The Game Plan

After talking with my regualar OBG and researching several specialists in the area I decided to go Washington University Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Center to see Dr. Emily Jungheim (click her name if you want to know more about her). My visit consisted of talking and blood work. I made mom go with me since I knew I wouldn’t remember everything and well I just wanted my mommyJ. After 7 vials of blood nothing came back unexpected, except that I needed a MMR shot (apparently those wear off after so many years and it was time for another).  The only problem with that was you cannot “try” for 30 days after the shot since it puts a live virus into your blood.  She did state that since my cycles are on average 24 days long, which is shorter than the “28 day normal”. She said that would probably be the issue, and shouldn’t be too much of a problem to correct. I would also need to have a HSG test done, which I had done during my 30 day probation (more on that in another post).

I keep hearing “Don’t stress about it and it will happen!” or “You’re thinking too much about it, just relax”, but do you know how hard it is? 

 So what does a cycle look like for me? When my cycle starts I have to call and notify the office so they can call in a prescription for me. Then day 3 – 7 I have to take Letrozole, at the exact same time every day.  Letrozole is actually a breast cancer medicine and is it not actually FDA approved for infertility. “Letrozole has been used for ovarian stimulation by fertility doctors since 2001 because it has fewer side-effects than Clomid and less chance of multiple gestation.”   Then  Day 9 – 18 I have to use the predictor kit to test for a surge, to see if I’ve ovulated or not.

The circle means nothing, but the smiley face means there was a surge. When I seen it, I ran outside to show Jerry. You would have thought I was pregnant LOL!

During that time we must “try” every other day. Around day 22 I go to have blood work done to make sure that I have ovulated. Then wait to see if I’m pregnant or not.  Oh and a daily prenatal vitamin. 

I’m not sure at what point during all that I have time to not worry about it, but I’m trying. When there is some much to remember and keep track of its hard to relax, and we all know how forgetful I can be.

During the first cycle, the kit showed a surge on day 14, however the second and third cycle did not show anything. I’m not sure if it was a bad kit or what. Since the second cycle did not show a surge and I did not get pregnant, they upped my Letrozole dosage to 7.5 mg from 5 mg. During the first cycle my progesterone level was 9.7 and the third cycle it was 8.3. The Dr. said that it indicates that I am ovulating and that it’s just a waiting game.  Apparently every month there is only a 20% chance of actually getting pregnant, so apparently Baby B is already being stubborn and hasn't even been conceived yet - go figure!

 Praying for Baby B!

Jacki