Fertility treatments and dealing with infertility is very similar to having an addiction. So, I’ll introduce myself. Hi, my name is Michelle and I’m an addict. (All together now! “Hi Michelle!”)
This journey is hard. It has ups and downs. You have high hopes and then you are let down. There is a point at which it becomes all consuming. It’s all you can think about. You’ll do anything to get your fix. That fix is a baby.
I can’t believe I haven’t had a post since 2009! Well, a lot has happened in our lives since then. Good things and not so good things…. I am still a mommy of 1 very special IVF baby. I am still on my journey to become a mommy of 2. Or 3? Perhaps I’ll have twins some day… SEE!! There are the hopes! You can NEVER let them go and maybe you shouldn’t….
So, what have I been up to for the last 2.5 years? I will keep it short and sweet as not to bore the fertiles that may be reading.
May of 2010 – Yet another surgery to remove the endometriosis. Fun fun! Well, the Percocet was fun anyway…
October 2010 – IVF cycle #1 (for #2). On maximum ovarian stimulation, I made a whopping 2 eggs!!! They were able to fertilize 1 with ICSI. Embryo quality was poor. No pregnancy.
January 2011 – the decision to try and treat this whole thing naturally. Green smoothies, a 21 day cleanse and our household has gone mostly organic. Definitely organic meat, dairy and produce. We have been falling off the wagon lately though… Eating out WAY too much!
March 2011 – ALL BLOODWORK IS NORMAL!!!!!!!!! Hoping over the next couple of months we will be able to conceive on our own!
May 2011 – began egg study with Dr. Roseff, my RE. Used a substance called Inofolic Plus. Apparently this is a product from Italy shown to increase egg quality as measured by anti mullerian hormone. It did show a slight rise in my extremely low results. It was basically a mix of melatonin and B-complex vitamins.
August 2011 – Attempt at cycle #2 (for #2). Cancelled due to non stimulation. Again, maximum dosage of fertility meds were used. For those that are “fertilly challenged” – we used the microdose Lupron flair protocol. 5 units of Lupron for a few days and then 450 of follistim and 300 of menopur. Yes. Hardcore.
October 2011 – We were not even able to attempt stimulation. Large cyst on left ovary and them endometrioma on the right. Sad and frustrated.
November/December 2011 – Last and final attempt at stimulation for #2. Dr. Roseff decided to try a new route. 5 days of Femara and the low doses of Follistim (150). Day 10 of stim – estrogen was only 26! No eggos for me. Kind of ironic… At the beginning of the year, I needed to get my estrogen down to control my endometriosis and other factors. Then I couldn’t get it up!!!!! (really, there is no pun intended there! )
So, where does that leave us now? On hiatus. We’ve done research into other avenues of completing our family. But for now, we are resting. I am still addicted though! I am going to focus a little more on my business I started to fund our treatments. Premier Designs Jewelry! Check out a catalog here!
I’ll leave it at that for now… I have some ideas for this blog… Like many things in my life, I need to quit “thinking” about it and just DO it! I had a professor in college that used to say, “don’t should on yourself today”. So, get off the computer and quit shoulding on yourself!!! But please check back for a new post soon!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
