Chris and I were talking the other day about our insurance coverage for all of this. He told me he had called the insurance company and told me that we have a $150 deductible for procedures, but our last IUIs were $138 each out of pocket. They were billed at $280, but because we go to an in-network provider, insurance agreed to accept $138. I seriously thought IUIs can cost between $400 and like, $1,200. I read it on the Internet somewhere. I guess I’m not supposed to read everything as the truth on the Internet?
So, this is really good news in that we have only used about $600 out of our lifetime max of $10,000 so far, for two IUIs and several ultrasounds. Chris’s portion hasn’t been billed through the insurance yet, so I’m sure we will be hit with more bills, but still, this is better than I thought. This means we will do two more cycles of IUI and will (hopefully) have enough of our coverage to cover an IVF cycle. It’s weird, thinking about IVF, no longer as an abstract procedure, but as something we will quite possibly be doing.
How am I doing with my weight loss, you ask? Well, yesterday morning I weighed myself and I was 166 lbs. Last night, after waddling walking up to the scale in fear, after finishing the last of my Clomid, I was 170 pounds. I gained four pounds in a day with this horrible, no good bloating. Today I ate five Girl Scout cookies. You tell me how I am doing with my weight loss.
Girl Scout cookies don't count. They're like air. Or clouds. You only get them once a year and that makes them okay!
If its because of bloating, it's not a true weight gain as it is a lot of water weight. I suggest increasing your water intake as it will probably help dramatically. An average person should drink 96 ounces a day, but most people fall far short of that. Water helps in SO many ways. (I'm a personal trainer for a living, so this is what I talk to people about on a daily basis). You can take the advice or leave it 🙂
As far as insurance goes, you're looking pretty awesome so far. I can tell you that the actual IUI day cost us $430 each time, but that of course doesn't include the ultrasounds, meds, lab work, etc leading up to and after insemination. Our total was normally about $1800 per IUI cycle and I wasn't on injecatables, just clomid….Blahhhh! So that's AWESOME that you have coverage, even if it is a lifetime max.
As far as girl scout cookies go, I can DESTROY a box. I keep telling myself the boxes use to have more cookies. Regardless, I'm a pig when it comes to some Samoas on Thin Mints. Five cookies is basically a half a serving to me, so I'm impressed you stopped there. But don't weigh yourself at night, especially after weighing earlier in the day. Pick one time of day and always weigh the same way (with/with out clothes). You're giving yourself too much of a reason to beat yourself up if you weigh throughout the day.
Blame the Clomid. Clomid is the devil!
I have to agree with Amber. It seems totally backwards, drinking water to get rid of water weight but it's totally the right way to do it. And don't beat yourself up about the cookies, it's not your fault they put Crack in them to make people addicted. 😉
We've already gone through 2 boxes of girl scout cookies and have more on the way. We only get them once a year!
I agree with Amanda. Weigh yourself at the same time each day because your weight can fluctuate so much throughout the day.
Good news on the coverage! That's great!
It is seriously important to not beat yourself up for having a treat now and then, you're completely allowed! I keep my sweets in the fridge, which kind of keeps me out of them as often as I'd be in to them if they were nearer by. You'll get there!
You're right, Amber. I know I am lacking in the water area. If I have questions about weight loss, I definitely know who to turn to 🙂
Ha! That made me laugh! Yes, I held back after 5. I was so bloated that night, and I was just curious how much "water weight" I gained. Sheesh. Now I know. 🙂
It's interesting how moving toward IVF is such a grief process in some ways. It's such a gradual thing. You start with denial, then there's bargaining, anger, depression, and eventually acceptance. I'm still hoping you guys don't have to go down that road but it's good to know that the financial piece doesn't feel impossible at this point. It's always nice to have IVF as an option even if it never becomes THE option.