OMG!!!! THE MEDS HAVE ARRIVED!!

        WOW! It just hit me today, WE REALLY ARE DOING IVF!!!!! I think it had something to do with the 10lb box that arrived from the Fed Ex man.  The medications are temperature sensitive and I had to sign for the package. I was very excited to open the package until the realization of what I was really going to have to do. INJECTIONS! I hate shots, I can give them to my patients no problem but I don't like to receive them.  Never a good sign when there are more needles than anything else in the box. But this will be a small price to pay. These medications are only dispensed from special pharmacies and there are only a couple of pharmacies across the US. We used a Walgreen's pharmacy due to the price discount that we received because my insurance will not cover cost of fertility medications. 

         OK, now for the low down on what these meds really are. There are many different classifications of medications but who really cares about that. The important knowledge is

to know what the medications do.  The main and most expense medication is Follistim. Follistim is a natural hormone that is produced in  the body called FSH. FSH regulates the growth and development of the eggs in the ovaries. This medication is used with another natural hormone called LH or the medication called Ganirelix . With these two injectable medications my ovaries should develop many eggs, but no more than 20 in each ovary. If I do produce more than 20 eggs  it is called, OHSS.  Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome and this is very bad! In order to monitor how many eggs I am producing with these medications I will be getting ultrasounds and blood work every 1-2 days. They will be measuring the circumference of the eggs along with the number in each ovary. I will only be taking these medications no longer than 7 days. If OHSS occurs, surgical intervention is needed and our IVF attempt is down the drain. We would have to stop all treatments:(  But no need to worry this will not happen!!!!! 

    The next medication is the trigger shot, HCG which is also a natural hormone in the body. This medication will trigger my ovaries to get ready to ovulate ( releasing of the egg). But we have to time this shot perfect. If I do the shot to early my eggs might not be mature enough and given to late my eggs might be "to old" and will not fertilize properly. When I have developed 4 or more eggs that are about 18-20mm that is when I will take the HCG shot. This is where the ultrasounds and blood work will also be coming into play. 

     Now those are the major medications for IVF. The other medications are antibiotics, steroids, sedatives (for procedures), aspirin to prevent blood clots, prenatal vitamins and progesterone. If pregnancy happens I will be giving myself a shot in the rump for 12 weeks to make sure the linning of my uterus stays fluffy and nutritious for the growing baby. 

    I will go into more detail later about what happens after the medications have worked and the eggs are ready to be retrieved. I have to keep some suspense and keep you all coming back to my blog, hehe!! 

    I'm sure you are wondering. Now, when does all this fun start? Well as you know I have been taking birth control for 15 days to stop my period last month and create a whole new cycle. I stopped taking the birth control on Dec 27, and I am now waiting for Aunt Flow (my period) to arrive. On the 2nd day after the start I will call Dr. Toma ( NCCRM) and they will give me instructions on what dosages and medications to start. So that is where we are at now, just waiting, again!!!!! I will blogging it up as usual so keep checking back. Remember to keep us in your prayers, and send some baby dust our way!!!!!!!