Went for monitoring today. I have 12 lovely follicles blooming. 4 on the right and 8 on the left - all less than 10mm. It makes perfect sense as the right ovary is the one that was operated on last year.
I am proud of my 12 follicles, and feel very protective of them. Considering I only had 6 last time this is progress! David wanted to know if I would name them. Thought this was a great idea and wanted to call them the names of Santa's reindeer but after a quick google search I realise there are only nine reindeer. Another search for 'famous twelves' and I got the 12 Apostles (probably should have known that anyway, but my Religious Education was many moons ago).
So, the follicles will hereby be known as:
Simon
Andrew
James
John
Philip
Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
James
Simon
Judas
Matthias (was Judas Iscariat before he turned)
Of course, I know nothing really about each one and I am not religious by any stretch of the imagination but why not put a little faith in a higher power for once?
These are all boys names and David told me last night though that because he drinks we would have a girl. Apparantly someone told him that if you're a bit of a drinker you will have a girl first. I mean, I don't mean he's an alcoholic but probably drinks more than your average suburban American, but not that much more than your average Welsh Valleys boyo. When we thought about it, all of our friends who drink quite a bit had girls first, then boys after they had already had one child and couldn't go out drinking so much. Maybe there's something in it, who knows...
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Started meds
Started taking meds on Tuesday 11/20/07. It was supposed to be Monday but I messed up the mixing and everything and had to abandon.
It was cetrotide shot - apparantly this suppresses LH hormone. I had a needle with medication in it and another bottle of powder it had to mix with. You had to inject the needle into the bottle with the powder - mix it around till it all dissolved, then draw the resulting solution back out into another needle and inject. I think I shook it around too much to mix it up, then read the instructions that said don't do that as you don't want too many bubbles. There were a lot of bubbles. Then I was told to make sure all the air is out by pushing the syringe in a little to get it all out. Well there were so many bubbles and I kept tilting the syringe to see if all the air was out and there was still a huge air bubble. I kept pressing the syringe to get the air out but eventually ran out of medication. I was paniking, especially when I looked at the bill from the drug company and realised each one of these is $500. I rang the nurse but she didn't ring back until the evening. It was fine as I could try again on Day 3 - without any problem. She tried to talk me through exactly how to do it (again) but I got so confused, eventually she told me to go to the clinic the next day and she would give me the shot. David came with me too and he did the next one.
He's very good and calm about these things. We had to do a similar thing before with the HCG shots and he always mixed those up so I had never done that before which is why I panicked I think. Anyway, I only needed 2 in the end so didn't have to order another one thank goodness.
So, I did 2 cetrotide shots on day 3 and day 6, and also Provera on day 3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
On day 9 (monday) I went for monitoring and they told me I didn't need another cetrotide and to stop Provera. Then I started Follistim on Day 10 (Tuesday).
Today is Day 12.
I have also had a long period (almost like 2 periods). I told the nurse this on monday and tuesday and she said not to worry as it was an effect of the drugs.
As I was still bleeding on the Wednesday (yesterday) I started to get more concerned and annoyed with myself for not even knowing why this is. I realised I didn't have a clue of the protocol I am on and had not been asking enough questions. I wasn't able to call on Wednesday due to being in the office at WETA and everyone being able to hear a conversation. Then saw my acupuncturist this morning who's like,' Caron, you're paying them enough money - you should know whats going on. She's right of course, and I feel totally out of control of the situation. Anyway, called the Nurse (Frederica who is very lovely). She called me back around 4 and told me not to worry and explained the protocol. Cetrotide is to suppress LH and Provera is to build up uterine lining. Of course, I'm still not really any the wiser. It was something to do with not having had the BCP's at the start - I didn't want them as it was taking them before that seemed to have given me the fibroid issues, although I can't be sure I just want to steer clear of them.
Anyway, now I am on Follistim so I am much more comfortable, this being my 3rd time using it. It seems so easy compared to the mixing type drugs. Just stick a needle on the end of a pen and inject. Bobs your uncle.
I'm doing 150 units morning and evening and 0.1 of Ovidril in the pm and also anti-biotics am and pm (doxycyclene). That was something to do with toxic tubes although I think it sounds a lot worse than it actually is.
I kind of wish the doctor would call - I mean its been almost 2 weeks and I've had no interaction with him. Feel a bit cheated really.
Also, the monitoring is awful. You have to go to the clinic between 6.15 and 7.15 am! You have to line up to have blood drawn - its like a conveyor belt. Then you go to a room and undress and wrap a paper sheet around the lower half whilst waiting with another person to go into the sonogram. A Nurse you have never seen before does the old dildo cam who doesn't know anything about you or your situation. Its just weird, especially after using Dr. Simons office last time where I think I was the only IVF patient they had, although thats a worry in itself right there.
It was cetrotide shot - apparantly this suppresses LH hormone. I had a needle with medication in it and another bottle of powder it had to mix with. You had to inject the needle into the bottle with the powder - mix it around till it all dissolved, then draw the resulting solution back out into another needle and inject. I think I shook it around too much to mix it up, then read the instructions that said don't do that as you don't want too many bubbles. There were a lot of bubbles. Then I was told to make sure all the air is out by pushing the syringe in a little to get it all out. Well there were so many bubbles and I kept tilting the syringe to see if all the air was out and there was still a huge air bubble. I kept pressing the syringe to get the air out but eventually ran out of medication. I was paniking, especially when I looked at the bill from the drug company and realised each one of these is $500. I rang the nurse but she didn't ring back until the evening. It was fine as I could try again on Day 3 - without any problem. She tried to talk me through exactly how to do it (again) but I got so confused, eventually she told me to go to the clinic the next day and she would give me the shot. David came with me too and he did the next one.
He's very good and calm about these things. We had to do a similar thing before with the HCG shots and he always mixed those up so I had never done that before which is why I panicked I think. Anyway, I only needed 2 in the end so didn't have to order another one thank goodness.
So, I did 2 cetrotide shots on day 3 and day 6, and also Provera on day 3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
On day 9 (monday) I went for monitoring and they told me I didn't need another cetrotide and to stop Provera. Then I started Follistim on Day 10 (Tuesday).
Today is Day 12.
I have also had a long period (almost like 2 periods). I told the nurse this on monday and tuesday and she said not to worry as it was an effect of the drugs.
As I was still bleeding on the Wednesday (yesterday) I started to get more concerned and annoyed with myself for not even knowing why this is. I realised I didn't have a clue of the protocol I am on and had not been asking enough questions. I wasn't able to call on Wednesday due to being in the office at WETA and everyone being able to hear a conversation. Then saw my acupuncturist this morning who's like,' Caron, you're paying them enough money - you should know whats going on. She's right of course, and I feel totally out of control of the situation. Anyway, called the Nurse (Frederica who is very lovely). She called me back around 4 and told me not to worry and explained the protocol. Cetrotide is to suppress LH and Provera is to build up uterine lining. Of course, I'm still not really any the wiser. It was something to do with not having had the BCP's at the start - I didn't want them as it was taking them before that seemed to have given me the fibroid issues, although I can't be sure I just want to steer clear of them.
Anyway, now I am on Follistim so I am much more comfortable, this being my 3rd time using it. It seems so easy compared to the mixing type drugs. Just stick a needle on the end of a pen and inject. Bobs your uncle.
I'm doing 150 units morning and evening and 0.1 of Ovidril in the pm and also anti-biotics am and pm (doxycyclene). That was something to do with toxic tubes although I think it sounds a lot worse than it actually is.
I kind of wish the doctor would call - I mean its been almost 2 weeks and I've had no interaction with him. Feel a bit cheated really.
Also, the monitoring is awful. You have to go to the clinic between 6.15 and 7.15 am! You have to line up to have blood drawn - its like a conveyor belt. Then you go to a room and undress and wrap a paper sheet around the lower half whilst waiting with another person to go into the sonogram. A Nurse you have never seen before does the old dildo cam who doesn't know anything about you or your situation. Its just weird, especially after using Dr. Simons office last time where I think I was the only IVF patient they had, although thats a worry in itself right there.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Too much?
I have spent the last few days on the phone to pharmacies trying to get the meds for a decent price. I managed to get a $2000 reduction just by shopping around. Went with Metro Drugs in the end. Its been a headache though and not really needed when you're stressing anyway. Also just found out the dates of everything. I will be having ER around mid Dec so the 2 week wait will be leading up to christmas, with pg test sometime around Christmas day! I am a tad concerned about this as it means I'm going to be on edge the whole of christmas. We have our inlaws with us too so there won't be much privacy. I have to think positive and believe it is good as we will have people to celebrate with, and will have a wonderful Christmas present!
Also we are trying to move house at the same time. I am not quite sure why this seems like a good idea. We're only renting so it is slightly less stressful than if we were buying but still going to be a headache. We really want to get in our new place by Christmas, and at least I'll have something to take my mind off of the 2 week wait.
Also we are trying to move house at the same time. I am not quite sure why this seems like a good idea. We're only renting so it is slightly less stressful than if we were buying but still going to be a headache. We really want to get in our new place by Christmas, and at least I'll have something to take my mind off of the 2 week wait.
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