This Sunday will be one month until I head to Austin, TX for our 1st fertility clinic visit…I am starting to prepare my “things”, and by things I mean get all my questions in order. If you know me in real life, you know that I am an organized person—esp. when it comes to things like these...well there are probably a million and one questions I want to go over with my RE, however I don’t know which ones are “more important” and on top of that, my mind is pretty much gone blank. I think the thought of the “dreaded F word” is really starting to get my nerves all crazy!
So can you all please help me…most of you have been in this situation, most of you already are seeing an RE, can you please tell me what all questions I really need to be asking this day. This will be a huge consultation and I want to make sure when I leave I feel like things are going in the right direction, so please help me and give me your input…
You can email your question to me at tapifer@grandecom.net or you can put them in the comments—closer to the date I will post my list of questions—that away ya’ll will be able to tell me if anything has been left off.
I really appreciate y’alls help with this—I appreciate all the sweet emails, cards and so forth. Y’alls sweet comments help me get through the nerve racking days and you will never know how grateful I am for ya’ll.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
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15 comments:
we had our first appt in may. i will think of a few things and send them your way. also, if you need to know anything, please ask me.
I'll be honest - I didn't ask any questions because the RE I had was incredibly thorough and our journey down that road abruptly ended after the 2 SA's Prince Charming had, which was something no one had expected. Make sure the RE goes over ALL the options you have to take, and don't hesitate to ask them to explain any of it.
We had our first appointment last November. I was expecting to have a full exam and then we ended up just meeting with the doctor and talking. Just be ready to be honest and to know the things that have already been tried. If you can, take any medical information for them and that will help. Have you guys been diagnosed with unexplained fertility? What tests have you been through? Unless they know exactly what is keeping you from getting pregnant, they are going to want to run a lot of tests and procedures before they even begin doing any fertility treatments and they won't just to IVF right away, unless they know that it's the only option. Just remember to take paper with you and write stuff down. Our doctor was very nice and very willing to explain things we didn't understand. And don't feel like it's too much to ask about the costs of the procedures.
I have to say that I am in unchartered territory here. I have not dealt with infertility myself but I want you to know that I will pray for guidance and peace as you go through your appointments.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!! The Lord has a good plan for you and your husband. I want you to know that I will be praying that the Lord will give you clear direction and the endurance you need. He is faithful and will see you through this.
This is God's word on the subject:"As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing . I have it all planned out- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)
Hi! Our first appt. with the RE was on May 28th. You might think about asking for their statistics (success rates and such). Also, make sure you ask them how many embryos they would implant if you do decide to try IVF. Ask what their protocol is for cryopreservation and whether or not they prefer "fresh" transfers vs. frozen embryo transfers, if the first round doesn't work. (Hopefully this won't matter b/c you'll get pregnant the first time!). If I think of anything else I let you know. If you have any questions feel free to email me at courtney.yerkes@gmail.com.
Hi Tiffany~
Since my situation is a bit different than yours and Zach's, I am trying to think of things that might be good questions to ask.
Ask about days and time they do their procedures like IUI's and even IVF transfers. My RE does not do them on weekends or on holidays. Even if the time to do one of those procedures falls on a weekend or holiday they just don't do it.
That's really the only thing I can come up with right now. If I think of something else I will comment again.
I'll think and let you know. :) If you've been tracking your cycles, be sure to bring charts or whatever you've got. :)
I am so mad right now. I typed up a HUGE email to answer your email from this morning and I have been having problems with my computer so I can't get it to you. I mean, I spent a long time explaining everything to you and I can't get it to you. I will continue to try. I'm so sorry!!!
Kami
Hey Jennifer, I was just reading through your blog and I'm so sorry for the struggle you are going through right now with trying to get pregnant. I said a prayer for you while reading through this and I hope that the Lord blesses your family very soon with a little one.
And your blog is very cute!! ;)
Tiff...I am sorry to say that I won't be of much help in this area because I know nothing about this kinda stuff. I will definitely keep you guys in my prayers though!
Ok, I had to copy and paste so this is going to be really long!!! I tried to email you but my email is screweed up so here we go!!!
I'm sure the other girls already answered your questions since I am a slow poke on my email. LOL
Ok, I'm still going to answer just in case.
With the transfer. You will probably have to do some tests before anything. If you have had an Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy or Saline sonogram, you will not have to repeat those tests. If you have had any of them, make sure you bring the medical records with you to prove it. They won't make you do them again (As long as it has been within a reasonable time frame.) When all tests are done and everything is cleared, you may do more IUI's or you and Zach may just want to jump to IVF. It will be totally up to your RE and you two. If they and you decide to move to IVF, then you will have to worry about what the lady below was telling you or asking you.
So, to answer your questions, How many embryos to transfer??
A. All clinics normally want to transfer one to two embryos if they reach the blast stage (5 day transfer) This is where the embryos are almost to the point of hatching and attaching to your uterus. If you get to a five day transfer, I would suggest transferring two. You have a 34% chance of twins. Are you ok with having twins? I have seen a lot of women who have transferred two and only gave birth to one baby.
Also, a majority of women don't make it to the blast stage. If you only have 5 or less embryos and one or two aren't growing properly, they will automatically transfer the eggs on day 3. I would suggest transferring three if you have enough embryos. If you remember, my first IVF was a three day transfer because all of my eggs were abnormal. There is no guarantee you will have a great turnout so you will do whatever the RE suggests. Of course, all of us are rooting for you to have a wonderful turnout! And hopefully you won't have to go the IVF route!
Ok, onto question two, What is cryopreservation???
A. This is a fancy word for frozen embryos. If you end up having a wonderful turnout and have many eggs, the embryologist is going to try to get the remaining embryos to a blast stage and freeze them so you don't have to do another fresh cycle. Which brings me to the third question. The difference between a fresh cycle and a frozen cycle.
A fresh cycle is where you do all of the injections, birth control pills, monitoring every other day... etc....
A frozen cycle is where you have frozen embryos. They thaw the ones you have, if any make it through the thaw, they transfer a few into your uterus. You don't have to do all of the injections every night leading up to retrieval day. You will have to take a certain pill or two to help your body prepare for embryo transfer. You will also have to take progesterone suppositories or the shots.
Pretty much, the frozen embryo transfer is a lot easier than the fresh but you have to have the fresh to get to the frozen.
Oh, and no, you don't look like a cat silly!!! LOL It will all work out. It seems intimidating, but I promise, it isn't that bad at all. You will get through this and you will get pregnant honey! I know you and I know you and Zack will do whatever it takes to have your baby!!!!
Love you honey, I hope that helped a bit!
Kami
Tiff,
I'll try to think of some things!! We didn't ask many questions at our first visit. The doctor mostly asked us questions and told us what he thought. I'll rack my brain;)
Ashley
I can't think of any I asked. Isn't that sad? I think I just went and heard what he had to say, and they did an exam. We just found out that my insurance company dropped the infertility coverage. So, I don't think we will be going back. :( I just take it as a sign that God wants us to do something else. He is God, and I am not!
I just emailed you. Please let me know if I can help with anything!
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