What was I thinking?

Let's just say wearing control-top panty-hose on CD 10 of stims is a BAD idea. I had to strip them off mid-day yesterday because I felt like I was being chopped in two!

Like this, only less cute.

Nothing else to report except the clinic lowered my med levels to 150 of Folli.stim twice a day instead of 225. As a result, things have settled down in my lower abdominal area and I don't feel like jumping Mr. Jem every 5 minutes. Let's just say that NO jumping is going on at all and hasn't been for a while. (Thanks, IF!) Other than that, I continue to feel good physically - I'm eating super clean - eating lean protein, lots of veg, whole grains and avoiding wheat when possible. Oh, and no caffeine (including chocolate), no alcohol (of course).

My next scan in Friday morning. We'll learn if ER will be Sunday or Monday.

That's all folks!

CD 8 (day 7 of stims): 11 + 11 on 1/11/11 (updated)

Had my scan this morning. I had 11 follicles on my right side and 11 on the left, the biggest measuring 12 and 13 mm. Dr. Z (who does each scan) was very happy with the scan. 

I also had blood drawn, to test my E2 and my prolactin. Oh, and to test my NK and other immunological issues. Hopefully the intralipids and Hum.ira shots took care of that. If not, I'll have another intralipid after retrieval. My next scan is Friday and we're looking at ER on Sunday or Monday, depending how things progress on Friday. I'm so glad we have Martin Luther King's Birthday off.

I'm super excited about this cycle - I know  you can can tell because you've commented on my positive tone.

On a less positive front, Mr. Jem's latest SA came up zero again. He'll give another on Friday and then the day of ER. So glad we have frozen back up!!!!!!!

Lower belly is starting to burn with all the activity down there!

~Jem

Update: The clinic just called my Pro.lactin is good at 19 but my E2 is a bit high at 1,958 (they wanted anything above 350) so they are lowering my doses of Folli.stim down from 225 to 200 for tonight and then down to 150 IU (twice a day) until Friday, when I have my next scan. I'm still taking the microdose Lu.pron.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you that my lining is rocking at 8mm already! Yippee! Last IVF I had a hard time getting to 8 mm.


Symptoms? Still have sore b00bs. Now add the cervical mucus and some sexy pheromones - who turned up the heat in here?! I'm not talking hot flash, I'm talking sexy feelings. Watch out, Mr. Jem!!!

Something going on down there

It's CD 7, day 6 of stims and I am finally starting to feel the affect of the drugs... my lower abdomen is starting to feel full, and I feel a popping sensation down there. "Where?" you ask. Well, if you take your two hands and make a triangle with your thumb and forefingers and place the tips of your thumbs at your belly button, the popping is happening at the tips of my little fingers. Get the picture?

Other than that and sore b00b, no symptoms. I feel great!

~Jem

CD2 - Stims

Not sure why, but today is officially CD2, but first day of stims. I used a Gonal-F pen for the first time. Or rather, Mr. Jem used it. I've gotten good at giving myself the Lup.ron twice a day, but the pen scared me this morning. Good thing it didn't sting like Meno.pur.evil does. I'm so glad that I don't have that drug in my protocol this time. My next monitoring appointment is on Tue, Jan 11. In the meantime, I have my first intralipid injections tomorrow, to reset my immune system and wipe out those nasty NK (natural killer) cells.

I went to my regular doctor today to get blood drawn to see if my Vitamin D level has improved after 8 weeks of high doses of D. I'm hoping it is way up and in the normal range. there's some research out there that suggests a link to infertility and Vitamin D deficiency. Stork Stalking had an interesting post about vitamin D (now I can't find the link darn it!).

Anyway, I better get back to work. I'll report back on how the intralipids go.

~Jem

Update: since you asked, no, my body doesn't feel different yet. My b00bs were sore when I started taking Estr.ace, but have settled down. No activity in the ovaries yet. No moodiness, spontaneous tears or other emotional issues yet, either.

Giddy

I am feeling sooooooo good today, almost giddy. I wonder what the reason is? Could it be the joy of having my parents come visit - I love spending time with my mom, just cooking with her is one of those "happiness is..." moments.

Yesterday we added the Gono.relix shot. No problem. Despite the Meno.pur (evil) burn, I like doing the shots because I'm actually "Doing Something!" I'm sure many of you can totally relate.

At the clinic we discussed the fact that we're not doing Ovi.drel shot for a trigger this time. Instead we are doing a purer form of HCG. I like this, even if it means mixing the drugs instead of the pre-made syringe.

I'm "working from home" today, which means doing emails mixed with a walk with my parents, a conference call, then lunch, then more emails. You know the drill.

The folks just left. They borrowed my car and are driving up to Anderson Valley for my uncle's memorial service (I'll tell that horrible story another post). It's 4 hours each way and I opted out for a couple of reasons. 1) I have a monitoring appointment tomorrow and 2) I don't want to be in a car for 8 hours tomorrow. My ovaries are getting that warm feeling and I'm starting to feel "full" down there. Plus, I'm not that close to that aunt and uncle and my folks will "represent" the family just fine.

Oh, and 3) my neighbors, who have become friends (we go out to dinner with them, etc.) are moving and another neighbor is hosting a small BBQ for them at 5 p.m. We really want to be there. (Does that make me a bad person?)

So, back to this feeling giddy. I think it might be *HOPE* (gasp! What? Dare we HOPE that this cycle works? Could we?) Yes, boys and girls, hope is in the hizzy!

Welcome back, Hope!

~Jem

Bounty

The past few days I've done an amazingly good job at eating well - lots of fresh fruits and veggies, cut back on the bread after I totally binged on Friday and Saturday when I baked bread and I felt terrible afterwards. My acupuncturist recommend I also cut out dairy, especially cheese. As a result I feel less bloated and more energetic, which is good. Luckily the farmers markets in the San Francisco Bay Area are overflowing with bounty - so much wonderful fresh, tasty foods. Yesterday I bought a pound of English Peas. I shared half with my aunt and ate the other half on the train home. Yum!

Update on "down there:" Today is Day 6 of stims and I'm starting to really feel my ovaries. It's hard to explain, but I do. The sensation is like when you make cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. Right now it's like when the berries start to expand and get warm. Sometimes they tickle. Any of you out there had similar experiences?

My spirits continue to be good and my enthusiasm for this cycle grows. Tomorrow I have more monitoring and my pre-surgery consult (can’t wait to learn who will be doing my ER), as well as acupuncture. Also, my parents are coming into town tomorrow and I've already made a reservation at a really amazing restaurant, Camino, in Oakland, CA – I am soooo looking forward to it. The chef used to work at Chez.Panisse. Unfortunately, Mr. Jem isn't going to join us as it will be game 7 of the N.B.A. finals and he already told me he'll be home yelling at in front of the TV, rooting for the Celt.ics.

Okay, better get back to work. This darn job gets in the way of my blogging... pays the mortgage, though!

Jem

Another step towards parenthood

Friday night, 10:00 p.m. injection time.

Carefully loaded Foll.istim pen, put on needle, clicked to 225, injected Meno.pur vile vial (ha! great typo) with Follistim and swished gently. Carefully measured 1 cc of diluent solution into a new syringe and injected that into the Meno.pur vial. More gentle swishing. Then suck the combined Folli.stim/Men.opur mixture back into the syringe. Change to smaller needle.

Ice and then clean injection site with the alcohol swab. Mr. Jem then gave me the injection (after gently tapping out the air bubbles) and after I balked and giggled nervously.

Stung like a m*ther-f*cker. I think it's the Meno.pur that stings. Luckily 5 min. later the sting is gone and I'm left with a deep sense of satisfaction.

NOW, we're officially doing this thing (again for the 2nd time).

Jem

Contradictory

IF really turns the world upside-down. First the irony of starting the cycle taking birth control pills. Today, I'm celebrating because I'm bleeding! I start my stims tonight and Nurse S and I were a bit concerned because I hadn't started bleeding yet. As I had my HSG on Monday and had been injected with dye, I wanted to make sure to get all that out before starting stims.

We'll be injecting around 9:00 or 9:30 p.m. tonight! Wish us luck! I'm feeling lucky! Lucky and positive.

Jem

Getting ready to stim...

I stopped drinking coffee before the start of this cycle - followed by a hellish week of headaches. Since then I've been drinking black tea only. Now I decided no caffeine and have switched to decaf tea. I have such a whopper of a headache. I just want to crawl into bed and die. I do want to clear out the caffeine before I get started with stimming on Friday.

Mentally I've also been getting ready. I've noticed that I've not been able to read certain blogs lately, mostly IF'ers who have gotten knocked up. Love you guys, but, except for a couple of PG blogs, I can't read about pregnancy symptoms or sleepless nights right now. Or about baby showers. I just feel super protective. I hope to be able to read them again soon. I'm also having trouble reading about recent loss. It's like I am naturally gravitating towards blogs / women who are starting an IVF cycle now, like me. My mind can't absorb the joy or the pain of other bloggers' BFP's or BFNs.

How about you? What type of blogs are you reading and does it correspond to where you are in this process?

Jem