Hormone concern

I am now on CD12 (Cycle Day 12)

Today's scan was on time! New (male) doctor who I had not seen before did the scan. He mentioned my hormone levels from the blood test yesterday. My LH is too high. I believe the LH causes ovulation. This would explain why I had to take a Cetrotide this morning as well as last night. I think the risk is if the LH level does not come down ovulation could happen and they don't want it to happen naturally.

Follicles have grown. Two are 16mm, two are 14mm and two are 10mm (let's hope those little ones catch up!) Another blood test, and wait for instructions on drug doses tonight. The original schedule would have been no Menopur and Gonal F tonight, but I think things are going for an extra day. I was asked if I had enough of the drugs for tonight, and I said I had enough to do one more dose. The instructions came via text message at 6:30pm. Gonal F 75 and Menopur 375! My response to the 'do you have enough drugs' was assuming the same dose as usual (225). I only just about have enough Menopur left! The instructions also say 'Take Cetrotide' ... Yes, but when? Just tonight, or should I take in the morning again too? Not clear at all.

My scan is booked for 10am tomorrow. I think I'll opt for not taking Cetrotide in the morning. At least if I should have taken it, I can then take it at 10am when I check. If I take it and shouldn't have, there's no going back. I did call the clinic when the text message arrived, but they were closed.

Human pin cushion

Today's appointment was at 12:45. I took an appointment as late as possible as I was on a course this morning. As it was I had to leave 15 minutes before the end to get there on time. Just made it! Then sat for 50 minutes waiting !! I wonder if I turn up late for appointments will I wait less ? :)

Scan and tests all done. Lynn said I have 6 follicles now (I lost one ?!) and there were two smaller ones, but they were about 10mm. The larger ones were 14mm which is much more what they need to be. Seems the growth hormone is working.

There is a chance egg collection (EC) might be Monday rather than Sunday. I asked whether they try to aim for ER at a certain time of day, and tell you when to take that final Pregnyl shot to aim for that. This is not the case, the timing is based on your cycle and follicles.

Another blood test, I'm getting the hang of this! And a scan booked for 12:15 tomorrow.

Got a phonecall at 5pm. Start Cetrotide this evening and Gonal F and Menopur to stay the same. Second dose of Zomacton to do tonight also. FOUR injections!! That's 5 needles all in one day, who'd have thought I would be choosing to do this ?! :)

I have also been told to do a Cetrotide injection in the morning, and another tomorrow night.

I think this means I am at the stage now where they want to prevent the natural ovulation. I think this is good and things are progressing OK. I am disappointed with the low follicle count, and just hoping they continue to grow.

After finishing the four injections I asked Hubby for a reward, a cup of tea. He replied "I don't think you should drink tea, it might just leak out of all of the holes!!"  :)

No Cetrotide

Eventually managed to speak to a nurse at 5pm. I told her I was keen to know why I had been told not to take Cetrotide from yesterday and asked if it indicated a problem. Also I mentioned that I had already stated taking it Saturday, and was concerned I had taken a dose when perhaps I shouldn't have.
The nurse said she couldn't tell me, it wasn't in my notes that I had been told not to take it! She would speak to a doctor and call back.
  
She called 15 minutes later and told me it was correct that I should not be taking Cetrotide. She said usually Cetrotide is started on CD6, but only once confirmed with the clinic after blood test and scan. I pointed out that my scan had been booked for CD7 so this would not have been possible! I feel perhaps a mistake has been made here. I was assured it won't have done any harm, and the reason you take Cetrotide is to stop ovulation. They did not feel due to my hormone levels that this was needed yet.

I found out from another (unofficial) source that taking Cetrotide too early could slow growth of the follicles.

I forgot to mention that I have now also started taking the antibiotic tablets. Seems so insignificant compared to the injections that it didn't even occur to me to mention it! Just 1 tablet a day.

Next scan is tomorrow as originally booked.

Purple!

I have a nice purple bruise where the Menopur jab went in. Lump has almost gone, but something was definitely different about that jab. I will ask the nurse when I have my scan tomorrow.

It's a shame as it has put hubby off giving me the injections, because he is worried about hurting me.

I did tonights injections myself. Felt quite proud of myself really, I could never have imagined doing this. The new Cetrotide one that I had to start on today has a bigger needle!! Ugh. Still, it was fine.

I read through the instructions carefully. Like the Menopur the power in the vial needs to be mixed with solution first. However, each vial is one complete shot. A new vial is mixed and used each day. the instructions for injecting suggested injecting at a 45 degree angle (not 90 as we'd been instructed by the nurse). The extra millimetres in length of the needle convinced me this 45 degree angle was the way to go! there is something more comforting feeling that you are sticking the needle along rather than straight in!! It worked, I took a deep breath and did ... it ... very ... slowly ... ! :)

CD5 checking in

The third and final day of just Gonal F and Menopur. This days jabs didn't seem to go as smoothly. We did the Menopur first as that seems slight more noticable to me so we get it out of the way. This time it did hurt a little. It's only minor, but concerned me. I could feel a lump afterwards too. The Gonal F (Pen) would have been fine, but hubby forgot to pull the end of the pen out, so when he was pushing, he was pushing into me, not pushing the end of the pen in. Once I realised, we took the needle out and did it again.

Despite the slight hiccups, I still survived!  No side effects from the drugs ... Yet! I start on Cetrotide tomorrow.

Cetrotide confirmation

Spoke to Marion today. I think Monday's message must have got lost !

She confirmed that I would start certitude injections on Day 6 of cycle, not Day 1 as we originally believed. She did say sometimes they do things differently. So she had checked with the doctors

This means the first injections will be the Menopur and Gonal F, which I should start once they confirm all is ok after my scan on Day 1, 2 or 3 of my next cycle.

I have booked us in for a lesson on Tuesday 17th Jan.

So all I need to worry about for now is taking the Primolut twice a day from 1st Jan to 12th Jan inclusive.

So that's probably it for my blog this year. Here's to a promising 2012, and best wishes to all.