I know I’m a little behind with all the deets – I have a lot to catch up on. Let’s just say that the past two weeks (or so) have been incredible! I am still in my tww, but right now I couldn’t be happier.
My protocol (I think) is the antagonist am/pm (high dose) protocol. I started off my IVF stim cycle taking 150 of Menopur in the mornings, an 225 IU of Bravelle in the evening. After a few days of this, Orgalutran was introduced as well. I had monitoring appointments in Kelowna on the 24th, 26th, 27th and 28th of March. My monitoring sessions were going great… I had a few lovely follies growing – and in fact, at one point the nurse and doc told me that they never seen so many follicles at a consistent size (majority 14mm). My body was responding wonderfully to the meds…
Which by the way were a total breeze for me!
I was expecting a horrible time – mixing and being a chemist freaked me out, the thought of three injections a day was not that appetizing, and finally, I really thought that I would turn into a fat, bloated, hormonally raging douche by the end of the stimming period. Truth – I had NO symptoms. I didn’t gain any weight, I didn’t bloat, I didn’t go psycho in the least… it was a breeze. I didn’t mind the injections – in a weird way, it gave me a sense of control, and pleasure keeping track of the injections completed. The only thing I had a bit of trouble with is stressing when I would lose a drop of liquid in preparing the syringe trying to get the air bubble out.
On the 28th of March we were given the green light to head to Vancouver the following day. I didn’t have to take my Menopur or Bravelle this day, but I did get to take my trigger shot… at the lovely hour of 1:30am! Blugh! But everything had to be timed perfectly for the egg retrieval. My estrogen was pretty dang high (over 10,000) so I had a special trigger of Buserelin.
March 29th was our travel day to Vancouver – and day off from meds (a welcomed break). Gav had to work that day so we didn’t end up leaving till late afternoon. We stopped for dinner and arrived at our hotel around 9ish. Our hotel was perfect – HIE which is a great hotel (clean, great staff, good prices, and free breaky) in a room with a kitchen suite. Gav and I spent a few hours on the previous weekend preparing a billion casseroles to freeze and bring with us – I knew I wouldn’t be up to restaurants/eating out the whole time, and meals out for over a week can get expensive!
We unpacked actually putting all our clothes away – why not, we’re gonna be there awhile – got ready, and chilled before heading off to bed.
The next day was our big day – Egg retrieval scheduled for 10am.
I’ll end it there for now and continue with the rest of my good news after. For now, Gav is spoiling me with a gel mani. I really wanted a pedi, but I researched pedis after IVF, and I read some concerns regarding the massage, and all the acu-points on the foot. Rather than worry myself silly, I’ll happily get a mani. Gav also spoiled me with flowers the day before. What a sweetheart 🙂
Miracles Happen 