Infertility, what can I say? It's the uninvited guest you can't throw out, the fly in the pudding - something that happens to others, but not to you. There we were in the RE's (Reproductive Endocronologist) office being told that, despite them having removed my left fallopian tube (due to a hydrosalpinx - or fluid filled tube) it would be a miracle if we conceived naturally so IVF was our only option. This was after over 3 years of trying to conceive naturally, with big gaps in between for travelling and general undecidedness (neither of us wanted to have kids before we got married). So, I'm sitting there in the cramped little office of a decidedly brusque doctor trying not to cry my eyes out. We had talked about this...I never wanted to do IVF - I hate needles, I'm terrified of them - it's too expensive, too invasive, too much. Now what? The doctor seems surprised that we aren't immediately ready to sign my body over to science. We are in shock - serious, life altering shock. The tears start in the elevator and get a lot worse in the car - what are we going to do?
After numerous discussions, hours spent doing research on the internet and much deliberation IVF it is - we've been told we don't have any other options and we definitely want a child.
Fast forward a year - I'm now an old pro at having blood drawn (9 vials at once is the record), getting daily shots in my belly, dealing with numerous side effects and disappointment. I don't respond well to the stimulation meds - my follicles only produce a few eggs each despite all the drugs. After 3 failed cycles and a frozen embryo that didn't survive we were starting to despair. I decided that we had to do something different and give it another try. Thanks to a reference from a new friend I found an acupuncturist that I really liked, in addition to weekly sessions she had me start a strict detox diet. It wasn't easy, but it was only for a couple of months.
This cycle went better than any before - they got 6 eggs and all 6 fertilized, our doctor was positive about transferring two embryos and we even ended up with one to freeze! A week and half after transfer I started doing HPTs daily to see if my most recent shot of HcG was out of my system - they were positive, but instead of going negative they just kept being positive and the line was darker every day! After 7 positives in a row I was ready for my official blood test and feeling pretty positive myself!
After numerous discussions, hours spent doing research on the internet and much deliberation IVF it is - we've been told we don't have any other options and we definitely want a child.
Fast forward a year - I'm now an old pro at having blood drawn (9 vials at once is the record), getting daily shots in my belly, dealing with numerous side effects and disappointment. I don't respond well to the stimulation meds - my follicles only produce a few eggs each despite all the drugs. After 3 failed cycles and a frozen embryo that didn't survive we were starting to despair. I decided that we had to do something different and give it another try. Thanks to a reference from a new friend I found an acupuncturist that I really liked, in addition to weekly sessions she had me start a strict detox diet. It wasn't easy, but it was only for a couple of months.
This cycle went better than any before - they got 6 eggs and all 6 fertilized, our doctor was positive about transferring two embryos and we even ended up with one to freeze! A week and half after transfer I started doing HPTs daily to see if my most recent shot of HcG was out of my system - they were positive, but instead of going negative they just kept being positive and the line was darker every day! After 7 positives in a row I was ready for my official blood test and feeling pretty positive myself!
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