By the numbers: Our IVF Journe.y
Numbers of :
Intra-uterine Inseminations: 4
In-vitro Fertilization cycles: 9
Surgical procedures: 16; breaks down as the following:
1 Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) followed by a Dilation and Curettage (D&C) following the loss of our son at 5 months gestation;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi ki/Dilation_and_evacuation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilation_and_curettage
Numbers of :
Intra-uterine Inseminations: 4
In-vitro Fertilization cycles: 9
Surgical procedures: 16; breaks down as the following:
1 Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) followed by a Dilation and Curettage (D&C) following the loss of our son at 5 months gestation;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
I D&C from a two month loss with our surrogate (miscarriage #4)
9 egg retrievals:
http://athensfertility.com
3 hysteroscopy’s just to check :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
1 major laparotomy which included a salpingectomy and a chromotubation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
http://babymed.com/faq/bro
I also had 3 hysterosalpingograms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
Pregnancy Losses 4 One at 5 months pregnant
Different medications: 16
Self-injections: 210
Uterine biopsies (no anesthesia): 7
Total number of my eggs retrieved: 81
Total amount of embryos transferred: 16
Number of vaginal ultrasounds: 146
Home pregnancy tests taken: 27
Fertility Clinics: 6 (Reproductiv.e Medicin.e Associate.s, Cornel.l Center for Infertilit.y; New Hop.e Fertilit.y, Colorad.o Center for Reproductiv.e Medicine, She.r Institut.e of Reproductiv.e Medicine); SIRM- Dallas
Additional medical specialists we sought advice from: 9 (2 hematologists; a bacterial reproductive specialist, a reproductive immunologist, a center in California specializing in immune and uterine issues; a sperm specialist program in South Dakota; the top urologist in the country; fertility acupuncturist; an ob/gyn specializing in infectious diseases.)
Number of states our testing and treatment covered: 5 (New York, Colorado, South Dakota, California, Texas)
Years it took to be successful: We thought we had achieved our goal at 3 years, 36 cycles, but our fetus died at 20 weeks so now we start all over
Cost of all treatments, appointments, procedures, medications: $190,000
Additional cost now using a gestational surrogate: $50,000
Weight gained: 5 lbs per cycle, total of 35 extra pounds, 12 lbs during my pregnancy
Blood drawn: 170 times
Times needed to increase/alter anti-depressant medication: 5
Amount of therapists in the 3 years, including marriage counselor: 8
Times I seriously thought of taking own life: 2
Amount of friendships/relationships affected by infertility: 100%
Number of jobs very close to being fired: 2
Number of times I could not get out of bed: Countless
Emergency Room visits: 3 (one from a burst ovarian cyst while on a plane for a business trip in Minnesota. I hobbled off the plane, got in a cab and told him to take me to the closest ER. I had no idea where I was, what was wrong with me, and I was utterly alone.)The last one I was with my mom in Florida and the ER nurse could not find a heart beat, even after a perfectly normal anatomy scan. Our son had died and that is how we found out.
Pajama bottoms ruined from blood stains following intra-muscular injections: 5
Emergency Room visits: 3 (one from a burst ovarian cyst while on a plane for a business trip in Minnesota. I hobbled off the plane, got in a cab and told him to take me to the closest ER. I had no idea where I was, what was wrong with me, and I was utterly alone.)The last one I was with my mom in Florida and the ER nurse could not find a heart beat, even after a perfectly normal anatomy scan. Our son had died and that is how we found out.
Pajama bottoms ruined from blood stains following intra-muscular injections: 5
Number of red personal sharps containers I filled from all the shots: 14
Monetary worth of medicines I donated to couples whose insurance did not cover meds: $14,500
Number of videos I created showing how a real patient gives an injection to help newbies: 7
Amount of hobbies/interests I no longer had mental energy for: 100%
Official diagnosis for our fertility issues: 0
Official diagnosis for the death of our son: 0
literally incredible. you are amazing.
Posted by: antonial | 08/17/2009 at 03:58 PM