Review appointment

Yesterday we attended our review appointment with Dr C. This is the first step in our second cycle of IVF. Dr C was, as usual, very empathetic and took time to see how we were feeling. We both felt that we would like to try again as soon as possible. This time she would like us to try an agonist cycle (as opposed to an antagonist cycle which we tried last time). It involves slightly different drugs and more injections, and it takes place over two menstrual cycles so the results will be a little further away, but apparently it is worth trying. My next period is due next week so I will call the clinic when it arrives to let them know, and then we will have an appointment scheduled.

Letter

Dear A and D

Further to our recent conversation I write to confirm that I have made you an appointment for a medical review. This will be held on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 at 3.10pm at [clinic] with Dr C. Please note that both of you are to attend this appointment. Your treatment will be discussed and planned at this appointment.

As discussed we require the following tests to be updated:
Full screening blood tests (female) - We require A to have these blood tests updated and it is important that these tests are undertaken at a Medlab laboratory. We need the female bloods to be done on day 3 of your next cycle.

Please note that funding is allocated in advance, therefore there can be up to a four month delay before you can book on for your actual treatment cycle. Your specialist will advise you when you will commence your cycle at the appointment above.

Please call the clinic to confirm that you can attend this appointment or if you have any questions regarding the programme.

Yours sincerely ...

A new appointment

The waiting list co-ordinator at the clinic rang me this morning and we have arranged a review appointment with Dr C for 28 February. That will allow time for me to have another set of day three blood tests (probably about the end of next week). Dr C has already told me that she wants to increase the stimulation medication that she will prescribe, which will help me to produce more eggs for fertilisation. Remember all those injections? So we're back to square one and hoping for better results this time.

Sometimes you don't want to be right

This morning I drove into the city to have another blood test to see if I am pregnant - and the result has come back negative. I am disappointed. It would have been great if it had worked this time. But I was very much in a "expect the worst, hope for the best" head-space ever since my period arrived earlier this week. And although we are getting really tired of negative results, we are keen to try again. Hopefully next time things will run more smoothly since we know the process. Tonight we will go out for dinner - as has become our habit on "results days" - and then we'll take it easy this weekend.

One thing I hadn't realised - and which I feel kind of stupid about now - is just how many women have what seems to be a period before a positive pregnancy test, especially if they are being given extra hormones. Apparently it is not unusual. I am glad I didn't know this before!

Still on the treadmill

Day one has rolled around again, so I guess I'm not pregnant. I rang the clinic this morning and the nurse told me that I still need to do a blood test on Friday because "often people report their period has arrived but it can be something else". However I don't think she's right in this case. Yesterday like the first day of a normal period to me - sore and grouchy! But I will trust the experts and do the test as I have been told. I tried very hard not to get my hopes up this time and I think that has helped. I did feel pretty sad when I realised but I want to go on and try again. In the meantime, I will wait to see if Friday's test brings a surprise.

Letter

Dear A and D

I am writing to provide you with a record of the outcome of your frozen embryos held in storage at [clinic].

A visual aid

Perhaps it's not so wise to post a picture, especially since this little dude has only a one in four chance of making it, but who can fail to be amazed at the technology? This is our three-day-old embryo - human life in its very earliest stages - and the scientist at the clinic took its picture and sent it to me via email. Cor.

Up and away

After a very long week of daily blood tests, I have finally ovulated! An appointment has been made for 11.15am tomorrow when the second embryo will be implanted (or "transferred", as the clinic likes to say). This embryo was conceived at the same time as the first one but has been frozen since then. It may not survive the thawing process, so there is less chance that this attempt will be successful. However, we'll give it a shot and see what happens. We will have time to pack the car before we leave for the clinic, so straight afterwards we will be able to head out of town to a lovely bay an hour or two away. I wait all year for my holiday under canvas and I'm especially looking forward to this trip! It'll make the two-week wait until my pregnancy test just that little easier.

On it goes

The clinic has made its daily telephone call and the longed-for surge has not yet been detected, so there will be more blood tests for me over the weekend. Our local doctors surgery will be closed so we will have to drive into the city to have them done there. That's not a problem - we have a bit of shopping to do anyway. We were hoping to go away on our camping holiday next week and it looks like it will have to be put off for a few days. I am longing for a break but no one could predict how the timing of this next attempt would work out. I will be all the more grateful when we do get there though!

Testing, testing ...

This morning I had my fifth blood test. I biked to the doctors surgery again, which is a great thing to do. It's probably four or five kilometres from one side of our little town to the other. I always have to wait 20 minutes or so beyond my scheduled appointment time but that's all right. I'm usually not in any hurry and there's plenty going on.