During my IUI cycle, I had performed the injections myself at home. However, I cannot say it was stress free and so this time round, I decided to just go easy and have the nurse to do the daily injection for me. Sure it was expensive (extra HK$90 per injection) and adding to the cost, but seriously, making baby shouldnt be a stressful thing, not to mention I have to endure the physical pain of it!
So I had my first injection at HK Sanatorium outpatient on sunday afternoon. On Sat, the nurse had asked me what time I had wanted to do the injection and I just instinctively told her 1pm. So she booked me in for Dr Ingrid at 2.15pm on Thursday 1st August for my first evaluation after the injection. THANK GOD my doctor is back!
The injection was relatively uneventful, except that I get to have a good chat with the nurses.
On some days, the injection hurts when the med is being pumped in, on some days I hardly felt it. Strange huh. Some nurses are better than others at the injection. One gave me my first bruise on Monday. After my previous self injection, I learned to ice the area before and after the injection to contract the blood veins, to minimise bruising and locality in event they do hit a blood vessel.
The nurse Julie was very very nice when I first requested for ice, after the bruise I had on Monday. She even reminded me to bring the ice pack during my jabs on outpatient days since they dont provide ice. Sometimes when they are not too busy, we have a few laughs here and there. It's nice not to be stress.
I read somewhere that Arnica gel helps with bruising but I didnt bother. Instead, I used Hiruroid cream instead. Lol. Then one has to alternate hot and cold pack on bruise area just to get the blood moving. I love simple methods.
As for the after effects, I was pleasantly surprised that I didnt suffer as much this time as compared to the IUI jabs. The last time, I felt so bloated and tired all the time! My waistline previously really balloned that even my husband was taken back.
This time round, even though the dosage was higher, yet I didnt suffer from bloating or weight gain. However, on the 1st and 2nd day of injections, I did feel immediately sleepy after the first hour but it will pass. The subsequent jabs, barely had much impact which I was really happy about!!
I'm just praying and praying that I will not overstimulate since I have PCOS and having too many eggs will be bad. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
The start of IVF journey with HK Sanatorium Hospital
After my Pap Smear was pronounced normally on 22th July, I was finally relieved!!
The next thing I embarked on was to get my dental checked, to make sure all was good. Since it is impossible to get Xray on teeth when one is pregnant.
I wanted to get other stuff in order before my Gyn returns from her hol and before my period. It was running 2 weeks late. I had joked with my Gyn that it will probably wait for her return! Lol!
Also, I had to get my physical fixed. Somehow, I tore my thumb ligament, pulled a back muscle, pinch a nerve on my shoulder arm joint. It's crazy. It was all happening on the right side! So I had my X ray done to confirm my spine was fine. It was fine except my spine was completely straighten instead of S shape due to inflammation. I was ready to check into my therapy.
Just after I got my back sorted out, my period arrived on Friday 26th July.
However, because it arrived about 4pm+, I couldnt get anyone from HK Sanatorium Gyn ward to answer my phone since I am supposed to call them on Day 1.
So on Sat 26th July, I called them at 10am, and the nurse told me my "substitute" doc was not available from 11am since she is going to an op to retrieve eggs and not coming back. The nurse said "oh its too late, you should have called us yesterday. Maybe I asked doc if u can come in on day 4"
I was annoyed. I told her its NOT MY FAULT that no one picked up the phone when I called yesterday. She asked me what time and I replied 4pm+. She had to cheek to reply that they dont answer the phone then since they knock off at 5pm. Well its NOT my fault. She kept emphasizing that I should come back on Monday but I told her firmly I do not accept that. I was also surprised actually because in my last 2 years dealing with nurses at this hospital, I never had ONCE a bad experience. They are usually quite polite, understanding and nice. So this one came as a nasty reality jolt.
I explained that I KNOW the DRILL. I need my blood test on day 2 or day 3, which is independent of the clinic time since HK Sanatorium hospital has a 24hr blood lab clinic. I told her that is the most impt because they need to know my FSH and E2 levels etc. I told her I honestly dont care which other gyn doctor I see since Dr Tang is NOT my original doc and just a stand in, and that it's also NOT my fault that she is not coming in after 11am since the OFFICIAL clinic time ends at 1 PM.
The nurse sounded very reluctant like as if I was a petulant child but she said she will checked with the doctor. I was quite very rightly pissed and wont back down since I explained I dont want to miss a WHOLE cycle just because it was inconvenient for them. As if I have a say in what time my period comes?!!
By 10.45am, I was very anxious. By 11am, the nurse called me back and asked where do I lived. I told her nearby and she told me to rush down for my blood test immediately and the doctor will come back to see me. AMEN!
So I went in for my blood works and waited for over an hour to see the doctor. She wasnt as nice as my usual gyn Dr Ingrid. Dr Tang reminds me of a disciplinary mistress of few words. I did say thank you to her for "coming back" for me and she just replied its ok as she did my ovaries scan. We went back to her room and all she said was that she will prescribe low dose of 150mg dose of Gondal F injections to start off for 4 days starting Sunday owning tat I have PCOS. That's it.
No explanation of the scan etc or information or what to expect. I couldnt be bothered to ask her as well so I just up and left. Luckily Dr Ingrid had made the extra effort to give me a quick run trhough before she left for her vacation.
Seriously, I have never felt as if the doctor was doing me a service before until today. I mean I know u are busy, but hey, you really could be nicer. Maybe because she is a standing for my ob gyn so she doesnt feel like she needs to have any bedside manners. Oh well, I am just GLAD that I didnt PICK Dr Tang from the start. I really like Dr Ingrid because I like her smile and even though she is busy and serious, she still have a bright smile for me every visit I had with her. Sometimes, she will also laugh a little at my self deprecating joke and I geniunely like her. I read from some forum that Dr Tang is supposed to be armed with "credentials" from another hospital but frankly, I rather have a doc i can click with than someone who seem to think patients are like factory products. However, I know there are mothers to be who prefer to work with experienced doctors, so to each her own.
I realised there isnt much blogs and post about IVF doctors from HK Sanatorium, so hopefully my post helps as I document my IVF process!
The next thing I embarked on was to get my dental checked, to make sure all was good. Since it is impossible to get Xray on teeth when one is pregnant.
I wanted to get other stuff in order before my Gyn returns from her hol and before my period. It was running 2 weeks late. I had joked with my Gyn that it will probably wait for her return! Lol!
Also, I had to get my physical fixed. Somehow, I tore my thumb ligament, pulled a back muscle, pinch a nerve on my shoulder arm joint. It's crazy. It was all happening on the right side! So I had my X ray done to confirm my spine was fine. It was fine except my spine was completely straighten instead of S shape due to inflammation. I was ready to check into my therapy.
Just after I got my back sorted out, my period arrived on Friday 26th July.
However, because it arrived about 4pm+, I couldnt get anyone from HK Sanatorium Gyn ward to answer my phone since I am supposed to call them on Day 1.
So on Sat 26th July, I called them at 10am, and the nurse told me my "substitute" doc was not available from 11am since she is going to an op to retrieve eggs and not coming back. The nurse said "oh its too late, you should have called us yesterday. Maybe I asked doc if u can come in on day 4"
I was annoyed. I told her its NOT MY FAULT that no one picked up the phone when I called yesterday. She asked me what time and I replied 4pm+. She had to cheek to reply that they dont answer the phone then since they knock off at 5pm. Well its NOT my fault. She kept emphasizing that I should come back on Monday but I told her firmly I do not accept that. I was also surprised actually because in my last 2 years dealing with nurses at this hospital, I never had ONCE a bad experience. They are usually quite polite, understanding and nice. So this one came as a nasty reality jolt.
I explained that I KNOW the DRILL. I need my blood test on day 2 or day 3, which is independent of the clinic time since HK Sanatorium hospital has a 24hr blood lab clinic. I told her that is the most impt because they need to know my FSH and E2 levels etc. I told her I honestly dont care which other gyn doctor I see since Dr Tang is NOT my original doc and just a stand in, and that it's also NOT my fault that she is not coming in after 11am since the OFFICIAL clinic time ends at 1 PM.
The nurse sounded very reluctant like as if I was a petulant child but she said she will checked with the doctor. I was quite very rightly pissed and wont back down since I explained I dont want to miss a WHOLE cycle just because it was inconvenient for them. As if I have a say in what time my period comes?!!
By 10.45am, I was very anxious. By 11am, the nurse called me back and asked where do I lived. I told her nearby and she told me to rush down for my blood test immediately and the doctor will come back to see me. AMEN!
So I went in for my blood works and waited for over an hour to see the doctor. She wasnt as nice as my usual gyn Dr Ingrid. Dr Tang reminds me of a disciplinary mistress of few words. I did say thank you to her for "coming back" for me and she just replied its ok as she did my ovaries scan. We went back to her room and all she said was that she will prescribe low dose of 150mg dose of Gondal F injections to start off for 4 days starting Sunday owning tat I have PCOS. That's it.
No explanation of the scan etc or information or what to expect. I couldnt be bothered to ask her as well so I just up and left. Luckily Dr Ingrid had made the extra effort to give me a quick run trhough before she left for her vacation.
Seriously, I have never felt as if the doctor was doing me a service before until today. I mean I know u are busy, but hey, you really could be nicer. Maybe because she is a standing for my ob gyn so she doesnt feel like she needs to have any bedside manners. Oh well, I am just GLAD that I didnt PICK Dr Tang from the start. I really like Dr Ingrid because I like her smile and even though she is busy and serious, she still have a bright smile for me every visit I had with her. Sometimes, she will also laugh a little at my self deprecating joke and I geniunely like her. I read from some forum that Dr Tang is supposed to be armed with "credentials" from another hospital but frankly, I rather have a doc i can click with than someone who seem to think patients are like factory products. However, I know there are mothers to be who prefer to work with experienced doctors, so to each her own.
I realised there isnt much blogs and post about IVF doctors from HK Sanatorium, so hopefully my post helps as I document my IVF process!
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