Goodbye, Progesterone!

Today's my last day of progesterone pills for a bit, and I couldn't be happier about it.

These drugs are kicking my butt.

Just a little rant.

These drugs are kicking my ass.

I'm exhausted. I'm not sleeping well (hard to find a position to sleep in). I'm emotional, irritable, having problems concentrating. My boobs are super sore (and according to my husband, are larger). I generally feel like crap.

On the bright side, my progesterone levels were great after Saturday's blood test and I'm now taking the progesterone in pill form, instead of injection. This means the back tenderness will calm down for a bit. We continue this way until I get a period, which will be the end of the mock.

Then we do the whole thing again, but for reals this time, and hopefully with a transfer.

In the meantime, I just needed to express that the drugs are kicking my butt. That is all.

If, if, if...

The progesterone is starting to kick my ass again. My face is breaking out, I also have dry skin patches, and my hair is like straw. But Mom is getting better and better at the injections - today I barely felt it, and I feel like I could go for a run tomorrow without issue.

So we have a plan for how we're going to handle results day, assuming the retrieval, fertilization and transfer go on as planned. (And there's the chance they won't - it is possible that we won't get any viable embryos.)

When we know the date for the retrieval, we'll know the date of the results - it's 17 days later. We're going to take that day off, as well as the two or three following it. Dr. G. has offered to be the one who phones us with the results - we'll set up a time for her to call so we don't have to wait by the phone. She'll also phone OWD. And as soon as we have our results, we're going to get out of town for a few days, just the two of us, to parts unknown. (If it's positive, I guess Bundy's going to have to give me my progesterone injections for a few days.)

And when we get back, we'll spread whatever news we need to spread.

And if it's positive, there are still a number of hurdles we need to get past before we do any celebrating.

Positive pregnancy test.
Fetal heart rate test.
First trimester.

THEN we can celebrate. But I'm putting this out here now... if we get to transfer without issue, and if it's positive, I know a lot of people are going to want to celebrate. We are so lucky to have your support - you're awesome. Your fingers must all be cramping up from keeping them crossed for us for so long. (Also, I know that some of you have felt really helpless through this process.) But we don't want any cards, any gifts, any books, any onesies, ANYTHING... until we get the all-clear at the end of the first trimester. Seriously.

I know that I'm going to need the most support in the days between the transfer and the results. It's about two weeks, and it is by all accounts excruciating. So we'll be looking to go to movies, play video games, laugh a lot, and generally be distracted.

We may ask for your help.

Injections

Today is Day 3 of the injections. Mom and I are getting into a groove. And while the shots themselves don't hurt too much, about 5-8 hours later I end up with real muscle soreness. Yesterday I probably made it worse by going for a run right after the injection. Oops.

The nurse recommended trying heat and/or cold and going with whatever was most soothing. Well, heat wasn't stupendous, so I'm thinking I may try cold today if I need to.

In the meantime, I'd better pick up some Extra Strength Tylenol - it's the only painkiller either of us are allowed to take right now.

They say that the more relaxed you can make the muscle during the injection, the better it will be. But I happen to carry all my tension in my hips. *sigh*

(Oh, and here's a little diagram that shows the proper injection spot, if you're curious. X marks the spot. We alternate sides each day.)

Next Steps

Blood test and ultrasound went really well. Uterine lining and estrogen levels are great - I responded well to the Estrace. We started daily IM Progesterone injections yesterday.

Appointment for blood test on Saturday, May 23.

Moving Along Well

Things are moving along well. Looks like we'll have a transfer in mid-June, if things keep going at this rate.

Thursday, OWD and I attended a 2-hour information session about IVF. There were a number of couples there - all with a different story, but there for the same reasons. There was a lot of information provided - and lucky for it, it's all in a manual they gave us. And there was juice and cookies. (Really, really good cookies.)

There are a lot of "do's and don'ts" for all concerned - yesterday was Bundy's last hurrah for a while in terms of alcohol.

And yesterday afternoon, Mom and I went to a session where a nurse taught her how to inject medication into my butt. That was interesting, to say the least... about 10 minutes of two people staring at my naked butt, listening to them discuss the best injection sites to avoid puncturing a blood vessel or an artery.

I have an ultrasound and blood test tomorrow morning, and I suspect that if it goes well, we'll start daily injections right away. So if everything goes awesome, my mom and I will see each other every day at 7am for the next 10 weeks. Well, I'll see her and she'll see my butt.

May 10, 2009

I am a brave little toaster.

But right now, the best thing for me to do is to go back to bed until I absolutely have to get up, shower and leave the house to spend time with my mom.

May 8, 2009

Upcoming Appointments:

May 14, 1:30 pm
May 15, 1:30 pm
May 17, 8:30 am
May 21, 10:00 am
May 25, 1:30 pm

*blink*

I just paid the OFC an obscene amount of money.

And suddenly, I'm feeling really emotional. And kind of like someone's just kicked me in the stomach.

Jesus. That's a lot of money to disappear from my account all at once. I mean, that's why it was there - to spend on this. It's not like I had it earmarked for something else, or that this came as a total surprise.

But holy shit. I have a total headache now.

Day 1

 Called the OFC. They'll call me back on Monday with instructions.