It's on!

I was a bit nervous. They had me waiting until the lab results came back. I saw that big ol follie/cyst on my ovary, but it turns out I'm OK to go. I've only got 5 follies growing. Normally when I was monitored for IUI I had at least 7 at the beginning. Those cycles I went in on day 3, though. Today is only day 2. Hmm.. I asked the RE if we should wait. She said, "Wait for what?" And that basically there's no such thing as a perfect cycle. We can wait a month, but maybe next month something else might come up. She knows this is it for us. She knows that this $10,850 I paid today wiped us out. This is it. She also said we can cancel the IVF and switch to the cheaper IUI if necessary. Then she said she wants me to get pregnant more than I probably do. I bet she says that to all her patients. Nevertheless, I liked hearing that.

My labs results:
E2--32
LH--2.1
FSH--1.9
Progesterone--52

FSH seems really really low, but I guess it's all good. Hmmm..

My protocol is 225 of Menopur and 225 of Bravelle tonight and tomorrow night. I go in for bloodwork on Saturday to see how the dosing is working on my body. Happy stabbing to me!

I can't believe I'm finally here!

'twas the night before my first monitoring appointment for IVF

Yup. If you would have asked me last year if I'd be doing IVF, I'd have said no, mostly because I had no idea what IF had in store for me. In addition, I never thought we'd find money to pay for it. I never believed having children would be this important for DH, and I am extremely lucky to feel closer to DH because of IF. I know; kinda cheesy, but true.

I took my last BC pill yesterday, so today is day 1. I go in for monitoring tomorrow. I can't imagine not being "ready" since I've been on the pill. I hope my ovaries look good (no cysts, please), and my bloodwork is fine. If it is, I start shooting up tomorrow night.

Today was also the first day of no caffeine. And I also made some tasty black bean, squash, zucchini, shitake, and leek tacos, food that my acupuncturist recommends to nourish my qi. And I am drinking my last cold drink, my beloved whole.foods soda water. I am not supposed to be cold or drink or eat anything cool or cold. Only warm or room temperature. Bottoms up!

On a very solemn note, please stop by Gurlee's blog when you can. Her loss right now is hitting me extra hard, and she needs all the love she can get right now during her difficult time. XOXOXO

Thyroid WTF and then some

I had my endocrinologist appointment this past Wednesday and she basically told me my TSH was perfect. Nevertheless, she ordered bloodwork to be sent out for a full screen. I felt a bit neurotic when I spoke to her. She asked if I was referred to her by my RE and I said no, that I was here based on the fact my brother has Graves disease (hyper) and on an anecdote about TSH and fertility. I'll get the results in a week or so. I'll post when I know more.

On a side note, I go in next Thursday for BW and US to begin IVF. To tell you the truth, I am a bit scared. I'm having second thoughts and I am afraid to actually write/say it. A part of me likes being childless. I can do what I want when I want, blah blah blah. I am also a bit terrified of having multiples. I know that is silly. When I actually analyze these feelings, I come to the conclusion that I just have enjoyed my life. I'm 35, turning 36 next week. I've got it good right now. DH and I are great partners. Will we be great parents and partners?

Of course I want to have a family, and yes, I want to be a parent. Am I the only IF pre-IVFer with cold feet?

Thyroid WTFWTF part 3

Since I am such a good patient to myself, I went ahead and called to ask for copies of the blood work from my regular OB and the RE so I can give those to the endocrinologist I am seeing next Wednesday. However, when I picked up the lab tests from the RE, the results were NOT 2.3 for tsh but were 1.71. So, everyone together now, WTF?

No, I didn't misunderstand the nurse when she called yesterday and told me 2.3. I wrote as she talked. 2.3 is not 1.71.

Also, I got the result of the prolactin test and it is 14.6.

So who knows what's what. I know I should call and ask WTF, but I am seriously over it. I have spent a good deal of time thinking about this whole situation. I'm just going to proceed with the endocrinologist appointment next week and hopefully someone can tell me WTF.

Thyroid WTF part 2

My TSH today came back at 2.3, so the RE says it's fine. I don't know what to think. I made an appointment to see an endocrinologist next week on Wednesday. Fellow blogger and success story, Kari, gave me some advice that I think I am going to take. She said to go with my gut, and like her, I plan to have someone monitor my thyroid on a regular basis.

Official IVF schedule:

BC pills: today through November 30
CD2 bloodwork and US, and start injections: December 2

Yippee!

I am not really looking forward to all the shots, but at least those are not going to be as difficult as the progesterone shots which are in the muscle with long needles! Yikes! Those shots begin after transfer. Oh lordy. I am going to be bruised!

Thyroid WTF?

I should know better...

So I called the RE yesterday to announce the return of AF as directed, and I was told that they needed more of my blood because they didn't have any Thyroid results. I told them that yes, they did have those results because my regular OB gave me a flood of tests a few weeks back, and tsh was in it. I was told by OB all was normal, and gave the RE office results. Well, turns out that 3.2 is high for the RE and they want to retest me. I go in Wednesday AM for another blood test. The IVF nurse was just lovely explaining the details and why, but here is where I am lost. Why wasn't this test done before I even started doing IUI? And I know that .5-5.0 is considered normal, so why is 3.2 considered high for fertility treatments? I've read hundreds of blogs about you ladies and your thyroid issues, but I can't remember who's done what and how high, etc. Any thyroid thoughts out there? Is this something I should worry my tushie off about for the next 72 hours?

Here is my other issue. I always feel pushy for asking questions about things I hear on blogs and dr. google. In fact, one of my questions for my RE during the IVF consult was if she thought I should have a d&c before IVF because I read that this actually helps promote implantation. Yes, I actually read a scholarly medical journal linked from a google website. Dr. S, my RE, looked at me like WTF? She said she did not know of anything like that, and immediately I felt as though I was out of place and wrong. She even cautioned against having acupuncture after the transfer because she saw studies that said it was bad. What studies are those? All I have read is that acupuncture can't hurt.

So here---we all need to make a checklist for newly christened IF patients. You know, the questions one MUST ask, such as How's my thyroid? Why do I feel like a villian when I ask questions, and why do I feel like a jackass when I don't?

CD1, the appetizer cycle

AF finally arrived today. I am super happy because this means I can begin BC pills for two weeks then start stimming for IVF!

Weird thing, though. Are you ready for this?

I was due for AF last Wednesday, but no go. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, nothing. So I peed on two sticks on Saturday evening: negative on pregnancy, but I got a smiley face for the ovulation one. WTF? I peed again Sunday morning and both were negative. I mean, WTF? Why would the ovulation prediction test be positive? Has anyone ever had this happen to them?