IVF COST

The table below shows the cost we incurred during our stay. This doesn't include food and transportation. Since we didn't actually go through with the IVF, this is only until Day 17 of my last menstrual period. Please take note also that I was under Protocol 4 and only had 1 dose of Pergoveris a day.

Mackay Memorial Hospital

It's not exactly a new hospital. I remember the first time I walked in. There was just sooo many people walking around. Memories of 3-hour wait for my OB Gyne back in Manila flashed back before me. Surprisingly, everything really is efficient inside Mackay. In almost all the procedures that you need to be done, you just simply take a number and wait for your number to be called. This was the case for my daily injections. I was also pleasantly surprised that the doctors, including Dr. Lee, are always on time and start seeing their patients right away. Not that I hate doctors in Manila. And I don't want to generalize, but most of them are late all the time.

Back to injections. I had first asked Lisa, one of the staff under Dr. Lee, if I could just do the injections myself. She told me that it would be better if I had my injections done in the hospital daily. This wasn't a problem. When having your injection done, just look for the Injection Room by following the blue line on the floor from the lobby. It will take you directly to the Injection Room. Once you're there, just get a number, wait for your turn, present your passport, injection slip and meds and that's it. Don't forget to bring some ice with you for your medicine. Don't worry, they usually give you some ice the first time you get your medicine. I just kept the bag and froze it so I could reuse. You could ask for it if they don't automatically give you some. :)

I noticed that there's a lot more people getting injections in the morning than in the afternoon. On Sundays, you have to get your injections done at the Emergency Room. Just go inside the emergency room, walk a few steps and you'll notice there's a room to your right with a sign that says 'Adult Treatment Area.' Just hand your injection slip, passport and medicine to the nurse and they will know what to do. 

My daily injection

Injection room

As for ultrasounds, I've noticed that this was the thing that I had to have patience for the most. The ultrasound room is located on the second floor, the same area where Dr. Lee's office is located. Just go straight from the escalator and it's the last door to your right. There's no machine for numbers at the ultrasound room so you need to knock softly, open the door and hand your ultrasound slip and the form from Dr. Lee. They'll stamp your ultrasound slip with a number and also give you a piece of paper with that number, and ask you to wait outside for your turn. I usually have to wait 30 minutes to an hour before my number is called but the nice thing about this is that they will write down your follicle sizes on the form and give it to you in a couple of minutes. No need to wait an hour just to get your ultrasound result. 

Ultrasound room

For E2 blood tests, you need to go to the Nuclear Medicine room on the 4th floor. Same building as Dr. Lee's office. You may take the elevator and it's right by the elevator, if I'm not mistaken. Dr. Lee would usually ask his patients to take the E2 blood test before 8:30am. Since it opens at 8am, you only have 30 minutes to take the test. We usually have our breakfast at Starbucks near the hospital before doing the blood test, just to make sure that we don't come in late for it. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the Nuclear Medicine room. 

Those are pretty much the rooms that I had to familiarize myself while I was in Taipei. Of course, since our IVF was cancelled, I didn't get to see the delivery room and I didn't get to spend a lot of time in the IVF room. Annie will tour you around on your first day and you can always give her a call for any questions. I found that she answers her phone within the first or second ring, and she's super helpful. 

This is not the end

2 days before my supposed ovum pickup, I came in for another consultation. I had my blood test and ultrasound done before I saw Dr. Lee.

I just knew that something was wrong when I saw Dr. Lee's expression when he saw my E2 test result. As he explained that my E2 had dropped significantly, I felt like crying. He told me that having low estradiol meant that my follicles were no longer developing properly and that they are not of good quality. It wouldn't make any sense to continue with the IVF and that we should try again next time.

I couldn't believe it. We had been in Taipei for 3 weeks only to have our IVF cancelled. It was heartbreaking. Tears fell down as soon as we stepped out of the clinic. I just couldn't help it. I felt like a failure. I had endured the daily injection and the daily commute to the hospital for 15 straight days, only to be told that we should go home.

I'm the type of person who doesn't dwell on negativity. Although this was definitely hard for me and my husband, I know that God has a plan for us. We will come back to Taipei better and a lot more ready. With God's grace, I know that we will become parents in His perfect time. This is not the end.

Think positive

I saw Dr. Lee today and I was told that it seems that only 2 follicles would reach the appropriate size. I was given 2 doses of Menopur, instead of my usual Pergoveris today. We're hoping that my follicles grow a lot bigger tomorrow.

There's really nothing I can do about it now except to pray. I don't want to feel depressed and I want to think positively, but it has been a hard couple of hours for me.

Nanjing Park Suites

Most of the Filipinos who come to Mackay for their IVF treatment stay at KT Star, mainly because of its proximity to Mackay. That was also my first choice. Unfortunately, the room that we wanted was no longer available at the time that we're supposed to stay in Taiwan. I was offered a much bigger suite but it was way outside our budget.

I searched and searched and searched to find the perfect room for us that would be quite similar to KT Star and would offer the same amenities. My search led me to airbnb, where I found Nanjing Park Suites. Nanjing Park Suites is definitely not within walking distance to Mackay. It is, however, really close to the MRT station, Songjiang Nanjing, which made it a pretty great option for us. It would take us approximately 20 minutes to get to Mackay. I figured it would also take around the same time to walk from KT Star to Mackay, so the travel time really isn't that bad. The only difference is, we didn't have to walk under the seriously scorching Taipei heat only to get to the hospital completely drenched in sweat. No, thanks! :)

Anyway, it's a small room but it's good enough for 2 people. It has a small kitchen, refrigerator, washing machine and pretty much everything else you need for a month's stay. The nicest thing about this room is the bathroom! We actually have a steamer! Never mind that I've only used it once but I have to admit that it is pretty awesome. :) There's also a swimming pool on the rooftop, which is open during the summer and a small gym on the 5th floor. :)

This is *almost* it

Had yet another ultrasound today and Dr. Lee asked me to have a blood test to check my Estradiol level. Upon googling, I found out that the Estradiol blood test is a way to find out if a woman is responding to fertility treatment.

I had to take the blood test before 8:30am because the result doesn't come out until 3 hours later. This means that Dr. Lee can still check the result before giving me the medications I would need for the next few days. Dr. Lee told me that the fertility treatment was working well and that my body was responding to the treatment. I breathe a huge sigh of relief upon hearing this. :) Dr. Lee also told me that since my follicles were growing steadily, I would need to take another shot that prevents my follicles/eggs from bursting, or at least that's what I understood out of the explanation.

Check out how my follicles grew from Day 3. This is a form that is given to you when you start having your IVF treatment. Every time you have a consultation with Dr. Lee and an ultrasound, you have to make sure that you bring this form.

Dr. Lee also told me that my ovum pickup will probably be on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on my ultrasound result when I see him again on Monday, August 4. This is it. I am both excited and really, really nervous. I hope I grow many beautiful eggs. :)