Our history of TTC - this time.

I'm not going to go through the past 8 years, because 1) I am lazy, and 2) I don't remember half of it. So, this will start with when I turned 35 and decided it was time to shit, or get off the pot.

I spent most of my 35th birthday in tears. Jason and I had agreed that if we'd not had another baby by 35, one of us would get fixed.  Now that day had come, and here I was, still the same place I was for the past 8 years.

Jason and I talked, and we decided I would find a new OB and a new Reproductive Endocrinologist.

I went to visit my new OB, and she did my annual pap smear but could not reach my cervix. My pap came back abnormal, so they wanted to do a colposcopy, which is a procedure where they use a special instrument to inspect the cervix and do a biopsy. Again, she couldn't find it.

Since I also needed to have an HSG done (where they check for tubal blockages) she and my new RE decided to do it in the OR where I would be knocked out.

The results were all fine - except I had a blocked right tube, and pretty significant cervical scarring (cervical stenosis)

They cleared out a bit of the scar tissue, and at my followup with the RE, we realized we also had some very slight male factor issues, too.

We decided to do 3 rounds of clomid and then move onto IUI.

Cycle 1 - I had 2 follicles - 17mm and 21 mm. I had a 21 day progesterone check to make sure I ovulated, and it was 1 - I had not ovulated.

Cycle 2, 2 follicles - 15mm and 17mm both on BLOCKED side. My uterine lining was 7 - not optimal. I used a trigger shot (which is a shot of HCG which forced ovulation) and it was a bust.

Cycle 3, 1 18mm follicle, on my blocked side. Lining was 7.9. Failed cycle.

At this point, we were supposed to start IUI but I felt like we hadn't really had a chance because of not ovulating, or them being on the wrong side.
I talked with my RE and told her I couldnt stomach an $800 IUI when we'd not had a real chance.
We switched to Femara and Menopur, which is an injection.

Cycle 1 of that - I had 2 follicles on cycle day (CD) 12. That is way too small, so we decided to check again in 24 hours.
Next US showed  a 14mm, 15mm, and a 17mm! We triggered.
On 7, 8 and 9 DPO (Days post ovulation) I had negative tests. On day 10, I got a positive test, but that night I got really, really ill. I stayed ill for a week!
The test went negative the next day, and we thought it was a fluke.

Cycle 2 - when I went for my day 3 scan (where they check for cysts) they noticed a lot of fluid in my uterus. They suspected the positive I got was a chemical pregnancy, and I got sick because I developed OHSS - Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.
This can be life threatening - you can read more about it here.

On my CD12 scan of this same cycle, and I had 1 single 21mm follicle.
I suspected it would be a bust.
I triggered on cycle day 13, so I would ovulate day 14 or 15.

With trigger shots, they make pregnancy tests falsely positive, so about a week later, I started taking tests to see if it was out my system.
On 9DPO, I had taken 2 different brands. One was positive, one was negative.
10 DPO I decided to take the same tests, again. BOTH were positive!
I was skeptical, so we decided to wait one more day.

On 11DPO, both were positive and darker!
I called my RE, and we went to have a blood test.
While I waited for them to call me, I decided to go get a digital test. It was negative.
The Dr's nurse called me back and told my HCG level was 9, I was having another chemical and to stop taking the progesterone (which would bring my period)

I refused because I was SO EARLY and told them I wanted a repeat beta.

I went back 4 days later, and I needed it to be 36. it was 112!
I was officially pregnant!

2 days later, at 17 DPO I went for another beta, and it had jumped to 327!

While I was having that blood test, the US tech saw me and said "Well, I guess I will see you in 2 weeks!"
I jokingly told her "You will see me before then if my ovary doesn't stop hurting!"

She insisted on doing an ultrasound to check for cysts, and saw nothing.

Over the weekend, I started hurting really badly and at one point, almost went to the E.R.
That Monday (yesterday) I called them and told them what was going on.

I went back in for another ultrasound.
This time, we (unexpectedly!) saw a sac and yolk! They changed my due date to December 31st. We also realized the pain I've been having was from a hernia.

I've been a little tired but I think that was stress from not knowing what was going on for a week or so. It seems to have passed, and aside from the sore boobs I am still symptom free!

We have the heartbeat scan May 7th :)