I received my meds from Freedom Pharmacy today. It complete my medications for this cycle. But not without issues. They double charged me on certain meds, but everything taking care of today. I found out they are very helpful and friendly, but sometimes there is different answers on different calls I made. But I am glad so far things taking care of. Hopefully it won't repeated in the future.
If everything going as plan, I will start my first IVF cycle in two weeks.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
eIVF Patient Portal
Have you heard about eIVF Patient Portal? It is a portal where you can get all your medical history, x-ray, results, emails, prescriptions and many more. It very helpful if you need to get quick information.
I can contact my Dr., nurses and others at the facility in this portal. It pretty neat and great for out of town patient.
I can contact my Dr., nurses and others at the facility in this portal. It pretty neat and great for out of town patient.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Changed Pharmacy
My clinic ordered my prescription from Apothecary by Design. They charged me $119 per vial of Cetrotide and around $100 for HCG injections.
I called around and got cheaper price from Freedom Pharmacy. $71.99 each for Cetrotide and $60 for HCG injections (with $10 enrollment of H.E.A.R.T member). I saved over $300.
When doing expensive self pay treatment like IVF, we need to save as much as we can to cut cost :)
I called around and got cheaper price from Freedom Pharmacy. $71.99 each for Cetrotide and $60 for HCG injections (with $10 enrollment of H.E.A.R.T member). I saved over $300.
When doing expensive self pay treatment like IVF, we need to save as much as we can to cut cost :)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Received My Bravelle and Menopur Today
The box is huge! There are so many small boxes in it. I was freak out! And that's not all yet, I still have few more meds to be ordered before my cycle next month.
Kevin is excited because he think he can have fun 'poking' me everyday with the needles. Good thing he has experience as EMT before. So he is good with needles (he said..., but who knows..haha).
For now I just need to put aside the meds and deal with it with the time comes.
Kevin is excited because he think he can have fun 'poking' me everyday with the needles. Good thing he has experience as EMT before. So he is good with needles (he said..., but who knows..haha).
For now I just need to put aside the meds and deal with it with the time comes.
Cetrotide
Okay, I have all the medicines taken care of, now I just need to find 6 x 0.25 vials of Centrotide. The pharmacy quote me for $800 for it.
If you're self pay patient and under strict budget, you need to be creative. My colleague who got pregnant from her IVF told me she always buy her meds from a forum. I kind of skeptical because I don't want to get scam or get bad batch of meds. But she assured me that most ladies in there who are in the same situation and know how to taking care of their meds. But she said just follow your guts, if you don't feel comfy about someone, don't buy it. Normally she said, she email back and forth with the person and will get a good vibe about it before agreed to purchase.
So far I found a lady from New Jersey who willing to sell Cetrotide for $400. That's a good deal compare to what I have to pay to the pharmacy.
Here the link where many girls get their discounted meds. Most of these ladies have extra, already got pregnant, or cancelled their cycle.
www.topix.com/forum/health/infertility
I still not decided yet, for now I am trying to check with my clinic if they have any extra that they can give to me.
If you're self pay patient and under strict budget, you need to be creative. My colleague who got pregnant from her IVF told me she always buy her meds from a forum. I kind of skeptical because I don't want to get scam or get bad batch of meds. But she assured me that most ladies in there who are in the same situation and know how to taking care of their meds. But she said just follow your guts, if you don't feel comfy about someone, don't buy it. Normally she said, she email back and forth with the person and will get a good vibe about it before agreed to purchase.
So far I found a lady from New Jersey who willing to sell Cetrotide for $400. That's a good deal compare to what I have to pay to the pharmacy.
Here the link where many girls get their discounted meds. Most of these ladies have extra, already got pregnant, or cancelled their cycle.
www.topix.com/forum/health/infertility
I still not decided yet, for now I am trying to check with my clinic if they have any extra that they can give to me.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
All the Stregth that I Have
Do you know that I never in years thinking I can do IVF because of financial issues? First, I don't make much money with my job, we do okay, but since Kevin in school full time, we have to really have to be careful of what we spend. Between payments for house, car loan, utilities, child support, student loans and yada-yada...we only can get by. Thankfully I have a side income from my online biz that started as hobby. But again, means I have two jobs which I took both seriously.
You can say I am a very hardworking person, I am very determine in what I do. Probably because I become so independent since I was 12 years old. My dad passed away when I was about 11.5 years old. We really close, I miss him dearly even until today. The time that we spent together was short, but there are so many beautiful memories about him, my dad really care about me. He always there when I need him and really supportive.
When I was 12 I got an offer from a boarding school. In M'sia, boarding schools are not for 'bad' kids. Boarding schools in M'sia means you're selected from so many students in M'sia, means you're best of the best academically. They grooms you to become highly professional and mostly becomes Doctors, engineers and others. You have to have A's in all subjects otherwise you in trouble. For five years I was in the boarding school. Then I went to college for 3.5 years. So most of my young age I was away from my mom and siblings. We only met few times a month. I paid my college tuitions with my own money, I worked every semester break as a Cashier at the mall or sell cookies to friends. Three months before graduated, I already got a job, the company willing to wait until I finished my school. I feel bless.
I am very different from my sibling. I love being adventure. When I do something, I am serious about it. I don't stop trying. I know what it felt when I failed, and it never stopped me to keep trying. Probably all these that helping me still going through with this journey of having a child.
I've been travelled to many places. Some places that I never think I will go. I went to Canada, drove from south to north, to Sarajevo just few years after war, to Germany, to Korea and many more. And finally I am in the US with my husband who I love dearly :).
I will put the IVF cost in details when I have time this week.
You can say I am a very hardworking person, I am very determine in what I do. Probably because I become so independent since I was 12 years old. My dad passed away when I was about 11.5 years old. We really close, I miss him dearly even until today. The time that we spent together was short, but there are so many beautiful memories about him, my dad really care about me. He always there when I need him and really supportive.
When I was 12 I got an offer from a boarding school. In M'sia, boarding schools are not for 'bad' kids. Boarding schools in M'sia means you're selected from so many students in M'sia, means you're best of the best academically. They grooms you to become highly professional and mostly becomes Doctors, engineers and others. You have to have A's in all subjects otherwise you in trouble. For five years I was in the boarding school. Then I went to college for 3.5 years. So most of my young age I was away from my mom and siblings. We only met few times a month. I paid my college tuitions with my own money, I worked every semester break as a Cashier at the mall or sell cookies to friends. Three months before graduated, I already got a job, the company willing to wait until I finished my school. I feel bless.
I am very different from my sibling. I love being adventure. When I do something, I am serious about it. I don't stop trying. I know what it felt when I failed, and it never stopped me to keep trying. Probably all these that helping me still going through with this journey of having a child.
I've been travelled to many places. Some places that I never think I will go. I went to Canada, drove from south to north, to Sarajevo just few years after war, to Germany, to Korea and many more. And finally I am in the US with my husband who I love dearly :).
I will put the IVF cost in details when I have time this week.
Checklist
Since I am going to do Out of Patient treatment, there are so many things that I have to plan earlier such as flight, accommodation, rental car, inform my boss that I will be away about a week. Keep in mind that I have to do this with the best budget and save as much as we can. So here my list:
1. Inform my boss I probably out the last week of March (about 7 days).
2. Flight - I cannot reserve the flight until I know my response to the meds.
3. Hotel - Found affordable and clean and good review hotel about 0.7 miles from the clinic, which is Microtel Inn Albany Airport. It less than $60.00 per night. Found coupon for $48.00 per night but only for Walk In. I don't think I want to take the chance the room fully book by the time we arrive there. I like to plan my travel as early as possible.
4. Rental car, which is easy to make even for last minute.
5. Will purchase acupuncture with CNY Fertility before and after the eggs transfer.
6. Call CNY on my first day of period.
7. Call my Obgyn for bloodtest and ultrasound on the 2nd or 3rd day of my period.
8. Start my meds protocol
I will be out of office a lot for the monitoring. I already informed my boss and he is okay with it. I am so bless to work at a place that really flexible and understanding.
1. Inform my boss I probably out the last week of March (about 7 days).
2. Flight - I cannot reserve the flight until I know my response to the meds.
3. Hotel - Found affordable and clean and good review hotel about 0.7 miles from the clinic, which is Microtel Inn Albany Airport. It less than $60.00 per night. Found coupon for $48.00 per night but only for Walk In. I don't think I want to take the chance the room fully book by the time we arrive there. I like to plan my travel as early as possible.
4. Rental car, which is easy to make even for last minute.
5. Will purchase acupuncture with CNY Fertility before and after the eggs transfer.
6. Call CNY on my first day of period.
7. Call my Obgyn for bloodtest and ultrasound on the 2nd or 3rd day of my period.
8. Start my meds protocol
I will be out of office a lot for the monitoring. I already informed my boss and he is okay with it. I am so bless to work at a place that really flexible and understanding.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Jess from CNY Fertility Call to Mail my Bravelle and Menopur
Today Jess from CNY Fertility called to inform that they will mail my Bravelle and Menopur via FeDex 2 Days Saver. It cost me about $19.00. I am very grateful that CNY willing to help with donated meds. Thank you CNY!
So far, my experience with CNY via phone is good and they are really friendly and helpful. It is hard to communicate without seeing the person. I am doing this treatment as out of town patients. So all my monitoring will be done in Austin. I only see them on my eggs retrieval (ER) and eggs transfer (ET).
I cannot wait for the process to begin. It will be an emotional journey. I also have to learn how to do the injections myself. They have tons of video showing how to do it in Youtube and also in their website.
So far, my experience with CNY via phone is good and they are really friendly and helpful. It is hard to communicate without seeing the person. I am doing this treatment as out of town patients. So all my monitoring will be done in Austin. I only see them on my eggs retrieval (ER) and eggs transfer (ET).
I cannot wait for the process to begin. It will be an emotional journey. I also have to learn how to do the injections myself. They have tons of video showing how to do it in Youtube and also in their website.
Monday, February 20, 2012
First IVF
Alhamdullilah...I never thought I can go into this step due to the financial issues. IVF extremely expensive. But after long research and non stop determination, I managed to find a place that willing to help. I found a place in Albany, New York. Yes, I will be traveling to New York for my IVF, but after all the cost, it still cheaper than Austin, Texas. Furthermore, none of the fertility clinics in Austin willing to work with the payments. The most they can do is to make you get a private loan with extremely high interest. This loan not only expensive, but it also will put you into debts for over 5 to 10 years. Imagine if it failed, and you still have debt about IVF until you're 50?
I am so grateful and thankful that this facility so willingly to work with the payment and the medicines. I able to get 3 IVF cycles with them. The cost so much cheaper than other places. Not only I managed to split the payments for 12 months without interest, I also got free meds which really ease the burden. The only meds I have to buy for my first cycle is the Cetrotide for about $800. That is consider a lot less than $5000.
Few days ago, the Fertility clinic ordered my meds which are:
Bravelle
Menopur
Cetrotide 0.25 mg - Injection
Dexamethasone 0.5 mg - Tablets
Estrace 2 mg - Tablets 2 mg
HCG 10,000 U Vials 10000 units - Injection
If everything go as plan, I will be having my first IVF around mid March. I am so excited and also nervous.
I pray to Allah that this will be a successful journey.
I am so grateful and thankful that this facility so willingly to work with the payment and the medicines. I able to get 3 IVF cycles with them. The cost so much cheaper than other places. Not only I managed to split the payments for 12 months without interest, I also got free meds which really ease the burden. The only meds I have to buy for my first cycle is the Cetrotide for about $800. That is consider a lot less than $5000.
Few days ago, the Fertility clinic ordered my meds which are:
Bravelle
Menopur
Cetrotide 0.25 mg - Injection
Dexamethasone 0.5 mg - Tablets
Estrace 2 mg - Tablets 2 mg
HCG 10,000 U Vials 10000 units - Injection
If everything go as plan, I will be having my first IVF around mid March. I am so excited and also nervous.
I pray to Allah that this will be a successful journey.
Recap
For a long time I wanted to do a blog about our struggle to infertility journey.
We're married over 9 years, not trying not preventing about 5 years. The last 15 months we timed our baby dancing (BD), 6 cycles of Clomid, 3 failed IUIs and now towards our first IVF.
I am nervous, excited and scared. Not sure what we expect. I purchased 3 cycles IVF packages just in case our first try not successful.
This year really a tough year for me. I never though it will be so hard for us. In a month I will be 40, and I get scared that I will not be able to have my own children. There is a space in my heart that empty. I am grateful and fortunate to have a loving husband that always on my side and very supportive.
I have many friends gets pregnant this month. Some not even trying, some through IVF. I am happy for them. But for those who not trying they really don't understand what I went or going through. It hard to talk to them because they never been 'there'. But as a friend, you need to listen to them talking about their pregnancy, talking about their symptoms, asking you to accompany them to shop with them because they cannot fit in their pant or shirt anymore.
I pray and hope one day I will be a mom.
We're married over 9 years, not trying not preventing about 5 years. The last 15 months we timed our baby dancing (BD), 6 cycles of Clomid, 3 failed IUIs and now towards our first IVF.
I am nervous, excited and scared. Not sure what we expect. I purchased 3 cycles IVF packages just in case our first try not successful.
This year really a tough year for me. I never though it will be so hard for us. In a month I will be 40, and I get scared that I will not be able to have my own children. There is a space in my heart that empty. I am grateful and fortunate to have a loving husband that always on my side and very supportive.
I have many friends gets pregnant this month. Some not even trying, some through IVF. I am happy for them. But for those who not trying they really don't understand what I went or going through. It hard to talk to them because they never been 'there'. But as a friend, you need to listen to them talking about their pregnancy, talking about their symptoms, asking you to accompany them to shop with them because they cannot fit in their pant or shirt anymore.
I pray and hope one day I will be a mom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)