The phone call came at 1.14pm
My doctor was on the end of the line and he said the magic word . . . Congratulations.
I'm pregnant.
It's still really early days. I still need to take the crinone to make everything hospitable in there. And we won't get our scan for a few weeks due to a whole bunch of real life stuff going on. But for now, we're just enjoying it (well M. is. I'm really bloated and achy, so not so much)
A pregnancy and I didn't even pee on a stick once!
Showing posts with label Two Week Wait. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Two Week Wait. Show all posts
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A different kind of two week wait
Well, only three more sleeps until my pregnancy test and I can honestly say that this has been a very different two week wait.
Some of the differences:
- I know almost all my symptoms can be attributed to the progesterone. Which actually stops a lot of fretting. Instead of worrying whether it's pms or pregnancy I just blame it on the progesterone.
- My breasts are definitely bigger. As in, my bra is getting rather small and hurting me. So, I need to go bra shopping or get a crop top of some sort.
- I know that the first part was already done.
-I'm very, very, very tired. Like fall asleep at work tired.
-I seem to get progressively sorer during the day. Especially in the stomach.
All in all, it's gone much quicker than I thought it would. Just a few more days and we might know something, one way or another . . .
Some of the differences:
- I know almost all my symptoms can be attributed to the progesterone. Which actually stops a lot of fretting. Instead of worrying whether it's pms or pregnancy I just blame it on the progesterone.
- My breasts are definitely bigger. As in, my bra is getting rather small and hurting me. So, I need to go bra shopping or get a crop top of some sort.
- I know that the first part was already done.
-I'm very, very, very tired. Like fall asleep at work tired.
-I seem to get progressively sorer during the day. Especially in the stomach.
All in all, it's gone much quicker than I thought it would. Just a few more days and we might know something, one way or another . . .
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Words I hate seeing
Whenever I've started a new drug during this cycle, I've done a bit of research of the side effects. Something that really irritates me is the number of time side effect information is proceeded with 'Most women experience no side effects'
Obviously, I'm in the minority because I've experienced a multitude of side effects with each of the drugs!
Synarel - tiredness, achiness, forgetfulness, mood swings (all to extreme levels)
Gonal-f - hyperstimulation, bloating, tiredness, cramping
Crinone - tiredness (yes, I've just been tired for the last 6 weeks!), sore breasts, depression
I realize they put the 'most women' in the information to calm worried women who are about to put all these hormones into their bodies, but when you're already the minority (infertile), the last thing you need is to know you're even more of a freak because you have side effects to everything!
(This post totally brought to you by a person trying to distract herself through the two week wait)
Obviously, I'm in the minority because I've experienced a multitude of side effects with each of the drugs!
Synarel - tiredness, achiness, forgetfulness, mood swings (all to extreme levels)
Gonal-f - hyperstimulation, bloating, tiredness, cramping
Crinone - tiredness (yes, I've just been tired for the last 6 weeks!), sore breasts, depression
I realize they put the 'most women' in the information to calm worried women who are about to put all these hormones into their bodies, but when you're already the minority (infertile), the last thing you need is to know you're even more of a freak because you have side effects to everything!
(This post totally brought to you by a person trying to distract herself through the two week wait)
Monday, November 7, 2011
Another type of hormone: the wonders of crinone
So, soon after the egg pick up (still want to say harvest), the doctor put me on crinone, a vaginal gel that contains progesterone. (if that's tmi, you may not want to read anymore.) basically it prepares the uterus for pregnancy and then acts as a support.
The application of it is easy, but not necessarily pretty (unlike the shots and the nasal spray, I can't do this one in the car). The side effects, though, are the real killers. Someone described it to me early as having all the symptoms of pregnancy and all pre menstrual symptoms at the same time. The leaflet that comes with the pack, though, warns of:
"Very common side effects"
Including
"cramps, abdominal pain, head ache, breast enlargement (here's hoping) or pain, feelings of severe sadness and unworthiness, decreased sexual drive, sleepiness, feeling emotional, constipation, nausea"
That's just the very common side effects. The common side effects also include my old favourite, bloating, vomiting and painful joints.
So basically I'm going to be a bloated, depressive, big breasted walking ball of pain.
In reality, I seem to have relatively mild side effects, though the depression is one to watch. I have a history of anxiety and depression, but at least this time I know it's a possibility and can take measures to curtail it. Like looking a photos of grumpy baby meerkats (photo to come)
The application of it is easy, but not necessarily pretty (unlike the shots and the nasal spray, I can't do this one in the car). The side effects, though, are the real killers. Someone described it to me early as having all the symptoms of pregnancy and all pre menstrual symptoms at the same time. The leaflet that comes with the pack, though, warns of:
"Very common side effects"
Including
"cramps, abdominal pain, head ache, breast enlargement (here's hoping) or pain, feelings of severe sadness and unworthiness, decreased sexual drive, sleepiness, feeling emotional, constipation, nausea"
That's just the very common side effects. The common side effects also include my old favourite, bloating, vomiting and painful joints.
So basically I'm going to be a bloated, depressive, big breasted walking ball of pain.
In reality, I seem to have relatively mild side effects, though the depression is one to watch. I have a history of anxiety and depression, but at least this time I know it's a possibility and can take measures to curtail it. Like looking a photos of grumpy baby meerkats (photo to come)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Cycle one: Egg Transfer
With the doctor's ok, we were able to go ahead with the egg transfer yesterday ( must have been all those crossed fingers you guys had). Because it was a weekend, we had to go to a different hospital (just a specialist one) in a suburb near the city. We were, of course, really early, so we went for a short walk around the block before heading in.
Once in, I signed the million pieces of paperwork, and then M. and I were taken to get changed. This time I got to keep my top half on, adding a beautiful gingham hospital gown and a nice fluffy robe to the mix, along with feet covers and hat. M. got hospital scrubs, plus feet covers and hat. We were then taken into the lounge to wait with a few other people. Luckily it was just a short wait before we were taken through.
The embryologist came and saw us first. He let us know that they'd frozen four embryos early, 2 had gone through to blastocyst (one of these was put back in) and another four looked like going to blastocyst yesterday or today. Which makes 10 altogether, which is a very good number.
Then I got to lay back and put my legs up on these bars. The doctor put the speculum in, which was the only painful part of the whole process. (I found relaxing made it a lot easier). Then the embryologist came out with a catheter with the embryo in it, the doctor placed it in, the embryologist checked it had left the catheter (Those tiny cells. Always playing hide and seek, you know). Then I was good to sit up and go.
M. And I got back into our regular gear, then made our way back to the patient lounge. The nurse made us both a cup of tea and we had some cheese and crackers. About 30 minutes later we were good to get on with our day (the nurse suggested no bungee jumping though).
So in less than two weeks we'll know something. I still need to take it relatively easy because of how close I was to serious illness. But one thing I am doing is taking a quiet walk every day, which is good on many levels.
Don't fret, I have plenty of posts planned to keep us all busy during the two week wait! Just hold on until I tell you about the wonders of Crinone . . .
Once in, I signed the million pieces of paperwork, and then M. and I were taken to get changed. This time I got to keep my top half on, adding a beautiful gingham hospital gown and a nice fluffy robe to the mix, along with feet covers and hat. M. got hospital scrubs, plus feet covers and hat. We were then taken into the lounge to wait with a few other people. Luckily it was just a short wait before we were taken through.
The embryologist came and saw us first. He let us know that they'd frozen four embryos early, 2 had gone through to blastocyst (one of these was put back in) and another four looked like going to blastocyst yesterday or today. Which makes 10 altogether, which is a very good number.
Then I got to lay back and put my legs up on these bars. The doctor put the speculum in, which was the only painful part of the whole process. (I found relaxing made it a lot easier). Then the embryologist came out with a catheter with the embryo in it, the doctor placed it in, the embryologist checked it had left the catheter (Those tiny cells. Always playing hide and seek, you know). Then I was good to sit up and go.
M. And I got back into our regular gear, then made our way back to the patient lounge. The nurse made us both a cup of tea and we had some cheese and crackers. About 30 minutes later we were good to get on with our day (the nurse suggested no bungee jumping though).
So in less than two weeks we'll know something. I still need to take it relatively easy because of how close I was to serious illness. But one thing I am doing is taking a quiet walk every day, which is good on many levels.
Don't fret, I have plenty of posts planned to keep us all busy during the two week wait! Just hold on until I tell you about the wonders of Crinone . . .
Monday, September 5, 2011
How to survive the two week wait
This month I'm distracting myself with crochet. One of my best friends is expecting her first child in February, so I've made her a big round blanket, as well as a range of bright, colourful cotton bibs. I like crochet because it keeps the mind busy, I feel like I'm actually producing something and it's easier on the eyes than endlessly playing Angry Birds.
As for symptoms, I keep going back and forward on them. I had a vivid dream last night (featuring Dr Karl from Neighbours . . . ) which obviously means I'm pregnant. Or it obviously means my period is coming. My husband's glass of wine hasn't made me turn up my nose this month, which means my period is coming. Or I'm pregnant. My breasts hurt. Which means I'm pregnant. Or my period is coming!
The very real problem is, that after all this time I really don't trust my body anymore. There have been months where I've been absolutely certain that this is the month. And then my period comes, and all those hopes I've worked up feel especially heavy. Before we started trying to conceive, I was definitely more comfortable with all the signals my body sent. Now I just feel confused!
The good news is, it'll all be over soon. One way or another, I should know something before the end of the week. Then the next step of planning can begin.
Photo from flickr
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