Full disclosure, I am facing a problem with the blog. I have been writing it in retrospect. I thought that I would be able to write current, and post later. As it turns out, I just do not write at all, and then post en-masse. Not a great system. And, icing on the cake, I am getting mixed up in terms of timing and my memories. NOT what I want. Here's my plan: catch up and write in the present. Now, I just have to figure out how to do that.
C and I had a first road trip before contracts were signed. (I think, see this is why I should have written when it all happened!). We were to go to Toronto to complete any testing. Now, there is a fertility clinic in Ottawa who could have done the testing. BUT, there was red tape beyond imagination. Given that I was a past client, and was not officially kicked out, they could complete my testing. However, they do some tests differently. For example, a procedure during which they put liquid into the uterus to check for abnormalities in Ottawa requires antibiotics. Toronto does not. Toronto had also prescribed me birth control pills (apparently this improves egg quality, and assists in 'taking over the uterus'), but Ottawa did not know that and so would only perform the procedure during certain days of my cycle, which was not going to work. And I was the easy one.
For C, they wanted recent blood tests, and PAP results. As I recall, she spent an entire afternoon on the phone trying to meet the requirements that the Ottawa clinic had. I seem to recall there being tears involved. This is to say nothing of the annoyance for the doctor and team in Toronto, who did nothing but try to support us....
Finally my fertility doctor phoned from Toronto and said that C and I would be best to come directly to Toronto where we could complete all testing on the same day, without these hassles, the information would be readily available, and I would not need any random antibiotics. Her solution is perfectly reasonable, except for the fact that C and I both have families and lives. However, fertility and surrogacy are my life, so I was ready to go. We had about 48 hours to prepare for the trip down. Thankfully, C was able to do this and our spouses and children cooperated - thanks team!
C and I had a lovely road trip to Toronto. We stayed with my lovely cousin. We took the bus and streetcar like big city folk. We got off at exactly the right stop (thank you Google streetview!). We were totally on the ball. Cool, calm, collected and ready to have our reproductive systems invaded!
We walked into the clinic, which is on the upper levels of a high rise in downtown Toronto. Here is the scene: There are people everywhere. There are clipboards of various colour codes. There are receptionists, nurses, and other staff members everywhere. Line-ups everywhere. People putting their names on various, mysterious clipboards. The desk is long, with several partitions. Within each partition is a receptionist or nurse, surrounded by photos of happy little babies and families. Minus the baby photos, this place is like a busy airport, but without the clear labels. I do not know how to find my 'airline' (read: doctor's desk). I'm not so cool anymore. Totally overwhelmed. Big city clinic is big and busy and intimidating.
C and I spent the majority of our morning at the clinic, after some hand-holding to ensure we were signed up on the correct clipboards and sitting in the correct waiting areas, which progress in stages. Our doctor, delightful though she was, spoke fast and worked fast (read: eek!). C and I both had our uterus and ovaries looked at. Blood work taken. When it was my turn, the Dr. began inserting the fluid into the uterus, while the technician does an ultrasound. She did not give me a countdown, or check in with me as some docs might. Instead, I listened to the technician say "slow down doctor! Slow down!" And I totally agreed! We survived it though.
By the end of our visit we were told that we were both ready for treatment, just waiting on C's menstrual cycle. Dr. thought we would be back in about two weeks. We were both SO excited. I could not believe that this was happening. And they were so accommodating. We did not have our legal contract in place, so we were given our medication schedules, prescriptions etc. and simply told that we cannot take the medications and the fertility clinic will not move forward without contracts. So, off we went, thinking we had a two week window to plan and get contracts done.
Then we were sent to the nurse, who actually reviewed the medications, how they are administered and how the treatment cycle will occur. Once again, I was reminded that I was not in Kansas anymore. She rushed through C's directions so quickly, too quickly. Luckily it was all written out and C felt comfortable. C decided to double check the rules - is she allowed to have sex while taking these medications. The nurse smiled, laughed, and said that there is only one rule about sex: have fun!
When I was speaking to the doctor and nurse, it was made very clear that I would need to be in Toronto for my treatment cycle. There is too much that is difficult to do in Ottawa, especially given the trouble we had already experienced. (I also later found out that I would have increase my cost of treatment significantly by using Ottawa). I was told briefly about my medications as well. I wanted to confirm that the administration of the injection was the same as in the past: a small epi-pen like injection. I have become quite good at these small injections given the number of treatment cycles I have undergone. I do not even cry anymore. I was looking for a bit of reassurance. Big city meet small town girl: no reassurance here, just laughter as she shows me a much larger, more medical looking needle. I must have gone white as a sheet. Now I had to begin to wrap my mind around doing all the needles myself since I would be in Toronto without my spouse, and that the injection itself would be BIGGER and SCARIER! Then I asked about costs, which she tallied up, and laughed more as I commented on how expensive it all would be.
Alas, at least we had the information we needed, the testing all done, and a time line in place. C and I left the clinic on a high. Everything was as grand as it could be. Overwhelming, busy, fast-paced, big city clinic, sure knows how to get 'er done.
xx
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