About Me

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I'm Alison, a thirty-something, married, mother of two girls, with a passion for animals of all kinds. My family adopted our goofy, lovable dog {Charlie} from a local shelter. It breaks my heart to know there are countless animals out there being mistreated {to say the least} and I would love more than anything to help even one animal find a loving forever home. Think adoption first. Find a local animal shelter or animal rescue... don't buy your next pet... rescue him/her!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Every doctor does things differently

As I've told you before, this is my second time being a surrogate.  I did one IVF cycle in 2009, which resulted in twin girls, born June 2010.  I also had a second IVF cycle in 2011 that, unfortunately, did not result in a pregnancy due to embryo quality.  Both of those cycles were with one IVF clinic (and one set of IPs), but the clinic I am with this time around with J&T is a new experience for me.  Going in to this I figured I've been there, done that and I know what to expect.  Well, just as my title today says, every doctor does things differently.  They all have their own theories and protocols they choose to follow.  This doctor performs a uterine biopsy (or endometrial biopsy) prior to the IVF cycle, in hopes that the lining of the uterus will be more "sticky" for the embryo(s) transferred to settle in and stick around.  So, Tuesday I drove up to LA for my appointment, which included this biopsy.  The doctor informed me that he does not send the biopsied tissue to a lab and he does not perform this for any sort of testing.  I guess that was his way of letting me know he didn't think anything was wrong with my uterus, he simply does this biopsy as a routine part of his IVF protocol.  The biopsy was not fun, to say the least.  It was painful, very uncomfortable, and 4 days later I am just starting to feel completely normal again, with-finally- no discomfort or soreness.  I keep reminding myself that all of this is being done for the right reasons and it will all be worth it in the end, but sometimes when things are not so pleasant, it's hard to remember that!  I do know, though, that once we're on to another step in the process, this will be just another small part of the journey to make J&T daddies.
After the biopsy, the nurse told me when to start Lupron injections, how much medication to use, and gave me instructions on giving the injections.  Lupron is a medication I used in my other IVF cycles, so this was familiar territory, which is nice.  I was given instructions to call the clinic with the start of my next period and they will then schedule my next appointment.  All in all, the good thing was that the appointment didn't take too long, I was in an out in about an hour.
So, about those shots.  My wonderful husband has given me all of my shots throughout each IVF cycle, and I didn't plan on this cycle being any different.  However, tonight he left for work without giving me my shot and I sucked it up and gave it to myself!  It took 3 attempts; the first two times I stood there, syringe in hand, and then put it away.  Finally the third time I just did it, quickly, without thinking too much- because that's when I change my mind.  ; )  Luckily, this was only a Lupron injection, so it's a 28 gauge (also known as an insulin needle) which is very tiny and short (since it is a sub-Q injection).  This will never, ever happen with one of the other injections.  They are done with larger, longer needles and they are IM (intramuscular) injections which go in the rear hip area.  I will never do one of them myself, so my husband and I better make sure he does them while he's home or I will drive to where he is so he can do it!  I know a lot of girls do them for themselves, and that is great, but I am a wimp and it just will not happen.  So, now that medications are involved let's keep our fingers crossed that things go well and we are getting pregnant soon!

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