We've got the drugs and funds, but do we have the goods?

My medicine came in the mail last week. I ordered very in advance, but that's just how I roll. The total came out to a couple hundred, which didn't put as big of a dent in our savings as our first go around. Thank goodness! I'm a little weirded out about the vaginal inserts my doctor prescribed, but I guess I'll get through it. Heck, nothing can be worse than shots, especially those darn PIO ones!

The loan increase through Springstone Patient Financing was approved and the funds have been dispersed to RSC for our FET. If any of you need a loan for infertility treatment, I've had a wonderful experience with Springstone. Great customer service, prompt responses and very reasonable rates (for individuals with good credit, but that's how most loans are).

So, everything is a go! Everything is in place for next month. :)

It gives me a sense of peace knowing everything is done. I'm easily stressed (I know, not a very good quality!), so knowing that I don't have to rush in making sure I have all my medicine or I don't have to worry about my doctor not receiving the funds in time really puts my heart at ease.

Anything to put my heart at ease during a time that puts so much strain on my heart definitely helps!

So, as my title points out...we've got the drugs and funds, but do we have the goods? Even though everything is, yet again, falling into place nicely, will my body accept these embryos? Or, like last time, will my body not quite be ready for them?

These embryos deserve a shot at life, and you better believe that Aaron, Ella and I have a beautiful, wonderful life waiting for them! Now, if only those little bundles of cells, holding so much promise and joy, can burrow themselves in and stick around for 9 months and beyond (did I make you think of "Toy Story" just now? LOL!!!).

Presenting...Cycle Day 1!!!

My period started! A whoppin' 12 days late, at that! But, it's finally here!!! :)

Never thought I'd ever be so relieved to have my period arrive, but I truly am. After receiving the blood test confirmation that I wasn't pregnant, each day just dragged by, intensifying with PMS, so I'm grateful it's here.

So now, to disclose our plan of attack!

We officially decided we want to move forward with our FET next cycle, though!

My next period could will be my last period of 2011!!! :)

And, in case you are interested, my FET protocol is as follows:

• Start Estrace pills on day 2 of full flow. I will take two of them twice a day, and then insert one vaginally at night, as opposed to just taking one twice a day. Because, if you remember, my doctor wants my uterine lining to be thicker this time around, and estrogen (Estrace) is just the hormone to do that!

• 9 to 12 days after taking the Estrace pills, I will go in for an ultrasound to check my uterine lining and my all-important progesterone and estrogen levels. If everything looks good, the FET would then be scheduled for the following week. If the doctor isn't too excited about my uterine lining, the FET may be pushed back a week or so.

• Once the day for our FET is set, I will begin *gulp* the progesterone in oil (PIO) injections (yes, those are the honkin' needles that go straight into my behind!) and the tablets that I will insert vaginally. For whatever reason, the doctor thinks both forms of progesterone are necessary, so I'm going to ask why.

And lastly, here is a breakdown of the medicine required for my FET:

1. Estrace/Estradiol tablets
2. Aspirin
3. Progesterone in oil
4. Premetrium (vaginal inserts)
5. Doxycycline
6. Medrol

I still have some Estrace tablets and Aspirin leftover, but probably not enough for the entire cycle. And, unfortunately, even though I have PIO leftover, after puncture it is only good for 30 days. So, everything else will have to be purchased. I don't think we'll end up having to fork out that much, since Menopur and Follistim, the money-sucking wallet emptiers, are not required for a FET. Woo hoo!!!

So, there you have it...

Aaron and I will begin the rollercoaster all over again in early March. Are you ready? I know I am! :)

Acupuncture Clarification

I had sent my IVF nurse an e-mail late Friday afternoon asking for clarity about what the acupuncturist told me. I mean, who in their right mind would tell an infertile couple that IVF will work...over 100% chance of success, in fact! It's just not right to give a couple the false hope that IVF is fool proof and there's basically no chance we're going to walk away without a pregnancy.

Dr. Weckstein called me back and said that, although there is some correlation between IVF success and acupuncture, it is not definitive and it by no means increases my chance of success by 65%. He said he couldn't even confidently tell me that acupuncture would bump it up by 10%.

However, he did tell us that having acupuncture treatment before and after the egg transfer is a good idea and highly recommends that.

I'm scheduled to have my first acupuncture treatment the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is also when I go in for my baseline sonogram. Depending on how I like it (which I'm sure I will!) will determine how many sessions I go to. The office is very willing to work with my schedule because I'm coming from so far away, and will squeeze me in when I'm in town for my sonograms and blood work.

The only downfall is Nuture Acupuncture is not a provider, so my insurance will only cover $25.00 for each visit, leaving me a balance of $60.00 per session (since each session is $85.00). Yikes! That can add up quickly.

But hey, I want to do things "right" (if there is such a thing), so as to avoid any doubts or "What ifs?" in case our first IVF is not a success. And really, what's a couple more hundred dollars when we're already forking out so much as it is? :)

On a side note, I'm getting sick. So, please pray that I start feeling better quickly. I want my body to not have to focus its energy on fighting off a cold when it should be focusing all its energy on growing some healthy follicles!

I start my first series of shots on Thursday. Yippee? :)

Information Overload

We met with our acupuncturist at Nuture Acupuncture today, who gave us information overload.

We went to our IVF class at RSC Bay Area, where we received information overload.

And all of my IVF medication was delivered, and you guessed right! INFORMATION OVERLOAD!

I'm mentally exhausted, to say the least.

Aaron, on the other hand, seems to be taking in everything much better than I am. He says that's why it's so awesome to be a man. I guess I take more time to process everything. To digest all the whos, whats, whens, wheres, whys and hows.

Who (Aaron or me) will be giving me what injections. When do I need to take what medication and where do I inject which shot? Why do I take certain medicines on certain days and how on earth am I going to keep everything straight?

All those questions were answered at our IVF class this morning. And I learned more than ever how much of a godsend my IVF calendar really is!

The IVF class went really well. The other couple there seemed much more knowledgable with everything, which made me feel like a total goof. Aaron enjoyed playing with the Follistim Pen and injecting the plastic belly on the table. (At one point, I think he had the entire belly in his hands and was bouncing it around!).

He was really good (like, surprisingly amazing) at filling the hypodermic needles with the vials of medicine. I, on the other hand, made it look far more difficult that it really is. So, we've decided that Aaron's going to prep everything for me and I'll do the actual injecting (while Aaron closes his eyes in the corner...scaredy cat!)

That is, until I need the progresterone shots after the egg transfer...those needles are long and thick and need to go right in my booty! (The doctor literally draws target circles where Aaron will need to inject me so there is no chance of messing up!). All other shots seem like a piece of cake now that I've seen the monstrosity of these progesterone needles. Lord, give me strength!

Among many facts I took away from the IVF class, the one that most sticks in my mind is when I was told that all five IVF doctors meet together in the conference room for lunch everyday to discuss each of our cases and exchange opinions and ideas for treatment.  We have highly trained medical doctors talking about our case, looking at our file, and discussing what they all believe is best for us. I love how special they make us feel at this office. They all have our best interest at heart. So, not only do we have five doctors working for us, it also means that if our egg transfer happens to land on a day when our main doctor is not in the office, the doctor standing in would be just as familiar with our case, despite me never having met him or her.

The acupuncturist we met was very informative. She gave us some important pointers to remember and recommends me going through an "aggressive" series of acupuncture treatment, since I will be squeezing it all in within the next few weeks before the egg transfer. I'm really hoping acupuncture reveals itself to be as amazing as people have made it out to be. Total, I think I will have five visits...three before the egg transfer and then two the day of the transfer (before and after).

Something that caught Aaron and I off guard was something the acupuncturist said. She said that acupuncture alone increases the IVF success rate by 65%!

Aaron's response, "Oh, that's 5% higher than the 60% estimated chance of success Dr. Weckstein gave us."

The acupuncturist then said, "No, it's 65% on top of that 60%. So, in other words, you have over 100% chance of success this will work."

How is that possible??? Anybody have any insight on this? I'm cautiously going to accept her confidence because I have my doubts. I consulted "Dr. Google" and found many articles showing there is evidence that acupuncture does, in fact, increase the chances by 65%, but I still stand in disbelief.

As for the medication...well, here's a picture of all the goods. :)

Here's a picture with the Follistim (upper right). I forgot it was in the fridge when I took the earlier picture. And it shows you the Follistim Pen I will be using (and Aaron will be playing with). :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Thanksgiving sure is creeping up on us. I don't know about you all, but I'm excited for the holiday. I have much in my life that I'm thankful for. :)

Things Feel More Real

I was told once I got my calendar that IVF would feel more real. So true! I got my outlined calendar from my IVF nurse a couple days ago and seeing it makes this whole process seem more real. I can cross off each day, knowing I'm moving closer to our final destination...our baby!

Go ahead and click on the calendar below to get a closer look.

As you can see, we will be finding out if we're pregnant just around Christmas! This Christmas has potential to be the best Christmas of our lives!

I have been telling Aaron to hug me everyday and remind me that it will work. I'm a realist, by nature, and generally that means being a pessimist, too. Aaron is quite the opposite. He's a realist, but he's realistic in the sense that he won't worry until there's something to worry about. Right now, he's so convinced that IVF will work the first time, and hearing and seeing his confidence makes me feel more confident!

Dr. Weckstein prescribed all the drugs you see labeled on the calendar. Walgreens Speciality Pharmacy called me and broke down the cost for everything for this cycle. If my body reacts to the medication as expected and we don't need to purchase any more, our grand total will only be $3,200. We were told our medications would end up being between $3,000 and $5,000, so we're happy and relieved our prescription expenses may be at the bottom end of that range. Phew!

I had blood work done yesterday to monitor my estradiol and FSH levels. This will be the first of many confrontations with needles in the coming weeks. With having to give myself shots (yikes!) to continually have my blood levels monitored to acupuncture, needles are going to become my best friend...hopefully.

I also started the birth control pill last night. :)

I guess that's all to report today. I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! Remember we get an extra hour of sleep tonight. I don't know about you all, but that extra hour makes all the difference in the world! :)