Didn't quite get the news I was looking for today. We have 9 follicles, however, they have not grown since the baseline last Friday. I have been instructed to continue on my meds and I have to go in Friday for another ultrasound and more bloodwork. If nothing changes between now and then, it is possible we will have to cancel the process. Praying that God will work some miracles between now and then.
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Follistim 450 IU, Menopur 150 IU; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - mixed! 1/3 of me wants to cry and the other 2/3 is very positive regardless of the outcome.
Clinic visits – Ultrasound and Bloodwork: 9 follicles not large enough for measurement yet.
Daily Affirmation - Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves...Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now,because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.-Rainer Maria Rilke (provided courtesy of my great friend Molly today!!)
Today is Day 4 of injections and I now have 8 bruises on my legs! The Follistim injections are not near as painful as the Menopur (which is a constant burning sensation all the way down my leg while I inject myself for 30 seconds!) but they are all leaving bruises! I have always been one to bruise pretty easy but I thought for sure I could master the art of stabbing myself without leaving a bruise....maybe I can achieve this sometime during the next 20+ shots!! =)
Tomorrow is a big day in our process. I go in for the first ultrasound since the start of stimulation drugs and we will see how the follicles are growing. Tomorrow will set the stage for the remainder of this process and we need LOTS of prayers tonight/tomorrow. Please pray that my body is responding to the stimulation drugs and we have an abundance of follicles on our ultrasound tomorrow. We need all the prayers we can get! =)
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Follistim 450 IU, Menopur 150 IU; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - really, really tired!! But in a good mood!
Clinic visits – None!
Daily Affirmation - Everything is working perfectly and there are an abundance of follicles growing.
Another Monday out of the way! Have I mentioned, I don't like Mondays? =) Today was the last day of the Estrogen patches so I can at least remove THAT horomone from my system for a few days! I think they put me back on a different form later in the cycle...but we will see. I went to see Caroline today and she did electroacupuncture, which is a form of acupuncture that utilizes a mild electric current which is passed back and forth between the needles. It may sound painful but it just feels like a butterfly flapping on your skin. The thought is that this treatment helps increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, which in turn helps with quantity/quality.
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Follistim 450 IU, Menopur 150 IU; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - felt pretty tired all day......I think all the drugs are making me tired!
Clinic visits – None!
Daily Affirmation - I am happy and complete today and forever.
Smooth sailing so far with the stimulation drugs! We had a wedding to attend last night so I had to pack them in my purse and go in the restroom at the Biltmore and play mad scientist....I really felt like a drug addict!! I hit yoga at Balance tonight for the last time until this process is over. The classes require too many twists, inversions and bends that will be uncomfortable during the process so I will do some "ivf friendly" sessions here at home in the heavenly "yoga room"!
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Vivelle-Dot 0.1mg Patch, Follistim 450 IU, Menopur 150 IU; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - relaxed!
Clinic visits – None!
Daily Affirmation - My body is balanced and all systems are working harmoniously to produce an abundance of eggs!!
Wow, how a day can change things!! I ended up starting my period first thing this morning so my blood work appointment was changed to an ultrasound appoinment. I start the stimulation drugs tonight which consist of Follistim and Menopur....let's get this party started!!!!
Follistim (gonadotropin) - common fertility drug that is typically administered for 10-12 days to help promote growth of multiple eggs in preparation for IVF. I kinda look at this drug like a steroid for my ovaries! =)
Menopur (human menopausal gonadotropin)- combination of two naturally occuring female horomones, follicle stimulating horomone (FSH) and luteinising horomone (LH). The combination of these two horomones increases the number of growing follicles and stimulates their development. To learn more, click here.
What a great way to start the weekend....time to celebrate with some mexican food and margaritas at Tacos & Tequilas !!! Happy Friday everyone!
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Vivelle-Dot 0.1mg Patch, Follistim 450 IU, Menopur 150 IU; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - pretty darn excited today!
Clinic visits – Baseline ultrasound: they evaluated my ovaries and uterus to ensure there were no cysts that had developed which would cause the cycle to be cancelled. Received the GREEN LIGHT to start stimulation drugs!
Daily Affirmation - I feel good about this process and have faith that everything will work flawlessly!
Remember my post from Day 16, and how I was concerned because I felt like the protocol was shortening my cycle.....well, things aren't quite working. I was supposed to start my period 1-2 days after my last Ganirelix injection (which was Tuesday night). And no dice. I called the clinic today and received a message tonight that I need to come in tomorrow morning for bloodwork so they "can see what is going on". I am a little frustrated because my thought on "what is going on" is that I am only on Cycle Day 22 and a typical cycle is 28+ days....and each time I give blood it is $300! So I feel like we are wasting money.....but I guess I have no choice....off to give blood in the morning...woo hoo, my favorite thing to do!!! And that makes me miss my yoga class tomorrow. =(
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Vivelle-Dot 0.1mg Patch; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - A little anxious but feelin' good today! And tomorrow is Friday!!! So I think I will make this Wine Thursday! =)
Clinic visits – None!
Daily Affirmation - I let go of the need to control my fertility journey. I put this process in the hands of God and Dr. Toner, I will just follow their guidance!(stealing my affirmation for Day 16 , I thought I needed to hear it again!!!
Ok, so yesterday really sucked and my night was even more frustrating. My emotions were out of hand and my Ganirelix shot didn't go so hot! I ended up with a really big swollen bump under the skin where all the liquid was bubbled up. I know...disgusting! It went down some overnight but I still have a knot in my leg! Well, enough about yesterday.....today is a new day!
I stepped on my yoga mat this morning and before class started, Jenn (my favorite teacher) told us to take a silent moment to set our intention for the day. During this moment, I made the choice that I am a fighter, not only today, but each and every day through this infertility journey and I WILL NOT let this beat me! I have fought through many obstacles in my life and I am NOT going to let this one get me! I will fight each and every day to stay positive and not let this get the best of me. There you have it.....fight, fight, fight!!!
Protocol – Fertility Drugs: Vivelle-Dot 0.1mg Patch; Supplements: DHEA 75mg/per day, Metformin 1500mg, PreNate Essential, Fish Oil, Probiotic, Grapeseed Extract, CoQ10, baby aspirin, B12
Emotions/Sanity Check - Much, much better today. Positive!
Clinic visits – None!
Daily Affirmation - I am strong! I am a fighter! I can conquer the world!
