More Drama

Stupid Thyroid.

I went to get a thyroid sonogram at the request of my new endocrinologist. I used to work in a radiology office when I was in college. I know that in a radiology office- they never get the doctor unless it's bad news. So the tech did the scan and said to me "Ok- I'm going to go get the doctor."
And then I was in a panic.

So turns out that I have 2 nodules on my thyroid. Of course I immediately consulted Dr. Google. And everything I'm reading says that I shouldn't panic and that 98% of these are totally not an issue and no big deal. (PS- When has Dr. Google ever given out good news?!?) And then I get a cryptic message from the nurse that says "We can't start the process" until I have my lab work completed. WTF does that mean??

One sleepless night and a call to the endo's nurse later- she tells me that I'm fine and they were just reminding me to get my labs done. Whaaaaaaaaat?? If you say so?

And now- more waiting.
Follow up is 3/11. Need my stupid tyroid to behave and be in the 3's!

Big Step

We have 100% secured our financing for IVF. I won't get into how we got it, but we have the money to pay for shared risk and our first round of meds.

A HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders. And a huge blessing.

1 or 2?

How many embryos do you transfer? What do you consider when you make this decision?

I used to think- just follow the direction of the RE. He'll decide. And the more I think about it, the more things I find will factor into this decision. So here is what I'm considering so far...

1. The guidance and opinion of my RE. Clearly- this is important. He's the one with all the experience here. He will be able to help us based on the quality of my eggs, and then our embryos to decide how many to transfer. This will be a bit of a game day decision based on Fertilization Rates.

2. We're 100% Out of Pocket. So that means this may be our only shot at this. Our one chance at not only having one child, but really our only chance at having more than one. So do we put 2 back just so we have an increased chance of having more than one child? We were told that about 1/3 of couples will have embryos to freeze after a fresh cycle. Do we just cross our fingers and hope for frosties??

3. Twins are scary. I don't mean twins are scary on the outside (which I'm sure they are...) but twin pregnancy's are scary. They are high risk and can be complicated. I also have questions about this because I had gastric bypass. Can I nutritionally support a twin pregnancy?

4. Money. We will never have enough money. 1 or 2 kids aside- We'll never have enough. But it is something to consider. Can we afford twins and all that comes with that??

So there is a lot to consider- I'm positive that there will be other factors involved. More decisions to make.

Decisions, Decisions...

I'm sitting here tonight looking through a package from my RE. Consent forms for IVF.

First of all- there are about a billion. Scary consent forms. Not just like "Please let us bill your insurance" consent forms. Like "If you die, what should we do with your frozen kids" consent forms. And then "If ONE of you dies, what should we do with your frozen kids". And the questions just keep going.

I'm having a WTF moment. How did we end up here? I'm discussing with my husband what would happen to our frozen embryos if we both die. What?

Who do you tell??

JC is spreading the IVF news. Well just to his friends, but still. Good or bad??

Good:
He finally feels like it doesn't have to be a secret. It's not a shameful thing to go through. He really feels like we have a great chance at having kids.

Bad:
A LOT of pressure. I mean if this doesn't work...how do you tell all those people??

I guess more good than bad.

Shared Risk

Someone had asked me about our Shared Risk program. So I thought I would share.
Here is the link to our program: http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/shared_risk

Essentially- We're buying a guarantee. Clearly that is a boiled down explanation- but the easiest way to explain it. We pay a flat fee up front (due 10 days before starting stims) and we get 6 FRESH IVF Cycles. ICSI and drugs are extra.

The good part- is that we can drop out at any time- during, after, in between cycles- any time- and get 100% of our money back. We get 100% guarantee of a live birth. No live birth- we get all our money back.

It's a good deal. Except that each fresh cycle will cost us about $4,000 in meds.

Approved!

Just got the call from the Finance Office at the RE... We have been approved for Shared Risk! Yeah!

Now does anyone have $26,000 I can have??