Delayed...AGAIN!

We found out on Friday that our baby making process would be delayed...AGAIN! My fertility doctor called to say that they were not going to take the anesthesia recommendation lightly. They had recommended that I not be sedated unless I was at an inpatient facility with all the equipment needed should I lose my airway. We had come to the conclusion that I'd be having an epidural for the egg aspiration/retrieval process.

Apparently there are even some cases where patients will lose their airways even with a spinal or epidural. Again, this was something that the folks at the fertility clinic were not willing to take lightly. My doctor spent most of last week trying to come up with a solution for me.

The reason for the delay is that we will be going through the retrieval and transfer procedures at the Sanford Hospital located in Sioux Falls, SD (about 3.5 hours from Fargo). Apparently even this isn't going to be a small undertaking by this facility. Eggs and embryos are DIVAS! They don't like light, smells, bumps, etc. The facility in SD is having to move their equipment from one floor to another to accommodate me (and those Diva eggs/embryos). This requires some major scheduling and arrangements. We know that we are delayed until July or August but we're not sure the exact dates.

We are selfishly bummed because this means no potential March 21st baby (my birthday is 4/21 and David's is 5/21). I think we'll get over it! :0)

We're annoyed because my belly is so black and blue from the Lovenox shots. I'm hoping that I'll be able to go off the birth control which will give me some relief in the mean time.

I keep thinking that it is a good thing that I have a good sense of humor!!!!

Two Shots down: I think we're going to survive?

We are two shots in on the Lovanox (blood thinner). I think we are going to survive!

David gave me my first shot on Friday night. I pretty much stressed out about it the entire day. I finally realized that although I've had many procedures I have not had that many shots. Just my occasional flu shots or my immunizations. Justifying my fear made me feel a little better but I was still so nervous! The first shot stung really bad. I was so exhausted from the days events that I went to bed right afterwards. The second shot didn't hurt as bad. I hope they keep getting better as the days go on.

Friday was a very busy day of appointments! Our first appointment we (or mainly David) learned how to administer my shot. The highlight of that appointment were the doughnut holes! I really think I need to make a donation to the Roger Maris Cancer Center for all of the doughnut holes I've eaten! They really do brighten my day!

The second appointment was with the anesthesiologist. This was a very enlightening appointment and I was SO glad I chose to do the consult! I informed him that I've always been hard to intubate whenever I've had surgeries. I told him my concerns about being put under a sedative because I could very easily lose my airway. The anesthesiologist flat out told David and I that under no circumstances would he feel comfortable with sedating me without the proper equipment AND that we were far enough from a hospital that I could very likely suffer major damage should they lose my airway. Ok! Done! No sedatives ever! Doesn't bother me one bit as I hate being put to sleep!

My trial transfer went well. The hardest part was the chlamydia and pap test. I did bleed a lot...and the doctor did say, "yeah, do you bleed easily". After the trial transfer, I told him about the consult with the anesthesiologist. I found out that they're able to do an epidural rather than sedation. Wohoo! I was so nervous that we'd be out of luck! Not looking forward to the epidural but I'm hoping it will be good practice for the real deal in 10ish months.

I had blood work done...the gal had a hard time finding a good vein. She had to poke me a bunch of times. If you are a hard stick or have a slow blood flow, I highly recommend the butterfly needle. It is less scary to me for some reason and I don't have to worry about how they are going to change the vials without shaking the needle. I just request that they use that type of needle if they have it.

My annual exam went well. I told the doctor that she better not leave me! She laughed and said she wasn't planning on it. Dr. Lindsay Dahl for those of you in the FM area looking for a new doctor!

Busy day on Friday. Busy day yesterday! Homework to finish today and then I have the WHOLE WEEK off! Very appropriate for me to have my "spring break" now as we had snow flakes on Friday and icky rain yesterday.

Day 8: No news is good news...

Today marks Day 8 of our cycle. Nothing new to report.

I was really starting to worry about being on the Lovanox (blood thinner) while I had my trial transfer procedure done on Friday. It is not uncommon for me to bleed after my normal annual physical exam. Last year I had the saline sonogram and I bled so much that it was just embarassing. My doctor even said, "boy, you DO bleed really easily". After talking to my awesome nurse friend, Anna, she advised me to call the clinic to make sure they had clotting factors on hand for my procedure. They decided not to start me on the Lovanox until AFTER my appointment on Friday and then take me off it prior to the aspiration (retrieval of eggs) and transfer (implantation of embryos). This makes me feel so much better!

Lesson Learned: Be your own advocate when it comes to health care!!! You cannot expect the doctors to be able to see the entire picture. They are very good at what they do but if you don't tell them or remind them, they will not know!

With the rising cost of health care and health insurance, it becomes even more critical for you to become your own health care advocate. If you don't, you will not be getting the most bank for your buck!

Day 3: How in the WORLD can we afford this?

Day 3...pretty uneventful so far. I'm just working the day away while I'm in the ATL visiting my sister. She's at work and I'm at home with the dog. Enjoying her brand new living room furniture. I am so jealous..but I'm also thinking, "a kid would crawl up this entertainment center in a heartbeat!"

It looks like I have some new followers (welcome!). I know some of them are fellow TCS gals and I am so glad that I can be a resource for you.

I wanted to talk a little about how David and I are able to afford the IVF with PGD process. I posted some cost information on a previous post and you can find it here. I will try to post a more complete up to date post next weekend when. In addition to the costs I have listed there, there are two very important figures to keep in mind. The IVF at my clinic is $6000 AFTER insurance (would have been only $3000 but they add another $3000 for their portion of the PGD services). The PGD was $6000 and my insurance does not cover this. As you can see, this is a very expensive process!

What steps can you take?

1. Start the process of becoming debt free!

Prior to meeting each other, we were working VERY hard to become debt free. He had some debt from a previous marriage and other business decisions. I had debt from being too immature and irresponsible to have credit cards.

Cut up those credit cards! Start paying off those bills! Needs not wants! Invest in tomorrow and not today!

We are very happy to say that we are debt free with the exception of our home mortgage.

2. Seek advice from a tax professional to take advantage of all of your tax deductions!

I am so thankful that my husband is a tax wiz! We are able to take advantage of several tax deductions because of his home business as well as some of my medical expenses.

We also lucked out that we purchased a home the year prior to our decision of doing PGD.

We received the tax rebate and used that money for IVF with PGD expenses.

3. Research your options. I am very fond of Genesis Genetics but you need to find a genetics institute that works for your family! I did some research on a genetics institute for my paper this week. I was really impressed with the transparency they showed in their price listing. They had all sorts of packages available. If I get a chance, I'll be sure to post more information.

4. Remember that this is a very lengthly process. If you want to move forward, start planning now!

Day 2

I thought awaiting the arrival of my Day 1 was stressful....

It had nothing on the events of Day 2 and I'm only 3 hours in. I received a phone call from the fertility clinic that my hematologist was suggesting that I be on the Lovanox (blood thinner shots) while I was on the birth control. I literally had a panic attack when she told me this. I'm not going back to Fargo until next Thursday (5/12). I freaked out that I was going to have to give myself the shots!

I called the PA at the cancer center and she informed me that the baby asprin I took would be OK until I got home.

My appointment schedule for 5/13:

8:00 am: Learn how to administer the Lovanox shot

8:30ish-9:00 am: Anesthesia consult. No appointment. Just drop in...oh joy!

9:30 am: Trial transfer

10 am: Take David back to work

10:55 am: Annual physical

I have to have someone sit at my house to accept the last batch of drugs because I won't be home to sign for them.

Lesson Learned: Do not plan to go anywhere the month before your IVF cycle.

Day 1

I can finally call my fertility clinic to tell them that I had my Day 1! I've been spotting off and on for about a week. Day 1 means that I need to go get blood work done for measuring my hormone and thyroid levels. I have to do this on Day 1, 2, or 3. I think I'll go to the lab this afternoon or on Day 2.

Since I am traveling, I have had to find a lab here in Harrisburg. I was going to drive all the way out to Hershey to the Hershey Medical Center. They're big enough that they accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield of ND but then yesterday I found that they have a lab in Harrisburg.

Language Barrier

What is it about Harrisburg, PA that is different than the other Pennsylvania cities or cities on the East Coast that I have visited? I seriously think that they think that I'm speaking some different language. I have NEVER had this much of a "language barrier" in all of my days of travel. Yeah, I get it. I have a speech impediment but GET OVER IT!

Very frustrated...which I think is having an effect on my Day 1...