IVF in May

I can't believe it....it's really going to happen! Looks like May is when the Egg Retrieval and transfer happen! Ahhhhhhhh!

Well to start off...LOVE THE IVF DOCTOR! She is awesome and so happy that we both felt comfortable with her. She didn't rush us, asked us lots of questions, answered all of my questions and was still upbeat and comforting. It also made me feel better when she said "Well I am YOUR doctor now, so e-mail me anytime". Yeah! She spent over an hour and half with us and after everyone in the clinic had gone home, we were still there.

They have no openings in March and she dosen't do IVFs in April so I need to call tomorrow and put us on the waiting list for May and pay the $500 deposit to save our spot. We get that money back if (by some miracle) we get pregnant before then.

She told me that my chances of getting pregnant on another IUI are very slim but we could always go for it if we felt like it. My husband is really heart set on doing another IUI in February, so we are just going to go for it. It's okay with me, at least I will feel like we are doing "something" and keep my mind occupied. Then if that dosen't work, we call in March when I get my period and start the IVF meds.

She answered a ton of my questions....told me with my age and high FSH that I would never quality for a shared risk program or money back program. Kaiser dosen't offer those programs but other clinics do. She told me that you have to get pre-screened for approval first and that I wouldn't qualify. She informed me that it's usually for younger women or ones without high FSH issues to qualify for such programs. Clinics wouldn't even consider me which was good information to know.

She is going to have my husband do another semen analysis and having me tested for TSH, Prolactin, HTLV and AB (no idea that these are--they are on my form) and Cystic Fibrosis to make sure I am not a carrier (Ugh! Another thing to worry about!!??) Also considering going back to accupuncture for a few months while doing this. Also wants me to start taking DHEA.

I won't bore you with details but just a little info...because of my age, she would transfer 2-3 embryos with IVF for me. She said we can talk later if we want to do less on that. Really depends on how good they look. She does the egg retrieval and transfer and will be handling everything. She has a nurse that does all of the calender for me so that I stay right on top of everything. I also have a 40-50% chance of success the first time. Not bad I guess. She does 3-day transfers usually and they do slow freezing at their facility. Also, ICSI is an extra $1500 cost which she highly recommends I do and also assisted hatching which will cost us an extra $650.

So aside from the $20,000 pricetag from start to finish....I am doing okay! LOL!

Things could change during this process. She is planning the egg retrieval the week of May 9th-13th. We talked about me being in a wedding out of town the weekend before....sooooo we might have to push IVF up to June but I am really fine with that. She also said we could start my meds at a certain time of the cycle so that I don't have to worry about being out of town. Sadly I am going to be really bloated and uncomfortable at the wedding LOL because I will have probably 10-20 follicles in my ovaries. Fun fun!

Lots to think about...my head is spinning and thinking about the price of this all makes me sick. Now just trying to figure out how to pay for all of these upcoming expenses plus IVF...it's going to be a trying few months or so. I guess that is what life is all about!