
and I went to the washroom. I then noticed that I was spotting. At this point I
am convinced I am having a miscarriage. I woke up the next day at 5:00am and
called the fertility clinic. I explained the situation and was told to come in
to the office in about an hour for an ultrasound. Once I got there, they
confirmed what happened was not a miscarriage. They explained it was probably
implantation bleeding and that my HCG count was fine. I guess the numbers
themselves don't mean much as long as they are doubling in 48-60 hours, which
mine were. They told me not to worry, everything looks fine and to come back in
2 weeks to see the baby on ultrasound. Phew, that was a rocky week. I have
decided to relax and not stress over anything for the next 2 weeks. R also
doesn't want me doing any lifting or anything, he is being really good at
helping me..... it's such a fragile time right now for baby, I don't want to
disturb or fault the process.
June 1st, 2011
Well, things are looking up, I hope. I went in yesterday to
get my beta's and they were at 916 and today they were at 1363. So they are not
doubling but sooo close (Yesterday they should have been at least 982). I am
going in again tomorrow and hopefully they will be higher then 1800. I did also
go in for another ultrasound and there is still no clear gestational sac. I
hope conception date is off and that's all. Not too much to write about, just
trying to remain stress free and only thinking happy thoughts. I have been
craving salad like mad and also noticing that I am putting salt on my food,
something I never did before..... Nausea is kicking in more now, I find myself
having to take Diclectin 2-3 times a day now. Also, cut out my morning coffees
and started taking vitamins a few days ago to give our little baby all the
nutrients to grow big and strong!!!
June 2nd, 2011
Not the best of days, my HCG came back way lower, which
means I have miscarried. I guess we will have to go through this again.
June 4th, 2011
Very confused, I went to the fertility clinic to have my
beta levels checked and they have gone up to 871... I am not sure what is going
on and this is baffling the doctor and nurses. I have an ultrasound and more blood
work scheduled for June 7th, 2011. This does give me hope..... but it might
also be setting me up for another heartbreak L
June 7th, 2011
Well, today they could not find anything (no sac or ectopic)
for either the ultrasound or transvaginal. At 6 weeks, they should be able to
see at least a sac.... My beta levels came back at 1863!!! To me, that's
wonderful, I have hope :) I have a strong feeling that this might be vanishing
twin syndrome and not an ectopic.... but only time will tell. I have to get
more blood work done on June 9th and another ultrasound June 13th, I will be 7
weeks. Fingers crossed J
June 8th, 2011
Went in to speak with my FS today to get some clarification
on what is going on. He basically said I am still pregnant and it's either
ectopic or it was vanishing twin. He said I am probably not as far along as we
originally thought which is why they cannot "for sure" identify a
gestational sac in the uterus. He also said there are "small things"
in my uterus but they are too small to identify, which I feel is good news,
much better to have something small and the possibility of it being a baby or
babies then to not see anything at all. I have also been booked for an
ultrasound tomorrow morning along with blood work.
June 9th, 2011
Today was not a good day. Last night I had extreme pain in my
upper abdomen (I think it was from the excess fluid and blood in my abdominal
cavity), it carried on to today. At my doctor’s appointment they told me my HCG
levels did not go up very much and the pregnancy is not progressing very well.
The risk for Ectopic was too great, they decided to give me a shot to terminate
the pregnancy. My heart is broken L
June 10th, 2011
Another not so great day.... I went shopping at the mall for
a few hours and go to leave. Then realize someone has stolen my Truck.... Argh.
So as I wait for the Police to arrive, I start getting pains in my stomach. The
minute I walked in the door at home (a few hours later), excruciating pain
started. R decided we needed to go to the hospital. Once there, they performed
a few tests and also an ultrasound. They found a 2cm fetus in my right
fallopian tube and they needed to perform emergency surgery to remove.
Thankfully the tube had not ruptured but was close as there was blood leaking
out of the end of my tube. Recovery was not easy, I was swelled for about a
week and had a very dark purple bruise throughout my entire abdomen, which I
later found out was internal bleeding.
June 22nd, 2011
Today I start Birth Control to regulate my cycle (only for
10 days) then on to round two!!! Fingers Crossed J
July 4th, 2011
CD1 today, a feeling of excitement as a new round has
officially begun J
July 7th, 2011
Today (CD4) was the first ultrasound of this cycle, things
are looking great, I already have 2 good sized follicles (1.2 and 1.0) however,
they are in my right ovary which make me a little concerned since I am not sure
my right fallopian tube is blocked from the ectopic surgery, fingers cross it
is not. I started Femara today, which I will be on for 5 days and then back
onto Gonal-F injections. I am getting excited once again but need to keep
reminding myself not to get my hopes very high yet.
July 14th, 2011
Well, not much news this past week. I have been on
injections for 4 days and still no change in the size of my follicles so after
my dye test today revealed no blockage in my fallopian tube J the doctor increased
my dose of Gonal-F to 112.5iu from 75iu. I have an ultrasound booked for July
16th!!!
July 16th, 2011
Since there still was no change in the size of my follicles,
the doctor increased my dose again to 150iu. This makes both R and I nervous
since we don't want a repeat of last cycle, with the OHSS..... But I am excited
at the same time because I know this dose increases the size of my follicles J
July 20th, 2011
Today I am very excited and anxious. I ovulated on my own
yesterday and I am confident that the deeds were sufficient! Now to play the
waiting game for 2 weeks. I will have my finger's crossed the entire time J The doctor has also
given me Progesterone supplements to decrease the chance of a miscarriage,
which I start tomorrow. I felt the symptoms of OHSS yesterday but today they
are almost gone so hopefully the symptoms were just that of ovulating. I am
trying to keep busy so that I don't think too much about things and drive
myself crazy but it's hard not to get wrapped up in it.
August 2nd, 2011
We just got back from our family reunion. My period still
did not show up and was due yesterday so I went to the fertility specialist to
get a pregnancy blood test. The nurse called back a few hours later and said I
have to resume taking my progesterone supplements (I had stopped taking them
for the reunion because they were very messy). She said the pregnancy test was
positive but wants me back on Thursday since my beta level was only 14. I am
excited but at the same time not really believing. I am constantly thinking
about the last cycle and at the same time, trying to convince myself this time
is different. I have zero spotting, I am nauseous and hungry all of the time
and visit the washroom 3-4 times per night.... this gives me hope J
15DPO
August 8th, 2011
I am now 5 weeks pregnant, still no spotting and my beta
levels are doubling.... Barely, but now doubling J
My first beta level was 14 and 2 days later they were only 20.45 so I was very
nervous that it was going to be another ectopic. But things are very different
with this pregnancy, I have a good feeling things will be ok. The next 2 beta
levels came back as just barely doubling, but that's good enough for me. I have
been taking 4 folic acid pills and 2 complete vitamins as well as the
progesterone and since the increase, my levels have looked good. I am still
nauseous but have stopped taking the Diclectin as I am not vomiting. I am
absolutely starving all time..... like literally, 30 mins after I eat, I am
hungry again... I also have been getting the regular pregnancy feelings in my
lower abdomen (like PMS cramps and pressure). I am hopeful and cannot wait for
these next 2 weeks to go by so I can be confident that my baby is ok.
August 19th, 2011
Today I am 6 weeks and 3 days. On August 17th, I went to the
emergency department with pressure and cramping on my left side that radiated
to my back and down my left leg. At midnight (3 hours after I got there), I
started spotting. My urine test revealed that I had developed a UTI and was
given anti-biotics. They did a beta test which was up to 1490, so it doubled :)
and continued to do an ultrasound. They could not spot a fetus either inside
the uterus or in my tubes so I was released and told to come back in 2 days
(Aug 20th, 2011, since I was released at 8:00am the next morning) to repeat the
beta and ultrasound. Since last night, the spotting has stopped and the
pressure has gone. I am upset and am terrified they will find another Ectopic
pregnancy.
August 21st, 2011
I went back to the hospital at 11:00am to repeat the beta
and the result was only 1549. My spotting started again just before I got to
the hospital but subsided later that day. I was given the option to terminate
the pregnancy in order to avoid another surgery since they are assuming it is
Ectopic. I refused and am going to let nature take it's course. Today at 6:00pm
I started spotting red. I am sure I am having a miscarriage. I have an
appointment with the fertility clinic tomorrow morning.... originally this
appointment was to be my 7 week ultrasound... I am just having a hard time
getting past 7 weeks L
August 22nd, 2011
My appointment with my FS was today. They think it is
Ectopic as well, but this time in my left tube. They did blood work and will
call me tomorrow with the results. The census is that if my levels are
dropping, then we will naturally let it take it's course. If the levels are
still rising, this means that my body is unaware that it is Ectopic and the
fetus will continue to grow in my tubes making it dangerous for me and surgery
will be necessary. I think what will happen is we will try one more cycle (if I
don't have surgery) naturally then on to IVF. If I do have to have surgery,
then we move directly onto IVF. Awe, very sad today L
August 24th, 2011
My FS called yesterday and advised me to go to the hospital
for surgery since my levels increased to 2000. So I went to the hospital this
afternoon. They had to do another ultrasound since they still were not sure
where the baby was. The ultrasound did not give any insight so they decided to
do exploratory Laparoscopy and possibly remove the baby if it was in my left
tube, remove the baby and my tube if it was in my right tube or remove my right
tube and ovary if the baby was attached to my ovary. After surgery, I was
informed that the Ectopic was in my left tube so the baby was removed and my
left tube remained intact. I see the doctor again in 1 week to discuss my
options and to do another beta.
August 31st, 2011
My beta levels came back at 27, so that’s good. We discussed
the pro's and con's of our options with the doctor and decided we would try, at
most, 2 more times before moving onto IVF. Reason for this is my chances of
having another Ectopic are greater than 75% currently. My doctor will only
allow for 2 Ectopics in each tube before they are removed. We would rather try
naturally until that is no longer an option. I start birth control for 1 month
on September 4th, 2011. My fingers are crossed but at the same time, preparing
myself for another Ectopic. This is quite a long journey with a very exhausting
and emotional roller coaster ride. One day I know it will happen for us <3
September 21st, 2011
Due to R and my schedule, I stop taking the birth control
after 10 days so that we could try again this cycle. On Sept 17th (4 days
later) my period came and a new cycle started. Yesterday I started 2.5mg of
Femera and in about a week I should start taking the Gonal-F injections again.
October 2nd, 2011
This cycle, I have not been so wrapped up in the fertility
treatment, I have not been on the fertility forum that I normally am on each
day. I have not been writing in my pregnancy journal. I think this is due to
having two Ectopics in a row, which is virtually unheard of so I really don't
have much hope for this cycle.... also considering I only have one maturing
follicle instead of at least 5 like I usually do so the chances of me getting
pregnant are pretty slim, I believe only 20% like other women. I guess, I am
kind of thinking if I do get pregnant, it will be another Ectopic which makes
me sad so I really don't want to think about it. My friend gave birth to a baby
girl a few days ago. I am happy for them but at the same time disappointed in
myself. I am pretty sure I ovulated last night, I had some pretty bad cramps
that lasted about an hour with quite a bit of pressure. Best case scenario, my
little eggy pushed it's way through my tube and is now in my Uterus..... I am
hoping this is the case since I have never had cramps at ovulation before. We
shall see. I am going on a cruise and R is going on a hunting trip for a week
and my period will be due the day after I come back. This will take my mind off
constant wondering and test taking, lol. UPDATE: This cycle, Oct 18th, Nov 19th
and Dec 17th cycle's not pregnant L
January 23rd, 2012
Not much has changed these last few months, new cycles and
no positive pregnancy tests :( R and I are anxious to start our family and I
have lost most hope so we have decided to move onto Invitro-Fertilization. R
and I have met with the nurse and spoke about the medication and procedure. My
first appointment will be on Wednesday February 1st, 2012 for a
biopsy. I also start Acupuncture on Friday January 27th, 2012 (a
little nervous about since I have never done acupuncture before) I am very
excited and have new hope J
January 27th, 2012
Today I had acupuncture to increase the blood flow to my uterus.
In most instances, it was quite relaxing with a feeling of warmth and fullness
around the needles. The exception was the needles at the side of my hands, they
hurt L
but I will do whatever it takes to increase the chances of a successful IVF.
