And the cycle continues...(woohoo!)

I had my E2 (estradiol) levels checked this morning.  I was really nervous about this blood test, since this was the one that caused us to have to cancel our cycle last time.  I had my phone on me all day at work waiting for "the call". 

My nurse finally called around 1:30.  She said my levels were much better than they were last time.  I went from a 40 to a 95.  This is still a little on the low end, but she said we're fine to continue with our existing cycle.  So the plan for now is to continue the same dose of shots that I'm taking right now.  Then I'll go in Friday morning for an ultrasound to check the size of my follicles.  I'll have one final ultrasound at the beginning of next week, then (hopefully) we can do the egg retrieval later in the week. 

The countdown is on.  Come on, stims....work your magic!

Cycle Day 2

Yesterday (the official day 1 of my new IVF cycle), I started back up with the fertility meds: Menopur and Gonal-F, as well as Microdose Lupron and HCG.  It's a total of 5 shots a day (because I have to take the Lupron in the morning and evening), but my nurse showed me how to mix the Menopur, Lupron, and HCG in the evening, so I'm actually only giving myself 3 injections a day.  It took me almost 30 minutes to mix everything up last night (I feel like a chemist) but this evening I got it all done from start to finish in less than 15.

The shots are definitely not pleasant, but what's worse than the injections themselves is the constant headache I've had since Friday.  At first I attributed it to a stressful week at work.  Then on Sunday, I thought maybe it was a hangover because I had drowned my sorrows during the horrid K-State game (and because it was the last night I was allowed to drink).  Then today it was even worse.  I'm pretty sure it's the Lupron.  I follow quite a few fertility blogs and headaches seem to be a common side effect of this drug with many women.

I've also been really irritable today.  It could be a side effect of the drugs...or maybe I'm just grumpy.  It's hard to say.  It may have had something to do with the fact that I had to buy another $1500 of meds this morning.

Anyway, tomorrow's a big day.  I'll go in first thing in the morning for lab work.  They'll be checking my estradiol levels again and hopefully the phone call I get tomorrow afternoon will be a happy one saying I can continue my cycle.  Cross your fingers!

Shy Ovary

I went in today for blood work and an ultrasound.  All my ultrasounds (I've had 5 so far) have been transvaginal.  So, in the movies when you see women go in and have the wand rubbed on their belly and then a cute picture of a little peanut shows up, and they're all emotional and happy and stuff...yeah, that's not really how my experiences have been.

Rather, I have to lay there, getting probed while worrying that I might pee myself (it hasn't happened yet).  And of course, there's never really anything to see...just blackness (and I guess a uterus and ovaries).  Or in today's case, an ovary.  While doing my ultrasound today, she looked and looked and was never able to find my right ovary.  We've seen it before, so we know I have one...but I guess it was hiding.  They didn't seem to be concerned about my ovary being on vacation, so I guess I won't be either.

The rest of my appointment went fine.  I sat with Nurse Marci and talked about the new meds I'm going to be starting soon.  I start the microdose Lupron on Friday.  I have to give myself morning and evening injections for that.

Then on Sunday, I will start taking Gonal-F and Menopur again.  Instead of one vial of Menopur a day, I'm now going to have to take 3 vials a day.  I will start HCG shots that day as well.  So, as if we hadn't yet spent enough on meds, we're going to be ordering another $1000 worth.

As my nurse said today, if it all works and we get our baby...we won't care about the cost.  And if it doesn't?  Well, we're going to be one really poor pissed off babyless couple.

Next Tuesday I will go back in for bloodwork.  That will be the big estradiol/progesterone test that will determine whether we can move forward.  I'll be glad when that day is over, because I'm still feeling a little anxious about this whole thing happening again.  We're definitely making changes to prevent the low estradiol levels, I'm just hoping it's enough!  I guess we'll know next Tuesday...

Our New Timeline

After the news we received Tuesday, I had to take a couple days to just be sad and mad.  Then I decided I was done with that.  The bottom line is, this all sucks...a lot.  I thought I was going to be going into surgery next week and now I'm not.  But I can't change any of it.  And being pissed off isn't going to make things any better.  So, I've accepted it. 

With that being said, we now have a new timeline for everything.  I'm currently back on birth control pills to restart the suppression phase.  It seems like such a setback, but again...it's beyond my control.  I will remain on the pill until 11/13.  At that time, I will have to go in for my suppression ultrasound and labs to check my progesterone and estradiol again.  Hopefully my levels will all be where they need to be at that time.

Assuming everything checks out normal, I will then start back up with the Dexamethasone and a new microdose Lupron on 11/16.  Unfortunately, I have to throw out the old $200 vial that I already have.  And instead of taking the Lupron once a day like I was previously, I will have to do morning and evening injections. 

On 11/18, I will add back the Gonal-F and the Menopur injections.  I will have labs to monitor everything on 11/20, 11/23, and 11/26, and I'll also have ultrasounds on 11/23 and 11/26.

Our new tentative date for the retrieval surgery is 11/28, 11/29, or 11/30 (depending on the results from my labs and scans on 11/26).  The transfer will be five days after the retrieval, so that'll end up putting it on 12/3, 12/4, or 12/5.

So, that's our current timeline.  Let's hope we can stick with the plan this time. 

Sad and Disappointed

This morning I went in for labs to get my estradiol levels checked to make sure we can continue with our cycle as planned.  I was told that if my levels aren't high enough, it's possible that they might cancel the cycle at this point.  Despite hearing this, I never really thought this would happen.

I waited and waited for my doctor's office to give me a call this afternoon with my lab results.  3:00 rolled around and I still hadn't heard from them.  I sent them a message via the patient portal and my nurse quickly responded with, "I'm visiting with Dr. Brabec about your results.  I'll call you soon."  When I saw that, I had the feeling the results weren't good.  She called me a few minutes later and told me that my levels were really low.  I guess they're supposed to be between 100 and 400 and mine were at 40.  She said she thought my body was "over-suppressed" from the Lupron and that I would probably require a lower dose.  She then told me that if we were to continue with this cycle, I probably wouldn't have very many eggs for the retrieval.

So, basically, they want to stop everything now and start over.  Not only do I have to stop taking all my shots, but I also have to go back on birth control.  I can't begin to tell you how sad and disappointed I am.  I really thought I would be having my retrieval surgery next week.  Now I'm being told, it may not happen until the last week of November.  I understand that if my body isn't reacting properly, this is the best thing to do right now, but it just sucks.  A LOT.

They're supposed to call me again tomorrow so we can get things figured out.  We'll see what happens...

My Tummy is a Pin Cushion

I've been taking Lupron for over a week now and it's been a piece of cake.  Truly, the needles are tiny and you don't feel a thing when it's going in.

Today I added Gonal-F and Menopur to my daily injections.  Not only did it take 20+ minutes to mix everything up, but I also feel like my tummy is now a pin cushion.  I did the Gonal-F first and right away noticed a difference in the needle.  It's not that much bigger than the Lupron needle, but it is bigger, and surprisingly, I could tell.  It bled a little.  Next, I did the Menopur.  I'd heard from a friend that this one burns going in.  And that was definitely an accurate statement.  Ouch!  Finally, I ended with the Lupron, because I knew that one was easy.  And it hurt too!  I tried to use three different injection sites, but I'm wondering if I was too close to my first injection one.

Anyway, this is what I get to do for the next 10 days.  Could be worse...

Meds

Here's what $2,000+ worth of fertility meds looks like...in case you were wondering.  The Gonal-F (the four tall boxes in the back) alone cost $1200.  Yikes!