This blog is about 'Mrs. Buggy's' journey through infertility: a crushing diagnosis (MFI and b.a.l.a.n.c.e.d. r.e.c.i.p.r.o.c.a.l t.r.a.n.s.l.o.c.a.t.i.o.n.), a miraculous pregnancy despite all odds, only to end in loss at 12w5d, a D&C, laproscopic surgery, and the seemingly never ending wait to undergo IVF, ICSI, and PGS.
Join me for my daily rantings as I try to put a little faith in ART, to have patience with my family and friends, and to navigate the daily bullshit that is infertility.
We've been trying to conceive for over 3 years, and now we're waiting on a February 24 due date after a successful cycle #2 of fertility treatments (IVF with PGS) in June 2011.
Excuse the language and rantings - and remember: infertility causes stress, it's not the other way around.
ivfbuggy@gmail.com
IVF+PGS Cycle #2
2011
IVF+PGS #2: Short "Flare" Protocol
April: Follow-up appointment to discuss previous cycle attempt
CD37, June 2: 10,000iu hCG 'Trigger'; Acupuncture
CD39, June 4: Egg retrieval. 10 eggies! WOOT!
CD40, June 5: Fertilization report - 9 mature; 6 of those fertilized
CD42, June 7: PGS Biopsy Date
CD43, June 8: Acupuncture; HPTs negative - no more trigger in my system
CD44, June 9: Transfer 1 Grade 5BB blast; no frosties; Acupuncture
CD55, June 21: First beta: 496
CD62, June 28: Second beta: 7283
We're Officially Pregnant! HOLY SHITBALLS!
9w0d, July 22:
FHR=174bpm
10w4d, August 2: BP=112/73 | HR=124bpm
12w3d, August 15: BP=114/70 | HR=122bpm
FHR=160bpm
15w4d, September 6: Midwife Appt. #1
BP=122/66 | HR = 110bpm | total wt. gain = 5lbs
FHR=156bpm
16w5d, September 14: Midwife Appt. #2
BP=124/60 | HR = 108bpm | total wt. gain = 4.5lbs
FHR=150bpm
18w6d, September 29: Fetal Anatomy Scan
21w5d, October 19: Midwife Appt. #3
BP=122/70 | HR = 109bpm | total wt. gain = 10.0lbs
FHR=153bpm
24w3d, November 7: 3D Ultrasound
25w6d, November 17: Midwife Appt. #4
BP=120/74 | HR = 108bpm | total weight gain = 15.2lbs
FHR=148bpm
29w6d, December 15: Midwife Appt. #5
Baby Buggy Girl, born end of February, 2012
The light of our lives is finally here
IVF & PGS Cycle #1
2011
IVF+PGS #1: Long Protocol
Cancelled: Poor Responder
January 18:Purchased 'lucky' red socks.
January 27: Another post-op re-check of L. ovary | AFC=13. Protocol Appointment. - Long Protocol
~ Here We Go: IVF|ICSI|PGS Cycle #1 ~
CD1, February 10: Marvelon Day 1
CD14, February 23: Synarel Day 1
CD21, March 2: Last Marvelon
CD24, March 5: Bleed Starts
CD26, March 7:
Bravelle 187.5iu Menopur 75iu
CD29, March 10: E2= 204pmol/L
Bravelle 225iu Menopur 150iu
CD31, March 12: E2= 655pmol/L
5R (2x14mm, 13mm, 11mm, 10mm) 1L
CD33, March 14: E2 = 1764pmol/L
1L (11mm) + 'a few' 10mm or under; confirmed endometrioma
4R (19mm, 18mm, 17mm, 16.5mm) + 'several' 10mm or under
CD34, March 15: E2 =2587pmol/L
Pulling the plug on this cycle:
poor response
Stages of Growth: 3d vs. 5d Transfer
3-DAY TRANSFER:
1dpt - embryo is growing and developing
2dpt - embryo is now a blastocyst
3dpt - blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day
4dpt - blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining
5dpt - implantation begins,as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining
6dpt - implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining
7dpt - morula is completely inmplanted in the lining and has placenta cells & fetal cells
8dpt - placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
9dpt - more HCG is produced as fetus develops
10dpt - more HCG is produced as fetus develops
11dpt - HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT
5-DAY TRANSFER:
-1dpt - embryo is growing and developing
0dpt - embryo is now a blastocyst
1dpt - blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day
2dpt - blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining
3dpt - implantation begins,as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining
4dpt - implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining
5dpt - morula is completely inmplanted in the lining and has placenta cells & fetal cells
6dpt - placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
7dpt - more HCG is produced as fetus develops
8dpt - more HCG is produced as fetus develops
9dpt - HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT
Our TTC Timeline - A Bug Odyssey
2009
July: First SA done; results are catastrophic
September: First fertility clinic appointment; Genetic testing requested for DH (karyotyping & Y micro-deletion testing); bloodwork and ultrasound for me (AFC = 13)
October: Results: DH has a balanced r.eciprocal t.ranslocation. Clinic's only option for us is IVF+ICSI+PGD. Told PGD program is in the works and should be up and running by January.
November: Several Geneticist and genetic counselling appointments; miscarriage risk in a natural pregnancy is about 50%; chances of an abnormal (Angel.man's Syn.drome) live birth to term is 10%. Chance of obtaining a natural pregnancy monthly is less than 1% with the MFI and Genetic Factors.
We are devastated.
2010
January: Contacted FC - they're passing me off to one of their competitors - their PGD program won't start for up to a year because of staffing issues. Here we go again.
February: First appointment at new clinic; prelim bloodwork
March 24: Hysterosalpingogram. Normal! Tubes open.
April: Clinic suggests saving some money if we're willing to do amnio given my tubes are open & everything's normal with me & DH's numbers have improved drastically (SPERMIE DIET!!); decide to go ahead with an IUI in May, see what happens.
May 10: Clomid IUI cancelled due to fluke natural BFP
July 10: Miscarriage, baby angel at 12w5d
Serial Betas Begin:
July 23: 155 | July 30: 79
August 5: 58 | August 16: 26
August 27: 14 | September 11: 0
August 19: Sperm sample frozen for ICSI
September 16: Hysteroscopy - retained tissue
September 21: Antral Follicle Count = 14!
September 21: Dilation & Curettage (D&C)
October 2: Fetal karyotype inconclusive on 2 tests.
October 22: Laproscopic Cystectomy - Mucinous cystadenoma
November 28: Post-op Appointment; tubes open, normal uterus, no endo present. Bloodwork: (CD5: E2-362pmol/L| FSH-4.6IU/L| Prolactin-9.0ug/L| TSH-2.4mU/L). 2nd hysteroscopy suggested.
December 13:Protocol Appointment Antral Follicle Count = 13; wait on protocol appt. GAH! 2nd hysteroscopy cancelled.
December 22: PGD Consultation Appointment with G.enesis G.enetics, Detroit MI
Skipping straight to ICSI/PGD... can't handle the possibility of another miscarriage
2011
January 17: Due date of one and only BFP
February 10: Start IVF+PGS Cycle #1, Long Protocol
March 15: Plug pulled on day 9 of stims, over-suppressed
April 6: Follow-up appointment with RE; new protocol discussed (estrogen priming, short protocol)
May 3: Appointment to orientate new protocol
May 21: IVF+PGS Cycle #2 starts
June 9: Transfer 1 genetically normal blast @ 5dpER
June 21: Beta #1, 496
June 28: Beta #2, 7283
July 22: 9weeks, =174bpm
Grab my Button
Definitions of Abbreviations
2ww: Two Week Wait
AF:Aunt Flow
A.R.T.: Assisted Reproductive Technology
BCP: Birth Control Pill
beta: Quantitative blood hCG testing
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