Lots of women ask about early pregnancy symptoms. In my case, I've had ones that are quite common.
Within the first two weeks of ET, I had cramps, sudden headaches that last for less than five seconds, peeing more frequently and I'm tired. My breasts haven't really hurt...but that was never one of my symptoms.
Over the past week, the cramps are high, quick and have gotten more severe (to the point where I occasionally pop a couple Tylenol). I've just started to feel occasional nausea (not too bad) in the last week (even though my appetite is insatiable already - I suspect due to the prednisone).
The last couple days, I developed a new symptom...I've started to break out in an itchy rash all over my stomach, breasts, back (yes, of course, the spot between my "wings" where I can't reach) - basically everything between my hips and my lower neck (except my arms). I've been using hydrocortizone, but it's not helping much.
I called the doctor and the pharmacist and they both think that it's the progesterone. The pharmacist said it is very common for women to become allergic to the progesterone their body starts to produce. Dr. Sch offered to write me a prescription for PIO in synthetic suspension vs. sesame oil, but since they'll be starting to wean me off of meds pretty soon, I may just put up with it.
I am still elated to be itchy, exhausted, experience sudden cramps and nausea! In my mind, it all means those LO's are trying to tell me they're ok.
Bring it on!!!!
Showing posts with label 2ww. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2ww. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Day-by-Day, Hour-by-Hour
As many of you know, this is my "do or die" week. This time is far more stressful than most women's "2 ww" because this is when things have traditionally started to take a turn for the worse during all my past BFP cycles.
Each day - no, each waking hour - that I don't see blood, is a celebration to me because that's one more hour closer to "success."
Last evening I wasn't so lucky. I was doing fine around 3 pm, but while I was driving home I felt cramps and by the time I arrived around 6:30 pm, I saw some light red blood. My DH and I still took our dogs for a walk, but I was in a state of panic for most of the evening. My DH convinced me to call the on-call nurse and they said exactly what I expected - "Keep off your feet and drink plenty of water."
Today, things are looking up again. Bleeding seems to be gone.
Please, please, please...let me get through this...bit-by-bit, hour-by-hour.
How do you girls get through this agony?
Each day - no, each waking hour - that I don't see blood, is a celebration to me because that's one more hour closer to "success."
Last evening I wasn't so lucky. I was doing fine around 3 pm, but while I was driving home I felt cramps and by the time I arrived around 6:30 pm, I saw some light red blood. My DH and I still took our dogs for a walk, but I was in a state of panic for most of the evening. My DH convinced me to call the on-call nurse and they said exactly what I expected - "Keep off your feet and drink plenty of water."
Today, things are looking up again. Bleeding seems to be gone.
Please, please, please...let me get through this...bit-by-bit, hour-by-hour.
How do you girls get through this agony?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Two Week Embryo Anniversary! An Exciting Adoption Update Too!
Happy Friday! Today is officially two weeks that my embryos have officially come home and only had the smallest smidgen of spotting when I inserted my Endrometrin one day earlier this week.
I looked back at where things took a turn during my last BFP cycles and the next nine days will be the most critical for me. If I can get to next Sunday (April 10th) without seeing any blood, I'll be further than I've ever been before. I still need to confirm, but I think that my 1st u/s can be as early as April 13 -15 - so a little less than two weeks until we can start getting excited and maybe share some good news with the immediate family (I've been very vague when talking to them).
As for symptoms, haven't had many at all. Mostly just tired (from the estrogen / progesterone) Very occasional cramps - mostly higher in my uterus, not really any headaches anymore, and now sometimes feeling some tenderness in my upper chest - which I've never felt before. Strange.
I had my blood drawn again this morning and the phlebotomist (who has drawn my blood many times, but hasn't had me as a patient since the day of my transfer) said my betas were quite strong and she felt very good about this cycle. That certainly eased my mind. She also thinks the extra progesterone is going to increase my numbers today.
Things have changed at CCRM since when I cycled in September. They no longer draw more than two HCG's. They wanted me to come back today to check my E2 and P4 and I asked about HCG. Good thing I did because it was not a test my nurse ordered. The phlebotomist was going to ask if we can add it....so. we'll see.
Adoption Update
We're now "officially approved!" To our surprise, we received a copy of our homestudy to review / correct last night - two weeks early.
So, this weekend we get to review the package and send back our suggested edits to ensure accuracy. Asside from a couple minor inaccuracies (e.g. - we have two bedrooms upstairs, not three; my name is wrong in one place), we received a glowing recommendation.
Once we send it back, we are eligible to be shown to potential birth mothers and can start marketing ourselves. I was on a roll for awhile to get things ready to begin marketing ourselves, but I haven't been able to give it my full attention lately - so I am not ready to hit the ground running like I thought I would.
It's ok though. The next two weeks will be extremely exciting and we are in a fantastic position to be holding at least one of our babies in our arms before the end of 2011!
I looked back at where things took a turn during my last BFP cycles and the next nine days will be the most critical for me. If I can get to next Sunday (April 10th) without seeing any blood, I'll be further than I've ever been before. I still need to confirm, but I think that my 1st u/s can be as early as April 13 -15 - so a little less than two weeks until we can start getting excited and maybe share some good news with the immediate family (I've been very vague when talking to them).
As for symptoms, haven't had many at all. Mostly just tired (from the estrogen / progesterone) Very occasional cramps - mostly higher in my uterus, not really any headaches anymore, and now sometimes feeling some tenderness in my upper chest - which I've never felt before. Strange.
I had my blood drawn again this morning and the phlebotomist (who has drawn my blood many times, but hasn't had me as a patient since the day of my transfer) said my betas were quite strong and she felt very good about this cycle. That certainly eased my mind. She also thinks the extra progesterone is going to increase my numbers today.
Things have changed at CCRM since when I cycled in September. They no longer draw more than two HCG's. They wanted me to come back today to check my E2 and P4 and I asked about HCG. Good thing I did because it was not a test my nurse ordered. The phlebotomist was going to ask if we can add it....so. we'll see.
Adoption Update
We're now "officially approved!" To our surprise, we received a copy of our homestudy to review / correct last night - two weeks early.
So, this weekend we get to review the package and send back our suggested edits to ensure accuracy. Asside from a couple minor inaccuracies (e.g. - we have two bedrooms upstairs, not three; my name is wrong in one place), we received a glowing recommendation.
Once we send it back, we are eligible to be shown to potential birth mothers and can start marketing ourselves. I was on a roll for awhile to get things ready to begin marketing ourselves, but I haven't been able to give it my full attention lately - so I am not ready to hit the ground running like I thought I would.
It's ok though. The next two weeks will be extremely exciting and we are in a fantastic position to be holding at least one of our babies in our arms before the end of 2011!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
11 dp 5 d FET - Beta #2 - Part 2 - The Numbers
Good news...beta rose to 302 - so just a smidge under double. E2 is at 449 (they want it > 300).
P4 dropped a bit to 11.4, but I haven't had a PIO shot since Sunday - so this kinda makes sense.
They are now putting me on 1 cc of PIO a night and want to re-check on Friday.
As I said before...now the real 2ww begins...ughhhh.
Please! Why can't my 4ww just be easy and smooth? Just this once?
P4 dropped a bit to 11.4, but I haven't had a PIO shot since Sunday - so this kinda makes sense.
They are now putting me on 1 cc of PIO a night and want to re-check on Friday.
As I said before...now the real 2ww begins...ughhhh.
Please! Why can't my 4ww just be easy and smooth? Just this once?
11 dp 5 d FET - Beta #2 - Part 1
Well, today's D-day #2 (or, would it be more appropriate to say "B-Day #2"?) - another step in the process where we learn if we get to continue this journey. Blood was drawn around 8:15 am.
Despite getting a very solid beta on Sunday, as the evening approached a sense of fear suddenly overcame me that I am now having trouble kicking. While I started to fill my PIO syringe, my eyes started to fill with tears over the "What if's..." thoughts. I have never had a problem with my betas rising at this point - they've aways doubled - so not sure why the nervousness kicked in.
A few other signs that the drugs and hormones are kicking in:
1. A general feelng of being "worn out" - a little different than "tired".
2. Puffy face (thank you Prednisone)
3. Hungry ALL the time (again, thank you Prednisone)
4. A dull headache that comes and goes.
5. Peeing frequently.
To ease my mind, I talked to the nurse and the phlebotomist today and here's some info I thought others might find helpful:
1. We are looking for a good rise in the HCG levels. If they don't exactly double, don't panic...that's normal and sometimes happens.
2. If I start to spot (which I did this morning - only brown), don't panic. This is normal when taking progesterone suppositories. Sometimes wetting the tip with water will help.
3. When on progesterone suppositories, we want P2 levels above 6. If taking PIO, we want your levels above 20.
4. HCG levels are individual to each pregnancy. So, even though my number at 9dp 5dt was at 240 last time, having 157 this time can't be compared. There still may be twins in there...we won't know until the u/s.
5. CCRM now has a new protocol of not doing HCG, P4, E2 checks if your second one comes back "normal." If you ask they will run one the following week. If you are "spotting" (hint, hint - this may be the magic word if you just can't take it) - they may run the levels again.
Before today, I was a little (ok, probably more than a little) miffed about the new HCG policy, but now that I've had some time to let it simmer in my brain, this actually makes more sense because the reality is that if things start to take a turn, there's nothing anyone can do (inclding the nurses, a hospital or me). I know that if I start bleeding red to go on bedrest immediately.
Staying in "happy mode" and just assuming everything is peachy is probably the best thing I can do for me and my LO('s) right now.
If we can make it through today - then, based on my history, the 2.5 ww really begins. My 1st U/S will be sometime around 4/13 - 4/15.
Today I just need to remember to relax and breathe...breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe.
Will update later when I get my magic number...
Despite getting a very solid beta on Sunday, as the evening approached a sense of fear suddenly overcame me that I am now having trouble kicking. While I started to fill my PIO syringe, my eyes started to fill with tears over the "What if's..." thoughts. I have never had a problem with my betas rising at this point - they've aways doubled - so not sure why the nervousness kicked in.
A few other signs that the drugs and hormones are kicking in:
1. A general feelng of being "worn out" - a little different than "tired".
2. Puffy face (thank you Prednisone)
3. Hungry ALL the time (again, thank you Prednisone)
4. A dull headache that comes and goes.
5. Peeing frequently.
To ease my mind, I talked to the nurse and the phlebotomist today and here's some info I thought others might find helpful:
1. We are looking for a good rise in the HCG levels. If they don't exactly double, don't panic...that's normal and sometimes happens.
2. If I start to spot (which I did this morning - only brown), don't panic. This is normal when taking progesterone suppositories. Sometimes wetting the tip with water will help.
3. When on progesterone suppositories, we want P2 levels above 6. If taking PIO, we want your levels above 20.
4. HCG levels are individual to each pregnancy. So, even though my number at 9dp 5dt was at 240 last time, having 157 this time can't be compared. There still may be twins in there...we won't know until the u/s.
5. CCRM now has a new protocol of not doing HCG, P4, E2 checks if your second one comes back "normal." If you ask they will run one the following week. If you are "spotting" (hint, hint - this may be the magic word if you just can't take it) - they may run the levels again.
Before today, I was a little (ok, probably more than a little) miffed about the new HCG policy, but now that I've had some time to let it simmer in my brain, this actually makes more sense because the reality is that if things start to take a turn, there's nothing anyone can do (inclding the nurses, a hospital or me). I know that if I start bleeding red to go on bedrest immediately.
Staying in "happy mode" and just assuming everything is peachy is probably the best thing I can do for me and my LO('s) right now.
If we can make it through today - then, based on my history, the 2.5 ww really begins. My 1st U/S will be sometime around 4/13 - 4/15.
Today I just need to remember to relax and breathe...breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe.
Will update later when I get my magic number...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
9dp 5d FET - Beta #1
Had my blood drawn around 8:30 am this morning and "the call' came in around 12:30 pm...
Beta is 157 and P4 (which is just as important to me - maybe even more so) is at 13.1.
Compared to my numbers last time, my beta was at 240 and my p4 was at 6.5 - so definitely happy to see the P4 number in the "normal" range today.
So, what does my HCG number mean in my opinion?
Well, the chances of this pregnancy being a triplet one are nearly infinitesimal. Whew...that's a huge relief! Glad we made the right decision by transferring three.
Can it be twins? It's possible, but compared to the "beta base" board, it's below average. The median beta on this day (14 dpo according to their chart) is 206. Here's another chart that shows people reporting.
What the "beta base" board numbers and chart tend to lean toward is that right now I am above average on my HCG number and caring a nice, solid singleton.
I go back for my second beta on Tuesday and they want to see it at least double.
You'll just have to stay tuned for a few more days to read the next chapter...
Beta is 157 and P4 (which is just as important to me - maybe even more so) is at 13.1.
Compared to my numbers last time, my beta was at 240 and my p4 was at 6.5 - so definitely happy to see the P4 number in the "normal" range today.
So, what does my HCG number mean in my opinion?
Well, the chances of this pregnancy being a triplet one are nearly infinitesimal. Whew...that's a huge relief! Glad we made the right decision by transferring three.
Can it be twins? It's possible, but compared to the "beta base" board, it's below average. The median beta on this day (14 dpo according to their chart) is 206. Here's another chart that shows people reporting.
What the "beta base" board numbers and chart tend to lean toward is that right now I am above average on my HCG number and caring a nice, solid singleton.
I go back for my second beta on Tuesday and they want to see it at least double.
You'll just have to stay tuned for a few more days to read the next chapter...
Thursday, March 24, 2011
6dp 5dt - My First Poll
As I've mentioned before on this blog, I am one of the most impatient people in the world. The only person who is more impatient than me is my Mom (so, I know where I get it from).
On my last CCRM cycle, my transfer was around 10 am and they were fresh embryos. By 6dp5dt, I POASed and definitely knew I was pregnant. On this cycle, my transfer was closer to 3 pm and we transferred frozen embryos.
So, yesterday, I POASed. When I held the stick right on top of the light, I thought I could see the faintest of faint lines. To the point where I was almost sure I was imagining things.
Today, I POASed again and here's pictures of the results. I haven't even showed my DH yet because, if there was any question, he'd deny it (he's just like that - black or white - no gray).
What do you think? (Poll on right)
On my last CCRM cycle, my transfer was around 10 am and they were fresh embryos. By 6dp5dt, I POASed and definitely knew I was pregnant. On this cycle, my transfer was closer to 3 pm and we transferred frozen embryos.
So, yesterday, I POASed. When I held the stick right on top of the light, I thought I could see the faintest of faint lines. To the point where I was almost sure I was imagining things.
Today, I POASed again and here's pictures of the results. I haven't even showed my DH yet because, if there was any question, he'd deny it (he's just like that - black or white - no gray).
What do you think? (Poll on right)