I'm back at KKIVF for my first scan after starting on the injections. DH took leave and accompanied me just like every other appointments. As told, I brought along my remaining medication in a small cooler bag, with the small ice packs inside. (I'm not going to lug a "sweating" plastic bag and drip water all over.)
Today's ultrasound scan will tell how well I responded to the medication. And I anxiously waited for my turn, not knowing what result to expect. During my scan, the sonographer read out numbers to the assisting nurse, who will record them in my file. She measured the sizes of 20 follicles and obviously, I cannot remember all the numbers. However, I took note that the largest measurement was at 11.5 mm and there were 3 of follicles at this size.
After the scan, I waited to see the doctor on duty in either Room 3 or Room 4. The doctor said that it's hard to judge the growth rate of my follicles, because this is my first IVF cycle. This meant that I will have to make another trip here tomorrow for another scan. She gave me the prescription with the same dosage. When we went to the pharmacy to collect my injections, the pharmacist was nice enough to replace my "melting" ice pack with new frozen ones.
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Friday, 4 December 2015
IVF Fresh #1 Day 03
DH accompanied me to KKH this morning and we reached after 8 am. KKIVF was already crowded with patients. There's another 10+ patients before me, so we decided to go upstairs for breakfast. When we returned, the queue had moved quickly and it was almost my turn. While waiting, I watched the other patients stapling some papers to their queue numbers and leaving them in the white box outside Room 5. In my heart, I'm thinking "Did I forget some instruction mentioned during the pre-IVF briefing?" But I left my briefing folder at home! Indeed, I realised that I was suppose to write my NRIC on my queue number (for first visit) and leave it in that white box for the nurse to pick up before I go in for my scan. Anyway, my number was still called and the nurse didn't show any unhappiness that I didn't follow instruction.
After my baseline scan was done, we had to wait for reception to call for us (same queue number). Meanwhile, I was watching the patients and wondering which stage they are at. DH kept himself occupied playing game on his phone.
When we were called, the nurse gave us the Medisave forms to sign and handed over my prescription. We went upstairs to the pharmacy, collected my injections and headed back to KKIVF. This time, I had to take a different queue number and waited (again). Room 1 called, we went in and a nurse taught me with a demo on self-injection.Then, I had to do my first jab (300 IU Puregon) in front of her.
And we are finally done and can finally head home to rest! Next scan in 6 days' time.
By the way, the pharmacy put small ice packs in the plastic bag together with my injections to keep them chilled. (The injections have to be stored in the fridge.) On the way home, the plastic bag was "sweating". Now I understand why some other patients were carrying cooler bags.
My IVF timeline so far:
After my baseline scan was done, we had to wait for reception to call for us (same queue number). Meanwhile, I was watching the patients and wondering which stage they are at. DH kept himself occupied playing game on his phone.
When we were called, the nurse gave us the Medisave forms to sign and handed over my prescription. We went upstairs to the pharmacy, collected my injections and headed back to KKIVF. This time, I had to take a different queue number and waited (again). Room 1 called, we went in and a nurse taught me with a demo on self-injection.Then, I had to do my first jab (300 IU Puregon) in front of her.
And we are finally done and can finally head home to rest! Next scan in 6 days' time.
By the way, the pharmacy put small ice packs in the plastic bag together with my injections to keep them chilled. (The injections have to be stored in the fridge.) On the way home, the plastic bag was "sweating". Now I understand why some other patients were carrying cooler bags.
My IVF timeline so far:
| CD1 | Call KKIVF |
| CD3 / Stim Day 1 | Baseline scan. 300 IU Puregon jabs daily for 4 days |
| CD7 / Stim Day 5 | 300 IU Puregon & 0.25 mg orgalutran jabs daily for 2 days |
| CD9 | Visit KKIVF for scan |
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
IVF Fresh #1 Day 01
AF is finally here! I called KKIVF as I was told and I'm scheduled for my first scan on CD3. I could go for my scan on CD2 (tomorrow), but DH would prefer to take leave on Friday (CD3) instead, so that he can enjoy a long weekend. We're looking forward to Friday!
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Annual Leave Day One
Today is the start of my long leave from work. I'm taking 2 weeks of annual leave for the first half of the IVF cycle. From what I've read online, there's quite a few mornings that I would need to go for scans. Problem is, it's really quite hard to pinpoint the exact scan dates. I want to avoid the stress of having to take last minute leave and being asked by my colleagues why I am going on leave so frequently. Also, I imagine that it would already be quite stressful for me to jab myself every morning. As for the second half, my absence from work will be covered by about 2 weeks of HL from ER onwards.
My colleagues do not know the real reason behind my absence from work for the entire month of December (only my boss knows why). They had been told the partial truth that I am clearing my annual leave, which will get forfeited next year if I do not use them.
Right now, I'm just kind of moping around at home and wondering whether AF is going to show up right on schedule today.
My colleagues do not know the real reason behind my absence from work for the entire month of December (only my boss knows why). They had been told the partial truth that I am clearing my annual leave, which will get forfeited next year if I do not use them.
Right now, I'm just kind of moping around at home and wondering whether AF is going to show up right on schedule today.
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
IVF Briefing and Counselling
We went for our IVF briefing and counselling session today at KKIVF. It was such a long wait since our consultation with Dr Sadhana in September. We arrived early and had to wait quite awhile for the other couples to arrive. While waiting in the room, we were given a folder containing information and forms related to the IVF treatment. Once it's full attendance, the nurse begin to go through the PowerPoint slides to share with us about the IVF process. She mentioned that we are all going to be put through the short protocol. There are plenty of people writing blogs and sharing information in the forum about their TTC experiences (including IVF). Since I've been reading up online, I (kind of) knew what to expect already. I thought that the session was more of a briefing rather than counselling. I felt that there wasn't really any counselling involved at all. Before departing, we filled up and signed all the necessary forms. Next, it's waiting time again, till AF to show up in December.
Total cost for KKH IVF briefing and counselling session (including GST): $337.05
Total cost for KKH IVF briefing and counselling session (including GST): $337.05
Saturday, 19 September 2015
First Consultation with Dr Sadhana
Two rounds of IUI didn't work for us. Although Dr Chin had recommended trying IUI 3 times, I am quite convinced that the 3rd wouldn't work too.
And now we are at our last resort - IVF. We wait for about one month between my call to make the appointment and the actual appointment. Dr Sadhana is the IVF doctor of my close friend's sister, who became pregnant after her 2nd embryo transfer (1st frozen cycle). I brought along our reports and tests results from Dr Chin. Dr Sadhana had a quick look at them and passed them to her nurse to make a copy of each to keep in my patient file. We told her the treatments we had done so far and mentioned that Dr Chin recommended for us to visit the government hospital for IVF. After the consultation, both DH and I had to take some blood tests, which are mandatory before starting IVF treatment.
Today's bill:
I'm scheduled for IVF in December. Can't wait!
And now we are at our last resort - IVF. We wait for about one month between my call to make the appointment and the actual appointment. Dr Sadhana is the IVF doctor of my close friend's sister, who became pregnant after her 2nd embryo transfer (1st frozen cycle). I brought along our reports and tests results from Dr Chin. Dr Sadhana had a quick look at them and passed them to her nurse to make a copy of each to keep in my patient file. We told her the treatments we had done so far and mentioned that Dr Chin recommended for us to visit the government hospital for IVF. After the consultation, both DH and I had to take some blood tests, which are mandatory before starting IVF treatment.
Today's bill:
| Counsultation | $158 |
| Blood tests | $415 |
| TOTAL (including GST) | $613.11 |
I'm scheduled for IVF in December. Can't wait!
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
IUI #2
OPK showed two lines this morning! We quickly arranged to take leave from work and waited for Dr Chin's clinic to open at 9 am to give them a call. We couldn't do the IUI procedure tomorrow because the clinic is not open on Wednesdays. Thus, it was a mad rush this morning. Once I made the appointment, DH had to quickly produce his sample and we rushed down to Gleneagles to submit it to the lab by 10 am. However, the morning traffic wasn't good and the carpark was very full. We only managed to reach after 10 am. Typically, the lab would required 2 hours for the processing, but thankfully, the lab was willing to rush the sample for us. Dr Chin had to close her clinic early today and so we were told to go back at 12 pm.
When we return after lunch, Dr Chin did the same things like our IUI #1. This time, I have not ovulated yet and she could measure the follicle size, which was at 2.34 cm x 2.66 cm in my right ovary.
Today's bill:
When we return after lunch, Dr Chin did the same things like our IUI #1. This time, I have not ovulated yet and she could measure the follicle size, which was at 2.34 cm x 2.66 cm in my right ovary.
Today's bill:
| Lab work | $300 |
| Consultation | $90 |
| Ultrasound scan | $120 |
| IUI | $500 |
| Duphaston | $48 |
| Clomid (standby for IUI#3) | $10 |
| TOTAL (include GST) | $1142.76 |
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
IUI #1
Yesterday (CD12), two lines showed up on OPK. This is two days earlier than my previous cycles and it kind of caught us by surprise. Nevertheless, I called the clinic yesterday and we're scheduled for IUI procedure today!
In the morning, DH produced his troops at home and rushed them down to the lab immediately. Then, we went for lunch. While we were having lunch, DH's troops were being washed. As told, we came back to the clinic at 2 pm. Dr Chin did a scan to check on my uterus condition and mentioned that ovulation had already occured. She also measured my lining and said that it's of a good thickness. After that, her nurse brought me to a room next door and Dr Chin performed the IUI. Then, I was left alone in the room to continue lying down, until a nurse came in around 30 mins later. We paid our bills and we went home. Dr Chin prescribed Duphaston to be taken twice daily for 14 days. Although my doctor says that I can do whatever I want after the procedure, I only got the mood to go home and sleep.
Damages for today:
In the morning, DH produced his troops at home and rushed them down to the lab immediately. Then, we went for lunch. While we were having lunch, DH's troops were being washed. As told, we came back to the clinic at 2 pm. Dr Chin did a scan to check on my uterus condition and mentioned that ovulation had already occured. She also measured my lining and said that it's of a good thickness. After that, her nurse brought me to a room next door and Dr Chin performed the IUI. Then, I was left alone in the room to continue lying down, until a nurse came in around 30 mins later. We paid our bills and we went home. Dr Chin prescribed Duphaston to be taken twice daily for 14 days. Although my doctor says that I can do whatever I want after the procedure, I only got the mood to go home and sleep.
Damages for today:
| Lab work | $300 |
| Consultation | $90 |
| Ultrasound scan | $120 |
| IUI | $500 |
| Duphaston | $48 |
| Clomid (standby for IUI#2) | $10 |
| OPK (standby for IUI#2) | $35 |
| TOTAL (include GST) | $1180.21 |
Sunday, 21 June 2015
Preparing for IUI
Just few days back, my girlfriends were chatting in WhatsApp and one of them shared the happy news of her sister's successful IVF after several months of TCM. Her physician has a really good reputation in fertility treatment and had many success stories.
Dr Su Chun Lin (苏群淋)
Fu Nan Traditional Chinese Medical Centre
Blk 152 Bukit Batok Street 11
#01-266
Singapore 650152
Tel: 6896 1618
Dr Su shares the clinic with another TCM physician (whom many say is her husband). Since their charges are lower, their clinic is always super crowded. When I went there yesterday, she happens to be on leave, so I did my registration and left. Today, I called the clinic at their opening hour to take a queue number. The staff on the phone gave me a good estimate of the time to arrive at the clinic, so I didn't have to wait very long for my turn. Dr Su took my pulse and said that my body is fine. I just need to improve the quality and quantity of my blood. It came as a surprise to me that Dr Su doesn't do acupuncture, the other physician at the clinic does. I didn't want to re-queue and wait so long for the acupuncture, so I left with the medicine, which costed only $54 for 2 weeks' worth of medication.
It might be a little late to start TCM now (since my IUI is likely to be schedule in less than 2 weeks' time), but I guess it's still better than doing nothing at all.
Dr Su Chun Lin (苏群淋)
Fu Nan Traditional Chinese Medical Centre
Blk 152 Bukit Batok Street 11
#01-266
Singapore 650152
Tel: 6896 1618
Dr Su shares the clinic with another TCM physician (whom many say is her husband). Since their charges are lower, their clinic is always super crowded. When I went there yesterday, she happens to be on leave, so I did my registration and left. Today, I called the clinic at their opening hour to take a queue number. The staff on the phone gave me a good estimate of the time to arrive at the clinic, so I didn't have to wait very long for my turn. Dr Su took my pulse and said that my body is fine. I just need to improve the quality and quantity of my blood. It came as a surprise to me that Dr Su doesn't do acupuncture, the other physician at the clinic does. I didn't want to re-queue and wait so long for the acupuncture, so I left with the medicine, which costed only $54 for 2 weeks' worth of medication.
It might be a little late to start TCM now (since my IUI is likely to be schedule in less than 2 weeks' time), but I guess it's still better than doing nothing at all.
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
HSG Result
DH and I are back in Dr Chin's clinic to receive the result of my HSG test. The report says "The uterine cavity is normal. Both fallopian tubes are not dilated or obstructed." Okay, so I'm fine. So, why am I still having difficulty getting pregnant?
Dr Chin suggests that we try IUI. I'll still be put on Clomid and once I get a positive on OPK, I get an appointment on that day or the next day for the procedure.
Today's bill:
Dr Chin suggests that we try IUI. I'll still be put on Clomid and once I get a positive on OPK, I get an appointment on that day or the next day for the procedure.
Today's bill:
| Consultation | $90 |
| Ovulation kit (5 pieces x 2 boxes) | $70 |
| Clomid (5 tablets) | $10 |
| TOTAL (including GST) | $181.90 |
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