Update from this week's appointments

I had two appointments in Nashville this week (Tuesday and today) to check my estradiol level and to have an ultrasound done to check my progress. After Tuesday's appointment, my estradiol level was 450, and I had around a total of 20 follicles (some of which were considered micro follicles). Mom came down and went with me to my appointment this morning. The ultrasound technician gave me a clipboard and paper, and while she was doing her thing, she told me the measurements of the follicles, and I had to take notes for her. I was happy to do this because I was actually able to see the progress for myself. On Tuesday, all of my follicles were under 10, and today, the results were something like this....
Right side= 5 follicles between 10-14 mm, 6 follicles under 10 mm, and I can't remember how many micro follicles (she was talking so fast)
Left side= 3 follicles between 10-14 mm, 4 follicles under 10 mm (I think), and a few micro follicles
For those that don't know, the follicles (or eggs) are mature when they reach a measurement of 18-20 mm. So I feel like I'm getting closer which is exciting!
My estradiol level today was at 2,131. I'm not exactly sure what this number means, but I do know that it's supposed to increase. I also know that if this number gets too high, they can cancel this cycle, and we'd have to wait and start all over again. I know this isn't going to happen though, so I'm not too worried about this. I do have one change in my plan for the weekend. I'm supposed to continue doing 1 injection of Lupron (5 units) every morning, but now they want to decrease my dose of Follistim in the evening. Starting tonight, I only have to take 150 units of Follistim. I guess this might have something to do with my estradiol level jumping from 450 to 2,131 in three days, but I'm not sure. I go back on Monday for another "check", and I'm hoping that they will tell me that things are still progressing. As of now, I have a feeling that the egg retrieval might be on Wednesday. This could always change depending on how my body continues to react. I'll just continue to take the medications this weekend, and hopefully by Monday afternoon I'll know more.
Brad and I are looking forward to having a relaxing weekend with NOTHING to do. We have about 20 shows on the DVR that we still need to watch, and of course, we have to cheer on our CATS tomorrow! GO UK!!! :)

2-A-DAYS

I just finished giving myself my 2nd shot of the day! This was the first time I had done the FSH shot. I'm using the Follistim pen that you just twist to however many units you want to give. I wasn't sure what the needle was going to look like...I had a feeling it was going to be big, but when I opened the box, it was labeled as a "micro-fine" needle. I was so relieved! Brad and I watched the how-to video from the clinic so I wouldn't mess anything up, and then I went in the kitchen and sat on the floor so I could give it to myself for the first time without him watching and without Bailey jumping all over me. I must admit, even though I do have several bruises on my stomach, I feel like I'm actually getting pretty good at this.

Suppression Check

I headed down to Nashville on Thursday morning for my suppression check appointment. I thought I was going to have to take a sick day from work, but we were off of school for our 8th snow day!! Let me just say that the snow is getting a bit ridiculous, and I am SICK of it. I don't think I've ever been so ready for Spring. They're calling for more snow here tomorrow and Monday, so it's looking like the snow days aren't over yet.
Anyway...back to my appointment. I ended up getting there about 30 minutes early, so I took a bunch of papers to grade while I sat in the waiting room. As soon as I got out a stack of papers, they called me back. They're always on top of their game at the clinic, and I was so glad I didn't have to wait long. My first stop was the blood station. They had to take blood to check my estradiol level. I went straight from giving blood to have an ultrasound done. This was done to make sure I didn't have any cysts. The ultrasound lady said everything looked great, and she moved me to another room where I had to get weighed in and have my blood pressure checked. I don't know what it is about the blood pressure cuff, but everytime a doctor puts one of those on my arm, I can always feel my blood pressure shoot up. I warned the lady that this always seems to happen, and sure enough, my blood pressure was a little higher than usual. I guess it's just nerves or something. My next stop was with a nurse practicioner who listened to my heart and lungs and asked me a bunch of questions. She then proceeded to do a trial embryo transfer. This little procedure was done just like it will be the day they actually do the real embryo transfer so that they can get all of the measurements and make notes so that everything goes smoothly on the big day. The lab technician came in next and she went over what they do on the day of the egg retrieval. She showed me pictures of what the eggs will look like after they are fertilized and what they should look like once they start developing. It's so amazing what they can do! She said that if they do a Day 3 transfer then they will transfer 2 embryos, but if they do a Day 5 transfer, then they will just transfer 1 embryo. The Day 3 and Day 5 just means that's how many days they wait after the egg retrieval to transfer the embryos.
After checking out and receiving a voicemail box to call after every appointment for results and updates, I was on my way home. What was supposed to be a 3-hour appointment ended up only lasting 1 1/2 hours, so I got home earlier than expected, and I got to enjoy the rest of my snow day by laying around with Bailey.
As of now, the plan is to take 5 units of Lupron every morning, and starting tonight, I have to take 225 units of Follistim which is the stimulant drug. I go back down to Nashville on Tuesday and Friday for more check-ups. After I start this new injection tonight, I'm not allowed to pick up anything over 10 lbs. (which means no picking up Bailey), and I can't do too much cleaning. So, needless to say, I am spending ALL day today cleaning and doing laundry. Thank goodness Brad is being the good husband that he is and helping me clean! :) I better get back to it...I've got to tackle the bathroom next....the worst room in the house to clean! YUCK!

For Your Viewing Pleasure

I wanted to share my morning routine with you all....ENJOY! :)

My morning meds (for the next week or so)











STEP 1: CLEAN LUPRON BOTTLE WITH ALCOHOL SWAB











STEP 2: OPEN SYRINGE











STEP 3: FILL SYRINGE WITH 10 UNITS OF AIR











STEP 4: PUT NEEDLE IN LUPRON BOTTLE AND PUSH AIR OUT











STEP 5: FILL SYRINGE WITH 10 UNITS OF LURPON











STEP 6: CLEAN SKIN WITH ALCOHOL SWAB











STEP 7: PINCH SKIN AND INJECT











STEP 8: THROW SYRINGE AWAY

Pinch Poke...the first shot a success!

Not sure why, but I woke up this morning excited that it was the day to start my first injection. I guess because this means we're another day closer to egg retrieval day, which means another day closer to implantation day, and another day closer to the blood test which will let us know if that this IVF cycle was successful. I got up before Brad and Bailey got out of bed so that I could do the injection so no one would watch the first time. I told myself that some people have to give themselves injections everyday if not more than once a day for different medical reasons, and if they could do it, I could do it too. I pulled up the how-to video on the fertility clinic's website, got all of my supplies together, and followed along step-by-step. When I got to the actual injection part, the needle just went in....I'm pretty sure I didn't even think about it. Maybe I should have been a nurse! :) It didn't hurt at all, and I was actually very proud of myself. I told Brad that he could watch me from now on because it was nothing. Now I just hope all of the other injections are just as easy!

I also got a very helpful tip (along with a lot of other helpful advice) from a new friend that I met through the blog world who has now become my email penpal. She told me how helpful it was that she had a daily calendar labeled with daily medications, doctors appointments, etc. I took her advice and made a calendar and labeled what I needed to do everyday. I like having everything all layed out, and it's nice to be able to check days off as we go through them. Everyday for the next week and a half pretty much looks the same....finish the BCP by next weekend and 10 units of Lupron daily. February 11th is my first doctor's appointment which will be my suppression check.

Meds are in!

Earlier in the week we received our first shipment of medications. A few things were left out, so the pharmacy sent another shipment yesterday. I think I have everything that I will need (unless they increase my medications during my cycle). I am missing one box of my Follistim cartridges. Because of insurance, they can only send so many boxes at a time, so I have to call the pharmacy back when I start these injections to get my last box shipped to me. Our dining room table has turned in to a pharmacy, so we've been having to eat all of our meals at the coffee table, which doesn't usually happen with us. Bailey is really enjoying us eating in the living room though. :)

EVERYTHING


JUST THE NEEDLES AND SYRINGES


I start my first Lupron injection tomorrow morning. I'm sure I'll post again tomorrow letting you all know how this goes. Brad has already read the side effects for this, and he's not looking forward to what he's read! :) haha

More GREAT news!

After a week of worrying about Bailey, we finally heard from the vet on Wednesday with an update from the lab. Her so-called malignant tumor ended up being a benign follicular cyst. Brad looked this up on the internet, and every website compares this to an ingrown hair! I don't think I've ever been so relieved. We got home from work Wednesday afternoon, and told Bailey she was cancer-free! WOOHOO!!! :)