Well we did it...two shots yesterday and four today! 6 down, and who knows how many more to go! This is a big hurdle for us as I have been worried about this for months. I do find it slightly cruel that you need to do these for the first time in the morning without coffee. It took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to clean, prep, and load the 'easy to use' follistim pen!!
Oh well, I think we'll make it through the next few days with no problem and I'm ready for my appointment on Thursday to see what's next.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tests and Transfers and Shots, Oh My!
It's been an eventful couple weeks so thought it was time for an update.
We received a HUGE box of medicine, needles, and syringes last Tuesday. Fortunately, Steve was ready for it and we have a nice dedicated spot in the refrigerator for all of our new goodies. We read the instructions and watched the videos but were still amazed at the complexity of it all. It really is shocking that it all shows up in a box and they trust you to figure it out!
On Monday, we went in for another very long visit where the doctor did a trial transfer, which is essentially a practice run for the real embryo transfer. This lets the doctor determine the direction and length of the uterus and minimizes trauma to during the actual transfer. Fortunately it went well, and they have a good road map to use in a couple weeks.
Today, I went in for a final blood test and ultrasound before officially beginning the 'stimulation phase.' Based on the results of the tests, I was told to begin Lupron tomorrow (20 units twice a day) and Follistim on Sunday (300 iui twice a day). While I had been expecting shots, I wasn't really prepared for FOUR shots a day. We filled up the syringes with water and Steve practiced on an orange tonight, so we should be all set for the morning!
That's all for now...wish us luck tomorrow!!!
We received a HUGE box of medicine, needles, and syringes last Tuesday. Fortunately, Steve was ready for it and we have a nice dedicated spot in the refrigerator for all of our new goodies. We read the instructions and watched the videos but were still amazed at the complexity of it all. It really is shocking that it all shows up in a box and they trust you to figure it out!
On Monday, we went in for another very long visit where the doctor did a trial transfer, which is essentially a practice run for the real embryo transfer. This lets the doctor determine the direction and length of the uterus and minimizes trauma to during the actual transfer. Fortunately it went well, and they have a good road map to use in a couple weeks.
Today, I went in for a final blood test and ultrasound before officially beginning the 'stimulation phase.' Based on the results of the tests, I was told to begin Lupron tomorrow (20 units twice a day) and Follistim on Sunday (300 iui twice a day). While I had been expecting shots, I wasn't really prepared for FOUR shots a day. We filled up the syringes with water and Steve practiced on an orange tonight, so we should be all set for the morning!
That's all for now...wish us luck tomorrow!!!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
And so it begins...
A blog, really? We already communicate through facebook, e-mail, chat, and texts...do we really yet need another method to correspond? I'm thinking we do! While we are blessed with many family and friends, all offering love and support, we know we will have a hard time relaying the details of our IVF journey to each one of you. It is our hope that this approach will give us a more time to focus on our day to day lives, our jobs, and most importantly each other. As it is often heard in our home, each challenge is simply the next chapter. While we are both nervous and excited, we are grateful to have such a strong support system and look forward to sharing this chapter of our lives with all of you.
Our official 'cycle day 1' was on Monday (9/1), so I thought I'd start there...
Monday 9/1 - Last minute visit to REACH (Reproductive Endocronlogy of Charlotte) before I leave for Nashville. Ultrasound to get a baseline of my ovaries, and blood work to measure hormone levels. While everything looks good, there is a cyst blocking the view to my left ovary. This is most likely and 'ovulation cyst' and will disappear in the next two weeks.
Tuesday 9/2 - Birth control pills begin. No, I have not lost my mind! The goal of IVF is to harvest as many eggs as possible. If I ovulate, eggs will be released before we are ready to retrieve them. Taking birth control pills will prevent this for the next 3 weeks.
So there it is...update number one. Hope you found it helpful!!!
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