Ultrasound Results and the Next Steps...

I went to see Dr. Mody today to have a follicle study done. I was supposed to have my yearly physical done too, but whoever scheduled my appointment messed up. I have to wait another month because the one I had last year was on April 20th. So it has to be after that. Oh well--didn't really care about that part of the visit! I wanted to see those follicles!

So I got in the ultrasound room and got to sit on those one of those super comfy chairs with the stirrups. OK--I don't like the stirrups part, but to quote Rachel on Friends, "I swear if they sold these at Pottery Barn!!" Anyways--the ultrasound technician came in and began the examination. This is not a horrible experience, but since it's an internal exam, it's not very pleasant either. They take this long wand and put what looks to me like a condom over it and squirt the goo to do the examination internally. First she measured my uterus and said it looked good. Then comes the not fun part. She has to rotate the wand inside to look at my right ovary and then my left. This causes me some mild cramping. I could see on the screen in front of me that I had several follicles with both ovaries, but there were 2 on my right and 1 on my left that were sizable enough to be considered maturing. They measured at 13 mm each. And that was it--I could get dressed and go sit in the waiting room for Dr. Mody to come talk to me.

While I was waiting, the nurse came and got me because she forgot to check my blood pressure. This made me nervous. I have had high blood pressure for the last 2 years thanks to the ridiculous amounts of stress from my old job. At the highest--at least highest recorded--it was 148/110. This was just back in January. I know that even when the stress goes away, the damaging effects from it can last for a while. So I have been concerned that my blood pressure would remain high. Especially being at an appointment to discuss our infertility--my nerves are on edge with that topic anyway. But I put on a brave face and stuck my right arm out for her to slip the cuff on. I was just praying that maybe it had gone down just a little. I waited as she pumped the cuff up tight and listened to the stethoscope. When she was done she started to enter my numbers in the computer. I couldn't take it anymore and asked her what my reading was. She nonchalantly said 110/80!!! WOO HOO!!! I got so excited--I just couldn't believe it! I was seated back in the waiting room and I just bowed my head and thanked God for making me healthy again!

Then Dr. Mody came and got me and took me in her office. She said having 3 maturing follicles was a great number to perform the IUI. She said that the follicles need to grow to 20 mm before they will be ready to rupture and release the egg(s). She did some sort of "follicle growth math" and estimated that they would hit 20 mm on Sunday, April 3rd. That's in 5 days. She told me to wake up early Sunday morning (like 5 a.m. or earlier) and give myself the Ovidrel shot--my hcg trigger shot. (Not sure how I'm gonna do that, but for my baby Griffin, I will do anything!) That should cause me to ovulate on Sunday. The IUI procedure is supposed to be performed between 24-36 hours after taking the trigger shot.

So Dr. Mody got us set up for Monday, April 4th, to have our IUI performed. At 9 a.m. hubby will make his "contribution" which will go through a process called sperm washing. It basically is a process to separate the sperm from the semen because you don't want semen going up into the uterus. Apparently it can cause infection. Who knew?! They will then give us the washed sperm in the prepared catheter to take to Dr. Mody's office. We are supposed to be at Dr. Mody's office at 10 a.m. and she said that they will take us right back to do the insemination. She said the insemination process should only take about 30 minutes and then I have to lay with my hips elevated for about 30 more minutes. And that's it! Then we go home and wait and PRAY!!!

Dr. Mody did want to make me aware of the risk of multiple babies with this procedure. The Clomid carries a 5-10% chance on its own. Adding Ovidrel and the IUI increases that percentage. I told Dr. Mody that we want to start our family--no matter if it's with 1 baby or by doing it all at once with multiples. She smiled and said she understood--just wanted to make sure that I understood the possibility was there. She also told me that we needed to "try" on Friday to make sure we cover our bases just in case I ovulate before the trigger shot.

So now I am just gonna keep taking my prenatal vitamins and work on being brave enough to give myself the shot on Sunday!! I'm so excited to be healthy again and I really feel like my body is capable of taking care of the precious little life that God is going to bless us with one day! Hopefully it's this month with the IUI but if not, I will hold on to my faith that God will bless us with a child!