RE Apt.

RE apt went great. Lining is multi-layered and 9.36. Was a little surprised when my RE told me he was going to be gone for a few weeks. He tore his acl and needs knee surgery. His wife the other RE Dr. Pritts will do my transfer instead. He's done my other 3 so kinda feels weird him not being there for it and I hope she will do as good.

Tomorrow I see what my RI in IL says about the lining and blood flow and if she agrees I call my RE office and set up date of transfer for Aug. 5th or whatever day my RI thinks it should be if she wants me to wait.

Acupuncture was awesome, enjoyed it so much. We did cupping on my shoulder to help the pain and it sure did, although it's going to leave some nice bruising for a few weeks lol. Then we did a bunch of points on the belly, legs and arms. Followed by Moxa heat session which is so relaxing and warm. Then they showed me how I can do the Moxa at home light it and go over my belly and a few other points to continue to bring warmth and stimulate blood flow. Think I was there 2hrs. Got a few supplies from them Moxa sticks you light and hold over areas to warm and Mugwort salve to also rub on my belly to increase blood flow continue to help the clotting issue. Told my dh he can play Doctor - he he he ;)

Very tired now going to relax catch up on FB and go to bed so I can be ready for the long day tomorrow.

My cupping marks - going to have some nice bruises for awhile but it sure helps the pain

Rub on belly, wrists, ankles help increase blood flow

Moxa sticks to light and go over my belly to also increase warmth and flow of blood

Thoughts along the way ...

7/17 - Little strange that we are suppressing my ovaries with lupron but today I had a ton of egg white cm like I would be ovulating - not sure how this suppressing then adding back in hormones works since it's my first FET - On 3 pills a day of estrogen since Sunday - I can say I like it that I am not bloated with eggs that part is so much better than a fresh IVF. Got my apt for intralipids IV set up today for July 30th got to be at the Coram infusion center in New Berlin, WI between 1-2pm. Bought a good book to read while sitting there for 2-3 hrs. 

7/18 - Was hard to get down all 4 liters of water today. Been adding in some powdered gatorade to help but making it weak as to not get so much sugar. Tried to find coconut water last shopping trip and didn't see it will have to look again this weekend. 

7/19 - Today I start in on Lovenox blood thinners. Will be doing two shots a day now. So far belly is not too bruised up yet. I know when I do acupuncture it's weird to have the needles in my belly too and lie there showing all my shot marks lol. Still very fatiqued. Continuing to do my hemp protein powder, dynamic greens, flax seed drinks to help.  

Green Drink Stuff - just add to juice and blend

 

7/21 -

  

Fertility Acupuncture today. We did quite a few spots from feet to belly to ears and followed with more of the moxi heat to keep blood flowing. She said my pulse was less muffled today so the meds for the clotting must be kicking in. She takes her time so I was there almost hour and 1/2. Very relaxing. She also gave me some cream to put on after I do my shot of Lovenox to help the bruising and bump it leaves. Hope it helps as I am bruising up a lot now.

Weird metallic taste in my mouth after my lovenox shot - also been craving red sweet onions of all things, I never usually like onions but had them on salad etc and keep wanting more lol. 

7/23 - All kinds of crampy today not felt right since last night - doing my follow up chem panel tomorrow hope it comes back ok this time around been doing my best to drink more fluids - last time they said I was dehydrated - just wish I didn't feel so blah

7/ 24 - Was a busy day. Did my blood work up for thyroid and chemistry panel. The lovenox has to be kicking in as we had to do a compression wrap on my arm to get the poke from the blood draw to stop bleeding. Kinda makes me think I better be careful not to cut myself right now. I did run into something and hit my ankle and it's turning a nice shade of purple. EWCM is increasing much more than any IVF cycle so the estrogen must be doing it's job of making a healthy lining. Will find out Sunday if it's getting where it needs to be when I see my RE. Also had a upper back/neck massage stretch today to loosen up. Been having so much pain in my left shoulder from the damage of a car accident. Did a chiropractor adjustment to and one on Friday to help push it in place, don't want anything to be blocking good healthy blood flow and energy flow. The Lovenox bruises are getting bigger and more painful I really dread that shot every day. PIO is coming up soon too oh the joy of what I got to go through to conceive and overcome this disease. Getting closer to the goal. After almost 2yrs of planning for this and working hard to get here it's almost time. 

Lovenox bruising only the beginning too

7/25 - End of another day - made it a week of doing Lovenox shots. If this all works I only got 9 more months to go lol. Got to keep swimming I can do it.

so pretty - NOT!

7/26 - Had a nice day with my mom doing errands. Got my new glasses picked up, new look as I've never had one's without frame part on the bottom. Had to go back to the chiropractor been having some bad pain in my left shoulder old car accident injuries, did some more adjusting and massage on it to try and help. Tonight I survived my lovenox shot better, I think I've been doing them too close together so going to try and space them out more see if I get less bruising in one spot.

New glasses :)

7/27 - 8am tomorrow is RE apt. so nervous that my lining is ok and estrogen levels where they want them - have to be up at 4am so we can leave by 6ish. Acupuncture at 11:30 in the same town. Then plan is to come home and get ready for trip to IL on Monday need to leave by 9am at the latest. We are going to forgo the hotel I guess Scott feels paying the $106 for one night is not going to save us much on gas, figures gas be only $50 it would of saved us 3hrs of drive time so I don't know if I agree with him all the way but.... Tues. we go to the infusion clinic leave in the morning and that will take a few hours and then hope to do dinner with my HS friend who lives close to the infusion clinic. Going to be a long few days hope this shoulder of mine behaves as it's been acting up again. UGH! Keep us in prayers for safe travels and that my RE and RI think everything is good to go.

Upcoming Dr. Apt's

Organizing for our Dr. trips. 

Have my RE Dr. Olive (about 2hr one way trip) on Sunday followed by acupuncture in Madison WI. Monday we go do see my RI Dr. Kwak-kim (3-3 1/2hr one way trip) in Vernon hills IL. then Tuesday I have to be at the infusion center for Intralipids IV (1 1/2hr one way trip) near Milwaukee WI. Been contemplating a hotel for Monday night to help cut down on the driving to chicago area one day then next day driving 1/2 way down again but so far hotels are so expensive all in that area that not sure if it would even save us to do so, except it be nice to sit in a hot tub and relax a bit. All this travel is going to make for one very tired out me. Hoping it all goes well and no delays for our tentative transfer day of August 5th.

A good link with info on the Intralipids IV 

MC/Loss

Read this today and wanted to share ... Touched me thinking about our losses and all we have gone through on this journey.

"Miscarriages are labour, miscarriages are birth. To consider them less dishonours the woman whose womb has held life, however briefly." (Unsure of author)

Lovenox Injections

Started my first Lovenox injection last night. This will be my first cycle using this drug. When I did all the testing with Dr. Kwak-Kim I tested positive for the PAI-1 and Factor XIII blood clotting gene. Most likely this is the leading cause of my mc or failed implantation issues. So I am thankful I am able to do this drug this time around and really hope it helps. I go back down to chicago on July 29th to see Dr. K and do another blood flow u/s that will tell her how well it is working and adjust dosage before transfer day. 

The shot was a little painful, for the one today I am going to try and ice it and administer it more slowly to help prevent so much bruising on my stomach. Posting a video below of someone doing a shot of Lovenox. If this FET is successful I will continue on this medication all through out pregnancy.

Benefits of Lovenox:
It an anti-coagulant that is administered through injections and there are several reasons for its effectiveness as a treatment for multiple miscarriages:

• Prevents the formation of blood clots in the embryo and placenta.
• Increases the production of cellular substances that are important in the implantation process.
• Increases insulin-like growth factor at the site of implantation.
• Increases production of a protein that assists in binding the early embryo to the lining of the uterus.
• Has suppressive effects on the immunologic causes of recurrent miscarriage.

Why you may need Lovenox?:
Some women absolutely NEED it in order to PREVENT a miscarriage (or their own stroke, or heart attack, or DVT, etc.) To be technical, baby aspirin is a blood thinner and heparin/Lovenox is an anti-coagulant. They perform two different, equally important functions for thrombophilia patients. Both are out of your system within roughly 24 hours. That's why baby aspirin is taken daily and heparin/Lovenox as often as twice daily during pg. Hundreds of thousands of women have had successful pregnancies using these meds. People don't just take heparin/Lovenox because they hope it will help; they take it because they've been diagnosed with at least one form of thrombophilia (Factor V Leiden, Factor II Prothrombin, MTHFR, APA's), which means their blood has an increased risk of clot. Thus, they would be endangering both their babies and themselves if they DIDN'T take the meds.

He's Able

"He's Able"
(feat. Darwin Hobbs / Voices Of Unity)

[Leader:]
Exceedingly, Abundantly
Above all, all you could ask or think
According to, the power
That worketh in you, you...
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fulfill every promise to you
Don't give up on god, cause he won't give up on you
He's able

[Chorus: x2]
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fulfill every promise to you
Don't give up on god, cause he won't give up on you
He's able [x2]

[Leader:]
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
He's able

[Bridge: x3]
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
He's able

[Leader:]
Here we go, He's able

[Vamp: choir]
He's able

[Leader:]
He's able yes he is
I've tried him, anybody tired him
He's able[x2]
Whatever he said, he's gonna do it,
Whatever he promised, he's gonna do it
He's able [x4]
I've tried him
He's able [x3]
Somebody sing it, he's able, yes he is
He's able, yes he is, he's able, how many know, he's able
He's not a man, that he'd lie
Whatever he said he's gonna do it

[Leader:]
Don't give up on god [x2]
Anybody ever wanted to give up
Has anybody ever wanted to throw in the towel
Anybody know god to be able
Don't give up on god, and he won't give up on you
He's able

[Leader:]
If you know he's able tonight give him apraise
If you know he's able
Everybody say, oh

[Ending:]
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, he's able
He's able [til fade]

 

 

A day of Rainbows

Today was a day of rainbows - saw one on the way home this afternoon a full one all bright in the sky - then tonight there was a partial one right in front of our house - told dh maybe it's a sign! God's promise to come. I really hope so!