Meds. Meds. Meds

So I just realized that it has been a while since I have last blogged. A lot has happened in that time frame. I got the results back on my TSH and it was 9.3 which is higher than the initial test so I started taking Synthroid. I was told that they want the levels to be between 1-3. So that is my goal. I do have to say since I have started taking it I have more energy. The plan is I will take the medication for 4 weeks and then go back and have my TSH retested so cross your fingers for the level to be 3 or below.


On May 19,2013 I started my Lupron injections which are a subcutaneous injection in the fat. So I am a nurse and I give people shots daily and it does not bother me at all so I should be able to do this without any problems right? WRONG when it came time to give myself a shot I am going to be honest. I danced around the bathroom for 15 min(actually not an estimate) before I had the guts to stink myself. But I have to say it burned a little bit but it wasn't bad at all. I have to give myself 10units every morning when I wake up. So here I am 10 days later and I have no problems and I can't even feel the medication anymore. I have had no side effects from the meds so far.

Today I went to the Dr. for a follow up ultrasound to see how my body was reacting to the medication. I received the good news that my uterus looks fabulous. :) I also started the Vivelle hormone patches today. So it looks like so far we are right on track. We are estimating for the transfer around mid-August. I am so excited and I know that august will be here before I know it. So everyone just keep me and my IPs in your prayers that everything goes as scheduled without any problems.

Guess what arrived today. . . .

The Medicine

 

 

 

I don't know if I explained to everyone that the IVF doctor that it would be best to do a "Mock cycle" Which means that I will do the medicine for 7 weeks and then have a follow up ultrasound to see how my body is reacting to the IVF medicine. I also found out at my medical screening that my TSH (thyroid) was elevated. So I went to have follow up blood work today to see if I need to start medication to lower my thyroid levels.

 

So I start the mock cycle Sunday. Starting Sunday I will be giving myself SC injections of Lupron and I will do that daily. I have a baseline ultrasound on 5/28 to see how my uterus looks and will start vivelle hormone patches that day. So I have decided that as I go through the medication process that I am going to be 100% honest on how it makes me feel. Although I am praying I feel the same :)

 

 



Medical Screening

Let's see where do I start. It seems like so much has happened since I last blogged. So John and I went to Boston for my medical screening and to finally meet the IPs. This trip is what I would refer to as a very quick trip. We left Bentonville Thursday morning and was back by Friday morning. They flying wasn't to bad. We had to switch planes once in Chicago. We had a few layovers due to rain. I def. got to experience a few first this trip. Once we got to Boston we rode in a cab to our hotel (#1 first riding in a cab) Once we got to the Hotel we took quick showers so that we could have dinner with our IPs.

They took us to the "North End" to eat. Which is primarily Italian food (except for one small Chinese restaurant haha). The restaurant we ate at was so wonderful. Although I knew I was not in Arkansas anymore when the waiter asked us if we wanted "flat water or bubbly water" I was def. unsure how to answer that one so I went with flat :) During dinner we just got to hang out with the IPs and get to know them a little more. The more we talked to them the more we realized how awesome they were. After dinner we walked around looking at all the small Italian restaurants. Which led us to an Italian bakery. Which we then tried a Cannoli (another first) It was so good. We ate one then and saved one for breakfast.  So then they took us back to the hotel and we went to bed.

The next day we knew was going to be a super busy day. We started by getting another cab and heading to MGH well actually the Yawkey Building beside MGH. Our first appointment was at 0945 with someone to explain the medicine part and answer any questions. They also handed me an NEO and PAI which are personality/psych questions 700 questions worth(which took all day to complete). Then they drew about 10 vials of blood from me and sent us to grab a bit to eat.

Our next meeting was at 1045 with Dr.Souter. She did a vaginal ultrasound to make sure everything looked good. (Which it did) Answered any questions we had and went over my previous pregnancy's and my health history. We were then dismissed for lunch.

At 1300 we met with the Social worker. We sat on her big leather couch and pretty much just told her about our life. Of coarse at this time we were both sleepy.

1430 we met with another Dr. This one started with "take everything off from the waist down" sigh oh brother. So he did my pap and collected cultures, Hysteroscopy :the he used a scope to look at my cervix and uterus. He had to insert saline into my uterus to enlarge it and check for fibroids( and boy did it HURT :(. I also turned in my paper work at that time  for the NEO and PAI.

1500 we went back downstairs to meet with the social worker with the IPs. We all sit down and pretty much answered her questions again. We are all on the same page and agree on everything so it was pretty easy convo.

We then went back to the airport and was en route to Arkansas. Although we were able to do many fun things and hang out with some pretty cool people we were ready to be home to our kiddos. I would say that our Boston trip was very productive and I enjoyed it greatly. The next step in the process the medicine so we are almost there :)! I am so excited for the adventure that we are beginning. . . .

Boston Bound

I know that it has been a while since I last blogged but we were waiting on my "monthly friend" to come so that we could schedule our trip to Boston. Now most months that is the day that I dread the most. BUT this month I was actually counting down the days until it's arrival. But I am happy to announce it made its appearance bright and early this morning. So it looks like everything is right on track. My husband and I will be flying to Boston bright and early Thursday morning and coming home Friday evening. My job has been awesome and helped me schedule my days around this trip. Family has offered to help with the kiddos while we are gone. So lets see. 

1. Work covered. . . . .check
2. Kids covered. . . . . check
3. Menstrual Cycle here and started on Birth control. . . . . check.
4. Hotel Booked. . . . check

It looks like we are all set. Now we wait. :)   Did I forget to mention the most important part. . . . We get to meet the IPs in person!!!!! I am so excited. I think I am like a kid on Christmas day. haha. So it looks like the next time I blog it will be from the hotel room in Boston. This is such an exiting time in our life. Everyone please say a prayer for us that everything is going to run smoothly.