OUCH! OUIY! and OH!

Yesterday was my "trial transfer" and sonogram.  I was told this would be a quick and easy procedure and therefore I told JCH I didn't need for him to come with me for this appointment.  Boy was I eating my words while sitting in those stirrups.  OUCH!

I'm sure you're wondering (as was I) what a "trial transfer" entails.  Not everyone's anatomy is according to "text book" and come to find out mine is quite different (but we'll get to that later).  So, what they do is use a sonogram and a catheter to "find their way" through the cervix and into the uterus, basically recording the measurements along the way in order to assist with making the process go much smoother on our actual "retrieval day". 

I think this is typically an "uncomfortable" procedure.  For me it was more than uncomfortable because of my retroverted uterus which according to the doctor made navigating through MUCH more difficult (and painful).  Once the doctor would turn a corner with the catheter he would wiggle it around moving it closer and further away from the sonogram (my belly) to be sure he was documenting the measurements correctly (that was awful).  Than he would PUSH HIS WAY around another corner (which was more than awful).  Plus I should also mention that I was told to come to this appointment with a "comfortably full bladder"...sooo pretty much the entire time I felt like I was going to pee on the doctor.  *I am also told afterwards that my bladder wasn't quite as full as they want for the actual "retrieval day"...which means I'm almost guaranteed to pee on him on October 4th. "Just another day at the office...got peed on during an egg retrieval"...lol...OUIY!!!

(If you are going through this in the near future, I wouldn't fear the "trial transfer" based on my experience, I think it's typically not that bad, I just have a silly backwards uterus.)

OH! We also started looking into "sperm donors" more seriously to have as a "PLAN B" (which more than anything in this world I hope we get to stick with PLAN A) but we still must be prepared.  It was funny last night going through these guys profiles and personal essays.  Some were extremely boring and generic and some actually pretty interesting.  We've "saved" 2 profiles as potential donors-which is a HUGE STEP!! I'm pretty sure we need to have this decision made by the end of the week! I'll keep you posted- of course! :) 

Information Overload

Good Morning and Happy Monday!

I’ve been on a small work-induced hiatus—but am back and have LOTS to share!

I’ve started my 21-day cycle of birth control (as well as prenatal vitamins) and am feeling the hormones already (yes I’m sensitive).  I’ve been slightly grumpy and horribly nauseous.  My body just does not like birth control.  I’ve tried just about everything—taking different forms, taking it at different times of day, and taking it with different foods.  Small price to pay and I'm not complaining (okay maybe a little).

I’ve also been doing very well with my eating habits.  I’m down to 1 cup of coffee a day (as opposed to 3), I’ve started drinking “green monsters” every morning for breakfast, I’ve QUIT fast-food for lunch, and have been incorporating MUCH healthier dinner options with lots of VEGGIES!

JCH and I have also started a "bonding and de-stressing" regimen that involves massages and intimacy on a daily basis (tmi sorry) that we hope will keep us both in good spirits and connected throughout this whole crazy experience!

I’ve got some VERY important dates on my calendar now too!  Tomorrow, August 30^th I go in for a sonogram and a “trial transfer”.  September 8^th I will go in for an ultrasound.  September 9^th I will go in for a check-up and begin my Lupron injections (September 9^th is also one of my besties “due date”-YAY!!!).  The Lupron will help control ovulation and stimulate follicle growth—getting my body aligned and ready to do exactly what the doctors need it to do at the “perfect time”.  Beginning September 22^rd I will have a check-in appointment just about every day to check the progress of my follicles, etc.  September 23^rd is when I will begin my “stimulating meds” (more hormone injections).  AND FINALLY, THE TWO BIG DATES ARE:  October 4^th and October 7^th (as long as everything goes according to the plan).  October 4^th is “retrieval day” (sounds like a holiday).  Retrieval day scares the CRAP out of me!  Both and I will go in as patients this day.  I will be under anesthesia in order for the doctors to extract my eggs and JCH will be poked and prodded and will potentially need a biopsy to exhaust every possibility of retrieving sperm that can be used to fertilize my eggs.  If at that time sperm cannot be retrieved we will HAVE to use the sperm donor (which we still have yet to select).  October 7^th is our “implantation day” which will involve implanting the fertilized egg/s (embryos) in my uterus… and than a long 14-day wait to see if we are pregnant! 

If all goes according to our current timeline we will know whether we will be “expecting” by October 21^st (5 days after my birthday). J I’ll keep y’all posted on the “trial transfer” and “sonogram” that is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon! Wish us luck!

My Green Monster-yum!

Preparation H

Yeaaah this post has nothing to do with hemorrhoids and/or beauty queen secrets for under-eye bags….it’s about “preparing the Hoffman uterus”…I just couldn’t help myself with the bad pun. J

The doctor called yesterday to discuss birth control.  When we initially spoke about whether or not I would go on birth control to help regulate my hormones (prior to the first IVF cycle) the doctor wasn’t convinced that it was necessary.  He changed his mind.  What does this mean?  Well, the IVF cycle will be pushed back 1 more month (countdown to September 26th anyone?).  This is good news though!

Taking every precaution to ensure that implantation will be successful is wonderful news.  PLUS this gives me more time to wean my body off of caffeine—I sure am going to miss my coffee!  This also gives me more time to get my body (and womb) in prime condition.  I’ve been given some instructions and have read loads of recommendations online about what to eat, what not to eat, how much exercise is appropriate, vitamin and herbal supplements, standing on my head twice a day…okay that part isn’t true…but there really are so many superstitions out there!

A BIG change that I am trying to make is eating better!  I’m supposed to stick to “lean meats-with about 60g of protein a day and lots of fruits, veggies and H²O”.  I’m supposed to stay away from “chocolates, processed foods and foods with high sugar content”.  Sadly, processed foods are a huge percentage of my food intake—I know, terrible.  Another hurdle here is cooking for two people with very different recommended diets.  John has been eating meat and potatoes as a diet regimen his whole life and I’ve catered to that, now I need to cater to my uterus!

PLEASE share any recipes and raw vegetable dishes that you enjoy that may be helpful to the Hoffman household and wish us luck with this new endeavor!

Oh yes, and I should be receiving my custom protocol (day-by-day “play book” of what appointments will be necessary once I begin my period in September and what will happen at each appointment) in the next week or so…sooo stayed tuned for the fine details of the upcoming processes. 

TWO "not so easy" STEPS

Because the fertility center is treating both JCH and I as “patients” they will be testing and prepping us simultaneously leading up to fertilization.  Last week prior to leaving my HSG appointment the doctor asked me what our “plan b” is.  I told him that JCH and I had just briefly discussed using donor sperm, but that we would prefer to “cross that bridge” when we get there.  To my dismay that is not a recommended path.  There will be a very small window where my eggs will be ready to be fertilized and they will need sperm.  At that point, they will go to JCH to perform a biopsy of his testicles (which will hopefully produce viable sperm).  If they cannot get viable sperm from JCH they will need to implement “plan b”.  If we don’t have a “plan b” they can always freeze my eggs, but that was not something they encouraged as they only preferred to go that route in emergency cases.  Which brings me to “not so easy” step 1…choosing our “plan b” (donor sperm).

How might one find donor sperm you ask?  Check it out for yourself, it’s (for lack of a better word) FREAKY! http://www.cryobank.com/ You can choose based on ethnicity, hair color, hobbies or religious beliefs, or you can send in a picture of your spouse and they will match facial features to those of the donor sperm to find a close match.  You can even listen to a recording of the sperm donor answer questions about themselves.  Yes, I admit, I have looked at it.  But I have yet to sit down and have a serious conversation with JCH about choosing our donor sperm.  How would you choose?

So what is “not so easy” step 2?  Prepping my body.  (Remember I’m slightly OCD)  No coffee, no alcohol, no pharmaceuticals, no over-the-counter medications (remember my family who truly believe I’m a hypochondriac), less processed foods, more fruits and vegetables, prenatal vitamins, and a much stronger work-out regimen (and this is only my “common sense” list, not the doctor recommended version).  NO COFFEE?? Yeah, that’s going to be rough for a few weeks.  And what will happen to my acid reflux without taking my Nexium? These are minor worries. NOW “insert” (pun intended) hormone injections.  Lupron, Dexamethasone, Gonotropins, HCG, low dose HCG, doxycycline, progesterone, and Vivelle.  It’s crazy but each of these hormones play a very special role in a very time-sensitive manner.  If you’re interested in learning about the functions of each, shoot me an email, I’ll be glad to share! 

Within a week or so, I should be receiving our “protocol” from the Fertility Center, in which case we will know exactly when we will begin…but if all goes according to plan.. “there should be no reason we can’t start our first cycle with the start of your next period” (doctors words).  p.s. I’m expecting a visit from Aunt Flow around August 28^th.  Let the count down begin! 18 days!

To “B” or Not To “B”

The much anticipated HSG was a “walk in the park” yesterday compared to the unexpected news from my doctor that followed.  I’ll get to the HSG later, as my attention is now focused on a much bigger matter.  So let’s just get down to the bottom of this.  The doctor notified me that my blood work had come back and that my results showed “positive” for Hepatitis B!

Pause for “gasp”

YES, HEPATITIS B!!!!  I’m not judging other people but those who know me would agree with me when I say that anything starting with “hepatitis” was seriously NEVER (I can’t stress that enough) something I would consider myself “at risk” for!  Another important detail in this matter was that Hepatitis B is primarily a Sexually Transmitted Disease and JCH’s (husband) blood work came back negative for Hepatitis B (and yes, we have consummated our marriage).

Before you get yourself in a tizzy about this, like I did yesterday (my eyes are still swollen from crying) I am pleased to inform you that the new blood work came back today and I DO NOT have Hepatitis B!  THANK GOD!  Makes me want to shout from the rooftops, kiss a baby, and than go home and pop a bottle of bubbly with my husband (as a matter of fact-I think I will).   

Back to the HSG:  For those who are curious, it wasn’t much worse than a “standard” OB visit except a little more discomfort than usual and slight cramping for a few hours afterwards.  Also worth mentioning, the doctor said my uterus was “perfection” (his words) and was giddy to have such a “beautiful” (his words again) uterus to “work with”.   I’m still much jumbled over this and not sure how to wrap this one up….

I will open the floor for discussion now…

**shout out to WO for the title

Much Ado About Nothing

A hysterosalpingogram (HSG for short) is a non-invasive procedure performed with a SPECIAL X-RAY machine.  It is used to detect blockages of the fallopian tubes and disorders or structural problems within the uterus.  A small catheter is placed at the cervix and dye is slowly injected.  The flow of dye through the uterus and out of the tubes is studied with the X-RAY machine. 

Today is my scheduled HSG and I am much more anxious than I ever was on my first day of school, for any dance recital, or starting a new job!  An HSG doesn’t sound that bad, right? Why have I worried myself sick about it than you may ask.  My husband and close friends say that I am a “big baby” and my mother and sisters will go even further than that and call me a “head case” or “hypochondriac” (this is our way of showing love and compassion-lol).  MIND OVER MATTER, right? Yeah, not that easy for me!  I know it’s not a big deal, but my body responds differently nevertheless.  My palms are already sweating, my heart rate is probably slightly elevated, and I’ve been sick to my stomach since I woke up this morning (I realize this is ridiculous-just so you know).

----------> He takes good care of me :)

You also are probably laughing to yourself, thinking about the much more difficult and scary things ahead of me. YES, I know that too, and if you stay tuned you’ll see that my sweaty palms aren’t going anywhere!  Wish me luck today! :P