Medical update

After a stressful couple of days last week, I finally got to talk to our doctor one night close to 10pm. It turns out to be a case of misinformation by the clinic and mis-communication between the clinic, the doctor, and her offices.

The doctor says that at the level where the hCG is now, all that is left in my uterus are probably about 3 cells of retained tissue left - 3... bloody... cells! Anyway, I am to have blood tests done every week or two to see if/that the level is falling. I was warned that it might take some time, but unless the numbers start rising, I should be fine.

Thankfully the doctor was upset enough with the clinic to tell me to give them the flick for the time being, and sent me paperwork that I can take to any lab and have the bloods done there. I'm thankful for that, as I am a bit fed up with the clinic nurses at the moment, plus they are good twenty minutes away - waste of time when I could just go down the road to our local ACT Pathology.

So that's where we are. Could be a bit of a wait... Bugger. Oh well. On the positive side, my hubby's home! Enjoying just having him around, and definitely enjoying some time off without the kids too as he's been kind enough to let me have plenty of sleep-ins, and take the kids out a lot so that I can have some time to myself. I even had a girls' night out last weekend - something I have not experienced in years! Happy days...

By the way, if you have been trying to leave comments and were unable to, I think I may have fixed the problem. Not sure though - try it and if it doesn't work (and you have another means of contacting me), let me know.

Veronika

Slightly nervous now

Today's test: progesterone and estrogen still rising, hCG stagnating.

Instructions: Make an appointment with the doctor for this week, next week at the latest.

For what? Nothing was explained, and the doctor's phone number was engaged for an hour straight this afternoon. Kylie finally got through to them a few minutes before 5pm, by which time everyone obviously clocked off as she only got the answering machine.

Hoping for someone to call me early tomorrow, as I am a bit nervous about what's happening at the moment. The instructions sounded rather urgent - should I be worried?

Hmm...

Slightly confused

Had another couple of tests this week. On Wednesday, my hCG dropped to about 31 (from 47 nine days before), but my other hormone levels rose. I was asked to come in three times over the following week or so to check on the levels again, and under no circumstances get pregnant, as getting pregnant while hCG is still in your blood from a previous pregnancy often leads to endometrial cancer... Great!

Another test two days later revealed that ALL my levels rose, including the bloody hCG - to 34. And, it would appear from the other hormone levels that I have also just ovulated! So that's not confusing... I didn't think it was possible to ovulate when you still have elevated hCG, but here you go!

Have to go for another test on Monday, and then I guess on Wednesday or Thursday. I wouldn't be surprised if I had to have the D&C in the end. Bugger.

Anyway, will keep you posted.

Not very newsworthy news

Well it seems that my body still thinks that it's pregnant... According to the blood test that I had on Monday, six weeks after the miscarriage my hCG level is still at around 46. I have to go for another test next Wednesday, to see if the levels are dropping - I am assuming that if they aren't, something might have to be done, like, for example, the dreaded D&C. I certainly hope that it won't come to that!

Otherwise we are ready to give it another try as soon as my body catches up with what is happening - the paperwork is signed, and the cycle has been pre-paid.

To be continued...

Plans

A tentative plan is in place for Book 2 of this surrogacy story.

I received the legal paperwork from the clinic a couple of days ago. When all is signed, I have a blood test on the second day of my next period to see if my hCG level from the LT is back to normal, non-pregnant state.

We are doing another unmedicated FET cycle (frozen embryo transfer), which means that I have several blood tests beginning at day 8 of my period to check on my progesterone and estrogen levels to see when ovulation might happen, followed by one Ovidrel shot (essentially high level hCG injection which induces ovulation in 36 hours). Five days after that, transfer.

In other news, I have submitted my last MTeach assignment, obtained an interim casual number, and had two days of relief teaching last week. Also, I made it to the last round of DFAT grad recruitment program, and I have my interview on 28 July - provided I fill in the 50-page security clearance form, and manage to find paper evidence of just about everything that happened in my life in the last 10 years... Also have an approximate date of Damien's return home, 24 or 25 July - still haven't heard about postings, maybe next week. So all up, yay!

If you haven't had a miscarriage...

you might want to read this. This was my first, it was utterly shocking and rather frightening. When the doctor said that I can expect some heavy cramps and heavy bleeding, I didn't realise that what she really meant to say was that I can expect labour-like contractions and 'turn-the-tap-on' sort of bleeding... All I could do was stand in the shower in awe, and try not to worry too much when the scene quickly started to remind me of Psycho (minus the guy and the knife). Don't have to do that again. Ever.

But at least now this bit is truly over, and the book can be closed. Previews of the sequel in the coming months.

Final chapter of Book 1

Over the last few days I have been getting more and more anxious about the real possibility of a D&C on Friday, but it appears that I managed to talk my body into cooperating, and Little Traveler's last journey is going to happen the way Mother Nature intended...

Thank you all for your encouragement, support, and kind words over the last couple of months.

Watch this space.