Two Peas in a Pod

The appointment went well today.  Both babies are measuring right on track.  Baby A was measuring exactly 8 weeks with a heart rate of 175.  Baby B was measuring 7w6d with a heart rate of 161.  Everything looks great and we are so thankful!  They've grown quite a bit in 2 weeks although Taylor still thinks they look like "blobs".  We have another u/s on August 8th and if all is well, we will graduate from the RE office and be under the care of an OB/GYN.


More good news?  No more PIO shots!  Although I still have to do the Endometrin vaginal suppositories for another 2 weeks.  I haven't mentioned those on this blog yet and they're about as fun as they sound.  But at least they don't involve a long needle.

So far, so good.  We aren't taking one single day of this for granted.  

PIO #38

Since June 3rd there's been a needle on my agenda every day.  I'm not sure what I'll do to celebrate but I will be so glad to be done with these in particular.  Brandon has been giving me these shots every night for the past 38 nights.  Admittedly, they aren't nearly as bad as I made them out to be in my head - there have really only been 2 nights I wanted to hurt him.  But it's not like I look forward to them or anything.  My bum could use a break.



And here is my 7 week picture.  Looks like 7 weeks, huh?  I have been assured that all of this will go away but I'm becoming skeptical.  I've been watching my weight pretty closely and although I don't feel "normal", and some days are better than others, I don't feel anything like I did before.  So at least things aren't getting worse for the moment.  I guess I just have to wait it out.

I have another u/s on Monday so I'll be sure to update.  Hopefully both babies are still holding on!!

Heartbeats!

We had a bit of a scare last night/this morning.  I started spotting and then bleeding.  I called the doctor this morning and they told me to come in.  Turns out everything is fine and bleeding is quite common during a twin pregnancy.  Wish I would have known this.  They checked on the babies and it was amazing the difference just a few days makes.  They were able to clearly see both heartbeats.  Made my week.  I'll still go back on the 25th but for now, everyone is doing great!

Double Occupancy

Had another appointment this morning.  Ovaries are still big.  As a matter of fact, they're touching on the inside.  Bet you didn't know they could do that!  Fluid is still down.  He couldn't guarantee anything but it looks like I'm over the worst with the OHSS.  It makes me nervous even typing that.

The big news of the morning?  He saw TWO sacs today.  It's still too early for heartbeats but there are definitely two babies in there right now.  Although we knew it was a possibility, it's still shocking.  We have another u/s in 2 weeks to hopefully hear some beautifully strong heartbeats.  I feel like I've been at the doctor so much lately that 2 weeks seems like an eternity!

The only bummer is that he wants me to continue the PIO for at least another 2 weeks.  I was looking forward to being done with those but it's a small price to pay.

Here are our BABIES!

Update

I went back to the doctor yesterday.  They did an u/s and although there is still fluid in my abdomen, it is significantly less than before.  My ovaries are much smaller as well.  I'm still not completely clear but it's a good sign the OHSS is on the way out.

While she was measuring my ovaries and checking for the fluid I thought she might as well have a look around to see what she could see.  She didn't want to do it since it's still so early but I think they all feel a bit sorry for me so she obliged.  She definitely found one sac!  She said the fluid creates a glare on the picture which makes things very hard to see but she definitely found one.  We should be able to see more next week.

The swelling and seeping situation was better for a few hours yesterday morning but it all returned by the afternoon.  Even though it's super annoying, it's much better than dealing with the pain of OHSS.  There's always a silver lining, right?

I had my last beta and progesterone check yesterday and the numbers look great.  My progesterone levels are pretty high so there's a possibility I might be able to stop the PIO shots after I see my doctor on Monday (finally back from vacation).  I won't get my hopes up but that would be awesome.  Tonight will be my 26th consecutive PIO injection.  I'm just a little bruised but hey - it's all worth it!

OHSS = Pain in my *%^#$

This is going to be long.  If you don't have time or don't want to read the long version, here is the gist of the story.  If there's some rare or odd complication that could happen, it's probably going to happen to me.  The End.

First, here are the pictures I promised a week ago.  The first one is Taylor back from January of 2003.  Second one is the new baby.  Just slightly different, eh?

I haven't been online much at all this week.  The OHSS came back in full force and it kicked my butt.  I was in so much pain and having a hard time breathing.  I did all the things you're supposed to do but it was bringing no relief.  My back started spasming because of all the extra weight that was accumulating so quickly.  I had been in to see the PA at my doctor's office (my RE is out of town) and she was getting concerned.  When I went in yesterday morning I finally agreed that I had had enough and it was time to be "tapped".  That's what they call it when they drain the fluid from your abdomen.  My doctor normally does this in his office (I'm sure you remember my post about that) but since he is out of town things proved to be a little more difficult.  He has a back up doctor that has a practice closer to the city so they called him and he wanted to see me.  Once we got to the office it didn't take him long to start making phone calls.  He doesn't do this procedure in his office, though.  He normally does it at the hospital around the corner from his office.  He would have to book an OR and he said he thought the radiology team could get me in for an abdominal paracentesis much quicker.  So he made some more phone calls and sent us on our way to the Emergency Room to check in and then head up to radiology.  Sounds so simple, right?

I think we got to the ER around noon, maybe a little before.  They started my iv around 2pm and I think they started an albumin drip (to help with the OHSS) around 3pm.  Around 4pm they finally took me to radiology.  I'm not sure if he would have gotten his OR before that time or not but oh well.  This time they did not do the drain vaginally.  They went in through the side of my stomach.  Definitely different!  Now that I've had it both ways, not sure which way I would prefer.  Neither, I suppose.  They drained 6 liters.  Before they were even halfway done I felt relief.  I can't even explain how great it felt.  My back pain went away.  I could take deep breaths.  My stomach was visibly deflating.  It was incredible.  The whole procedure took about 40 minutes I think.  The back up doctor came to check on me while they were draining.  He was pleased with the progress and said I could go home after I had a liter of iv fluids.  Which I thought was funny since they drained 6.  I was wheeled back to my room and they started the drip.  It went in pretty quickly and I was so excited to get back home.  The nurse came in and noticed my heart rate was still really high (130-140) so the doctor ordered another liter.  And I wanted to punch him.  I tried explaining that my heart rate is normally high and it was just elevated from still being in the hospital.  He didn't care.  The next liter went in with no change in my heart rate.  They talked about admitting me but finally agreed to just let me go.  I think we left around 6:30.  Long day.  Here's a picture of the 6 liters in all its glory:

I slept all night for the first time in a long time.  It was wonderful.  I woke up this morning like a new person.  I weighed myself, as I do every morning to keep an eye on the gain, and I had lost 9 pounds.  I could move around freely with no pain.  I could breathe.  Even though I knew it could all come back, it was so nice to have some relief.  I wish that was where this story ends. But oh no - there's more.

Around 3pm today I started noticing some strange feelings "down there".  After about 15 minutes I went upstairs to investigate with a mirror.  Might seem strange but I'm very comfortable with my lady parts after going through this process.  What I saw was so horrible that I let out a huge gasp.  The right side of my vulva, and only the right side, was completely full of fluid.  It was about 5 times larger than the left side.  I called the doctor and they wanted to see me so we loaded up and headed that way.  When the PA lifted the drape (my doctor is still out of town) she said, "Oh.  Wow."  Exactly.  I just knew they were going to want to stick a needle in it to drain it and I was going to have to hurt someone.  But no.  Apparently the fluid is finding other places to accumulate.  She said she had seen it accumulate in the hands, feet, and legs.  Mine chose the right side of my vulva.  Seems like a nice place, right?.  She couldn't tell me how long it might last.  Could be a few days.  Could be a lot longer.  They're going to see me and my bulging vulva again on Friday.

As if all that isn't fun enough, I thought my pants felt awfully wet on the ride home.  Turns out the fluid doesn't just accumulate, it also seeps.  And it could continue to seep for 10 days.  It just keeps getting better and better.  Don't you want me to come over and sit on your couch?  My poor mother has already had to wash my sheets once - turns out sitting on one towel wasn't nearly enough.  My mom came up from Florida to help us out during this process and boy, oh boy, she had no idea what she was getting herself into.  I could tell her thank you a million times and it still wouldn't be enough.  

Both the back up doctor and my regular doctor (who is still on vacation - he's missing all the fun) have called me tonight.  They both assured me that even though this isn't common, it will resolve.  It's just another "hump" to get over.  I'd like to know how many more humps might be around the corner.

So I'm home again.  In bed.  Not able to close my legs.  Brandon said now I must know how he feels and THAT'S why guys are always adjusting themselves.  Seriously?  I'm glad we've been able to joke about it, though.  It's either laugh or cry.  Today we chose to laugh and I'm grateful for that.  I'm also grateful that even through all the madness my numbers are multiplying beautifully.  Our first u/s should be sometime next week.  We have so much to be thankful for.

So that's it for now.  Who knows what tomorrow might bring......

**You might wonder why I'm being so open about all of this on a blog that my family and friends read.** 

1.  It was a tough decision and I do try to choose my words carefully.  But I ultimately decided I wanted to be as honest and open as possible so I wasn't going to leave out much.  

2.  If there's some other poor girl out there who googles "paracentesis and swollen vulva", I want her to find this and know it's all going to be ok.  

3.  This will be an awesome record to have 15 years from now when this baby tries to give me any sass.  It's ammunition for years.