Suppression Check Update!!

I am beyond happy to report that my suppression check went great on Friday! There were no cysts, my endometrium was thin, and my estradiol was at a 51 (supposed to be anywhere under a 100).  Anthony was able to come to my appointment and witness the vagina violation first hand…I think he left feeling thankful that he’s not a woman. 

We had already planned a weekend trip to the beach, but the good news made the trip so much more enjoyable!  I can’t get my body temperature too hot while doing IVF, so I spent my time reading under an umbrella, or in the water!  The beaches are so beautiful here; Anthony and I talked a lot about how we hope to bring our kids here often for family vacations.

We’re back at home now, and we just finished injections for my first night of stimulation medicine!  I had anxiety all weekend about these dang meds!  For stims, I am taking two different medicines: Follistim, and Menopur.  Some people inject them in two different shots, but my doctor said they could be mixed, so that it’s only one injection.  The mixing was a little confusing, and we questioned what we were doing a million times, but we finally did it!  I have heard that the Menopur stings really bad, but it didn’t burn at all.  Maybe the mixing helped?!  I am also still taking Lupron, but the dosage is now half of what it was before.  With two shots a day, I’m hoping that I don’t run out of places on my tummy to inject!

My next appointment is this Friday.  We will be checking to see how many follicles I have, and how big they are.  I am expecting to be very bloated over the next 10 days, as my ovaries are going to be housing so many (hopefully) growing follicles. 

I’ll keep you updated; thank you for your continued prayers! xo

Progestrone Results Are In!!

Anthony got to come with me to my appointment yesterday, and it turned out that I only had to give blood.  I think we were in clinic for a total of five minutes!  I was just happy that the ladies in the office didn’t have to wonder if my husband was imaginary anymore!  Anthony’s little sister, Alicia, is visiting so we made the hour and half drive to the doctor worthwhile by shopping and getting lunch before we headed back home. 

After each appointment, the nurse will either call, or leave a message on my patient voicemail with the test results, and next steps.  I think I checked my patient voicemail a hundred times yesterday, and finally heard “You have one new message” around five o’clock yesterday evening.  My heart started beating really fast as I prepared to hear bad news, but instead I got great news!!  My progesterone was just above eight, and they needed it to be six or higher!  

So, I started Lupron again last night!  The anxiety of injections started all over again.  The shot ended up being pretty easy; I looked away while Anthony pricked me, and barely felt the needle go in.  The strange thing was that immediately afterward, I had a big knot inside my tummy where the injection was.  Swelling is a side effect, but one I didn’t have last time.  With the last round of Lupron I would get one small bump on the surface of my skin, like a mosquito bite, and it would itch for a half hour or so.   The bump from last night is now gone, but the area is still tender, and I’m sure a bruise will appear soon.  At least I won’t forget where the last shot was, so I know not to inject in the same spot!

I go in for my suppression check (when my cycle got cancelled last time) next Friday, June 24^th.  I am going to try not to get my hopes up, but remain positive at the same time.  If everything is okay at my suppression check, then I will start my stimulation meds on Sunday, June 26^th. 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers; we need them more than ever!! We appreciate and love you all so much!

 

Baseline Check Appointment

Hi Loves, I forgot to post an update after my last appointment!!  Everything went ok at my baseline check.  My estradiol and FSH were where they expected them to be at that point of my cycle, and my antral follicle count was somewhere around 22.  These are the resting follicles that have the potential to produce mature eggs with the stimulation drugs. 

My next appointment is on June 16^th; they will be checking my progesterone levels to ensure I’m at the right point in my menstrual cycle.  It’s called the Mid-Luteal phase.  If am, then I will start Lupron again that evening.  Lupron is the medication that shuts down your ovaries, and puts them at rest.  Please pray that I am able to start meds, and that they actually suppress my ovaries this time!!

I know this wasn’t the most exciting post, but thanks for reading, and for thinking about us!  I’ll update you again after my next appointment.