Friday, November 30, 2007

SHG Complete

Whew. The SHG procedure is complete.

I was super nervous - M and I walked in, there were more people in the waiting room than normal. It's funny - the waiting room - it's all these anxious couples that give you empathetic looks if you happen to catch their eyes. I wouldn't say there is a theme, it's never older women, older men, young women etc etc - it's always a nice mix which is comforting.

The lab tech asked us back and told me to strip waist down and cover myself with the infamous paper gown. I did so. M and I chatted off an on - mostly M - I was so nervous I kept putting back on my pants and running to the restroom, coming back in, undressing, then putting back on my pants and running to the restroom. It's how I deal with nervousness, my body is trained that way.

Finally, after the third run to the bathroom, I was ready. Lab tech came in and brought us into the ultrasound room and Dr. O came in. He had gotten a haircut. I know it's strange for me to notice such things when I'm about to have a catheter through my cervix, but I thought it made him look nice, younger or something.

He did an excellent job explaining exactly what he was going to do and put me at ease. He made a couple jokes which made it all go smoother as well.

On to the stirrups - I scooted to the edge of the table and in went the speculum. Similar to a pap, this stage didn't phase me (although I hate the feeling of a speculum - it's like a tire jack for your hoo-ha) - up he cranked me - and inserted the very bendable tube into my cervix. There was a slight pinch, but nothing like I'd expected. Taking the speculum out, and leaving the catheter in, he then put in the vaginal ultrasound and up pops my uterus! I'm so fond of my uterus now. I love seeing it on the screen, like a little oven it is, just waiting for baby(ies).

He pushed the saline through and we watched a black puddle forming in my womb. Pretty soon, the saline disappeared and he was surprised it had gone away so quickly. He remarked that my fallopian tubes must be 'very open' for the saline to disappear like that to which I asked "is that a good thing?" It's a very good thing he said. As he was moving the ultrasound wand, he kept remarking how he saw no lesions, no polyps, no blockages, no nothing. He then said he thought the IVF cycle was going to work out "very well".

I had a shit-eating grin on my face. I couldn't help it. Yes! Yes! Yes!

"You've got a great home for your little embryos" he said. Me, I've got a great home!!

He then checked out each ovary to see how many follicles I have growing. The more follicles the better because this is eventually what they will 'harvest' when it comes time. He counted 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 - as he kept counting higher my grin got bigger and bigger - 9,10,11,12,13,14,15 - I was ecstatic! Same amount of the right ovary. As quick as it started, it was over and he said he see me on Monday morning for my next procedure, HSG.

I did a little dance in the office when everyone left and high fived M.

Things are looking up, things are definitely looking up.

Next Step:
HSG appointment on Monday.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

And more appointments!

More Appointments:

  • Trial Transfer now scheduled for Monday 12-10

  • Consultation with Dr. O to go over HSG, SHG, and blood work, same date 12-10


  • Final Summary For This Week

    • Acupuncture Appointment on 11-28
    • SHG Procedure on 11-30
    • HSG Procedure on 12-3
    • Acupuncture Appointment on 12-3
    • Trial Transfer/SHG/HSG/blood work results and consult with Dr. O on 12-10
    • Acupuncture Appointment on 12-14

    Monday, November 26, 2007

    Appointments, Appointments, Appointments

    I called today and made the appointments, holy batman there are a lot of appointments.

    This Friday 11-30 will be the SHG procedure. This will be at my normal fertility clinic performed by Dr. O.

    Information about the SHG (sonohysterogram):

    • Evaluates my uterine cavity (my uterus has a cavity!)
    • The procedure will introduce a small volume of saline into my uterus while looking at my pelvic organs via an ultrasound. They will image my cervix, uterine cavity and ovaries.
    • Must be performed in the first half of my cycle because they want my uterine lining thin.
    • It will take 45 minutes to an hour for the whole she-bang, including walking into the doors.
    • They insert a speculum (similar to a pap) and and "clean my cervix" with betadine - they insert a catheter into the cervic/uterus and inflate a small balloon to keep it in place (there will be a balloon in my cooch!)
    • Saline is then flushed into the uterus and an ultrasound captures 3d images of my pelvic organs.
    • "This is usually painless." (I love how they use the term "usually".) (As in, if it's painful, you're a chump.)

    Then, on Monday December 3rd, I have to go to the hospital for the next procedure, called HSG (Hysterosalpingogram). I must admit, this is the procedure I am dreading. This is the one they keep saying things like "This one may hurt", "Take 3 Ib Profens before you come in", "It may pinch a little."

    Note: Any time a doctor tells me something may be "uncomfortable" or "may pinch" - I know not to screw around.

    More about this HSG procedure:

    • HSG is an x-ray examination used to determine whether the fallopian tubes are open and if the inside of the uterus is normal.
    • They insert a small tube through the cervix so that dye can be pushed into the uterus.
    • This must be done on cycle days 5-12.
    • They recommend taking at least 800mg of IB profen (say what) as "this procedure may be uncomfortable". (uh -huh)
    • They say that M won't be able to come with me during the procedure because they don't want others exposed to the radiation. (um, whattaboutme)

    Trial Transfer

    • This will be the same procedure done the day they transfer the embryos - but without the little embryos. They do this to make sure there are no problems getting the catheter into my uterus and to make sure there are no unforseen issues.
    • An "empty" (embryo-less) catheter will be inserted into my uterine cavity. They use a transabdominal ultrasound to help guide the catheter through the cervix.
    • This will be done in the fertility clinic and not the hospital and hopefully by Dr. O.
    • The shit part of it all is I have to have a FULL BLADDER for them to do this procedure. For those of you who have had to go through the hellish process of drinking tons of water for this type of thing know that this is SOOOOO uncomfortable! I remember doing this with my hernia and I had to pee so bad I was willing to pee in my pants just to let it all out. I hopped off the table and told them I needed to "let out just a little or I'd go everywhere". I never forgot that day. :-) But yeah, I do that here too.
    • They want me to drink 24 ounces or more of water a half an hour before the transfer.
    • This process takes only a couple of minutes and is "usually painless" (I love that!)
    Next Steps:

    • Schedule appointment for the Trial Transfer in between Dec 10-20th. (will do tomorrow)
    • Schedule appointment (hopefully the same day for bob's sakes) for a consult with Dr. O to go over the HSG and SHG results and blood work.

    I keep telling myself this will be all be worth it, and I know it will be. This is only the beginning and only the onset of appointments and chaos. I'm taking it in stride and although I'm balancing full time school and work, the outcome will make it all worth it.

    I decided to keep a journal to bring in with me to appointments to document what is said, what procedures are done when, the timelines associated to all of it - yes I am a Type A control freak, whatttyagonna do about it?

    Summary for the next week:

    • Acupuncture Appointment on 11-28
    • SHG Appointment on 11-30
    • HSG Procedure on 12-3
    • Acupuncture Appointment on 12-3
    • Trial Transfer/Consult 12-10-20
    • Acupuncture Appointment on 12-14

    Sunday, November 25, 2007

    Baseline Scan and Bloodwork

    Today was four vials of blood drawn and a vaginal ultrasound to determine how thick my endometrial lining is, as well as capture measurements of my uterus and ovaries. The doctor who did my US wasn't Dr. O so I was a little uncomfortable. I haven't let a male doctor anywhere near my girl bits for over a decade, but I quickly got over that when I got to see my uterus on the monitor.

    Although there's no fetus in there, it made the experience so much more real to see a couple of follicles in my ovaries as well as the lining in my uterus. M seemed to get excited as well as when I glanced over to him he had a big grin on his face and was staring at the screen. It made me happy to think this experience would be very similar to the experience we will go through when we do egg retrieval and transfer and baby check ups.

    Next Steps:

    • Call tomorrow and schedule the HSG and SHG procedures. These have to be done before I ovulate which won't happen for another couple of weeks.
    • Have both procedures done and schedule an appointment with Dr. O to discuss the results.
    • Schedule the trial transfer.
    • Relax, Relax, Relax


    In other news, I LOVED the acupuncture!! She was super rad, super open minded and I really trusted her. I've noticed the past two nights I've slept REALLY well, and I totally attribute it to the acupuncture. She started me on a Cinnamon D herbal supplement and I have at least one appointment a week until I start the hormones.