The Train Has Left the Station...

We are off and running with IVF! Right on cue, I started my period on Sunday (Day 24). I just followed the instructions on the birth control pills and went ahead and took the first pill on "the Sunday following your period, or the Sunday it starts". Apparently, that was incorrect. Oops! I was supposed to call the clinic on Day 1 and they would instruct me for what to do next. I somehow missed that. The nurse said she would have had me wait until Tuesday to start the Pill, but that it was really no big deal. Phew. I was worried I had already screwed up my IVF cycle before it even started. Leave it to me.

So, here's what I know so far. We have our injections class this Thursday 8/9. Michael gets to learn how to give me shots in the booty this time. Woo hoo! I don't know which of us is more excited. The majority of my shots are subcutaneous which means they can just be in any old fatty part of me. (I choose to pinch some skin on my tummy for those.) The progesterone shots that I will need to sustain any potential early pregnancy after they do the IVF (put the embryos back in me) need to be intramuscular - which means they need to be in the upper outer quadrant of my rear. That's where lucky ol' Michael comes in. Normally, progesterone is produced by the ovaries after ovulation, but since my ovaries will be suppressed (if I ovulate, they can't get the eggs!), and hyperstimulated (to produce lots and lots of good eggs), the normal hormonal process is all screwed up - so I'll need extra progesterone.

After our class, I am scheduled for a "mock embryo transfer" on 8/14. That is where they put a catheter into my uterus and take a look at the lay of the land. They want to make sure they know all the bumps that could occur during the actual embryo transfer, so they literally make a map of my uterus so they know the best place to put the little guys.

After that, I will start the Lupron injections on 8/23. Lupron will supress ovulation so the eggs stay squarely in my ovaries until they are ready to remove them surgically.

Those are all the dates I know right now. The actual procedure dates will be based on how I respond to the stimulation medication. I'm not sure when I will start that - but it will likely be late August / early September.

Here's a pretty nice (but technical) summary of IVF for anyone who is interested...
http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/treatmentsearch/treatment_listing_detail.cfm?ListID=1259 I'll add it to the links on the side for future reference. I've read it several times and still don't totally understand it, but it will at least give you an idea of what goes on.