At 5:02 this evening, the nurse from CCRM called with my blood results. She said my estrogen was low and that they want me to double the dose of my daily injections from 75 IU to 150 IU. She then scheduled me to come in for another ultrasound and more blood work at 7:30 on Saturday morning.
Double the dose means double the price. So instead of these injections costing $51 per day, starting today they will be $102 a day.
I hung up the phone and my heart was pounding. I feel like the financial aspect of this stuff is rapidly getting out of control. But I didn't have too much time to freak out. Immediately, I got on the phone with the pharmacy and had to order 6 more vials of Bravelle to be overnighted tonight and delivered to me tomorrow. I only have 2 vials left and I will have to take them both tonight (in about 15 minutes). I was relieved to get through to the pharmacy since it was so late in the day and once we got everything straightened out, she gave me the total for the 6 vials of Bravelle I had just ordered. For 3 days of medication, just to get me through the weekend, it cost us $351.39. That brings today's total to $596.39. Five hundred ninety six dollars and thirty nine cents. Oh...my....goodness....this is crazy. Suffice it to say that I am officially stressed about the money now. I can't even fathom spending $102 a day on 1 medication, not to mention the ultrasounds and blood tests every other day. That also doesn't take into account that it's very likely that I will have to go on estrogen and progesterone in the next week or so and if my memory serves me, last year the progesterone was very expensive.
Wow. After 9 days in this process, we have spent a total of $1924.39. The amount of money that we've put into expanding our family over the last 4 years is staggeringly enormous. This time around is just raising that ceiling higher and higher. I just pray and hope with everything in me that it works this time, and that all of this money will not be wasted.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Mission Potty Training: Accomplished!
Wow, this has been a 3 post day! I guess there is just lots of exciting stuff going on around here, LOL. On day 3 of potty training, I'm happy to report that we have 100% success! Greg pooped on the potty today like a big boy and has not had any accidents! We had to step up our game by offering actual candy bars (the fun size, not full size) when M&Ms just wouldn't cut it. He needed BIG treats for poop on the potty and after having a bag of Milky Ways sit on the counter for a full day, he finally got to eat some today for his big accomplishment! I'm so proud of my boy! Now we can re-join the outside world and get back to our normal schedule. Being at home with no outside play or activity for 3 full days has almost driven me crazy! Time for some play dates, music class, birthday parties and fun with friends again! Way to go Greg! Pre-school this fall - here we come!
A Nice Surprise
Andrew texted me this morning and said he forgot some of his soccer equipment and that he'd be coming home for lunch. I replied "Yay! Looking forward to it!" Then, at 12:00 on the dot, he walked through the door with flowers and lunch from one of my favorite spots, Jimmy Johns!
I was so surprised! We got to sit down and have lunch together as a family and as I was putting my pretty flowers in a vase, I asked "What soccer stuff did you forget?" to which Andrew replied with a smile "Nothing."
What a great guy I have! It was such a nice surprise during this long week of Dr appointments and potty training Greg. Just had to blog - it made my day! I love you Andrew!
I was so surprised! We got to sit down and have lunch together as a family and as I was putting my pretty flowers in a vase, I asked "What soccer stuff did you forget?" to which Andrew replied with a smile "Nothing."
What a great guy I have! It was such a nice surprise during this long week of Dr appointments and potty training Greg. Just had to blog - it made my day! I love you Andrew!
Day 12 follicle check and blood work
I had my usual ultrasound and blood work done this morning and it's left me feeling a little frustrated. Things seem to be moving much slower than they did last year when we were doing our IUI cycles. My left ovary didn't have any significant growth in the follicles. My right ovary did show growth in the follicles, but not much. The follicles on my right ovary were 11 & 14 mm which means I'll probably be back at CCRM on Saturday morning for another check. Grr...all these ultrasounds are getting really expensive! The total for today's appointment: $245.
The minimum follicle size for them to give me the ok to trigger ovulation is 18 mm, but the nurse I saw today (Helen) said that they might want to get me to 19mm since they are growing so slow. I wonder why this time is so different than last time. The different drugs perhaps? I guess with the stronger, more aggressive medication I assumed things would go more quickly and expected significant progress with each ultrasound. I guess that's just not how it works though. I almost feel like these injections aren't doing anything. I can't help but second guess everything. Are we doing it right? Are we wasting too much of the medication as we try and get the air bubbles out of the syringe every night before Andrew gives me the shot? Are they working like they're supposed to? I haven't had any weird side effects like I did last time on the Chlomed, and I sure don't see any "Wow!" producing results at all these appointments. But what do I know? I'm not the doctor. I just hope this slow and steady progress gets us to the desired end result. The Dr will be reviewing my blood results and ultrasound from this morning and then a nurse will call me this afternoon with further instructions for drug dosage and when to make my next appointment.
So nothing exciting for today's update. Still the same old story as of now. Hope to get some good news soon though. Hopefully I'll get to trigger and inseminate early next week. Until then, I'll just hurry up and wait.
The minimum follicle size for them to give me the ok to trigger ovulation is 18 mm, but the nurse I saw today (Helen) said that they might want to get me to 19mm since they are growing so slow. I wonder why this time is so different than last time. The different drugs perhaps? I guess with the stronger, more aggressive medication I assumed things would go more quickly and expected significant progress with each ultrasound. I guess that's just not how it works though. I almost feel like these injections aren't doing anything. I can't help but second guess everything. Are we doing it right? Are we wasting too much of the medication as we try and get the air bubbles out of the syringe every night before Andrew gives me the shot? Are they working like they're supposed to? I haven't had any weird side effects like I did last time on the Chlomed, and I sure don't see any "Wow!" producing results at all these appointments. But what do I know? I'm not the doctor. I just hope this slow and steady progress gets us to the desired end result. The Dr will be reviewing my blood results and ultrasound from this morning and then a nurse will call me this afternoon with further instructions for drug dosage and when to make my next appointment.
So nothing exciting for today's update. Still the same old story as of now. Hope to get some good news soon though. Hopefully I'll get to trigger and inseminate early next week. Until then, I'll just hurry up and wait.
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