Monday, February 4, 2013

Testing and Beta #1

I didn't update much this week due to being cautious. I kept track of how things were going, but decided not to hit publish until I was ready and feeling more confident. 

4dp5dt Wednesday morning. After getting up I decided to pull out a Wondfo test. I had a negative two days prior so knew the booster HCG shot was gone. I dipped it in my pee cup and hopped in the shower. W was already at work and he didn't know I was going to test. I told myself it was far to early to get a positive and prepared myself for a negative result. I was fine with a negative result because it was so early. I got out of the shower and glanced at the test. It looked negative. I started to get ready and then went back to the test. I thought I saw the faintest line ever. From that point on I would walk away from the test just to walk back and look at it. I held it up in different lighting and was starting to consistently see the faintest second line. I then wished that I hadn't dumped the pee so that I could dip another test just to be sure it wasn't a fluke. I looked at the test a few more times and then left for the morning. I had to pee later in the morning and decided to go home so I could take another look at the test. I still saw the faintest second line. I changed my day around a bit so I could have lunch with W when he came home. When he was home I told him we needed to talk. I told him I knew it was early but that I had tested early. I then asked him to come look at the test. He also saw the faint line. Could I really have a second line 4 days after my transfer? It was so early in the morning when I took the test and my transfer was done at 2PM. Technically I wasn't even a full 4 days past my transfer.  

5dp5dt Thursday morning. I dipped another stick and was super nervous to find out if the first one was just a fluke. The second line appeared a little more quickly and was slightly more obvious. It was still super light and could be considered a "squinter". When a blogger friend texted me to wish me good luck I couldn't resists and shared the news with her. 

6dp5dt Friday morning. I didn't use a test that morning.  I had gotten up at 5:30 to pee and knew my FMU was going to be crap. My blogger friend texted my again that morning and I told her I skipped so I wouldn't go crazy analyzing lines. That afternoon I couldn't resist any longer and peed again. The line was starting to get a bit darker and more noticeable.  

7dp5dt Saturday morning. I didn't use a test again and thought I would not test at all. We went over to our friend's house T&B and saw their little guy O who turned two weeks that day. We had lots of snuggling time with the baby, a delicious and spicy lunch, and we watched a college basketball game. At one point I went upstairs with T to be her "pumpany" and couldn't resist telling her when she asked how I was feeling. She teared up (post pregnancy hormones?), and then exclaimed that she had a test in the bathroom. She gave me a digital EPT test and I got nervous knowing that a digital needed a higher level of HCG to register positive. I looked it up online and found that the sensitivity was 50 and decided not to take it there, but to take the test with me when I left. When I got to my in-law's house about an hour later I couldn't resist any longer and peed on it. The digital readout of pregnant showed quite quickly. I immediately called W and showed him. We were both super excited. That night I used another Wondfo test and got an awesome line that was so much darker from the previous day. I was really seeing progression in the tests and getting super excited that this could actually be happening. 

8dp5dt Sunday. I used a Wondfo test and started to get concerned when the line was lighter. I figured it didn't matter that much from day to day and decided not to stress it. It was still positive and I convinced myself I was still pregnant. 

9dp5dt Monday morning (this morning) was Beta day. I used my FMU with a Wondfo test after not getting up all night to pee (we went to bed around midnight since we were up late for the Superbowl.) The line took a while to show up and definitely wasn't any darker. As it dried it looked on par with Saturday's test. W and I started to talk about another chemical and feel super bummed out. I couldn't help but worry that the number would be positive but not high enough. I had my blood test at 7:15 and just needed to wait to hear. My old clinic did the blood work and they have an online portal to check the numbers. I checked non-stop all morning and no results. I finally checked again around 1:45 to see the amazing results. My HCG level was 185.5 and my progesterone was >40!! 

I couldn't believe how great the HCG number was given the test I had taken that morning. I had worried and felt so nervous all day waiting to hear the results. I called W and told him the great news and then texted my yoga buddies to tell them the results. I'm so amazed at this number and feeling so positive. 

Dr. B.raverman called me around 2:15 and I took the call during a speech session. He told me I was "very pregnant" and that he was feeling really confident with my numbers. He told me he wanted me to have a repeat beta on Wednesday and also repeat the immune panel. He said all of our running around appeared to have been worth it and congratulated me. It was a really great conversation.  When I asked about a first ultrasound he said he would want to do one 4 weeks from retrieval. That is 2 weeks from today. He then said he wanted to do it himself and asked whether we were planning to come to LI for it. I admitted I hadn't gotten that far yet in my thinking. He told me to think about it. Once again he said congratulations and we hung up. 

I'm still feeling cautious and scared for the outcome of everything. I know a positive test or beta doesn't equal a take-home baby in 9 months. We've been here before. I so badly want this to be our little one, but know I need to take things one step at a time. The number is so much better than anything we have ever gotten at this point s it's hard to not get too excited at the same time. I guess I'll just walk the tightrope for now. 

29 comments:

  1. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Yes, that is how I feel about this! SO excited and happy! Congrats!!!!! :)

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  2. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awesome!!!!!!!

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  3. I have tears in my eyes! You'll be in my prayers!

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  4. Oh my gosh, so excited to read this! You are right, this doesn't equal a take home baby in 9 months, but it is so much closer! I am so excited for you!!!!!!!! I am going to think positive thoughts for you and believe that this is it! Yay!!!

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  5. This totally made my day!!! So happy for you :)

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  6. Hands down best news of the day! Congratulations!!!!!

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  7. Absolutely over the moon happy for you!! I have been waiting for this good news for you and happy day!! The day has come!! Congrats!!!!! :D

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  8. Gahhhhhh! I teared up when I read this. I am so so happy for you. I am going to think positive thoughts that this is your take home baby. Btw, I am starting to think Dr. Braverman's labs and protocols are top notch.

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  9. Wow, that is wonderful news. Congratulations.

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  10. so very happy for you. your journey has been very difficult, enjoy all of the happiness that comes with good betas!

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  11. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Congratulations!!!!!

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  12. WOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!! Amazing numbers!!! I'm so happy for you!!

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  13. This made me smile so big today and my heart just went all warm and fuzzy. Congrats you to, I am SO happy for you!

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  14. YAYYYYY!!!!!! Congratulations, I am so happy for you!! This post really tugged on my heart strings. I am sending you lots of sticky vibes :) :)

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  15. OMG congrats!!! I am so happy for the both of you! Sending you lots of prayers and sticky vibes!!!

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  16. YES!!!!!! I'm so happy for you both!!! Congrats!!! Sending lots and lots of positive vibes your way!!!!!

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  17. WOO HOO!!! COngratulations! That 1st beta is FANTASTIC! I will continue to think about you and your growing baby(ies)!!

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  18. AHHHHHHHH!! I just about cried when I read this on my phone this morning. I am SOOO SO SO SO excited for you, Liz!!

    Don't worry about those early line variations - those tests are very consistent in their accuracy. I can't believe you even got a BFP that early - mine was negative until 12dpo. WOW, just FULL of joy for you right now!

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  19. Wow!!! So excited for you! Congratulations!

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  20. YEA!!! Congratulations!!! That's an awesome beta!! I'm so happy for you!!

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  21. Congratulations! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

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  22. That's an INCREDIBLE NUMBER for 9dp5dt!!! Our beta that day was 135!!! Can't wait to hear your next number, so freakin happy for you both!!!!

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  23. This post brought tears to my eyes. It is awesome to see someone who has gone through the same things as me have success. I have been a patient of Dr. K's since 2004. Tomorrow morning, he will performing my 7th transfer. I also had my 1st appointment with Dr. Braverman 2 weeks ago yesterday. I can't help but feel hopeful :-)
    Congrats on an awesome beta !!

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  24. YES!!! This is what I like to read!! Congratulations! I'm so excited for you.

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  25. Congratulations! Here's hoping that things continue to progress and that you'll be holding a baby in nine months. :-)

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