I went for an ultrasound today to see how many follicles I have and apparently I only have 8. Which is not a good number I think. I heard Dr Yu exclaim to the nurses that I had 14 in Jan, and that she doesn't know what's going on there.
I think the number wasn't supposed to drop to 8.
I think this means I can only have 8 eggs for retrieval, max. This doesn't sound good at all... I mean, I've been reading about people retrieving 20 eggs or more and end up only having 5 grown into embryos. Doesn't this mean with my poor 8 eggs, I may have none grown into embryos? *sigh*
They've also put me on gonal F jabs (instead of puregon, I wonder why...)
I can't seem to find any info on the difference between puregon and gonal f, but both are NOT fun. Side effects include headaches (as if the Lupron induced headaches aren't enough), breast tenderness, nausea and other 'fun' things.
So for the next week or so leading up to egg retrieval, I need to have one 10 unit jab of Lupron in the mornings and one 300 unit jab of Gonal F before bed. I'm starting to feel like a human pin cushion.
Thursday, May 08, 2014
Monday, May 05, 2014
Starting Puregon on Friday
Let me start off by saying I'm having major cramps PLUS my back aches. Not sure if it's due to Lupron.
Bloodwork results came back this afternoon and my estradiol levels are below 40 so I'm set to go! But the clinic is full in terms of appointments so they need to have me do an extra three days of 10 units of Lupron. I'll only head in on Thursday afternoon for my ultrasound and instructions for Puregon.
I'm not entirely happy with the delay but I can understand that the clinic is packed.
What I'm really annoyed with is the nurse that called me. Nurse Agnes? Edna? I didn't really catch her name. But she was rude.
Her first call to me was to inform me to head down on Friday to proceed to the next step. At that time, I was doing mass compo marking with other teachers seated there so I just kind "Mmm ok" then said goodbye.
Then she called again, to inform me that I need to continue with Lupron but only 10 units instead of the 20 units I've been injecting the 10 days. At that point, I asked if there was an earlier appointment, and she said no. Was a little disappointed.
Then I realised that I forgot to ask her what my estradiol levels were. So I called back to ask what the numbers were, exactly. At that point, she sounded quite irritated and said I only needed to know I was suppressed enough. Yes, But i'm asking so can't she give me the numbers? She then grumbled something about how she can't tell me over the phone and she'll give me a copy of my test results on Friday if I REALLY want them.
Good gosh.
She also asked where my prescription was. I informed her that I was only prescribed Lupron and not Puregon. Then she complained about having to get the doctor to write one for me on Friday.
After we hung up... well.. the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want the ultrasound on Friday. Surely she can squeeze me in somewhere...
So I called back (Yes I know I'm being annoying at this point) and asked her if she could just try to squeeze me in either on Tue, Wed, or Thurs. She had that super annoyed tone and said they don't do on Tuesdays because egg retrieval would be on weekends (ok, that was reasonable). Wednesday was full. But she could squeeze me in on Thursday afternoon. Only problem was that I had to wait for quite awhile for the results because the doctor would be in the operation room. I was fine with that, really. I only can't stand her annoyed tone. Then she said "You don't call back anymore hor!"
I nearly blew my top then. Isn't it her job to answer questions that patients have? Why CAN'T I call back anymore? I took a breath and apologised for wasting her time. Only because I know I was bugging her.
I'm very annoyed with that nurse and was contemplating lodging a formal complaint. But Sigh. We are all human. And who knows... maybe she was having a bad day. I'll just let it go this time around. But if she deals with me rudely again.. well.. I won't be so nice.
Bloodwork results came back this afternoon and my estradiol levels are below 40 so I'm set to go! But the clinic is full in terms of appointments so they need to have me do an extra three days of 10 units of Lupron. I'll only head in on Thursday afternoon for my ultrasound and instructions for Puregon.
I'm not entirely happy with the delay but I can understand that the clinic is packed.
What I'm really annoyed with is the nurse that called me. Nurse Agnes? Edna? I didn't really catch her name. But she was rude.
Her first call to me was to inform me to head down on Friday to proceed to the next step. At that time, I was doing mass compo marking with other teachers seated there so I just kind "Mmm ok" then said goodbye.
Then she called again, to inform me that I need to continue with Lupron but only 10 units instead of the 20 units I've been injecting the 10 days. At that point, I asked if there was an earlier appointment, and she said no. Was a little disappointed.
Then I realised that I forgot to ask her what my estradiol levels were. So I called back to ask what the numbers were, exactly. At that point, she sounded quite irritated and said I only needed to know I was suppressed enough. Yes, But i'm asking so can't she give me the numbers? She then grumbled something about how she can't tell me over the phone and she'll give me a copy of my test results on Friday if I REALLY want them.
Good gosh.
She also asked where my prescription was. I informed her that I was only prescribed Lupron and not Puregon. Then she complained about having to get the doctor to write one for me on Friday.
After we hung up... well.. the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want the ultrasound on Friday. Surely she can squeeze me in somewhere...
So I called back (Yes I know I'm being annoying at this point) and asked her if she could just try to squeeze me in either on Tue, Wed, or Thurs. She had that super annoyed tone and said they don't do on Tuesdays because egg retrieval would be on weekends (ok, that was reasonable). Wednesday was full. But she could squeeze me in on Thursday afternoon. Only problem was that I had to wait for quite awhile for the results because the doctor would be in the operation room. I was fine with that, really. I only can't stand her annoyed tone. Then she said "You don't call back anymore hor!"
I nearly blew my top then. Isn't it her job to answer questions that patients have? Why CAN'T I call back anymore? I took a breath and apologised for wasting her time. Only because I know I was bugging her.
I'm very annoyed with that nurse and was contemplating lodging a formal complaint. But Sigh. We are all human. And who knows... maybe she was having a bad day. I'll just let it go this time around. But if she deals with me rudely again.. well.. I won't be so nice.
Sunday, May 04, 2014
It's been a busy week with the exams coming up. Tons of revision papers plus the usual mad rush of syllabus.
Melvin's been waking up early every morning to give me my Lupron jab. Some days it hurts, some days not at all. I've been a wimp and we use ice to numb the injection site prior to the jab.
We woke up late today, it being a weekend and all. And I got impatient while waiting for him to give me my jab... so I did it myself. Ha!
I'm proud of myself for succeeding, of course. And I did it more in irritation than anything. It was a 'Haiyo, take so long... may as well DIY... *jab*' It didn't quite occur to me that jabbing myself may be more painful than normal (The needle didn't go in very fast...) And I only slightly regretted it while inserting the needle midway. But hey, I got it done. No fuss.
I'm hoping that my blood test on Monday will show that my estrogen levels are sufficiently suppressed and we can move on the stimulation stage. Though from all the blogs and forums, it seems quite unlikely that estrogen levels will be low enough after 10 days of Lupron. Read some lady even did it for 18 days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Don't want to go through another blood test because it means I'll need to take time off school AGAIN. And with the children's exams coming up... yaknow. I worry.
I was a lil miffed at my Principal. But I suppose she needs to do what a school leader needs to go. I informed her of my IVF thing because I had to. Because I need to take time off some mornings and there is that projected 2 week hospitalisation leave so she'll need to prep to get a relief teacher in.
She asked if I can postpone the IVF to June.
Mmm, I suppose the natural reaction would be 'wtf?' but I know where she was coming from. It's a hassle getting a relief teacher in. Plus we are all thinking of how to best do this without affecting my class.
I had to explain to her that I was doing mine at SGH and there was a waiting list.
She then made a remark that if I went to a private hospital, I can do it anytime.
I reminded her that the $6k government grant for IVF doesn't cover private hospitals.
Afterwhich she made some remark about needing a million bucks to raise a child anyways, so what is $6k?
I just smiled at her at that point and agreed. But was getting quite annoyed. Yes I know it's expensive to raise a child. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't make use of the grant, right? And why should I go to the private hospital just so the school doesn't need to get a relief teacher? My projected 2 week off is AFTER the exams anyway. Not like I'll be away just before or during their papers.
I mean, come on la. If I didn't NEED IVF to get pregnant, why on earth would I spend the time, effort and money to do so? And why should I need to consult the school calendar when planning for pregnancy? You have GOT to be kidding me.
So yes, I'm irritated with my school principal.
Melvin's been waking up early every morning to give me my Lupron jab. Some days it hurts, some days not at all. I've been a wimp and we use ice to numb the injection site prior to the jab.
We woke up late today, it being a weekend and all. And I got impatient while waiting for him to give me my jab... so I did it myself. Ha!
I'm proud of myself for succeeding, of course. And I did it more in irritation than anything. It was a 'Haiyo, take so long... may as well DIY... *jab*' It didn't quite occur to me that jabbing myself may be more painful than normal (The needle didn't go in very fast...) And I only slightly regretted it while inserting the needle midway. But hey, I got it done. No fuss.
I'm hoping that my blood test on Monday will show that my estrogen levels are sufficiently suppressed and we can move on the stimulation stage. Though from all the blogs and forums, it seems quite unlikely that estrogen levels will be low enough after 10 days of Lupron. Read some lady even did it for 18 days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Don't want to go through another blood test because it means I'll need to take time off school AGAIN. And with the children's exams coming up... yaknow. I worry.
I was a lil miffed at my Principal. But I suppose she needs to do what a school leader needs to go. I informed her of my IVF thing because I had to. Because I need to take time off some mornings and there is that projected 2 week hospitalisation leave so she'll need to prep to get a relief teacher in.
She asked if I can postpone the IVF to June.
Mmm, I suppose the natural reaction would be 'wtf?' but I know where she was coming from. It's a hassle getting a relief teacher in. Plus we are all thinking of how to best do this without affecting my class.
I had to explain to her that I was doing mine at SGH and there was a waiting list.
She then made a remark that if I went to a private hospital, I can do it anytime.
I reminded her that the $6k government grant for IVF doesn't cover private hospitals.
Afterwhich she made some remark about needing a million bucks to raise a child anyways, so what is $6k?
I just smiled at her at that point and agreed. But was getting quite annoyed. Yes I know it's expensive to raise a child. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't make use of the grant, right? And why should I go to the private hospital just so the school doesn't need to get a relief teacher? My projected 2 week off is AFTER the exams anyway. Not like I'll be away just before or during their papers.
I mean, come on la. If I didn't NEED IVF to get pregnant, why on earth would I spend the time, effort and money to do so? And why should I need to consult the school calendar when planning for pregnancy? You have GOT to be kidding me.
So yes, I'm irritated with my school principal.