Protocol for IVF#1 = Microdose Flare Lupron
We spent the better of 4 hours at the clinic today for the IVF meeting, and it was my best day there yet! I was under the wings of the awesome IVF Coordinating Nurse Debbie. She insured my blood was drawn on the first prick, that we didn't have to wait around for anything - like the normal 2 hour waits. We sat in her office for an hour going over the protocol and calendar. She's down to Earth, a straight Shooter, and very intelligent on her subject. (I am very happy to report this b/c I have had stressful experiences with my very busy docs and the clinic - the only one in the state- and I did have a bad taste in my mouth about it)
I had a mock transfer that went well and again, the docs told me that I have the ovaries of a 25 yo. (20+ antral follicles?) The proof will be in the quality of the eggs that they ultimately harvest. Daren had to have blood tested and his soldiers were analyzed further.
I have to go out of town to a bz meeting the first couple days of Nov, so they are going to start stimming me on Nov.6 . They predict the transfer to happen right before thanksgiving week.
So basically I have the Month off! Whoopee!
We did decided to freeze the successful embryos that won't be transferred back to me.
So here's my protocol: Microdose Lupron (all our tests have been normal with the exception of an iffy high estrogen test once. Hence this is the protocol the doctor chose)
9/23 - 11/3 = Birth Control Bills - to suppress my ovaries
10/2 = Daren and Virginia take antibiotics to knockout unknown/hypothetical infections
11/8 = start Lupron for suppressing
11/10 = start gonal - f for ovarian stimulation
continue both of these (suppressing and stimulating at the same time??)
11/18 = take ovidrel to release eggs, take anti-biotic to prevent infection
11/20 = Egg Retrieval
11/20 = start steroids, progesterone and estrogen
11/23 = Embryo Transfers
continue Progesterone until first trimester complete.
This is subject to change of course and only skims the surface . The Lupron, progesterone, ovidrel and gonal - f are injections. Some are twice daily!