IVF – I’m Very Flustered – or – In Vitro Fert

That. was. a. weekend. from. hell. I fled my lapscope-follow-up appointment to get to a work meeting (that I was already 2 hours late for), and that was the start of it. I worked solidly the whole weekend, and into Monday, and today. After dropping off our two out of town associates, I went straight home, but by that time it was the end of the day anyway. So why the post-mortem, you might ask. Well, that is my long, sad, but oh so true excuse for NOT updating you on my Thursday appointment.

So here goes… As it turns out, my right ovary is looking pretty good (really, I saw photo’s). The left, not so much. I was staring at a picture that looked like a very unremarkable piece of pelvic wall, when I was told that I was, in fact, viewing what was left of my other ovary. It was quite pathetic, really. It has all but been absorbed by my own body, and, well, I can’t even say that it didn’t look good, because, it didn’t look like much of anything. My doc basically said that my best bet was IVF with immediate effect. I had already started taking the pill in anticipation of this, as well as YUMMY LOVELY SIDE EFFECT FREE (ha!) Parlodel.

My protocol is as follows:

BCP ’til CD21

Parlodel forever, increasing dosage slowly. (or until the end of the whole process)

CD18 – Lucrin up until trigger

AF – Scan & Bloods

Start Menopur (3 amps to start) CD2 0r 3 until follies are good to go

CD 6,8, onwards – bloods and scan

CD10, 11 – E2 P4 Bloods

Pregnyl Trigger

Post Trigger E2 P4 Bloods

36 – 38 hours later – Retrieval and Fertilization

Cyclogest

3 or 5 day Transfer (depending on progress of embies, hoping for 8-12 retrieved – with only one decent ovary, is that expecting too much?)

Estrapause and Cyclogest until Beta 14dpt

Is that too much information? I know this would bore a lot of you, but I thought it may interest those who are new to IVF (like moi) and those who are contemplating it.

I must admit that I felt quite emotional when I was going through the protocol with the co-ordinator. It was surprisingly overwhelming. I have waited so long for this opportunity, and I feel that this is my best shot. I am so incredibly excited at the possibility of success, and too afraid to think of failure at this point, although I am well aware of the reality of these things. If I allow myself to dwell on the “bad” statistics, I may end up on the edge of insanity again like after my 3 IUI’s. I have tried to think as if it has already worked, and hopefully this kind of thinking will hold me in good stead over the next few weeks.

Just a quick question: has anyone else taken Parlodel or any other Prolactin lowering drug? I am getting some unpleasant side effects. Also headaches, could this be the BCP’s? Every night when I take those I smile a little ironic smile to myself. Then I slug back my Parlodel with a glass of milk, and drift into a worried, excited, hopeful sleep. Nighty night all.

Advertisements