Monitoring appointment #1

This morning I had my first monitoring appointment. They ran labs to get baselines for the estrogen and progesterone before I start those. I also had an ultrasound to check my endometrial lining and ovaries to make sure the Lupron was doing its job. Thankfully, they can tell you the ultrasound results right away, and mine looked good. 8.3, which is right where they want my lining to be.

Ultrasound machine in exam room.

A couple of hours later I received an email stating that my labs were perfect, too, so I can begin phase 2 of the medication protocol. I began the estrogen and aspirin and lowered my Lupron dosage. 

I can't believe we have come this far! It's a bit surreal for me. After all of the waiting and paperwork and what-have-you, to be in the thick of meds with the transfer less than a month away is a bit difficult to wrap my head around. But so cool, too!

One strange thing I have noticed this time around is that I'm thirsty like last time, but I haven't hit the "desert dry parched" place like last time. I'm not complaining, just something I've noticed. Maybe it wasn't the Lupron that did it to me after all. Water is good for a body so that is definitely not a side effect to complain about. 

My daily pills, so far. Will add more soon.

I'm also contemplating other changes in my life (good time, right? While I'm taking synthetic hormones and staring a major life changing event in the face!). Don't worry, I'm making these changes with the full knowledge, cooperation, and blessing of Shawn. I'm not doing crazy things, just changes that probably were due to happen anyway. And in the mean time, I'm getting excited for a miracle!

A Human Pincushion, the Early Days

Friday was the first day of my new medication protocol. I am thankful that I slowly start the medications, rather than having to start taking all of them at the same time. I think it helps my body ease into the meds.

I started a DHA supplement (holy freaking huge gel-cap, batman!) and at 4 p.m. I drew up what will be the first of many injections.

I didn't have any of the first shot jitters like I experienced with my last transfer, just the feeling of "I am going to stab myself in the stomach! Holy cow!" which I quickly brushed aside. After all, this wasn't my first time of self injecting. (But, seriously, who willingly volunteers to puncture themselves with a freaking needle twice a day? Apparently surrogates do! Who knew?)

I digress...

I am one of the lucky individuals who experiences minimal side effects from this injected medication (Lupron). The main side effect I experience is extreme thirst. I do mean extreme. My last time being on this med I would drink between 200-300 oz of water a day. I didn't want other beverages, just ice cold water. The feeling of my entire body being parched is what I experience. There wasn't enough lotion or strong enough lotion for me anywhere. This thirst has started manifesting with me in the past 24 hours. I'm not quite up to 200 oz yet, but I have had a lot to drink today!

I am so thankful I'm not experiencing some of the extreme reactions to this medication that others have. My dad was on this medication as part of his cancer treatments and it was a torturous experience for him. I was fearing a similar reaction, but thankfully have not had that experience. I didn't even tell my family the name of this medication until after I was done with it out of concern for their emotional reaction. I know his reaction was an extreme reaction that was very rare, but the thoughts were there as I administered this drug the first time.

Anyway, from what I've been hearing, most surrogates have side effects leaning more toward inconvenient, such as mood swings, hot flashes, moodiness, etc. I am so very thankful to not be experiencing any of these, either. (My husband is happy, too!) Lucky, blessed, whatever you want to call it, I'm just downright thankful.

I've been on the drugs for three days, my water intake is on the rise, my thirst is on the rise, and my excitement is building with every poke. 

Getting ready for B & R's miracle!

Meds and a Fresh Perspective

This morning the doorbell rang quite unexpectedly. It was FedEx dropping off a package for me. If you have been following my blog you know that I LOVE packages! Today was no exception.

My girls and I sat down to breakfast and I began opening the box. After the packaging was removed, I took out a bottle of meds, then another, and another. 9 different medications totaling 12 bottles or vials. Two different sized syringes, three different sized needles, three packs of alcohol wipes, a sharps container, and a big packet of reading info with administration procedures and side effects and I don't know what else. Wow. The medication and supplies almost filled my table.

This isn't my first attempt for a successful transfer. Back in January I went to Toronto and met with a doctor who transferred two embryos into me. That attempt was unsuccessful. That doctor had me on a few of the same medications this doctor is prescribing, but I believe those meds were about half of what I am staring at, both quantity and variety.

I'm not worried about the meds, after all I've done this once before. I'm not thrilled with the idea of having to poke myself in the stomach and the thigh or fanny, but I knew this was part of the deal when I signed up. I knew there was going to be extra hormones, steroids, and vitamins. I knew all of this. But, it's one thing to know it and another to be staring at it in the face.

After seeing the meds, I snapped a quick picture of them and sent it to my IP's with a quick note that basically said "the meds arrived today! I thought you might like to see them. I will be starting some of them on Friday and the others over the next couple weeks." (One of my IP's is a Nurse Practitioner and likes to hear about the medical side of things.) I shortly received an email back from them stating "Wow, that is a lot of meds!  I’m sure with IP's medical background that they have an idea of what all is involved.  I on the other hand, am completely clueless when it comes to this stuff.  :)  So thank you for sharing!  If it’s possible I have even more appreciation for this selfless act that you are doing for us." (Some details of their email were changed for privacy.)

After reading that email, the needles and pills and vials aren't that big of a deal anymore. That's what this is all about: helping a couple who could not have a child become parents. They have said something to the effect of this "selfless act" before, yet, somehow I don't feel like I'm doing anything extraordinary. I just feel like I saw an area that I could help with and I'm doing my best to meet that need. I don't feel heroic or worthy of that kind of praise. I just want to help them experience the wonder I have every day when I'm playing with my little ones or the joy of delighting in your child's accomplishments. It's an amazing feeling to be able to share all of that, and all I'm doing is assisting them in their miracle.

Connecticut Adventure, Part 1

Tuesday morning, I boarded a flight to New York, via Chicago. Once I landed in New York, I then got into a car and drove to Connecticut (rush hour!!!). After a long day of travel, I finally arrived at my beautiful hotel for the night. Check in and then it was time to find some food!

The desk clerk recommended that I try a restaurant about 10 minutes away... Yummy! Good stuff (even though their "receipt" is to circle your chosen items on their menu, writing in the tax and circling the total on the bottom. Whatever works for them!) The fun part was on the way back my gps app didn't have one important turn, so I got to go on a fun adventure as I drove on back roads to find my way back. Oh, and it was raining, too. I'm not a big fan of driving at night in the rain, but I am proud to say that I made it back just fine. Go me!

This morning, I enjoyed lounging around the hotel and taking my time getting ready for my appointment. I then proceeded to get lost on my way to find breakfast... Again. I did manage to find a Panera not too far from the clinic, so I enjoyed in one of my extravagant loves-their mango smoothie. Yummy! Anyway, after breakfast, I drove to the clinic and met the clinic staff.

I met with the doctor who will be managing the transfer and monitoring all of the stuff that goes into that. He seems nice enough and I really liked his staff. I had blood taken, a sample given, and then experienced a histogram. All I'm going to say is that was five minutes of pain that my poor uterus experienced, OUCH! The doctor looked at everything and said that things look good. We just need to wait to get the results of my blood work back for the all clear.

After the exam and all of the above mentioned stuff happened, I met with a nurse who went over the next couple of steps... Here they are for you (and for me to remember all that she said!)

- blood work comes back sometime next Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Once they all come back,
- they order my meds. I will be on several of the same as last time with a few others thrown in. Progesterone shots, estrogen pills, lupron shots, aspirin, prednisone, and an antibiotic the week before. I think that's everything!
- we are hoping for an egg retrieval and transfer the week of August 26th, should all go well. She said that we are pushing things a bit right now, but they will get things going as soon as they can.

So, aside from the crazy directions, lack of road signs, and painful exam, everything was pretty easy and went well! I'm currently in the airport waiting for my flights home (LGA to Milwaukee to MSP) and looking forward to coming back in 7 weeks and meeting the next miracle!