Took 4 speculums. I told him if this last one doesn’t work, you might just have to go to the corner store for more. 😀 Apparently my cervix was reaallllly up high.
Three of the ugliest embryoes you ever did see are now in me- best one is “fair”. Beta on the 21st. I’m on 24 hour bedrest. Progesterone suppositories are not as messy as I feared. My pharmacy has been making them for my clinic since the late 70s! Suckers are a dollar each- 2x a day.

Well, my embryos took a down turn. One never started dividing and is gone. I think she said 2 were 3 cells and another a 4 cell. The 1 4 cell is the only one where it should be but the 3 cells aren’t out of the game yet.
Transfer today at 3:30. *Fingers crossed that they perk up by then*

I feel SO much better today, thank goodness! Yesterday was rough!
My clinic has a 66% fertilization rate so I expected to lose an egg or two overnight… but all 4 made it! Dr Embryologist says they all look great! I can’t believe it! My 2 day “we’ll transfer whatever we get” has turned into a 3 day transfer to see if any look better than the rest. I have a feeling my RE does not want to transfer 4 back. Too much risk for multiples.
I am over the moon! Wheee!
I’ll get another egg report tomorrow morning.
Such good fertilization makes me wonder what the heck went wrong during all those IUIs? If my only problem is implantation then IVF isn’t any better than IUI.

Wow, do I hurt! Like a c-section but without the prickly staples!!! They got 4 eggs! 😀 I’ll find out tomorrow how many fertilize and how they look.
Apparently I’m chatty when put under… who me???? Haha. I talked through the entire thing…mostly about their ugly elevator!! I had the best anesthesiologist EVER… he even numbed my hand before putting in the IV. He told me he has 20 year old IVF triplets. I didn’t realize it was even over and I had fallen asleep until I felt a few twinges and people started telling me how things went…lol. I don’t even recall any of the doctors, besides the anesthesiologist, ever even entering the room. The procedure itself was completely painless. My nurse was absolutely wonderful too- the rare combinationn of sympathetic, smart AND funny!
I was gobsmacked a couple days ago when my RE expressed doubt that they’d be able to even reach my left ovary (if it isn’t near where the ultrasound machine goes, they can’t reach it because the needles are attached to it). I can now tell they did some pretty severe pushing to reach it!!! I had 5 follicles (#5 was found again!) and 4 contained eggs. And Jen is very happy so far!

Well, we just killed off our credit card.
Right: 20, 19.5, 14.5 up from 16, 15, 13 yesterday
Left: 15 (lost the other or we couldn’t see it) up from 13.5
Dr expressed doubt on whether they’ll be able to reach my left ovary during retrieval. Bottom line is I’ll have anywhere from 2-4 ready follicles and hopefully each with have a mature egg.
I trigger with an Ovidrel shot tomorrow at 9pm. I start antibiotics on Sunday. I go in Monday early a.m. for retrieval. I have a rx for vicodin- anyone ever taken it before? How long does a dose last? I’ll be on oh so lovely progesterone vaginal suppositories too. YAK! On Wednesday I’ll get whatever fertilizes and starts dividing put back in. A 2 day transfer.
Puh-lease may there be something to put back in. I get sick when I think that they could not find any.

Right side: 16, 15, 13 (CD12 was 13.5, 13, 12) and 1 tiny… so I guess I lost 3 tinies.
Left side: 13.5, 12 (CD12 was only an 8)… so one must’ve been hidden.
Sheesh- slow growing! I am happy that they are all within 4 mm of each other. My terms were we have at least 3 mature enough to expect an egg to continue with retrieval, so we still have at least 2 days before trigger. I go back tomorrow for yet another ultrasound.

Right- 13.5, 13, 12mm and 4 much smaller ones
Left- which actually is more tender and terribly hard to locate- 8mm Just the one. Really surprised me!
So, I’m thrilled to have made 8 so far- my record to date. I am happy that I don’t have just a single lead follicle but unhappy that there is definitely a larger first pack and a second group that’s a little further behind than I would like. I just don’t know what the odds are of 7 and 8 mm follicles being at least 16 by trigger time.
I go back on Thursday for another check.

IVF Clomid cycle is $2517.00 This price includes Retrieval and embryo transfer. ***OMG That’s $2,000 cheaper!!***
Anesthesiologist- between $450-$500
Regular IVF-$3659, + additional $880 for embryo transfer ($4539)
$500 cryopreservation- freeze any embryos (won’t happen)
$150 for storage for embryos/charge every 6 months, the price will increase to $500/every 6 months (definitely won’t happen)

CD 1. This morning was my baseline ultrasound- all clear, no cysts. They also did the uterine measurement “mock transfer”. My uterus is 80 mm to the top if that means anything to anyone. 😛 Somehow this only cost me $150?!
Start Clomid tomorrow, on cycle day 2 (I found out the earlier, the more follicles but if you accidently take it too early it can cause weeks of bleeding. That’s why they tell you take it days 3-7. Three days into your period is a good safe zone. And with IUIs, they don’t want as many follicles as possible as you do with IVF.) My dose was upped to 200 mg. RE said a good estimate is for 2/3 of the eggs retrieved to make it to embryos. I’ll most probably have a day 2 transfer since there is no point in waiting when whatever we get will go back in.
The dr confirmed that a minimal stimulation retrieval would cost less but he had no clue how much. The top billing lady was out to lunch so I am waiting for a call or email from her. He said an anesthesiologist would run about $450 + $75 in meds. I could do it with valium and vicodin but he doesn’t recommend it. I am waiting for confirmation on that price too. They want to keep the room sterile so they ask for nobody with us during retrieval… and I won’t quite be asleep but close to it.
I have my first follicle ultrasound on CD 12… Tuesday, Sept 1. I need to still make that appt.

Tomorrow is either CD 1 or 2… depending on if my body gets in gear or not today. Regardless, I have a baseline ultrasound and uterine measurement appointment tomorrow at 11:00… and lots of questions to ask.
Thanks, Christopher for babysitting. 😀