Yesterday I had my first round of major pre-screening tests. I had already done some bloodwork and the spit test, but yesterday was to check for something important - eggs. The bloodwork was the same as any other time - I have no problem giving blood. However, the ultrasound was just a bit uncomfortable. I know throughout this process I'll lose my sense of modesty surrounding exams and tests, but I'm not there yet.
I started out pretty panicked about things, but they got better and everything's fine. I'm going to state that ahead of time. The ultrasound technician saw a cyst on my ovary but said the size means it's normal and they can occur every month before your body absorbs the unused follicles. But, because of the cyst she said that there were 5 follicles in my left ovary (Yay!), but couldn't see more than 2 on the right but the bloodwork would tell us more. Okay, I can deal with that, but slightly worried at this point. Off to work I go, just a couple of hours late.
A little before two, our nurse Debbie called with test results. She explained everything and said it should all be fine but all I heard in her five minutes of talking was "outside the normal range." My estrogen level was at 84 and at this point in my cycle normal is 50 or less. The only thing I half-heard was that it was probably due to the cyst as they generate estrogen but it shouldn't be there at this stage in my cycle. Ahhhh, panic moment!!!!!!!! I was in tears and she explained things multiple times that it was fine, cysts are on 50% of the women they see, and that it shouldn't affect the process at all. I shouldn't be worrying about something so minor and could discuss it in detail with Dr. Saffan at our follow-up appointment (April 19). Maybe it's just me, but I don't like hearing something is "outside of the normal range" and have to wait a month to discuss it with the doctor. I said something to Debbie about it being a bad process and eventually she talked me out of my panic and I got off the phone, but knew I would worry about it for the next month. She is one of the most patient human beings I have ever met and I feel bad that she has to put up with my paranoias on all of this! Also, as a side note, the 8 follicles that were seen falls within normal limits so that was one worry that did go away from earlier in the day.
Right before I left work, I got another call - this time from Dr. Saffan. Debbie had told him how panicked I was and he made it a point to take five minutes to call and reassure me. This made a WORLD of difference!!! He explained that what the test told him and why I was "outside of the normal range" is because I ovulate earlier in my cycle than normal. All this will mean for our process is a matter of timing in which days things are done. That was all I needed to hear to feel better about things. There's something reassuring when medical jargon is given in lay terms to a person by a doctor. This is what is wrong, this is what it means, this is what will happen. I KNOW we picked the right facility when both Debbie and Dr. Saffan went the extra mile to make sure I was comfortable with the information and to keep me from worrying about it for a month. It's amazing what a difference that five minute phone call made.
And, it turns out, that's "normal" for me to ovulate early. Apparently my mom does too which she realized after taking a while to conceive the first time around and based on a miscarriage that she had with a pregnancy that was unexpected based on timing. The doctors deduced that she ovulates early and apparently that was passed on to me. I found this out when I told her all about my day on the way home from work.
I'm learning all sorts of stuff in this process... including how to control my emotions a little better with Dennis as coming off of the meds. I'm getting better, but still need to work on it...
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Consult with Shady Grove
We were supposed to have two consults on Friday: one with Shady Grove and one with VA Reproductive. Our first consult was with Dr. Saffan at Shady Grove and we were so happy with them that we just cancelled the other appointment, which was a blessing in disguise (more on that later).
Dr. Saffan is a straight-to-the-point, realist that we clicked with automatically. He gives his opinion, gives scientific fact, points out various religious and moral factors in various stages, and does so in a way that makes you feel comfortable. There was an overwhelming amount of information, but he never made us feel like we couldn't ask questions. Some of my fears of pain and what my body will go through were put to rest a bit. He said the most uncomfortable thing would be a sonogram while I have my period for diagnostic testing and other than that, implantation feels like a Pap. Nothing I can't handle in other words. So no more fears on that, but I feel SO overwhelmed with the timing of everything. I didn't realize just how much you were reliant on your individual cycle. I knew it would be an influence, but it affects things to the DAY. I'll be relying on to-do lists, appointments, and calendars a lot in the near term. Also, he stated that because of my age and barring any issues with our tests, he will only implant one embryo per cycle. My age and good health give a 60% chance of taking and he does not want to burden us with unnecessary multiples. Thank goodness!!!
We talked over the details about what needs to be done prior to our next visit with Debbie. She will be our go-to person for any questions that we have and our main point of contact. She is an absolute sweetheart and so open and caring. She went over every detail of the next steps over and over until we both got it. She also spent the extra time discussing our upcoming vacations, how it will affect our starting point, and what to expect come this summer when they actually start the aspirations and IVF.
What are the next steps? Lots and lots of testing, including:
- bloodwork from both of us
- genetic testing from me
- a consult with Dr. Shin for Dennis on his aspiration
- FSH diagnostic testing that HAS to take place in the morning on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th day of my cycle
- HSG testing that HAS to take place in the morning sometime between the 5th and 12th day of my cycle, with prescription zithromax taken by Dennis and I the night before
-calls with the insurance company on a few of these tests
My spreadsheet geekiness came out and I posted it all with what needs to be done when and before what down to the most minor phone call. Otherwise, I just know that I would miss something. Given I should start my cycle this week, planning will be of utmost importance over the next few weeks so as to not miss the opportunity and have to wait another month.
One thing that I can already check off of my list - prenatal vitamins were purchased on Friday at Costco when we would have been at VA Reproductive so I've already started taking those.
Also, at Jacob's baseball practice on Friday, we found out that one of the moms works for Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax. When I mentioned the consult that we had she said that Dr. Saffan is great and she would have steered me away from VA Reproductive, so that turned out to be the best choice! She will definitely be my person to go to for random, stupid (to me) questions and it's nice to have someone that understands the process to talk to on a friendly basis.
---
On a side-note, I can already feel/see some of the effects of coming off of the anti-depressants. :( I've been PMSing this weekend and on top of it am now down to 20mg of citalopram per day (half of my normal amount). I can tell when I'm being illogical, but my brain and my emotions won't talk to each other. I took it out on Dennis a bit on both Friday and Saturday and tried to explain what it's like so that we can both handle it better in the future. Jealousy, self-comparison, and self-retribution are the triggers for me and in my mind, I'm always coming up lacking. I know that I'm loved and perfect the way that I am, in Dennis' eyes and in God's eyes, but I can't get myself to fully accept that and agree with it when I'm off the meds. I'm hoping being outside more and the prospect of the final culmination of all of this keeps me going during the low points.
Dr. Saffan is a straight-to-the-point, realist that we clicked with automatically. He gives his opinion, gives scientific fact, points out various religious and moral factors in various stages, and does so in a way that makes you feel comfortable. There was an overwhelming amount of information, but he never made us feel like we couldn't ask questions. Some of my fears of pain and what my body will go through were put to rest a bit. He said the most uncomfortable thing would be a sonogram while I have my period for diagnostic testing and other than that, implantation feels like a Pap. Nothing I can't handle in other words. So no more fears on that, but I feel SO overwhelmed with the timing of everything. I didn't realize just how much you were reliant on your individual cycle. I knew it would be an influence, but it affects things to the DAY. I'll be relying on to-do lists, appointments, and calendars a lot in the near term. Also, he stated that because of my age and barring any issues with our tests, he will only implant one embryo per cycle. My age and good health give a 60% chance of taking and he does not want to burden us with unnecessary multiples. Thank goodness!!!
We talked over the details about what needs to be done prior to our next visit with Debbie. She will be our go-to person for any questions that we have and our main point of contact. She is an absolute sweetheart and so open and caring. She went over every detail of the next steps over and over until we both got it. She also spent the extra time discussing our upcoming vacations, how it will affect our starting point, and what to expect come this summer when they actually start the aspirations and IVF.
What are the next steps? Lots and lots of testing, including:
- bloodwork from both of us
- genetic testing from me
- a consult with Dr. Shin for Dennis on his aspiration
- FSH diagnostic testing that HAS to take place in the morning on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th day of my cycle
- HSG testing that HAS to take place in the morning sometime between the 5th and 12th day of my cycle, with prescription zithromax taken by Dennis and I the night before
-calls with the insurance company on a few of these tests
My spreadsheet geekiness came out and I posted it all with what needs to be done when and before what down to the most minor phone call. Otherwise, I just know that I would miss something. Given I should start my cycle this week, planning will be of utmost importance over the next few weeks so as to not miss the opportunity and have to wait another month.
One thing that I can already check off of my list - prenatal vitamins were purchased on Friday at Costco when we would have been at VA Reproductive so I've already started taking those.
Also, at Jacob's baseball practice on Friday, we found out that one of the moms works for Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax. When I mentioned the consult that we had she said that Dr. Saffan is great and she would have steered me away from VA Reproductive, so that turned out to be the best choice! She will definitely be my person to go to for random, stupid (to me) questions and it's nice to have someone that understands the process to talk to on a friendly basis.
---
On a side-note, I can already feel/see some of the effects of coming off of the anti-depressants. :( I've been PMSing this weekend and on top of it am now down to 20mg of citalopram per day (half of my normal amount). I can tell when I'm being illogical, but my brain and my emotions won't talk to each other. I took it out on Dennis a bit on both Friday and Saturday and tried to explain what it's like so that we can both handle it better in the future. Jealousy, self-comparison, and self-retribution are the triggers for me and in my mind, I'm always coming up lacking. I know that I'm loved and perfect the way that I am, in Dennis' eyes and in God's eyes, but I can't get myself to fully accept that and agree with it when I'm off the meds. I'm hoping being outside more and the prospect of the final culmination of all of this keeps me going during the low points.
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