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Friday, November 26, 2010

I ate WAY too much yesterday!

So I just ate whatever I wanted and then some. We'll start this low carb thing soon enough. The problem is that I love to bake and I love chocolate! I made these homemade cupcakes and they are so, so good. I don't think I'll ever make boxed cupcakes again - OK I will, but these taste SO much better. So there were some left yesterday and I brought them home. I told my husband to take them to work this morning, but he didn't and now they are calling my name! What's a girl to do? I only ate one...

By the way, I don't think I could be one of those people that stand in line all night for Black Friday deals. I like sleep too much! We just got a new bed after having the same one for 10 years and let me tell you, it is nice! Too bad they don't have a BF deal for IVIG. I'd stand in line for that! :)

A patient from my doctor's office, who had IVIG and was successful, called me and talked for awhile on the phone. She told me that her insurance company covered it with her first pregnancy, but then for the second, said it was experimental and then wouldn't cover it (sounds like mine). She said the cheapest pharmacy had it for $2100. She had to have it every 3 weeks and I'm not sure for how long. We'll see how my appeal to the insurance company goes, but I don't have $2100 every 3 weeks! So frustrating... Why can't cases like hers be used to prove that it can help sustain a pregnancy? She has had 2 successful pregnancies using it after so many failures trying everything else.

I am so lucky! My mom called me and said that she knew what she was getting me for Christmas but she felt bad because it isn't exciting or a very good Christmas present. I really, honestly do not care about gifts so it doesn't matter to me. She's getting us a furnace. I'm THRILLED! I think it's the best gift I could get right now...Well second best, but she can't make that happen! Ours is 23 years old and about to die. It only works if we flip a switch a few times and it turns off all of the time. I cried when she told me because with all of our fertility expenses we don't have extra money and she is always trying to help. I really am blessed. Thank you, Mom!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

I'm thankful for...

My family and friends. I don't know what I would do without their love and support. When I think I can't do this anymore or I don't know what I'm going to do, they listen and support and help me through it. I am so fortunate to have them. Whether it's to listen to me complain or cry, or get excited to try something new, they have been there. They also help me take my mind off things at times. I really need to do that more often. There is a world outside of infertility...
Words can't express what they mean to me, but I hope they know that I am so, so grateful! :)

Happy Thanksgiving! :):):)

Night out

Just got back from singing at the karaoke bar with friends. I had a lot of fun! It was nice to get out of the house and not think about anything fertility related! Time for bed! :)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Making phone calls

I had the day off today and have spent the majority of it on the phone. Yesterday, I had a saline sonogram because Dr. Kwak thought she saw a polyp. The sonogram confirmed it and I have to have it removed. So I have to meet with the doctor next week and then have the procedure done on the 13th of December. I do not like taking days off work, but again I have no choice.
Back to today...
I've been on the phone with my doctor's office scheduling appointments and trying to figure out how to get this IVIG paid for. My doctor is putting me on BC until I have the polyp removed. I haven't had to be on that since my first IVF and I said I'd never take it again, but I guess I have to.
I called another insurance provider, explained my situation, and they said that although it was covered under their plan, it would be pre-existing and would not be covered for me. :(
So I called Dr. Kwak's office and talked with Chad - super nice billing guy. He said that we could appeal and he has seen my insurance pay for it. Then I called the nurse there - Diane, another super nice person, and she explained what we could do to appeal.
I called my insurance company to get information about submitting an appeal, but they said that first I should have the doctor send in a pre-authorization form. They said that sometimes, even though it may not be covered as a prescription, it may be covered through major medical. So I called Dr. Kwak's office, left a message and now I'm done for today. There's nothing to do but maybe start making a few things for Thanksgiving.
I'm pretty much eating whatever I want tomorrow and I can't wait. I love Thanksgiving food!

Monday, November 22, 2010

News from Dr. Kwak

To be honest, her phone call was a little confusing! I can't wait for the paper version of my results. I have 3 different gene mutations - Factor 13, MTHFR, adn Pai 1. I also have a high testosterone level that could be related to the Pai 1 gene mutation. She said that the Pai 1 gene can be related to diabetic tendancies so I need to be on a low-carb diet.
Are you kidding me? I don't even like the taste of meat, really!! I love bread, pasta and chocolate! BUT, I'll do what I have to do I guess...
Many of the other tests came back normal and so I was super excited until she got to the NK cell results. Normal count is 12%, mine is 19%. My killing capacity is 24.8%, they want it to be less than 15%. She said each individual cell is well-trained! 
She recommended that I take Lovenox, Folic Acid, baby aspirin, Metformin (sp?), Prednisone and she said IVIG was my best choice to help with those NK cells. I asked her what we would do if insurance wouldn't cover it and she said we'd just do everything else and use the Prednisone.
I called my insurance company and they do not provide any coverage for IVIG. I have to say I'm pretty upset about it. We just don't have thousands of dollars sitting around unfortunately. We've already spent so much just getting here. So now we will try a cycle and see what happens, and just pray that it works without the IVIG. I'm going to do some research to see if there's anything we can do.
My sonogram with my RE is tomorrow and hopefully then I'll schedule an appt. to meet with him and schedule our next IUI.
When my husband got home today he told me that no matter what, he loved me and would always be here for me and that I am so important to him. Lucky me! :) I really needed that tonight!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Busy weekend, luckily!

I had parent-teacher conferences this week, so I was at school about 14 hours Tuesday and Thursday. I'm exhausted! I scheduled the saline sonogram for Tuesday, so I'll be happy to get that over with. Dr. Kwak will call on Monday morning and I'm trying to think positive thoughts. My husband is good at that. I'm better at the what ifs! This weekend I have a birthday party and lots of cleaning to do. Hopefully, I'll be busy enough for the time to fly by. I can't wait for Monday! :)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

They called!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it! Dr. Kwak's office called today. We set up a phone appointment for this Monday at 9:00 a.m. to go over test results. I'm not too happy that I have to take a 1/2 day off work, but we don't know how long it will take and I don't want to be rushed. Now I am just praying that it is something that can be easily fixed. I think after all that we've been through we deserve a break!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Trying to be patient!

I really hope Dr. Kwak calls this week. I would like to have some answers and schedule a meeting with my doctor to start something new. I only hope that she calls and it's something simple. Maybe just a little more Prednisone. I am worried about IVIG because I know my insurance doesn't cover it and when I look at other blogs, it seems like if you have to have it, you have to have it quite a few times. I know I am jumping the gun, I don't even know what's wrong, but I can't help but think about it. At least I have parent-teacher conferences at school this week and I'll be so busy I won't have time to think too much about it.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Rough Day

Today I was super emotional! It started at church when we were celebrating All Saints Sunday and remembering those that have passed. I was thinking of my grandmother - we were very close. It was also a day at church when babies are baptized. It was really hard for me to watch. I don't know why. I've watched it many times before. Luckily I held it together until I got to the car. I've been on such a high with the new things we've been doing. Today I was just very down. Hopefully tomorrow is better!

Friday, November 5, 2010

November 5, 2010

Started watching "Giuliana and Bill", the reality show, a few weeks ago. Watched the latest episode last night. What a tearjerker! She was dealing with her recent miscarriage and just couldn't understand why. I totally know how she feels! When you are a good person and try to do everything right, WHY? I'll keep watching and hoping they get their miracle. Lucky them, money is not an issue! So they can do many IVFs.

I called my doctor's office today and they said I don't need an HSG, but instead a saline sonogram that they will do in the office. I'm glad about that. I had an HSG last January and sometimes scheduling with the hopsital can be a pain. So, I wait until the start of my next cycle and then we'll go from there. I joined a Resolve support group, so I will go there tonight. I actually look forward to the meetings. The people there have given me a lot of great information and resources.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Dr. Kwak-Kim

So we went down to Chicago to see Dr. Kwak on Tuesday. The night before I had to fast after 8:00 p.m. and then in the morning, 1 hour before, I had to drink 32 ounces of water to have a full bladder. Well after 2 bottles my bladder didn't feel full, so I started on my third - Ugh! Hard to do! They took me back to do the bloodwork first. They took A LOT of blood. I think about 15 tubes, but they weren't all full. The nurse was very nice and we talked through the whole thing. I've had so much blood taken that it was no big deal, although I have never had them take this much at once! So by that time, my bladder was very full and I was hoping I wouldn't have to wait too long. Luckily, they took me right in for the ultrasounds. My husband wasn't allowed to come back for the ultrasounds, and he wanted to, but I guess they don't allow it. I had a transabdominal ultrasound and a transvaginal ultrasound. They found some small fibroids that they said weren't a big deal and they also saw something that they said looked like a polyp. They said my lining didn't look great and my blood flow wasn't as good as they want it to be. They saw a large follicle and said I was about to ovulate. Luckily, I've never had a problem producing follicles or with ovulation.

She also did a physical exam as well. She noticed I have varicose veins and told me that I really need to wear support hose. (They even found these veins around my uterus!) I've always had "old lady legs". It's funny because my mom doesn't...

Anyway, she then had my husband and I go to a conference room and she told us some things that she thought might be happening. It could be NK cells, but she would have to get the results from the bloodwork. My husband asked if it was encouraging that the Prednisone worked to at least get us to a chemical and if maybe that was an indicator that the treatment for any immune issues wouldn't be as severe. She seemed to think so, but again, can't be sure of anything until she sees the bloodwork. She also said that she will work with my doctor and I probably won't have to come to Chicago very often, which is great because the 5 1/2 hour drive was long and the traffic there is not good! She will call in a few weeks to give me the results of the blood tests and come up with a plan. She gave me a booklet that lists drugs that her patients are commonly given, along with their side effects. She also wants me to make an appointment for the HSG to see if I do have a polyp. I've never had one, so I don't even know what will happen if I do have one!

I'm so glad that we finally went to see her and are moving forward! :)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A little background

A little more background - My husband and I decided to go to a RI because we had 2 chemical pregnancies after IUIs with Prednisone. (With the IVFs w/out Prednisone, the cycles failed.) Since we had chemicals, we wondered if possibly the Prednisone was helping, but not enough. I read the book, Is Your Body Baby Friendly?, and it convinced me that we have immune issues. So no matter how much we increased meds, nothing would work. I spoke with my doctor and luckily he works with Dr. Kwak-Kim in Chicago. So we made an appointment with her. I will write about that in my next post!

Trying something new

I wanted to start a blog to write about my fertility journey. My husband came up with the name. I think it's pretty good!
My husband and I started TTC in the summer of 2005. We've since tried Clomid, 3 IVFs, 3 IUIs and today we just went to a Reproductive Immunologist in Chcago to see if I have immune issues. With all of those cycles, I got pregnant with 2 of the IUIs, but they ended up being chemical. I'm ready to try something new and I'm not giving up! :)

I struggle with all of the feelings that come with all of this crazy infertility stuff, but I remain hopeful that my husband and I will get pregnant soon! :)