been awhile...

I think back to when my sister in law was pregnant and telling her that she should be sure to write everything down because time goes by and you forget. My son is 14 years old now and there was alot I was just sure that I would remember things and looking back now don't.  Well since I haven't posted on this blog in two months, I've realized that I really should be taking my own advice.  So I've made a pack with myself to be more diligent about posting on this blog about my pregnancy.

The last couple of months have been a little anti-climatic. I've been to see the mid-wife twice; the first appointment was a little more intensive with testing and blood tests, etc. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat which is always a relief, it actually took her awhile to find the heartbeat because the baby is moving around too much. The second visit wasn't as intense, she just measured my stomach and we listened to the heartbeat, it was around 140 beats per minute.

So what has changed in the last two months is that my jeans still fit....the best when I'm standing up!  I kept doing Kosama in the mornings up until my 16th week and only stopped because of my work schedule. I miss not having the class since I tend not to do much on my own but my work schedule doesn't really help either. 

I'm excited because this week we go for an ultrasound! We decided pretty early on not to find out the gender of the baby. I feel that there are so few true surprises these days. And I still feel that way but now that the ultrasound is just around the corner it is soo tempting to want to know the gender.

But I'll hold out.

Symptoms...

When I was pregnant with my son, I didn't realize that I was even pregnant until I was almost three months along (I had irregular periods back then). So I'm not sure if I went through this period of feeling totally beat all the time! I think that back then I was only 20 years old and not really in tune with what was going on with myself or body.

But I'm telling you that I definitely do this time around.  I get exhausted so easily these days. I've read that this should end once you're into your second trimester which I really hope is true. I haven't had any morning sickness which I wasn't really expecting since I never did with my other pregnancy.

I've been going to my exercise class in the mornings about 3 times per week. I have noticed there that if we do anything low and then stand back up I will get lightheaded. So I tend to take it easier and slower.  At home if I go downstairs for something and then kinda jog up the short flight of stairs (which is my normal) it will make me a little dizzy. I've read to that this can happen because your body is trying to pump more blood, blah blah blah.

I think that you could find just about anything online to match what you're going through. At least for me what I've found so far has been helpful and reassuring but I'm sure that it can just as easily freak you out. So I guess just like any advice you have to be sure its reputable and not your imagination get the best of you.

Oh and headaches...

Rollercoaster - a no go

So my husband's work had a family day at the local amusement park. Well I called the doctors office and was told that it wouldn't be a good idea to ride the rides. bummer :o(  Or at least she said that I could ride the more tame ones that didn't jerk you around or put a bar across your lap.

That day we let our son bring a friend and were able to go off and ride the rides on their own. So my hubby and I took our time and wondered around the park. We caught a (somewhat lame) magic show but at least it was air conditioned! It was a hot day.

We also played bingo which I've never played before or at least not in the setting. I was pleasantly surprised that it was fun. I won three times in a row, at the third time I was actually kind of embarrassed to holler out bingo!  Bur alas that was my peak. But the hubby won at least 4-5 times. So what you win is points for prizes. You know like the kids get at chucke cheese but they had prizes that were geared towards adults. So we walked away with a three legged camp stool, mini flashlight, 5 piece cutlery set, 3 piece blue cutting boards and a dog leash tie out.

The hubby and I rode a couple rides that were mild. It turned out to be a pretty nice relaxing time at the park especially with not having to hurry up and wait in the long lines.

Ultrasound #1

Today was an exciting day, we had our first ultrasound! The baby's heartbeat was in the 170's which the nurse said that they would like to see it in the 120's.  Just hearing the heartbeat was wonderful, it just made all the shots, all the emotional ups and downs all worth it.

We told my husband's side of the family the weekend before since we were all together. I was apprehensive about it and would have liked to wait until the ultrasound two days later just to be sure but it all worked out. 

So the nurse gave us a flash drive and saved the ultrasound pics to it. She said to bring it back the next time and they'll save those to it as well. Technology is awesome.

Here is the first pic of baby Lawrence:

Doubling Doubler

This morning I went to the hospital lab in Fairfield where I'm staying at for work.  Since I obviously haven't been there before I had to go through the whole rigamarole (is that an actual word?) with my information.  While I was talking to the receptionist another lady came up and stood at the counter with me. The receptionist asked her can I help you and she was like oh I'm just waiting.  If you know me I'm a nice person but at that moment I just gave that lady a dirty look.  I was so annoyed because its not like we're at the grocery store, I'm telling this women personal info like soc #, etc.  It's like thanks for being all up in my business!

I digress, so I finally made it to the lab and got my blood drawn. The phlebotomist (spelling?) said that it would be several hours before they faxed the results. So I somewhat patiently waited for the phone call from my RE's office. I was even taking my cell phone to the bathroom with me in case I missed the call. Well it took forever and at 3:45 I finally called and left a message on the nurse voice mail. Well it helped.  I got a call about 30 minutes later. **drumroll please**

My beta was 807!!!  It more than doubled, I was soo relieved.  I think that the internet is a wonderful and can yield so much information but it can also be a downfall. I read a blog about someone who got a positive hpt and 1st beta and then the second beta dropped and it was chemical. So of course that had me paranoid, thankfully everything looks great the number doubled like it was supposed to.

So the nurse told me that I needed to schedule an ultrasound in 2 weeks and to keep taking all the meds; PIO shots and Vivelle patch.  I was looking at my work schedule and my husbands and figured that it would be about Aug 27th (3 weeks later) before we can both go. Which the nurse did say that the further out the more we would be able to see. So hopefully we might be able to hear a heartbeat too. I'll have to look up when you're able to do that. Either way I just hope that it all keeps progressing.

God is wonderfull!!!!!!

Beta Day!

So I stopped by the RE's office at 8am and had my blood drawn for the beta test.  I was expecting to not hear back from the doc till late morning at the earliest.  Well I got a call an hour later I hadn't even made it all the way home yet from des moines.

And the number was.... 388!  yeah, I'm officially PREGNANT!   The doc said that I need a second beta test and in 2.5 weeks an ultrasound and that I have to continue to do the PIO (progesterone in oil) shots, joy :o(

I need to have the test repeated in 2 days to ensure that the number is increasing. Which is a slight challenge on its own.  I'm out of town this week for work and so the nurse gave me the lab request to take in someplace. So I have to find a clinic or hospital close to where I am (which turns out is in another town).  And then I have to figure out what to tell my coworker why I have to leave early or not go to dinner with her without telling her the real reason.

The hubby and I have decided to wait until at least after the ultrasound before telling some family & friends.  That way we're sure that everything is progressing properly. Which I know that doesn't mean that nothing will happen but here's to hoping!

Confession - no will power!

So yesterday I was officially 7dp5dt. And I was thinking and obsessing about whether I should or shouldn't take a HPT (home pregnancy test). Well my confession is that I couldn't wait and I went to the store and bought a box of tests.  I finally got my BFP!!
I know I know it is still early and we haven't had the blood test yet. There's the potential that it could be a chemical pregnancy, etc.. But for right now I'm pregnant per HPT until proven otherwise! yay!!!

5dp5dt craziness

OMG I can't stand waiting! I'm by my count 5 days past a 5 day transfer and am going a little crazy. As each day progresses I keep googling the next "Xdp5dt" just to see what other peoples response/results were. I guess it is my way of knowing that I'm not alone with my crazy obsessiveness!


On the plus side I was able to get my beta test day moved up from Monday the 6th to Sunday, Aug 5th.  I would have to stop at the RE office in Des Moines on my way out of town for work for the blood draw. And then I would get the results while at work 3 hours away from my hubby. Just the idea of dealing with the news good or bad alone would be hard.  So I emailed my RE's nurse and asked if it would be possible to come in a day early and she said yes!

I am driving to Council Bluffs to visit my folks and pick up my son. He spent 2 weeks with them this summer, I'm sure that he's been spoiled.  Although now I have to leave Council Bluffs at the crack of dawn to make it to Des Moines by 8am. But it'll be worth it.

3dp5dt

We're officially 3 days past a 5 day transfer (3dp5dt).  I'm glad to be off bedrest and out in the land of the living. While I was on bedrest I watched the entire second season of Downton Abbey, love that show! I also started reading the Game of Thrones series, I've gotten to page 384 out of 835 (45% seems good in three days).

The day after the transfer I felt a little bit of twinges on the left side, almost crampy.  I'm hoping that it means that the embryo was just busy burrowing in. I've learned a new acronym PUPO; pregnant until proven otherwise. I like the thought of that and in a sense it is true, I'll take it.

My other thought at this moment is when and if I want to take a home pregnancy test (hpt). With our last IVF turned IUI #3 cycle I did take an hpt the day before the blood test. At that time I was already thinking that I wasn't because one day I had started cramping and spotting quite a bit. I had hoped it was implantation spotting but it seemed more than that and sure enough the beta number came back really low which ended up being a chemical pregnancy.

So the question continues do I take the test early to help guard my heart against a negative outcome. I will take the blood test on a monday morning and then get the results later that day while at work. I feel that if it was to be negative I'd rather have an inkling before than an absolute break down at work. So maybe thats my answer right there, I might take a test the night before just to have an idea. Also then I would be with my husband since I'll be out of town when I get the results.  The idea of even taking the test gives me a touch of anxiety.

Transfer complete

Yesterday morning we went to the RE's office for the embryo transfer.  They prescribed me a valium to take beforehand which is supposed to help relax you and your uterus. I didn't really notice a difference until I went to get out of the car after the drive down to Des Moines. Then I definitely felt light headed and just a little loopy feeling.

The last I had heard from the office was that 6 out of the 8 eggs had fertilized. Well the RE told me when he came in right before the procedure was that out of the 6 embryos, 5 had quit growing at day 3. But the upside was that the one embryo that made it to Blastocyst stage (day 5) looked great.  Its a bummer really since we were hoping to put in 2 embryos but looking back I'm glad that they hadn't told me earlier.  I would have just worried and fretted the entire time before the transfer.

As it is at that point I'm already lying on the table ready to go. It was important to stay positive, so I took it in stride since ultimately you only need one!  After the procedure was complete they had me lie there for 30 minutes and then we were able to go home.

I spent the rest of the day yesterday in bed watching tv and reading my book. I could get up to go to the bathroom but other than that they want you to rest. Boy did I get bored after awhile!  This morning I'm sitting in the living room recliner, so its nice to have a change of scenery. Especially since my husband was still sleeping and I didn't want to wake him.  I still have to stay on bed rest today, hopefully I won't get as stir crazy but I have my doubts.

In two weeks I go back in for a pregnancy blood test. Until then your activity is supposed to be reduced to just walking. Before this I was doing Kosama in the mornings which I stopped the last week of stimulation before the retrieval.  Which was a hard transition for me I felt like something was missing because I had been so used to it. I had decided that I didn't want to inadvertently do anything to risk having something go wrong and then wonder if my exercise class that morning was a little too strenuous, etc. So once we find out the results I'll look at whether I go back to class regularly.

Wish us luck!!

Informational Video Break

As I was obsessively searching the internet for information I came across this fun video clip that explains the IVF process.

Vagina Tea

Before we started this last cycle I had done some shopping on Bulk Herb Store. They have a tea called "Mamas Red Raspberry Brew".  Red Raspberry leaf has been known to help prepare the uterus and possibly help with egg quality.  So I bought some for myself,  I figured it couldn't hurt anything.
The actually product was pretty delicious even though it needed a little sugar. Well one day as I was making this tea my hubby had asked me what I was making so I explained how it was herbs that was supposed to help a woman's "parts". So he dubbed it "Vagina Tea".

PIO freak out

So tonight was the first night I needed to give myself the progesterone in oil (PIO) shot. Well my husband is working nights right now and there really isn't anyone else to give them to me.
If you don't know the progesterone in oil is an intramuscular injection, in your butt. It might not be but the needle just seems so much longer than the others. I've been told its because it has to be sure to make it into the muscle.


So I got out an ice pack and slipped it between my shorts and hip. I left it there for probably 5 minutes while I got the injection ready and also stood around thinking oh my gosh I can't do this. The nurse told me to hold it like a dagger and stab it all the way in.  So I leaned over the bed with some pillows under me and held the needle over the spot marked by the nurse which was red from the ice. I must have looked ridiculous because I did a couple almost motions before I got up the nerve to do it. But I did. It didn't hurt like I thought but I believe that was in part to the 5 minute icing.  The oil part is really thick so it makes pushing the plunger alot harder and slower.


I felt so proud of myself afterwards! Thanking God that I was able to get through it. I can't remember a time where I have ever had to give myself a shot before I started IVF. And now I'm becoming an old pro pincushion at it.

Egg Update

I got the call from the RE's nurse today and found out that 6 of the 8 eggs fertilized. So are they now called embryos? I'll have to google that sometime.

So of course I've gone online and read various blogs and posts about IVF and how some of these women have 20 eggs retrieved and I think gosh 8 is low (well now 6). But I'm trying not to freak myself out to much about it. And keep repeating the mantra "we only need 2". The hubby and I had decided pretty early on that we wanted to implant 2 embryos, no more no less. If we get additional ones to freeze that would be a bonus.

The plan is to do a day 5 transfer which brings us to next wednesday. I recently looked it up and it was interesting that they used to only do day 3 transfers and that they would implant alot more eggs because of the risk of failure. And that these days waiting until the blastocyst (day 5) stage is more like when the egg actually moves into the uterus. Per the internet: "A blastocyst is a highly developed embryo that has divided many times to a point where it is nearly ready to implant on the walls of the uterus."

At this point it is totally out of my hands and up to nature and God. So the waiting begins...

8 is great!

The egg retrieval was today and to get to the end result the RE retrieved 8 eggs!
I was told that I could eat a clear breakfast that morning which I hadn't thought about before hand. Its hard to find something clear to eat so I just had water.  The nurse took pity on my poor bruised arms and put the IV in the top of my hand.  They had said that the drugs used to sedate you also gives you amnesia, they were right! I remember sitting in the recliner before hand and then waking up in the recliner again. That's it nothing in between!  The procedure happens in another room so I had to have walk myself into the other room but don't remember a thing. Crazy what drugs can do to ya.
Afterwards my hubby drove us home and we both went to slept. My insides still feel a little sore. I'm taking it easy the rest of today though.

Ready for Launch!

I went in today for a close to final scan/draw. I have been taking Follistim & Dexamethosone (pill) in the mornings and then Repronex in the evenings. I have around 4 eggs on each ovary and there are at least one on each that was a good size but the others were smaller. So they kept pushing back a day to help the others catch up. Today the RE decided that he didn't want to risk waiting any longer for fear of losing the good sized eggs.

So tonight I get to take the trigger shots and also a last dose of Repronex and Follistim. And the retrieval will be on friday morning!  I felt so relieved now that it is all scheduled. The first attempt things changed because I wasn't responding properly so that converted to an IUI and then when we could try again we had scheduling conflicts, so it wasn't even a full try. 

I guess for awhile there I was freaking out because I had switched insurance at work to the one that covered fertility. Well of course this insurance has a monthly deductible and the other one doesn't, so there was up front cost right there. So my hubby and I decided to try for a year with this insurance and then switch back next year. My dilemma was that its already July and we hadn't even gone through a full IVF cycle yet, so I felt like the year was flying by with little to show for it.

Thankfully we are actually going through with this cycle and everything seems to be going well.  I'm a little nervous about the egg retrieval on friday but excited also. I guess I'm not to worried about myself but with what the end results will be; how many eggs retrieved, how many will fertilize, etc..

At this point though I am trying to remain optimistic!

Bruises & yet more Bruises

As I'm sure some of you are aware that when you are going through an IVF cycle you are at the RE office alot. And that means getting blood drawn each time.  So far I have had blood drawn six out of the last seven days!  I've given new meaning to being black and blue! After last friday's draw I was left with this lovely mark on my LEFT arm:

Granted this pic is several days after the incident so its starting to fade.  The mark above it is from today's blood draw! Cuz of course ya gotta even things out. Plus the nurse was thinking that we should give my RIGHT arm a break because it is looking like this:

So I'm sure that people just wonder when they see both my arms these days but oh well, I guess its a small price to pay.

Just Relaxing

Since we had to cancel the last cycle shortly after the baseline appointment, my RE likes to wait until the next full cycle, so July.  Looking back it was sort of a blessing. Turns out June was a crazy month for us with our long vacation and then coming back and immediately getting Johnny ready and out to Scout camp. During that time I had to travel some for work. Johnny came back from camp, then it was 4th of July. Then he went back to Scouts for a specialty shooting camp.
It was nice to just relax about the whole infertility issues. I had initially was even thinking that i would get an ovulation kit, etc. And we could try the old fashioned way but I just didn't even want to think about it.
Now that we are starting up on the next cycle, I feel alot more refreshed and positive about the whole thing.
Wish me luck!

Skidding to a halt

So you don't realize that when they give you your IVF calendar that it is a pretty rigid thing.  Unfortunately I had to cancel this cycle because of an non-flexible trip to Colorado. After initially talking to one of the nurses, it was thought that I could still stay on track as long as I could see someone in Colorado to do the scan/draw.  Who knew that infertility was huge in Colorado! There were several clinics to potentially use.  So I was in good spirits thinking that I could "have my cake and eat it to". Then I talked to another nurse that for one of the scan/draws I couldn't make it on that particular day but could the following. Well that was a no go it had to be on the particular day! Since it was too close to potentially needing to change meds or trigger shots or something.  I was devastated, I really wanted to be able to do both. I felt like time was ticking away too fast but ultimately the trip to Colorado took precedence. And it was a really good trip!

A New Start

Well today was my last day of birth control pills, so begins try #2. For those of you who don't know when you start IVF they put you on birth control pills (so ironic) to help regulate your cycle. So I go in a couple days for my baseline appt and then start injections next week.

I was just thinking ahead while in the shower this morning that the month of June will be chaotic between IVF, the (dreaded) two week wait and going on vacation. But then I had a terrible thought what if this cycle again gets cancelled and/or converted to an IUI again!  With our insurance we have approx two chances for full IVF cycles. And I would hate to keep spending insurance monies on possibilities that get changed. I suppose better than not being able to have the possibility at all.

So I'm pushing those thoughts aside and going to keep thinking positive. I've read that the first cycle is a kind of trial and error, albeit an expensive one! And my doctor did say that he initially put me on basic cocktail of drugs to see how I would respond.

The plan this time around is to be on Repronex (shot), Follistim (shot) and Dexamethasone (pill).  Hopefully I'll have a better reaction and produce more follies this time around!

Oh so close..

Today was finally the day, the end of the two week wait. I had blood drawn and then proceeded to wait for the phone call with the results.  The night before I had already had my break down and cried on my husbands shoulder. I was so worried about the whole thing. I had already had a feeling it didn't take when I started to get AF but of course there's always that little part of you that has hope.

So the call came and turns out that you can be only a little bit pregnant. My understanding of the beta test of your HCG levels is anything below a 5 is considered negative and above 25 is positive. Well I had a 7, so what the nurse said was that it probably started to take and then didn't quite make it.  In a way it made me feel a little bit better, don't get me wrong it still sucked that it was negative. But the fact that it had started was better than nothing at all. So maybe now my body will say oh yeah I remember what we have to do now.

The plan as it stands is to meet with the doc and talk about changes to the protocol for the next time. And then once my period starts again, we'll start the injections again.

Back to the drawing board

This past saturday would have been 10dpiui, I started to have cramps which were kinda painful in the afternoon. I also noticed when I went to the bathroom that there was some spotting on the TP (I know TMI). And some of it was brown like old blood. So of course I try hard not to totally freak out.
Today (13dpiui) unfortunately it has gone from spotting to a full flow.  I talked to the RE's nurse in the morning and told her I started spotting and she said not to worry just yet because you can have a period early in pregnancy. But since it has changed to more substantial, I'm sure her response would be different.  Wednesday is my "official" day to test which I still will but I think its more a technicality.

What confuses me the most is that I was told when I started the progesterone suppositories that I would need to take a blood test to determine pg because it prevents your flow from starting. Well it obviously doesn't work that way with me!

To quote my husband "it isn't the end of the world and he still loves me no matter". So we'll start the process over again for an IVF cycle. Hopefully the second try doesn't get canceled or changed like our first time.

Every little twinge

I am currently 6dptIUI (days past transfer of IUI). It is really hard to not think about how things are "cooking" inside me and whether it'll be positive or negative, etc.  One thing about me is that I'm a planner. I like to plan ahead and at least have a general idea of whats going on. Right now though is driving me crazy with not being able to plan ahead because obviously if it is positive that would affect alot of future things.

So I have been trying to keep busy but at work the thoughts of worrying tend to sneak in. This coming weekend I'm traveling to my parents house to visit and to bring my son back since he is spending the week at their house during spring break. That will be a nice distraction.

Here's to not driving myself crazy!

So begins the 2WW

Wednesday morning at 9:30am we went in for our IUI procedure! For those of you who don't know an IUI is where the sperm is deposited into the vagina thru a catheter aka Turkey Baster.  Of course there is more to it since the sperm is put through a "wash" to pick out the best guys. Hubby's did well there were 15+ million and motility of 68%. The nurse said they usually want at least 5-10 million and 50% motility.

When I went for the scan the monday before there was a 4 follicles that were a good size. So I asked the nurse on turkey baster day, how do they know that the trigger shot (ovidrel) worked and that I've ovulated. She said they didn't know for sure, isn't that odd that with all the technology these days that they don't know for sure.  I kinda wish now that they would have done another internal sonogram prior to the IUI to check the sizes of the follicles. Would that tell you if they were "good to go" I don't know.

We have done two IUI's in the past and they (obviously) didn't work. But that was also using an opk testing kit and my positives were always a little off. I used the digital smiley face one and sometimes I wouldn't see the smiley face at all but there would be a slight line when you pulled out the stick. Other times I would get it the night before but not the next morning. It was frustrating to say the least.  Its always a wonder to me that the hubby will tell me to just relax about it, etc. Which I think is almost impossible for the woman given all the sticks you have to pee on, temps to take, mucus to check throughout the day. It can drive a woman crazy! 

So the hubby and I are remaining cautiously optimistic about this cycle. Hopefully with this cycle being driven by meds and not random pee stick results, the timing is better. And potential multiple eggs will have more chances of getting fertilized.

Here's to hoping!

Trigger Day..

Another scan and draw appointment this morning. Turns out that I have 2 good sized follies on both ovaries. I believe the nurse said they were all between 17-19. I really should start taking notes, they throw so much information at you, its hard to catch it all.
So they decided that this evening I will give myself the two trigger injections of ovidrel at 9:30pm. And then at 9:30am on wednesday morning they will do the IUI.
I'm being really hopeful at this point, since the follies are a good size and there are several (just not enough for IVF). So I will continue to keep my fingers and toes crossed.

Mr. Cheerleader!

Last friday I went for a scan & draw appt to see where we were at with this IVF cycle, my hubby had the day off so he went with me. Well the nurse had a hard time identifying the separate follicles. And turned out that they weren't enough follies and they weren't growing like they were supposed to be at this point. The nurse asked me if I had gotten the message on wednesday to lower the lupron from 10 to 5. This was a surprise to me, they called my cell phone and sure enough I had the message on their but my phone doesn't beep to tell me that there's a message. Very frustrating.  So she said she'd discuss with the doc about what to do but that her suggestion would be to convert from an IVF to an injectables IUI cycle. 
I was surprised because I was thinking all along that my body would respond well to the medication. We left the docs and as soon as we were in the car my hubby turned into Mr. Cheerleader. He just knew without my saying anything to him that I needed the pep talk. He started saying how this was good at least we were wasting our 2 chances at IVF on a bad cycle. And know the doctor knew how I responded to the medication so next time it would be better.  At that point it reinforced why I loved him so much. I was so glad that he happened to come to this appt with me.

That afternoon I got a call from the nurse and the doctor suggested to convert the cycle or cancel it altogether. We decided to convert, why waste all the stabbings for nothing.

Last day of BCP's, yeah!

So I took the very last birth control pill today! It's satisfying knowing that we're yet another step closer, this Thursday I go for my baseline appointment. And then a week from today I start taking the Repronex and Follistism along with the Lupron. Just call me a pin cushion!
Over the weekend the hubby and I went to Des Moines and while we were there we picked up the rest of the medicines that I have to take. Needless to say it was overwhelming, as you can see from the picture.

When I went down a couple weeks ago, I was slightly disappointed that all he gave me was the antibiotics and the Lupron. Now that I have gotten the rest, I realize that the pharmacist does have a rhyme/reason to what he does.  So I learned how to become my own scientist and mix my own concoctions, if you've gone through IVF you (probably) know exactly what I mean.  Starting a week from today I get a shot in the morning and then two in the evenings. Unfortunately for me due to our opposite schedules I can't push off 'giving' the injections on to my husband.

Side Effects anyone?

I have to admit that one thing that worried me most with starting Lupron is the idea of side effects. Just the not knowing how the medicine will affect your body. Well last night was day 3 of the shots and so far I have not noticed any potential side effects.
Hopefully with the exercising I do in the morning at 5am (yes I know that I'm crazy) with Kosama, will help ward off any side effects. I have read that exercising helps especially with starting ivf. If anything maybe it'll just help with the stress of the whole event.
I find myself wondering with every stomach twinge or slight headache is that normal or because of the medications. I think I need to just stop wondering and let things be as they may or else I might drive myself crazy.

My first stabbing!

So yesterday was Valentine's Day and my present was giving myself my first injection of Lupron. I am already on day 15 of birth control pills and the hubby and I are both half way through a week of antibiotics. Thankfully so far I haven't had any noticeable side effects to all the meds. I did feel nauseous yesterday morning but I'm thinking that was primarily due to anxiety over the shot coming up.
So since the hubby was working nights last night it was up to me to suck it up and give the shot. I did what the pharmacist said and numbed the area with an ice cube (might use an ice pack tonight though, less drippy!).  I think that it did help, it was a weird feeling watching the needle go in my stomach. It only hurt a little when I took it out and bled just a drop.  Of course when it was done all the thoughts go through my head of did I do it right, did I measure correctly, did I leave it in long enough or to long? I can definitely see the advantages of having another person there just to be a double check.
Well I have one more night on my own and then the hubby will be off work and he can do the stabbing!