My Cycle So Far & Lupron Injection Video

My IVF cycle started on 3/31 when I had to use birth control to suppress my body’s natural release of hormones in preparation for the IVF stimulation meds.  I used the Nuvaring, suggested by my doctor instead of birth control pills.  Let me tell you that the Nuvaring is an experience in itself! Let’s just say that putting it in and removing it gave me a little anxiety! J

I began taking Lupron on 4/18, which suppresses my hormones, and makes it so that my there is no follicular development, egg production, and egg release.  Last Wednesday, I went in for my suppression check to make sure that the Lupron was working, and suppressing as it was supposed to.  Well, we hit our first “bump” in the road.  My ultrasound showed that I have two cysts, one in each ovary.  One of them is very small, and the other is two centimeters. I immediately burst into tears, right in the middle of my ultrasound.  Even though I didn’t really know what that meant for me, I was immediately an emotional wreck because I had already been worried going into my appointment that something would go wrong…when does it ever go perfectly?! The nurse explained that cysts are very common, and usually go away each month on their own. They may be very common, but I’ve had so many tests and ultrasounds prior to this one that never showed cysts, so this wasn’t normal to me! I asked her if this meant by cycle was going to be cancelled, but she said I would have to wait until later that afternoon when the nurse from Birmingham called with my blood work results.  The nurse called me later to tell me that the cysts were okay, as long as they stayed under three centimeters, but that my estrogen was at 176, and they’d like it to be below 100.  She said that instead of starting my stimulation medication on Sunday (5/1), that they wanted me to stay on only Lupron for another week.  She said that doing so should bring my estrogen down, and may even shrink or get rid of my cysts.

So, here I am; I’m trying to remain hopeful that this Thursday’s appointment will bring me the good news that I am ready to start my stims and move onto the next phases of my cycle. Trying is the key word in that sentence; I was so disappointed last week when I didn’t hear what I had hoped for, so I’m hesitant in being too positive. I want so badly for my one week delay to be the worst news that I’ll receive, but I know there could be many more bumps in the road ahead.  I will do my best to take it one day at a time.  I am so thankful that I have Jenn here to support me and be at my doctor’s appointments while Anthony has to be at school. 

I have included a video of my daily Lupron injection. This will probably be the easiest of all the shots I will do; it doesn’t hurt (most of the time), and the only side effect I’ve had is headaches. 

Password for the video is: babybaby

Lupron Shot from Tara Gannuscio on Vimeo.