The Next Step

The next step involves no more:

Needles

Bruises & Swelling

Carrying 15 golfball size follicles in my tummy

Happy Trigger Day! The Hubs delivered the trigger shot at 8pm this evening and other than feeling like I did one too many squats afterward, it was pretty pain free; kudos to Dr. Hubs for easing my fears as he delivered the needle below into my right buttock.

 Our weekend and upcoming week includes:

9am Bloodwork tomorrow

6am pre-surgery prep on Sunday and 8am egg retrieval surgery

A fertilization and egg report Monday & Tuesday and implantation sometime Wednesday-Friday, followed by 2 days of bed rest.

And then the longest 2 week wait of our life begins, but we’re so excited to begin waiting. I’m taking suggestions on good books to read during this 2 week wait, suggest away!

And then the cart pulled in...

And then the cart pulled in…

Today is day #6 and it began with the usual blood work and vaginal intrusion (aka ultrasound.) Things look good and I’m starting on a new hormone, Ganirelix, tonight. This hormone is supposed to slow things down a bit; my ovaries are measuring at 14 currently and my estrogen is 525, most ladies measure at 9 during ovulation.  

I’m happy to be starting the next phase of drug intervention and thrilled to be nearing the end of my uncomfortable hormonal crazies! Although the discomfort is 24/7, the pain has been fairly minimal. I had one moment on Saturday where I wanted to fight with the hubs over silliness (serious silliness), but I was able to put my hormones in check. This morning at the fertility clinic, the ultrasound technician printed out my hormone growth charts (below) for my “first entry into our baby book.” That’s when I knew I was hormonal, as I sat in the office crying, sobbing, whichever you prefer. Then I continued to cry in Target and all the way to my office. It was the sort of uncontrollable relief/ happiness tears that I’m fairly certain were hormone induced because I could not stop if I tried to.

So in my previous post I spoke about not letting me “put the cart before the horse” which to me meant rest too much hope in this procedure working on the first attempt, and then the cart pulled in….

In my relief/ happiness state Rue LaLa opened this morning with a sale on Petunia Pickle Bottom bags- the diaper bag I’d been ogling for the past year. And I did it, a total impulse buy! This little bag will be arriving at my home next week and is the first official purchase for a baby not-yet created. This may seem a little preemptive, but my cup runneth over as the hope for this child seemed more real this morning that it ever had before.

Day #4

 I’m on day #4 of hormone injections and until now I’ve felt like a champ! I’ve had minimal physical and emotional side effects and have had to scold myself when thinking “I don’t understand what the big deal is!” Then, day #4 began!

I woke up early this morning for a 7:30am ultrasound and bloodwork appointment at one of the few fertility office locations open on the weekends, 1-hour from my house. A little groggy, I began to notice that things felt heavier, achy and uncomfortable. At my appointment, the Dr. said that everything looked great this morning and that “things” were progressing nicely, but also warned me that my ovaries were growing and that I would soon began to feel the discomfort of this. Boy was he right!

I can’t say that I’ve ever been in pain throughout this process; however, I spent most of the day feeling like I was carrying a softball in my stomach and that my skin was being stretched to uncomfortable limits. It’s made for difficulties sitting and standing for too long. Finally, this evening, I’ve started to notice my stomach becoming a bit harder than normal and protruding slightly. While I did enjoy a very good dessert last evening, I don’t think that my metabolism is punishing me!

So, day #4 brings about 6-8 more days of hormone therapy- I can do this! While I’m uncomfortable, I’m keeping my eye on the prize and relishing in the hubs, who has stepped up his game with cleaning, laundry, etc. to keep me off of my feet!

The big week has (finally) arrived!!

The big week has arrived!!

After many weeks/ days of waiting, the start of my active drugs has arrived. I thought I would be more nervous than excited, but I’m honestly excited to get started and ready to see what kind of side effects these drugs are going to have on me.

I visited the fertility clinic yesterday morning (yes, that’s right, 7:30am on Sunday- fertility knows no time) for an ultrasound and blood work to check my PRE-IVF ovaries, progesterone and estrogen levels. All tests came back good; however, they delayed the start of my active drug protocol by 1 day to let things mature just a bit more.

The plan:

-          Thursday is the start of Gonal F and Menopur injections, both taken in my stomach, which I’m used to and (BONUS) I can administer myself. The Hubby is definitely relieved by this one! Both will be taken in the evening.

-          I’ll continue this protocol for 3 days and go back into the fertility clinic on Sunday (7:30am again, yawn) for an ultrasound and blood work, to determine if the dosage is correct and when to begin the other injections.

Things I’m anxious about: mixing the Menopur correctly, which needs to be reconstituted from powder to liquid form for injection, please pray that I can do this with ease and with little error.

Thanks for hanging with me friends, the fun has just begun!

(Before cuteness and organization)

 (After)

Happy 2012!

This past Friday, FedEx sent us a very special delivery in the form of drugs and needles. I hope it will be the only time that I can publish a Facebook status that reads "Waiting on my drugs to arrive!"

To make myself feel less anxious about the aforementioned goodies, I promptly went to HomeGoods to purchase a cute organization basket to store them in. Now I feel less like we're running a meth-lab out of our kitchen and more like a domestic goddess, who can organize anything!

We have yet to learn the specifics about the active drug protocol, but we do know that the process will begin on or around 01/18. That's a warning for everyone that I may be a bit emotional toward the end of January. Answer your phones cautiously!

I'm headed to Dr. L (fertility specialist) on Tuesday for a mock embryo transfer, which is where they stick a long needle and ultrasound probe in me to take pictures of my follicles, tubes, and the best routes to proceed. The way I understand it, it's like setting up a map of my lady parts so that when the important export and import steps happen, they won't be getting lost. At this appointment, they'll be going over the treatment schedule. The hubs will also get to learn how to administer the intramuscular injections (3-inch needle), he says that he's not nervous about this, but boy oh boy, I am!

We're excited to get started and for all the fun that 2012 has in store for us. I wish you friends, a happy and prosperous New Year and in light of this post, I feel it fitting to say, "Just Say No!" (hehe)