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September 29, 2003
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Always look on the bright side of life...
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten!
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing,
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps,
Just purse your lips and whistle -- that's the thing!
And... always look on the bright side of life...
Monty Python
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Hi, everyone!
I hope you had a nice weekend. I was busy—I started Christmas shopping, ran many errands…you know, the fun stuff grown ups have to do! :)
IVF #2 Status
I started Lupron on Friday. The mean juice has already gotten to me. I’m very short-tempered and the stupidest things irk the hell out of me (like how Chris chews his food--poor dear). It’s going to be a long couple of weeks.
I’ve had a problem with the constant need to pee. I was hoping I had an UTI, but alas not. I’ve had to get up to go potty every 1-3 hours during the night for the past few nights. It’s very annoying and the lack of sleep is not helping my mood! I spoke with a nurse and she said if it doesn’t get better then I am to come in for an u/s to make sure there aren’t any cysts pushing on my bladder. JOY.
Anyway, I’ve almost caught up to the present....
After IVF #1 failed, I began looking for a new RE. I had two recommendations from people (and my old RE seconded the choices) so I made appointments with both clinics. I figured the more opinions the merrier! I had an appointment with one clinic within a few weeks and the other was booked until October (I called in July!). I received all my medical records from my old clinic and it was very interesting to sort through them (it’s a HUGE file).
RE #2
Chris and I met with RE #2 (RE #1 being my old doctor) in August. We liked him very much. He was very clear in stating that IVF #1 was a flop and even told me that I shouldn’t feel too badly about it having failed. It helped so much to know that it wasn’t a perfect cycle even if I had ended up with 3 good embryos! He even asked if I were a doctor or a nurse because I was so well versed in the correct medical terms and questions. Research does pay off (and flattery does get you everywhere!)! :) I asked about immune and genetics testing (something RE #1 had said was not necessary for me). This doctor said he would have suggested it if I hadn’t. He was very thorough and really listened to our concerns. I felt right at home! He agreed that IVF was definitely the best course of action for me.
I basically bounced out of the office with my lab slip and documents in hand! I went for the blood draw that week and it was 17 (that’s right!) vials! WOW. (It took a month to get the results, but I don't have any immune issues and Chris and are apparently genetically sound--much to the amazement of our family and friends hahahaha. This is great news!)
The following Friday we went for our one-on-one IVF class (basically learned the protocol since we’re all ready shot experts!). I asked for a lab slip to have my hormone levels checked—I had started spotting, hadn’t gotten a peak on my FM and wanted to get IVF #2 under way (aka a little Provera to help things along). The next day I went for the blood draw and got the results on Monday. To my amazement I had ovulated. Before O, I felt wonderful this cycle—I really figured that was a sign of annovulation for me since I usually am a train wreck when I O on my own. I continued to have spotting and that Thursday I suddenly had extremely bad cramps and it appeared AF had finally arrived. I requested another blood draw the next day since I needed CD 3 tests done and with my body you can’t always just tell when CD 3 is...So la la la the next day I went for the tests figuring they’d show it was AF. I was very excited to get IVF #2 underway, in case you hadn't noticed. ;)
That afternoon I received the shock of my life. The nurse called to let me know that my PG test (they always request them whenever hormone levels are checked) came back positive, but my HCG level was very low (11) and my Progesterone was very low too so I was miscarrying. It was surreal. After 1.5 years of IF treatments, my body finally did what medical science seemed incapable of doing...I had gotten PG. The worst part wasn’t the m/c, it was never having that initial wave of joy from a BFP. I never got to celebrate the potential for a baby. Granted, logically, I know that not knowing until it was over was less painful. But still I was so angry at yet another injustice. Chris was wonderful and as usual used humor to help me through. Who else would sing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” when his wife was sobbing about how she was miscarrying his child?
~So always look on the bright side of life…
Life's a piece of sh*t,
When you look at it.~
It took a week for my HCG level to drop back to 0 and I missed the cut off for starting IVF #2 (this clinic does it 8 weeks on 4 weeks off). So it was a double whammy--no baby and no IVF either.
RE #3
My appointment with RE #3 was moved up to September. I’d heard only amazing things about this doctor and was exicted to get his take on my issues. His staff turned out to be excellent and the doctor agreed with RE #2 about how bad IVF #1 was. He told me that my chances for success are very good and he also thought IVF was the way to go. He insisted I see an endocrinologist for my hypothyroidism (which I have done). He did an exam that day (including cultures) and said I could start IVF #2 as soon as AF arrived. We even met with the financial coordinator who we loved. As usual, our INS company told her we don’t have IF coverage (we totally do, but we’re always told we don’t when we call). She was so upset that she had to tell us we had no IF coverage. We just laughed and she called back and told off the CSR for doing this to people who are already going through hell. I also really like his doctor’s protocol (no evil juice!!!), but it would be an inconvenience to go to his office for monitoring (the opposite direction from work) and the E/R and transfer would be an hour away at his other office. Plus he had some weird fees that INS wouldn’t cover…so it would cost us $2500-3000 out of pocket whereas it would just be copays if we went with RE #2. So that’s what we based our decision on. If IVF #2 fails we will go to RE #3 (hope you’re following this!).
This pretty much catches me up. Wow! Next time I’ll tell you all about the other thing I’m trying—acupuncture!
Have a great week!
Jen
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