Monitored Closely

After the first four days of injections I was brought back to the doctor's office to be monitored for progress. An ultrasound was performed to see how well my ovaries were simulating on the medication. The first ultrasound didn't show much but it did show that the medicine was doing its job which was to start growing a follicle. After the first monitoring appointment I was sent back home with another three days of injection protocol and a follow up appointment in a few days.

At the second appointment, the stimulation results seemed to be very good. I had one follicle that was measuring around 18.5mm and it was expected to grow at least 2 mm a day until ovulation. At this time we pretty much knew that unless another follicle happened to grow in the next few days or that my egg when released happened to split our chances for multiples was very slim. This was a relief and also sadness at the same time as we thought having twins would have been neat but we were also just happy that the process was working and we were on the right track. We also figured having one kid at a time was probably the better route!

 I was given instructions on the next few days of protocol which included a few more days of the hCG hormones and then an ovidrel shot that would make me ovulate. Due to the results of my coitus test, the decision was made to perform an IUI the day following the ovidrel shot. This would give us the best chances on getting pregnant this round. So although it wasn’t the most glamorous way to make a baby we knew it was the best way to get to the end result. So Monday morning after the ovidrel shot I traveled into the RE office and the IUI was performed. I had to hang out in the office and relax for about 10 minutes following the procedure then was on my way to work with instructions to go about my day normally.

At this time I knew something was happening in my body. I was feeling very bloated and full in the abdomen region. I had cramping and subtle pain every once in a while and I knew that this was a good sign although it was rather uncomfortable. I actually almost feel like I felt ovulation occur in my body but who knows. I knew things were happening like they should so I tried my best to stay positive and not think about it too much.  We had 16 long days ahead of us to get through until we’d find out whether this cycle was successful or not.  

Brave

Ever since I can remember I was always the one strived to put on a brave and strong face for anything that was thrown to me in life. I'm sure this wasn't always the case but as I grew up that was the way I was taught to react. I'm not sure if is an oldest child trait or not but either way I'm sure it was something I was taught by my father. He would always put me in situations I did not feel comfortable in such as meeting people I didn't know, answering the company phone, and calling businesses or people for things he needed taken care of. And of course he acted the same way. I do not ever recall seeing my father cry and he always wore a brave face.

This lesson transferred into my personal as well as professional life. Personally, I'm the one who rarely cries when hurt or in sad or happy situations, hides any emotion related to being apprehensive or nervous, and over all wearing a tough skin.  So now in the infertility situation I found myself in I tried to carry that brave face into all of my doctors appointments and procedures. I entered them all with confidence and the realization that I was ready to accept whatever the medical professionals had to say. I went to pretty much all of these appointments solo and no offense to my amazing husband but that was the way I preferred it. It was easier to be brave alone then with someone by my side.

This all made perfect sense as I reflected on the first time I performed by injection alone. I escaped from a party we were having in our house upstairs to do the injection alone and all by myself. The original plan was for my mom to do the injection again but I had been given some strong encouragement from a friend that I could probably do it on my own and that brave persona I have came out strong and I was ready to give it a try. So I went up to the master bath, got everything ready, and went for it! Of course my heart was beating and I was shaking my the time I was done but I did it. I did it on the first time and on the first try and had no issues. I was pretty proud of myself at this time. And I was also glad that I had gained by independence back. I was going to be able to do the injections myself and make it through the next few weeks without having to rely on someone else to administer the medication. This was a huge relief moving forward!

           Here's my injection goodies!

....and we're off!

My first step in this process was to first do another progesterone challenge. I then was told to order my prescription medicine for when we would begin simulating my ovaries with FSH and LH to help me have a cycle. Unfortunately, neither my prescriptions nor any infertility treatments were covered by my insurance so all of our costs after diagnoses were out of pocket. Because of this we opted to find the cheapest route for the prescription medicine. The doctor was able to send me to a common website where a lot of his patients bought prescriptions from overseas in the UK.   So I ordered the very expensive medication from this website and realized there was no turning back now!

This time on progesterone I took a different type of medicine in hopes that my period would appear. Ten days later nothing happened, no aunt flow. So I called the doctor they said to come in for an ultrasound to check everything out. My husband and I went to the doctor’s appointment. The doctor said everything looked good and that the reason I didn't have a period was due to the condition I had. He said it was time to start me on the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) injections.  I was glad I had injection training earlier that week as I was instructed to start injections that night! At this time a lot of emotion came over me including excitement and apprehension. We were actually starting this journey and this was all becoming very real.

I knew the first injection would have to be done by my mother in order for me to get comfortable on how it would feel. I knew my husband giving me the injection was not an option as he was not good with needles what so ever. I was told to administer my medication between the hours of 6 – 10pm. I decided for the first one it would be easiest to get it out of the way and do it right at 6pm. So at 6pm we traveled over to my parents’ house with my medicine and needles.  I mixed the medicine and then changed the syringe needle. I numbed the upper hip area on my right side with an ice cube for the injection. My mom wiped off the area with an alcohol swap and performed the injection. This procedure was actually not as bad as I thought it might have been. It kind of stung as the medicine was injected but other than that I immediately walked around after the needle was removed in hope that I would get the muscle moving and relaxed again.  I then went on with the rest of my evening and didn't even notice what was done to me.

The first injection was down. I had three more days of the same procedures and then I was going back to the doctor for an ultrasound to see how I was responding to the medicine. And at this time I was absolutely limited on my activity. I was only walking and doing yoga as I didn't want anything to happen to my ovaries on accident and I figured I spent all this money on medicine and doctor appointments I better do everything in my power to ensure it works!