IUI #3 complete

JB couldn't come with me to the RE today, so I transported his deposit in my pocket. I find it odd that I have to produce a copy of his drivers license at the andrology/morphology lab when I present them with his goods. As if that proves it came from him. "Ah yes, his swimmers look just like him!" I killed the hour waiting by getting a cup of coffee and getting cheap less expensive gas at a station that was surprisingly full service. When I first started driving I swore I'd never pump my own gas. Silly 17 year old! Now it seems completely alien to me to not to pump my own.

Back at the RE I didn't have to wait long when I got back. I was shown to the room and the nurse came in immediately to confirm that the goods were JB's goods. Again with the license. Good numbers today. We got that squared away, she set up, I emptied my bladder, got undressed, climbed up on the table, put the paper drape over me, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally Dr. Brad walked in, followed by the FNP that I don't like. (Dr. Brad was also the doc on my first IUI back in July. While we were waiting in he waiting area, I overheard him being introduced to the front desk staff because it was his first day. I believe I was his first patient/procedure in the practice.) He was quite chatty today, which is always odd when you're sitting there with no pants on. He said he hoped it was a pointless conversation, but we're going with injectables next cycle, but he really hoped it was a moot conversation. Yay for being positive, Dr. B! He continued to be chatty throughout the procedure, which again, is odd, but better then a sullen doctor, right? Just a mild burning sensation and it was all over.

Back again in 2 weeks for a pregnancy test. Let's keep everything crossed!

IUI #2

We arrived at the lab this morning to "produce" before they even opened. The building where the office is is creepy on Sunday. Most of the lights in the halls are off, and there's no one in the parking garage.

We waited a bit, then he went in to do his thing. They told us to come back in an hour. I really hoped that didn't mean 3 hours like the last time. We went to get breakfast, then were back in the office at 9:15. Just a little after 9:30 they were ready for us.

We went in and confirmed it was JB's sample, and the nurse said the count was excellent this time. More than twice last time. Awesome!

A few minutes later my doctor came in and we were ready to go. Before it started I was mentally telling myself to relax, just let it happen. I knew that if I relaxed it would be a lot easier. The last time I was so nervous and tense I kept cramping. It hurt a lot, and seemed to take forever. The doc was done before I even knew it started. She said, "Ok good luck!" and I was all "that's it?!" I could barely walk last time I was shaking so much. I drove us home this time.

Two more days until I begin the progesterone again. Yuck!

Nothing to update

Going in to have my progesterone checked tomorrow. I don't know how conclusive it so, so it's still a wait and see game.

IUI Complete

8am we went in for JB to produce his specimen. They told us to come back in an hour, so we went and had breakfast. Back to the office where we signed in again, and we waited. And waited. We waited for almost 90 minutes. Me? I don't care so much. What else did I have to do today. Him? A bundle of nerves. Twitching, sighing, tense.

Finally we got called back and shown to a room. The nurse came in and we signed all the paperwork indicating that we were both cool with the procedure, and that we were both who we said we are, then the doctor came in and did his thing.

It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. The nurse said it would feel like a pap, but yeah, not quite. It wasn't as bad as the HSG I had back in January, but it was worse than a pap. Let's just hope this takes, so I don't have to go through another cycle of this.

Still no line, but...

My follicle (only one... don't know what happened to the other!) is 23mm as of today, and my E2 levels are "surging" so off we go for IUI tomorrow morning!

Slowest Follicles on the Planet

Follicles (eggs) need to be approximately 20mm in size and my E2 (estradiol) levels need to be at least 300 in order to attempt IUI. Last cycle I was on 50mg of Clomid and I hit 300+ on CD18. This cycle I was on 100mg of Clomid, so my doctor thought I would ovulate sooner. Not me!

Today is CD18, and my two mature follicles are 11.5 and 12mm. Up from 10 and 10.5 on Monday. WTF eggs? Get MOVING! My E2 must still be low today, because the office hasn't called. The doc was pleased with that rise though: from 57 on Friday to 100+ on Monday.

5 years

We've been trying to have a baby for almost 5 year now. It's been on and off, but we've never not tried in all that time. Last month we, well... I started seeing a reproductive endocrinologist. A fertility doctor. It hasn't been easy.

Right now I'm in the middle of my second cycle of Clomid. The first cycle was half the dose I took this cycle, and I was a sloth last cycle. So far this cycle the side effects don't seem as intense, although I get a lot more hot flashes.

I see the doctor about once a week. Since I'm coming up on ovulation right now, I was there Monday, and I'm going again tomorrow. If all looks good, we expect to do IUI (intrauterine insemination, or what used to be called "artificial insemination") at the end of the week.

I meant to start this blog the first day I went to the RE, but was so overwhelmed that I couldn't. I'm ok with it now. Or at least I'm ok with it all at this moment. As me again in 15 minutes.