Mommies Here!

It’s not as bad as it was before.

The last time I did IVF, I swore that I would never do it again. I mean, I used to have raging headaches, bloating and such mental fuzziness that I did not know what time it was. I can actually concentrate now. Last time, I was unable to put any clothes without major discomfort because my stomach was so distended. Now, I don’t have of those symptoms. The only thing that I am feeling is fatigue and yet I still have energy.  I’m trying to figure out if it is because of the months of chinese herbs, the new protocol, which significantly reduces the amount of meno.pur in my system, or the estrogen patch. Maybe a combination?
 
This experience is like the difference between night and day. I just hope that something is actually happening and that this isn’t just another cruel hoax. Are my follicles growing? Is the estrogen working? I’ve heard that the estrogen creates sort of a slow burn effect; it takes longer for one’s follicles to grow but the results are better. They tested my blood this morning and they are actually looking to see a dip in my estrogen level before it spikes later this week.

I guess I will find how I am actually doing later today when I get a call from the nurse. Thursday I go back for more blood work and an ultrasound when I get to see what’s cooking.

Today is May Day and CD2.

May Day has many meanings but I learned recently that the earliest celebratons of May Day occured in ancient times, when the  Romans celebrated a festival of  the Goddess Flora, the goddess of flowers and fertility. So I figured that paying homage to her on my blog would be appropriate.

I am officially naming this cycle “The Flora Cycle” in honor of the goddess. I’m hoping to channel her mojo.

The stims start tonight.

So we went to the clinic this morning. We arrived around 6:45 AM. Nadia was kind enough to get up with me this morning around 5AM and drive me cross town. Those of you who know New York City know that that cross town commute can be brutal at any time of the day. So I was extremely grateful that I had her in tow.

The whole inauguration took about 45 fully packed minutes. In less than an hour, I had my blood drawn, my vajajay wanded and made a down payment on a house  paid for my IVF cycle. Seeing them swipe that credit card was the most painful part of the whole experience, but it was over in a flash. This swank clinic puts my old clinic to shame. Talk about professional and efficient!

Anyhoo, my ultrasound revealed 11 follicles, with one lead at 6.2mm.  The nurse told me that that was a perfectly normal reading so we shall see how I respond. Tonight I start 450 gon.al F and 150 meno.pur.  Thankfully, I don’t have to split the dosage between morning and nightime shots. I prefer to get it over with in one fell swoop. I still have my estrogen patch on and was told to keep it on until that sucker falls off.

The silver lining is that I don’t have to go back tomorrow. In fact, I don’t have to go back until Tuesday morning.

I’m looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

Yesterday morning I took the first of three consecutive gan.ir.elix shots.

When we woke up,  Nadia looked at me and said, “I don’t think I remember how to do it. It’s been so long.” And I said to her, “Well, shooting injectibles is just like riding a bike.”  And it was, sort of. 

As my friend, Sarah at Dreams and False Alarms, reminded me, the gan.ir.elix needles are a bit dull. Nadia’s first attempt to penetrate my stomach was unsuccessful, as the needled bounced off of my abdomen. But Nadia and I were not phased. After a few giggles, we soldiered on and got the job done.

One down, two to go!

So far, I don’t really feel any side effects. But I am sensing a glimmer of that old familiar fuzzy feeling. It’s the feeling that I comes over me after a few days of fertility medication. Let’s see, it’s one part ‘i can’t concentrate on any one thing for too long, ’ two parts ‘let’s just get this over with’ and three parts ‘eight million people is just too many people for one city!’

Yesterday, I had my endometrial co-culture biopsy. It wasn’t too bad. The procedure itself was midly painful but it was over in a flash. Tomorrow I start the estrogen patches. I’m starting to get the jitters.

What if this doesn’t work?

When I went to the clinic earlier this week to have some blood drawn, I saw all of these women preparing for battle. Some were new recruits, some were veterans like myself, some just had blank looks on their faces as they stared off into the distance. I saw my reflection in each one of their faces and I got a little panicked.

How much more of this can I take?

Let’s face it, I’ve had 10 failed IUIs, 1 failed IVF and now I’m on the verge of another (hopefully, successful) IVF. This clinic requires daily monitoring, so once I start there will be no sleeping in, ladies. I feel tired just thinking about it. And Nadia is extremely tired of all of it. Many of you have been through  more than me and some of you have been through less, but everyone’s ttc journey is unique.

I really hope this works. I got a lot riding on this one.

For the last couple of days, I have been testing and waiting for the big O, but my test turned positive last night. So, I should ovulate within the next 24-36 hours?

TMI?

Yes,I know, but here’s the plan…

Sometime in the next week, I will go into the clinic to have an endometrial co-culture procedure, most likely that will be on Thursday. My clinic recommends endometrial co-culture samples for ‘poor responders’ like me.

Ten days after the postive test for ovulation, I will start my estrogen patch and the day after that I start ganirelix.

About 5 days later, I’ll start my cycle and begin IVF #2.

And it all starts with the big O!

Eight months after my first failed IVF-cycle, I very close to beginning my next one. I am scared out of my mind, but also a bit excited.

Here we go!