I Smell Hotdogs 🤢

Today is day 8, post transfer.  It's officially been over one week since the transfer of two embryos occured! 

My pregnancy results on the at home tests are becoming darker as the HCG continues to increase.  I've been using the 'First Response 6 days Sooner' which can detect HCG in quantities as little as 6.  Regular pregnancy tests aren't meant to be used for a few more weeks...when HCG levels have had a chance to really grow and their detection level is about 25.  I'm not quite sure how high my levels are yet or if I'm carrying twins, but hopefully this next week we will find out through a few blood tests that my levels are on track and doubling every 72 hours as they should be.

Gradually getting darker
(due to increasing HCG levels)

I had absolutely no headaches or feelings of nausea on Monday or Tuesday and most of yesterday...in the evening I began to get a headache, which made me kind of nauseous.  Nothing too terrible, just stopped me from eating or having any sweet snacks.  (Probably for the best 😜)

This morning I woke up with a mild headache and once I started blow drying my hair...the nausea hit me.  I started getting clammy and talking myself into not throwing up🤪.  

After cooling off under a fan, I was able to pull it together and grab an egg & cheese breakfast sandwich from Starbucks.  My favorite drink (strawberry acai refresher) has caffeine in it...which I'm trying to do my best to avoid...so water for me.  It hit the spot and other than my nagging headache I was off to work.

Shortly after I arrived, the smell of hot dogs started wafting in.  Which is weird because A. It's morning (who eats hot dogs for breakfast?) B. We don't have microwaves or food stored anywhere near my desk location?!

So my only deduction is someone had hotdogs or something similar for breakfast and now my go-go-gadget super sniffer is working in full force.🤢🥲

I texted my husband and I'm not sure what type of response I was looking for...but it definitely wasn't this! 😂🤣🤢😭(those who know him, won't be shocked)

🤢🤢🤢

So hoping the headache goes away soon and I'm praying no more hotdogs will be consumed for the next few months.😜😂

Post Transfer and Trip

After the transfer on Wednesday, I relaxed and finished some work from home (sitting at a desk) and prepared for our quick trip to Southern Utah.  

Thursday morning I woke up feeling a little achy and sore...primarily my pubic bone from having the ultrasound sound jammed into it for about 5 -10 minutes straight during the transfer.  Nothing much different than my last transfer in June.👍🏼

We ate breakfast and began on our 6.5 hour drive.  About an hour and a half in to the trip, I began getting a headache.  (I'm no stranger to migraines... unfortunately) Since I could be pregnant or becoming so very soon, the difference with this headache was I couldn't take anything for it.   Yuck!

My headaches typically turn from bad to worse if I don't intervene with some type of medication, (typically Excedrin) fast.  So I kept drinking water and tried to doze off and on (as comfortable as you can get in the passenger seat of a car)...without much help.  In true fashion it continued to get worse.  By the time we reached our destination...I felt so nauseous (headaches make me feel this way often) it took all I had to go to the pre-wedding festivities, we had traveled for! 😣

Luckily, I was able to lay down in the hotel bed for a few minutes before hopping back in the car and listening to several calming songs from M83 while enjoying the beautiful Utah scenery.  Although food sounded absolutely disgusting, it was one of those Cafe Rio style dinners (which I normally enjoy) so I made myself a small bowl of salad, skipping the rice and beans...and it actually hit the spot!  So glad.  It took the edge off and I was able to enjoy my time with our family and friends❤️

Friday morning was the wedding and although I don't remember having the headache in my sleep...I definitely woke up with one.  Womp, womp.  I was so bummed because last time I had the transfer, I didn't have any headaches until a week or so later.  

St. George Pizza Factory breadsticks 

My son and I... All dressed up❤️

We had some breakfast (an egg sandwich and hot cocoa) and I will say...while eating the egg sandwich, I started to notice some smells around and maybe from the sandwich ... I won't go into detail ..but started thinking that my "supersonic sniffer" was back in action.  IYKYK?!

The wedding was beautiful, it was in the Cedar City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple, which was the perfect place for me to completely relax and enjoy the peaceful environment.  My headache seemed to subside while inside, (yay) so Phil and I ventured out and grabbed a bite at St. George Pizza Factory"...which should not be confused with the Arizona and California Pizza Factories!  Haha much different and we didn't enjoy the experience, but hey we got out and I ate some more salad 🤣👍🏼. Of course we had to balance our meh meal with something we knew would be great, so it was Subzero Ice Cream for the win!  Rocky Road of course is the way to go😘😊

After salad, breadsticks, and ice cream we hit the hotel and napped hard for about two whole hours before the reception which was being held in Pine Valley (another drive).  The reception was beautiful, the couple is adorable, and our friends are the best!

Saturday morning I wake up without a headache!  Woo hoo!  It's also a travel day home, so it was definitely a win for me 😃

I never get car sick and about halfway through the drive I began to get really nauseous and a headache started coming back ..but almost off and on.  I never get headaches off and on like that, so it made me think I might need a neck adjustment (dad needs to come for a visit 😘)?!

Anyway we arrived home, the headache didn't really get worse and let me tell you...this in and of itself is a huge miracle!  As long as I can remember, I've suffered from migraines...but they have particularly gotten worse after a car accident I was in, back in 2014.  My headaches all turn to migraines and they can last for days if I don't immediately take medication.  I can't remember the last time a headache ever went away, without taking medication?!  (Even if I go to sleep...I will wake up with it if I don't take medicine!) So miracles for the win!

Sunday, I just felt blah.  Don't know how else to explain it.  Wasn't really hungry, didn't have a headache (YAY) but just didn't feel good.  Almost like I was a little car sick still.  Weird.  It's too soon to be having symptoms, if I was pregnant... right?

My sister shared the embryo pictures (shared below) that were implanted with me and the differences between the last ones and these ones were huge!  It appears that both of these embryos were hatching already!  So with this knowledge...they could have implanted right away.  Typically, after transfer, they say it takes 24-72 hours for the embryo(s) to attach to the uterine wall.  There's a sheath that they need to shed before they can attach...which can take a bit to lose.  The embryos that were implanted in me were both considered 5 day embryos, which means they were grown for 5-8 days in a specialized, state of the art laboratory, then frozen, 6 or 7 years ago, before being thawed and transferred to me on Wednesday.  Isn't that amazing??  It's truly a miracle that any of this can even happen!! 🙏🏼💖

Embryos transferred 6/19/23

Embryos transferred 9/13/23

See how you can see them coming out of their shell or sheath?? So amazing!

So I'm off to buy some pregnancy tests...wish me luck🍀🤞🏼! It's still very early at 4 days post transfer, 5 day embryo aka "4dp5t" but let's see what happens 😊. 🙏🏼❤️

Today's the Day!

It's finally arrived, the second (and hopefully final) transfer day!  This time I didn't have acupuncture scheduled before hand, so I decided not to overfill my bladder, like last time.  I arrived 30 minutes early (as requested) and was pulled back for my blood draw and then put into a different room to change into my transfer gown, hat, and booties.

This time, being a little more experienced, I wore a dress.  So I would only have to remove my underwear prior to transfer, which was a lot quicker and I felt way more decent under my gown😛👍🏼

I actually had the gown backwards on accident...

Matching booties 😛

After slamming water for the next 20 minutes, it was finally time to go back.  Since I was not overly full this time, the walk was so much better...well everything really was!

This time it was our actual doctor performing the transfer, his bedside manner is just so much better.  He was talking the entire time, but not awkward, just the right amount.  He was able to find the location for the transfer so much quicker than the last doctor!  

Also no more Austin Powers yelling when they were ready!🤣 It was just a calm, "we are ready."  A woman came from behind the door carrying a thin tube and called out who the embryos belonged to (my sisters name) and then who they were being transfered in to (my name) then handed them to the doctor, who then put the tube into the catheter type tube he already had inserted and within a few seconds we could see the little white bubble in my uterus.  He said we will confirm both embryos are inside that bubble in a minute.

He gave the tube back to the woman who brought it, she went back through the door and within a few seconds she responded, "clear".  Which meant yes, no embryos were left in the tube, and both were in fact contained in that little air bubble on screen!

So crazy how amazing this whole process is.  You can take a frozen embryo, dethaw it, and place it in another human...and it has the possibility of growing into a human!

So after the quick procedure, I went back to a recovery room and experienced some acupuncture to help relieve stress and increase circulation.  

It takes approximately 24-72 hours for these little guys to implant🤞🏼...hoping this time it works!  I'm supposed to relax and take it easy for the rest of the day, so that's the plan.  I'm working from home the rest of the day and have a road trip planned to Southern Utah for a wedding tomorrow.  That should be relaxing, right? 😊 

Ultrasound, showing the little bubble with the embryos inside❤️

3rd Time's The Charm...

3rd time is the charm...so they say?!  So it's only been a few days since I've stopped taking all my medications and boom the mother of all mother periods have already began!  I thought I'd have at least a week before this next round...and by the reaction from the clinic, I think they did too🤭.

So the process so far has been cycle day 1 notify the fertility center, cycle day 2, start taking estrogen, and cycle day 4-5, take a baseline ultrasound to ensure my lining is basically gone.

Even though everything on my ERA testing said it should have the results completed with a week or two...the fertility center said they did not have the results back yet and would need to reach out to my sister to find out if she wants to proceed without the results or wait until my next cycle.

(Internally I'm thinking...aren't there additional options?? Like what about calling to check on the results with the lab, or starting the cycle as normal and then if the test results come back as oops we needed to change something early on, then skip to next cycle.  Why waste an entire cycle if it isn't necessary??)

I reach out to my sister and share a few of my thoughts...she's also been a reaching out to the fertility center separately on a different chain....so I wait.

Day 2 I hear nothing back.  But being a little hard headed and not wanting to have the cycle delayed by not have starting estrogen day 2...I start the estrogen day 2.  (Luckily I still have plenty from my last round and am good to go, at least until they have an update for me 🤞🏼)

Day 3 I get an update from the fertility center saying that they received my results, they wanted me to start taking estrogen and then make an appointment for a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork! I was shocked they felt they could still start it on day 3? 

So no one really explained the results of my ERA to me, I just saw on the new calendar they provided, that it had literal hours on it.  (See below)

So what I read and began to interpret myself is that "stimulation" happens when I begin to administer the PIO shots.  Progesterone stimulates my uterine lining to begin to be susceptible to carry a baby.  So in my prior cycles they just said 5 days before transfer begin taking the progesterone at 9pm...this one was oddly specific in saying to take the progesterone at 10:20pm, 5 days prior to transfer.

My wall of past and present calendars and shot instructions 

I'm still not exactly sure how they know all of this or what specifically they found during my test.  I'm curious as to whether anything had to change from the first cycle to now or not?  So many questions!  But for now...I will follow my protocol and update if anything changes 😊

You're late...

 So this morning around 8:45am, I'm at work and I get a text saying, "Hi Summer, you've missed your appointment this morning for lab work, are you on your way?"

Uh, what?  I quickly look over the appointment paper that they gave me...no appointment.  Then I look over the string of messages they send on this app called Klara...nothing about an appointment. So now armed with this information, I feel confident that they are reaching out to the wrong Summer.

After a few exchanges back and forth...I guess it is me they want.  Although my last labs from Monday came back as negative for progesterone they want to check again to ensure that before I begin taking PIO shots tonight...that my levels are still very low.  (Having progesterone in my system early would mean by body could ovulate on its own, instead of allowing them to hijack it on their timeline, which is what IVF does)

Okay sure I'll let work know that there was an appointment scheduled that they forgot to notify me about and I have to go to Gilbert to complete lab work.  Ugh.  Oh well...it is what it is and luckily my job is very flexible. Whew.

My biggest concern at this point is I've been wearing long sleeve shirts because my left arm still has a major bruise from the phlebotomist royally sucking it up.  

...a few hours later I roll up, quickly get called back and low and behold it's the same phlebotomist!  Oy vey...she asks to see my right arm because it's closest today.  (I think to myself...there's no way she's gonna screw this one up too.  I'm sure it was a one off.  The funny thing is...I've been going here for months...and I don't think I've ever had the same person draw my blood.  Yet I have some how won the bad phlebotomist lottery and lucky me get her twice when my other arm still looks like a junkie 💉😬)

After a less painful draw...I leave bandaged up and scurry back to work.  After about an hour I remember I have this darn bandage on my arm!  So I pulled it off and boom...looks like she screwed up this arm too😞.  

In 100+ degree weather...I will now be wearing long sleeves for the foreseeable future thanks to Ms. Jabby Jabberson the horrible phlebotomist.

For your viewing pleasure...here's my lovely arm pokes after about two hours on both arms.  (Monday and Wednesday)

Monday (8/7) two hours post jab left arm

Wednesday (8/9) two hours post jab right arm

I didn't end up getting a photo of them both a few days after...but trust me, the people who saw them were like holy canoli keep those covered up 🥲.

Wish me luck...PIO shots start tonight.💉😲

Lining Check Pre ERA

This morning I went in for another ultrasound, to check my lining.  The doctor quickly looked at my left side and I saw him take at least one measurement of what appeared to be a cyst.  He said it was approximately 3-4cms, but so far wasn't producing any hormones, which is great, and wasn't cause for concern.  (Okay...I guess this is kinda normal...I read that they can get large up to 10cms before they become a concern.  Usually these cysts rupture on their own and become a non issue.  Their cause?? Hormones.  Increased levels of Estrogen can be a cause. Haha sooo, shouldn't be surprised.)

 Other than the measurements nothing really of note to share.  He mentioned that he wanted me to have blood work done to measure my hormones again, specifically progesterone to see if the cyst is still not producing anything, and mentioned he would talk to my sister and let her know that either ERA test would be fine.  He said they should get the results within a week or two and it should be perfectly timed for my next cycle.

After a quick "goo" cleanup on aisle thigh...I got dressed and stopped over at the lab to get a quick jab.  (Ouch!  I'm not sure the gal knew what she was doing...a little rough and I have easy veins!)

Okay...next appointment will be Monday, August 14th for the ERA.  I'm a little nervous, but the doctor assured me that as long as I take some ibuprofen it will feel just like a little pin prick 📍.  So here's to hoping it's simple and fairly pain free.🤞🏻 

P.s. Progesterone shots 💉 start again on Wednesday 👀not sure if Phil has mentally recovered from the last round so I better make sure he's prepared 😜!

Walmart for the Pharmacy Win?

My family and I have been very fortunate and really haven't spent much time in the pharmacy department.  I have called our CVS pharmacy at Target a few times to get prescriptions filled and utilize their auto fill function...but that's about as far as the transactions go.  They get the order, the script is filled, I get a text letting me know it's ready and available for pick up.  Easy.

Well I guess the things my previous orders have all had in common were...the medications I needed, were not time sensitive.  If they weren't a common prescription, I could easily wait the additional 24-48 hours for them to fill my prescription.

So remember my original post - where I told ya it was a last minute scramble to urgently get a prescription filled and begin taking it as soon as possible?  Well that's where we are.

So I reach out to my CVS pharmacy, someone answers the phone after a long game of pick the number that's closest to what you want, followed by several 0's...in hopes of being transferred to a person.  (The purpose of course for my call, was to find out if they had the medication in stock, that I was prescribed.  Since there was a sense of urgency to this request - I didn't have time to show up and find out it wouldn't be ready for a day or two.)  After a few rings, a gentleman answers (perhaps the pharmacist?) and lets me know that they have the prescription from the doctor's office and will be able to fill it, but will need my updated insurance information.  No problem!  I offered to provide it over the phone and he replied that I should instead just bring it when I come to fill the prescription, which should only take 5-10 minutes.

Feeling confident that the medication would be available, I head down to Target to grab the prescription.  After providing my insurance card and updating my file - I was shocked to learn that they didn't have the medication needed after all!  (I later found that the reason for this was the gentleman on the phone didn't have access to their inventory, only going through the motions.)  Well now what?

Long story, shorter - CVS at Target was unable to direct me to another location or help me further.  So...I hesitated naturally, because Walmart isn't known for their amazing customer service...but they are close to me and perhaps they would have the medicine in stock to fill my prescription.

So I call Walmart's pharmacy department (expecting the worst), I speak with a gentleman who seems very pleasant, I tell him my circumstance and the urgency and he immediately offers to take my insurance information over the phone, checks his inventory, and tells me when I can expect to pick it up.  Even goes the extra mile and tells me when they break for lunch, to avoid further delays!

Within an hour, I get a text letting me know that my prescription was ready to be picked up.  (Amazing!)  When I arrive, the pharmacy tech asks for my name to go grab the medication.  The moment I provide my name, a gentleman in the back, immediately steps forward and stands to the side, awaiting for the transaction to be complete.  As soon as I've paid, he says, "Hi Summer, my name is Omar. I'm the pharmacist here and we spoke on the phone earlier today."  (Wow - maybe the bar is just set soooo low - but I was already totally impressed!

Omar then took me to a side window and asked if I had ever taken the medication before.  He asked because he was concerned about the dosage that I was being prescribed. I, being completely unfamiliar with dosages and knowing mistakes can be made - immediately offered up what I was doing (GC) with an implant date of 6/22.  He asked if I knew how long I would be on the medication, since the dosage they were prescribing was really high.  Of course I didn't - so he asked if I would be okay if he made a call to the doctor's office to ensure the dosage was correct and asked if he could call me on my cell phone, so I didn't have to wait!  

Okay so the story ends with yes - it was the correct dosage, but I truly felt reassured and so much more comfortable about the dosage and the pills I was prescribed for this first part of the adventure.

Side note - I'm now a regular there and Omar greets me with a wave and a smile from behind the counter every single time and whenever there's a new prescription (including my Progesterone in Oil shots), he walks me through the medicine, possible side effects, and makes sure I still have his card to call with ANY questions!