First IVF Scan

Well today was a bit of a busy day.  It was also a day of disappointments.

I'm waiting for a phone call to let me know if I'm allowed to go ahead with my stim shots this coming Monday or if they are going to halt this IVF cycle.

Yesterday was my cardiology appointment.  I'm all in the clear with them.  Even though my EKG showed some abnormal it was within limits.  My labetalol dosage is now doubled to keep my blood pressure under better control.  I'm ready.

But maybe my ovaries aren't so ready.  I had my estradiol blood work done promptly at 0715 hrs.  I was there at the laboratory at 0658 hrs pulling a tab for my number to get called.  I had real hopes, until the scan.

0800 hrs and I'm sitting in the waiting room at the REI office.  My appointment is now but I'm still waiting to get called back.  I'm anxious.  I want to see if the endometriomas are gone.  I'm frustrated because I'm bleeding and I'm not sure that I'm supposed to be.

0820 hrs.  Finally I'm in the exam room.  Of course they stick me in the smallest one this time.  What did I do to deserve the small room?  Only one patient was before me and I know darn well that there are three big rooms with private bathrooms so why do I get the smallest one without a bathroom?

0840 hrs.  I'm cold sitting here on the exam table, wearing a paper sheet covering my lower half and just a thin silk shirt on the upper half.  Where is my doctor?

5 minutes later he finally shows up.  Then the bad news starts.

I'm supposed to have a bleed this week so that is all fine and dandy.  I have four follicles on the right ovary.  I have four follicles on the left ovary.  Well that's a start.  Not bad for a chic my age.  But wait is that a cyst we see?  NOOOOOO!  I tried to tell the doctor its right where the other endometrioma was but he says it looks more fluid filled unlike the one next to it with the shadow in it.

Okay so what now.  I'm told that this cycle might not happen.  I have to wait for the results of the blood test now.

I'm bummed.

In about an hour I'll know if I can go ahead with the stimulation shots or not.  If not where do we go from here?  I've taken 11 Lupron injections.  I want to have an egg retrieval but its not my decision.  If my estradiol level is below 50 then I'm good to go but just how far below 50 is allowable?  If I'm at 49 will they still allow it?

Yes, now I sit here and wait for the phone to ring.  Now I wonder if I'll get to graduate to the next shots.  Pitiful.

 *****NEWS FLASH****

Just got word from the REI clinic and its good.  My estradiol level was only 32!  I can start the stim shots on Monday as previous planned.  Woo hoo! 

Odd how excited a person can get about getting shots. I'm sure most IF peeps can understand the excitement.

Saline Infusion Sonogram Results

Well I've got good news and bad news.  I would normally share any of the news with my spouse first but its not like I can call him and well where he is right now he doesn't even have the internet.  So he'll have to find out after everyone else.

Good news is that the catheter passed through easily with my full bladder.  Nurse M said that this has to be a record with how fast the catheter went into my cervix as she's never seen it done so quickly.  Dr. C. knows what he's doing.  So I'm good for the embryo transfer as far as the tubing goes.

Bad news is that the transvaginal transducer showed that  I still have cysts on my left ovary.  They've shrunk to about 2 cm each but are really close together forming what looks to be about 4 cm across.

More bad news.  They aren't functional cysts.  They are chocolate cysts.  I knew things were going too easily to have it all go my way.

Chocolate cysts form when the endometrial lining of the uterus decides to migrate to the ovaries.  Okay so we suspected that I had endometriosis and now its confirmed.

So now I'm going to have to get them watched and hope that they resolve further with the birth control.  They might cause me to miscarry again if I'm lucky enough to get pregnant.

Here is a bit from the link above for your reading pleasure:

The symptoms of endometriosis include:

1.) Painful menstrual cramps that may get worse over time.

2.) Lower back pains linked to the pelvis.

3.) Recurring miscarriage – Any pregnancy that ends before 2 or 3 months, resulting in severe stomach cramps, vomiting and some bleeding.

4.) Chronic pelvic pain – usually attended by lower back pain and/or pain in the abdomen.

5.) Painful sex.

6.) Painful bowel movements.

7.) Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea – especially during PMS and during the period.

8.) Frequency, and sometimes painful urination.

9.) Infertility.

10.) Frequent menses flow or short menstrual cycle.

11.) Heavy and/or long menstrual periods.

12.) Some women may experience mood swings and fatigue.

13.) If the endometriotic lesions bleed, which usually occurs during menstruation, blood may be found in the urine or stools or in secretions from other organs affected by endometriosis.

14.) In addition, women with endometriosis may have gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble irritable bowel syndrome.

When an endometrial Cyst ruptures, the material floods the pelvic region, spilling onto the surface of the uterus, bowel, and bladder as well as the spaces between these organs. This type of event is a medical emergency.

Here is a great website to find out more on endometriosis if you know someone that has it, me, or think you might have it.

http://endometriosis.org/endometriosis/ 

Well that's all I have for today.  Two blog posts today is plenty.  At least I now know why I bleed so much and so darn often when I think I shouldn't be and why I have extra pain beyond the fibromyalgia.