7 dpiui over...

I have successfully completed 1 week after my IUI. Another 1 week to go. It feels like forever. Every month I feel the same. The waiting game is not fun at all. So what was I doing for these 7 days?

1) Been a good girl by taking 9 tablets each day. All were vitamins. That's so many, just hope it is worthwhile.
2) Taking good rest.
3) Watching television and reading about fertility. I bought this book 3 weeks ago.
4) Started drinking full cream milk from yesterday. 2 cups daily (morning and night). I don't drink milk at all. Hate it. Since I read somewhere drinking full cream milk helps with the implantation, I am trying to gulp it down as fast as I could.
4) Reading some inspiring TTC blog. I read a blog yesterday which made me so so emotional yesterday.
http://fortheloveofbabyliam.blogspot.com/

She lost 2 of her beautiful babies after delivery. I can feel how hard it would be for her. I had gone through 2 miscarriages in my early stage of pregnancy. I remember how much I cried over the loss of my very tiny babies. I started blaming myself a lot that time. Was it because I fell while doing gardening? Was it because I was not eating well? Was it because ....was it because.....So many thoughts wondering what went wrong. I was so sad when I read how she lost her baby. I told myself what I went through was nothing compared to what she had gone through. I really hope that she could get a baby through surrogacy soon.

That's what I had been doing. Nothing much.

Any symptoms? I would say NOTHING at all. I am already starting to think what will happen if this cycle fails again. I will need to go through IVF. I am wondering what if that does not work either. IVF is not cheap. I am trying to be positive when my mind starts thinking all that. Taking rest makes my mind wonder all over. I hope I can be positive and have good news in 1 week time. Hoping for the best.

IUI Done....

Hi .....My appointment for IUI was yesterday. My husband was supposed to go in before 9am and my IUI was supposed to be at 11am. We left our house at 6.15am...We reached the clinic at 8.30 am. We were a bit late because of the traffic jam. The clinic was already open when we reached. Our nurse was there. She was busy writing something. Another nurse, Nurse N brought us to the lab just nearby the clinic. The embryologist asked me to check my name and my IC number on the sampling bottle. After that, she showed my husband a man's room for him to provide his sperm sample. I waited at the clinic. The clinic and the man's room are very near. According to my husband, it was a small room with television and video. After he collected his supply, he passed it to the embryologist. He had to fill up a form with his name, my name and the collection time and also his signature. I guess it's just part of the procedure. We asked nurse M what time I should be back at the clinic. She said at 10.30am. So we went downstairs, crossed the road and headed to Subway. We had a good breakfast. We then decided to go back to the clinic at 10am.

There were so many couples yesterday. So many of them come in the clinic with an ice box else they will return with an ice box. It's all the medications. I started drinking and drinking since nurse M told me that I need to go in for IUI with full bladder. I drank and drank and drank. My bladder was full by 11am. I waited and waited. The sperm wash was not ready yet. My bladder was not really tolerating with me. 11.30 came and I asked nurse M what was happening. She said that it was not ready. I then had to surrender. I rushed to the washroom. I emptied my bladder since it was too full. After that, I started to drink again..Around 12.10pm, nurse M told me that the wash was ready. Another nurse brought me to the IUI room. She checked my bladder and it was empty. She said I need to drink a lot of water. I then refilled my water bottle and gulped the water. Gulp, gulp and gulp till I was feeling full. I felt my bladder was full. Nurse M checked me again. She said it is almost full and I need to drink 1 cup water more. Oh my....I drank and got checked again. My bladder was full at last. She said she will need to call the doctor. I waited around 10 minutes for the doctor. I was having hard time waiting since my bladder was full and I needed to go to the washroom. I tried to keep it together.

I was so happy to see Dr. Helena at last. We had a small chat. Dr asked me to tell my full name and IC just to ensure the details are correct. She then asked me to verify a test tube with my name and IC. It contained my husband's washed sperms. It was a procedure just to verify the correct sperm going in me. She then put a speculum into my vagina. It was quite uncomfortable first. She then put a very thin catheter and injected the sperms in. I could feel a gush of liquid when the injection was done. We could see the process on the monitor. We could see the speculum and the sperms as well. Dr said the sperm are in the right place, very close to the fallopian tiub. I just hope that any one healthy sperm find its way to my egg.

Oh ya I forgot. Dr said my husband's sperm count was excellent. He had 230millions of sperm. WOW! That was a huge number. It has increased since the last test. I did not get the detailed report. Will request for it on my next visit. Dr. asked me to take 10 minutes rest and then I can go to the washroom. She did give us homework. She asked us to try at night just to improve the chances. She wished a good luck and left. Then my nurse came and gave me Duphaston supply. Dr said it was good to keep the hormone level balanced and also to help with the implantation. I hope it helps me this month. I went to the washroom, paid and left. Everyone wished us luck. I hope their wish and my wish will come true. Below is my Duphaston supply. I have a 15 days of supply (2 tablet a day). If I don't get my period when I finish the medicine, I might have a good chance. Hoping for the best.

Total expenses : - RM 980

Duphaston 10mg - Tablet
Intrauterine Insemination

p/s - We were given RM9 exemption from the clinic. We paid RM12 for parking.
All in all for IUI we have spent RM2470 (not including the parking and vitamins that we are taking).

Day 13 appointment

My appointment for day 13 was yesterday at 9.45 am. We reached there around 9.35 am. We returned our ice box with injection to nurse M (we had 2 extra injection in case anything goes wrong). We went in for the checkup around 9.55 am. Dr. Helena did a trans vaginal scan. My lining was good. It was 8.9mm. Dr said anything above 6mm is good. I had a few follicles on my right side ovary. One significant bigger one which will be the heroin for this cycle was sized 16.4 mm. On my left ovary I only had 2 small follicles. Dr said that it was because I had my cyst removed on my left ovary. At times when surgery is done, it will affect the egg production. But she said she is not worried with me since my right ovary is doing a good job.

I was not aware of the cyst removal affect till yesterday. But for me my period cramping is much much much better with the cyst gone. I used to have a massive pain 1 week before period and during period before. But after the surgery, the one week before pain is gone and I have a mild acceptable cramping during period. Anyway back to the clinic. Dr said I will have to do a urine test and if it is a positive, my IUI is the next day else IUI will be Wednesday.

I went to the washroom and got my urine sample. Nurse M did a ovulation test and it came out negative. I expected it. So Nurse M gave us Ovidrel shot to take home. She told us to do the injection anytime from 9pm - 10pm. She gave us the ice box again as this injection need to be refrigerated. Then suddenly I remembered I havent get my Vitamin D retest result. She then checked with Dr. and she came back. Looks like my Vitamin D level is back to normal but I still have to continue the same dose. Dr says that the pills should be taken till the first trimester. So Vitamin D will be my friend for some time now. 

Total expenses :- RM 330

Clearblue Ovulation Test - Strip        - RM  20
Consultation                                   - RM   80
Scanning/Ultrasound                        - RM   80
Ovidrel 250 mcg - Box                     - RM 150

We were given Ovidrel as the above photo. This shot will ensure that the egg will be released after 36 hours. My husband was required to come in just before 9am tomorrow for the sperm supply and my IUI will be at 11 am tomorrow as they need 2 hours to wash the sperm.

My Jr Dr. did the Ovidrel injection yesterday night at 9.15pm. Now we are just waiting for tomorrow.

Update on blog 1st IUI appointment - Day 2

I have 2 blogs today...One is of course my result of the Day 13 appointment and I would like to update my previous blog 1st IUI appointment - Day 2

I will start with the later. I earlier was dissapointed because I could not get a detailed breakdown costing of Day 2. So yesterday, I did ask the Finance Officer if I could get the breakdown of the costing. And yes.....I could...If at all you do not get a detailed costing just request for it and you will definately get it. So, below is the breakdown of the costing.

Total expenses for 10/01/2013 :-  RM1460

Nolvadex - Tablet          - RM 100
Gonal-F 450 iu Box         - RM 900
Vitamin D                     - RM 300
Consultation                  - RM  80
Scanning/Ultrasound       - RM  80

p/s - The Vitamin D is a retest. Other than that, the rest is for IUI. I forgot to mention that the clinic gives a parking voucher for the first hour. RM6 exemption. Oh yes, the parking fare is expensive. Most of the time we reach there earlier so we pay at least RM6 after the exemption.

3 injections completed

We have completed our Gonal-f injections on Friday. I had injection on 14th, 16th and also 18th. My junior Dr had improved well in his injection skills. I am excited it is all done now. I will be going for my 13th day appointment tommorrow at 9.45am. I am very excited for the appointment and I am eager to know how are my follicles are doing. Hope it is in good size and we are hoping that IUI will be on Tuesday so that we do not have to travel back and forth to Pahang and Kuala Lumpur.Will update soon on the outcome.

Gonal-f Injection

I have successfully completed my Day 2 - Day 6 Nolvadex-D tablets yesterday. Yesterday was my first Gonal-f injection. My Dr for my Gonal-f was of course my very very excited husband. He just couldn't wait for the time to come. I have set an alarm at 9pm for the 14th, 16th and 18th. I gave him a glimpse of how it was done on some of the youtube videos at around 8.30pm. So my Dr was ready for the procedure mentally and physically. A video I found useful was  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CRw3vf1oz4
I uploaded this video for those who need some guidance. Our nurse had thought us last week. Just to confirm, we refreshed our mind with the tutorial below.

The step that we followed from this video and was not mentioned by our nurse was step 3. We did not do step 15 since we do not have that equipment. Our nurse's instruction was, close the pen with the outer needle cap (the one in step 11) counter close wise till the needle is out. Then we can recap the pen (step 16). That's it.

The cute thing yesterday happened during my husband pinching the fat on my belly (step 11). He did that step very very well. What happen was after he pinched my stomach, he injected me and as he was pressing the injection button, he continued to pinch my stomach as well. The more harder he pressed the button, the harder he was pinching my stomach. At first I was just laughing till I could not bear the pain any longer. I then ask him the take out the pinching hand. I was laughing and laughing. After he removed the injection, I told him that he was simultaneously pressing the button and my belly at the same time. He was suppose to remove the pinching hand after the needle has gone in. He then realized why I was laughing and we both had a great laugh after the procedure. Fun moment though. He told me first time what ...next time will be better. My Jr. Dr still have 2 more injections to be performed. Can't wait for it to finish and I am waiting to find out the effect of this new medications on my follicles. I hope I have some good size follicles on Monday.

IUI Medication - KL Fertility & Gynaecology Centre

This is my first month treatment in KL Fertility & Gynaecology Centre (KLFGC). I had 1 month of tests taken which includes hormon test, Vitamin D, Insulin and Miscarriage test. After Dr. Helena looked at my results, she recommended us to do IUI. This will be my 3rd IUI attempts (2 previous IUIs was at KPJ Damansara). My medication differs from KLFGC and KPJ. During my KPJ IUI treatment, I  took Clomid 50 mg and I had Ovidrel shot after the egg progressed to a desired size. Then the next day would  be the IUI procedure. Below is the medications that was prescribed for me in KLFGC. I am sure every patient is different. It all depends on the tests results.

 

The first photo is the kit that was given to me. It is the Gonal-f injection kit. The injection box, the intruction manual and the dry ice were in the blue box. While for the second photo; on left is the injection box which has the pen, needle and alcohol swabs. On the right is the Nolvadex-D (Tamoxifen 20mg). I took the photo yesterday morning. Actually I have completed 3 days tablets. Only 2 more to go. Then we can start the injection which my husband is waiting for. He is excited about that. He claims that he should have studied to become a doctor....Hmmmm.....Too late I guess.

Below is the vitamins that I am taking based on Dr. Helena's advice. It is to help my body with all the nutrients and strengthen the uterus to provide a happy environment for my baby. I hope so very very soon. Praying the hardest and trusting my Dr. to the fullest.

What I have above is from left top is GNC Vitamin D-3 400IU, Wyeth Centrum Multivitamin-Multimineral, Blackmores Fish Oil 1000 and Abbott Iberet Folic - 500 (it's is a folic acid tablet with other nutrients as well).

All the above will be my best friend for this month. I did ask Dr. what food should I take and should avoid. She said can eat anything but have to take the Vitamins above. Hoping for a baby bump soon....


Important dates for this month :-


10 Jan 2013 -14 Jan 2013  - 2 tablets Nolvadex-D Tamoxifen 20mg daily after food (1pm and 8 pm )

14 Jan 2013, 16 Jan 2013, 18 Jan 2013 - Gonal-F 450 IU/0.75 ml injection (9pm)

p/s- The time is just my comfortable time. I read somewhere it is best to keep the timing similar during the medicine intake and also the injection. So, I have alarm at 1pm, 8pm and 9 pm according to the above dates.

Reading about review of Nolvadex - Confused....

I did some reading of Nolvadex-D. I am worried to actually read about the side effects of it.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/nolvadex-side-effects.html
I am not very sure of the effectiveness of this medicine as I read Clomid is better than this. The most worrying thing is we had all the while tried with Clomid but no successful pregnancy (of course the 2 miscarriages).

I have already taken 2 tablets today. I felt a slight headache. I am not sure if that was the effect of the medicine as I always will have headaches during my period. I tried to see in Youtube if anyone had a successful pregnancy story using Nolvadex. So sad as I could not find anyone so far.

I try to be positive though as sometimes reading makes it that much harder to stay positive. Anyway, I have stopped reading today. My husband and I had made the decision to do IUI and we will listen to what the Dr. had advised. Hopefully it is the best solution for us.

1st IUI appointment - Day 2

I had my period yesterday. Sorry, I was just not feeling very well yesterday. Could not blog. Had my cramps, my headache and I just wanted to take rest. I got my period around 11am yesterday. I immediately called my nurse to make my appointment for day 2. She gave me appointment on 10/1/2013 (which is today) at 11.30 am.

I was excited when I woke up in the morning to start my 1st IUI treatment at KL Fertility. I think I was thinking too much about baby that I dream I had a baby. But the thing was he could stand on his own at 2 months. I don't know. It was a weird and funny dream but it kind of made my day. I hope it was a positive sign though.

My husband and I left our house at 8 am although our appointment was only at 11.30am. On the way, we had our breakfast and we washed our car at an automatic car wash. We reached the clinic at 10.30am. We had a hard time finding a parking today. That was weird. Limited parking space I guess.

We decided to just go in the clinic and wait. There were many couples today waiting for the doctor. We were called in before our time, maybe around 10.55am. Yay, we could go back early. Dr. Helena was ready for us. She informed us again that my Vitamin D level was low. I nodded. Dr asked me to retest my levels again as I was already more than 2 weeks of Vitamin D intake and she wants to check if there is any progression else she will need to increase my dose. I just hope not. She also informed that Vitamin D intake is a good to be taken until the end of first trimester. Hmmm.....that was a new information for me. Anyway, my miscarriage test result was good. That was really a good news. I was so worried something was wrong with me medically since I had 2 miscarriages till date.

Dr. Helena acknowledged that we were suppose to start an IUI cycle. She then scanned my ovaries. One ovary had 22 eggs. OH MY.....I did not expect that many at all. The other side had only 5. Since I am a PCOS patient Dr. was not that surprised. She said with medicines my problem can be solved. If this cycle does not work, then we go for IVF. As we were nodding, suddenly Dr. asked us if we wanted to go for IUI or IVF straight. We were so shocked to hear IVF all of sudden since we were mentally prepared for IUI this cycle. My husband asked Dr. Helena which is her suggestion. She just said it was up to us. Then after some time she said we go for IUI this month and if it does not work, we shall go for IVF. Pheww....that was a relief.

She asked to me start Nolvadex-D 20mg from today till next Monday (2 tablets for 5days). She asked if I could come in Monday for injection. I asked her if we could do it ourselves at home. She said can. I was happy as we do not have to travel all the way again. So, now my husband will be my Dr for the coming week. I was supposed to get an injection of Gonal-F 450IU/.75ml (150IU on the 14th, 16th and 18th). My next appointment will be on 21/01/13 which will be my Day 13. By right, suppose to be on Day 12 but since it was a Sunday, I was asked to come in the next day.

We then came out from the Dr's office. Our nurse then took my blood again for my Vitamin D test. She then explained clearly how to do the injections. We then got an appointment for 21/01/13 at 9.45am. After that we paid and left.

Total expenses today :- RM 1460

p/s - I just realized the receipt do not have the breakdown of the costing. The clinic seriously need to change the format of the receipt I guess. My assumption is the cost should be for my Vitamin D retest, Nolvadex-D 20mg (10tablet) , Gonal F 450IU/.75ml and also consultation and ultrasound/scan.

2 weeks of Vitamin D supplement

Happy New Year. I hope 2013 will be bright for me and my husband. We hope to carry our own baby very soon. Positive vibes ahead.

Today I successfully completed my  2 weeks intake of Vitamin D. I was supposed to go for another Vitamin D blood test to see my progress. But I opt not to go in today since I am not staying near the clinic. I have decided to do it when I go in the second day of my period. I will start my IUI treatment this month if my period comes in the next few days. I will continue my Vitamins till my checkup.