Dr. A gave me an A+

My appointment for the Fluid Ultrasound was this morning at 9:20.  I arrived at 9:15.  They took me back at 10:10 or so.  The nurse took me back to a room and told me to get undressed from the waste down, cover my girly bits with a piece of paper and that I could use the restroom first if I needed to.  I went to the restroom through this archway and on the other side of the restroom is like a mini ICU full of women and their spouses, a lot of rooms separated by curtains - I guess this is the recovery area?  Not sure but I guess I will find out soon enough.  I was waiting for the restroom and a lady behind the desk in the ICU looking room said "Are you Amber?"  I looked up and said yes and the lady introduced herself, it was my IVF coordinator Andrea.  I shook her hand and she told me that we should have a schedule review next week for the meds and maybe a meeting with Dr. A to go over the blood work results.   She was so nice and I could tell she was very sincere and excited for me.

I made it back to the room after using the restroom.  Got undressed from the waste down and just a couple of minutes later Dr. A and the nurse came back in.  He asked me about the weather and explained that this would feel somewhat like a papsmear.  He looked at my uterus.  Then he looked at my right ovary, said it looked good and had 15 follicles, then over to my left ovary which also had 15 follicles.  Said again that everything looks "darn good".  He gave me a helping hand up and told me I get an A+, then said we would talk hopefully sometime next week after my blood work results came back and figure out what to do from there. 

When I exited the room the nurse told me March would be here before I knew it!  That made me smile.  I left the office, called Jamie and got my blood work done, I think there were 10 viles of blood taken.  Jamie called me and said that his "MAN TESTING" was done.  That made me laugh. 

All in all, a pretty "Darn good" day.  I hope this sets the tone for the rest of the cycle.  I didn't know what to expect today as I have never done any of this before but I can say that it wasn't as scary as I feared it may be and the results were better than I feared they could be.

CD-1 HOORAY!!!!!

So the provera did it's magic and AF started yesterday morning!!!!!  Strange enough, Andrea my coordinator at the SHER institute emailed me to introduce her self asking me to let her know when AF showed.  I called her right after receiving her email.  She is so nice which will make this journey so much easier.  I really fear mean nurses/coordinators! 

I am trying to learn as I go along so bare with me while I post some of my more interesting findings on here.  Just little tid bits of info, I won't bore you with all of it!

This is what we discussed:

• I will have my first fluid ultrasound tomorrow to measure my ovarian reserve and antral follicles. 

Ovarian reserve is essentially my bodies fertility potential or remaining egg supply. 

Antral follicles are small follicles (about 2-8mm in diameter) that we can see, measure and count.   The fluid ultrasound will also detect polyps or cysts.  Antral follicles are a good predictor of the number of mature follicles that will be able to be stimulated in a woman's ovaries with injectible FSH medications used for IVF.  For more on this click here

Average or high number of follicles usually gets a good response with mature follicles. Pregnancy rates are higher in this case. 

When the follicle count is intermediate the response is not predictable.  This could have a high or low response.

Few follicles usually gets a poor response with few mature follicles.  Cancellation of the IVF is common here.

• I will have blood work after the fluid ultrasound.
• J called and got his MSA and STI scheduled for this week as well as infectious disease  blood work.  (sounds like something a monkey would be tested for)
• Start Birth Control Pills after blood work-taking only the active pills, throwing away the inactive pills and starting a new pack in the inactive pills place. 
• Calendar review will probably be next week.  

I am so excited to get this going!

Back in the Baby Making Game!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!   It's Thanksgiving week and first off I want to say I do have a lot to be thankful for even with my family and infertility situation.  I am thankful for my husband for being my best buddy, his mother for stepping in while my mom is, ummm...on sabbatical...i am thankful for my brother, his wife and their new baby, Peyton.  I am thankful for my beautiful new home and the wherewith all to renovate it and make it "ours".  I am blessed to have a job and even more blessed that my hubby is a month into his new job, one that he loves and I feel will offer him many wonderful opportunities.  I am thankful for my dog, Wilson and I am thankful for every person that has come across my blog, posted and even those who lurk but don't post.  :)  Last but not least I am thankful for my trip to Maui Dec 5-14
We need a vacay. 
December is the month we have been waiting for.  We finally have health insurance through Jamie's new job beginning Dec. 1st.  I contacted our Reproductive Doctor and I am eager to get started once we return from vacation.  Dr. A wants to see if he can figure out what the problem is instead of just recommending IVF like my other two RE's.  I emailed the Doctor this morning and here is the course of action for the weeks after we return...


1.  Start Provera if AF hasn't visited, once AF visits...

2.  Blood work :(

3.  AFC (Antral Follicle Count) 
What Are Antral Follicles?

Antral follicles are small follicles (about 2-8 mm in diameter) that can be seen - and measured and counted - with ultrasound.

4.  FUS (Fluid ultrasound) involves saline injection into the endometrial cavity and simultaneous transvaginal sonography to visualize the endometrial cavity. This test provides information about the pathological lesions in endometrial cavity (i.e. myomas, polyps, adhesions, and congenital anomalies) as well as limited information on tubal patency.

5.  Laparoscopy surgery - Laparoscopy is direct visualization of the peritoneal cavity, ovaries, outside of the tubes and uterus by using a laparoscopy. The laparoscopy is an instrument somewhat like a miniature telescope with a fiber optic system which brings light into the abdomen. It is about as big around as a fountain pen and twice as long.  Carbon dioxide (CO2) is put into the abdomen through a special needle that is inserted just below the navel. This gas helps to separate the organs inside the abdominal cavity, making it easier for the physician to see the reproductive organs during laparoscopy. The gas is removed at the end of the procedure.

6.  Jamie needs to schedule the MSA and SCSA (These test the male fertility, he had a Sperm Analysis a few months ago and was above average but Dr. A thinks they need to check DNA Fragmentation)  Jamie is thrilled...I'm sure!


Okay, so I am so happy to have a plan.  I am hoping insurance will cover all of these things.  Fingers crossed.  x x