It is IVF time.
Short background- we have been trying to get pregnant again since August 2015. We had 3 failed IUI cycles, along with 1 or 2 cycles that my body refused to make an egg so they were canceled. Our RE decided it is time to move to IVF, and our insurance no longer requires 6 IUI cycles before covering it. Before they were still trying to figure out what exact doses of meds and timing worked best for my body in particular, so the 6th cycle (the one that resulted in Kylie) was actually slightly different than the other 5. This time they KNOW what works, and they did exactly that in each cycle, and we still got failures. The theory is basically we got extremely lucky to get pregnant with an IUI last time, because for whatever reason my eggs are not friendly to sperm.
I want to blog this experience to share what it is like with others, to keep a record of what it was like in future years, and because it might help me process everything.
IVF starts with one month of birth control, which I started on March 4, and finished up on March 24. Then I just had to wait for my period to start, which finally did on March 28. At some point in the month I got a HUGE box of meds, which about 1/3 are in my fridge, and the rest are on the back of my table.
IVF Day 1
I called the RE to report "cycle day 1" and was told to get bloodwork and an ultrasound the next morning. The blood is to confirm the hormone levels are appropriately low to start a fresh cycle- every now and then one will be a bit high to start and I am told to re-check the next day. They also make 100% sure there is no pregnancy. The ultrasound is to make sure the uterus is empty, and that there are no cysts from the previous cycle. It is a vaginal ultrasound, if you were wondering. All of this is very routine for me. All the same first day checks are used in IUI cycles. Bloodwork stopped bothering me in college after I had tons of tests done (and hospitals with IVs) to figure out what was wrong with my nerves/heart. The ultrasounds never bothered me all that much.
IVF Day 2
Sleepily dragged myself to Boston IVF at 9am, and then promptly fell back asleep with Kylie when I got home. I got a call in the afternoon that everything looks great to start! My instructions are to inject 100 IU of Gonal-F twice a day, and return on April 2 at 10:15 for more bloodwork. Gonal-F is the same stuff I used in all my IUI cycles, so not anything new, just twice as frequent and a slightly higher dose each time.
IVF Day 3
George always does my shots. I hate shots, and I am not sure I could do it myself. Long ago in our first few IUI cycles (before Kylie) I would sit for up to an hour psyching myself up for the shot, sometimes crying. As they got more and more routine, it got easier. This time around (post-Kylie) they seem much easier. Maybe because I know it can be worth it, or maybe I got over it. Kylie is usually around now, so at least in part it is wanting to show her shots are not so bad. I still cannot do them myself though.
I mention this, because I had not realized the logistics of needing 2 shots of Gonal-F each day before day 3. (Day 2 George had a Dr appt right before I was told to do 2 shots, so he just gave me a shot before heading back to work.) George leaves for work around 10am, and Kylie and I sleep until 10:30 or 11. I got woken up at 10am to get a shot. That was not SO bad, but it woke Kylie up, and she decided it was wake up time an hour early. Not a great start to a day.
That night, my sister Bianca flew into town to help play with/occupy Kylie, since I might not be so great soon. I have a lot of craft stuff and lots of pins on pintrest for them. =) Today we made play-dough.
IVF Day 4
My head is trying to SPLIT OPEN. Also my throat hurts. Talking hurts. Swallowing hurts. My head hurts too much to sleep. I am not allowed to take Dayquil or Advil due to the IVF. I went to the doctor about my throat, and it is not strep, just a virus. All I can do is drink warm tea with honey and get rest. The migraine was not unexpected, just extremely annoying. Estrogen almost always gives me bad migraines, unless I also have high progesterone. Guess what all these shots are doing!? MORE ESTROGEN! Luckily I have painkillers I can take for migraines. I think I ended up having to take much more than normal due to lack of simple things like advil. At least I can interact with Kylie at all this way. We made water beads today (with basil seeds.)
IVF Day 5
My throat still hurts a lot, but my head is not as bad as yesterday. It hurts, but I am not as close to throwing up from the pain today. Painkillers are the only reason I can be in the living room with Kylie. We made slime! Kylie wanted it to be pink with silver, blue, and purple glitter. She seems to really like playing with it. I have a feeling my headache situation is only going to go downhill from here until at least Day 14. I hate Estrogen. There is a good reason my body fails to produce it.
Rachael
