IF Buddy

I met up with my friend Ro at our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch today.  We used to work together at my last job, and after I left we met up for lunch to catch up and found out the we have a common bond, issues with TTC.

Ro and her husband had TTC for a few months, but no luck.  She was also experiencing some pain, but her OB was not very helpful nor too concerned.  Then she had found out that she had stage 4 endometriosis.  So she wasn't happy with her OB and wanted to find a different doctor.  I recommended Dr. Nice, the doctor that performed my laparoscopy and last hysteroscopy, to her.  She saw him and was very happy with him.  Dr. Nice performed surgery to remove some large cysts from uterine cavity.

The last time we had lunch, she had just completed her surgery.  She was put on 6 months of BCPs to see if her cysts returned.  After the 6 months, if the cysts didn't return, she could TTC naturally.  Today, I just found out she just had an ultrasound with Dr. Nice recently and her uterus is all clear.  Yay!!  So now she is all clear to TTC naturally.  Ro was told that because of her endometriosis, it could be difficult for her to conceive naturally.  She will try naturally for 6 months, and if nothing happens, she will move on to fertility treatments.

I am praying that Ro will be able to conceive naturally.  No one should have to struggle to have a baby. Though I wish she and I were not in the same boat, I am glad we are able to share this journey together.  It's so nice to be able to talk to someone in real life, face-to-face about TTC and actually being able to relate.

A wonderful thought came to mind today!  Wouldn't it be great if both Ro and I got pregnant right around the same time, her naturally and me via my IVF?  How wonderful that would be?  To be able to experience pregnancy together after struggling with TTC.  We both got really excited about the possibility!  I love my lunch dates with Ro!

On another note, my hot flashes kicked in again tonight as I was making dinner.  What is it about cooking and hot flashes?  Dang!  I should have just let my Babe take me out to dinner tonight!

I am still experiencing some mild headaches today though I'm wearing my Phi.ten necklace.  Just enough for it to be annoying.  Ok, 3 days straight of complaining about headaches and hot flashes is enough.   We'll just assume it's a given that I will have those with loopy Lu.pron.  I'll report on other side effects instead in the future.

Headache

Just when I thought I was all clear from feeling any side effects, I got whammed with a huge headache this afternoon.

It started about 3 p.m. this while I was reading the blogs.  At first I thought maybe I was dehydrated from working out earlier, so I drank some water.  But then it got worse, so much so I had to lay down for about 15 minutes.  I even took some Tyle.nol and that seemed to help a little, but I'm still feeling it.

I'm not sure if this is from the Lu.pron shots, which I'm on Day 4 today, or from my BCPs.  Tonight will be my last night of BCPs, so we'll have to see if anything changes.

I do think though that I'm experiencing some warmness from the Lu.pron shots, though I still can't say it feels like hot flashes.  Just needing a sheet and only part of the down comforter while in bed.  I usually like to bury myself in my comforter in these Minnesotan winters.  No major discomfort yet so I'm not complaining, for now.

But the headache, it's got to go!

I finally replaced my library card today, after giving up on trying to find it since it went MIA a couple of months ago.  I figured I'll be needing some DVDs for my recovery after egg retrieval and bed rest after transfer.

I rented "Up" from the library today.  You can't beat 50 cents a day rental!  OK, I'm off to watch it with my Babe!

© Disney/Pixar

Let The Shots Begin!

I started my Lu.pron (Leuprolide acetate) shots this morning.

For purposes of IVF, Lu.pron is used to suppress the ovaries prior to stimulation to prevent untimely ovulation.  This is important so the the eggs can be retrieved before ovulation occurs.  I will be taking 20 units of Lu.pron in the morning, for at least 10 days, then the dosage will be reduced later.

For a while there, I was confused if I should be taking this once or twice a day.  I received a kit in the mail that included a 14-day supply vial of Lupron, 14 disposable syringes with needles, and 28 alcohol swabs.  In addition, I also got an a bag of disposable insulin syringes that is to be used with Lu.pron.  It made me question if I should be taking this once or twice a day, though I know the nurse that did the consult with me said mornings only.  So I am assuming these are spare syringes, just in case I need it.

Luckily, I double checked the handout I received during our shots class, and it did say only mornings for regular Lu.pron.  Now if I were on the micro-dose Lu.pron, then I would need to take it both in the mornings and evenings.   Another confusing thing is regular Lu.pron does not need to be refrigerated, but the micro-dose ones do need to be refrigerated.  All these discrepancies got me a little nervous last night and it took me a while to fall asleep.

Though I have never been on Lu.pron before this, the shots are very similar to the Supre.fact injections I had from my last IVF cycle a year ago.  Small doses using a small insulin syringe.

The injection went well this morning, I did it right before we left for church.  I gave myself the shot in my tummy like I did in the past.  It helps that I have a nice roll of fat that is perfect for stabbing a needle into!  DH was there to watch and support me, though I think it was more out of curiosity.  He offered to give me the shot, but I said no.  It's easier and less painful if I do it myself.  He is so looking forward to stabbing me with a needle in my a$$ for the HCG shot (he won't admit it, but I can just see it in his eyes!).  It stung a little, I think because I hesitated a bit when sticking the needle.  But the medication did not sting when I pushed the plunger, though a tiny drop of blood popped up after I removed the needle.

According to Dr. Goo.gle, Lu.pron's side effects include constipation, dizziness, general body pain (what the heck does that mean?), headache, hot flashes, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, stuffy nose, trouble sleeping and weakness.  Oh what fun......

I'm not one to experience much side effects when on medication, so we'll have to see what, if any side effects I experience.  Then again, it could also mean that I am just clueless and don't pay enough attention to even know that I am experiencing any.

What side effects have you experienced on Lu.pron?  I'll make sure to blog about it if/when I notice them.