So here we are doing IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).
September I started taking Birth Control Pills (sounds backwards, right?) to help calm my body before the 'storm'. During this time, I had a couple more tests done to make sure my body was really ready for what was about to happen. John and I went to West Palm Beach, FL at the Four Seasons for a conference my work was hosting...we had a great time...and relaxing too. We left a day early to fly to PA for my Grandfather's Memorial Service and saw a bunch of family...many of them saying a lot of prayers for us, which is appreciated SO much more than they know...we are so lucky to have such a large support system.
Monday, October 1st I took my last Birth Control Pill and started my first dose of Lupron. Lupron is a drug that makes your body think that it can produce more than just one egg per month; this is a shot that goes in your stomach (small needle...no pain). I did that shot while I flew to GA for a business trip (not nearly as relaxing as FL...and I got a nasty cold while I was there from all the flying we'd done recently). Also during that trip I got my (hopefully last) period...good the ball is rolling.
When I got back I went to the doctor to again on October 9th to make sure my body is ready to start this VERY involved process. All was well. On the 10th I started Follistim (a drug that makes your body produce as many eggs as possible); this is a shot as well that goes in your stomach...very small, fine needle (no pain). I took this shot every night along with Lupron every morning. I started the (almost) daily doctor visits for bloodwork & ultrasound (vaginal) to check my progress.
My first appt. on the 12th showed that I already had about 9 eggs growing, which was great! Saturday I started a shot that John had to give me in my tush (IM...IntraMuscular)....after that night my stomach started bloating and hurting. They kept my meds. at the same dosage and I went back on Sunday the 14th. I had a couple more little buggers in there and I went back Monday the 15th....again a couple more...but this time they said that my Estrogen level was getting pretty high pretty fast and they decided to lower my meds from 225units to 200units. I went back Tuesday. Still my estrogen was climbing to fast (this could be bad....if my estrogen went past 6,000 or I had more than 35 mature eggs, my 1st IVF cycle would be CANCELLED)...so they dropped my meds to 150units. I went back Wednesday and by this time I had 16 mature follicles and 34 total (holy crap!)...however, my estrogen was still a bit too high....so they lowered me to 37.5units (barely anything)...I went back Thursday which by now it was almost uncomfortable to walk cuz I had so many eggs....they told me to LIMIT activity because my egg 'sack' is so fragile, they could bounce right out....I had a total of 42 follicles (yikes), 32 were measurable, and 20 are 'mature'. That night I did the Ovidrel (which is a bit thicker of a needle, in the stomach, but still no pain). Ovidrel is the 'trigger' shot...it tells my body to ovulate.
Friday was a day of rest...no shots...yay!
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