Done

Shawn just gave me my HCG trigger shot!  Woohoo!  I was a little scared, but it went well.  We put ice over the area first.  Numbing it helps!!!  Other than labs, no more needles!  Yeah!

~Sam

Day 9

Guess what?!?!?!  My ultrasound this morning showed that I am ready to trigger!  I take 10,000 units of HCG tonight at 8:45.  No more Menopur, Follistim, or Ganirelix!  My egg retrieval is Thursday at 8:45 a.m.  It only took me 9 days of stims.  Last time it took me 11 days.  Isn't that amazing?  I'd say weight loss had a huge impact.

I have lost a 5,000 BTU air conditioner.  Well, I had. I've gained a few pounds from the stims.  I hope I lose it quickly!

Have a Wonderful Evening!!!

~Sam

Update

My next ultrasound is Tuesday.  Same dose.  Things are going great!!!  Yeah!!!!!!

Take Care!

GO COLTS!!!

~Sam

Day 7

I had another ultrasound and labs this morning.  I am waiting on my phone call telling me what dose to take and when I need to come back.

I am so bloated.  My ovaries definitely hurt more this time.  My follicles are  around 11 mm - 14 mm.  I have one in my right ovary that is 18 mm and one in my left ovary that is 17 mm.  18 mm is mature.  Unfortunately, those two have matured early, so they won't make it until my retrieval.

I had a hot flash on the way home.  Shawn was cold and wanted to run the heater and I wanted to roll the windows down.

I'm still right on schedule.  I will probably take my trigger shot on Wednesday night and have my retrieval on Friday.  That would be good.  I would have the weekend to recuperate.

Packers won last night!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE COLTS GAME TODAY!  Is it time for kickoff yet???  GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Sam

I survived...

So, I just took my first Ganirelix shot.  I was really nervous about it.  It's new to me.  I wasn't nervous about the Menopur or Follistim.  I've taken them before.  The last time we did IVF, I took Lupron, not Ganirelix.  They basically do the same thing, but you start Lupron before everything else.  With Ganirelix, you start it halfway through the stims.  All I have to say is, Ouch!  The darn needle didn't want to break the skin.  I had to really stick myself hard with it.  My skin was tight around the needle.  It pulled my skin when I took the needle back out.  I'm not sure what that was about.  I'm not sure if it was the needle or where I stuck myself.  I have several injection spots on my lower belly now, so I asked Shawn to find a good/new spot.  If it was the location, I blame him.  LOL!  I Love You, Shawn!

I've been kind of snappy.  I'm trying not to.  I told the kids I am going to snap at them, but to ignore me and know that I am not doing it to be mean.  I told them they are not in trouble, I just can't always help it.  I'm trying to be nice and patient.  I can only imagine what my hormones look like now...

I painted my toenails around 10:30-11:00 last night.  We were watching Looper when I realized my toenails looked horrible and I didn't want to be getting ultrasounds and doing procedures with ugly looking toenails.  I asked Shawn what color last night.  He said purple, so that's what I painted them.  I put a layer of glitter nail polish on top.  As soon as the ultrasound tech walked in this morning, she saw my toes and said, "Your toes are so cute."  She even leaned in and touched one of my toes. I laughed and told her I had to paint them last night since I didn't want ugly toes throughout this.  Being a woman, she understood.

That's about it.  I'm really tired.  Is it time for bed yet?

Have a great FOOTBALL weekend!!!!!  GO COLTS!!!!!!!!

~Sam

Day 5

I had my first ultrasound and lab work this morning.  Everything is going well.  My endometrium lining needs to be above 7.5 mm for IVF.  Mine was 8.34 mm, so that was good!  The embryos need a nice thick lining to attach to.  I have about 10 follicles in each ovary.  The ultrasound tech measured about 7 on each side.  They range from 7.0 mm to 14.3 mm.

My morning dose of Menopur is staying at 150 units.  My evening dose of Follistim is going up from 100 units to 125 units.  I am adding Ganirelix to my nightly regimen.  It comes in single dose shots.  Ganirelix keeps me from ovulating.

My ovaries have constant twinges and aches now.  For some reason, it hurts worse this time.  Maybe I have just forgotten how much my ovaries hurt last time.  My lower belly has a little pooch to it now.  I look and feel a little bloated.  Knock on wood, I haven't gained any weight so far.  Last time I gained 5 pounds during IVF.

I have another ultrasound and labs in a couple of days.  Lets hope my follicles continue to mature!

Have a great weekend!

~Sam

Day 4 Complete

I can't believe how quickly this is going.  We are excited, but I'm a little scared at the same time.  The first time we did IVF, I was confident about the whole thing.  I am confident it will work again.  I'm just afraid of the same thing happening.  If I respond normally to the stims, my egg retrieval and fertilization will be January 11th.  I miscarried January 10th last year.  One year, one day.  It's funny how things work out sometimes.

I forgot how much the medicine stings when you're injecting it.  It also depends on where I stick myself.

I can feel the follicles growing.  I feel it more this time around.  Either that, or I have forgotten.  I'm not sure which.  I wouldn't say it "hurts", but its not "comfortable" either.  My ovaries throb a little and I feel twinges.

I also have a constant headache.  I did last time as well.  Yuck!  It could be the lack of sleep too.  I can't sleep.  My mind won't stop.  It's probably my nerves...

My mood swings haven't been that bad.  Better than last time, so far.  I get annoyed easily.  I'm not tolerating stupidity well.  I know that is terrible to say!  I lack patience.  I'm keeping my nose in a book so I don't needlessly snap at anyone. ;-)

I can't complain.  This will all be worth it in the end.

Have a great night!!!

~Sam