Stims - Day 14

Well, yet another u/s this morning and guess what? After 13 days of stims, still not ready for the ER! When she got done measuring, she wasn't 100% sure which way to go - trigger or keep stimming, so she reviewed it with others. She was gone for a while and when she finally came back, she decided that nope - not quite there yet!

She said they took some time to look at my last 2 cycles to help make the decision and she said they are going to have me wait a few more days. I liked that - made me feel comfortable that they were taking my history into consideration to really try and get the best results, you know?

So back for another appointment I go on Friday! No change in dosages, either. So here's where I was this morning:

Lining
0.84 cm

Left Follies:
20.2
19.5
18.4
14.5
Plus one that kept wanting to hide!

Right Follies:
17.3
17.0
18.3
16.5
16.0
12.6

Before I left, I also asked her if there was any way to help lessen the knots in my belly at the injection sites. I inject the fluid slowly, rub them, etc... and they still show up. And omg, they itch! And not just for a couple hours - usually for a few days until it's gone (although there are others to take it's place! haha)

She didn't have that much advice for it, but at least I know there's an end in site for them.

As far as symptoms, I can feel righty even more so now. So odd how I always feel that side more - whether it be because there's more activity there or because of it's location, I don't know. Either way, even though it's uncomfrotable and kind of painful, I don't mind it - it let's me know they're working!

Lastly, I've been feeling so emotional today. And exhausted. I even had a good night's sleep last night and I am still just so, so tired. I have to finish taking down the last of the Christmas decorations (yes, I'm lame, I know) and clean up before family comes this weekend, but I just want to go to bed!

So - up next are at least days 14 and 15 of stims (and most likely 16 and 17) and then the Retrieval on Monday!

Stims - Day 13

Well, let's just say today I can really tell I've got some follies growing in there! I can feel them with every step I take. Every time I stand up or sit down. Ah, and the bloat. Oh - and lots more CM. Good stuff, no? ;-)

I sometimes find myself walking around with my hand (or both!) on each ovary without even realizing it -- oops! I must look pretty funny, haha.

I also sent DH out on a needle finding mission this afternoon. He is a teacher and is done with the day a lot sooner than I am, so off he went to Rite Aid to get needles. Apparently, in NYS, you can get up to 10 needles at a time without an Rx. Poor guy - I gave him the measurements of what I needed and they didn't have exactly that size, so the pharmacist kept asking questions to get the right subsitute. He must have called me 5 times before he got some needles. Not sure what I ended up with, but as long as it injects without too much pain, I'll be ok. LOL

So - definitely looking forward to tomorrow to see what's cooking in there and I'll keep you posted!

Stims - Day 12

Well, guess what?!?! I actually had measurable follies and am still not done stimming! LOL

Wow - they're having me stim until at least Wednesday at this point. Same levels (225 iu Follistim, 150 iu Menopur). I would never have guessed I'd be stimming for a minimum of 14 days - never!

But - here's what we saw this morning:

Lining
0.94 cm

Left Follies
16.6
14.1
13.8
12.3
10.6

Right Follies
15.2
14.0
13.1
12.6

So, they're at varying sizes, but all generally in the same range, right? Hopefully I have a few more come Wednesday, but I guess we'll see. She was thinking the ER would be either Friday or maybe Monday. Guess we'll see come Wednesday's u/s.

I know I have said this a billion times already, but I just really want more than 4 mature (and good quality!) eggs this cycle. Please?! Fingers crossed that's what this will result in!

Stims - Day 9

Well, today we had 2 special guests for my day 9 ultraound. The first being yet another snow and ice storm (seriously Mother Nature - we've had enough already!) and the second being the doctor! Every once in a while he likes to pop in with the nurse and do the ultrasound himself. Guess to see for himself what going on in there, eh? lol

He did have a couple he measured including one lead follie that wanted to run away from the pack! So he had me add in Ganirelix to put my system on hold so the little follie doesn't cause me to ovulate and lose everything we've worked so hard for!

The nurse then later called me to keep my Menopur at the upped 150 iu and had me up my Follistim back up to 225 iu. I'm feeling quite a bit like a science experiment, but I think I like it! Makes me feel like they're really paying attention and we might do better this cycle. Fingers crossed!

And, in all seriously. Mother Nature - we have had more snow and ice storms so far this season and it's only just begun. Save some for next year, ok?! LOL

Stims - Day 7

Second stimming ultrasound today. Unlike past cycles where I only stimmed for 9 days and had measurable follies by now, I didn't really have much at all yet. They measured 2, but said they weren't really all that big yet. Phooey. What's going on here? Kind of making me nervous that this new protocol isn't really working. I mean - typically they grow approx. 2 mm a day, right? That isn't going to result in much by Friday for my day 9 check.

They did call to up my Menopur to 150 iu (and keeping Follistim at 150 iu). So at least they're doing something to get things a cooking. Guess I just need to be patient and keep telling myself slow and steady wins the race? And that I'll be growing better quality eggs at a slower pace rather than quantity? Although I want to be selfish and have both quality and quantity! lol

Stims - Day 5

Had my first ultrasound today for this cycle since starting stims. As expected, nothing measurable yet, but they did drop my Follistim from 225 iu to 150 iu. Kept Menopur at 75 iu. Never had to change dosages in a cycle before - kind of liking this. Although dropping me back to 150 doesn't make me too happy since that's where I was for the last two cycles that didn't result in much. But then again, I also wasn't on Menopur. Guess we'll see!

Other than that, nothing too exciting other than trying to catch up now that I'm back to work. So many emails, and had to put out some fires while I was on vacation, but worth the time off just to not have to actually be in the office!

Stims - Day 1

So, today is day one of stims forIVF#3. Brand new protocol. So I stop the Estradiol Valerate IM injections and everything else and now start:

Follistim: 225 iu
Menopur: 75 iu

Never done Menopur before and I have to say - ouch! That one burns going in - I had no idea! And that needle is much wider than others I've used and it doesn't like to go in. I have found hat if I let the menopur sit for a bit after mixing - and then inject it slowly, it doesn't hurt as much.

I had also never had to mix anything before, so this was my first time with Q-caps, changing up needle heads, etc... Had a few tricks, etc... to learn, but not so hard at all. ;-)

But yeah, they should really tell you about the burning - yikes!

Day 6 of Stims, My Cat, and the Olympics

Today is day 6 of stims and tonights Lupron shot hurt like crazy! I got more Lupron at Monday's ultrasound appointment and the needle I used tonight from the Lupron kit hurt like crazy! Don't know why, but it went in hard - ouch! Follistim pen was once again, no pain at all. Hope the rest of the needles won't hurt like tonights!

So my first ultrasound on Monday and saw a decent amount of follies. Only one was measurable at Monday's appointment, but based on the fact that I could start feeling my ovaries today (and tons of EWCM!), I should have some more to measure during my appointment tomorrow (Wednesday).

Have been getting a lot of headaches and have been just so tired lately. Don't know if it's the Lupron or my lack of drinking water, crappy eating and staying up late to watch the Olympics. Probably both!

Speaking of Olympics, I'm watching right now. It's currently the Women's Gymnastics - Balance Beam event final. I already know who wins, but it's still exciting to watch. Despite all the talk out there, especially around gymnastics, the Olympics have been fun to watch. Michael Phelps, the women's beach volleyball, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin for gymnastics, etc... I've even found myself enjoying diving (even synchronized diving!) and want to watch the Rhythmic gymnastics on Friday. Go USA!

I guess my last update is on my cat. I know some of you have asked, and I thank you for that. There really isn't much of a positive update. He still refuses to eat on his own and shows no interest. Therefore we still have to force-feed him with the syringe. Which he hates. It absolutely breaks my heart every time I have to do that. He now basically fears when I approach him. He used to love it knowing he's get a nice scratch - not being tortured with food and then me having to wipe his face because of the food that doesn't make it into his mouth. So now he anticipates it every time he sees me go near him and starts to freak out most of the time. I made DH do it today for most of the feedings because I couldn't bear to do that to him again.

But if we don't do that, he will continue to just get worse. As it is, even when we do manage to get his pill and food down his throat, he throws it up about 50% of the time. It just makes me so sad. He's just continuing to get worse. We are beginning to think to ourselves that he may not live that much longer. And because of that, we've even begun letting him go outside on his own. He might as well enjoy however much time he has left, you know? So he has free reign of the outdoors again and can do what he loves best - hanging out in our neighbor's yard filled with flowers, and plants, a few gardens, and a fish pond. He's in heaven! And we know for a fact he's not going hear the road again - he's scared of it! Poor guy (although that does make me happy!). Some people may criticize us for letting him back out where he could get hurt, etc... Where he got hurt the first time. But we don't care - we just want him to be happy considering his current circumstances, and that is what does it. So outside he goes during the day, and snuggling inside at night with us! We love you Riley!

Stim Check #1!

So I had my first stim check this morning and it went awesomely! Is that a word? Eh - I'm going with it ;-)

I don't have any exact numbers yet, but the uterus lining looks good and it looked like I had about 14-16 follicles growing in there! Now I just hope they keep growing and we get some good mature ones out of that bunch! We didn't measure them today, but will next week. We're hoping for 18-22 mm and then we'll trigger. Based on what we saw today, it's looking like my egg retrieval (ER) will be a week from today. NEXT FRIDAY! Can you believe it!

They took more bloodwork this time, so I'm curious what my P2/P4 levels will come out to be. Based on the bloodwork from last time, my hypothroidism is getting better! My numbers aren't perfect, by my TSH went down from a 6.7 back on 5/13 (I think?) to about a 3.something this time. Typically you want it around the 1-2.5 range if I remember correctly, so I'm getting there. Not perfect, but my thyroid is at least functioning at a higher level now which is good. Need the levels in the right place to support a pregnancy and for brain development.

While I was there I made another appointment for DH to deposit another sample to freeze. Now that I'm growing all these eggs, we need to make sure he's got enough sperm! Based on his low count (morph and motility don't really matter with IVF) he's been giving them a sample every few days to freeze as backups in case his day-of sample doesn't have enough. It wouldn't be good to have lots of mature eggs to fertilize, but no sperm to inject! He's been a real trooper about it, too. (I don't think I've ever used that word, but it seems to fit! haha). His first SA he was really nervous to give, but now he's definitely gotten used to it. Just goes in, does his business, drops it off, and out the door he goes!

I go back in on Monday and Wednesday again for more checks. Based on those, they'll have a better idea of how things are progressing and when the ER and ET (embryo transfer) will be. We want them to grow, but not too fast - we want them to be good quality, not necessarily just good quantity! So, here's to hoping for good progress over the weekend!

Stim Days 3-4

Nothing too special to report. Still not really feeling any side effects. I once again have a headache and am exhausted. But I still can't be sure if it's from one of the drugs. I always have a headache and I didn't sleep much last night. So who knows. And I also felt pretty emotional today, but that could be due to either the meds or due to the stress I have at work and with Riley who still isn't 100% yet - still not eating well and vomiting (although not that much).

My sister and her fiance were supposed to be coming down to visit this weekend, but due to the gas prices, they've changed their mind :-( I was really looking forward to their visit, but I totally understand. They have to drive from VT to PA in a couple weeks so it made sense to save gas/money and not come down. Oh well... I did just see them this past weekend! And, now I guess we don't have to worry about hiding our meds in the fridge where they can't find them and hide doing the shots - it's quite a small house to hide that kind of thing! haha

Had an odd experience tonight with the stim shot. Nothing actually injected! haha Not sure what we did wrong, but it was really easy for DH to push in so that made us curious. And when I went to take the "empty" cartridge out (remember, it still has a little leftover in it), it's still about half full. Oops! So we just did it again and it worked. So bizzarre!

I go in for my first stim check tomorrow. I really hope there are some follies growing in there and they look good. Please, please, please!