I stopped by Bauder's today to pick up my "supply". I picked up my Lupron, Vivelle patches, progesterone, a couple different antibiotic pills, and a muscle relaxer for THE day. I managed to shell out a little over $350.00 for my "supply". I seriously felt like an addict when I left as I had two bags full of medications, alcohol pads, and two big bundles of two different sizes of syringes! Today was by far the most I've carried out of that place!!! I did struggle a little bit to hold onto everything and open the door to leave as of course I had a malt in one hand... I had to buy a malt on my way out!
Last week I received an awesome letter from Wellmark Blue Cross stating that Bauder Pharmacy would no longer be a preferred vendor for home infusion therapy. The letter stated that I had received medications from this vendor in the past 6 months. The really awesome letter unfortunately did not state what medications I may have received that would fall under their category of home infusion therapy. They did however conveniently offer two other pharmacies to utilize instead: HyVee and CVS. Well thanks Wellmark, but neither one of those two pharmacies provide any fertility drug services. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to give Wellmark a call to get a better understanding of the letter. I looked online at their information booklet that described what their definition of home infusion therapy was and I was still confused. Their broad information booklet really didn't help me decipher if the medications I need would be covered at all or even if the medications I need would fall under home infusion therapy.
Anyways, as I said I called Wellmark to get a better understanding, but their customer service representative didn't have a clue what home infusion therapy was nor did she know if any of the medications on my claims would fall under that category. So...not....helpful....that the letter didn't explain what specific medications they wouldn't be covering starting 1/1/2013. The lady on the phone didn't have a clue, but mentioned that just because Bauder's wouldn't be a preferred vendor I could use another pharmacy to get the medications. I mentioned to the customer service representative that there was no other pharmacy that currently sells fertility drugs in the greater state of Iowa... Thanks.
As I was not satisfied with my answer from the customer service representative, I decided to ask the pharmacists at Bauder's as I can't be the only patient at Mid-Iowa Fertility to have Wellmark as an insurance provider. General consensus from talking to the pharmacists and my experience with the customer service representative, Wellmark doesn't have a flippen clue what they're doing. They're being wishy washy about the services - home infusion therapy and which medications fall under that requirement. All of this wishy washyness is tied into this past spring when Bauder's was under investigation by the State for prescription pain killers. Long story short this girl is not pleased... and I will be checking into this situation a little bit more on my end with Wellmark (again) and I want to get in contact with the financial gal at the clinic.
I'll start my first shot of Lupron on Saturday evening! This will bring back memories of our last try and the first shot I had to psych up for was during the Olympics when the women's gymnastics team won gold!
Till next time!
ALJ
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Calendar and a Plan
I received our FET (frozen embryo transfer) calendar from Nicole this week! I can't believe that we're almost into December - where has this year gone?! From the looks of the calendar, our FET will be on Thursday, January 10th.
For the time being, my daily routine consists of taking a prenatal multi-vitamin, an extra vitamin D pill, a birth control pill, and a baby aspirin. Sunday I will start taking Metronidazole (antibiotic) twice a day. So for now I'm just a pill popper until I start the Lupron injections.
I managed to get my buns to the gym twice this week... I consider this a pretty big accomplishment! I went on Monday and today. I strolled out of bed by 4:00ish am to get ready to head to town by 4:30 - 4:45 ish. I'm starting out slow by just doing a little walking on the treadmill. Think I'll stick to this routine for a little while until I can work up to doing something else! Both times I walked, my legs felt like jello when I stepped of the treadmill to get ready for work!
I am looking forward to the holiday's and attending more women's basketball games as I know this will keep me busy! I also have a really busy next week at work!
Until next time, I'll be poppin' pills... what will you be doing? :)
Love you,
ALJ
For the time being, my daily routine consists of taking a prenatal multi-vitamin, an extra vitamin D pill, a birth control pill, and a baby aspirin. Sunday I will start taking Metronidazole (antibiotic) twice a day. So for now I'm just a pill popper until I start the Lupron injections.
I managed to get my buns to the gym twice this week... I consider this a pretty big accomplishment! I went on Monday and today. I strolled out of bed by 4:00ish am to get ready to head to town by 4:30 - 4:45 ish. I'm starting out slow by just doing a little walking on the treadmill. Think I'll stick to this routine for a little while until I can work up to doing something else! Both times I walked, my legs felt like jello when I stepped of the treadmill to get ready for work!
I am looking forward to the holiday's and attending more women's basketball games as I know this will keep me busy! I also have a really busy next week at work!
Until next time, I'll be poppin' pills... what will you be doing? :)
Love you,
ALJ
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Third Times a Charm
Hello all,
Saturday officially started our third times a charm attempt. I'll have to contact Nicole at the clinic for our official calendar. As always I am looking forward to getting my calendar. I feel so much better when I have a plan of attack and know what is coming ahead.
I was having an internal battle with myself... My heart wanted to kick start this cycle with the progesterone pills and get things going, but something inside me said to just have patience and wait. I think I finally have an understanding of the patience thing... I'm ready to just let things flow and happen as they will. I am sure part of feeling this way is because I've been through just about everything once before, but I also am ready to just slow down and let things happen.
I am also having another battle with myself... I am at an all time high in the weight category! The past year has taken a mighty toll on my weight! I have been slightly less motivated to move in general... whether that be to go outside and pull the weeds in the flower beds, get things done around the house, and go out to do errands. I signed up for a membership to use the gym at work. The monthly rates are really cheap compared to most gyms around the DSM area. The facilities are nice and I am planning on using the gym before work. I think that the gym will be fairly less occupied that early in the morning and I'll look less like a fool as I get started! This girl is out of shape - yikes!
Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful thanksgiving with your families! I am very very thankful for the friends and family who have supported and those that continue to support us on our journey.
Love,
ALJ
Saturday officially started our third times a charm attempt. I'll have to contact Nicole at the clinic for our official calendar. As always I am looking forward to getting my calendar. I feel so much better when I have a plan of attack and know what is coming ahead.
I was having an internal battle with myself... My heart wanted to kick start this cycle with the progesterone pills and get things going, but something inside me said to just have patience and wait. I think I finally have an understanding of the patience thing... I'm ready to just let things flow and happen as they will. I am sure part of feeling this way is because I've been through just about everything once before, but I also am ready to just slow down and let things happen.
I am also having another battle with myself... I am at an all time high in the weight category! The past year has taken a mighty toll on my weight! I have been slightly less motivated to move in general... whether that be to go outside and pull the weeds in the flower beds, get things done around the house, and go out to do errands. I signed up for a membership to use the gym at work. The monthly rates are really cheap compared to most gyms around the DSM area. The facilities are nice and I am planning on using the gym before work. I think that the gym will be fairly less occupied that early in the morning and I'll look less like a fool as I get started! This girl is out of shape - yikes!
Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful thanksgiving with your families! I am very very thankful for the friends and family who have supported and those that continue to support us on our journey.
Love,
ALJ
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Three steps forward... one HUGE step backwards.
I'm not even sure where to start... but I guess I'll give 'er a shot by starting where I left you all in my last post. At our second ultrasound 10/15 @ 11:40, the nurse didn't have good news. Baby J didn't show any growth nor show signs of a beating heart. While we knew that the doctor was concerned about the previous ultrasound and the low heart beat, we still had hope for the best. October 15th... the day that the nurse told C & I that our Baby J was gone... at approximately 7 weeks old. October 15th... is also the official date of Pregnancy and Infancy Loss Remembrance Day.
I had no signs or symptoms of a miscarriage at all... Dr. Young gave us the option to wait for a natural miscarriage or go forward with a D&C (Dilation & Curettage). After hearing the news from the nurse and discussing things with Dr. Young, I knew that I couldn't go back to work. I came home and that afternoon C and I took a ride in the truck with piglet (aka Max) and talked about our options. I called Dr. Young on Tuesday morning to let him know that I had decided to go ahead with the D&C procedure. For my own mental stability and emotional state, I knew that I couldn't sit around and wonder when things would naturally take their toll. Wednesday afternoon I was scheduled for my surgery. Things went as well as they could for that situation and I didn't experience much pain from the procedure.
Almost 4 weeks have passed and every day has been a challenge. I feel like I've been through all 5 stages of grief... and some days I pass through all of them... and other days I revert back to the beginning. One of the hardest things to do is to wake up every day and go into work, be out in public places, etc. and pretend that everything is okay. I think the biggest thing at the moment that has me hung up, is trying how to physically remember our Baby J.
Last Monday 11/5, C & I met with Dr. Young for a follow up / a where to go from here appointment. We still have 3 frozen embryos and 5 frozen eggs to work with. Next step is to wait for my cycle to start. After that will be the same thing as last time: birth control pills, Lupron shots, estrogen patches, progesterone shots and then the frozen transfer. Looks like the transfer will be around the first of the year if not shortly after that if things go well.
I for one am hoping for 3rd times a charm... guess we'll see...
Uuntil next time,
ALJ
I had no signs or symptoms of a miscarriage at all... Dr. Young gave us the option to wait for a natural miscarriage or go forward with a D&C (Dilation & Curettage). After hearing the news from the nurse and discussing things with Dr. Young, I knew that I couldn't go back to work. I came home and that afternoon C and I took a ride in the truck with piglet (aka Max) and talked about our options. I called Dr. Young on Tuesday morning to let him know that I had decided to go ahead with the D&C procedure. For my own mental stability and emotional state, I knew that I couldn't sit around and wonder when things would naturally take their toll. Wednesday afternoon I was scheduled for my surgery. Things went as well as they could for that situation and I didn't experience much pain from the procedure.
Almost 4 weeks have passed and every day has been a challenge. I feel like I've been through all 5 stages of grief... and some days I pass through all of them... and other days I revert back to the beginning. One of the hardest things to do is to wake up every day and go into work, be out in public places, etc. and pretend that everything is okay. I think the biggest thing at the moment that has me hung up, is trying how to physically remember our Baby J.
Last Monday 11/5, C & I met with Dr. Young for a follow up / a where to go from here appointment. We still have 3 frozen embryos and 5 frozen eggs to work with. Next step is to wait for my cycle to start. After that will be the same thing as last time: birth control pills, Lupron shots, estrogen patches, progesterone shots and then the frozen transfer. Looks like the transfer will be around the first of the year if not shortly after that if things go well.
I for one am hoping for 3rd times a charm... guess we'll see...
Uuntil next time,
ALJ
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Baby J!
 |
| 6 weeks 1 day (plus or minus 4 days) - Showing how BIG baby J is... |
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| Showing the heart rate @ 53 beats per minute |
Corey and I took a little trip to Canada this past week. This vacation away from work and home was much needed for the both of us! We averaged at least two, if not over two naps per day. Pretty much a relaxing and stress free week. The fishing and weather were not the best, but we still were able to enjoy our time away!
Excited for tomorrow...tomorrow's appointment... not really my return to work !
ALJ
Saturday, September 22, 2012
BFP!
BFP! BFP! BIG FAT POSITIVE!!!
I had my initial blood draw on Tuesday. I told the nurse that drew my blood to not have anyone contact me until after 4pm Tuesday afternoon. I had an all day teleconference, and a meeting at the plant from 2:45 - 3:45. I knew that either way the results were going to cause me to be an emotional wreck and I didn't want to show any emotions at work! By 3:45 as the meeting was ending I was nervous as ever! I was nervous all day long, but I knew that I'd get the results soon! I left work as soon as I could hoping that I would be home before the clinic called as I didn't really want to be driving to hear the news.
I got home a little after 4 and tried to watch Ellen to keep me entertained until I got the call. At 4:45, I couldn't take the wait any longer! I called the clinic, of course none of the nurses answered, so I left a message for SOMEONE to call me back - btw the clinic closes at 5. At 4:50 I called my nurse Nicole and left her a message hoping she would call be back! Finally, at 4:55 I received a call from Dr. Young. He told me that my hCG level was in the 200's and I was indeed pregnant. Yessssssssssssssssssss!!! I was seriously ready to check myself into the ER for heart palpitations.... what was the doc thinking to wait until 4:55!
Thursday I went to the clinic for a follow up blood draw. Again, I received a phone call from Dr. Young. He said that my hCG level had doubled to 470ish range. This is a normal increase and everything looks good on paper! I was told to set up and ultrasound two weeks from Thursday. So, I now have an ultrasound on Oct. 4th - I can't wait!
Corey & I are beyond excited with the recent news! Obviously you've been included in our journey and exciting news if you've received my calls, texts, or have read this blog! We are happy to share the news with some really close family members and friends, but we are not quite ready to go out and scream the news to the world! When things get a little further along and a couple months from now we'll be ready to start telling more and more people - we just want things to continue to go well!
Next update around or after the ultrasound on the 4th!
Love much
Corey, Amber, Max & Baby J(s)
I had my initial blood draw on Tuesday. I told the nurse that drew my blood to not have anyone contact me until after 4pm Tuesday afternoon. I had an all day teleconference, and a meeting at the plant from 2:45 - 3:45. I knew that either way the results were going to cause me to be an emotional wreck and I didn't want to show any emotions at work! By 3:45 as the meeting was ending I was nervous as ever! I was nervous all day long, but I knew that I'd get the results soon! I left work as soon as I could hoping that I would be home before the clinic called as I didn't really want to be driving to hear the news.
I got home a little after 4 and tried to watch Ellen to keep me entertained until I got the call. At 4:45, I couldn't take the wait any longer! I called the clinic, of course none of the nurses answered, so I left a message for SOMEONE to call me back - btw the clinic closes at 5. At 4:50 I called my nurse Nicole and left her a message hoping she would call be back! Finally, at 4:55 I received a call from Dr. Young. He told me that my hCG level was in the 200's and I was indeed pregnant. Yessssssssssssssssssss!!! I was seriously ready to check myself into the ER for heart palpitations.... what was the doc thinking to wait until 4:55!
Thursday I went to the clinic for a follow up blood draw. Again, I received a phone call from Dr. Young. He said that my hCG level had doubled to 470ish range. This is a normal increase and everything looks good on paper! I was told to set up and ultrasound two weeks from Thursday. So, I now have an ultrasound on Oct. 4th - I can't wait!
Corey & I are beyond excited with the recent news! Obviously you've been included in our journey and exciting news if you've received my calls, texts, or have read this blog! We are happy to share the news with some really close family members and friends, but we are not quite ready to go out and scream the news to the world! When things get a little further along and a couple months from now we'll be ready to start telling more and more people - we just want things to continue to go well!
Next update around or after the ultrasound on the 4th!
Love much
Corey, Amber, Max & Baby J(s)
Friday, September 7, 2012
Transferred Twice!
There is a double meaning in this post! We officially completed our 2nd embryo transfer - the frozen embryo transfer on Thursday. We also transferred two embryos. Everything seemed to go pretty well and we were in and out of the clinic in a little under an hour. We still have three frozen embryos in case things don't work out.
I scheduled my blood test for the 18th - 12 days after the transfer. I could do a home test, but similar to the first attempt, I don't believe I can bring myself to do so. Here's to hoping that this next week at work flies, the weekend will bring a fun tailgate with friends at the ISU vs. Western Illinois football game, and then two more working days before I can find out how things went this time! I know that work will be easier to go back to and next week will be better as one of my bosses called me the morning before the transfer tell tell me that they finally approved my much needed raise. I am not sure when the raise will take into effect, but again this will make going to work a whole heck of a lot easier and give me motivation to keep up the good work!
I have been lounging around the last two days, per doctor's orders... so, I am looking forward to being a little more mobile tomorrow! Hoping that I can get somewhere to watch the "big" game - GO STATE!
Here's to enjoying the next 11 days and here's to hopefully hearing some good news!
Until next time,
ALJ
I scheduled my blood test for the 18th - 12 days after the transfer. I could do a home test, but similar to the first attempt, I don't believe I can bring myself to do so. Here's to hoping that this next week at work flies, the weekend will bring a fun tailgate with friends at the ISU vs. Western Illinois football game, and then two more working days before I can find out how things went this time! I know that work will be easier to go back to and next week will be better as one of my bosses called me the morning before the transfer tell tell me that they finally approved my much needed raise. I am not sure when the raise will take into effect, but again this will make going to work a whole heck of a lot easier and give me motivation to keep up the good work!
I have been lounging around the last two days, per doctor's orders... so, I am looking forward to being a little more mobile tomorrow! Hoping that I can get somewhere to watch the "big" game - GO STATE!
Lil' Piglet - aka Max - snoozing with me while I "lounged"
Here's to enjoying the next 11 days and here's to hopefully hearing some good news!
Until next time,
ALJ
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