Day 20- IUI

Hi Guys,

We have had the insemination and now the waiting game begins. We find out on the third of January whether it was succesfull or not.

Here goes hoping.

Tash x

Day 18- NOW IUI

Hi All,

Just a quick update. We saw the fertility specialist on Thursday and unfortuenately there was no improvement. Just the one follicle that he could see. We have been transferred to an Inter-Uterine Insemination (IUI) cycle. The procedure is booked in for Monday at 9:30am. I did my last injection tonight at 9:30pm which was the ovulation "trigger" injection.

Love & Peace,
Tash xo

Day 14- IVF ICSI

Hi There,

We just saw the Fertility Specialist and at this stage we are able to continue FSH until Thursday. On Thursday the decision will be made as to whether we will do IVF (Egg Pick Up if there are enough follicles) or just Inter Uterine Insemination. Either way we have a chance of getting pregnant. IVF is just a much better chance for us approximately 40% VS 3% due to the Male Infertility Factor. The IVF costs a lot more and at this stage to go ahead would be relying on just the one follicle that is there at the moment. It's not the best news but at least we have a plan b now.

Still remaining positive!

Tash

Day 13- IVF ICSI

Hi All,

Just a quick update.
We saw our Fertility Specialist on Saturday and he put my dose of stimulator up to 175iu. I see him tomorrow morning and the decision will then be made as to whether we continue to Egg Pick Up or not. There was very little change to the size of the follicles on Saturday.

Tash :)

Day 8- IVF ICSI

Hi All,

Just saw my Fertility Specialist. Things aren't looking great. I have one leading follicle and no others that are anywhere near the threshold for pick up. He has put up my dose to 150iu and we will see him Saturday. It is very unlikely that we will go to Egg Pick Up on Monday. Praying that this extra dose helps bring some other follicles up. We need three to four more for the IVF to proceed sometime next week.

Trying to remain positive.

Tash

Day 6- IVF ICSI

Hi

Just left the doctors. Had a scan and there are follicles but none are showing alot of growth at the moment. This afternoon I will ring for the results of my blood test and we will see if we will up the dosage of FSH. Hoping for something a little more positive on Wednesday. The doctor has given me a prescription for anti histamean for the allergic reaction to the the blocker injections.

The doctor is going to get a second opinion on my Prolactin levels, at this stage no action is required.

Still remaining positive!

Tash :)

Results from phone conversation- Dose put up to 112.5iu.

Day 5- IVF ICSI

Hi There,

Just giving an update. FSH Gonal F injections are going well. Tonight at 9pm I did my first blocker injection which is called Orgalutran. Didn't have a good time with this one as the needle was blunt. Took five goes to get it in. It has left me with a big red welt and very itchy at the site of the injection. Hope this is temporary and not a bad side effect. I will mention it tomorrow morning to the Fertility Specialist when I see him. Hoping for good news in relation to my levels and hopefully the go ahead to continue the FSH to egg pick up.

I will put an update on here when we know what's happening.

Positive thinking!

Tash xo

Day 2- IVF ICSI

Hi Guys,

Nothing much to report today. Feeling a little unwell. It may have been something I ate though, my stomach is pretty sensitive. Injection number two was a breeze!

I really love this song at the moment. It's totally how I feel right now.



This is a link to my Bub Hub Profile.

Love, Peace & Positive Thinking,

Tash

Day 1- IVF ICSI

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to give an update. I left Uni the beggining of October. I have postponed studies for the time being as I want to concentrate on this journey we are on. I received news last week that my application to withdraw from Uni without academic penalty was approved. What a relief!

We were delayed from our initial IVF start date of the 21/11/2011 because of some timing issues with our Doctors schedule. Today was my first Gonal F (Stimulation) injection. I did it all by myself and was totally cool with it. Didn't hurt at all (I was very nervous though). I have a scan on Monday to see how things are going and hopefully we are not over stimulated and we can keep going. I'm starting to get excited now that we have started and I feel closer to our goal!


Trying to stay as stress-less as possible but I am me and me is someone who normally stews with issues of the heart.

I have had extra sleep the last few days and hope to be able to continue sleeping well.

My darling Mike is having a nasty time at work with lots of stress. I'm praying this will end for him so that he can have less on his mind as we go through this.

I have attached a video I made about a month ago to represent how we are feeling.

Love & Peace & Positive Thinking!

Tash

New plans!

Hello to the world out there!

Just thought I'd give an update on our situation.

As you all know I had Laproscopic surgery in February to try help some of my problems. After the surgery everything was going really well and I was have six week cycles, although not perfect it was the best my health had been in years. In July I had three positive pregnancy tests at about nine weeks from my last period. The doctors did a blood test and the next day I got a very heavy period and suffered a lot of discomfort. The blood test was negative. The mind can be the worst at times like these. We are curious beings and we try to work it out. Truth be told, I can't work it out! I'll never truly know what happened, I just have to accept that.

So we saw our brilliant Doctor again and he did a scan and my ovaries were pretty much back to square one. The doctors advice was that we needed to make a decision on what we wanted. Do we want a baby? If so, the answer as it always has been is IVF with ICSI. It was at that moment that I was reminded that my body is so unpredictable. The doctor knows what he's working with right now, what will my body be like it 2 years. Will my success rate diminish?? We made a decision. IVF starting at the end of November this year. I have left my job due to not being able to take time off for the IVF (but that's a whole story on its own), I am working on my weight- I aim to loose 15- 20 KJS, and we are saving, saving, saving.

The last few months has been stressful and heart wrenching once again, but I finally see a little hope. We have a plan and we are finally doing SOMETHING!

Not a day goes by were I don't think about the hand we have been dealt. It's times like these that I have to remind myself that our hand may be a lot less painful then other peoples. Bad things happen, but I guess the point I am trying to make is "It's what you do with these experiences and how they shape and change you that matters".

Talk again soon.
May Peace fill your lives.
Tash xo

P.S I thought I would leave you with an assignment I did for my visual communication subject. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my passion of photography. The story I aim to tell, is one of the importance of childhood. Take a look!

A New Journey- Finding Me.

Hi there,

I thought I'd share with the big WWW again.

I've got some exciting news. I got into my first preference to study Journalism. I am officiailly a student of The University of Queensland studying a Bachelor of Journalism. I start orientation on the 18'Th of July.

I feel so envigorated. Everytime I achieve something that I have put off (waiting for a baby) I feel like a little more of me is coming alive again. I have always said that one day we will beat infertility one way or another, but a part of me is realising now that I am already beating it. I'm making a conscious effort to keep enjoying life.

I have taken hope in the fact that there are people just like us out there. This video touched me. http://www.tearsandhope.com/emptyarms_video.html

Thats all for now.

Today I feel.... GRATEFUL for opportunity's others may not have the privelage to have.

Tash xo

Lets get organised!

Hi All,

I stumbled accross a wonderful wesbite http://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/. I am normally really organised, but the website inspired me to get a few extra things organised in my life.

I have attached some pictures of what I have been doing over the last week. I have created a Planner folder with sections for Budget, Calenders and Daily & Weekly Planners, Bills & Things to File, Shopping Lists & Meal Planning, To Do Lists & Events.

A huge shout out to Katrina from The Organised Housewife. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas. I finished every cupboard in my house this weekend.

Stay Smiling,
Tash

P.S
This weeks goals-

1. Finish reading my book which I started a couple of months ago.
2. Bake some cupcakes.
3. Have Thursday afternoon OFF! Just for me time.

New Thinking

Hi All,

Well I thought I would update my blog, seeing as I haven't for quite some time.

On the 25'th of February I had laproscopic surgery to address some of my health issues. I had a hystoctomy, DNC, dye test and ovarian drilling. Michael and I have joked that I went in for the "Works Burger". The operation went really well and after alot of stress waiting for the results of the pathology, we received the wonderful news that my lining was not cancerous (as this was a possibilty).

Before the operation I had been bleeding for 4 months continually, a couple of days after the operation and the bleeding stopped. Wahoo! :)

Our fertility doctor was able to see everything that was going on and get a better idea of what situation we were in. Most of what we had heard already was true. At this stage we have about a 40% chance of success with IVF.

It's amazing how you your focus can change, after receiving the news that I did not have any cancerous cells, I was just so grateful. I realised that I wanted to enjoy my life. Not hang around upset waiting for a baby. So I made a conscious decision to make plans for my/our future that didn't include a child.

I have applied for University to study Journalism, something I have been wanting to do for a while. I find out this Thursday whether I got into the university that I chose. I have also focused on working with my local Liberal National Party State Candidate on her campaign and become more involved in the Young Liberal National Movement. I enjoyed attending the Annual Gala Ball in April.

I am enjoying life, it doesn't mean I don't have moments where the reality of our infertility hits me like a bus, but I try to remind myself to be grateful about all the small things.

Today I am grateful for the clean air we breath in this beautiful country I call home.

Still hoping,
Tash