Met future husband (Paul) and began plotting how to get him to notice me.
Late Summer 2006
Finally finagled a date, which led to another, and another, and another...
August 2007
Got engaged just a few weeks shy of one year dating anniversary - yay!
September 2008
Married my best friend and honeymooned in Maui - good times!
December 2009
Went for annual gyne exam and discussed baby-making plans with Kathy, my NP. Decided to go off birth control in the spring so as to get pregnant in the summer (Ha! Yeah right...).
February 2010
Took my last pill but didn't actively start trying right away. Had period from hell (forgot what that was like!) and decided to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later!
March 2010 - December 2010
Tried it the old-fasioned way: did the baby tango, charted basal body temps (not convinced I was doing it right), did some pee-stick testing which seemed to indicate ovulation was occuring. Nothing.
December 2010
Discussed predicament with my uncle (a family practice physician) and with Kathy, my NP. Both said to give it a full year and then go for further testing.
January 2011 - May 2011
Did the baby tango some more, tried the Mucinex theory, became increasingly worried.
June 2011
Had first IF consult with Kathy. Did HSG (all clear!) and first progesterone check (on the low side). Paul's SA passed with flying colors.
July 2011
Did second progesterone check (low again). Officially determined that the issue was most likely related to faulty ovulation. Happy to have reached some conclusions.
August 2011
Clomid cycle 1 (50 mg) - progesterone higher but still not high enough. Unsuccessful.
September 2011
Clomid cycle 2 (100 mg) - progesterone in the right range (yay!) but unsuccessful.
October 2011
Clomid cycle 3 (100 mg) - progesterone skyrocketed (yay!) but again, unsuccessful. Had stat ultrasound to check for cyst (it was negative).
November 2011
Clomid cycle 4 (100 mg) - progesterone plummeted. Why? What happened? No surprise, was not successful.
December 2011
Started Clomid cycle 5 (100 mg) and made appointment with an RE based on Kathy's referral. Feeling very depressed and negative. Progesterone was good but AF arrived bright and early on New Year's Eve.
January 2012
Had initial consult with RE, Dr. B. Both Paul and I had screening labs and mine were sent for genetic testing as well. All clear (except for a folate deficiency which I was told was normal).
February 2012
Had SSH exam (all clear). Did stimulated IUI cycle #1 using Clomid 100 mg + HCG trigger + luteal phase uterine support (Endometrin). Progesterone levels good. Beta test bad: BFN.
March 2012
- Started to prep for IVF cycle #1 - took BCPs for ~ 3 weeks.
- Went on "last fling" road trip/vacay with hubby and started Lupron towards the end of trip.
- Got a weird visit from AF and went for baseline testing on March 29. Ultrasound picked up a 33 mm cyst and estrogen came back too high.
- Told to stay on Lupron and return after a few days.
- Re-baselined April 2 - cyst still there (30 mm) but estrogen lower.
- Told to stay on Lupron and return end of the week.
- Third "baseline" visit April 6 - cyst still there (> 25 mm), estrogen sky-high again (why???). The verdict: canceled cycle. Call with next period.
- Randomly, AF arrived a few days later. Went for new cycle baseline April 13 - got the all clear to start stims on a slightly modified protocol!
- On stims (Bravelle + Menopur) April 13-18, added Ganirelix April 17.
- Triggered with HCG April 20.
- Retrieval April 22 (22 eggs, 18 mature/injected with ICSI, 11 successfully fertilized)!!!
- Began pregnancy support - Endometrin + progesterone in oil + baby aspirin + estrace.
- Transfer April 27 (1 big, healthy-looking 5-day blastocyst) with 6 left over to freeze.
- Went for OHSS evaluation May 5 - definitely hyperstimming but not severe (yet) so opt out of pelvic tap for the time being.
- Got much worse - short of breath, difficulty taking a deep breath, unable to eat much without feeling painfully full, extremely bloated and sore, gained over 7 pounds in a 24-hour period.
- Returned for OHSS work-up May 7 - underwent tap #1 (1400 ml of fluid drained) and felt 210% better. Also had beta #1: BFP!!! First one EVER!
- Followed up with Dr. B May 8 - started Lovenox injections and had beta #2. HCG on the rise - yay!
- Fluid returned (not quite as bad but expected in light of the BFP) and had tap #2 (800 ml drained) May 9.
- Had follow-up ultrasounds May 10 and 11 - fluid still there but minimal, ovaries still huge. Feeling much better though. More bloodwork: HCG climbing nicely, progesterone looking good.
- Met with Dr. B for follow-up consult/cycle review May 15 - got to stop progesterone in oil and lovenox (no more shots - yay!).
- Had first OB ultrasound (and fluid re-check) May 16: got to see the gestational sac and yolk sac at 5 weeks 3 days (measuring 5 weeks 5 days). Told to return for weekly ultrasounds for 3-4 weeks thereafter.
- May 24: 2nd OB ultrasound - 6 weeks 4 days: we have a heartbeat!!! "Flash" (as we are calling him/her) is about 7mm long with a heart rate of 122 bpm.
- May 31: 3rd OB ultrasound - 7 weeks 4 days: Flash is 15.8 mm, heart rate 156 bpm - he/she has DOUBLED in size! We also got to see arm/leg buds, the spinal column, and even a little butt wiggle on the screen! Next week will be our "graduation" appointment with Dr. B before she hands us over to my OB.
- June 6: Had 4th and final OB ultrasound with the RE clinic - 8 weeks 3 days. The tech was not one of the more talkative ones and didn't give us much in the way of measurements, but said everything looked good! Arm and leg buds were more visible. Met with Dr. B one last time and met with Brownie to go over instructions for weaning off of Endometrin (yay!). Kind of weird to think of not coming back here anymore...
- June 18: First appointment with the OB (Dr. E)! Lots of info, exam, bloodwork, but no ultrasound.
- June 28: Enrolled in nuMOM2b study for which I'd gotten a flier in my packet from the OB. Kind of fun being the guinea pig this time (I'm usually on the other side of the research). LOTS of questionnaires, exam, urine collection, bloodwork, and... ULTRASOUND! Yipee! Just a quick one but good to see :) Also completed optional ancillary sleep study.
- July 10: First trimester screening with reproductive geneticist. Fun ultrasound with lots of movements and got to see brain, heart, stomach, bladder, arms/legs. Bloodwork for Fragile X Syndrome.
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