Ouch September 30, 2005

Well this morning was the last u/s of this cycle! yay! It was a very very good u/s at that. There are three follicles in the right and seven in the left for a total of NINE follicles! Wow. We trigger tomorrow and by Monday there should be SEVEN follicles mature enough for fertilization. So we achieved Dr. H’s request of 5 or 6 follicles.

My stomach looks awful. It’s littered with little bruises but the big thing is that I’m having some sort of skin reaction to the injections of Repronex. From one side of my tummy to the other is one giant hive that is raised, red, hurts, and itches. I was told that this was somewhat common with Repronex but the website says 5 in 100. I’ve been slathering on hydrocortisone cream like it’s going out of style. The funny thing is that the hive doesn’t appear until the next morning (I take the Repronex at night). So I have two different injection sites that have meshed into one and another one that should pop up in the morning. I just got back from the drugstore with some oral Benadryl. I’m going to start popping those. My tummy hurts so bad! I can’t even do the dishes because I can’t stand to get up next to the darn sink!

In really great news, my body is giving me all the signs that it is ready for a baby. It probably shouldn’t surprise me that these signs are very strong and abundant considering my ovaries are very very full.

And someone asked what ovary pain felt like. I feel pressure, twisting, throbbing, and stabbing pains. It’s uncomfortable, but I know things are going well. It hurts if pressure is placed on my tummy (from the allergic reaction and the ovaries). It also really hurts if my bladder gets to full kinda like when you are really really pregnant.

So, we’ll trigger tomorrow. Should ovulate Monday morning(ish). I’ll start progesterone support on Monday evening and Monday October 17 I’ll go in for a pregnancy test. So we are in the final stretch! Please be thinking sticky egg vibes this weekend and next week. I’m hopeful and excited and ready!

Cycle Day 10 September 27, 2005

I’m okay. I kind of vanished for a bit there and I apologize. Life has been super busy. Saturday I had an ultrasound and blood draw. All looks well, and at that point my left ovary looked a bit sluggish, but was responding. My estradiol level came back at 97 (we’re aiming for 100) and so my meds were increased from 150iu to 200iu. My estradiol should be doubling every 2 days at this point so on Monday I went back for another ultrasound. Both right and left ovaries have “a bunch” (nurses words not mine) of follicles all measuring at about 9mm in size. Right where they should be at this point. My left ovary seems to have pulled ahead and is looking a bit better than the right side, though they both ache all day long. My estradiol level came back at a whopping 245! So, I was told to take 200iu yesterday and 175iu today. Tomorrow AM I go back in for another blood draw and u/s. Hopefully this time both ovaries will be on track and we’ll get a better count. We weren’t really able to count last time because my bladder was full, though I didn’t feel like I had to go to the potty until that dang u/s wand was um, you know, put into position. So alls well right now. I have all of my drugs. Erich asked me if I was planning on opening a pharmacy on our front porch. heh.

The Man With A Plan September 20, 2005

Yesterday morning I went in for my (obviously negative) beta HCG blood draw. I was informed that I needed to make an appointment with Dr. H and I would have to wait a cycle before starting drugs again. Almost in tears, I approached the counter, paid my balance, and asked to make an appt. She asked me how soon I wanted it and I asked for this week, because I knew I’d forget all the questions mulling around in my head if I waited to long. She said she had an appt that afternoon at 2:15 and I jumped on it.

So Magdalena and I went and found Daddy who had a service call early that morning. We went to a couple of computer stores and then went to Chilis for lunch. After that Daddy had to head to work and Magdalena and I went to Wild Oats for some Bac Out and then to Target. At about 1:30 we headed back towards the doctors office arriving there around 2pm. Magdalena was asleep and I somehow managed to carry her in to the office without waking her up.

We waited, waited, and waited some more. Around 3:15 they called me back and I chatted with the nurses. At about 3:30, Dr. H came in. He apologized over and over about leaving me waiting so long with an almost 2 year old. And then he apologized for not getting the results we wanted. He said he was sorry it didn’t work. I pointed out that it did work (I made eggs) but we didn’t achieve the wanted outcome. He said I should be the doctor, that sounds exactly what a doctor would say.

We talked about how my left ovary stopped responding and he agreed that it was probably “resting” since last month it was the over achiever. We talked about an IUI and how Erich really doesn’t want to do that and Dr. H made it clear that he didn’t think an IUI would make the difference for us. And then he laid out the plan…

The plan is to start out on Follistim at 150units. (Last month we started at 125units.) Towards the middle of my cycle he will give me a drug called Antagon which will essentially shut down my pituitary gland so that it won’t send out the surge and make me ovulate. Since he is shutting down my pituitary gland he has to add in another fertility drug called Repronex. When he gets the desired amount of follicles at the desired size he’ll trigger with Novarel (HCG). Three days after ovulation I’ll be put on progesterone support since my pituatary gland may need a bit of help after the Antagon. The progesterone they will put me on is Crinone.

After the plan was laid, I asked if he really wanted me to wait a month. I really wanted to keep going and he agreed that I could as long as I didn’t have any big cysts or such from the drugs last cycle. So he sent me in and did my baseline u/s immediately and all is well in my ovaries. And so we were given the thumbs up to keep going.

So there you have it. Injections start today. I’m 99% positive that I’m going to be hurting when I get done with this cycle. That is a lot of injections, sometimes 3 a day plus every other day blood draws. Not to mention the butt shot and all the vaginal u/s. Of course all of that sex will wear me out too. But hopefully in 14 days (or so) I’ll be incubating a tiny embryo, and hopefully in 28 days, I’ll be puking and not bleeding and otherwise blissfully pregnant. So start contorting your bodies and crossing things and sending me some baby vibes. And you ladies are the best in case you didn’t already know it. Thank you for following my journey and being anxious and hopefuly with me, it means the world to me and helps SO much.

June Baby Anyone? September 18, 2005

Well, we’re moving on. Started bleeding this morning. I’m sure we’ll be starting the next round of drugs in a couple of days. Thanks for the well wishes.

No News and Some News September 16, 2005

Okay, well I was saying before that if I make it to Friday without bleeding then I’d be home free. See this is two weeks from my trigger, and last month I started bleeding two weeks from trigger (12dpo). So it’s Friday and I’m not bleeding.

Monday I decided that I’d get a three pack of tests and amuse myself (and occupy) by taking a test on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I figured, if they came back positive then I could hold out hope, right? Well, Monday evenings test was a big fat negative. So I just shrugged it off. Wednesday test was a faint positive. Faint is the key word here. I said it was the trigger shot (while my friend Krista started getting a wee bit excited). So I couldn’t wait until Friday and Thursdays test was another faint positive. Krista said if it were trigger than the line should disappear, right? I said if it were a pregnancy, it would get darker right? She said that didn’t happen with the pregnancy she is currently in.

So that brings us to today. I’m not bleeding, I don’t feel like I’m going to bleed. I’m 12 dpo, early. I just took an eqate test with the plus minus thing and there is a faint vertical line in the pregnancy part. It didn’t really show up until minute 8, but anything within the 10 minute window is still valid, so I’ve read. And it’s very very faint. But I’ve been told over and over and over again “a line is a line is a line is a line…” **sigh** I have enough tests to get me through Monday (my blood draw day) and to Wednesday (which would be a second blood draw if Mondays is positive.) This line could STILL BE FROM THE TRIGGER SHOT. So wait with me a few more days ladies. Things look hopeful, but I dont’ want to get to hopeful, yk? Keep everything crossed. I’ll see you on the other side (Monday afternoon). And I’ll leave you with a visual of my kitchen window… (they are in the kitchen window because that is where the best light is **wink**)

Where Am I? September 13, 2005

Probably in front of the TV eating. I have this hunger that can not be satisfied. It’s starting to get annoying. And if you are wondering the kinds of things I’ve eaten today? I made beef stew and cream cheese muffins. If you knew me, you’d know that I’m really not one for beef stew. In fact, my mom asked me why I was making beef stew since I don’t like it. **shrugs** It sounded good. And it was okay. And the muffins were okay too. The cantaloupe was great but the salsa con queso was a bit salty. I’m already a big girl so all of this eating probably isn’t helping. I had fully intended to walk to the PO today (yk, to off set the eating) but it was 95 degrees today. No sir, I won’t walk in that heat. So either I’m getting ready for AF, or there is a baby who is jumping on the eating bandwagon.

And unlike last month where I had a definite feeling that things didn’t work, I’m lost this month. Some moments I think “nah” and other moments I feel “maybe?” Is it Friday yet?

Popping In September 4, 2005

I just wanted to say that on Friday we got some really good news. My right ovary, the overachiever that it is, produced three GORGEOUS follicles. They are 19mm, 20.5mm, and 25mm in size respectively.

After talking to my cousin who has the triplets, her follicles were 17mm, 18mm, and 19mm. So I’m feeling good about my GIANT follicles. I hurt a lot though, well I did. The pain has eased. I most likely ovulated around 7am this morning.

We triggered on Friday evening. My cousin, L, gave me the shot. This time it didn’t hurt so much during the shot, but the next day and even this morning I am SORE! My arms look awful as I think my veins blew on the draws on both Wednesday and Friday. People give me weird looks and I want to say, hey if you think the bruises on my arms are bad, you should see my stomach!

We were told to have “relation” on Saturday and Sunday. I’m hoping that those swimmers don’t hesitate to stop for directions. Though, with those GIANT follicles, they won’t be missed! They are standing there saying “get me! get me!” LOL And let me tell you, it’s weird to be told to have relations with your husband. Really, it is.

So that is the update. On Sept 19th I go for a beta HCG draw. So all of you fertile myrtles, send me some sticky egg vibes! And some baby dust! Oh, and PRAY that those swimmers are man enough to stop for directions and find their way to my GIANT eggs!!!

Random Stuff September 1, 2005

The appointment went well yesterday. I’m not going to go into the details, but there are follicles and my estradiol more than doubled again. It was 277 on Monday, and yesterday it was 625. They did increase my meds again. I hope I trigger on Friday, because if not I’ll have to buy more meds. Ugh.

In really great news (and bad too) my ovaries really really really hurt. They feel large like golf balls and they are constantly achy. They are heavy and hurt when stepped on by toddlers. My stomach is also getting bruised and battered and my arms look like an IV drug users from the four pokes I’ve gotten on each doctor visit.

In other news, I’ve decided that I need to stop sitting in front of the computer so much. I have so much stuff that has to get done like correspondence, reading, some writing, knitting, canning (still), and baking. Not to mention that my house has been slipping because I’m so tired lately. I’m not sure why I’m so tired, maybe my body working to hard to make eggs? Who knows, but if I cut back my computer time, I’ll get the other stuff done. In fact this morning, I’ve gotten the laundry going, vacuumed the carpet in the LR, playroom, and entrance. I’ve pulled off the cushions on the couch and chairs and vacuumed up stray cheerios. I made Magdalenas breakfast and cleaned the DR table off. I sprayed out poopy diapers and set some in the sun to bleach stains. I’ve been very productive. So my plan is to get up, check my forum, read email and blogs and then shut the computer off until I’ve completed a bulk of my tasks. Then I’ll check stuff again, and turn it off to do the rest of my tasks. And right before bed, I’ll check blogs and email again. Sounds like a plan, huh? Now if I can stick to it.

Also, I’ve taken over Hip Attachment for Lili. If you haven’t been over in a while, go and post! If you aren’t registered, well what are you waiting for?