So... my clock tells me it's 6:48 a.m. I'm up. I'm showered. I'm contemplating what to wear that'll be most comfortable and yet still weather appropriate (something tells me just going in my robe might be frowned upon *laugh*)... and I'm freakin' STARVING!
Why is it that on the average day I could probably manage 'til about 11:00 without breakfast with no issues, but as soon as I know I'm not ALLOWED to eat I'm famished? And, of course, I woke up this morning feeling parched and I'm not allowed to drink anything, either (not even water). Le Sigh.
So... today is retrieval day. DH is still asleep (I figure he has to deal with seeing me unable to move under my own power... the least I can do is let him get a little more sleep to help him cope *laugh*). The cats are shunning me (that's nothing new... they don't expect me to be here... and I'm not in bed)... I expect they'll think all their birthdays came at once later today when they have full access to a sleeping person in bed in the middle of the day, though. Silly kittens. Because, yep... that's my plan... ignore the rumbling and gurgling in my tummy... go get punctured a lot by a giant-assed needle... get hopped up on loopy juice (oh wait... that happens before the giant needle)... scarf some "free" snacks (yeah... "free"... 'cuz I'm not paying an arm and 3 legs for this whole IVF thing. Yeesh!)... stumble to the car... stumble from the car... crawl back into bed and sleep for 3 or 4 hours :) And then drive myself mental waiting for the phone call tomorrow telling me how many eggies they got and how many fertilized. I see tomorrow and Thursday at work being almost as productive as yesterday was... I was just a wee bit distracted. Ah well. I'm taking me an extra long weekend, so hopefully my brain will be a bit more focused next week *laugh*
6:56.... 8 minutes closer to the 10:45 retrieval....
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Retrieval set!
Here we go… tomorrow is retrieval day!
But first, let me tell you about my weekend….
Saturday – Got up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. to be out of the house by 6:30 to be at the clinic close to 7:00 in the snow … only to realize when I got there at 7:25 that the weekend hours don’t start ‘til 8:00. Blah.
Being unfamiliar with the process when the doc wants to do the u/s, but knowing that the u/s sign-in chart is what the gals on the desk use to pull patient files, I signed up there (noting that the doc was going to do the u/s), then signed the doc’s list, then signed up for bloodwork. So an u/s tech calls my name… and the proceeds to bitch at me because I shouldn’t have signed up on her list because that’s just for the u/s techs. Nice. I go back over to the blood waiting area and my book.
Blood tech comes in early (yay), and calls my name, since I’m first on the list. I go in and tell him that if he can’t find a vein in my arm, he needs to use the smallest syringe he’s got because I have really small veins and the butterfly won’t work (because it hadn’t worked the 3 times prior to Saturday). Does he believe me? No. He INSISTS on using the butterfly. Let’s just say that I still had a lump on the back of my hand 12 hours later and now have a bruise the size of a $2 coin. Joy. And the pain! OMG, I’ve never had that much pain from a blood draw before, and that includes the times they’ve had to dig to find a vein or double-punctured.
Go over to the u/s waiting area and get put in a room for the doc. All good. He seems really happy about the follies he’s seeing, but mentions that he thinks my left ovary was “on strike”. Sure enough, there’s between 7 & 10 follies on the right ovary (I could see the nice cluster), but only 3 small-ish ones on the left. All follies on Saturday measured between 1.3 (left side) – 2.3, with the majority being 2.0 – 2.3 cm. Got my morning shot and my take-home package for my evening shot and was told to be back Sunday morning. I was out of there by 8:10!
Joy… did I mention we were expected to get pounded by yet another winter storm on Saturday? Yup. And it was well under way on my way home (heck, it was well underway on my way TO the clinic, but it took a bit of a break while I was there, which I thought was nice of it *laugh*).
Then home… an hour of snow shoveling at about 11 a.m. during another lull… by the time the storm was over we’d gotten about another 30 cm where we are… plus blow-in. DH shoveled 4 times, plus my 1, just to keep it tamed.
Sunday… back at the clinic. Early again, because I allowed myself more time than needed to get there. Good thing I did, too… while most of the main streets had been plowed at some point, none of them had been salted, so driving was a mix of polished ice and 2 inch snowy-slush. My car went dancing on the way home… it was quite entertaining. But anyway… got to the clinic early, signed the requisite lists (not the u/s list this time so I wouldn’t get yelled at). Started off my day with the blood tech being late. Then I had to tell him off about the fiasco of Saturday. He asked if I wanted to wait for his co-worker, so I said, no… but that if he couldn’t find a vein in my arm that he was going to use the smallest needled syringe he had and that was that. So, of course, he found a vein in my arm *laugh* First time in weeks that’s happened! Doesn’t help the massive bruise on my hand that I can’t hide, but that’s life.
Had my u/s and was told that things were “really cooking”. Apparently most of the follies from Saturday had grown another 3 – 4 mm over 24 hours! So… retrieval was set for Tuesday March 11th. Which makes transfer Friday March 14th!
Got my morning shot… the last stim injection of the cycle! Got my hCG and instructions to trigger… at 12:30 Sunday night (technically this morning)… and to do my final Lupron dose at the same time. Great! Of course, we get up at 5:00 a.m. for work, so I’m functioning (barely) on about 4 hours of sleep today, but I get to be needle free today! Yesterday we started our Doxycycline (1 pill each twice daily for 3 days). I’m still doing the baby-Aspirin and Prednisone (which I finally learned is supposed to help with implantation). I got my Progesterone in Oil (Castor this time, since most people apparently develop a mild allergy to the Sesame after a couple of cycles… which explains a lot about the itching with our FET cycle). Also got all our consent forms to sign. And instructions on when to start the Estrace etc. Retrieval is set for 10:45 tomorrow morning.
I also got Fragmin to inject… but no instructions… so I’ve got a call in to the clinic on that one. It’s an anti-coagulant/anti-thrombosis med… same family as Heparin. So now I’m wondering why. I mean, I know I tested positive for some antibody or other, but when I asked Dr. D about clotting issues a few months ago she said that wasn’t a problem. Being put on this drug would suggest otherwise, I think. Guess we’ll find out.
Not sure when I’ll update again… it might be after the retrieval… it might not be until after the transfer. I expect I’ll be going mental between the 14th and the 28th, though… something about an IVF 2ww just seems so much nuttier.
But first, let me tell you about my weekend….
Saturday – Got up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. to be out of the house by 6:30 to be at the clinic close to 7:00 in the snow … only to realize when I got there at 7:25 that the weekend hours don’t start ‘til 8:00. Blah.
Being unfamiliar with the process when the doc wants to do the u/s, but knowing that the u/s sign-in chart is what the gals on the desk use to pull patient files, I signed up there (noting that the doc was going to do the u/s), then signed the doc’s list, then signed up for bloodwork. So an u/s tech calls my name… and the proceeds to bitch at me because I shouldn’t have signed up on her list because that’s just for the u/s techs. Nice. I go back over to the blood waiting area and my book.
Blood tech comes in early (yay), and calls my name, since I’m first on the list. I go in and tell him that if he can’t find a vein in my arm, he needs to use the smallest syringe he’s got because I have really small veins and the butterfly won’t work (because it hadn’t worked the 3 times prior to Saturday). Does he believe me? No. He INSISTS on using the butterfly. Let’s just say that I still had a lump on the back of my hand 12 hours later and now have a bruise the size of a $2 coin. Joy. And the pain! OMG, I’ve never had that much pain from a blood draw before, and that includes the times they’ve had to dig to find a vein or double-punctured.
Go over to the u/s waiting area and get put in a room for the doc. All good. He seems really happy about the follies he’s seeing, but mentions that he thinks my left ovary was “on strike”. Sure enough, there’s between 7 & 10 follies on the right ovary (I could see the nice cluster), but only 3 small-ish ones on the left. All follies on Saturday measured between 1.3 (left side) – 2.3, with the majority being 2.0 – 2.3 cm. Got my morning shot and my take-home package for my evening shot and was told to be back Sunday morning. I was out of there by 8:10!
Joy… did I mention we were expected to get pounded by yet another winter storm on Saturday? Yup. And it was well under way on my way home (heck, it was well underway on my way TO the clinic, but it took a bit of a break while I was there, which I thought was nice of it *laugh*).
Then home… an hour of snow shoveling at about 11 a.m. during another lull… by the time the storm was over we’d gotten about another 30 cm where we are… plus blow-in. DH shoveled 4 times, plus my 1, just to keep it tamed.
Sunday… back at the clinic. Early again, because I allowed myself more time than needed to get there. Good thing I did, too… while most of the main streets had been plowed at some point, none of them had been salted, so driving was a mix of polished ice and 2 inch snowy-slush. My car went dancing on the way home… it was quite entertaining. But anyway… got to the clinic early, signed the requisite lists (not the u/s list this time so I wouldn’t get yelled at). Started off my day with the blood tech being late. Then I had to tell him off about the fiasco of Saturday. He asked if I wanted to wait for his co-worker, so I said, no… but that if he couldn’t find a vein in my arm that he was going to use the smallest needled syringe he had and that was that. So, of course, he found a vein in my arm *laugh* First time in weeks that’s happened! Doesn’t help the massive bruise on my hand that I can’t hide, but that’s life.
Had my u/s and was told that things were “really cooking”. Apparently most of the follies from Saturday had grown another 3 – 4 mm over 24 hours! So… retrieval was set for Tuesday March 11th. Which makes transfer Friday March 14th!
Got my morning shot… the last stim injection of the cycle! Got my hCG and instructions to trigger… at 12:30 Sunday night (technically this morning)… and to do my final Lupron dose at the same time. Great! Of course, we get up at 5:00 a.m. for work, so I’m functioning (barely) on about 4 hours of sleep today, but I get to be needle free today! Yesterday we started our Doxycycline (1 pill each twice daily for 3 days). I’m still doing the baby-Aspirin and Prednisone (which I finally learned is supposed to help with implantation). I got my Progesterone in Oil (Castor this time, since most people apparently develop a mild allergy to the Sesame after a couple of cycles… which explains a lot about the itching with our FET cycle). Also got all our consent forms to sign. And instructions on when to start the Estrace etc. Retrieval is set for 10:45 tomorrow morning.
I also got Fragmin to inject… but no instructions… so I’ve got a call in to the clinic on that one. It’s an anti-coagulant/anti-thrombosis med… same family as Heparin. So now I’m wondering why. I mean, I know I tested positive for some antibody or other, but when I asked Dr. D about clotting issues a few months ago she said that wasn’t a problem. Being put on this drug would suggest otherwise, I think. Guess we’ll find out.
Not sure when I’ll update again… it might be after the retrieval… it might not be until after the transfer. I expect I’ll be going mental between the 14th and the 28th, though… something about an IVF 2ww just seems so much nuttier.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Stim Day 7 - we're getting closer!
Another trip to the clinic this morning. Another blood draw. Another day where I end up with two punctured hands because they can't find a vein in either arm and the first attempt collapsed as soon as the needle was in. I'm getting really tired of this. The nurses (who don't do the blood draw at our clinic) are horrified by it, too. Me, I could just do without the pain to start the day and the track marks I can't hide. If they're having this much trouble finding a vein now, what the hell are they going to do for my IV at the retrieval???? I think that might just be a question to raise with the nurse on Saturday if I get the double-stick again.
Another u/s... always entertaining, but even more so when they can't find the ovaries and have to push on the abdomen with their fist. Joy. Both sides. Such fun!
But... the doc says everything's looking really good. He says 10 - 15 follies (although I think he might not be counting all of them... see later statement on size). He's reduced my Bravelle, but increased my Repronex for the next 2 days (Yay... that SHOULD mean less stinging). He wants to see me back on Saturday morning... and he wants to do the u/s himself so he can estimate when the retrieval will be! Already! He also said that I was responding much better to this protocol than the last one. Good to know, although I'm not sure I'll be able to put myself through this a third time if it doesn't work this time.
So I was chatting with the nurse who was re-stocking my meds... the list the u/s tech wrote looks like about 20 follies, but they ranged in size from 0.6 (pretty small) to 1.8 (at day 7 of stims! Last time the biggest I had was just over 2, and that was after 2 full weeks!). She also guessed that retrieval might be Tuesday! That's less than a week away! Of course, we won't really know until Saturday... too bad my other half has to work on Saturday and won't get that news first-hand. We also have to figure out how to get him whatever days off are needed without telling his boss what it's for (discretion is a foreign concept to him, sadly).
So... here we are... I can't believe next week is retrieval time again already!
Another u/s... always entertaining, but even more so when they can't find the ovaries and have to push on the abdomen with their fist. Joy. Both sides. Such fun!
But... the doc says everything's looking really good. He says 10 - 15 follies (although I think he might not be counting all of them... see later statement on size). He's reduced my Bravelle, but increased my Repronex for the next 2 days (Yay... that SHOULD mean less stinging). He wants to see me back on Saturday morning... and he wants to do the u/s himself so he can estimate when the retrieval will be! Already! He also said that I was responding much better to this protocol than the last one. Good to know, although I'm not sure I'll be able to put myself through this a third time if it doesn't work this time.
So I was chatting with the nurse who was re-stocking my meds... the list the u/s tech wrote looks like about 20 follies, but they ranged in size from 0.6 (pretty small) to 1.8 (at day 7 of stims! Last time the biggest I had was just over 2, and that was after 2 full weeks!). She also guessed that retrieval might be Tuesday! That's less than a week away! Of course, we won't really know until Saturday... too bad my other half has to work on Saturday and won't get that news first-hand. We also have to figure out how to get him whatever days off are needed without telling his boss what it's for (discretion is a foreign concept to him, sadly).
So... here we are... I can't believe next week is retrieval time again already!
Monday, March 3, 2008
IVF Cycle Day 4 (“real” cycle day 6)
Ok, so the title may be confusing… so I’ll clear that up first. The paperwork I got from the clinic said to count the first day of stims as IVF Cycle Day 1. AF (or a vague facsimile) showed up two days before I started stims. So, IVF Cycle Day 4, “real” cycle day 6. Thankfully, AF didn’t stick around long, so today wasn’t as unpleasant for all concerned as it might have been (getting a wand shoved up there is unpleasant enough without putting blood in the mix).
So… went for blood work. As was the case last time, they couldn’t find a vein in either elbow, so they went for the back of the hand. Also as was the case last time, they tried one hand with the butterfly thingy, and as was the cast last time, it didn’t work. At all. Not one drop collected. So on to the other hand. So much fun wandering around after the fact with a wad of cotton taped to the back of each hand… especially when everyone else in the place has theirs in the crook of their elbow, covered by their sleeves. Le Sigh.
On to the u/s. I hate the tech who did mine today. She butchers names on a regular basis, she can’t be heard, and she’s rough. Blah. But, eventually it was over and I got to wait for the doc. Today’s student on-site was a nursing student. It was hilarious to hear the head nurse tell her how to read the charts and what all they entailed. “And this one with the yellow page… this will really blow your mind!” This from a woman rapidly approaching retirement…. Too funny.
Went in to see the doc… he seemed really happy with my ‘progress’… after 3 days of stims (on clinic days I give myself my Lupron at home, but they give me my stims at the clinic), I have 10 follicles developing nicely (13 according to the nurse who gave me my shot later, though). I was told to drink 1L of Gatorade per day, and increase my salt and protein intake. That was a little surprising, but hey, if it gets me knocked up, I’ll do my darndest to make it happen! The Gatorade and protein probably won’t be a problem (I like Gatorade… and I’m a carnivore)… the salt might be a challenge.
Off I went to see a nurse, to get jabbed, and get my next batch of meds. Dosages are staying the same (Bravelle 225 iu and Repronex 75 iu morning and evening). Nice to know I’m not the only one complaining of the Bravelle stinging way more than anything else I’ve had the joy of injecting (Gonal-F, Lupron, Progesterone in oil… or the Repronex that went with the Gonal… hence the deduction that it was the Bravelle stinging like a mo-fo).
Now we wait and see how things are going when I’m back at the clinic Thursday morning! Not sure how it’ll go, but I do know that the first thing I’m gonna do is tell the blood tech that if she can’t find a vein in my arm, to jump straight to the smallest needled syringe they have! ;)
So… went for blood work. As was the case last time, they couldn’t find a vein in either elbow, so they went for the back of the hand. Also as was the case last time, they tried one hand with the butterfly thingy, and as was the cast last time, it didn’t work. At all. Not one drop collected. So on to the other hand. So much fun wandering around after the fact with a wad of cotton taped to the back of each hand… especially when everyone else in the place has theirs in the crook of their elbow, covered by their sleeves. Le Sigh.
On to the u/s. I hate the tech who did mine today. She butchers names on a regular basis, she can’t be heard, and she’s rough. Blah. But, eventually it was over and I got to wait for the doc. Today’s student on-site was a nursing student. It was hilarious to hear the head nurse tell her how to read the charts and what all they entailed. “And this one with the yellow page… this will really blow your mind!” This from a woman rapidly approaching retirement…. Too funny.
Went in to see the doc… he seemed really happy with my ‘progress’… after 3 days of stims (on clinic days I give myself my Lupron at home, but they give me my stims at the clinic), I have 10 follicles developing nicely (13 according to the nurse who gave me my shot later, though). I was told to drink 1L of Gatorade per day, and increase my salt and protein intake. That was a little surprising, but hey, if it gets me knocked up, I’ll do my darndest to make it happen! The Gatorade and protein probably won’t be a problem (I like Gatorade… and I’m a carnivore)… the salt might be a challenge.
Off I went to see a nurse, to get jabbed, and get my next batch of meds. Dosages are staying the same (Bravelle 225 iu and Repronex 75 iu morning and evening). Nice to know I’m not the only one complaining of the Bravelle stinging way more than anything else I’ve had the joy of injecting (Gonal-F, Lupron, Progesterone in oil… or the Repronex that went with the Gonal… hence the deduction that it was the Bravelle stinging like a mo-fo).
Now we wait and see how things are going when I’m back at the clinic Thursday morning! Not sure how it’ll go, but I do know that the first thing I’m gonna do is tell the blood tech that if she can’t find a vein in my arm, to jump straight to the smallest needled syringe they have! ;)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Roller Coaster Day
So... got up this morning with plans to go to the clinic. Wouldn't you know it... looks like AF decided to showup, finally. But then again, nothing was getting to a pad, so maybe it was just heavier spotting? But really, what fun would this whole infertility thing be without some confusion?
Anyway, got to the clinic. Signed the appropriate clipboards. Got pulled in for blood work. Right arm: can't find a vein. Left arm: can't find a vein. Right hand: vein collapsed as soon as the needle was inserted. Left hand finally gave up some blood. Then the question... "What cycle day are you on?" Umm... I don't know. Either day 22 or day 1. So they left it blank and just wrote "Supression - IVF" on it instead.
Then off to the u/s... again "What cycle day are you?" Same spiel... explained I wasn't sure if this was just heavy spotting or day 1... so she wrote "CD22?"
Then the doc... and the 3rd year medical student shadowing him today (who said absolutely nothing the whole time... didn't look at the chart... didn't ask questions... nothing... very odd). Apparently things look good, so assuming my E2 level comes back good we'll start stims. Also apparently Cetrotide was a bad protocol for me to be on (NOW I find this out??? Not last time?). And I finally got the actual DNA Frag number... 33% fragmentation, but he's taking these anti-oxidant supplements now, so that should help lower that number.
Met with the nurse... got my instructions (start the stims etc. on Friday morning)... got my meds (Bravelle, Repronex & Prednisone... I also have to take low-dose aspirin, but I've got that already).
All good.
But then... I got an email titled "I have some news". There's a group of 5 of us who used to be pretty close. Then two got pregnant and had kids. Then a third got pregnant (I would have been due 3 weeks after her if I hadn't miscarried). Now the only other member of our little group is pregnant... nearly 13 weeks. And then there's me. I really, really want to be happy for her, because I know she's had a rough go of things... but all I can feel is alone. And like I'm a horrible person because her news didn't make me remotely happy. Vicious circle. :(
Anyway, got to the clinic. Signed the appropriate clipboards. Got pulled in for blood work. Right arm: can't find a vein. Left arm: can't find a vein. Right hand: vein collapsed as soon as the needle was inserted. Left hand finally gave up some blood. Then the question... "What cycle day are you on?" Umm... I don't know. Either day 22 or day 1. So they left it blank and just wrote "Supression - IVF" on it instead.
Then off to the u/s... again "What cycle day are you?" Same spiel... explained I wasn't sure if this was just heavy spotting or day 1... so she wrote "CD22?"
Then the doc... and the 3rd year medical student shadowing him today (who said absolutely nothing the whole time... didn't look at the chart... didn't ask questions... nothing... very odd). Apparently things look good, so assuming my E2 level comes back good we'll start stims. Also apparently Cetrotide was a bad protocol for me to be on (NOW I find this out??? Not last time?). And I finally got the actual DNA Frag number... 33% fragmentation, but he's taking these anti-oxidant supplements now, so that should help lower that number.
Met with the nurse... got my instructions (start the stims etc. on Friday morning)... got my meds (Bravelle, Repronex & Prednisone... I also have to take low-dose aspirin, but I've got that already).
All good.
But then... I got an email titled "I have some news". There's a group of 5 of us who used to be pretty close. Then two got pregnant and had kids. Then a third got pregnant (I would have been due 3 weeks after her if I hadn't miscarried). Now the only other member of our little group is pregnant... nearly 13 weeks. And then there's me. I really, really want to be happy for her, because I know she's had a rough go of things... but all I can feel is alone. And like I'm a horrible person because her news didn't make me remotely happy. Vicious circle. :(
Monday, February 25, 2008
C'mon stims!
Obviously it's been far too long since I've updated... so here's a 'catch up' entry.
On Feb. 7th I went to the clinic for CD2 and to meet the new doc. Of course, silly me thought that when I had gotten that call from the clinic manager they'd assigned my chart to the new doc's section already, so when I went in, I signed up as a patient of Dr. L, but neglected to mention that I had previously been with Dr. D.... so when I finally got to meet Dr. L, he didn't have my full chart. Le sigh. But... luckily, thanks to the fabulous online community I've been posting in for ages (insert shameless plug for the BabyBells section of the weddingbells.ca forums here) I was well versed in our diagnosis, previous protocol, etc. The doc expressed surprising sympathy when I mentioned the miscarriage, which was a startling but nice change.
Anyway... started Marvelon (again... damn I hate those things... they make me break out and make me moody) on the 7th... then added Lupron (0.1mL daily in the morning at the same time every day) on the 14th (happy Valentine's Day... gotta go shoot up, now).
Lupron's a fun little drug. Apparently it's technically a cancer drug that has the fun side effect that it plays tricks on the pituitary and messes with the reproductive hormones too. The first few days weren't too bad, other than making me extremely tired... but towards the end of the first week the night-sweats and hot-flashes started. Luckily, I haven't had them too often (although last night was another sweaty one. Ick.).
I stopped the BCP last week (Wednesday was my last one) and knew that I would be going back to the clinic on CD2. I figured (based on last fall) that AF would show her ugly red face Saturday or Sunday, so I'd be hitting the clinic yesterday or today. But, true to form, now that I WANT her to show up, she's playing coy. I've been spotting since Friday afternoon, but nothing yet. Luckily, I know what to do... if she shows up today, I go in tomorrow... otherwise I go in Wednesday regardless (the nurse told me when I got my meds that if I didn't have a period a week after stopping the pill to come in anyway). From my reading, it seems that Lupron can have this effect... preventing menstruation. So... I'm hoping things get rolling today so I can go in for my supression check and start my stims on Wednesday, because I now have this horrible fear that I'll go in on Wednesday and they'll have to give me provera or something to jumpstart AF and we'll lose even more time. Gah.
On Feb. 7th I went to the clinic for CD2 and to meet the new doc. Of course, silly me thought that when I had gotten that call from the clinic manager they'd assigned my chart to the new doc's section already, so when I went in, I signed up as a patient of Dr. L, but neglected to mention that I had previously been with Dr. D.... so when I finally got to meet Dr. L, he didn't have my full chart. Le sigh. But... luckily, thanks to the fabulous online community I've been posting in for ages (insert shameless plug for the BabyBells section of the weddingbells.ca forums here) I was well versed in our diagnosis, previous protocol, etc. The doc expressed surprising sympathy when I mentioned the miscarriage, which was a startling but nice change.
Anyway... started Marvelon (again... damn I hate those things... they make me break out and make me moody) on the 7th... then added Lupron (0.1mL daily in the morning at the same time every day) on the 14th (happy Valentine's Day... gotta go shoot up, now).
Lupron's a fun little drug. Apparently it's technically a cancer drug that has the fun side effect that it plays tricks on the pituitary and messes with the reproductive hormones too. The first few days weren't too bad, other than making me extremely tired... but towards the end of the first week the night-sweats and hot-flashes started. Luckily, I haven't had them too often (although last night was another sweaty one. Ick.).
I stopped the BCP last week (Wednesday was my last one) and knew that I would be going back to the clinic on CD2. I figured (based on last fall) that AF would show her ugly red face Saturday or Sunday, so I'd be hitting the clinic yesterday or today. But, true to form, now that I WANT her to show up, she's playing coy. I've been spotting since Friday afternoon, but nothing yet. Luckily, I know what to do... if she shows up today, I go in tomorrow... otherwise I go in Wednesday regardless (the nurse told me when I got my meds that if I didn't have a period a week after stopping the pill to come in anyway). From my reading, it seems that Lupron can have this effect... preventing menstruation. So... I'm hoping things get rolling today so I can go in for my supression check and start my stims on Wednesday, because I now have this horrible fear that I'll go in on Wednesday and they'll have to give me provera or something to jumpstart AF and we'll lose even more time. Gah.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Let's get this party started!
OK... so it's been a while since I updated, and quite a bit has changed.
I finally had time to call my original clinic. Left voicemail for the clinic manager at about 5 a.m. (right when I got up for work so I'd make sure I got the call in). I explained that I was at a bit of a loss... that I wasn't sure where to go... that the new place wasn't as convenient, but my decision would come down to (a) whether I could transfer to a new doc at the original clinic without having to wait and (b) whether the plan established with my original doc would be honoured (it's in my chart already), and that the second point was very important. I mentioned that this was going to be IVF round 2 because we don't have anything left frozen after an early miscarriage and a failed frozen cycle. I also mentioned that really, those 2 considerations were the only 2... that convenience, while convenient, wasn't really a deciding factor, and that since my doc is now on mat leave, I'd have to see a new doc no matter which way I went.
Now, bear in mind that clinic hours are 7-9:30. At 10:00 a.m. I got a call from the clinic manager (herself... not some lackey) who had already talked to one of the other docs (the "head honcho"), and that he'd take me on no problem, just come in on Day 2 and sign up with him. They still have the original of my file, so there's no problem there... there'd just be a little paperwork to fill out for the 'transfer of care'. Awesome!
Of course, then the worry set in... what if I went in on Day 2 and he decided to alter my plan? ... if we don't do a transfer in February, we have to wait until June (because we're booked on a trip we desperately need in May... if they do a transfer mid-Feb, I'll be 15 weeks by that time... I don't want to go if I'm in the 1st trimester - admittedly out of fear, but also partly because I know from my brief stay before that fatigue and queasiness can be huge factors, especially when you throw in the additional meds - and things likely won't line up nicely again until my June cycle).
But in the end, I have to consider other things. This guy has a great reputation... he gets results... an results are definitely what we're after here! Ok, so his ratings online say he sucks in the punctuality department, but I can live with that (of course, now that my Sr. Manager has left the team it could get a little sticky being late so much... and now I have the joy of explaining it to a guy. Poop. Oh well... life goes on).
Then, of course, AF was 3 days late showing up for the party, just to piss me off. I've always been regular, even after the miscarriage (except for 3 times pre-clinic when I was 3 days late... there's some debate as to what happened those cycles)... and the one time I really want... no... NEED AF to show, she decides to be late. Grr. But at least she didn't show up yesterday, because today is going to be a busy one with work (meetings 9 - 4 straight), and "the weather outside is frightful" (freezing rain, snow, ice, and more on the way). Here's hoping tomorrow goes well and smoothly....
I finally had time to call my original clinic. Left voicemail for the clinic manager at about 5 a.m. (right when I got up for work so I'd make sure I got the call in). I explained that I was at a bit of a loss... that I wasn't sure where to go... that the new place wasn't as convenient, but my decision would come down to (a) whether I could transfer to a new doc at the original clinic without having to wait and (b) whether the plan established with my original doc would be honoured (it's in my chart already), and that the second point was very important. I mentioned that this was going to be IVF round 2 because we don't have anything left frozen after an early miscarriage and a failed frozen cycle. I also mentioned that really, those 2 considerations were the only 2... that convenience, while convenient, wasn't really a deciding factor, and that since my doc is now on mat leave, I'd have to see a new doc no matter which way I went.
Now, bear in mind that clinic hours are 7-9:30. At 10:00 a.m. I got a call from the clinic manager (herself... not some lackey) who had already talked to one of the other docs (the "head honcho"), and that he'd take me on no problem, just come in on Day 2 and sign up with him. They still have the original of my file, so there's no problem there... there'd just be a little paperwork to fill out for the 'transfer of care'. Awesome!
Of course, then the worry set in... what if I went in on Day 2 and he decided to alter my plan? ... if we don't do a transfer in February, we have to wait until June (because we're booked on a trip we desperately need in May... if they do a transfer mid-Feb, I'll be 15 weeks by that time... I don't want to go if I'm in the 1st trimester - admittedly out of fear, but also partly because I know from my brief stay before that fatigue and queasiness can be huge factors, especially when you throw in the additional meds - and things likely won't line up nicely again until my June cycle).
But in the end, I have to consider other things. This guy has a great reputation... he gets results... an results are definitely what we're after here! Ok, so his ratings online say he sucks in the punctuality department, but I can live with that (of course, now that my Sr. Manager has left the team it could get a little sticky being late so much... and now I have the joy of explaining it to a guy. Poop. Oh well... life goes on).
Then, of course, AF was 3 days late showing up for the party, just to piss me off. I've always been regular, even after the miscarriage (except for 3 times pre-clinic when I was 3 days late... there's some debate as to what happened those cycles)... and the one time I really want... no... NEED AF to show, she decides to be late. Grr. But at least she didn't show up yesterday, because today is going to be a busy one with work (meetings 9 - 4 straight), and "the weather outside is frightful" (freezing rain, snow, ice, and more on the way). Here's hoping tomorrow goes well and smoothly....
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