Stim Check #2

My estrogen is 868 and he's keeping me at 75iu menopur in the am, 150 gonal-f in the pm. At this point on IVF#2, my estrogen was 567. AND, my local doctor backed off my meds which were lower as well. For IVF#2, I was on 75 menopur in the am, 75 menopur and 75 follistim in the pm. My local RE took off the 75 follistim. When she first told me to continue, I thought I heard her wrong. In fact, I called her back to confirm. So, initially, I was very nervous for them not decreasing but I have to say, I'm here for something different, I want to see something different. Well, there you go! He's not backing off the meds. The nurse seemed happy and said I had a nice little recruitment going on. I didn't ask for measurements. I don't go back until Saturday so I must not be that close or he'd have me in tomorrow as well. So, I'm guessing and hoping that I'll stim Sunday as well. That would make 9 days of stims! I will be thrilled to stim 9 days. Each cycle before, I have stimmed 8 days and that hasn't worked for me. Yes, I know that 8 days is fine but I want changes!

Tomorrow, I have my IVF physical and my hubby has to try his freeze again. He tried doing it today and lost some of it. The nurse said there was only 200,000, not worth freezing so he has to try again. That's kinda stressful, hope it goes better for him tomorrow.

I'm feeling absolutely crappy, stomach is bugging me badly and having some issues that I'll spare everyone w details. I thought I ate somethin bad but it continued yesterday. The nurse thinks it could be the increase in estrogen. She put me on pepto and a bland diet. YUM.

that's my IVF update... We have been doing some fun things so I will update on that another time.

Stim Check #1 - Estrogen

It's 307. Woah. That's higher than IVF #1 and #2. I expected higher than IVF #2 since I am on more meds but I was on even more meds for #1! He's keeping my meds the same until I go back in on Thursday. I have to remind myself, he is the best, he knows what he's doing.... right?!? eek.

Stim Check #1

Yikes. I don't know why I was worried nothing was cooking in there. I have 7-10 follies on each side, of course, it's completely an estimate this early on. My left ovary had one at 12 and another at 11. That makes me nervous! She said they might decrease meds depending on my estrogen levels. I might also be back in there tomorrow! Good thing we flew up early. I wll post later when we get information on the estrogen from the nurse.

I am in DENVER!

We arrived in Denver this morning around 10:30am Denver Time. The flight was on time and smooth. Our flight left West Palm Beach at 6am. Can you say OUCH? We were up at 330am. We got to the airport only to find out security wasn't open for another 30 minutes!! So, we waited and a line formed which we didn't get into. Of course, they only open one belt and things get backed up. Of course, my bag got pulled, understandably considering I have ove 50 syringes in there! They claimed it was pulled bc I had a heating pad in there. SURE....

Our flight to Atlanta took off on time, no problem. It was short, about an hour and a half, I couldn't sleep. Our flight from Atl to Denver also took off on time! Big plane too, 220 people, 3 aisles. I was in and out on this flight, I couldn't stay awake. But, everything time that I'd fall asleep, something would wake me up. The flight was nice though, being it was longer, there were snacks and you could buy a meal. But, Tom and I shared a bagel from Starbucks.

After we got in, of course, I handy Tom Tom was down, fortunately, we had printed instructions out from google. We checked into the hotel and not within 5 minutes, a big dog was barking across the hotel. We opted to change rooms before getting settled. We headed to Panera for lunch, got some groceries at Target. At Target, it hit me, I could barely stay up. I hit the bed as soon as we got back. I was asleep for 4 hours. We're going to get some dinner now. Tomorrow is a free day. We have our first stim check on Tuesday!

Everything is fine now...

I am able to start stims tomorrow. Thank God! It's the same cyst that's always been there but they have to be extra cautious because they are relying on someone else to provide them with information. It's quite borderline in size but she said it isn't producing hormones and shouldn't respond to the stims. So, that equals a heart attack for me.

This isn't going to get easier...

Can I get a BREAK??

I spoke to the local RE this morning. The cyst measured 1.5cm by 1.3cm. CCRM told me last night that it can't be bigger than 1.5cm. That's really close. Now, I have to wait until my nurse gets in and I get a call. I hope she calls right away, I need to know...

Wonderful

I have a cyst on my left ovary BUT the local RE didn't send the measurements over. I have to wait until tomorrow to find out if I'm cancelled or not.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

that's all I'm going to hear all day until I hear about my baseline!! The place that I went for local monitoring was very nice, nice people, much different than my local RE that I used for the first 2 cycles. She saw fluid in the uterus but checked with another girl in the office, they said it was just blood since I'm still cd4. They also noticed a chocolate cyst on the left ovary but that was there in June, it's "normal." I PRAY that I'm not cancelled!!

just another day...

Ok, so, work has just been another day. I guess they are too busy worrying about the horrible real estate market and the layoffs to be concerned with my two weeks out. No one has said anything to me about it today. That's a relief. I just need to get out of here! There is so much tension and stress in here. Two people who were let go have stayed around to help transition their jobs. It's just a horrible situation and it's making me sick. 3 more days of work, 5 more days til we depart! of course, I still have that baseline looming, praying for a good check!!

I'm kinda freaking out...

I told my boss that I needed off for 2 weeks for surgery. I had told him about 3 weeks ago that it was coming so it wasn't a total shock. He didn't seem bothered. I thought that I'd feel a sense of relief but I have MORE anxiety now than before. He is in with the owners, I feel like they are discussing it. I'm afraid that they aren't going to pay me although I have about 6 days so I would get some pay. I'm just plain concerned because I've seen how they've handled letting these people go over the past week. They aren't necessarily the most compassionate people in the world... Hopefully, it just won't be an issue!

I can't believe it!

My calendar from my RE for today and tomorrow says to expect period. It never happens that way though. Usually, I'm 4 days past bcp wondering where the heck my period is! would you believe I woke up and there it was? Now, please please please pray that my baseline check on Thursday goes well. I can't have any cysts or elevated estrogen. I have flights booked already for Sunday, this can't be delayed or cancelled!

On my to do list today is to tell my boss. I put it off considering they were letting people go. I did tell him on June 27th that I'd be needing surgery in a few weeks so it won't be a complete surprise. But, he might be shocked that I need two weeks and the timing isn't very good since the one guy I work with was let go but staying on for two more weeks full time, then part time to transition stuff.

Say some prayers today! I'm anxious about telling him...

Last BCP tonight!

holy smokes! where did the time go? It still hasn't hit me that we leave for Denver next Sunday nevermind that we're doing IVF AGAIN!!!

On another note, I don't think I've discussed this in my blog before but things at my work are bad. VERY BAD. I work for a homebuilder so I don't think I need to explain further. Last June, they let 5 people go, 5 more people were let go this past January. Today, they let another 4 go. So, things aren't looking good. I'm very concerned as to what is going to happen but I've tried to hold on as going to a new employer and asking for time off to do IVF won't go over very well. If I lose my job, we may be forced to put things off. This cycle MUST work! Once I am pregnant, then, I can move which makes no sense but when you need to take 2-3 weeks off at a time to cycle, it just doesn't go over well. So, I would greatly appreciate any job prayers nevermind the successful IVF prayers as well!!! Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

14 Years Ago...

I see posts so often on the nest and on blogs about one year ago today I was..., of course, they are all positive posts. And, well, one year ago for me was just plain crappy. Hopefully, in one year from today, I will look back and say now I'm pregnant but for now, I have to go with 14 years ago!

Back to my point, 14 years ago, I went on my first date with my wonderful hubby. I didn't even realize until I just looked at my office clock and thought, wait, July 15th! So, I just wanted to share something happy and not IVF related. I remember how excited I was when he called me at home and shocked as well. We went to see True Lies at the movie theater. I can't believe it's been 14 years....

Lupron Shot #1 is done!

hooray.

Meds are here! YIKES!

Well, there it is! The obligatory picture of the meds for IVF#3! I was looking back at the picture of the meds for IVF#1 and realized there's less because of the follistim. My old RE had you use the vials so there was like 20 boxes while CCRM uses the pen. So, it's much more compact, thank god considering I have to travel with it.

I remember when I got my meds for IVF #1, I was like a kid in a candy store. I was so excited, checking it out, seeing what was all involved. Then, I opened the needles. I recall some paniac and hyperventilation. Of course, the 18 gauge is for drawing up the PIO so that was a relief (I didn't know at the time) but the 22 gauge was for injecting the PIO. It still isn't quite pretty. Thankfully, Dr. S wants me using Endometrin which involves NO needles. HOORAY!

Of course, Fedex was later than usual in delivering. They usually get here by 10:30am. They didn't arrive until noon which wouldn't be a big deal but I had lunch plans at noon with my local CCRM buddies. They didn't mind the delay. And, infact, when I called them to let them know they arrived, I felt so bad for delaying and their response was please tell me that you got them! They didn't give a crap about being late, it's sooo nice to interact with people who get it. People who understand why it's so important. I'm so thankfully for that little bit of sanity.

So, here goes nothing, I have my first injection of lupron tomorrow. My injection free life is about to end! Fortunately, it's just 1 needle a day until stims when I'll have 3 injections a day! let's hope the 3rd time is a charm!!!

I'm going to Denver!!!

I have these moments where I get hit upside the head and realize things that are sooo obvious. Of course, I'm going to Denver but it suddenly became real. Our flights are booked, we leave on the 27th, VERY early, 6am. But, it saved quite a bit of money by leaving so early. We also confirmed the hotel and booked the car! We're on our way. Today, I need to order my meds and they will be delivered tomorrow. I start Lupron on Monday! Let the headaches and nightsweats begin!!! :)

I am completely and utterly terrified.

Ok, I need your IDEAS!!

Dh and I will be in Denver with a two burner stove and microwave, a fridge too! We are big on bbq foods, hamburgers, chicken, steaks, we use our bbq ALOT! While cycling, that's the best to eat too, high in protein! Anyone have ideas on what to eat with only the stove, micro and fridge?? something high in protein of course, gotta avoid that OHSS!!!

Awesome, great ideas so far, hubby and I LOVE Tacos! I love the idea of George Foreman. I looked and Target sells them for $20 so we could get one when we get out there. If anyone has any good stir fry recipes, send them over to Kristi889@gmail.com.

thanks!!

I do have a calendar now! :) I've put some of the dates on the side of my blog... Off to Denver we go.............

Results are in!

I heard from my nurse about those last test results. My biopsy showed that I do have the beta 3 integrin. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad about that one. If it's there, why haven't these perfect little embies in the past stuck??? Also, my FSH was 5.3, lh was 2.9, estrogen was 28 and my AMH was 2.6. They want FSH under 10 and AMH over 1. Of course, Dr. S is off today! Geesh, didn't the man know my results would be in today???? I'm just kidding. She said she'd confirm things with him on Monday when he's back. So, AWAY WE GO! It is official, I have started IVF #3!!! sense the excitement? I promise, I'm excited...

Finally!

ok, not finally that I got the pictures up but finally my sister-in-law got married! She'd been with her boyfriend for like 14 years. OK, I'm being a total hypocrit here, Tom and I were together for like 12 years... Either way, I'm glad they finally got married, my Brother in Law is really nice!

so, here they are, some pictures, I have to say, I was really bummed about my photos, they didn't come out very good. Most of them had red eye and I'm not very good in fixing that.

THE BRIDE AND GROOM



Here's one of my hubby and I before the wedding.




Here are ones of my SIL with my BIL (on the left) and hubby (on the right).





Here's one of me and my hubby the morning after. We walked back over to the ceremony site. You can't see much because our heads are in the way.


But, this is what was behind us...


Amazing right? It's absolutely gorgeous...

Where to begin???

Ok, life has been crazy busy the past week finishing up all these last few tests. Fortunately, I think I'm ALL done with them! HOORAY! It was really stressful getting them all done so quickly but definitely worth it to be done.

So, the biopsy was NOT bad. It wasn't fun but definitely tolerable. The tissue was sent to the lab and arrived safely. Unfortunately, they only received two samples to test so they didn't run the test on Monday. It's usually done on Monday and Wednesdays. They told me that mine would be run on Wednesday. My period arrived on Saturday, a bit earlier than expected might I add! To be honest, I wasn't sure that it was my period, figured it was spotting after the biopsy.

I went in on Monday for my cd3 bw. I just went to Quest since I had to get my TSH redone as well. She made me quite nervous about it being the serum had to be frozen before being shipped. She said she would put it in the freezer but when fedex came, out it'd go. So, I asked her to wait until tomorrow, NO, it will go out today. She wasn't very accomodating but I did speak to the lab today and they said it arrived frozen. THANK GOD!

I am suppose to touch base with a nurse on Monday. I hope to have a more clear calendar assuming I pass these other tests. But, I did start bcp on cd3!!! So, while I've technically started an IVF cycle, it's only tentative assuming all the other tests come back ok. If they don't, I'll stop! :(

I promise too over the next few days that I'll put up some pictures of my SIL's wedding, it was very nice, had a great time! For the first time, I didn't think about IVF for more than an hour or two. But, I did catch myself at the cocktail hour thinking about it.

Please pray that my FSH comes back normal!!!!