A New Chapter

January 31, 2015
And, so it begins! After recovering from our last round of IVF, today we started our second round of self-injections: 50 units of follistim and 1mL of Menopur. My emotions were definitely going up and down as I wait for the outcome. Please, Lord, let this work.

February 1, 2015
50 units of Follistim, 1mL of Menopur.
Ouch!

February 2, 2015
Hello, hormones! My skin is breaking out and my color is fading. After bloodwork at the doctor today, my levels were 171. We decreased my dosage to prevent OHSS. 25 units of Follistim, 1mL Menopur. 

February 3, 2015

It has been a LONG day.  I taught class tonight and am glad to be home for bed.  I'm not sleeping much these days (except having incredibly vivid dreams).  We are continuing dosage of 25 units of Follistim, 1mL Menopur.

February 4, 2015

Yuck! Not feeling well (hence me wearing hubby's shirt and the awful hairdo). Bloodwork levels 300 today. Huge relief to be steadily going up rather than skyrocketing. 25 units of Follistim, 1mL Menopur.

February 5, 2015
25 units of Follistim, 1mL Menopur.

February 6, 2015
Hard, Day.  Levels are up to 682, which isn't too bad.  However, I have to be seen regularly again to find a balance.  Follicles need to grow, but not too quickly that I hyperstimulate.  Still looking at over 50 follicles this go-around.  Wowza!  At least I'm fertile!  25 units of Follistim, 1mL Menopur. 

February 7, 2015

"It's gonna be a good day..." I keep telling myself that every day is one day closer. Bloodwork shows levels at 1131 today. Changing our medication tonight to take Ganirelix in place of the follistim (bummer, the folli is the easiest to take). Still 1 amp of the Menopur.

February 8, 2015

Today, we celebrate! We made it one more doctor's visit than our last round of IVF and are one step closer!

Fake smiles!! Level went up to 1203 (a less than 100 jump). We want to ensure development is continuing and I don't "plateau" with the change in meds. 3 shots tonight: 25 Follistim, Ganirelix, and 1mL of Menopur. 

February 9, 2015

You would think I would be used to the blood drawing and tummy injections; but, I'm not. There's nothing like feeling like a human puncushion. I was just certain that "today is the day". Unfortunately, we only went up to 1333 and they wanted me to take my injection of Menopur ASAP. Like, call hubby and find a way to take it in the next hour. I tried his cell, his co-worker's cell, then I begged for the biggest "best friend favor" as I asked my BFF to inject me. Of course she was willing, but I couldn't ask her to do that. I calked my neighbor (happens to be a nurse) that said she would gladly do it. Just before hubby called back and made it in time.

Whew!

Tonight we increased my Follistim to 75 units and took the Ganirelix in hopes for good news.

February 10, 2015 We are so close! Levels jumped to 2430 and we are continuing to see growth. I have over 70 little follicles growing (can you even believe that?). 75 units of Folli, Ganirelix, and 1mL of Menopur

February 11, 2015

Praise, God! We are finally where we need to be! Levels are up to 5500. We have tons of "good follicles" to be hopeful about. Some women pray for 4-5 to grow and God gave us ten times that! Tonight we take our Ganirelix and our HCG trigger shot. And, guess what? We don't have a doctor's visit tomorrow OR any shots. One whole day of rest!

February 12, 2015

Two little pills to prevent infection. That's it! I didn't have a single needle come near me, and tomorrow is the day we have waited for. Despite wanting everything to fall into place, all I can pray for is that we make it to retrieval. If we can get these sweet little eggs, we won't have to go through this WHOLE process again. We have hope.