Final Check

SCHWOO!!!!!!!!

I had a final lining check this morning at the U of M. Honestly, I have been a nervous wreck over this one! What if after all of the pills, tablets, and shots my body just wasn't responding to the meds and my lining wasn't as thick as they needed it to be? I have been trying some of the suggestions that other surrogates have given me to help thicken my lining, just to be on the safe side. I had trouble sleeping last night and was awake long before I needed to be. I know that worrying won't help anything and try not to worry, but wasn't succeeding very well at remaining peaceful, much to my chagrin.

Back to this morning...

I hopped up on the table and the ultrasound tech did her thing while I patiently waited her to tell me the measurements. After several measurements I couldn't stand it any longer so I asked her where my lining was. Her response "its between a 7 and an 8." YES! Dr D needs it above 7mm, so between a 7 and 8 is a good thing! Woo hoo! (Yes, I actually cheered while on the table with the wand up my... TMI, right?)

Once I left the clinic, I immediately sent an email off to my IP's and received a response right away. They are happy the lining is at a good number and are getting really excited about the next two weeks. I also called my hubby and shared with him the good news, so we all are glad that is taken care of.

Happy, peaceful and ready to be a part of a miracle!

Small Change in Plans

I received a call this morning from the coordinator at the Clinic. She said that they had their weekly IVF meeting this morning. When my case was brought up with the results from Tuesday's monitoring appointment, Dr D decided that he wanted to check my lining thickness one more time to make sure the estrogen is doing its thing. So, next Monday or Tuesday I will be back at my clinic for a quick ultrasound to check for lining thickness. I'm just waiting for the appointment to be scheduled and orders to arrive. 

Getting ready for a miracle!

Monitoring appointment #2

At 7am I arrived at the U of M for my monitoring appointment. After my blood was drawn I was then given an ultrasound. The tech told me that my endometrial lining was at a 6.5mm. Bummer.

Most doctors want it greater than 7 or 8mm... I guess I just have to wait for the clinic to tell me what to do next.

Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long. I received a call from the clinic an hour later. The nurse said that my blood work looks good, but the doctor wasn't really happy with such a low endometrial lining thickness (thinness?). Because of this, he is now increasing my estrogen by a LOT (at least I think it's a lot). Instead of 4mg twice a day, I am now to add to that 4 mg vaginally every night. So, that's 12mg of estrogen a day. 

My new daily doses of pills... For now!

The current dose of estrogen has made me very affectionate (need lots of hugs and snuggles from my hubby and kids) and just a tad weepy (sappy commercials or books make me cry!). I'm curious to see how the added estrogen will effect me! 

The good news is that the doctor said I do not need another monitoring appointment, we will just go with whatever and however my body chooses to respond to the added estrogen. Good thing, since we are about two weeks away from a transfer and meeting R & B's little miracle!

Medication update

After being on the decreased Lupron and starting the estrogen for the past week, I am just checking in with an update. I'm doing well overall. I've been cramping pretty much since Wednesday. Nothing I can't live with, but rather annoying or occasionally inconvenient. I've been on the hot side as well, which is a total change for me. I'm usually cold, my sweatshirt is my steady companion. Not lately! (Shawn's not complaining!)

My tummy is rather interesting. By interesting I mean interesting looking. I've had lots of pokes in the stomach, but the hard part is that I bruise easily. So, yes, I have small bruises all over the front of my belly on either side of my belly button. *sigh*

The small bruises and marks across my tummy from the needles.

I have one more week to go before I start another host of meds, and I'm okay with those to be prolonged as much as I can. Basically, there are pills and suppositories and another daily shot. A much bigger shot with a bigger needle. One that I should feel long after it is done. That will come soon enough. 

So, that is basically where I am right now. Lots of pills, hormones and a daily poke into a bruised stomach. But once we get a little miracle for B & R it will be all worth it!

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.