IVF here we come!

This January was particularly exciting because we had our initial consult for IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). Timmy and I were very fortunate that our doctor came down from the Salt Lake area for our first appointment. Timmy and I knew after all that we have been through that we would need IVF in order for us to have children.

We met with Dr. Faulk from Utah Fertility Center on the 27th of January. At this appointment we quickly talked about the process and a rough estimate of how much the procedure would cost from start to finish. Because we completed the majority of labs and procedures with Dr. Chalmers we only had to do a water ultrasound, so they could see the inside of my uterus. I was at the perfect days in my cycle so we were able to start the whole process this week. When he said that I just about cried. Timmy and I have been waiting about two years and finally we get to have a baby. It was such a shock because you go month to month trying different procedures, surgeries, and medications and nothing works. I leaned over to Timmy and said, "Do you think we should wait?" He thought I was crazy but it maybe nervous starting so soon. You think of all the things that you haven't been doing as well as you should...the right diet, taking vitamins religiously, exercising. For something like this you feel like you have to be perfect to start so there are no screw ups.

Timmy and I started our Doxycylcline today which is an antibiotic. Tomorrow I will be starting my Lupron injections SQ in my belly, and my baby aspirin. Some people have to go on birth control for a cycle before all of this, luckily I didn't have to because my cycles are always right on time. In ten days we will go up to Salt Lake and I will have an ultrasound, get some labs drawn and get instructions for my next set of medications. A few days after that I will no longer be able to exercise, I will get my labs drawn again have three ultrasounds and then we will be up in Salt Lake again for the egg retrieval, this will be a surgery with anesthesia. Timmy and I will come back home and then 5 days after that we will drive back up because this will be our Embryo Transfer day. After that I will be on bed-rest for 48 hours. I will have to stay on some injections after that for a few weeks and following should have a positive pregnancy test. This whole process will take just a little over a month. I am so excited and nervous I can hardly contain myself. I have not been sleeping well because I just want the time to fly.

I realize there are many risks involved with this procedure...I have a 20% chance of miscarriage, risk of Ovarian Hyper-stimulation, I might get sick, I will have bruising from the injections, taking so many hormones I will possibly have some mood alteration, I will gain weight from the medications. These are just the side affects I am worried about. I am trying to stay positive but know that through all of this I have a better chance of having a baby. Timmy and I are so excited and I will try and update this through the good the bad and the ugly.