Blood work: Estradiol levels checked, 4/29/09

Results from this mornings blood draw is already posted on my RE’s patient portal. I love technology!

4/23/09 baseline Estradiol (E2) – 31 pg/ml (picograms/milliliter)
4/29/09 first Estradiol (E2) – 281 pg/ml
The ivf nurse expected a range between 200 and 500 so it looks like we’re right on track. We go back on Friday for another blood test and ultrasound. We are excited for the ultrasound because it will show us how many follicles there seem to be and how they are maturing & growing based on size. Additionally, we might have more details around when the egg retrieval might be.

The nurse will call this afternoon to confirm that we stay on our current protocol until Friday’s appointment.

I also completed the anesthesia questionnaire for the egg retrieval procedure that will probably be next week. They also gave us a pregnancy test to take the day after the trigger shots to be sure the they worked. The trigger shot contains the hcg hormone (same one measured in a pregnancy test) and will provide one last push for the follicles to grow. If my body doesn't react to the two trigger shots then my doc will give me something stronger but it will delay egg retrieval. More confirmation this is actually happening!

We’ll keep you posted.

the bloat is ON!

Tonight is night 3 of stims and it's going really well. It was really awkward for both Ed and I to give/get a shot in the belly so the first one was sketchy - Ed had to give me an unintentional test poke because the belly surface felt different. The amount of medicine is a lot more (went from 10u/5u to 300u) so he had to adjust to a longer push of the plunger.

Usually the Lupron (5u) is a piece of cake but last night we were both off somehow so I got a little bit of a bruise today. I think we were trying to do both injections too quickly (from icing ritual: ice to shot to pressure to ice) so we're going to slow that process down a bit starting tonight.

I must say that since starting the stims I finally feel closer to myself again. I didn't think the Lupron had much of an effect on my mood but I realized today that I am really happy and back to the old me again. Hi Cel, I missed you!!

Well, the real reason for this post is to share that I'm totally and completely bloated! The RE said this is normal and expected but it's just weird to me - it's like I have this little spare tire below my belly. I'm just hoping my closet survives the next few weeks (then beyond that, I hope I need a new wardrobe anyway)! Until then Viva Yoga to stay balanced!

Updates to come on Wednesday when we visit the doctors again and discuss next steps.

Family & Friends, this is really happening! The excitement is unreal and unlike anything I ever expected. Thank you for all of your love and support.

Love,
Cel & Ed

Baseline Appointment 4/23/09 & Stimulation Meds start tonight, 4/24/09

We had our baseline appointment at the RE's office yesterday. Everything went well and it was a very quick appointment. I gave a blood sample for my current Estradiol level that will be compared next week when I give more blood samples on 4/29 and 5/1. Estradiol is the hormone that can be measured to show how well my body is responding to the stimulation medication. The RE also performed an ultrasound to make sure my ovaries are "quiet" giving us the green light for starting the stim injections tonight.

The stimulation medications will consist of an additional shot which is a coctkail mix of gonal-f and menopur. This shot will be given in my belly at the same time as the reduced dose of Lupron is given in either my arm or thigh. The IVF nurse tells me that with starting the stims and reducing the Lupron will help with all the side effects (major migranes lately) because my estrogen levels will increase. She says to give it two days.

The cure to my headaches are...

caffeine.

I think, anyways. Earlier when I felt one coming on, I took a quick swig of Ed's Coke and it didn't progress into a migraine. I'm not supposed to take any caffeine but a few sips here and there is ok by me.

Lupron Symptoms

I've had three shots last night. There are 17 more nights of shots left. I wanted to quickly capture the symptoms I'm experiencing.

1) Headaches. The sporadic frequency is odd. I'm noticing them mainly in the early evening although I had one this morning. I've googled it and found remedies consist of drinking more water (I'm already at 40oz a day), tylenol, and possibly eating chocolate (I'm not quite buying this one though). I also read that once the dosage is reduced on Friday that the headaches will subside.

2) Fullness. I'm not sure if I'm actually bloating but my lower tummy just feels full and achy.

3) Not sharp. It's as if aliens sucked the smart and quick wit out of my brain. This may not be a bad thing because I'm such a quick talker. This is making me slow down and think before I speak. Not sure what it does to my writing, so forgive any grammatical errors. I have an excuse.

All in all, I'm happy. I love that we are finally here. I still heart shots... but not shots in the arm maybe because there's less fat in my arm. We're sticking to the back of the thighs.

Love,
Cel.

Headache today

The good thing about shots during allergy season is that you don't know the real cause of a monstrous headache.

I heart headaches, not really, but if I do will it go away sooner? Let's test the theory...

Lupron shot 1 tonight, 4/14/09

Tonight at 8pm Ed gave me the first of many Lupron shots. If Ed was nervous, he hid it so well. I was more nervous than I expected to be on the inaugural night of becoming a human pin cushion. Here's our process:

We wipe down the kitchen counter with anti-back kitchen spray then wipe the area with a Clorox wipe
We are using a serving tray to house the Sharps container (where the used needles go), alcohol wipes, and a plastic container that temporary holds waste. The tray is put ontop of the clean counter.
Ed pulls the meds out of the fridge & wipes the top of the vial with an alcohol wipe
I pull an ice pack and start numbing the back of my thigh
Ed fills the syringe to appropriate level - tonight was 10 u on an insulin syringe
We go to the couch, I remove the ice pack, Ed swabs the area, wait for it to dry (else it'll sting), I pinch the area, & Ed stabs me like a pro
I apply pressure for a mintute then the ice pack for a few minutes
I get up and get my m&m's reward - thanks to Kathy for the supply!

1 Lupron shot down, 20 to go.

Now I'm heading up for meditation then to bed. Good night.

Cel.

Big day tomorrow

Tomorrow we have an appointment @ the center to get shot instructions, the schedule, and Ed will practice giving me shots! We are excited, thrilled, & a little anxious.

Tomorrow we also get to write a big fat check for one fresh cycle. It's a big chunk of change but we are so happy to feed the econonmy with our baby making money.

Crazy hormones, here I come! Stay tuned for day 1 of injections on 4/14 at 8:00pm.

Update on major dates

4/9/09 - Visit to the clinic for shot instructions (Ed'll practice giving me a shot) & review of the schedule
4/14/09 - Lupron injections start
4/24/09 - Stimulation injections start
5/5/09 - Egg Retrieval
5/8/09 or 5/10/09 - Embryo Transfer
5/16/09 or 5/17/09 & 5/18/09 - Doctor's visit for pregnancy test