Ultrasound #2 took place on Thursday, instead of Friday. Not very promising. I had one primary follicle at 14 mm, all others were small. All of the side effects and none of the benefits of the fertility drugs. They had wanted me to have ~4 follicles.
Ultrasound #3 on Sunday. Better. One primary follicle still, at 17 mm, but several more catching up. I was surprised that there were more than the original nine from my first ultrasound.
Ultrasound #4 on Tuesday. Primary follicle at 22, and two follicles at 15, and several more. Jenna thought waiting one more day would be favorable because follicles can get fertilized at 16.
Ultrasound #5 today. Primary follicle at 27, and two follicles at 17, and one at 16. Yeah! I get the HCG trigger shot tonight, and IUI Friday morning.
Last night, my friend Sinead gave me a dab of holy water from her grandmother. Hopefully it helps bring the outcome I'm looking for. More on Friday.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
First Steps
A lot of waiting, then suddenly a lot of activity this last week. Dr. Huang put me on a long-down protocol for IUI. The start was to get back on the pill for a cycle. The doctor also wanted me to go on the pill for my tubal recanalization, to ensure I was not having my period at the time of the procedure. Taking the pill added a couple weeks to the beginning of my timeline, and Kaiser's limited availability of appointments in radiology for my tubal recanalization stretched things out two more days.
I had my tubal recanalization last Tuesday. This was a follow up procedure to my HSG in January, where it looked like one of my tubes may have been blocked. In the tubal recanalization a soft wire is used to unblock the tube after dye has been injected into the uterus. I like to think of it as a pipe cleaner. With the tubal recanalization, I was sedated. So, I was saved the sharp yet short pain I had during the HSG due to the injected dye pushing on the uterine muscle. During the procedure, the blockage was reconfirmed, and they were able to open my tube. Just a little nausea from the sedation. Step 1: all good.
Tuesday night, I started the hormone injections for the long down protocol. This site has some background on the down protocol for IVF, which is very similar: http://www.advancedfertility.com/ivfstim.htm. I started with 10 units of lupron each night. My husband has been injecting me. At first, I wanted to do the injections, but now I am happy for him to take the responsibility so he has a role. I get the side effects, after all! Lupron is mainly used as an anti-cancer drug. For IUI / IVF, it is used to suppress LH surge and therefore ovulation. Side effects can mimic menopause. The first two nights I had crazy night sweats, but these have completely subsided, and now I only experience bouts of nausea. Step 2: ok.
Daily injections are interesting to manage; I am glad I am not a diabetic. The injection needs to be given at the same time every night. We went out on Saturday night, so I brought a loaded syringe, and injected myself in the car between two events. At first this seemed a bit illicit, but alas these are prescription drugs being used as per the instructions.
Today, I went for my first ultrasound. 6 follicles on 1 side, 3 on the other. I was a little surprised, since I've had 14 consistently in previous check-ins. Hopefully this will be enough. The doctor said we could proceed to the Menopur. Step 3: ok.
Menopur is FSH. It will stimulate the follicles to develop. Three vials of Menopur + 10 units of Lupron a night. This requires much more sophisticated mixing and syringe technique. We start by injecting 100 cc's of lupron + saline into the first vial of Menopur, then transfer this to the second, then to the third. The doctor said to target at least 90 cc's of liquid at the end. 85 on the first night. Room for improvement! And, this one stung when it went in, but not too bad. Step 4: ok.
Next ultrasound is Friday. More soon.
I had my tubal recanalization last Tuesday. This was a follow up procedure to my HSG in January, where it looked like one of my tubes may have been blocked. In the tubal recanalization a soft wire is used to unblock the tube after dye has been injected into the uterus. I like to think of it as a pipe cleaner. With the tubal recanalization, I was sedated. So, I was saved the sharp yet short pain I had during the HSG due to the injected dye pushing on the uterine muscle. During the procedure, the blockage was reconfirmed, and they were able to open my tube. Just a little nausea from the sedation. Step 1: all good.
Tuesday night, I started the hormone injections for the long down protocol. This site has some background on the down protocol for IVF, which is very similar: http://www.advancedfertility.com/ivfstim.htm. I started with 10 units of lupron each night. My husband has been injecting me. At first, I wanted to do the injections, but now I am happy for him to take the responsibility so he has a role. I get the side effects, after all! Lupron is mainly used as an anti-cancer drug. For IUI / IVF, it is used to suppress LH surge and therefore ovulation. Side effects can mimic menopause. The first two nights I had crazy night sweats, but these have completely subsided, and now I only experience bouts of nausea. Step 2: ok.
Daily injections are interesting to manage; I am glad I am not a diabetic. The injection needs to be given at the same time every night. We went out on Saturday night, so I brought a loaded syringe, and injected myself in the car between two events. At first this seemed a bit illicit, but alas these are prescription drugs being used as per the instructions.
Today, I went for my first ultrasound. 6 follicles on 1 side, 3 on the other. I was a little surprised, since I've had 14 consistently in previous check-ins. Hopefully this will be enough. The doctor said we could proceed to the Menopur. Step 3: ok.
Menopur is FSH. It will stimulate the follicles to develop. Three vials of Menopur + 10 units of Lupron a night. This requires much more sophisticated mixing and syringe technique. We start by injecting 100 cc's of lupron + saline into the first vial of Menopur, then transfer this to the second, then to the third. The doctor said to target at least 90 cc's of liquid at the end. 85 on the first night. Room for improvement! And, this one stung when it went in, but not too bad. Step 4: ok.
Next ultrasound is Friday. More soon.
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