Final Liniing check & bloodwork #3rdSurrogacy #IVF

Friday was my final lining check & bloodwork :)

Lining was 9.5 - basically same as before and anything over 8 is good :)
Estrogen was up to 260!  Yep, just throw a few pills at me and it goes up nicely! Lol!

So everything looks great for transfer on Sunday!   Woot ! Woot!

Last night was my very last Lupron.  Ohh how I'll miss the fake menopause.  Okay, no not really. lol.  I did fairly good giving myself those tiny shots (I hate needles with a passion) and only got 3-4 bruises total.  Yay me!   If you want to know more about Lupron or giving those shots, I wrote about it during my last surrogacy - here.   You are welcome. lol.

Today I started the crazy list of meds . It is so crazy that I put it all into my phone calendar so I don't accidentally forget one of the zillions of meds I'm taking throughout the day. lol! 

Medrol  Medrol is a steroid which is used for it's anti-inflammatory to keep everything happy in the uterus for  transfer.  My instructions say  4xday but the dosage I got sent is only 1 x day - works for me!! My IVF nurse says different clinics do a different way but it's ultimately the same dosage so it's fine. I'm thinking why in the world would we NOT do just one pill per day vs 4 different timed out dosages if we can?! lol

Doxycylin  Doxy is an antibiotic which is used to decrease the chance of infection from the IVF process. It could also treat any early infection that you aren't showing signs of yet, again helping increase your chance of becoming pregnant.  I take this twice per day - not so tough, one in the morning & one at night.)

Endometrin  Endometrin is a form of progesterone. Progesterone is a natural hormone that is often used to help your uterine lining receive & nourish an embryo.  In a normal pregnancy your body produces enough progesterone on it's own. During IVF, your body is a blank slate and the drs give medication to make your levels be where they should until your body realizes HEY I'm pregnant and takes over :)   During my 1st surrogacy, I only did the PIO (progesterone in oil) shots. 2nd pregnancy I was informed that between 1 & 2 the clinic had done away with PIO and went to only vaginal inserted progesterone but due to clients freaking out at a lower progesterone # in bloodwork, they added PIO back in.  *sigh* lucky me.   So my instructions are to do these three times per day. Fun times people ... fun times.  I will say that last time I had the Crinone Gel which these tablets seem a bit less ... messy.? lol.    Click here to read about my experience with the Crinone gel. 

PIO shots PIO = progesterone in oil.  Same reason as above only it's a vicious needle eager to make lumps on my bum.. lol.   Just one per night - Thank God!!)


Meds I'm already on :

Estradoil  patches    Estrace & Estradoil help build the lining of the uterus. You  might recall that last time I had the minivelle patches which are round and I could make cute patterns like Mickey Mouse.. These are rectangular and lack the ability to make cute things. lol I'm currently up to 4 patches every other day.

Estrace Pills ( more estrogen)
Baby Aspirin 
Prenatal Vitamins (yay folic acid!)

And that my dears is just about it for now!  I'll update again after transfer.  Keep everything crossed for us on Sunday!! :)

Getting patchy :)

Hey guys!   It's been a week- not a lot new here right now.  The lovely lupron has been giving a few lovely lupron headaches. BLECK.   But so far nothing too bad.  I started my Favorite med (Not) the estrogen patches.

Maybe it's just me but taking a patch that is meant to stay on for 1 week, sticking it onto your body (I do my thighs) and then ripping it off again on the 2nd day to replace it with 2 new ones ... just not fun.  Last time I had to stop them towards the end (when I was up to 4 patches every other day) b/c I was breaking out in a rash like crazy from them.. So this time the nurse has me doing neosporin when I change ect.

My IM is super sweet and sent me some Bath & Body Works lotion & body wash. Yum! :)

So that's really it here. Nothing new. Next lining check is on Monday! :)

Medications so far this cycle : 

 Tons of BCPs
14 Lupron shots
4 estrogen patches

Journey #3 begins !!

The twins will be turning ONE this month!  Can you believe it?  I know I've been pretty absent, life and all that jazz.  I still get pictures and videos of the twins all the time from their Mama! I love it :) They are growing so much! Learning to crawl and just beyond adorable!!  I'm not allowed to share pictures anymore but I'm sure you'll believe me that they are simply beautiful!

In other surrogacy related news - I'm matched for my next journey!!!

Okay, okay...  I've been holding out on you guys.  I met a wonderful couple - not a Spanish couple to my FIM's dismay (ha!)- who we just love!  They only live maybe 3hrs away and plan to be very involved.    Not only are we matched, but contracts are done and I started Lupron last night! Woohoo! The plan is to transfer ONE embie (twins once was enough. LOL) on Aug. 2nd!!

J & N have a wonderful little boy and we can't wait to help them add to their family!  I have a feeling this will be another wonderful journey!

And so it begins ....   


Medications so far this cycle :

Tons of BCPs
1 Lupron shots

4 days til Transfer !!

Hello my friends !!

Not a whole lot new going on here. I  have no new lining checks or bloodwork since I was looking fabulous last time. Now I just wait for the transfer (4 days!!).

In the meantime, I did add some meds, quit some meds and up the dosage of some meds.

My vivelle patches have increased twice since we last 'talked'.  I had two days (1 application) of 3 patches.. Which quite frankly disappointed me because 3 patches you can make into cute designs..

Ta Da- Mickey Mouse head!! 

Have we really talked about the vivelle patches?  

 

You see they are meant to be left on for 1 week.  Instead, I must change them every other day.  So pulling those little boogers off is quite the accomplishment!  I am beginning to look a bit like a leopard with all my 'spots'.  My oldest happened to be in my bedroom last night after I had changed patches (and yes I was walking around in my undies, sorry- it was bedtime!) and immediately asked me why I didn't wash all those marks off.  Believe me child, I try. You have to scrub and scrub and pick and scrub some more to get them off.. ARGH!!  

Anyhoo, I had one change of the cute 3 patches to make my Mickey Mouse head (yes I'm a Disney freak!) , and then since then I've been on 4 patches which really only makes a square or diamond shape.  Blah.  BORING..

On Friday (12/13/2013), I was able to do my final lupron shot!  While I celebrate briefly, I was quickly reminded that stopping Lupron meant I would be starting Progesterone. Eek!

On Saturday (12/14), I got to start a whole new slew of meds - such a timetable that I downloaded a new app to help remind me! ha! 

At this point, I am now on a Zpack (antibiotics) as well as Medrol  several times a day.  I started the lovely Crinone gel - a first for me , my last surrogacy we only did the PIO shots.  Instead I have this lovely vaginal suppository to do twice a day. 

Our nurse coordinator actually informed me that until recently they had stopped the PIO shots and were only doing the Crinone gel.  However, patients were a little leary of not seeing nice high progesterone levels in their blood (being a vaginal suppository, obviously it's being applied directly to your cervix and not needing to go thru your bloodstream like PIO), and so sadly even though they felt the gel was plenty of progesterone, they added the PIO back in.. Joy for me.

Last night was my very first PIO shot.  The Husband gave it to me because #1. No way could I shoot myself up with that big ass needle #2. I am not a contortionist and can't reach well to shoot myself in the butt..   I will admit that I am a wimp and asked for the Emla cream (numbing cream) to use prior to it.. I did indeed use it, then got the PIO ready (drawn up with one needle, then switch out for a slightly smaller needle) and called The Husband in to give it to me.  Quite honestly, it really didn't hurt much.  I just stress myself out over needles.  There may have been tears (mine) and laughter (his) over my over dramatic reaction to a shot that I am committed to giving myself for weeks and weeks.   Hey, one down- too many to go, right?!   I will have to take a picture of the needle to share with you.. I'm probably just a big wimp but at least I admit it.

Meds Taken So Far :

2 ish months of BCPs
21 lupron shots
25 vivelle patches (estrogen)
17 baby aspirin (to prevent clots since estrogen can cause it)
17 prenatal vitamins 
11 Estrogen pills
3  Z-Pack pills
6  Medrol
4 2 ish months of BCPs
17 lupron shots
13 vivelle patches (estrogen)
11 baby aspirin (to prevent clots since estrogen can cause it)
11 prenatal vitamins
5 Estrogen pills
4  Crinone Gel ( progesterone in the form of vaginal suppository)
2 PIO shots

Lining Check #2 & #3

I've had a crazy busy week and haven't had a chance to post yet.   Soo, on Thursday (12/5) I had my second lining check and bloodwork.

Lining- 8 luscious mm
Estrogen- 66

Oopsie. Apparently my estrogen was a teensy bit on the low side.  They like it to be over 100.  No wonder I wasn't feeling completely crazy in the head yet. ha.  And so in addition to my lovely estrogen patches that are a complete pain to redo every other day (they are made to stay on for a week, so taking them off after 2days tends to remove some skin too. lol!), I got to add a pill.  Orally, for the record.

Since I was a bit on the low side, FCI asked that I go back today (Monday 12/9) to get another check rather than wait for my normal appt on 12/12.  And so off I went to visit the vampires yet again.

Thankfully the vampire nurse got my vein on the first shot this time. No digging for those lovely rolling veins! YAY!  And then off to the u/s. 

Have I mentioned the Wienie wand?  I had to take my 5yo with me to my appt on Thursday due to him having a dr appt far away afterwards.  So I sat him in the chair next to the u/s table and gave him his DS.

I got undressed and was sitting on the table with the sheet over me when he looks over and laughs.  Momma, why did you take your clothes off?  Thankfully a few minutes later he was engrossed in his ds again and paid no more attention.

Anyhoo back to the weinie wand.  Maybe it's just me but anytime the u/s tech tries to find my left ovary, it hurts like the very dickens!  I flinch and try to crawl away from her every darn time.   BLAH..

Today's stats:

Lining - a plump 10.7 mm  (anything over 8 is good)
Estrogen- 211 (anything over 100 is good).

The clinic nurse said everything looks PERFECT..  And so now the real countdown begins.

10 days til transfer !!!


Meds taken so far :

2 ish months of BCPs
17 lupron shots
13 vivelle patches (estrogen)
11 baby aspirin (to prevent clots since estrogen can cause it)
11 prenatal vitamins
5 Estrogen pills

Lining Check #1

On Tuesday (11/26), I had my first lining check & hormone levels drawn.

I am always grateful to know that I am able to do my monitoring for the cycle closer to home vs going all the way to FCI.  That would be quite a trek considering I have to have monitoring done weekly.  Ugh.  That means weekly blood draws.. We all know how I feel about the vampires.


My monitoring appointments are supposed to be in the morning and the clinic I'm using to monitor me is an hour away.  And so my mornings on monitoring days will always be hectic.   I dropped my kids off at school and headed straight to the appointment.

I didn't think to take any pictures this time.. Although I did take a picture to show Patricia as we were chatting waiting on my ultrasound.. lol..

Looks a REAL sheet - not a paper one!   Woot ! Woot!

Why yes, little things excite me.  It doesn't take much sometimes! lol!

My ultraound was done (during my *hopefully* last period) which just adds some extra  ick  factor to already having a wand stuck up your hoohaa.  

The vampire took 1 vial of blood.  She missed my vein the first time (it rolled, just like I told her they always do) and stabbed a bit harder than I was hoping for.  BLAH.

In the end- my lining was 6mm which the ultrasound tech said was great.  No cysts on the ovaries although lefty decided to play hide and seek this time.  I guess my ovaries are just camera shy...  FCI called me later in the day to let me know that my hormone levels all looked great.


And so now I am approved to move onto the next step  of the medication cycle -- on Friday, I will lower my lupron  from 20units to 5 units and add 2 estrogen patches.   I was reminded that Estrogen patches tend to make you hormonal.  Let the fun begin!

9 shots of Lupron down, only 17 more to go.. 

Medications begin!

As I left off last time, we had just finished up contracts in time for me to start medications.  Now technically, I've been on birth control pills for about two months which for me is starting medications because I don't normally take them.. However, when I said 'start medications'  I meant injectable medications.   ie. shots   *shudder*

Lupron- aka the drug that shuts down your ovaries and makes your body think you are now in menopause at a much too young age.  Expect: hot flashes, headaches, irritability

Each box comes complete with a vial of Lupron, lots of alcohol swabs & some lovely little needles.   They are so cute.  Completely harmless :)

Ignore the ugly comforter in the background, it was laundry day and my pretty stuff was unavailable.   One alcohol swab for the vial o' menopause, one alcohol swab for the lovely belly.

I'm skipping some pictures here..  My 17yo may have over- documented the first shot.  Let's just sum it up :  Wipe the top of the vial with your alcohol swab,  draw up as much air in your syringe as you plan to draw up lupron (20), shoot the air into the lupron vial (this makes it easier to draw the liquid out) and then draw up your 20units of medication.  Check for air bubbles.  Clean your tummy with the 2nd alcohol swab and then insert the needle.

I won't lie.  This last step (inserting the needle) probably took me a good five minutes. It's not that it really hurts, it doesn't.  It's the mental aspect of stabbing myself with a needle.  We can all clearly see that no one will ever have to worry about me committing suicide when I can't even poke myself with a tiny needle without first psyching myself up about it.. lol!

*Ignore the stretch marks*  And this is what happens when you hesitate when giving yourself a shot..  A lovely bruise to show off.. lol.

1 down, only 24 more to go (of Lupron.. ha).

One big hurdle down..

I know.. I know.. I have been  slacking.  I suck.  Life has been busy and my internet has been on the fritz.. 

So let's spend a few posts getting caught up!

When we last left off,  I had just completed medical screening and passed but was waiting for the vampires to analyze my 7 vials of blood and make sure I didn't have some weird unknown disease that would prevent me from being pregnant.

Naturally a few days later, we were informed that I was in fact healthy!  Yay!  Not that I was really surprised!  ha!  I would have been majorly shocked had something come back negative on the bloodwork.

And so with the all clear- my IPs and I set about getting the contract done and in place.  We needed the contract done prior to starting meds.  Since Patricia and I had already went over an old contract to make sure we both knew what we each felt was acceptable, we were sure this part would fly right by.

It might have flown by if it were not for the fact that lawyers are notoriously s.l.o.w !  And then they all decided that it would be a great idea to fly to another state for some infertility conference.  Geeesh, people!!   Patricia and I were panicking just a little bit when I called her attorney's office on Tuesday and was told that the atty was gone until Thursday.  Contracts needed to be signed by the following Monday and we didn't even have a first draft!  ARGH!

Luckily we finally got that first draft on Thursday..  and then began the back and forth, back and forth.  Me to my attorney, my attorney to the IPs attorney. IPs attorney to them...   Let me tell you, contracts = stress! 

Thankfully we were able to slide in by the skin of our teeth and get contracts signed on Monday (11/18) just in time to start meds!!

With my internet playing hokey, you totally missed the excitement of my big ole box of meds arriving !

Looks pretty innocent, doesn't it?

 

This.   This looks just a little bit scarier.  Do you SEE all those needles? 

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but me and needles don't exactly get along.  I'm a big WIMP when it comes to needles coming near my skin.  Yet I just signed up to get myself months of shots.  Yeah, I never said I was a genius.. lol. 

 

Countdown has begun !!

Last week was a busy week!  The day we've been waiting for since August.  It seems like forever!  Finally, I had the appointment for my medical screening.  I don't know why but I was enormously nervous.  I've done this before and been told my uterus is perfect, but the stress of something having changed in the past 10yrs was driving me bonkers.

We are using FCI in Chicago for the transfer.  Since Chicago is 2-4hrs depending on the lovely traffic that they can have, we opted to spend the night on Thursday nite for our early appointment on Friday.

Our agency was great and booked the hotel and had it all taken care of for us.  When we checked in, the staff was super nice and even gave us a little bag of Halloween candy..

mmm.. mmm.. mmm.  Reese's!  I was prepared to fight the husband for it, but in the end I took one bite and gave it to him. Nerves strike again.

I did get quite a giggle out of the privacy sign for the door :

I mean, come on... how cute is that?! lol!  I may need to make a sign like that for home :)

It takes some getting used to - sleeping in the city.  Downtown in the big city is never quite.  Plus the time is an hour earlier than our home time so I had my alarm set for bright and early to make sure the kids had gotten up for school.   Needless to say- I didn't get a lot of quality sleep.

Finally it was time for the appointment.  I'm sure people thought I was a loon, taking pictures of everything.  I am documenting people. DOCUMENTING!  ha!

First sign of good luck -- we parked on purple ( love that color) and # 5 (IPs have 5 frozen embies).

Here at last!  

We got signed in, The Husband sat down and I went to the restroom.. I'm nervous. I have to go.  As soon as I came out, Caryl (the coordinator) was waiting to take us back to get started.. Naturally she wanted a urine sample.  Uhmm.. you are like 2 minutes too late.. ha!  

Weighed (ugh), blood pressure done (a tad high- yes, showing my nerves since I am always on the low side).  Finally into the ultrasound room where the tech proceeds to try to find all the basic parts.  

"Do you have a right ovary?"    

Uhmm, yes.. I'm sure it's just shy. lol. 

Everything is found, documented and Dr K comes in.   Now I should mention ahead of time that I used the same clinic with my first surrogacy and the same Dr.  I absolutely love Dr K.  He is such a wonderful man. Always so caring.  We chatted for a few minutes, I made him feel old commenting on the last surrogacy.  And then the lovely saline ultrasound.   The place a catheter into our uterus, then put the u/s wand back up there and proceed to shoot a little saline into your uterus to watch it on the u/s machine.  All in all, it took maybe a minute.  Dr K held my hand the entire time.  The procedure can cause some cramping.. But as usual with me, always a day late - my cramping didn't happen for a good 10mins and lasted way longer than the reported 5minutes.  Go me.  Always the overachiever. 

Dr K announced that everything looked perfect!!  He promised to try and get me preggers the first try again :)  

The Husband felt I should have a picture while I sat waiting on Dr K to come in..  Ha.!

Once we were done with the u/s- it's off to the vampires... I mean lab.  They only took 3 vials of blood from The Husband but my blood is much more appealing.  7 vials later.  

I love how accommodating they were about letting me document.. ha!  I whipped my phone out and got ready to take a picture when the nurse said Oh let me arrange things nicely first.. !  ha :) Love it! 

We then sat down with Caryl to sign many many papers and go over everything.  Much of it we already knew from doing it previously.  The medication protocol has changed slightly since the last time.  They now use a progesterone vaginal gel.  I was all excited when she mentioned that, only to be shot down when she said that they still use the PIO shots.. BOOO!  oh well, we do what we must! 

The only thing we are waiting on is bloodwork to come back.  Caryl assured me that we'd have that back by Wednesday at the latest.. I'm sure we will all be very surprised if something came back amiss there.  So we are CLEARED!  Woot! Woot!

I now have in my grubby little hands, the medication calendar!  Transfer is scheduled for Dec 19! 

And so, the countdown begins my friends!! 

Surrogacy vs Adoption

Things are pretty quiet over here on the surrogacy blog.   Sadly, we just aren't that exciting yet! lol!   Soon... Soon!

Until we have something, anything going on, I thought I'd talk a little bit about surrogacy in general.

There are many reasons that a couple might turn to surrogacy as an option for building their family.  A few I have personally ran across-- non-functioning uterus , older age, many failed attempts at IVF themselves, hysterectomy.  Surrogacy is never the first option for traditional couples (it can very well be for gay couples), and is not a decision to be taken lightly. 

As an adoptive mother myself, I have had people as me why I support surrogacy when there are so many children out there waiting for a family.  Adoption is a wonderful way to build your family- there is no doubt about that. I fully support adoption!  However, I also feel that surrogacy is a wonderful way.  To me, surrogacy has a better guarantee than adoption where the birth mother may back out at anytime.   I can understand why IPs would look at surrogacy for their children. They get the guarantee that they will have these children, they get the genetic connection for those that feel this is important, they get to experience the pregnancy from the beginning to end.   Do I feel one option is better than the other?  Absolutely not.  I think everyone needs to discover that for themselves.

Now, onto surrogacy...

There are two types of surrogacy - Traditional (where the surrogate uses her own egg ) and Gestational (where the surrogate is just the carrier, no biological tie involved).  Since I am a Gestational Surrogate, we'll talk about that.

As a Gestational Surrogate- I am just the carrier.  The babysitter , if you will.  I once saw a surro / pregnancy shirt that said "Extreme Babysitting" , yep- that's me!  I have no genetic tie to the babies that I carry whatsoever.  This is made painfully clear with the mounds of shots that I will inject into my body.  Believe me, getting pregnant as a gestational surrogate is 100% scientific that you have no doubt in your mind that this is not your kid.

In gestational surrogacy -  IVF  is used to create the embryos that are transferred into the surrogate. An egg donor and a sperm donor is needed in order to create the embryos.  Most of the time, the egg & sperm donors are the Intended Parents themselves, however there are times when either the Intended Mother or Intended Father have issues and need to look toward a donor.  So far, in my surrogacies I have not dealt with the Intended Parents needing donors.

A big thing to think about when being a gestational surrogate is the medications that you will take.

Birth Control Pills -   Not a big deal at all. They do have side effects - for me , headaches and weight gain.  BLAH!

Lupron - a medication that stops the brain from secreting hormones to control your menstrual cycle.  Your ovaries go to 'sleep' and your cycle is very easily manipulated.  There is an injection or nasal spray option.  I have only used the injection.  It is a tiny insulin size needle that you give in your tummy.  If you have a little extra cushion there to begin with (*raises hand *) then it doesn't hurt a bit.   Lupron can give you hot flashes, fatigue, headaches, nausea & irritability.. Hmm a preview of menopause.. lol.

Estrogen-  the hormone that thickens  the lining uterus. This can be given as a tablet, an injection or a patch.  I have personally used the patch version.  Tons of possible side effects - dizziness, headaches (hmm everything gives us headaches, doesn't it!), upset stomach, bloating (don't need that!), weight changes (or that!), breast tenderness.

Progesterone- the hormone that is produced by the ovaries after ovulation.  Progesterone can be given to help improve the uterine lining (possibly helping encourage the implantation of the embryo).  You normally start this a few days prior to the embryo transfer and continue for  several weeks after transfer (given a + pregnancy test).  Again this depends on your RE/Clinic standards. Progesterone can be given as a capsule, an intravaginal suppository or as an intramuscular injection.  Sadly, I have only dealt with the intramuscular injection- aka the BIG ASS needle in the butt.   I dread this part or the meds and am crossing my fingers that maybe, just maybe the clinic has changed it's protocol in the 10yrs since my last cycle with them.. lol. It could happen.  Ahh well, if not, those big ass shots worked last time and I'll do them again!

Doxycycline - an antibiotic - sometimes used as an anti-rejection technique.  We ,as surrogates, are putting an embryo made up of two other people.   I believe I took my doxy pills for a week -10days..

Medrol -  a steroid , also used as an anti-rejection technique.  The only side effect I got from this was the lovely flushed look of steroid use. lol. No blush needed!

Let's see how much (if any) the RE's protocol has changed since I last did it..  I should get that information at my medical screening next week!  Woohoo!  Only  11 more days! 

In addition to the meds, there are tons of appointments - blood work, ultrasounds to check lining.  While we sit and twiddle our thumbs now,  I know that very soon things will be crazy busy!    Don't worry, I plan on documenting every appointment- no matter how boring!  ha :)