Plan Z

I adore IVF clinics. They always know how to make things so... effortless.

I have just wasted fifteen minutes here trying to describe my attempt to schedule a sonohystereoscopy today and finally deleted the whole thing. It was tedious to endure but it was going to be REALLY tedious to read. And I love you too much to put you through that.

Long story short: my brand-new cycle (Dear Experience, How long will it take to start my period after a D&C? Love Julia; Dear Julia, Five to eight weeks. Yes, eight. Stop bitching. Love, Experience) is failing to mesh with the uber-local RE's vacation schedule. The RE's office feels I should either start birth control pills in order to safely shoot dye into the nether workings on an otherwise incredibly risky DAY ELEVEN when she returns or I should wait until next month. Actually, they said, "Either you have to take the pill or you have to wait until next month." I hate that. I hate being told that I have to do anything by people who are merely providing a service. Tell me what you are willing to do for me, but do not tell me what I can do with that information.

Anyway, being the fucking creative genius I am, I suggested as an alternative to non-option A and crappy option B that a different RE from their office might perform the three minute test next week. After the clinic stopped reeling the doofus said she would call me back. It is now eight thirty pip emma and I just don't know if the scheduler is going to call tonight. Maybe our phone isn't working? Would you guys call me just to make sure the line is working?

I will deal with her tomorrow. Yes, I said that grimly.

The sonohystereoscopy is just to check for any scar tissue following the D&C. It is the last box I have to cross off before I can go back to the uber-close local RE and plan something else. If you must know (and I think you must) the plan I am pushing is to try an aggressive injectibles IUI cycle as soon as we can. The new RE was less enthused with this suggestion but I think I can mesmerize her with my pretty hair and indomitable pluck in the face of five hundred million miscarriages. 

"Whaaaa....???" The cognoscenti are asking themselves. Why on earth would we do that when we obviously have no problem conceiving? Well, because, that's why. Because it is completely free (insurance will cover it and the Family Von Hippogriff has already almost managed to meet our annual out-of-pocket limit so, yes, free free free) and we might as well see if we can get a couple of eggs to fertilize that way. It will be like trying again on our own (Steve's vote) but on speed (my vote.)

As for the Clinic of the Druids, if nothing good happens between now and then I will probably take them up on their mulligan offer in the Fall. Nothing like Washington in the autumn! Crisp leaves beneath my feet, the warmth of Indian summer still lingering, Gonal-F coursing through my veins.... ah! Splendid.

So that is the reproductive plan: 1) Have sex and perfect the grapefruit margarita recipe I have been working on; 2) Bully next-door-neighbor-IVF clinic into superovulatory cycle; 3) Repeat IVF with PGD if #s 1 and 2 prove as successful as my reproductive plans usually do.    

Hey, speaking of recipes, I worked my fingers to little bloody stubs and got the choco-cheesecakey wheel of goodness up. Also, this chicken soup recipe you really have to try. I mean it. You'll read it and think, eh, but it is DEE-lightful. And fast. And you can have all of the ingredients on hand in the freezer or pantry. That is my goal with the side recipes, by the way. I am trying to post things that you can make ahead of time or at the last minute with a minimum of fuss and, let's be honest, a minimum of typing. Seriously. Try. The. Soup. Don't make me bring out my hair.    

Comments

[ManhattanAnne]

Firsties!

I say go the imjectibles route. I was in fact offered this by one RE, despite the fact that all three of MY lost fetuses have been chromosomally normal... These guys are often expensive idiots and those of us with Google MD?PhDs in reproductive health really should be allowed to decide our own protocols after a certain point.

[ManhattanAnne]

Damn. Someday I will be first and have no typos.

[jenB]

dare i be so bold as to ask for the grapefruit marg recipe when you have it perfected?

and best of luck on this coming (hee) cycle. :-)

[Rachel]

Also people should try your lentil soup with andouille. Dear G-d, it was divine. I am thinking I may have to make some more.

Very very best to you on this upcoming cycle.

[Lisa V]

Screw the soup, post that grapefruit margarita recipe.

[Lisa V]

Screw the soup, post that grapefruit margarita recipe.

[Mollie]

I have experienced the hair, and yes, it is mighty.

[Nic]

Did you hear about the new show that NBC is putting out this fall? It's supposedly a medical drama set in a fertility clinic. Interesting....no?

[Cindy]

I am going to try the soup. will let you know.

[Jen (yup, another one)]

I like the speed plan meself! I hope tremendously that it is not necessary, but if you do need to visit the druids in the autumn, you are welcome to stay with us (DC, right on a metro line). :)

[T]

Clinics really should start "when patients talk back" classes for their employees. Why are they always so surprised? And why do they take forever to get back?

[e]

I would call you if I had your $%#^&%# PHONE NUMBER. I swear, I am going to have to resort to smoke signals.

[bec 35]

Hi there Julia! Thought I'd ask about this IUI plan...I'm not sure that I get it. Does this mean you're thinking that you'd end up with more than one embryo, increasing your chances that one of them is a keeper? But, with IUIs they usually try to keep the numbers in check to avoid high order multiples--do you think that they would break that rule for you? That would make sense, but that doesn't mean they would. I'm just trying to understand your logic, that's all.

And, if you do end up out this way again (for whatever reason) I'd love to try to make plans this time, though if it is *late* fall (November) I will, G-d willing, have me another newborn. But you can still bring Patrick over and play!

Oh, and I'm going to try your lentil soup some time this week...will let you know.

bec :D

[Judy]

I have guests arriving tomorrow, so I should be cleaning the guest room, but I think I'll run out to Shoprite instead to get the Chicken Soup ingredients - screw the pork chops I defrosted for dinner..

If you have multiples will you still have time to blog? Or will you have Patrick take over for you?

[Cindy]

Unbelievable soup!!!!!
Didn't have the last can of corn on hand but it still came out amazing. I swear it took like 15 minutes to make and my husband loved it.

this ones a keeper--thanks Julia!

Cindy

[Kel]

My gosh, yesterday's fully understandable and, yes, interesting biology lesson and today's skillful navigation of the idiots within the women's medical community. I think I love you.

Kel

[Dana]

I have a question I've been wanting to ask for a while and I hope you do not take offense:

I've read your blog for a while and maybe you have addressed this before but are you ever concerned about the number of D&C(s)/procedures you've had to have?

The reason I ask is more to do with weighing in on my current circumstance. I've had 2 miscarriages (which led to having a d&c both times), had a baby, adopted a son and now thinking about trying again. I'm 38 but sometimes even the thought of POSSIBLY having to go through the d&c procedure again makes me want to just abandon the idea altogether. It's not only the idea of surgery but also the fact that I'm concerned what all these interventions can lead to later - cancer is a big thought.

And please: don't think I'm assuming that you are taking these things lightly, I'm sure you are very concerned but I was just curious if along the way any of your doctors felt that you've had too many procedures, etc.

[lynn]

I did the soup this weekend. It was so easy and fantastic. I amended your recipe a little and added a bunch of curry and basmati rice to mine. I can't have coconut milk in a savory dish without reflexively dumping in the curry, and the rice gave it some more body, nudging it into the it's-almost-stew-so-let's-call-it-dinner category.

I eagerly await more recipes. More! More! More! Actually, can you send Steve, armed with recipes, over to arrange my barbecue two weekends from now? I went ahead and scheduled it without checking with him because I knew he'd say no, but if you shake your hair at him, I'm sure he'll get with the plan.

[halloweenlover]

Oooh, I am definitely trying the soup this weekend! Anything with coconut soup sounds good to me. Mmmmm.

I keep getting ready to post recipes and then the typing it all out makes me feel tired. You're my inspiration!

[Jennifer]

Hi Julia,

Just wanted to let you know I tried your soup last night and it was a hit! I think I will add more corn next time b/c that's my husband's favorite but otherwise we both really loved it. Thanks for sharing and I will keep checking back for more good ideas.

Good luck with the IUI cycle. I am trying my first injectible IUI next month and I can't wait b/c I feel like I will finally be making forward progress.

[KatBT]

Well that's good you've made a decision for plan z. I like plan z. I like the idea of the margaritas with plan z, and can't wait till you post the recipe so I can try them out before I'm pregnant again. (Which, according to experience, will be sometime in the next 3-4 weeks.)

I understand the IUI cycle logic, because of the speed and increasing the odds of conception. And hell, if it's free, that's all the better. I so hope it works and you won't be needing to deal with the druids again.

And can you Imagine, the playdoh reminded me that sperm and eggs both have 23 chromosomes? How did I get this far in my own genetics nightmare not to remember that? For some reason I thought that both eggs and sperm had the full 46 chromosomes, too? Guess I'm not going to win any nobel prize of translocations, either.

Good luck with this next round.

~kat

[Chi Zit]

At this point, I think I'll just cover myself in chocolate and go naked into the fray of the busy, bustling street. I'm bound to get lucky with a taste-testing.

Knowing my luck, I'll probably get some poor sot who prefers milk chocolate to my white chocolate. (This is all in jest. Really. I love my husband. And chocolate.)

And, we tried the soup. WE LOVED IT.

So, the question is:

Does Mt. Olympus know you're missing?

[Bella]

Sorry if I'm so slow, but the IUI plan is to get you pregnant with multiples and hope that at least one is normal and sticks around to term?

Cool thinking!

[Hanna]

tried the soup. yum! even w/reduced fat coconut milk. the lime & cilantro are key to really bring out the flavor. thanks for sharing it.

[Hanna]

tried the soup. yum! even w/reduced fat coconut milk. the lime & cilantro are key to really bring out the flavor. thanks for sharing it.