Mar 26, 2010

cycle 29 (2nd IVF) - I have 3 again

I have received three of my well developing 8-cells embryos back into my womb on March 25. Though March 26 was the best recommended day - by my Bazi consultant as the day had both of my favorable elements: wood and water - i didn't opted for it because doc had advised me not to let my living embryos exposed to the outside world for more than three days. Clinically proven that surviving embryos thrive best in the nature-made environment of a woman's womb.
My consultant helped me to settled on March 25 as second best - having wood but sitting on Earth (unfavorable). Well, i had to resolved that March 25 was the better option than to March 24 as it was a month-breaker day though both of the day elements suited me too. Better heed the consultant - didn't think Month-breaker was lesser than my IVF investment.
True enough, the embryo-transfer went very well. I was bizarrely craving for chicken chop when i was discharged from the hospital at noon. It should be a good sign.
The fact that i craved food was yet a significant change of luck in this second IVF attempt because i simply suffered NO OHSS! That alone was something to be celebrated. Why, because i did not wallow in great stomach discontent - that had blown up my stomach to a 6-month pregnant belly - and breathing difficulty. I got to eat all my meals like usual. I am still wearing my jean and fitting Ts. And most crucial of all, i won't be spending extra RM960 for any albumin to flush OHSS and i WILL BE getting my progesterone jabs every fourth day - yeah!
Well, there was also a little set back - i didn't produce enough quality eggs to be frozen for next future use. I produced fifteen eggs on the first IVF. This round i'd only managed to produce six eggs. I guess that was what i had to be balanced with - less eggs = no OHSS...sigh.
Freezing the extra eggs can help to reduce the time and money of the pre-IVF journey if i were to want more babies in the future. Its a technology to be marveled. Alas, i couldn't benefit from it.
On day two, two of my embryos died at four-cells. When the embryologist broke the news, my knees got weak - i mean that'd left a balance of only four embryos to chance. Many negative notions flashed through my brain, what if they didn't do well and i had to start the injections all over again?
Somehow, my luck got a little up tide. When i checked in for transfer procedure, the embryologist announced that the fourth one died too but there were three very strong eight-cells fella still thriving. And they were growing as per schedule.
But this time, the embryologist said their monitor was not functioning well so they couldn't let me see the images of my embryos. How coincident? Why did i get the feeling that they didn't want this informed patient poking her nose too much into their procedure? Could the doc regretted to let me keep the image of my embryos during the first IVF? Sniff, sniff... i am tormenting myself now with negative thoughts about the doc's motive. Hopefully they didn't lie to me that my embryos were not showing well and they wouldn't want me to cancel last minute... gua.
Sigh.... i'd better stop musing with the negatives and start focusing the positive. I need to start observing physical signs - doc said my embryos should be starting to implant this Saturday or Sunday.
So now, off i go to lie on my couch again. Want to see the real image of a couch potato? That's me!

Mar 7, 2010

cycle 29 (2nd IVF) - Hormones gone haywire

MySpaceI am seventh day late and i still don't see even a red spot.

Why life has to torment me this way; i saw red at the times when i would give anything in the world to NOT see it, and now i don't see even a red dot when i am unbelievably panting for it. Can life get anymore bizarre than mine?

Ideally, i should have waited for at least an interval month rest before embarking on second IVF. This rest would help my body to retune itself to its natural cycle. Because i was too eager to meet my tiger-baby deadline, because i was and still am feeling healthy and robustious, i made the decision last month to not waste more time idly when my body - based on my theory - is still being under the control of medications. Might as well to continue diffusing my brain further while my body is still able to take on IVF procedures.

But i am supposed to menstruate seven days ago. With its absence for the seventh day, i am less calm as i had been last week. My chin is severely battered with acne eruptions - something i don't get unless there's a hormonal disturbance to my system. Some websites even sited that this is a sign of increase androgen (male hormones) in my system. Wow, i am more mainly now? But i actually felt more beautiful than myself in the whole of last year. My hair less frizzy, it's got more weight. Hmm, if its true, it certainly can help to explain the slightly raised passion-on-bed in February. - more than any other month for the past ten months.

The delay is probably due to the daily Suprefact jabs that i have been taking at home since Feb 23. Out of curiosity, i did a quick search on the internet and discovered it is also referred as the widely known Lupron that i have been reading about all along before.

Lupron suppresses the communications between my little pituitary gland, on the back of my lower brain, with my ovaries. When there's no communications going on, my ovaries do not receive order to manufacture eggs that would eventually lead to spontaneous ovulation like a normal cycle would. When Lupron takes over the wheel, it sort of temporarily immobile the autopilot function of m body while waiting for a newly appointed captain to take office so that he, my doctor, can manually pilot my body according to his schedule and strategies. Hah! did i got that right? I hope so.

Hmm, hypothetically, my pituitary gland should be well suppressed by now judging from the absence of menses, as some websites did explained that patient would sometimes get a period but not always. See? It said not always. So i should be one the norm, i guess. I should relax a little.

Doc advised if i don't get menses in the next two days, he would give me medication to flush it. And that is something new! I didn't know there's something available to induce menses. Wow, science marvel. But doc would also need to run a blood test and ultrasound then to verify the status of my pituitary suppression before he could advise on starting FSH.

At this junction, seems like my timing has gone a little off track. This could sidetrack my aim to achieve pregnancy by March 15 and hey.., my fervent hope to get these little darlings delivered on Nov 15 if they could stay in full nine months.

On a light note, this sidetrack could mean that i might be endowed with a surpassing treat - for all the torments i endured and unbending perseverance the last twenty nine months -my babies to be born close to Christmas!! (my heart sings already....)