hi everyone,
had my scan yesterday at KKH, ahhh i think my medication is not strong enough... the puregon... hence, i hardly felt any bloating .... the scan only showed 5 follicles and they are small 4 to 11 mm only, ideal size would actually be 17 mm and above i read... so from 200iu i have been doing the last 7 days, my dosage has been increased to 300iu for 2 days... I am due back for a scan again on 5th of Jan....
I was thinking to myself, no way 2 days would make a difference... I was wrong !! After the first 300iu jab adminstered to me by nurse angeline , which i will add, is totally painless compared to how i feel when i jab myself, i got extreme sleepy.... by evening yesterday, i was feeling really bloated .... crampy and pulling sensation around my tummy area, all the symtoms i was suppose to have ... which i did not have of the past 7 days... minus the sleepyness of course. Nurse angeline, advised me to take chicken essence for good quality eggs, and somepeople take 2 bottles so just for reference, this is what I take now everymorning.
2 bottles of chicken essence
3 half boiled egg whites-- I hate yolks so i remove them... protein is all in the egg whites anyway ( I am going to increase it to 5 to 6 eggs) hehe forgot to buy more :P
2 GNC ultra women mega multivitamin
1 folic acid
1 packet of TCM powder medication ( note, i take this after my eggs and chicken essence as the medication has to be taken after food) I consider my egg whites food.
this is what i take, some ladies take Ensure milk too but for me, I am lactose intolerant so no milk for me... diarrhea... :(
cross my fingers and hope my scan goes well on 2nd of jan !! :)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
puregon day 1 !! it hurts but ....
Hi everyone,
did my puregon today, yup it stings, but bearable, after removing the needle, it stings. This stinging lasts only for a bit. After that, just reddish. For the record, I think I am getting unreasonable and moody. I get upset /happy/angry and annoyed over the slightest things... i think I am over reacting to everything..... ie, I get annoyed cause I do not like other people , other than people in my immidate family to drive me home, i laugh at something not thattt funny... you get the picture.... I am worried...
did my puregon today, yup it stings, but bearable, after removing the needle, it stings. This stinging lasts only for a bit. After that, just reddish. For the record, I think I am getting unreasonable and moody. I get upset /happy/angry and annoyed over the slightest things... i think I am over reacting to everything..... ie, I get annoyed cause I do not like other people , other than people in my immidate family to drive me home, i laugh at something not thattt funny... you get the picture.... I am worried...
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
for the record, what hubby had to go through.
I recall, we went for our very first appointment with Dr SF Loh sometime in April, he recommended my husband do a blood test to see his hormonal levels. Before this, he has been going for a quarterly injection of testosterone hormones as his pituitary gland has been permanently damage. I knew all these before we were married. But what came as a shock , was that he has no sperms all not... not a single one!
Docter Loh recommanded stopping the testerone, and going through 3 mths of injection pregnyl, which was to help hubby produce sperm. After which, another 3 mths of pregnyl( twice a week) together with puregon(3 times a week (( same thing I will be jabbing myself with in stage 2 with lucrin ) . Puregon is to mature the sperm. It worked and thus, I am able to start my IVF. Pregnyl was not too costly, but puregon cost quite a lot. Unlike a normal couple who pays $7-$15k for ivf depending on which hospital they go to, we have to pay an additional $6k + on top of the ivf for hubby's medication and the pain my poor hubby had to go through. The $3k grant by the government came as a nice surprise for us.
To my future children , you see how much money and pain mummy and daddy have to go through to have you ? If you are able to read this, remember to show how thankful you are that mummy and daddy had to go through so much to have you. Going through everything has also made mummy and daddy realise how much we will love you. :) *hugs*
Docter Loh recommanded stopping the testerone, and going through 3 mths of injection pregnyl, which was to help hubby produce sperm. After which, another 3 mths of pregnyl( twice a week) together with puregon(3 times a week (( same thing I will be jabbing myself with in stage 2 with lucrin ) . Puregon is to mature the sperm. It worked and thus, I am able to start my IVF. Pregnyl was not too costly, but puregon cost quite a lot. Unlike a normal couple who pays $7-$15k for ivf depending on which hospital they go to, we have to pay an additional $6k + on top of the ivf for hubby's medication and the pain my poor hubby had to go through. The $3k grant by the government came as a nice surprise for us.
To my future children , you see how much money and pain mummy and daddy have to go through to have you ? If you are able to read this, remember to show how thankful you are that mummy and daddy had to go through so much to have you. Going through everything has also made mummy and daddy realise how much we will love you. :) *hugs*
Monday, December 22, 2008
stage 2 and needles
hi everyone,
went for my appointment for a scan and blood test and kkh today. The doctor/nurse scanning told me, my lining was a little thick , but if the blood test turns out fine, no problems. I was hoping i would be able to proceed as planned. At 4pm, I gave kkh a call. Turns out my test were fine and I will be starting my puregon on 25 ! christmas! I am happy, but feeling a little frightened at the same time, you see, i have a huge phobia of needles and I did hear that unlike lucrin, puregon hurts somewhat..... crossing my fingers and hope i will be able to go through that.:P
went for my appointment for a scan and blood test and kkh today. The doctor/nurse scanning told me, my lining was a little thick , but if the blood test turns out fine, no problems. I was hoping i would be able to proceed as planned. At 4pm, I gave kkh a call. Turns out my test were fine and I will be starting my puregon on 25 ! christmas! I am happy, but feeling a little frightened at the same time, you see, i have a huge phobia of needles and I did hear that unlike lucrin, puregon hurts somewhat..... crossing my fingers and hope i will be able to go through that.:P
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Free Wine in a white mercedes SCAM!!
Yup,
I know this is not really related to IVF, but I feel that I have the duty to inform everyone about this scam! Yup it so happens that someone tried to scam me today! At, of all places, plaza singapura's car park.
This is what happened, I went to PS( plaza singapura) with my siblings to do our christmas shopping today. I parked on level 4A. On exiting the car, this young girl, about late teens to early 20s, came running to us telling us her sister wants to give free wine to us as she was very happy that she won the tender for shangri-la hotel. We were puzzled and were not really interested, she kept asking us to go to the car, which was only a couple of steps to where we were parked. So we thought no harm, so we walked over. I noticed the car was a C180 mercedes . I even got the number plate down for those of you who want it. This older lady, about late 20s to early 30s came out of the car, opened her boot and showed us the wine she used to win the tender and told us how much it cost and also the wine she was giving us sells for $400 at shang and other high end resturants, which by the way she prounounced wrongly. Please note that the wine that she was giving us was in a cannister, totally covered . The brand was not visible at all. She started going on about how she gave wine to a lady , who gave her a token of $100 per bottle and a man who gave a token of $50 per bottle. After which she told us she wanted to give us 6 bottles and we declined. She decided to give us 3 bottles. We thought ok. She handed us the bottles and asked us how much do we want to give her as a token. I thought $50 for 3 bottles is ok. She told me oh ok $50 each? I told my sister out loud, that I did not have cash with me and right away she told me, the lady did not have money too but her sister went with her to withdraw cash. Right then, we decided enough was enough. We passed her the wines and told her we were not interested and walked away. So everyone, please beware, their car plate is SFxxxxxx
I know this is not really related to IVF, but I feel that I have the duty to inform everyone about this scam! Yup it so happens that someone tried to scam me today! At, of all places, plaza singapura's car park.
This is what happened, I went to PS( plaza singapura) with my siblings to do our christmas shopping today. I parked on level 4A. On exiting the car, this young girl, about late teens to early 20s, came running to us telling us her sister wants to give free wine to us as she was very happy that she won the tender for shangri-la hotel. We were puzzled and were not really interested, she kept asking us to go to the car, which was only a couple of steps to where we were parked. So we thought no harm, so we walked over. I noticed the car was a C180 mercedes . I even got the number plate down for those of you who want it. This older lady, about late 20s to early 30s came out of the car, opened her boot and showed us the wine she used to win the tender and told us how much it cost and also the wine she was giving us sells for $400 at shang and other high end resturants, which by the way she prounounced wrongly. Please note that the wine that she was giving us was in a cannister, totally covered . The brand was not visible at all. She started going on about how she gave wine to a lady , who gave her a token of $100 per bottle and a man who gave a token of $50 per bottle. After which she told us she wanted to give us 6 bottles and we declined. She decided to give us 3 bottles. We thought ok. She handed us the bottles and asked us how much do we want to give her as a token. I thought $50 for 3 bottles is ok. She told me oh ok $50 each? I told my sister out loud, that I did not have cash with me and right away she told me, the lady did not have money too but her sister went with her to withdraw cash. Right then, we decided enough was enough. We passed her the wines and told her we were not interested and walked away. So everyone, please beware, their car plate is SFxxxxxx
Day 14 of Lucrin injections
Hi everyone,
It is day 14 of my lucrin injections today. So far so good, no major side effects, I just feel really really sleepy all the time. Injections do not really hurt, but the new medication my chinese doctor gives me tastes really unpleasant. Anyway, I am due for my first scan to see if my womb lining is thin enough . If it is, I can start Puregon on 26 december as planned. Well crossing my fingers... hope everything goes well.
It is day 14 of my lucrin injections today. So far so good, no major side effects, I just feel really really sleepy all the time. Injections do not really hurt, but the new medication my chinese doctor gives me tastes really unpleasant. Anyway, I am due for my first scan to see if my womb lining is thin enough . If it is, I can start Puregon on 26 december as planned. Well crossing my fingers... hope everything goes well.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Chinese meds and IVF
Hi everyone,
ok , I heard that TCM is actually very good for IVF, so i actually went to see a chinese doctor for the first time in my life. I first went to Ang Mo Kio to see Dr Zou, she was very very knowledgeable. But a little extreme. She took my pulse, and told me I had a weak pulse, and was too cooling , ie . if I was pregnant , I will not be able to hold my baby. She gave me a whole list of don'ts, not to drink cold drinks, not to eat cold foods and not to eat cooling foods. I have to admit, I did not and could not follow her instructions. I for one, love cold drinks and not drinking them is like wanting to take my life from me. But the thing that cause me not to return to her, was the thrice weekly accupuncture I had to go through. You see, I hate needles.
After that, I went to Dr Zhong Xi Min of Eu Yan San at paragon medical center. I have to admit, my first impression was skeptical . I did not know much about Chinese medicine and to me, she did not know what she was talking about. Both doctors told me the same thing, too cooling, but she only advised to cut cold drinks and foods during that time of the month. Which was good and her medicine taste less yucky. She costs a lot more though, but location wise, much more convenient . She is located at Paragon Medical Center. I preferred her less extreme methods and that fact that she said I do not have to go for acupuncture if I did not want to. Another know fact is that Dr Zhong and Dr Loh, my ivf doctor, frequently discuss the use of chinese medication to aid IVF. so with this knowledge, I thought she will be a better choice for me . After seeing her for 1 mth, I did muster the courage to go for my first acupuncture! I will talk about that in my next post! Needles!!
ok , I heard that TCM is actually very good for IVF, so i actually went to see a chinese doctor for the first time in my life. I first went to Ang Mo Kio to see Dr Zou, she was very very knowledgeable. But a little extreme. She took my pulse, and told me I had a weak pulse, and was too cooling , ie . if I was pregnant , I will not be able to hold my baby. She gave me a whole list of don'ts, not to drink cold drinks, not to eat cold foods and not to eat cooling foods. I have to admit, I did not and could not follow her instructions. I for one, love cold drinks and not drinking them is like wanting to take my life from me. But the thing that cause me not to return to her, was the thrice weekly accupuncture I had to go through. You see, I hate needles.
After that, I went to Dr Zhong Xi Min of Eu Yan San at paragon medical center. I have to admit, my first impression was skeptical . I did not know much about Chinese medicine and to me, she did not know what she was talking about. Both doctors told me the same thing, too cooling, but she only advised to cut cold drinks and foods during that time of the month. Which was good and her medicine taste less yucky. She costs a lot more though, but location wise, much more convenient . She is located at Paragon Medical Center. I preferred her less extreme methods and that fact that she said I do not have to go for acupuncture if I did not want to. Another know fact is that Dr Zhong and Dr Loh, my ivf doctor, frequently discuss the use of chinese medication to aid IVF. so with this knowledge, I thought she will be a better choice for me . After seeing her for 1 mth, I did muster the courage to go for my first acupuncture! I will talk about that in my next post! Needles!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Day 3 of Lucrin
On 7th of December, I started my Lucrin injections. I will be doing this till 22nd of December, if my lining is thin enough, I will be able to start the purogen while still injecting the Lucrin( yup instead of 1 jab a day, it will be 2 jabs a day) . Lucrin is used to suppress hormones. To thin the lining of the womb. Why? Because after this , puregon will be used to overstimulate the ovaries to produce more than 1 egg... For a woman, at ovulation every month, you get 1 egg waiting for ferilization. Sometimes 2 and that's how you end up with fraternal twins. This process is different, by over stimulating the egg production, you normally end up with more than 10 eggs. Some people end up with less, some end up with more... the most i ever heard, is more than 50 eggs!
For those of you reading, I really really hate injections. I could not imagine doing the jabs on myself, but i did it and it did not hurt! Thanks to all the wonderful people in the IVF support forum, they kept telling me it was not painful and advising me on the do and don'ts on IVF. Wonderful support , wonderful people. If anyone you need the address of this support forum, let me know. I will be glad to get the address to you.
For those of you reading, I really really hate injections. I could not imagine doing the jabs on myself, but i did it and it did not hurt! Thanks to all the wonderful people in the IVF support forum, they kept telling me it was not painful and advising me on the do and don'ts on IVF. Wonderful support , wonderful people. If anyone you need the address of this support forum, let me know. I will be glad to get the address to you.
Why do I have to go though IVF?
Some people out there must be wondering, you are so young, why do you have to go through IVF/ICSI?
My husband's pituitary gland, that helps him produce hormones such as testosterone and other hormones is permanently damaged. As a result, he does not produce sperm. So unlike a normal couple doing IVF/ICSI, I had to inject him for 6 long months with pregnyl and puregon every 2 to 3 times a week to try and produce sperm. We were lucky and manage to get sperm. Poor quality sperm but netherless sperm. Some couple have to wait up to 1 yr for this process to be successful some never get sperm, but for us, 6 mths. I was overjoyed when Dr SF Loh told us that we can start!
In case you are wondering, I knew that I had to do IVF/ICSI if I wanted a child, before I was married, so I knew what was coming. I just did not know about the 6 long mths of injections for him. Thank god the 6 mths were not in vain.
My husband's pituitary gland, that helps him produce hormones such as testosterone and other hormones is permanently damaged. As a result, he does not produce sperm. So unlike a normal couple doing IVF/ICSI, I had to inject him for 6 long months with pregnyl and puregon every 2 to 3 times a week to try and produce sperm. We were lucky and manage to get sperm. Poor quality sperm but netherless sperm. Some couple have to wait up to 1 yr for this process to be successful some never get sperm, but for us, 6 mths. I was overjoyed when Dr SF Loh told us that we can start!
In case you are wondering, I knew that I had to do IVF/ICSI if I wanted a child, before I was married, so I knew what was coming. I just did not know about the 6 long mths of injections for him. Thank god the 6 mths were not in vain.
What is ICSI/IVF ?
IVF In-Vitro Fertilisation and ICSI stands for Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection.
The difference between the two is that, IVF allows the eggs retrieved from the woman to be fertilizes with the sperm for the man out of the womb. For ICSI, an extra step is taken, instead of mixing the egg with the sperm in hope that the sperm will fertilize the egg, an additional step is taken. A micropipette is used to fertilize the egg with one sperm... meaning, a sperm will be placed into the center of the egg to try to fertilize it. Why? cause the sperm is not strong enough to swim into the egg to fertilize it.
The difference between the two is that, IVF allows the eggs retrieved from the woman to be fertilizes with the sperm for the man out of the womb. For ICSI, an extra step is taken, instead of mixing the egg with the sperm in hope that the sperm will fertilize the egg, an additional step is taken. A micropipette is used to fertilize the egg with one sperm... meaning, a sperm will be placed into the center of the egg to try to fertilize it. Why? cause the sperm is not strong enough to swim into the egg to fertilize it.
about myself
Hi everyone,
thanks for reading my blog...
Let me share more about myself. I am 26, married for 3 yrs... Yup I got married really young. I get that a lot. Trying to have a baby/ hopeful 2 babies through IVF/ICSI. I waited 6 long months to start this journey and this blog and finally decided to get down to blogging about my experience. I hope it will come in handy to those already doing IVF/ICSI and those thinking about doing it. For the rest of you out there just reading for fun, enjoy!
God Bless
Jasmine
thanks for reading my blog...
Let me share more about myself. I am 26, married for 3 yrs... Yup I got married really young. I get that a lot. Trying to have a baby/ hopeful 2 babies through IVF/ICSI. I waited 6 long months to start this journey and this blog and finally decided to get down to blogging about my experience. I hope it will come in handy to those already doing IVF/ICSI and those thinking about doing it. For the rest of you out there just reading for fun, enjoy!
God Bless
Jasmine
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