Rumbling

E has been shooting me up for an official week now. Of course, we didn't know what to expect, so it has been an interesting week: drugs, needles, strange evening phone calls from pharmacies in CA, lots of FedEx packages (to which we're not complete strangers), disappointments, and a bit of hope thrown in for good measure.

Not sure if I'm having any side effects - I do seem tired and my back has been a bit achy... but we've also been eating a bit less (portion control!) and it's suddenly rainy here - weather changes often make me tiredachy (and I'm only 30!!) The big side effect may be a rumbling in my ovaries, but sometimes I'm not sure that it's not just some GI issue....Other than that, the poking is going just fine. E's pretty good at it - she may have missed her calling as a phlebotomist or a shot-giver, or something. (Truly, she's gifted in just so many areas; it'd be hard to pick just one!)

We are looking forward to good news on Monday - I think we are both working to keep our hopes in check as one disappointment after another feels unbearable - we'd rather not fall so hard. Still, I think we have a glimmer, which also feels good for the time being.

Update CD11 U/S

Well, what to say? I wrote earlier today about three possibilities that could come from our u/s. The three options have, as this exact science seems to do, changed to four. Our follicle that was around 13mm on Tuesday is now probably around 9mm. WHAT?!?! They aren't supposed to shrink!!!!

Well, S’s E2 came back in the 160s, which is pretty good. They found another follicle in the left ovary that is growing (was about 6mm on Tues and is now 9mm). NP thinks this is what is putting off the E2 and so is upping our dose of FSH from 100 to 150. We are scheduled for an u/s on Monday at 8:30 am. S will have her E2 drawn again and then we sit in the tiny tiny room to wait for results.

Fingers crossed on this one. Hopefully over the weekend S will have some symptoms that ovulation is coming and Monday will show us a beautiful big follicle with lots of E2! Come on God, help us this one…

P.S.
S's SOs were hiding and so she had to have the u/s twice. What a saint!

P.P.S
Remember if you don't know what something stands for check out our handy dandy glossary on the bottom of the column on the right!

Ultrasound CD 11

Today we are going in for our CD 11 u/s at 1:30. We are hoping to see that follicle around 18 mm and S's Estradiol levels are above 200. If it is we will get a prescription for hCG. Then, we will set our alarms for the am (depending on the time of the inseminations) and I will give S the shot (I'm a pro now!) telling her "stubborn ovaries" (SO) to release the egg. If the follicle is not 18 mm we will go back tomorrow for an u/s to see if it is the right size. The worst thing that could happen is that the follicle is gone and we somehow missed ovulation or it wasn't a good follicle. I love this exact science bull.

S and I are both not really feeling like today will produce the results for which we are hoping. Perhaps it is the continued disappointment that has bred a completely jaded outlook on all appointments regarding fertility. S doesn’t seem to have any symptoms that ovulation is close and previous follicles and estradiol levels have taken a crap on us just as we started to get hopeful. Just not feeling it this time.

To boot, we are having one heck of a week. The beautiful weather we had last weekend has left us with cold rainy windy grey days. Our neighbor is re roofing their house and start working far to early which, makes Gladys bark (this better not be the case over the weekend). Work is about to give me a complete meltdown. S is frustrated with the business world. And, we are obsessively looking at moving home to be closer to our families. I will be applying to jobs this weekend in MI and S has hardly come up for air from her job searching.

IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY JOBS FOR AN MBA OR MSW IN MICHIGAN LET US KNOW!

I mean it we have no shame and will apply to everything! It is a pity that we thought we needed to stay here in Madison to protect our baby (if it ever comes). Now that WI has the same amendment as MI what is the difference. Besides, if we are closer to family when/if someone challenges one of us we have lots of people that will stick up for us near by. Not true here. We have just come to the conclusion that we may have to fight harder in MI to protect our family but we will have the refueling of family members close by to help us to keep moving forward. We just don’t have anything keeping us here in Madison anymore.

Anywho, I will post after the appointment and let ya’ll know what the follie is up to.

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U/S numero uno

We had our first u/s today for this injectible cycle. The news is luke warm. There is a potential follie in there. It's 12mm right now. Luke warm b/c there is only one potential - our Dr. wanted to see at least 3. I have - and I'm sure this is a technical term - "stubborn ovaries" according to her. So, we have another u/s scheduled for Thursday afternoon to check in on them. Until then, E gets to keep having her evening fun w/ needles!

The Deeds Are Getting Done

I just wrote a really really long post about our entire weekend and the injections. It got lost in dark black hole that is the internet.

We had a great weekend. The injections are going well. No bruising. I am certainly not the best at sticking people with needles but it'll do.

If I ever feel the inspiration to attempt the old e-mail again I will certainly write it again. Now is definatley not the time.

Enjoy Spring....it is here.

Today is the dawning of a new protocol

Basically, E is going to stick me with a needle this evening. We've got some ovary juice sitting in the fridge waiting for E's handy dandy needle pen. When she gets home from work - sometime between 5 & 6, she's going to juice up the pen and stick me in my a**. She's more nervous than I!!!

Does anyone have any recommendations when using follistim? Thanks!