The Importance of Being Your Own Advocate
The Importance of Being Your Own Advocate
So here we go again, transfer #7.
This time it feels different though. I’m not sure how to explain it. Well for one, I changed doctors. Same clinic, but different doctor. My previous RE was great, honestly nothing to complain about other than our personalities not matching. He’s very conservative and as you can see, I’m not. I need to talk; I need to know everything and I need to feel like I know why and how we are tackling each step. My previous RE was very black and white. And while this can resonate with people, I need to hear all the details, all the gray area because let’s be honest, IVF is ALL gray area.
So, my new RE (Dr. Q) is fabulous. He’s funny, went through IVF himself and has twins!! He always answers my questions and is probably regretting giving me his email address because I’m always asking him things. And somehow he’s so eager to tell me the answer and teach my anything I don’t know. So just with that alone, I trust him so much! I feel so much more at ease and while I doubt he can do an embryo transfer any different or better than the next, he’s made this so much more calm for me this time around.
Another thing that I’ve done this time is be my own advocate! I decided to ask everything, and I mean everything! I knew it was time to change things up with my lining. Every other transfer my lining has barely reached a 7.8. Now, most doctors will tell you that anything between a 7 and an 8mm lining is great! But the problem is that in my case, my lining thins out when progesterone injections start 6 days prior to transfer. So much so that my previous RE said that he did notice how thin it was last transfer (great! I won’t even go there because what’s done is done). SO, at my first lining check this time my lining had actually reached an 8.1! Granted I’m on the highest dosage of estrogen I’ve ever been on, but still! Dr. Q, was ready to move forward. I totally understood why, however I knew I needed it to grow more. I wanted a 9 or a 10 so that if it did thin out again I would have some extra cushion. And guess what, he agreed and we waited another week! My lining got up to a 9.2 and I still had about 5 more days before progesterone began. Deep down in my gut I knew my lining at my last transfer needed to get thicker but I didn’t say anything. Obviously, we will never know why the transfer didn’t work but I figured I needed to voice my opinion this time. And I feel SO good about it!
So here I am. Few days before transfer. I’m still eating pineapple and drinking pomegranate juice. I’m still taking all my vitamins and minerals and taking it easy this week on my body. I’m trying to do everything that I know I can control. And whether that will have an impact on the actual transfer, I will never know. But all I can tell you is that my mind is at ease and I can feel it in my body too.
My advice is always follow your gut. It’s hard when you have SO many people trying to tell you what to do. I have my RE, two other second opinions I got because I’m neurotic, my acupuncturist, my endocrinologist, my husband and my Instagram family! It’s a lot to keep track of and a lot for my brain to handle, but at the end of the day I’ve learned to trust me! I’ve learned to read my body, my mood, my mental space and trust that I’ve done everything I can for myself. I’m proud how far I’ve come and if anything, if nothing else, I’m proud of who I’ve become.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.
