Cleared for Takeoff

Ultrasound. Check. 

Estradiol Level. Check.

Starting Gonal-F and Menopur on Friday. Check!

The ultrasound was done by the Nurse Practitioner at the RE office, so I didn't actually meet with my Dr. today which I thought was a little weird, but she was very nice and knew everything about my history, so I felt alright about it. She was good about explaining everything and showing me what exactly she was looking at. I have the anal, need-to-know-everything-because-I'm-a-Nurse syndrome, but I don't know what I'm looking at on the ultrasound at all, so I appreciated her going into so much detail.

There was no visible trace of my uterine septum. Phew. And all looked good in ovary and uterus land, so I was cleared to start on Friday. 

I met with the Cycle Nurse to go over the schedule (basically unchanged) and got all of my questions answered. My main question was about exercise...no more pilates or bike rides for now to minimize the risk of excess pressure or ovarian torsion. I don't want either of those, so I'm on board. I am going to miss my pilates though :( Lots of walking the puppy in my future!

Welcome back, dildo cam. I don't know why you're sideways.  

Pulling The Trigger

I had my third ultrasound of the week today...is that normal when on Menopur? I didn't know I would be making so many trips!

Good news all around: text book lining, good estradiol level, and three follicles ready and waiting to be triggered. So tonight Hubby will give me my HCG trigger shot and our IUI is scheduled for Sunday morning! Eek!

And maybe the best news is that I get to sleep in tomorrow. I have been feeling pretty run down with all of the running around from appointments to work almost every day.

Getting This Party Started!

I just got cleared to start my meds...holy cow.

I've been driving myself crazy waiting for this day, but I have to say, I'm a little bit more nervous than I thought I would be.

I was randomized to the Menopur group in the study which I have mixed feelings about. I have talked to a lot of people that are a fan and some that think it's too aggressive to start with...we're going with it. One cycle at a time. One injection at a time. If it ever stops feeling right, we'll stop.

I was most concerned about ovarian hyperstimulation, but the Doctors have reassured me that I will be monitored so frequently that they would catch it very early, before it was a problem. Speaking of the monitoring...wow. I am going to be spending A LOT of time at this RE Clinic! Good thing I have a good selection books on my to-read list! I am only left wishing that it wasn't a 45 minute drive there.

Overall I am feeling excited and lucky to have qualified for the study...I felt especially lucky when I picked up my $1200 worth of menopur today that I didn't have to write a check for :) 

I had a "moment" today during my ultrasound when the RE pointed out the good potential follicles. Not everyone gets to see the beginnings of their baby like we do...one of the perks of infertility? Maybe not quite, but it was kind of fun thinking that one or two of those could soon be growing in my belly into my baby.

Next step: injections!