It's about that Time

I've been on BCP for about 6 weeks. (I bled for 9 days during it and that wasn't supposed to happen, but the clinic didn't seem to care). Next monday, Nov 3, I stop the BCP pills. Thursday I have the first U/S of the cycle to determine if there are cysts or not, and that night I am supposed to start the Lupron. I know it's all going to turn into a whirlwind after that first doc visit. If cycle goes as planned, I should have an egg or two growing by Thanksgiving. I haven't had babies too much on my mind the past couple of months, so I suspect I need to go look at some pics; also visualizing my future baby should help get me excited.

IVF Drugs

I finally received them all they came via FedEx, UPS, and USPS . The nurse told me the retail value was almost $4000!

Almost everyone of these drugs has a warning label, "Do not use if pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant" ???? This does not play well with my psyche.

I am almost finished with my first pack of BCP. The nurse told me to skip the blank ones and move on the next pack. "What, no period?" She said I didn't have to have one. Well that just doesn't feel natural. I am accustomed to having my period. We're given periods for a reason in nature, right?

I will do as I am told and not question the authority on the matter. I will take these drugs that all have warning labels .

First IVF Meeting, Protocol and Mock Transfer

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!

IVF#1 - CD9

Got my big packet of info for the "IVF Class" that will take place in two days. Class ? I spent a good portion of today getting my insurance ducks in a row. Although I am 100% covered for IVF - due to state mandate, I was informed that I would need to pay $700 on Wednesday for Out of Network Deductible. A call to the clinic and they stood by this. A call to the insurance company and they insisted it should only be $250. The clinic has been wrong before; once the office manager insisted that UHC did NOT cover IUIs. I had to prove her otherwise with a document. Yet she was so sure of herself; just another example that we must be vigilant about our own business. The paperwork from the clinic also stated that I needed to have about $4k for meds for this cycle: here again; my meds are covered...

I was loosing some sleep that DH might bark about having to leave his work early to join me for this meeting and give another sample, but he didn't bat an eye - so I was loosing sleep for nothing.

It's odd to be on BCPs. I'm on my 8th day. I secretly worry that all these drugs are bad for me...

The moment I look forward to the most on Wednesday is to have the full attention of the IVF nurse who I have met before and liked. I have some calendar and scheduling questions and have NO IDEA what they have in mind for me . Or rather when does my cycle fit into the clinic's?

A pen pal asked me for an update with the IVF. I replied and she jokingly relayed that I sounded hostile towards IVF. There is a sad truth to this that I must overcome. How can I expect a positive outcome otherwise. I feel angst at how my clinic has treated me the past several months: their busy waiting room, no time for questions, the wait time of upwards of 2+hours sometimes while in the paper gown and alone... I need to get past all this.

IVF#1 ~ CD2

Started Yaz birth control today so the docs can have a clean slate to work with. I read the warnings for potential side effects and swallowed regardless. Drugs = babies, right?

IVF Class is scheduled for Oct 1st. Class consists of me and Daren meeting with the IVF coordinating nurse to go over paperwork and calendar I presume. "Inject Class" was completed last month with IUI #2. It lasted all of 3 minutes.