Crash course in abbreviations!

*There are lots of abbreviations in this post and I'll define them as I write. You know you have an important enough appointment where they squeeze you in. In fact, I was at the doctor's at 8:30 for my 8:40 appointment this morning and actually beat the doctor in! There is a huge up side to early morning appointments and I had NO wait!

As per usual, we did the internal U/S (ultrasound) first. "Follies", as they're referred to in the infertility world, were looking good this morning. Right on target! Good sizes all around. I think the smallest one was around a 13 or 14, which will hopefully be mature enough by the time "ER" (Egg Retrieval) rolls around on SUNDAY!! :) The majority of the follicles were about 19 or 20. Yay! This is one very important step in the IVF process. I have read on so many infertility forums about women who take all these 'stims' (egg stimulation meds) and go for their first U/S and don't see any. Then they go back for their 2nd U/S and only have like 3 decent sized ones. Remember, my count is up to around 20. The mysterious left side was slightly visible, but the RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist), didn't poke around too much. From what I'm feeling like, we may be in for a surprise. An easy analogy for the placement of your ovaries is this...They're suppose to hang like dog ears, but just because dog ears normally flop, doesn't mean one can't stand up. It'll be interesting to see what he has to say after ER.

After the U/S, we met in the Doc's office. He informed me of the next series of steps. I need to take my 'trigger' shot tonight, which is the final step in getting the eggs to reach maturity level. I also got the exciting news that I didn't have to take my other 3 shots and am officially done with them! :) He ordered my prescriptions for my antibiotics (since I am having a surgical procedure), my valium (for "ET" -egg transfer-), and my progesterone. Progesterone is a drug I will be on until it's time to take a pregnancy test. If the test is a BFP (big fat positive), I'll remain on it until an U/S around 2-3 wks. after. Progesterone builds up the uterine wall lining with the belief that it will help give the embryo more to attach to and if you're not pregnant, will give you enough lining to begin your "AF" (actual flow-period).

I was given the instructions for Sunday's preceedings. Nothing to eat or drink, not even, H2O (water...oh you already knew what that abbreviation meant?) after midnight on Saturday. We'll go in and they'll take us to a private room. The nurse will start my IV and the doctor will come in to have a brief meeting with us. The anesthesiologist will come in then and give me some drugs to begin with. Then, I get wheeled, in my bed, into the exam room where the ER is completed. After the surgery, I'll be wheeled back into my private room and have to wait for a hour to a hour and a half. I'll have to be wheeled out to my car in a W/C (wheelchair-in case you have to write any progress notes for one of my residents!). Doc said I'll be in some pain, perhaps feeling the bloating all the way up to my shoulders. Every single one of those follies has to get aspirated and all that excess fluid just floats around in there causing a lot of bloating. He says the bloating and excess liquid is felt as pain by the body.

After our meeting, it was time for me to give some more blood. The Doc didn't think I needed it, but just to be on the safe side. These are referred to as your E2 levels. Mine have been right on the money. My Wed. level ended up being around a little over 1200. My arms are bruised pretty badly after giving blood 4 times. 3 on my right and 1 on my left.

Next came the dreaded bill paying meeting. I am so thankful how wonderful the entire staff is at the Fertility Institute of Virginia. Patty, the bill lady, is so great. She was willing to divi things up on different cards and work with me while we figured out the math together.

Dr. Steingold called me, which was a first, since I usually have to call him. Glad to see I'm one of his top priorities this weekend! He confirmed the trigger shot time of 10:30 pm tonight and told us to be at the Stony Point Va. IVF & Andrology at 8:00 am on Sunday. He's been so nice all along and said to call him with ANY questions.

Now for the fun part! 10:25 rolls around... I've already drawn the medication. It's in the 2 vials like the menopur. This dose was 1.5 ccs. I've got the alcohol swab, bandaid and I've changed the needles on the syringe. This is a long intramuscular needle. This shot goes right in the upper outer quadrant of the butt. I tell you what...you would have thought I asked Paul to give birth on the spot the way he reacted to that needle. He didn't do a very good job of decreasing my level of anxiety. Luckily, the nurse at work gave a helpful hint. She said to use an ice cube to numb the spot and it gives the "DH" (darling husband) a nice big red spot to aim for! I know it's alot for Paul to soak up. Especially since the directions with giving this shot were so specific. He had to push it in half way, then a little more. (Not sure why she didn't just say 3/4 of the way in?!) He finally mustered up the courage to give it. The shot was painless going in and the medicine didn't burn like the menopur used to. But once I got up walking, boy did it sting. It's fine now that I'm sitting on it. I'm hoping it doesn't hurt to bad once I get up and start walking around.

Phew...okay...after ER comes ET. That will be either Wed. or Fri. I may actually, for once, be praying for now snow next week! After the ET comes the dreaded TWW or 2WW (2 week wait). Fingers crossed! And if the forum/blogging world isn't cheesy enough they usually close their entries with a 'sprinkle of baby dust'. I'm sprinkling away!!