Friday, October 22, 2010

ICLW Welcome – Finally!

Phew, it’s been a crazy week! I’ve been working like crazy this week… I usually have a good 2-3 hours each day when I can look at blogs, write on blogs, google like crazy – you know, the usual tasks of an infertile at work. But this week, I’ve been working at least 12 hour days, with not a minute to spare! I’m hopefully going to slow down soon, as I haven’t been keeping up my ICLW duties! But I wanted to do a quick ICLW welcome, and give everyone an update on this week.

For a quick recap for those of you that are new, I’m 35, been TTC for over 1 ½ years, been going to an RE for almost a year, have found no issues except recently I was diagnosed with compound heterozygous MTHFR mutations, have done 3 IUI’s, 2 of which have been technically successful. The first resulted in an ectopic pregnancy, the second resulted in a pregnancy that seemed like everything was going perfectly…until the ultrasound at 8 ½ weeks determined that my baby no longer had a heartbeat. And I just completed my 3rd IUI, with a BFN beta just a few days ago…

So now I’m moving forward! I have a consult scheduled on November 1 with my regular RE to see what he thinks should be the next steps, and if we should move towards IVF. AND I have a phone consult this Monday – October 25 – with Dr. Sher of SIRM. It’s amazing, I called them yesterday, and he’s available for an appointment on Monday! I had to fill out this huge questionnaire with all the tests and results and pregnancies and every kind of information possible, I just sent it in, and then we discuss it on Monday. Then Dr. Sher may have more tests run, and we’ll go over the results of those and go over his recommended plan on another consult on November 22. Both of the consults with Dr. Sher are free, and the tests should be covered by my current insurance.

Thanks for everyone’s comments a few days ago about SIRM, and whether I should talk to someone other than my current doc. I definitely considered going to the SIRM that is in Dallas (I’m in Houston), but I figured if I wanted to talk to a top doc, I may as well go to Dr. Sher – right? This is only for a consultation, and who knows if I’ll even go the IVF route. But I want to see what he says. I talked to the new patient coordinator about the time commitment for an IVF in Vegas, and she said that people need to be in Vegas for 10-14 days. Wow – this is crazy. But I think I could do it in March. I also think I may be able to convince my boss to let me work some from Vegas, which would allow me to not have to take the whole time as vacation, but that would involve coming clean completely with him. He has no idea I’ve done any infertility treatments… Something to think about – later. I’m getting ahead of myself.

So I’m very excited to see what the docs say should be next steps. I think no matter what, that we probably won’t do IVF before the end of the year, that it will be in February if with the local doc, and in March if with Dr. Sher. So in that case, we will likely do an IUI in late November/December, assuming of course we can get the new insurance thing worked out by then. I really don’t want to pay OOP for another IUI if we’re moving towards IVF. But we’ll see!

Oh, and everyone will be real proud of me. I handled my super-fertile friend at work announce to our whole department that she’s pregnant with twins (accidentally!) very well. I didn’t say much, but I sat there were a forced smile on my face, and I didn’t cry or anything! Interesting though – I’m amazed at how many people ask her if she has twins in her family, and if she was trying, and all kinds of personal questions. Weird – I wonder how that would be after coming out that you’re pregnant with multiples, but it was the result of infertility treatments. Oh well – it would be a good problem to have. Oh and the other fabulous (not) thing is she’s been doing a good job at hiding her belly, but now that she’s out and proud, let the tight belly-showing clothes come out! I love this woman, and she’s one of my closest friends, but I have such a hard time paying attention to anything when her cute little super skinny but pregnant with twins belly is sticking out everywhere!!!

27 comments:

  1. Alex, your plan sounds great! A Vegas IVF vacation sounds like the way to do it, but i sincerely hope your next IUI will be the one! Hope your consult with Dr. Sher goes well on Monday. Happy ICLW.

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  2. "I usually have a good 2-3 hours each day when I can look at blogs, write on blogs, google like crazy – you know, the usual tasks of an infertile at work."

    Lol... are you me?!

    I can't wait to hear how the consult goes on Monday! :)

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  3. i could spend allllll day looking at blogs, but I understand how being busy is too! Glad you could make it back for ICLW and that is GREAT news about the consult, hopefully you get a plan!

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  4. Um, yeah, I'm still on at least 3 hours a day on google. And I've been only coming in for about 4 hours. The other hour is partially taken up by lunch. Can we talk about burn-out???

    I am excited about your upcoming treatment plans!

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  5. Sounds like you have a good start on a treatment plan. Glad to hear that things are moving forward and that you can look into several different options.

    Hope the insurance stuff isn't to difficult to work out.

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  6. oh man... the skinny pregnant ones are the worst!! Can't they at least be unattractive if they're going to be super fertile?!? Not fair!

    Good luck on your consults!!

    ICLW

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  7. I'm so excited for what's to come for you, and I hope that the consults go well. A girlfriend of mine went to Dr. Sher, I believe. An IVF vacation in Vegas sounds amazing to me. :)

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  8. Just in case you're wondering...the personal questions definitely do not stop when you are pregnant and people know it. You still have to have that evasive answer ready at a moment's notice for the many times when people ask if you were trying, or if this was a surprise, or whatever. But, at least for me, it's easier now to admit that we had some trouble. And I have to admit that I'm guilty of asking some of my friends who got pregnant that same question.

    And Vegas sounds like a perfect place to pursue treatment. Although it may be tough to abstain from the booze when you need to.

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  9. Sounds like things are really moving - that's great you got a consult so quickly. I know doctors always offer such different views but I think it's good to hear them all. And triangulate (so to speak:)

    And: pregnant bellies. So hard to ignore them:)

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  10. Good luck on your upcoming treatments! I too am compound hetero for MTHFR. We call it the mother f***** gene around my house because, as far as I'm concerned, that's how I feel about it. LOL

    Anyway, wishing you all the best!!!!
    ~ICLW

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  11. So sorry about your recent BFN and hope that your next future cycle (whether it be IUI or IVF) is successful! Kudos on staying cool with the twin pregnancy announcement. My twins (IVF miracles) recently turned one and I was asked all the time when they were little if twins run in my family (which they do b/c I'm a twin) and some even asked if they were natural which really offended me! I can't believe the nerve of people asusming that just because someone has twins that they were conceived with treatments and that would mean that they are un-natural somehow! Uggh!! I added your link and I'm your newest follower. Happy ICLW! (#72 & 106)

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  12. There is *so* much good food in Vegas. Just sayin'. Go for it! Why not set yourself up with the best? And Happy ICLW!

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  13. It is great to hear that you aren't giving up, and that you are already focused on the next TTC step. You don't sound down-trodden, but rather hopeful, and that is great to read. I hope and pray that no matter which route you go, it ends with you being happily pregnant for at least 38 weeks. :)

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  14. Happy ICLW, and good luck with the consult!!!

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  15. Im so happy you are talking to Dr. Sher...He is a very smart man and is also very interested in immune issues which is a def plus...I have a lady I met on the Immune boards from Yahoo who recently did an IVF in Vegas with Dr. Sher...Her and her hubs debating doing it but they went for it and are now Pregnant...I know she would def be willing to talk to you and would love to share her experience if you want her email let me know and I will give it to you...She is a sweetheart...Good Luck on your consult on Monday I think you will be very pleased:)

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  16. You seem to have a wonderful outlook! Thanks for sharing. I am semi-new to blogging and I find it to be so overwhelming and time consuming. It is hard to find the time to keep up with everyone's blogs, to meet new people, work, life, etc. This is my 1st ICLW so I am getting good practice!

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  17. Nice to meet you and congratulations on handling the announcement so well. Public settings are never easy. Happy ICLW!

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  18. Lol. Love the 2 hours to look at blogs. No, we neve do that!! Uh uh. That's not us at all. Ahem. ;)

    Hope the consults go well and your next steps are good ones!

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  19. Happy ICLW. I am actually not on the list- just rolling through the list. :) You certianly have a lot going on. I wish you luck with your appointment with Dr. Sher- that is awesome!

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  20. Hello from ICLW :) Sounds like you've got some very exciting stuff coming up. Best of luck at tomorrow's appt! Dr. Sher is, from what I hear, the bomb diggity. And congrats on handling that pg announcement well - isn't it weird how personal ppl suddenly get when other ppl announce their pg, let alone with twins? Totally invasive, if you ask me. Good luck tomorrow!

    ~Keiko Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed (ICLW #!42)

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  21. Good luck with whatever your all decide to do next! I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

    ICLW #8

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  22. Nice plan! A Vegas IVF would be great, so much distracting stimuli! And way to handle the preggo announcement!

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  23. I'm glad you got through the pregnancy announcement! It is crazy how personal people get when they see that you're pregnant. They tell you the craziest things, and ask things that are none of their business.

    12 hours a day non stop! I do like it when work is busier, but that sounds like a bit much! When it's not busy, I'm too tempted to read blogs.

    Now that you know the MTHFR diagnosis, I bet your next pregnancy will not end in the same tragedy as the last. Best wishes!

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  24. Can't wait to hear how the second opinion consult went today!

    Way to go on handling the preggo announcement, I don't think I would have handled it that well at all...

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  25. Good job holding it together during the work pregnancy announcement. Can't wait to read abut today's appointment!

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  26. Hope your phone consult went well today!

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  27. Wow - travelling to Vegas for IVF - I couldn't imagine doing that - amazing. Best of luck with the appointment today :) ICWL

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