an online friend recommended that i try acupuncture. honestly, i've considered it a few months back but i didn't know how painful it was. after 2 cycles of injectable stimulants, i found out that i just might be able to do it.
so i called centro maginhawa in quezon city and scheduled an appointment. tomorrow i will tell you about my experience. i'm also urging P to try it but when he saw where the acupuncture points for men... let's just say, he's still undecided. hahaha. he's not that fond of needles. when we had our blood typing test, he was all white. so let's see how he'll fare tomorrow.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Cycle 6 Day 16: IVF Long Protocol
i met someone from FemaleNetwork who is planning to have her IVF treatment in penang. got her details and have been chatting with her since we're both having IVF in Lam Wah EE. her initial assessment is scheduled this month. im as excited as she was.
our questions are almost similar. IVF long protocol was recommended to us by HLWE's IVF consultant. unfortunately, we don't have any idea about it. what the consultant told me that it would take two cycles. on the first cycle, i will be on buserelin. it's probably similar to lupron (anyone reading this who knows, do correct me). the medication will help to have a more controlled cycle. on the second cycle, you will take a blood test, the results of which will determine if the ivf procedure will push through. if it does, then the correct amount of gonadotropin will have to be taken until follicles mature. once the follicles are mature, HcG shot will be given. egg retrieval (ER) will depend on the day the follicles will mature. egg transfer (ET) will happen 3-5 days after ER. Then the 2ww begins.
here are the links that might be helpful for those making their ivf schedule. its helpful if you have a regular cycle. you can just adjust plus/minus a week from the dates for allowance.
our questions are almost similar. IVF long protocol was recommended to us by HLWE's IVF consultant. unfortunately, we don't have any idea about it. what the consultant told me that it would take two cycles. on the first cycle, i will be on buserelin. it's probably similar to lupron (anyone reading this who knows, do correct me). the medication will help to have a more controlled cycle. on the second cycle, you will take a blood test, the results of which will determine if the ivf procedure will push through. if it does, then the correct amount of gonadotropin will have to be taken until follicles mature. once the follicles are mature, HcG shot will be given. egg retrieval (ER) will depend on the day the follicles will mature. egg transfer (ET) will happen 3-5 days after ER. Then the 2ww begins.
here are the links that might be helpful for those making their ivf schedule. its helpful if you have a regular cycle. you can just adjust plus/minus a week from the dates for allowance.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Cycle 6 Day 11: Come what may
i have skipped blogging for a while as i have prepared myself for whats about to come. right now, P and i are racing to get pregnant before this coming september. i only got two chances left. that's this cycle and on august. by august 27, we will be flying to penang to start our ivf treatment. im both excited and scared. ivf is a huge, drastic step. we could have tried iui first but we agreed that if we'll rely on chance, why not choose the one the gives better results. right now, the worst scenario i'd like to picture is not me getting pregnant by august. i didn't create any contingency plans after the treatment. high hopes that we can BFP before my birthday comes.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Cycle 6 Day 1: Mixed Emotions
P said that this baby version is so "pa-asa". haha, i couldn't agree more. so im thinking maybe my thermometer is broken. in any case, i will be taking my temp again tomorrow hopeful that it will still be at 98.4x or even higher. if by friday, my bbt is still up, then maybe this is it! then again, maybe i should buy new batteries for my thermometer. its exciting and frustrating at the same time.
i spoke too soon. just got my period... sigh! so i guess my thermometer is indeed broken.
Monday, June 13, 2011
IVF is a Go!
we've taken a huge step these couple of days. we're already taking steps into ivf treatment. the biggest move we made was to book a flight to kuala lumpur and talk to my company regarding off-site work during my treatment. and yes, we already decided as to where we'll have the procedure. our choice is the hospital lam wah ee.
HLWE is located in penang, about 6 hours from kuala lumpur. i've learned this hospital from sis strauss of girltalk who had hers there for only Php135k. i did some research on the hospital and found that their success rate is quite high as well. they follow the procedure that would take 2 menstrual cycle:
First Cycle:
1. One-Day Assessment (any day before Day 18) - bring Day 3 LH, FSH, E2, Prolactin, T4 and sperm analysis (3-4 days abstinence) results
2. Range of Day 17 to Day 23 - start Buserelin (no need to be in Penang)
Second Cycle:
1. Day 4 to Day 11 - blood test, gonadotropin, ultrasound; gonadotropin has to be injected maximum about 12-13 days prior egg extraction (depends on patient's response).
2. Range of Day 13 onwards (dependent on the maturity of follicles) - extraction; husband should be present to provide fresh sperm
3. Day 3 after extraction - embryo transfer
total cost of the treatment is RM10,000-RM11,000 (php158,000). embryo freezing cost is RM1000 (or php14400) for 2 years. if you use the embryo before 2 years, you will get a RM300 refund. frozen embryo transfer costs RM400+. best part is you can pay using credit card.
i also took consideration on airfare, accommodation and work arrangement. malaysia requires no visa. we already booked a flight to kuala lumpur for october. got it from cebu pacific zero fare for only php2500 two-way per person. i also contacted an apartment for rent that costs RM60 per day. the location is perfect, just across HLWE. im lucky that my company is flexible enough to accommodate my treatment schedule.
all in, it will costs around php250,000. since we don't have all of it in cash, credit card is our best option so we can have the treatment as soon as possible. in any case, we'll be able to pay all of it by december (all thanks to 13th pay, hahaha).
of course, we will continue trying to get pregnant. best scenario is to conceive before october. if we can't achieve it by then, IVF is, by all means... a go!
HLWE is located in penang, about 6 hours from kuala lumpur. i've learned this hospital from sis strauss of girltalk who had hers there for only Php135k. i did some research on the hospital and found that their success rate is quite high as well. they follow the procedure that would take 2 menstrual cycle:
First Cycle:
1. One-Day Assessment (any day before Day 18) - bring Day 3 LH, FSH, E2, Prolactin, T4 and sperm analysis (3-4 days abstinence) results
2. Range of Day 17 to Day 23 - start Buserelin (no need to be in Penang)
Second Cycle:
1. Day 4 to Day 11 - blood test, gonadotropin, ultrasound; gonadotropin has to be injected maximum about 12-13 days prior egg extraction (depends on patient's response).
2. Range of Day 13 onwards (dependent on the maturity of follicles) - extraction; husband should be present to provide fresh sperm
3. Day 3 after extraction - embryo transfer
total cost of the treatment is RM10,000-RM11,000 (php158,000). embryo freezing cost is RM1000 (or php14400) for 2 years. if you use the embryo before 2 years, you will get a RM300 refund. frozen embryo transfer costs RM400+. best part is you can pay using credit card.
i also took consideration on airfare, accommodation and work arrangement. malaysia requires no visa. we already booked a flight to kuala lumpur for october. got it from cebu pacific zero fare for only php2500 two-way per person. i also contacted an apartment for rent that costs RM60 per day. the location is perfect, just across HLWE. im lucky that my company is flexible enough to accommodate my treatment schedule.
all in, it will costs around php250,000. since we don't have all of it in cash, credit card is our best option so we can have the treatment as soon as possible. in any case, we'll be able to pay all of it by december (all thanks to 13th pay, hahaha).
of course, we will continue trying to get pregnant. best scenario is to conceive before october. if we can't achieve it by then, IVF is, by all means... a go!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Cycle 5 Day 15: Ovulation Date Unknown
had my follicle monitoring today and we missed the big o. it says with corpus luteum on the left. so goodbye iui. will try again next cycle. the good news is that its probable that i ovulated day 14. still normal without meds! im only taking fertility blend.
next cycle we have to make sure that we will be able to time it correctly. but for now, we hope to get pregnant this month even if we didn't have iui.
baby dust to all of us!
next cycle we have to make sure that we will be able to time it correctly. but for now, we hope to get pregnant this month even if we didn't have iui.
baby dust to all of us!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Cycle 5 Day 12: Good News, Bad News
good news... i had my FM and consultation today and my dominant follicle is on the left ovary. wohoo! bad news... DF is too small and my endometrium is not ready as well. last cycle all was good at day 11. now it's day 12 and my DF 1.4cm x 1.3cm x 0.7cm (avg at, endometrium is hyperechoic proliferative phase with 1.1cm thickness. no cul de sac so its unlikely that i have ovulated. doc m said that with that kind of results, i wont be ovulation in the next 3 days. he recommended another FM on monday (day 15). so i guess im back to day 18 ovulation. sigh!
what's next? if my DF reaches average size 1.8cm and my endometrium is triple line by monday, we will pursue with iui within the same week (probably wednesday). if not, doc m said we have to try another cycle.
good news for P... doc m prescribe daily BD until iui. since P is not low on sperm count, it would be best to release the dead sperms now.
what's next? if my DF reaches average size 1.8cm and my endometrium is triple line by monday, we will pursue with iui within the same week (probably wednesday). if not, doc m said we have to try another cycle.
good news for P... doc m prescribe daily BD until iui. since P is not low on sperm count, it would be best to release the dead sperms now.
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