Well, the good news is I'm set to start on Lupron next week - which means the start of our first IVF cycle!
Let's hope it's the first and last. Not only for the glaringly obvious reason, but because of THE CLINIC! I know I've moaned about them before- poor Nurse Natalia's phone phobia has developed into a phone/fax and email one. Boy, she really needs to get help. How am I supposed to communicate with her? Smoke signals? Carrier Pigeon? Owl?
I think the problem is that the clinic is Russian owned and run, and so Nurse Nat can just about string a sentence together in English. I'm sure if I could converse in Russian, she's answer my questions fully. If I ask open questions, she's stuck (an example: "So Natalia do what happens when I next come into the clinic?" NN "Well, it depends". "Depends on what, NN? "I do bloods and ultrasound day 21. If ok, you start medication" "What medication, NN?" "Well, that depends...") See what I mean? I finally called the front desk and asked for a copy of the prescription to be faxed over, and called the insurance myself. Another thing NN didn't tell me was that the meds are all injectables (although I'd worked this out by reading other info online). So I call back, and...shock..NN picks up again! "Can I arrange my injectable lesson with you NN?" "No, I do not do lesson" " I thought you were my IVF coordinator?" "Yes, that is correct." Finally, I give in and call the front desk again, who tell me that a different nurse does the injectable lessons.
$15,000 they're charging me readers, and they really can't answer my questions.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Mikvah Misadventures
Well, I survived Yom Tov. I did cheat a little by either staying in (Simchas Torah is the hardest, watching all those fathers and sons dance together) or eating by people I was pretty sure wouldn't make hurtful comments.
My mood was quite stable, but then we had mikvah night! Most women who are IF dread this, it so depressing. You get home, are together with your husband (although you both know it won't result in a baby), and 2 weeks later you're niddah again. I wish I didn't have to go.
If the depression of going wasn't enough, the mikvah attendants can also add to your woes. I remember one who was highly pregnant, another one who was convinced I was someone else and asked me how the new baby was and another who cheerfully called me "one of her regulars".
This time I went to a mikvah slightly further away, hoping that it might be less stressful. When I got there, the attendant had forgotten I was coming, so all the rooms were taken and I had to wait (despite making an appointment). It was already late, so I called my husband to ask him if I should go to the other, bigger mikvah in town. I was a little agitated, but my husband said to wait.
I calmed down, and apologized to the attendant for being rude, and explained that we were having fertility issues, had been married for a while, and mikvah night was always stressful. A room then came free, and in I went. As I paid on the way out the attendant said she remembered me because I was married a few weeks before in the same hall as her son. She'd seen my wedding when meeting the manager. We chatted for a few minutes, asked me how things were. She then just knocked me over with here final comment: that she was happy but tired as her son (the one who was married after me) was staying for Yom Tov, together with his 3 little kids.
My mood was quite stable, but then we had mikvah night! Most women who are IF dread this, it so depressing. You get home, are together with your husband (although you both know it won't result in a baby), and 2 weeks later you're niddah again. I wish I didn't have to go.
If the depression of going wasn't enough, the mikvah attendants can also add to your woes. I remember one who was highly pregnant, another one who was convinced I was someone else and asked me how the new baby was and another who cheerfully called me "one of her regulars".
This time I went to a mikvah slightly further away, hoping that it might be less stressful. When I got there, the attendant had forgotten I was coming, so all the rooms were taken and I had to wait (despite making an appointment). It was already late, so I called my husband to ask him if I should go to the other, bigger mikvah in town. I was a little agitated, but my husband said to wait.
I calmed down, and apologized to the attendant for being rude, and explained that we were having fertility issues, had been married for a while, and mikvah night was always stressful. A room then came free, and in I went. As I paid on the way out the attendant said she remembered me because I was married a few weeks before in the same hall as her son. She'd seen my wedding when meeting the manager. We chatted for a few minutes, asked me how things were. She then just knocked me over with here final comment: that she was happy but tired as her son (the one who was married after me) was staying for Yom Tov, together with his 3 little kids.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Excuse me while I go insane
Ahhhhh, what is it with the IVF clinics we go to? Both were chosen by Rabbis (not me)and both SUCK.
I've had over 20 tests in their "pre-IVF" screening, and that's not enough for them. I have no more body fluids to offer, sorry!
Then we have our IVF nurse Natalia who seems to have an exteme phone phobia. I call and call, and until I leave a ever-so slightly shouty voice message, ol'Nat won't get back to me. I also requested that this be an IVF cycle, rather than IUI as its more successful. Our insurance only covers up to $30,000 for infertility, and the clinic charges $15,000 per cycle, if its IUI or IVF, so lets go with what works.
$15,000 a cycle and they can't even return my calls? I'm going to loose my mind.
I've had over 20 tests in their "pre-IVF" screening, and that's not enough for them. I have no more body fluids to offer, sorry!
Then we have our IVF nurse Natalia who seems to have an exteme phone phobia. I call and call, and until I leave a ever-so slightly shouty voice message, ol'Nat won't get back to me. I also requested that this be an IVF cycle, rather than IUI as its more successful. Our insurance only covers up to $30,000 for infertility, and the clinic charges $15,000 per cycle, if its IUI or IVF, so lets go with what works.
$15,000 a cycle and they can't even return my calls? I'm going to loose my mind.
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