Retrieval is Scheduled

Today we had our 4th IVF appointment with the Dr. The eggs are looking great, we have one 18 mmm, 3-4 17 mm, 1 16 mm and 4 15 mm eggs. I took a shot of Lupron tonight at 8:30 and we will do the transfer 8:00 am Tuesday morning. I will POAS tomorrow morning to make sure that I have enough HCG in my system and if not I will need to take more HCG to make sure they can get the eggs on Tuesday.
I am feeling really excited because things are progressing and feeling like they are back on track. My lining is continuing to look great and the eggs are growing good so I feel positive about this cycle. I wonder if my body will do better because the cycle is longer, more like my natural cycle is. I have never had a 28 day cycle so maybe when doing IVF forcing my cycle to fit into that 28 days wasn't working for it. Who really knows but that is the only thing different this third time around, so I am hoping that will be a positive. Oh and tomorrow is my one day of no shots!! Tuesday I start up with the Progesterone shots which I am not looking forward to but I will just focus on the one day of no shots!!

Growing Eggs

Another appointment closer to harvesting these eggs. They are continuing to grow and are almost there. They have made it to the 15 - 16 mm so we have another appointment tomorrow afternoon to check on them hopefully the last time before we take them out. Also my lining is at 8 mm and the RE said that he likes it to be at least at 7 mm, so I am feeling good about that as well.

Funny note, since I needed more Repronex last minute I had to get it at a pharmacy about 45 minutes away. Apparently they just switched computer systems so it took about 30 minutes for them to pull 4 vials from the shelf. Then I asked for some needles and he gave me the wrong length but I didn't notice until I was in the restaurant bathroom with my pants down icing my butt so my mom could give me my shot. So she had to run back to the car and bring all the needles back. I am sure people were wondering why the two of us were in the bathroom for so long and going in and out. Oh the joys of taking shots while going out to eat!!

Good News

Photo Credit

Today's appointment was a success!! The increase in Menopur worked and we have 6 good sized eggs that are large enough to be good candidates to retrieve. We have (1) 12, (2) 11, (2) 10 and (1) 9. To be ready to harvest they will need to be between 16 - 20 mm in diameter and they grow at about 1-2 mm per day. So if we do the retrieval Monday almost all the larger sized eggs will be good to take and fertilize. Let's just say I did a little dance once the Dr. left the room I was soo excited that we weren't going to have to cancel this cycle and start over. Mr. Explorer Bud is the Optimist of the partnership and he was full of "I told you so's" which I am perfectly fine with that he was right and I was being the Debbie Downer. Better than me being right!! So I will continue to take three vials of Menopur along with a shot of Repronex to keep me from ovulating, till Saturday morning when I have another ultrasound to see how they are developing and when we will have the retrieval.

Thank you for all your positive vibes, prayers and crossed limbs, I know it all was helpful!!

Med's Arrived

I received the majority of my medications in the mail the other day. I feel like I am mostly ready for this third round of IVF. We are doing a mini-stim cycle so it is more Clomid and less injectionables but it is still pricey over in the US!! In Panama we paid about $1,200 for the full round of injectionables, progesterone, Clomid and all the miscellaneous pills I was blessed to take!!

I am done with BCP's tomorrow and Progresterone pills which is good because my body is whollly confused. I have been spotting the past three days and have had to start taking a double dose of BCP's to prevent AF from coming too early. I have been really crampy and feeling bloated which I will be glad will be over in a few days as well.

My first appointment for the start of this cycle is this Monday. I am going to really go over ways we can ensure my lining is up to par and that we are taking all available measures, since that is something I have a "feeling" is part of the problem that those embryo's aren't sticking.

Medications Purchased

Congratulations Buttercup Bud and your wonderful birth! What a great story to get to read!!

I made the purchase of the majority of my medications from an online pharmacy in England called IVFmeds.com. I saved about $1,200 from going through them but I do have to wait 2 weeks before they arrive. I am going to get the HCG, progesterone shots and Femara, I think, through my local pharmacy who seems to have competitive rates. My first appointment is the 21st and then I will start the medications the on the 22nd. I am excited to get going but truthfully really scared it isn't going to work again and I am not sure I am ready for another BFN or ectopic for that matter!! I guess that isn't any reason not to go forward but I don't think I can be truly optimistic about this round after two failed rounds, pretty much a successful one will be the only thing to make me hopeful! Oh the many joys of IVF, it takes the joy out of trying to have a family!!!

Oh the Medications We Take to Get Pregnant

CREDIT

CREDIT

This is how I feel about Metformin pretty much every time I have to start taking it,or up the dose, or eat something that I shouldn't(Okay so that may be my own fault),or not eat when the medicine starts flowing through my system, or, or, or... Fellow Metformin users will understand or really any of us that get the joy of taking fertility meds with their lovely side-effects!!


The good news though, knock on wood, I seem to be finally adjusting to the Metformin and having fewer mad dashes to the bathroom, bouts of nausea and stomach cramps. I have even added in the my vitamins to the daily dose since those sometimes make me feel yucky as well and I wasn't about to add something else to an already sick feeling day!!

Online Pharmacy Recommendations??

I am wanting to know where you purchased your medications from if you had to pay out of pocket for them. I have my list and am trying to find the cheapest place.

Thanks,