A day 2 ultrasound is never a pleasant experience but I was able to laugh about the awkwardness of it all. I told told the NP, "dignity be damned, bring on LaWanda!". Aside from my ever present 30mm paratubal cyst on the left side all looks good and I am cleared to begin again. My protocol this cycle so far is 1 Lupron, 3 Bravelle and 2 Menopur beginning on day 4 (Monday) and another scan on Thursday with an IUI on Friday or Saturday. I am starting day 4 as opposed to day 3 because I am prone to hyperplasia and I need to "bleed a bit more", which in any other situation would have sent me running down the hall like this. Seriously, two years ago I would have just about tossed my cookies at most of this stuff. But now? Meh, it's all included in the price of admission.
This is the exact same protocol from the last cycle which produced five eggs and gave me a BFP. I am ok with doing the same thing again for the first time back and I am certainly not a big fan of OHSS which the poor Infertile Gynecologist is beginning to experience. Dr. Conceivable doesn't work on Saturday but I'll see her Thursday and perhaps she will change things up as she alluded to in our last chat.
I came home fully intending to be an energetic and productive person.
What did I do instead? Um, well, fell asleep on my love seat. I never do this because my love seat is only 5'. I am 5'10" and can never fully recline on it, I more like drape myself over one of the arms. Anyway, I fell fast asleep and awoke 3 hours later to find I had bled all over the place, through two protective covers and down to the cushion. I was so out of it I never woke up! Ugh. I felt like back when I was a young teenager, not quite used to this monthly hygiene issue. Oh, and I should mention that upon waking and cleaning up I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror. Talk about a carnival show!! I looked like a wild woman (thankfully minus the snakes and bare bosom) with my hair practically on end and my clothes all askew. I guess this beginning again took more out of me than I realized. The waiting time after my loss has been extremely stressful and I think I am now feeling the results of that as well as the usual anxiety that comes along with any ART cycle.
I plan to begin blogging more regularly. I've been in one of Dante's lesser known circles of hell, one that many fertility-challenged 41 year old (single) women can relate to. When stressed, my natural inclination is to self isolate. This behavior just adds more stress and anxiety. And so on and so on.
I've been missing the support of my blogging friends. I realize I need it. Besides, have you ever had fun at the carnival all by your lonesome?
Congrats on starting a new cycle!! I hope this is the only ride you need!
ReplyDeleteLove the graphics and analogy - it really is a bit of a carny show going through IF treatments. Much luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI'm here for you! Best of luck on this cycle. I'll be rooting for you from across the pond.
ReplyDeleteYour plan sounds like a good one to me. I'm excited for you to get started!
ReplyDeleteI'm always mortified when something like that happens (though thankfully it's infrequent). We're all along for the ride with you--and fingers crossed that what works once will work twice!
ReplyDeleteIt is all one really strange carnival rides with all the ups and downs. Wishing you good timing and good luck!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the ok to proceed! And do keep blogging, we're here for you!
ReplyDeleteThe simultaneous need for and abhorrence of self-isolation is a vicious cycle, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with this cycle! I've got my fingers crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteI hate when stuff like that happens. I'd been on bcps for so long I'd gotten used to a much lighter flow. After going off it was manageable and not too different. Then it got much heavier especially on CD1. I had a couple of surprises, especially the one cycle where I had a 13 day LP instead of my usual 14. Wow! I felt like I was back in high school myself.
so happy that you got the go ahead! You're totally right about the carnival ride... it really is... it's like the fun house. Everyone knows that there is some crazy stuff going on there but nobody really wants to admit or talk about it.
ReplyDeletegood luck!
Best of luck on this cycle! And thanks for the dante reference- made me laugh out loud!! I taught that for years to 10th graders-needless to say much was lost on them-but I do believe there is a circle for all us infertiles, lol.
ReplyDeletetake care of yourself!
I am glad you at least got to rest before the disaster. I will be wishing you luck throughout this cycle and checking here often.
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