Too many hormones

I have had a week of scans, blood tests and drug taking! After my scan on Tuesday I was called back in the following day. It turned out my oestrogen level was twice what it should be and the clinic were concerned. Also I had 2 large follicles already.

So Wednesday I had the pleasure of 2 sonographers to look at my ovaries. They remeasured the follicles and found they weren't quite as large as first thought as it turns out I had a couple of follicles hiding in the large one. But they were still quite big for how far into the treatment I was. I had more blood taken and my oestrogen levels were still high so I was told to reduce my level of the injected drug I take and to go back Friday.

I had another scan today and my follicles are still growing well - I have 17 one side and 13 the other and am scheduled to have my eggs collected on Monday. HOWEVER, my oestrogen level is still very high so I have to start on some different drugs tomorrow to try and keep my levels under control. I have been warned that I may have to have our embryos frozen this time if my levels don't normalise as if my oestrogen levels continue to rise I'm at risk of getting very poorly. Obviously I'll be disappointed if we can't do the transfer this month, but my health is the priority.

Injections and appointments

Last Thursday I began my injections of Gonal F. Gonal F is a synthetic sex hormone which stimulates the follicles. The hormone used to be collected from nun's wee, but these days it's made in a a lab!

The Gonal F is the drug I take to make the follicles on my ovaries grow. I take it every day at the same time and I have to inject it. The Gonal F is provided in a pen...

I then have to attach a needle to the top. These are disposable, so a new needle is put on every day.

Then voila! The injection is ready to be administered!

There is a dial you turn to set the correct dose - the clinic advises me of the correct dose I should take - and then I choose my injection site. I choose to do mine in my tummy, because for me, it is the easiest place and causes least discomfort. I have to stab the injection into the area I choose and then push down the plunger and hold for 10 seconds to make sure all of the dose has been administered. There is also a handy counter on the pen which tells me if they whole dose has gone in.

After the injection, I always feel a little bit woozy for a couple of minutes, but I think that's more a surge of adrenalin than anything else!

This morning I had to go back to the clinic to have my follicles measured and to make sure the Gonal F was doing it's job correctly. Yesterday I had started to become 'aware' of my ovaries! A strange sensation which is hard to explain, but it's an uncomfortable sensation, almost like bloating, but not quite. Sometimes you experience it around ovulation, but this is more amplified. Anyway, at my scan, my follicles were measured and I already have 2 at 16mm and 21mm. This is quite unusual after just 5 doses and the nurse said she expected them to be around 10-12mm. I have quite a few at this stage also, but she said that we may have to 'let these two go' as they have got big too quickly.

I had more bloods taken and was told they would call me in the afternoon to make my next appointment and advise if I should reduce my dosage of Gonal F. I hadn't heard anything by 5 to 5 so I decided to call, but couldn't get through. As I hadn't heard, I just thought that meant to carry on as normal and they would let me know when they next wanted to see me. However, when I got home, I had a message left on my answerphone asking me to go back in tomorrow morning. Nothing more said about dosage, so I have continued with this evenings dose as usual. I'm a little bit concerned they want me to go back straight away, as usually it would be every couple of days at this point. I'm trying not to worry too much though and will just wait and see what they say in the morning!

Wish me luck! x

Follicles!

I am still feeling dizzy, but a little less dizzy than before. The headaches are still there though with the little popping lights and so very tired. I'd love to just sleep for a couple of days. Unfortunately I had to have an extra early start this morning, so sleep will have to wait a bit longer.

My early start was because today I had my 'baseline' scan at the clinic. This scan is to look at a couple of things - the thickness of the lining of my womb and to count the follicles forming on my ovaries. The scan showed that the lining of my womb is thin (as it should be) and measuring less than 5mm. It's always a weird experience seeing your insides, so I just nodded and agreed sagely as if I could see exactly what the nurse saw on the scan. 'Oh right, yes, that weird blobby shape is my uterus, ok. And the bit in the middle is the lining, yes of course!'

We then looked at my ovaries. More grey blobs on the screen. But the black blobs on the grey blobs are the follicles forming.
A bit of science for you, in case you don't know, or had forgotten. During a normal cycle, a woman will produce so many follicles, each containing an immature egg. Usually only one of these follicles will mature into an egg and will be released as part of the natural cycle waiting for a little sperm to come along and fertilise it. With IVF, each of these follicles is encouraged to grow in order for multiple eggs to be collected for the fertilisation process. 
In the past, I've had approximately 8 follicles on each ovary forming. This is not a bad number, in fact it's a pretty decent number and gives a good chance of getting a decent number of eggs (I seem to remember 14 being collected one time). This time I have 12 follicles on one ovary and 14 on the other! If these all mature, it gives us a better chance of getting a good embryo for implantation. So let's take a minute to cheer my ovaries!

However, the danger is something called Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS). If the level of drugs isn't measured correctly, the ovaries will over produce and it can lead to some pretty nasty side effects.

I start my injections on Thursday and will be monitored closely after that to make sure I am on the right dosage.

A rough ride

So sorry I've not posted an update recently, but the truth is this last week I've felt bloody awful! The previous times I've had IVF I've not really been troubled by the down regulation part of the cycle, but this time seems to be different.

It really started last weekend. On the Saturday afternoon I started to feel very sick, but this quickly passed. However on the Sunday I woke with some terrible period pains and the arrival of my 'Aunt Irma' (one for you IT crowd fans). This is to be expected when down regging, but these were some of the worst pains I've had in a while and I do tend to suffer quite a lot with my periods. I spent most of the day laid out and not moving. I was looking forward to the next day as we were taking our nieces out and wanted to make sure I was ok.

Monday I felt a lot better until late on the afternoon when I started to get a headache. Nothing seemed to shift it, but it was bearable. Tuesday it all went downhill!

I woke up with a throbbing headache, not unlike a migraine, but my whole head hurt rather than the tight band feeling you get with a migraine, which seems to focus on one side of the head or the other. I felt sick, I was shaking and my heart was racing. I put myself back to bed in the hope I would feel better later in the day. I didn't really.

The next day the headache was gone, replaced with a feeling of severe dizziness as if the room was going round and round. Not unlike being drunk I suppose! We have a home blood pressure monitor so I took mine. 112/51! This probably explained the dizziness then. I thought another day of rest and plenty of fluids should sort me out. Wrong! The feeling continued into the next day. At this point I thought I'd ring the clinic where we are having treatment to see what they thought. 'Oh it's probably dehydration, as you've not had a reaction previously, but best to get checked out by your GP' so off I toddle to my doctor. Blood pressure this time 103/60. 'We will send you for bloodtests. You could be anaemic.' So now I'm awaiting results of said bloodtests. Anaemia could make sense as I've been feeling incredibly tired. Walking up the stairs is a chore, but it seems too coincidental to me. We shall see what the tests say!

In the meantime, I'm due my first scan at the clinic on Tuesday to see if the down regging has worked (I'm guessing yes) and if I start the injections. Right now I'm laying in bed desperately hoping the room will stop swimming soon!

Down regulation days 1-3

On Friday I started my first round of medications, to begin the down regulation process. The first drug I take, Synarel, is in the form of a nasal spray. I have to take one spray in each nostril twice a day.

It's a fairly straightforward method to take medication, but it has its downsides too. When you take the spray, you have to make sure your head is in the right position, then tip your head back to make sure it doesn't dribble back out of your nose (nice!). This often means that you get some of the spray going down the back of your throat and the taste is not pleasant. Also, if you sneeze straight after you've done it, you have to do it again. It's no fun trying to hold in sneezes.

How am I feeling so far? It's difficult to say that if what I'm experiencing has been down to the exceptionally warm weather or the drugs. I've had a near permanent headache and I've not slept very well, which means I'm feeling REALLY tired now. I have a general unwell feeling, but these could all be related to dehydration and the temperature. I don't know.

I have been waking in the night feeling very anxious, so last night I downloaded a relaxation album to listen to. It seemed to help a little, so I will persevere with it and see if it helps in the long run. At the moment though I'm just awaiting bed time and I'm hoping for a decent night's sleep. Things always seem much better when you've had a good night's sleep. :)

Drugs!

I received all the drugs I need for my treatment today. Here's a picture of them all! I start with the Synarel on Friday, which is the nasal spray. The rest of the boxes are my jabs and progesterone gel. Hormonal wreck, here I come!

On your marks...

First of all I should say sorry for not posting sooner. I have had a few of you asking me for an update, so here it is!

It has been a bit quiet as we've been playing the waiting game. I had to wait until Aunt Flo visited so I could call and book in for treatment. Having finally had all our test results back, and all as expected, I have been given a personalised drug regime, which is tied into my monthly cycle.

The first stage of the treatment is what is called 'down-regulation'. So on the 19th July I will begin taking the first round of drugs to commence the down-regulation. The drugs I will be taking will be in the form of a nasal spray. This time I have been told I will be taking a different sort of nasal spray to what I've had before, but it does the same thing, that is to 'switch off' my reproductive system, or in other words to put me into menopause!

This may seem strange considering we are having fertility treatment! The reason this is done is effectively to take control of my ovaries, so the next round of drugs administered will stimulate them correctly. Once I've finished the down-regulation I will be going into the clinic to have my 'baseline'scan, but more on that when it happens.

I'll update again when I start taking the drugs, and I think it will be useful to document how I feel. I've not typically experienced the extreme menopausal effects that I know other women do, but it could be different this time!

Thanks for reading.
Natalie

COME AGAIN?!

So we were 'in' for the test results today, all our blood tests are normal and as expected, and my semen tests read as before, lowcount, but still some with motility and 'gradeable'. It seems though my limited supply of swimmers has got to be backed up soon, or 'banked' though, to keep a strong supply on board in case the aging process intervenes to make the rest of my crew not ready for the party. It's not an easy thing to talk about male infertility, you hope you will always be Mister Sharpshooter, ready to go at a moment's notice, so it's always more than just a kick to the ego.
This will though require a few visits to the NHS sponsored private masturbation room at the clinic. You are sent to the room, with a selection of NHS supplied magazines and DVD's. Then when you're done, it's time to drop your takings super fresh style in the container provided, to the collection section:). And that is really all my role in the process...except it's not really.
I want to be the strongest rock emotionally for the missus and it's vital, but I can't pretend that the infertility treatment process hasn't ripped my heart out, stuck it back, ripped out, stuck it back again. We have had to battle every step of the way to even get this treatment, and the fact that we have had to be funded every time has added to the stress, we have been blocked more times than supported, and we do not have the money resources to pay for the treatment ourselves, as the cost is between £5,000 or £6,000 per cycle of treatment. Me and Nat were both made redundant last year just when we were beginning to get ourselves into a financially stable situation.We're not alone in that I know very well, and yet you still have to hear middle and upper class health professionals, local funding commissions, etc etc make judgements on whether you have the right to initiate life on the basis of finance. Two words to that I think, and did not many working class people struggle to ensure free a health service for all with the NHS? That is a right worth preserving, our need for this treatment should be at equal level to other serious health care provision, it should not have to be a choice between providing this or that treatment at the expense of someone else's life or health condition. D. 13.6.2013.

The story so far

This is our story so far. In 1998, we met, fell head over heels in love, decided to get married two years later and to have a family as soon as possible. We knew there may be a chance of difficulty conceiving due to Danny's medical history but we were assured that shouldn't stand in our way. So in 2001 we started 'trying'.

18 months later and no joy, we approach the Doctors. Sent for tests, nothing is found to be wrong. So called 'unexplained infertility'. 'Don't worry,' I'm told. 'You are still young [23 at that point]. You have plenty of time.' Yes, but my husband is 33, we'd quite like to have children now please. But, I am too young to be referred for IVF at this point.

4 more years pass, babies continue to be born to family and friends. Each one mixed with a sharp stab of sorrow, but also happiness. But good news! We have been referred for IVF! Of course it will work! Except it doesn't and we are heartbroken. At this time we are told we are not allowed any further funding from the NHS and we decide to embark on the egg share donation program. This is where I donate half my eggs in receipt of free treatment. Twice we try this and twice it fails. Unless we can find £5000 to fund another cycle, then this is it for us.

But! NICE change their guidelines to say that all childless infertile couples should be allowed 3 funded cycles! Great news we think, except we are told 'no'. After many, many trips back and forth to the doctors, lost notes, letters written to the local funding body we are finally referred back to the hospital in 2012. After a really quite unpleasant appointment with a consultant who was annoyed we dared ask questions of the bureaucratic process, we leave heartbroken yet again, thinking that is it for us. (We had already gone down the adoption route, which is another very unpleasant experience, and another story). Then, out of the blue a letter from the hospital arrives to say that the local commissioning body has now approved our request and we are eligible for more treatment!

So here we are in 2013, 12 years after we first started our journey, about to embark on another leg. At present we are awaiting test results before we can get started. Tests we've both had innumerable times, but they have to be done and we aren't going to complain, as this could be it this time!

The beginning...

Danny and I have decided to start this blog for our family and friends to follow our next adventure - our fourth cycle of IVF. I've found people are usually quite curious about the process, but don't always feel they can ask. We're going to be as honest as we can about everything and if you want to ask us any questions, please feel free!