Delay, Dilemma, or Doom

I can feel a storm approaching in my ovaries.  I know that sounds a bit odd but those that have suffered through IVF will understand.

One of the RE doctors called me yesterday about my E2 day 3 lab results.   I knew it couldn't be good since the clinic was closed due to the snow so they would only call if it was bad news.   It wasn't good.  I can find no one that would cheer about a count of 1064 on only day 3.

I'm taking a deep breath in right now and trying to blow away the stress.  I might end up with a cancelled cycle.  I might end up with OHSS if the number continues to climb.

Dr. B. told me the Gonal-F will have to be reduced from the 525 to 375.  The Lupron and Menopur will both stay where they are right now.

I should have known this was going to happen.  Tuesday I started producing the egg white fertile cervical mucus that we infertiles always seem to look for each month.  I had it and I'm like wtf?  Seriously why now?  Something isn't right.

I should have known when yesterday my pelvic region is so puffy that my 16's are snug from only a 0.6 lb weight gain in two days.  Forget wearing my l4's which were still lose on me only three days ago.   It looks like I've gained 10 pounds.  Today I stepped on the scale only to see another 0.6 added to my weight in just one day.  That makes 1.2 pounds in three days.  Will the weight gain stop?  Its not my eating for sure, I'm closely monitoring what I eat and how much exercise I get.

I should have known when the cramping started and the back pain became almost unbearable.  Usually that pain only hits when I'm close to the retrieval time or ovulation itself.  The pain was radiating down my legs and up my back.

So yes, I'm a bit worried.  Hopefully I'll keep my blood pressure down.  Hopefully the Circle + Bloom will work its magic and I'll just have extra recruits. I had only 5 antral follicles.  I'd love to have 10 so that I might be able to freeze an embie or two.

But I'm being a realist here.  I'm quite aware that this cycle might be cancelled.  I've prepared my husband for the worst.  Now I'm going to hope for the best.

If you are the praying sort would you keep me in your thoughts and prayers that this cycle will still give me that take home baby?  I know its a lot to ask for, but I'd do the same for you.

Thyroid Ultrasound

Finally, its the day.  I called to schedule an ultrasound for my thyroid and actually got a same day appointment.  Wow, this really works out well since J has today off from work. 

I'm not looking forward to this ultrasound but it does hurt less than the transvaginal ultrasound.  However my thyroid is a tender spot with the two cysts and the tech does have to press down firmly to get good resolution.  Pain.  I'm not wanting more pain today.

My pelvis is hurting from the Lupron injections.  The uterus area feels hard.  I don't want more pain.  I bent over several times in the laundry process of washer to dryer and drying rack and I swear it brought tears to my eyes the pain was bad.  I've already started to get some ovarian pain and I have yet to start the stims.  We start the stims tonight.

I'm hoping that the tech will let me know if I have less than two cysts on the thyroid now.  I'm hoping that they've gone down.  I'm thinking that they haven't since I've been off the armor thyroid and iodine drops for well over a year now.  My  PCM wanted me off them.  My levels were borderline and he decided to err on the side of caution and take me off of them.  I wanted to try to conceive which meant I had to ditch most of my asthma meds, all of the thyroid meds, the prilosec, any pain killer stronger than acetaminophen, and most herbal remedies plus a few other meds I've now long forgotten about.

So here I am with thyroid issues that can be felt with palpating my throat.  My newest doctor was rather concerned that it had been two years since I had been seen by the ENT.  Its time again to get it evaluated and rule out my risk factors for cancer again.  Oh I doubt it will lead to that any time in the near future but its always better to get it checked out.  We don't want anything to go wrong right now with being in the middle of an IVF cycle.  I want a healthy pregnancy and a healthy full term, please God, baby.

So that is where I stand as of today.  I'll post about the results when I'm finally privy to them.  Probably not until my ENT appointment which is the end of the month.

Now off I go to work on my unofficial book review draft of the book I just read.  I should be posting it by the 18th.

Its All Here

Finally the rest of the medicine arrived today.  I was waiting on the micro dose Lupron to arrive via Fed Ex.  Now all my meds that need to be in the fridge are in the fridge and the rest are on a shelf in the dining room where I do my injections.  The micro dose Lupron is in the bin on the left, but the Menopur basically hides it.

My husband is home today and was there when the Fed Ex truck arrived with my medicine.  I was a bit surprised at how big the box was for such a small bottle.  It came in a small cooler which wasn't a surprise but the sharps container and the needles were a nice bonus.  We used an old 2 liter soda bottle for the last needle disposal.  I still have plenty of room in the bottle for this round of injections.  Why would I think to not use the sharps disposal this time?  Well I don't know really but since I already have a disposal container going why bother to start another one is what I'm figuring.

In about two weeks I start my first round of injections for this cycle.  Since we are doing the micro dose of Lupron I'll be starting with the shots on the 14th of January after my first suppression scan.  I'm kind of worried about starting so late with the shots as I'm an early ovulater.

Originally I would have started the Lupron regular dosage on the 1st of January, the same day my husband is going to take his antibiotics.  I have to say, "Yay", to not having to take as many shots though in the end it will even out since I'll be doing two shots of the micro dose Lupron daily when I do start them.

Another difference this time around will be that I won't be doing the PIO shots either.  No, its not because of the pain as they really didn't hurt my hard ass except when J forgot to let the alcohol dry fully before stabbing me with the needle...that hurt!  But its because J is going to be taking on several new hats with being on Rear Detachment for this deployment.  This means he won't be around and if he deploys soon he definitely won't be around to give me the shots either.  We opted to go with the endometrin suppositories this time.  I guess I'll be stocking up on panty liners next time I go shopping.  Better yet I'll buy the super long size from online and skip the odd looks at the grocery store check out line.

So now I'll go do some research to find the best online deals on pantyliners.  We'll see if buying on line saves me money or if the embarrassment of buying them by the case at a store is worth the savings.

Side Effects

I'm tired.  Seems that taking the Mucinex D is making it so I can't sleep.  That's right I'm up all hours of the night and day.

Benadryl was doing the same to me as the Mucinex D of which I really shouldn't be all the surprised.  But I do need some sleep soon.

I'm cranky without sleep.

My metabolism is crashing without sleep.  This means I'm starting to pack on the weight from the use of the mucinex.  Not much of yet, just under a pound, but for a fatty like me any gain is a bad thing.  Oh and the almost pound was gained overnight.

My heart is beating rather irregularly with these meds.  I mean I had a pronounced murmur the other day but now my chest is hurting.

Just a few more days and I'll be done with two of the four new medicines.  I can't wait to get off of them.

Speaking of medicines....the mail order pharmacy called me this morning about my Micro dose Lupron.  My Tricare insurance covers all but the $12.00 co-pay.  Not bad I think, even though I was quoted $9.00 in November.  I guess inflation?  So the last of my medicine will arrive tomorrow.  YAY!  I'll get it right in the fridge as soon as it arrives.  I wonder if it comes with needles or not.  If not I still have some on hand from the last IVF.

Today I have a therapy session with my psychologist.  I'll mention to her the side effect from the benadryl and mucinex I've been taking over the past week.  I have to also say its making for some wild mood swings too.  I don't have much of a choice here, I have to take something to decongest this sinus infection.  But I'm wondering if she can give me any advice for coping skills when I'm on mood altering drugs.  Maybe I should get my husband a hotel room since I'm not fit for company of any sort of late.  Hmm...maybe I should get a hotel room for me in the tropic with cute man servant and room service?

Smelling The Lilacs

Yes, that is right I can smell again!  YAY!

No we don't have lilacs blooming here in WA as of yet, and I'm not sure we have any nearby me when they would bloom.  I am however, smelling lilac due to the Flonase.

Yesterday I went to the clinic and was seen by a really nice Captain.  She went over me thoroughly and even noted how loud my murmur was heard by having me hold my breath.  I guess she thought it might be my breathing that was making all that noise.  But no, it is the murmur and yes I've been getting some chest pains again.  I figure that the pains are associated with the sinus congestion as the harder it is to breath the harder my heart has to pump.

I had a low grade fever, my sinus cavities are impacted too.  But not to worry too much as the nice doctor gave me Flonase, Augmentin, Mucinex DM, and Afrin.  Within 30 minutes the nasal sprays were working their magic and I could breathe again.  However, when I lie down the mucus just sits there and clogs my airway so I might have to drag out my nebulizer soon.

Last night I had to disconnect my vaporizer due to water build up.  We've been having a lot of rainstorms here and well the vaporizer is causing water vapor to collect on the wall with the window.  Two hours after I unplugged my vaporizer the water vapor disappeared.  Darn it all, the vaporizer was really helping my breathing too.

One thing to note, I'm not dead yet nor have I developed a rash from the Augmentin as of yet.  I do have a penicillin allergy and Augmentin contains amoxil in it.  But there really wasn't any other choice of drugs to give to me with so many drug allergies.  I agreed to this one as I have the least of the bad reactions to it as only my skin likes to peel off.  So far no skin is peeling off.  Yes, weird reaction but well it does happen.

I have a follow up on the 11th of January with the same doctor to make sure the infection is gone before we start on the microdose of Lupron.  Well haha, my appointment with her is after the first micro dose of the Lupron so this is going to be interesting.  But with any luck I'll respond well to the antibiotics and I'll be free and clear by the time I head fully into the main injections.

I want to take a second to say thank you to everyone that is wishing me good health. I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  I have faith that I'll heal before the IVF, or rather I hope I will.