Our First IVF Cycle

Wanted to paste this re-cap here mostly for my benefit and so that I don't lose the information in my massive amount of email.

IVF#1 (Fresh)
01/07-01/27: Desogen BCP
01/21-02/16: Lupron 10 units SQ, every PM
01/24-01/30: Doxycycline 100mg, twice daily
01/24-01/30: Flagyl 500mg twice daily
02/04: Baseline u/s and bloodwork - looks great
02/08-02/16: Follistim 225 IU SQ, every AM
02/08-02/16: Repronex 225 IU SQ, every PM
02/09: E2 (38)
02/10 E2 (188)
02/12 E2 (398)
02/15 E2 (1023)
02/17: retrieved 10 eggs! .. 02/18: 6 fertilized!
02/18: Progesterone 50 mg IM 1x day
02/22: embryo transfer - 2 Embies transferred and 2 Frozen!
02/06: 1st Beta = 19, 02/08: 2nd Beta = 3 ...BFN

Transfer Day!

Really quick update as I can only sit up briefly and am mostly to lay flat because ... we had 2 beautiful embryos transferred today! Now we wait for blood testing on March 6th to find out if we're pregnant. Today wasn't all that bad and I swear the hardest part was going with a full bladder to a 2:30 appt only to not be able to pee until 3:30 and after a lot of poking and prodding. Ooo uncomfy. ;)

We find out Wednesday morning if we were able to freeze 2 extras. This is more then I ever expected and thank you ALL for the huge prayers. They are saying we have upto a 70% success rate for a single birth. Amazing.

Bleh, Antibiotics Stink!

Today was day one of my antibiotics. I'm taking 100mg of Doxycycline and 500mg Flagyl, twice a day with food ... and woah baby they are not playing nice on the ol tummy. Nothing I can't handle but definately not a comfy feeling and things do not seem to be playing nicely. This journey rocks! *smirk*

Here's my schedule for those asking:
01/07-01/27: Desogen BCP
01/21-02/16: Lupron 10 units SQ, every PM
01/24-01/30: Doxycycline 100mg, twice daily
01/24-01/30: Flagyl 500mg twice daily
02/08-02/16: Repronex 225 IU SQ, every PM
02/08-02/16: Follistim 225 IU SQ, every AM

02/04-02/16: 4-5 u/s with blood levels
02/17-02/20: retrieval one of these days
02/22-02/24: embryo transfer one of these days

So there it is in a nutshell. Prayers of strength, patience and goodwill are awesome and thank you all who drop me notes (some of you daily) saying you are with us in spirit and keeping us in your prayers. It means so much to know that there are people walking this journey with us. Blessings!

Merry Christmas

First of all, Merry Christmas to each of you and all the blessings in the world. This is such a time of focusing on family, friends and all that can be.

I'm trying really hard to take those deep breaths, calm down and see IVF as an adventure ... but good gosh, I have those feelings of "there's no way I can do this!" (more emotionally than physically)

Well, here's what my personal IVF experience will be:

CD = cycle day
SQ = sub-cutaneous (just below skin)
IM = intramuscular (into the muslce, read: butt)

Suppression Phase:
- CD1: start Desogen (brth control pill)
- Lupron 10 units SQ (start approx 2 weeks in)
- baby asprin (continue til told to stop)
- doxycycline 100mg (7 days)
- flagyl 500mg (7 days)
- IVF Baseline Scan and Blood Work

Stimulation Phase
- Follistim 225 IU, every morning SQ
- Repronex, 3 powders mixed w/1ml of water every night SQ
- continue Lupron 10 units every evening
- 3 days in ultrasound and estradiol
- 2 days later same tests, then as needed til 18mm follicle
- when follicle lg enough stop lupron, take ovidrel SQ
- egg retrieval 35 hours later

Egg Retrieval and Embryo Transfer Phase
- Doxycline to prevent infection
- IV sedation via IV (fentanyl and Versed)
- rest at home day after retrieval (stay flat)
- start prsterone 50mg IM
- Prometrium 200mg capsule vaginally on morning of transfer
- pregnancy test 12-14 days after transfer
- 7 days after retrieval start vielle patches (estrogen)

This is all pretty overwhelming. I hope to hit CD1 here this weekend and have already filled my prescription for my BCP and have my asprin so I'm ready to go. Trying to stay stress free (how do you DO that?) and hoping that 2010 might bring with it a blessing from above.

Merry Christmas all and warm blessings.