IUI #11 - Insemination Day

My husband came with me to have the IUI at 9:30am today. When we got there, we took care of the fees and picked up a package of Crinone. My husband read the instruction sheet for the progesterone and it said "Start Crinone on Monday, 1 am and 1 at bed." Suddenly I hear my husband say "You have to stay up until 1:00 am to take your medications." I looked at him and the co-ordinator and I started to laugh. I told him that the "1 am" meant take one in the morning not the time 1:00am.

My doctor is on vacation so her partner is taking care of her patients for the time being. While performing the IUI, the partner doctor mentioned that I might consider ivig and ivf if this cycle is not successful because this is my 11th IUI. Since my miscarriages are unexplained, the ivig might help reduce the risk of miscarriage. The ivig is basically human-derived antibodies (blood transfusion). The partner doctor said it's best done with ivf to increase the chances.

On our way home, my husband and I talked about it and are seriously considering it. However, we need to discuss this with our doctor after this cycle to see what her medical opinion is since she knows my history.

Anyways, I hope that the talk of ivig and ivf is moot and this insemination worked. Fingers and toes crossed.

Infertility Sucks! Part V

January 2009

- no longer taking Chinese herbal tea

February 11, 2009

We went to see the specialist that studies recurrent miscarriages. I had a blood test done at the clinic (took 8 to 10 vials) and another test done at the nearby hospital (took 8 to 10 vials).

April 23, 2009

Follow up at the specialist. The Feb. 11 test results showed elevated TSH level (may be the reason for the miscarriages). The specialist recommended low dose ASA (81mg) and for us to go back and see him when we are pregnant so they can monitor us. Took another TSH blood test and another bunch of blood tests for study purposes. Later found out that the TSH blood test came back normal.

April 2009

- stopped acupuncture

May 14 - Jun. 13, 2009 (IUI #10)

- 2.5 mg of Femera on cycle days 4 to 8, Bromocriptine 1.25mg, ASA 81mg, IUI, progesterone suppositories and Crinone

- full bladder ultrasound on May 16th (cycle day 3) to see if there are cysts before starting Femera

- blood tests on May 16th: TSH = hypo, PRL = 12, and FSH = 5.1

- forgot to take Femera on May 16th so started on May 17th (day 4)

- blood test on May 26th (day 13) showed normal TSH level

- left follicle: 2.2cm and uterus lining: 0.8cm

- IUI on May 29th (day 16)

- Jun. 11th pregnancy test was negative

Infertility Sucks! Part IV

Aug. 20 - Sep. 17, 2008 (IUI #8)

- 2.5 mg of Femera on cycle days 3 to 7, Bromocriptine 2.5mg, Metformin 500mg (3 times a day), Chinese herbal tea, acupuncture, IUI and progesterone suppositories

- HCG shot and acupuncture on Sep. 2nd (day 14)

- right follicle: 2.25cm and uterus lining: 0.1cm

- IUI on Sep. 3rd (day 15)

- Sep. 15th pregnancy test was negative

Sep. 18 - Nov. 22, 2008 (IUI #9)

- 2.5 mg of Femera on cycle days 3 to 7, Bromocriptine 2.5mg, Metformin 500mg (3 times a day), Chinese herbal tea, acupuncture, IUI, progesterone suppositories, Crinone and HCG support

- full bladder ultrasound on Sep. 20th (cycle day 3) to see if there are cysts before starting Femera

- left follicle: 2.369 cm and uterus lining: 0.8cm

- acupuncture and IUI on Sep. 30th (day 13) - Hubby came with me for the first time

- hpt on Oct. 12th - First Response showed positive - Hubby wanted reassurance so we went out and bought Clear Blue Easy to Read and it said "Pregnant"

- I cried because it finally happened. I was worried that the D+C might have had a negative effect on my chances of getting pregnant.

- blood test on Oct. 14th (cycle day 27 or 14 days past IUI) and HCG was at 123 (best result of the three pregnancies)

- stopped taking Bromocriptine on Oct. 15th (day 28)

- blood test on Oct. 16th showed HCG at approx. 300

- light brown spot on underwear on Oct. 24th (24 days past IUI)

- dark brown spotting on Oct. 25th

- light brown spotting on Oct. 26th

- blood on tissue on Oct. 27th

- ultrasound on Oct. 28th (week 4) showed sac in the uterus; picked up another bottle of HCG and 18 applicators of Crinone

- ultrasound on Nov. 7th (week 5 and 4 days) showed fetus growth rate is fine but heartbeat is a bit slow - 94 to 95 rpm

- ultrasound on Nov. 17th (week 7) did not show any heartbeat (had bloodwork done at the hospital)

- D+C on Nov. 23rd

ARRRRGH!!!