Here's the plan!

As of now I’m currently taking IC Necon (generic, Ortho-Novum) birth control. I have just completed one pack and will order my next pack this week. I was instructed not to take any of the sugar pills and head straight into the next pack. I’m not a huge fan of birth control, simply because it can impact your body so differently based on what you use and I’ve certainly had my hit and misses with the baby blocker since my body is a little sensitive to meds and honestly, I’m not that big of a fan of this one, but it’s all a part of the process and I only have a few more weeks of it. It’s kind of confusing why I would be placed on birth control pills during this process, but as I was informed, it helps “turn off” my ovaries and helps the facility control my period, which you’ll see why a little later down the post. My last oral contraceptive pill will be on the 21^st of November. I will then wait until the 25^th to start the real work. I was pretty stoked to find out that I would not have to take any meds or shots during Thanksgiving.

Not to be selfish, but it’ll be great to spend the holiday with my family without having to take my shots with everyone around, or have the hormones impact my emotions or body. Just relax, eat, and enjoy the company… Also maybe a glass of wine the night before when we head out to my aunt  and uncles family lake house J Technically I’m allowed to drink UNTIL I start my shots, however once I’ve committed to the process, I don’t like putting anything bad in my body. So I haven’t been drinking since we signed all the paperwork; also, I recently just got over acute bronchitis/walking pneumonia, and haven’t been drinking due to the antibiotics. SO anyways, it’ll be nice to have a glass of wine while I snack on some yummy grub and catch up with family.

On the 25^th I start my injections! I am using different medications this cycle because I ended up getting a cyst last cycle and it pushed the process back a little, which I do NOT want to happen this time. The timing is so sensitive in IVF that everything counts. IF and just IF everything goes to plan, the transfer will be early December and the couple will be informed of the outcome right around Christmas. Gives me chills just thinking about it! It just feels magical! And honestly, who doesn’t like magic?!?

So on to the good stuff… The schedule is as follows, 25^th – 28^th between the hours of 4 – 10 pm (I will choose a consistent time for each night) I will inject 150 International Units of Gonal F and 1 vial of Menopur into my thigh. I am allowed to mix them or can take separately but seriously, I’m not trying to give myself 2 shots a night. They don’t necessarily feel like a hug, so I will mix.

Gonal F Pen is a gonadotropin hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology (rDNA). It consists of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) and contains neither luteinizing hormone (LH) nor urinary proteins. That’s why they also include Menopur 1 Vial : which is a highly purified preparation of naturally derived gonadotropins called hMG. It contains equal amounts of two kinds of hormonal activity: FSH and LH. FSH helps to stimulate egg production, and LH helps the eggs to mature and release (ovulation). Therefore, Menopur is really a combination product. It acts as both a follicle stimulant and an ovulatory stimulant. Menopur is used to help stimulate eggs to mature in women whose ovaries are unable to develop eggs.  FSH is primarily used in women and is necessary for the recruitment, growth and maturation of the ovarian follicles, which contain cells known as ova or oocytes. This occurs at the beginning of a woman's menstrual cycle (which is why they put me on birth control, so they can decide to start my period after I complete them on the 21^st)

The most common side effects observed between the two of these medications include but are not limited to headache, stomach pain, stomach bloating, ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (which almost happen last cycle), nausea, acne, breast tenderness, mood changes, hot flashes and vaginal bleeding.. Bruising, pain and redness can happen at the injection site. AWESOME!!!  haha. Honestly it’s not that bad, but then again, it kinda is… I mean during the process, it sucks. It’s hard to understand how a few hormones could completely change you, but it only lasts for a short time and after the cycle is completed, it’s no big deal, its old news to me. Now if you were to ask my boyfriend, ummmmm I’m not sure what he would tell you. This will be his second cycle within the past year and it’s a little different in through his eyes. However I have assured him this will be my last donation.

See during this time, not only does he get the joy of hearing of my pains and hot flashes and mood swings, like random laughter that turns to crying that somehow into sad tears, and all the way back around the wheel of crazy. But we can’t be intimate for 3 weeks or so! (I’ll stay pg 13) but yeah, it’s no joy ride for him, and he doesn’t get the reward of really feeling like he’s helping another couple like I do. But he’s a great guy and loves me to pieces and supports my decision. So I will try to plan something really nice for him for when this is all over, since he’s the silent part of all of this equation. He helps keep me sane and happy and rubs my back when the pain is too much. He doesn’t mind that I cry randomly, he just waits’ it out, gives me a hug and all is right in the world.

Funny story… Last cycle, I went to a casino for a charity event around Valentine’s Day with my beau, I was so excited, I knew I couldn’t drink so I got all dressed up and we made a date night out of it… While I’m in the Casino, I start getting CRAZY hot flashes, so I just decided to watch him on the poker table and try and cool down. Every now and then I’d head out and play the slots (I had never been to a casino before and don’t really like gambling so that’s all I’m comfortable with). I won all my money back plus $80 and on the way home, discovered I wouldn’t be able to get the heart shaped pizza I wanted and then a pretty song came on and I just broke down; my boyfriend didn’t know what to do. Kinda buzzed he just started laughing, he knew it was the process but I didn’t even know why I was really crying, and then I was crying because I felt crazy and then felt bad for him for having to deal with me. Eventually, I came back down to reality. We laugh about it now, but during the process it’s a little touchy. I can only imagine this is what I’ll be like when I one day get pregnant, and yet he sticks around. I’m already a sensitive person, easy to shed a tear, happy or sad (I cried watching Ice Age, not on hormones lol) so when I’m on all this medicine, I’m kinda a hot mess. But hey! It’s all for a good cause, and like I said it only lasts a short time….

So anyways, back to the plan – On the 28^th, I head back into the office and will get the necessary blood work, ultra sound and further instructions. It is at this appointment when the doctor determines the final course of action to complete the process. It is based on how my ovaries are responding to the medicine and how the egg production is coming along. I could be over producing or under producing… and it’s just a delicate balance since not everyone responds the same way. They adjust as needed and we keep moving forward!

While I wait for Thanksgiving, and continue my pills I will start to mentally prepare myself for what my body is about to go through, YOGA J which makes me really happy! I found that going to yoga and learning to channel any pain and really control my thoughts helps when things get crazy. It also keeps me channeling positive thoughts and keeps my energy levels high. I’ll also keep working out and will get back to eating much healthier and taking all my vitamins… I like to try and stay as healthy as possible since I did just get healthy again and it’s that time of year when germs are taking over! However, once I start the medications, I have been instructed to not take any types of medications (even vitamins) and if I have any pain I am only allowed to take Tylenol, I have to limit exercise, heavy lifting and I’m not allowed to go in hot tubs or take really hot showers (which I love) – no cooking the eggs! Lol

Happy Monday!

IF anyone has any questions feel free to let me know what’s on your mind! That’s what this blog is

all about…