shots on me

i can't say that i haven't had this many shots in one weekend before but I can say the ones i am used to are much more fun:)  josh gave me my lupron shots at 7am and 7 pm on friday and saturday.  lupron is a subcutaneous injection used to aid ovarian suppression and prevent ovulation.  in addition to the lupron, i began hcg and gonal injections this morning so from here on i will have two injections in the morning and one at night.  fortunately, we are allowed to combine the lupron and hcg so i don't have to have three in the morning. the hcg is a hormone that aids in egg development and the gonal is used to stimulate the growth of follicles in the ovary. overall it has gone very well.  josh, as it turns out, is a terrific doctor.  it's not like i don't feel the shots going in but it is more uncomfortable than painful.  i did start feeling some side-effects quite a bit sooner than i anticipated, like about two hours after my first shot on friday.  it is really hard to explain what it feels like, my whole body just feels kind of heavy if that makes any sense.  i wouldn't say they are making me irritable but i definitely feel more emotional, like wanting to cry for no reason.  i have decided it is probably better to succumb to these urges rather than try to hold back the waterworks so that is what i have been doing.  god bless my husband.  i am not feeling any different today after adding the two additional shots this morning but it was just now two hours ago when i got them.

we received a call from rrc on friday requesting that we allow them to do a test thaw on one vile of josh's sperm which we agreed to.  they called us back several hours later to inform us that they would like to use fresh sperm on the day of egg retrieval which means josh will have to undergo another biopsy.  the reason they would like to do so is because of the poor motility of josh's sperm.  because they lose half of the sperm in the thaw and they aren't particularly swimmers it is hard for them to tell if they are dead or just not moving.  i spoke with the scientific director who feels this would greatly increase our chances so we, of course, agreed.  right now, both procedures (egg retrieval and testicular biopsy) are scheduled for may 6th but that could easily change at this point in the game.  we will both arrive at rrc at the same time, they will take me to the hospital because i have to be put under anesthesia for egg retrieval and josh to the clinic (the hospital is connected to the clinic) because he will undergo his biopsy under local anesthesia.  once i am asleep, fluid from the ovarian follicles will be suctioned through a needle using transvaginal ultrasound guidance.  the eggs come out with the fluid.  the follicular fluid will immediately be examined in the ivf lab, and the eggs will be counted and placed in culture dishes.  the physician will tell us the number of eggs retrieved before we leave the hospital.  after they complete josh's biopsy, the embryologists will attempt to fertilize all mature eggs and they will call us that afternoon to let us know how many embryos we have.  unfortunately, not all embryos will survive.  they will call us everyday until our scheduled implantation (about five days later) with an embryo count.

in the meantime, i have been doing everything i know how to prepare my body for everything it is being put through.  we have been eating very healthy, mostly organic, and i have been juicing everyday.  i made an excellent one this morning with cucumber, wheat grass, ginger, apple, banana, beet, and swiss chard that was really good.  believe me, i too was skeptical at first but it really is delicious.  i have read a lot of information that states that maintaining a healthy diet as i am doing can help thicken the uterine lining which increases our chances of a successful implantation.  i am continuing with acupuncture which has also proved to be very relaxing.  at our last session, she put an ultraviolet light over my abdomen that is suppose to help stimulate blood flow which can also help the uterine lining.  it has been almost three weeks without caffeine and no one has lost their life which i think is a huge testament to my strength.  more than anything, it has been nice to have so many wonderful friends and family reach out and offer their support.  especially over this past weekend, to have people who i know are very busy themselves find time in their busy lives to call, email, text, drop by to check in on us has been wonderful.  we truly feel very loved and blessed to be surrounded by so many thoughtful people.

i have another acupuncture appointment monday evening after work and then my blood draw first thing tuesday morning.  although i do feel some anxiety about the results on tuesday because they will determine where we go from here, i am remaining positive.  i will try to post tuesday evening as soon as i get the results. prayers, positive thoughts, voo doo, black magic, hocus pocus, magic spells all welcome.