Her Own View: A Patient’s Journey Through IVF (Day 26)- Final Preparations and Waiting for Transfer Day
As you might recall from my last post, I had 30 eggs collected, and 10 made it to Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS). Out of those 10, five were considered genetically normal. They do know the genders of the normal embryos, but we’ve decided we don’t want to know. We have asked for the best quality embryo to be implanted during our Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET). To be honest, I’m a little surprised that we only had five come back genetically viable. As a 31-year-old, I expected a greater ratio to come back normal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very, very grateful for having five healthy embryos. I’m also glad I did the test to up my chances of a successful pregnancy. Dr. Miller says that even in your 20s and 30s, a large percentage of eggs are genetically abnormal. Add to this, the fact that sperm can also be abnormal, it is not surprising that only 50% of the embryos were tested to be normal. He said to have five embryos tested and healthy is really very good.
This week, I went in for my FET consultation where they went over my schedule in detail. An FET is great because I now have a pretty solidified schedule for the next month and a half, so I can plan my life. The schedule was based on my ovulation, but unfortunately, I did not ovulate naturally this cycle yet. This happens sometimes because of all the stimulants in my system from my retrieval and hormones can sometimes throw off your cycle. Because of this, I was instructed to inject 3ml of Progesterone in Oil (PIO) intramuscularly to induce my period. I should have my period in the next 7-10 days and they will be able to better control my cycle once that happens. I found the PIO shot to not be as bad as people made it out to be, but again, this was my first one! I used a heating pad before/ after and massaged the contents of the shot into my bum. I was also instructed to start my Lupron injections on Friday.
After that, I start taking Estrace which helps build the lining to allow a successful implantation, Progesterone to help nourish the lining to maintain implantation and a few other things in preparation for my FET on August 28th! I do have to go in for a few more blood/ultrasound tests in the next week, but transfer day is coming up fast! I’m a little nervous that I won’t get my period, which could delay things, but it’s completely out of my hands! I’m just going to focus on self-care for the next month, and make sure I’m doing everything I can to keep myself healthy and happy!
-Katie
Meet Dr. Kirsten Sasaki: Educating and Empowering Patients
I love being a gynecologist because I have the privilege to help women achieve better health. My goal as a doctor is to educate, inform and empower my patients so that we can work together as a team. Gynecology is a sensitive field and let’s face it, we all know how awkward an appointment and exam can be. I want women to feel comfortable discussing their concerns and issues without any judgement.
Often as the caretakers of their families, women push their own health aside. It is my job as a physician to work with my patients to ensure they prioritize their own health so they can continue to be healthy, strong and present for their families and loved ones.
Additionally, during many of my consultations, I act almost as a teacher by drawing figures and diagrams to help my patients and their family fully understand their disease and the various treatment options. So, when it comes time for treatment, the patient, her partner and her family are well-informed and ready for the next step. It is so important that patients know what to expect during and after their procedure. Listening to their worries, answering their questions and assuaging their anxieties is also a crucial part of the treatment process. I want to know what concerns them and want them to feel at ease that I have it covered. As I said, we are a team, and as a teammate I must work with my patient and guide her hand-in-hand through the process.
It’s almost ironic because not only do I consider myself a teacher of medicine, but I am also an eternal student. I have a love of learning, and practicing medicine allows me to consistently learn new things. Every day and every patient are always different and give me the opportunity to learn as I heal.
The best part of being a doctor is seeing and talking with patients I have helped. They are able to move on and enjoy their lives without having to deal with an issue that plagued them – for days, weeks or even years. Each patient has her own story, problems and goals and I love getting to know my patients in order to determine the best individual treatment plan.
I look forward to contributing more blog posts and helping women feel empowered to be an active participant in their healthcare. Reach out to us in the comments below, contact us through our website and be sure to follow our Facebook page.
Be Well,
Dr. Kirsten Sasaki
Introducing Dr. Cholkeri-Singh: Healing with Heart
When I first heard our practice was starting a blog, I couldn’t wait to write my first post. I plan to write about a variety of topics, but thought it was important for you to get to know me, understand the reason I became a physician and why helping women is so important to me.
My journey into medicine began when I was only five years old. I watched my mom struggle with a medical condition, and I desperately wanted to help fix her. As I grew older, my mom had us volunteer in shelters, and I began to enjoy servicing my community. It was then I figured out how to combine the two passions – becoming a physician would allow me to help my community and heal those with medical issues.
I specialize in gynecologic care and surgery, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Going through my clinical rotations as a medical student, I was exposed to a variety of specialties. At first, I was drawn toward primary care because of the appeal of building long-term relationships with my patients, but at the same time, I was intrigued by surgery and the journey it takes to help cure a patient of his/her suffering.
My competing interests made it difficult for me to pick a specialty, and it wasn’t until my last medical school clinical rotation in OB/GYN that I knew for sure where I wanted to be. This field allowed for continuity of care with women while also incorporating surgical therapy for those where primary medical therapies failed. I was drawn to the subspecialty of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and pursued a fellowship to refine my skills in surgery. This has enabled me to offer advanced surgical solutions to my patients with improved recovery times, and I am truly grateful that I am able to fulfill my childhood dream as a result.
As a physician, I understand that my patients want to feel heard and validated. They motivate me to listen, be patient and go the extra mile. I always try to be humble and treat patients to the best of my ability while constantly striving for excellence in care.
The best part of my job is receiving the smiles, the hugs and thank yous from patients whom I have helped. Whether it be providing medical counsel or performing a successful surgery to improve quality of life, their gratitude is priceless to me.
As a leading educator in the world, I am very thankful for the opportunities to teach and learn from colleagues across the globe. Not many physicians have this opportunity, so I embrace the opportunity, and I have grown significantly as a physician and human being because of it.
As Dr. Miller said in his post, we truly want this blog to be a resource for our patients and others looking for support in meeting their health goals. I’m excited to be a part of this blog and look forward to hearing from you. Reach out to us in the comments below or contact us through our website and be sure to follow our Facebook page.
Wishing you the best of health,
Dr. Cholkeri-Singh