IVF #1, Day 7: 10/5/12

Wow, what a day!  It started with rushing, through rush-hour traffic —again, to get to my 7:30am appointment.  Seven growing follicles on my right ovary and four on my left.  The largest measured at 12mm.  I had no idea they grow so quickly (two days ago the biggest was almost 8mm)

Dr. B told me to add the Ganirelix injection tonight and that I would need to schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning, just in case my estrogen level came back too high —not sure I really understood what that meant.  I just understood that they want to make sure I don't ovulate before Monday.  I ended up getting a call, later in the day, letting me know that my estrogen level came back just fine and I don't have to go in again until Monday.  By then, we should be able to get an 'egg retrieval' date.

Today was a rough day.  I broke. :(  I had been holding it together for 6 days.  However, today I was an enormous ball of emotions and had a messed up stomach and a horrible migraine —again!! (it was something like the fourth day in a row).  Luckily, my mom happened to have the day off today.  I went over and KJ and I spent most of the day with my parents!  Of course, we went to some stores (and I finally found some super comfy yoga pants that actually fit very well around the bloated belly AND in length, for my short legs —haha!) and then we hung around their house for a bit too.  To top it off, my mom invited KJ to spend the night!  I was able to come home and get a two hour nap —uninterrupted!! (well, besides my hubby calling to check up on me)

Tonight, we were supposed to take advantage of KJ being out of the house.  We had thought on having a nice date night, starting at 8pm or so and going all into the wee hours of the night.  However, my stomach was acting like it had some kind of bug (which it doesn't!); I think it's just the meds.  :(  Needless to say, we stayed home.  I thought it would be a good idea to get my injections over with —that was our "fun" for the night. LOL!  (aside from watching a few episodes of The Big Bang Theory)

I took a HUGE step tonight... I was able to give my own injections!!!  Wow, right?!  For me, it's definitely a HUGE wow!!  Oh, correction, I gave two out of three injections.   I did the Follistim and the Menopur.  The Menopur was horrible to give!!! :(  It hurts so much for some reason.  My hubby probably only takes like 10 seconds  (at most) to empty the syringe into my belly.  However, I, on the other hand, probably took an entire 45 seconds to empty it out into my belly!!! ahhhh!  It was not easy because every time the medicine pinched and burned I would stop and then go super slowly... I'm not sure I want to do that one alone anymore.  Okay, now the new one tonight, was a hilarious moment!  It had a thicker (larger?) needle.  It was still a short one, that goes in the belly.  But it just did not look super thin like the others.  I let Chris do that one because I wanted him to still be a part of it.  I had no idea he was not going to dart it in on the first try!! haha, yup!  He hesitated and started to go in slowly.  It barely poked in and then it just started to push against my skin.  He panicked and pulled it back out!!!  Seriously!! lol!  We exchanged a very interesting look as I told him, very calmly, to just dart it in there.  But... he still went in slowly and it did NOT feel good.  haha it was a thick needle.  He did, however, empty out the syringe in my belly very gently and it didn't hurt one bit.  It felt very strange when he pulled the needle back out.  I don't look forward to having to do this two more times (and then I hope we are done with that one).

So, today was an interesting concoction of emotions and events.  :)  *unfortunately, I've been feeling my hands and feet swelling since about 30 mins after the new injection (Ganirelix).  Not sure if I should call on-call doc or see what happens in the next half hour or so.

Oh, and endo did flare up this evening  (and late last night at bedtime)  :(  —before the injections.

Let's see what tomorrow brings (hopefully no migraine, crazy gurgly stomach, or swelling of my hands or feet)...

IVF #1, Day 6: 10/4/12

Woke up feeling blugh. :( still had to get up and start my day. Chris got home from work super early so we went to my favorite Mexican restaurant, downtown. I enjoyed the food and enjoyed being out and about. From there we went to Main Event, to bowl. I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to bowl because of my back...

Three hours of bowling later, yes, that's right...three hours of bowling!! Haha. We had a BLAST!! Chris and I are thinking it might be our new little sport/hobby together. I hadn't bowled in several years and I didn't realize how much I missed it. :)

It was a great day out -and then we had to come home for injections :(

Menopur and Follistim. Nothing new there. BUT I did try to give myself an injection...I froze and couldn't get past the invisible shield, approximately 2cm from the skin of my belly. Chris had to help me out -took if out of my hand and did his thing.

I WILL get over my fear...one of these days.

IVF #1, Day 5: 10/3/12

Ultrasound/labs appointment was this morning at 7:15am.  Doc found 4 growing follicles on each ovary.  I started with ten on my right and seven on my left, on September 28.  I'm hoping I get more before retrieval... I don't know what is the norm for Day 5 but I can't imagine that eight, total, is enough.  :\

I was shocked when the nurse told me that we could know a retrieval date as early as this Friday!  I can't believe that we are so close to the retrieval date already!!  It's always just been "the week of the 8th" . . . well, that's next week already!!  It seems to be going by so quickly!  wow.

Nurse M. told me to continue with 150 Menopur and 150 Follistim.

eeek!  this is crazy; just days away from figuring out the retrieval date!  This is soooo real.

To get my mind on other things for a while (between work and IVF, my mind and emotions have reach the max, right now), KJ and I met with a friend and her kiddos and finally saw Finding Nemo 3D and then had lunch at Cosi —Yum!!  Then I crazily shopped for three and a half hours!  And that's that I really hate clothes shopping for me.  But I really needed some new clothes because I am having a LOT of trouble fitting into my current clothes right now.  I'm sooooo bloated and uncomfortable.  :(  No pain.  Just some serious discomfort with the, now, tighter waist bands.  I was able to find one Maxi dress (but its strapless and one size too big and I think I will only wear it at home).  I really need to find some more comfy clothes!

Oh, and tonight, I was actually able to watch Chris poke the needle into my tummy!  (and it wasn't even as scary and nerve-wrecking as I imagined it would be) What a HUGE step for me!  I'm serious, I just might be able to give my own injections soon. ;)

Other changes:
*I've noticed that if I walk to fast, I feel a pulling pain (like endo) on my ovaries :(
*Spotting has stopped completely.(Nurse M says it's not unusual to spot and cramp during this part of the IVF cycle.  Good to know. )

IVF #1, Day 4: 10/2/12

Today, I noticed having a shorter temper.  I haven't "lost" my temper.  I just noticed that little things are starting to irritate and bother me more than usual.  I'm still super sleepy; my insomnia is gone (which is a great thing —but I really dislike feeling sleepy allllll day long and I have not had any caffeine in two weeks).  A scary change today was that I started spotted pretty heavily.  There is some serious concern because it began as soon as my stress level (due to a work situation) shot through the roof.  I felt my heart pounding in my chest; I was short of breath, and I started cramping!  I hope everything is still normally and coming along well.

I'm definitely more comfortable getting ready for the injections.  I'm trying to be able to watch the needle go in my skin but I just can't.  I have to sit on my hands and turn away.  haha!  BUT I was able to look while the needle was still in my tummy.  That is a HUGE step for me!  Of all the needles I've dealt with (from tests and surgeries/procedures/hospital stays and many visits to the doctor), I have never ever been able to watch any of it be done.  I have always had to turn away and wait until it is all over.  So, looking down, at my tummy, while the needle was still in there, was a great step! :)  Maybe, before the injection days are over, I'll actually be able to administer my own injection?!

So far I only have two small bruises, out of eight injection pricks.  My hubby (nurse-hubby is what I call him right now) is doing a fabulous job!!!  I am so thankful for his full support, emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc.  It's strange how much we are actually falling deeper in love with one another during this process.  :)

God is good!!

IVF #1, Day 3: 10/1/12

I haven't had any major side effects —other than being super sleepy and pretty thirsty all the time, I actually feel better than I had been feeling.  I have more energy.  I feel like I'm not dealing with extreme mood swings.  Oh, my appetite is weird.  I not as hungry as I usually am.  I eat about one full meal a day and then pick on other meals.  I don't know why; I just don't feel hungry three times a day.  Sometimes a snack will be just fine for hours.

Still on the same doses 150 Menopur and 150 Follistim.

Oh!  and a GREAT change I noticed is that it has actually helped with my endo!!  I always had pain after certain "activity"; however I've had NONE!!  Praise God!  I hope this lasts!! :D  (but I do notice that I still can not stretch my entire body at once without feeling endo pain/pulls in my lower abdomen)

But... So far so good!  :)