Well, the last couple months have been a world wind. Kevin and I have been to the doctor at least 20 times in the last couple of months. We love our Reproductive Endocrinologist and his staff. They have truly been a blessing to work with and I have been so thankful for their support.
We tried one cycle with just a combination of oral medications to see how my body reacted. I did 150 mg of Clomid and 2 Femara's per night for a week. We did two sonograms but the follicles didn't get bigger than 4 mm so they cancelled that cycle. The second cycle my RE gave me the same oral medications with a new injection as well. I started at 100 cc's of Follistem every other night. Then I bumped it up to 150 taking a total of 1100 cc's before I produced a 18 mm and 19 mm follicle. Once we got the correct size follicle I took a Ovidrel injection to make the follicle release into an egg. After I did a post cotal test that was negative they decided an IUI would be best, so we went for it.
Then it was time to sit back and wait, two weeks was like a eternity. If you take a test too soon you will likely have a false positive due to the hormones left over in your system from the Ovidrell injection. We waited the appropriate time and I already knew that it didn't work. A couple days later I was able to start on my own with out any Provera (which was a huge accomplishment) and I had a follow up sono. The sono found that I had 1 cyst that had been left over from the cycle. A week later it had taken care of its self and was gone which is typically the case with these types of cysts.
We started our new round of medication to go forward with a second IUI. I started taking the same oral drugs that I had taken the last two cycles and then I took an increased dosage of Follistem. I started at 150 cc every other night for the first three nights and then 150 for two nights. We went back for a follow up sono and we had one follicle that was at 14 and another was a 11 mm. They drew blood this appointment which showed my progesterone to be low. They told me to increase my dosage to 225 cc's and I will go tomorrow afternoon to see what my follicles look like. If they are close to 18mm we will proceed by taking the Ovidrel to release the egg and do a IUI.
Then it will be time to wait again. If the IUI doesn't take this time we have decided to move forward with IVF. This was a big decision for Kevin and I to make. The cost of IVF is about $14,000 and my insurance doesn't cover it. We actually have had to pay out of pocket for all of the treatments, which run about $2000 each time you try. We decided we didn't need to make our decision based on money. We prayed about it and God made a way for us to have the money. We actually were able to get such a good interest rate that we were able to pay all of debt off and get all the money we needed to pay for one cycle of IVF. God is good all the time and always provides. I will never doubt that. So very soon we will be financially debt free (other than a student loan)
Only time will tell if we will move forward with IVF. God has a specific plan for Kevin and I and we have never lost faith in him. We pray without ceasing and know nothing is too hard for God!
See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)
