By the numbers: Our IVF Journe.y (*UPDATED*)

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/wiki/Dilation_and_evacuation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilation_and_curettage

 

I D&C from a two month loss with our surrogate (miscarriage #4)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilation_and_curettage

9 egg retrievals:
http://athensfertility.com/www_eng/ejosomatiki/e2c.htm

3 hysteroscopy’s just to check :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteroscopy

1 major laparotomy which included a salpingectomy and a chromotubation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteroscopy
http://babymed.com/faq/browse.aspx?83

I also had 3 hysterosalpingograms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysterosalpingogram

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

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

Comments

[antonial]

literally incredible. you are amazing.