Fail!

Monday I had my second blood test for my HCG level and it doubled.  Which was fantastic news.  Even more than little more double, it went up to 19.  So we had some hope that the embryo was growing. Today I had another blood test to see if my HCG doubled again. Unfortunately, it did not. It went down to 14. That means this is the end of this try/cycle. Doctor told me to stop all my medication.  Now we wait. I have an appointment with my doctor next week to discuss trying again.

I am disappointed to say the least. We lost 2 good quality male embryos in this cycle. And I went through a lot with the medication this time. I suppose that when a person goes through IVF they can't get lucky every try.  So this is our fail. And I am hopeful that next time will not fail.  We still have 5 embryos frozen. Although we only have 1 good quality embryo and then 4 fair quality.

I'll update next week after my doctor visit

First Test Results

Yesterday, I had my first pregnancy blood test. After waiting 6 hours for the doctors office to call me with results, I finally called. And results are Positive! But the hcg level (the hormone tested by home pregnancy tests) was only 7.6. The nurse said anything over 5 is considered pregnant. 7.6 is extremely low. With Alex my first blood was in the 70's. So while there is a little hope that this embryo stuck and is growing, the chances seem pretty low. I'm still on all my meds and I have another blood draw on Monday. We will be looking for a at least a doubling of the first number for this to be a viable pregnancy.
So more waiting! Not really looking forward to more waiting. Even though if I had a higher number we would still have to wait but I would be less anxious.  I feel like I'm in limbo. It's not good news but it's not bad news. I feel like this is worse than bad news. With bad news I could have planned our next step. But now it's a really big waiting game. And probably going to have multiple blood draws even if the number does double.
Update after get results on Monday!
Hope our little embryo is a fighter and a late bloomer!

Day 6 after transfer.... Waiting....

It's been almost a week since little embryo was transferred. Waiting is the worst part of this whole IVF situation. The waiting leaves room for hopefulness and dread.  I have very little "pregnancy" symptoms.  And any of these symptoms could be contributed to the medication or me just hoping I have symptoms.  Also, I have plenty of time to google every little thing and outcome.  Which also gives me hope and dread. Still have about 4 days until my first blood test and then a few days after that the confirmation blood test.

After my transfer, I was not required to be on bed rest like I was last time. Dr said there is no evidence to show that bed rest improves your chances of successful implantation.  Though this idea seems to vary by Doctor.  But with my mom here for a couple days after transfer to help with Alex, she required me to be on bed rest.  Though I still moved around more than last time.  Hard not to with a toddler running around.
My skin is recovering quickly from the estrogen patch disaster.  I still have red spots but the blisters are gone.  And the itching has gone away. Side effects from the pills and suppositories are minimal.  I had to have blood work done a few days after transfer to check my estrogen levels. My levels were higher than the doctor wanted so I got to cut back a little bit. One less pill is nice when I am taking about 7 pills. Progesterone injections are about the same.  Not great! But nothing to be done there.
Overall, feeling good and normal. Just going a little crazy waiting.  I think I am more impatient with the waiting this timethan last time. Just have to make it to the end of the week.

Transfer

Transfer has happened! Everything went relatively smoothly.  We transferred one hatching blastocyst! Meaning that little embryo was starting to grow and move out of it protective shell. The embryologist was really excited about the progress the little guy was making. So that made me very hopeful.  Especially because we lost one embryo in thawing.  It arrested/stopped growing so they had to get another embryo out of storage.

While at my transfer the nurse and Doctor both saw how bad my skin was reacting to the estrogen patches.  It was bad, I had lots of red blisters from the patches and I was incredibly itchy.  I thought maybe it was because I was the generic version of the patches.  Last time I was on the brand name ones and only had slight reaction to the patches.  Just red spots once removed, no blistering.  But anyway, dr said to get off all patches and he switched me to oral pill and vaginally suppositories (yes, you did need to know that). Since getting off the patches my skin has been recovering. 

The dreaded progesterone injections are still not great. I have a back full of bumps and bruises.  Those are to be expected.

Now it's the waiting game! I hate this part!

One more Week until Transfer

I went to the doctor a couple of day ago for my mid cycle ultrasound and blood work check. I started using estrogen patches to boost the lining of my uterus, in order to make a nice comfy home for my little embryo,. Ultrasound and blood work were all good.  Lining is looking exactly as it should and hormones levels are at the appropriate amount.
The only bad thing is that I seem to be having a worse reaction the estrogen patches then I did before. Either my skim has gotten more sensitive or the adhesive the generic brand the pharmacy gave is different. Either way, my belly, where the patches are located, is so itchy and the patches cause these lovely red spots when i remove them.  I have remind myself this is worth it and only temporary. Hopefully I will be rid of these patches sooner rather than later.
I do start the dreaded progesterone in oil injections tomorrow. These are not fun and kind of painful. But with the way these patches are effecting me, I feel like the injections will not seem so bad.
I am excited and nervous about the transfer next week. I'm hoping for the same luck we had the first time, with Little A. Really hoping that we will not have to do another cycle after this and little embryo will stick and thrive.
Please send sticky baby dust this way! We need it!

For photo updates, I post updates on my instagram account @cmgnoel
for those that are interested in those.

Until next week....