An Auspicious Round 3

Thursday, 9 June -

Day 1 of cycle. Called clinic and my Clomid and hCG were called in for me. I pick up Clomid at my local neighbourhood pharmacy (only $3 with insurance) and the hCG is sent via FedEx by Walgreens to my front door (also only $3 with my insurance).

Saturday-Wednesday, 11-15 June -

Taking Clomid 50 mg 1 x a day for days 3-7.

Saturday, 18 June -

US to check my follicles. Sadly, I only have 2, maybe 3 that have developed (previously I have had 4-6), but my RE still has hope. There is a spot of concern though - a fluid filled sac in the wall of my uterine muscle. It does not appear to be ominous, but it is peculiar as it was not there in the beginning, showed up in my diagnostic US, was gone for my HSG and round 2, and now has resurfaced. If this IUI does not take, then I will undergo a hysteroscopy and biopsy to find out what it is, but in the meantime, per my RE, I am not to worry about it. Since it is not of immediate concern, the IUI will continue as planned.

Monday, 20 June -

0700 My husband drops off his sample. I do not have much hope as I just had a dream that night that the clinic called us and told us not to bother coming in as his sample was too small.

1030 rolls around and there is no call, so I head into the city to the clinic.

1120 we are shown to our room and I am asked to undress from the waist down. I always like to wear tunics or dresses so I do not have to feel so naked. I take my capri leggings off and sit in the chair chatting with my husband. I do not want to hop up yet on exam table as I never know how long I will have to wait and I hate feeling like a patient.

1125 My doctor pops in just 5 minutes later and asks if I am ready. The nurse and doctor verify with us that the sperm sample is my husband's (what a nightmare it would be to be injected with someone else's sperm!). We confirm that it is. They then give us the good news that the sperm count today was over 10 million - our best count yet! Woo hoo!

1130 I get into position - lithotomy, stir ups, the whole lot (although my midwifery preceptor likes to call them footies - she says that is less threatening). So I am up in the footies preparing myself for a very long and uncomfortable ordeal as it has been before, but it was amazingly super quick this round. Speculum was inserted, sperm was drawn up into a syringe, catheter with syringe attached was inserted through the cervical os via US guidance and voilà!

1132 In under 2 minutes 10 million + sperm were injected into the top of my uterus. We were all surprised. There was no bending, turning and readjusting the catheter or filling up my bladder more. My RE said, "I am taking this as a good sign!" She said she did not know what was different except that my bladder was not as full, but it was quite a different experience and visit. An very auspicious round 3.

1145 After a 10 minute 'psychological' rest and paying our $300 IUI bill, we are out the door, arms around each other, both exceedingly happy.

I told myself before I went into round 3 that I was not going to get my hopes up. The previous 2 times I had such high hopes and was über stressed during the procedure and throughout the 2 week wait (maybe that is why the previous IUIs did not go very well!). Both times ended in a day or two of prone position depression and heaps of crying. This time I did not want it to be like that. I have read The Secret and do believe in positive thinking, but this time I did not want to have such high hopes that could be so disastrously dashed. So I have taken up a nonchalant attitude. I want it to happen, I hope it happens, I am thinking positively that it WILL happen for us eventually, but if it is does not happen this time, I am okay with that. Due to this attitude, I was happier and more relaxed at my visit and am now going to go on with my life for the next two weeks without the obsession and worry that consumed me for the previous 2 rounds. I am hoping things will be different this round, but it will not be the end of the world if they are not.

Now, I am off to spend the week with my husband doing renovations to our home in hope of having it all done very soon. All of these home projects will surely keep my mind active and occupied. My uterus and right ovary (where all my eggs were again - I do not think at this point that my left ovary is working at all) are a bit sore and crampy, but I am hoping that will dissipate later today. No time for bed rest though when there are so many projects still left to complete!