New RE - Medical Evaluation

Things are beginning to happen again as we gear up for a second attempt at helping my IPs (GSx3) add to their family.

 While on hold, IM cycled late May with the new RE to create some more embryos for our next try.  The stim and retrieval process was hard on her this time around both physically and mentally.  The new protocol was a bit more aggressive and she was also doing acupuncture in hopes for several mature eggs.  It didn't bring significantly different results but, they do now have one frozen little totsicle for our upcoming transfer.  We will be cycling simultaneously for our next IVF cycle and hoping to have fresh embryos to work with in addition to the one frozen.

I had my first visit and screening with the new RE this past week (Advanced Reproductive Center). Although this office offers monitoring for local surrogates & egg donors working with other clinics, it doesn't do very many surrogacy cases first hand.  The advantage to this office however, it is very personal and we will get a lot of individual attention - much different than the cattle call at the previous clinic.  Dr. Deutch was impressed with my knowledge of the IVF process and my very specific questions regarding his protocol.  I should certainly hope I know what I'm talking about, this will be my eighth IVF cycle!  LOL  I am familiar with all the meds and steps we will be taking and was comfortable with everything he explained.  We did a quick history and physical, bloodwork and an ultrasound. 

Image of an adhesion,
Similar to what we saw on u/s but
more dense here.

He did note "something" in my uterus that he wants to check out further by doing a hysteroscopy (scope w/camera). I've previously only had a saline u/s (sonohystrography/SIS) so this is a little new. He wants to rule out that it's an adhesion or scar tissue. The white line clearly went from the top to the bottom of the fluid pocket that's present in my uterus due to being mid period. I know for certain it wasn't there prior to our last cycle in February, so I'm doubtful that it is scar tissue considering in the last several months I haven't had a D&C or inter-uterine infection. I'm only on CD2 so it could just be dense clotted menstrual blood/fluid.  I'm pretty confident that's all it is and he was leaning towards that as well but, wants to rule it out for sure.

After returning home I did a some more research on the hysterscopy procedure and it's a bit more invasive than I originally thought.  It usually requires general anesthesia in a hospital setting.  It's similar to a D&C minus the curettage part, unless they discover something that needs to be removed and then they'd address that as well.  I am going to advocate that we do another u/s after my period is over to reevaluate.  I'd hate to go through something classified as a surgical procedure that may be unnecessary, causing me discomfort and my IPs additional expenses.  My insurance may not cover what would be considered a procedure to treat an "infertility" issue that has been diagnosed by the RE.

I've shared my concerns with IM and she and the RE will discuss and decide our next step.  Fingers crossed that this will be nothing and we will still be on target for a mid September transfer.

Medical Screening COMPLETE!!!

I had an appointment at the RE's office today...first off can I just say that driving into Chicago no longer fills me with anxiety...today was a breeze!!! Not ready to start driving cab downtown for extra income or anything but I can get to and from the RE's no problem.

I was able to meet Dr. TurKaspa and he shared a bunch of cycling information (mostly details I already knew thanks to my AAS ladies), some IVF statistics and discussed the process in detail. I did ask him about the mock cycle and I was happy to learn, he doesn't find it necessary. He said if I wasn't responding to the medications as wanted we could freeze any embryos and change the protocol. That should speed things up considerably if we don't need to do a mock cycle. He also said he uses the progesterone suppositories vs. the injections...that was good news for me (or shall I say for my rear end....LOL). I've read about some having reactions to the suppositories though so I might need to do a bit of research.

The hysteroscopy went great, uterus checked out good and everything is a go there. It was easy peasy, maybe a bit uncomfy, a little cramping and pressure but that is it. I'm on an antibiotic for the next three days to ward off any infection since they were probing around in there but it really was rather simple.

Dr. TurKaspa said to contact him after contracts are complete so we can work on med. schedules and set a transfer date.

Next step of course is meeting with our lawyers to do agreements/contracts. I talked with our lawyer today, Jason and I were to have an appt with her coming up on the 22nd but she is still awaiting an agreement from my IPs lawyer. Depending on when an agreement is drawn up we can proceed here, however she was doubtful that would be by the 22nd so our appointment will likely be rescheduled and pushed back a bit.

That's about all to report. Very excited to be moving forward and once contracts are done it really becomes "official". Can't wait to seal the deal and be on our way to making a baby (or two) for A&T!!!

Ugh, she is a WITCH

Why do things have to be complicated when they shouldn't be?

So here all along I was worried that AF would be early and just the opposite happens...she was LATE!!! Ideally Sat/Sun would have been perfect for her arrival, why then did she wait till today (Tuesday) 4 days overdue? So here I am with an appt with the RE tomorrow morning which was supposed to be somewhere in the window of CD 2-5 and here we are just barely making it. I'm hesitant to make the 2 hour drive to Chicago when really I'm not gonna be on CD 2 however, I've been told that as long as the flow is "normal" I should be ok and results for the b/w should be accurate. :unsure:

I've decided I'll call the office in the AM and talk to the Dr on call before driving into the city. I don't want to call now considering it is C'mas night and I hate to bother anyone with a stupid cycle question.

If tomorrow doesn't work out I'm hoping I can find a sub for my daycare Thursday and that the RE can see me that day as well. If not were pushed back to late Jan since Friday is a no go for me and then we are smack dab in the middle of another weekend/holiday. I'm guessing they have Sat appts though....maybe that will work ok???

If tomorrow works IM and I are meeting up for lunch/coffee afterwards. I've decided to take my oldest DD Brie (13) along with as a travel companion and I'm excited to spend the day in Chicago with her and also have IM meet her too.