Eggs Anyone?

Well, after doing my happy dance when I realized AF appeared…I got nervous.  I got nervous because this is when the “real” journey begins.  This is when we get excited but try not to get too excited incase it doesn’t work the first time.  So, I went in the for ultrasound to make sure everything was moving along properly.  Got there and was prepared for an abdominal ultrasound…I was WRONG.  The doctor pulled out a “probe” slapped a glove on it, and began her vaginal ultrasound to check my ovaries.  So here I am not prepared for this and it was not painful but it was not comfortable either.  There was no ultrasound jelly used just the instrument and a “glove” for sanitary protection. 

Everything looked great and I was then told to redress and wait for the nurse to explain the next steps to me.  The next steps are the Clomid protocol and r-hCG trigger shot. 

Clomid is taken days 3-7 of your cycle to induce ovulation (egg production).  This helps stimulate the ovaries to make healthy eggs…it can also help to produce multiple eggs.  Our chances of having twins went from 1 in 30 to 1 in 10. 

After my next ultrasound (to check to make sure healthy eggs are being produced) I am told when to take my r-hCG trigger shot.  The shot..that I had to learn to give to myself…goes in the belly, about an inch away from my bellybutton.  It is called the “trigger shot” because it triggers the release of ALL mature eggs.  So according to the poster on the doctor’s office wall our chances of twins has gone from 1 in 10 to 1 in 7 (some research states 1 in 5). 

So as long as things continue to go smoothly…we should find out when to take the trigger shot and a mere 36 hours later we have to back for insemination. 

So this week I start the clomid protocol (which is supposed to have not so fun side effects), go to Augusta to pick and pay about $600 for one dose of donor sperm (yes, that much for just one attempt), and deliver it to my doctor's office to store, then drive back to Augusta to give back the cryotank (which needs an $800 security deposit).  They ask you to leave a check as a deposit and only cash it if you don't return the tank within 8 days.  The fun starts now…lets hope the side effects of clomid aren’t that bad.  In exactly 3 hours I will take my first clomid pill…I’ll keep you updated on whether the side effects are as bad as some women say….  

Visit From Aunt Flo

Well...I last left you we were starting the prometrium protocol phase of this venture.  I had to take them pill everyday at the exact same time.  After taking my first pill whit a large glass of water at 9:30 PM, I did research on the side effects to other women’s experiences (so I know what to expect).  All my research led to women taking this medication vaginally.  I immediately felt like a HUGE ASS and sprinted to the living room and rummaged through my bag to find my pill bottle.  I just knew that I was an idiot and assumed I wasn’t supposed to take the pill orally and was going to have some horrible stomach reaction.  However, I was wrong.  I was supposed to take the pill orally (it can be taken either way, totally left to the discretion of your doctor). 

Well I should have taken the pill vaginally…I had side effects that no one else had.  The pill usually helps women sleep though the night and makes them drowsy.  I wouldn’t be so lucky.  Prometrium helped me stay up most of the night.  I averaged maybe an our of sleep then would wake up…I think the most I slept in those 10 days was around 4 hours a night.  I guess I should take this as a practice session because I know we won’t be sleeping the first year of the baby’s life.

Well after a few days of prometrium I was getting slightly discouraged because AF was still nowhere to be found.  I decided that I wouldn’t do much about this and would add to my stress level.  I finished my 10-day cycle of prometrium and patiently (or not so) waited for AF to appear.  Four days after my last prometrium pill AF visited me. 

When I realized I got my period I have a goober moment.  I ran out the bathroom with the biggest smile on my face and did a happy dance while telling Elise that it finally came and we begin the next and more exciting steps!!! Yes I did a happy dance for AF…and I’m not ashamed. 

I called the doctor (like instructed) and made an appt for an ultrasound.  She had to make sure my ovaries were working properly and this was actually AF and not spotting. 

adding to the journey

Well…here we are on our first leg of this journey and of course we already have a set back…a bump on the road…a snafu!! Yup, things for us cannot even start smoothly.  What was this snafu…what was the reason this situation has been handed a set back?  Well its because my body wont ever do anything I want it to and I didn’t have a period this month.  Yes I may be the only female trying to get pregnant who stressed about not getting a period.  I feel like a high school cheerleader a few weeks after the homecoming party…wishing my period would decide to come!

It’s difficult to go through this situation!  The one thing I want more than anything in the world…to have a baby and my body doesn’t want to cooperate. So after stressing about not getting my period I had to call the doctor and find out what we do now.  Its not fun calling a doctor because your body doesn’t work properly.  Especially when everyone tells you not to worry, you’ll be fine, its all in your head, you’re too young to have the problems you stress about.  Well lookie here…I HAVE THE PROBLEMS I FEARED!!!

So here we are, 5 days late on my period and starting a prometrium protocol.  This is a hormone therapy that (is supposed to) help to start a period.  I have to take this every night at bed time (at the exact same time each night) for 10 days.  If I start my period during the medication I immediately stop taking and call my doctor.  However, it could take up to 14 days after the last pill to get a period…if I get one.

When I get my period I have to go to the doctor for an ultrasound to see if I am producing eggs.  On Day 3 of my cycle I start the clomid regiment.  This is all contingent on the fact that I do actually start my period.