Round 2 Begins!!

I feel excited, nervous, scared out of my mind. Yesterday our Meds arrived and they ordered more this time since I had to get several refills last cycle. Freakin out looking at all the Meds!

My suppression check was yesterday and the ultrasound showed 2 large cysts on my right ovary. One was 40mm the other 25mm. But on a happier note my E2 level was only 29 which means we got to start meds last night with a Lupron injection. Lupron every twelve hours and tomorrow I begin the Follistim and Menopur. 

Hubby and I are in the car headed toward my first cyst aspiration. The RE thinks I will respond better if those little buggers are gone. Just took my Valium and hydrocodone...this could get interesting!

IVF Drug Protocol Day 15

Went back for a check today and the Dr. actually came to "the viewing".  He also planted himself between the stirrups and casually draped his arm over my legs and chatted with us as the nurse checked my ovaries.  REALLY!!!  My follicles had grown minimally since yesterday, but Doc said he would look at the final numbers and my bloodwork before deciding for sure if it would be trigger day.  The nurse sent us home with Oocyte Retrieval instructions along with 5 more vials of Menopur (just in case). We headed home and on the way the nurse called to let us know that it was NOT trigger day and I need one more day of stim shots.  I am disappointed, but I want the most eggies possible.  We head back tomorrow, hopefully for some better news.  Looks like Friday is the day now.  Our lives will change one way or the other.  Sperm or no sperm...that is now the question!

IVF Drug Protocol Day 6

Today is day 6 of injections and was my first check up since beginning stim shots. Injected Lupron before our trip to the city, had to wait on Follistim until after the blood work and ultrasound. One of the fertility docs tried to pull my blood for the third visit in a row and failed yet again. The nurses are always successful. Just wish he wouldn't move the needle so much in his attempts.
Finally made it into an ultrasound room and got down to business. I finally got to see some of my growing follicles. On the right ovary at least. For some reason my left ovary was MIA. The nurse went to get the doc since she couldn't find it and she found some fluid in my uterus. Doc couldn't find it either, though he tried very hard. He said it should show itself when the follicles get large enough. Since Aunt Flow is still here he said not to worry about the fluid in my uterus, it may just be clots. Though he did find a fibroid, didn't seem concerned about it. I don't even know what that is. Guess I'll be doing some google searching later!

The nurse said to continue the same dosing until my next appointment on Tuesday.

In other news, my DH's grandmother is failing. It will not be long until she is with Jesus. Hubby had a nice afternoon comforting her and healing his heart.

Here is a pic of my follie sizes!

IVF Drug Protocol Day 4

It is day 4 of my IVF drug protocol.  Last night I had my first injection of Menopur which involved several vials and mixing.  It was a larger dose than any of the others and was definitely more painful.  The nurse told me I may get my period after stopping the norethindrone, but after the light bleeding I had earlier this month (12 days of it!!!) I didn't think there was anyway I could bleed more.  I was wrong.  I have had the worst cramps that I have had in months these last two days.  It feels weird to have my period and be taking meds to grow eggs.  Seems counterproductive.  But, I am not an MD and this process is so new to me.  My symptoms with the Lupron have pretty well gone, just a light headache, but that could also be sinus related.  I feel pretty good.  I just hope this keeps up.

IVF Drug Protocol Day 3

On day three now.  5 Lupron injections done, and just began an a.m. dose of Follistim. Tonight will be Lupron followed by Menopur. This one actually requires mixing and several vials of powdered meds.  I'm scared!  Overall I feel okay.  Mild headache and dizziness compounded with feeling tired, and today my period has begun and I have severe cramps.  Dang!  My biggest side effect to the drugs so far started last night...extreme emotion.  I cried at least 4 times last night and once this morning (while watching a movie preview of a movie I have already seen!) Ridiculous!

IVF Drug Protocol Day 2

It is the morning of day 2.  Three Lupron injections done.  I am not a fan.  Within 30 minutes of the injection I get a throbbing headache, actually my head feels like it is swelling.  I feel tired and lightheaded.  I had difficulty sleeping last night. I am developing a small rash on my tummy.  I am not a fan.  I know that if this all works out and we do have a baby it will be well worth it!  Just not sure if I should worry about these side effects.

Infertility Sucks!

Having fertility issues really can suck.  We have hoped and prayed for a baby for so many years and finally had some financial assistance to help us move on the the next step, IVF.  I have spent many an hour crying, grieving for the child that will be part of each of us.  I have been angry with God, wondering how we could be denied this deep desire when so many around us neglect the many children they are blessed with.  My husband and I have traveled a very long road to get where we are right now. 

This was all supposed to begin last week, but after being on birth control for 36 straight days (due to a doctor having a "vacation" conflict when our egg retrieval should have been...don't even get me started!) I had developed a cyst on each ovary.  I had been having pain in my left side, though it was the smallest cyst at 15 mm.  My right side had a 25 mm cyst.  I don't know if that is big or not, but it sure looked that way on the ultrasound monitor.  It was large enough for the nurse to go get another nurse to look at it.  The tears began to flow as soon as they told us this.  All I could think was will this put us off another month?  We have been waiting for so long, another month felt like eternity.  

Let me just say, I have been an emotional wreck the past few weeks.  It really began when the lovely ice chest arrived filled to the brim with all sorts of vials and needles.

This all would have been a-okay if my estrogen level had not been elevated to 498.  Is that high?  

Anyhow, the nurses at the clinic put me on norethindrone to lower my estrogen level and get me fully suppressed.

It worked! Though the cyst on the right ovary had grown to 29 mm, my estrogen levels are down to 24 as of this morning.  So Lupron begins as does our quest for a precious tiny little miracle.  Today was my first Lupron injection.  I was scared, I am not a fan of needles and was worried that I would not be able to inject myself, but I DID!! And, it wasn't so bad.  In 12 hours I will repeat.