Yesterday Santa brought me a nasty cold. Wee! I managed to make it through the morning's festivities, but alas, was couch bound for the rest of the day. (On a separate note, the movie Mulholland Drive sucks - don't let anyone tell you differently.)
Nevertheless, I began my pre-cycle meds as described in my RE schedule. Namely I started the Vivelle-dot 0.1mg patch (estrogen), which I take every other day. Tonight I will add on to the patch and start a 3 day course of Ganirelix 250 mcg injections. Double wee!!!
I tried to think of a time in my life when I gave myself a shot and came up empty. Even with my couple year course of allergy shots as a kid. Even with my 2 previous IVF cycles in India. Ugh - I guess I should have checked for extra practice needles in my box, although now that I think about it, who the hell wants to take extra shots, practice or not.
Next step is "Await period Day Of Cycle 1 = First day of continuous menstrual flow (spotting is NOT day 1)". Great. Many times my periods are only spotting (due to my previous cryoablation surgery.) How should I determine that? So in typical "omg" last minute panic and realization that I have new questions, I sent the below email to my nurse. Hopefully they will get me some answers today.
UPDATE: rather than write a separate post on my nurse's answers, which were prompt, I'll just type them in red by each one. Nurse ended up calling me directly when I was at work, so my responses are just a quick summary.
P.S. Clearly I don't know how to count...But at least I caught it before she did.
---------------------------------------
1.) Started the vivelle-dot today. Do these have to be changed out the same time (every other day) or can I change it out with my nightly shot (I put it on in the afternoon)? -->yes - that's fine
2.) It looks like I am suppose to start the Ganirelix tomorrow, but I am not positive because the date is wrong on your documentation (I think we may have previously discussed this on the phone, but I'm not positive now.) Please verify and send an updated copy. Also, please let me know if there is anything special I need to do/know regarding the shots. For some reason I thought we were going to have training on it, but we never did.-->tonight. around the same time.
3.) I have been battling a very minor cold the last 2 weeks, but yesterday it took a turn for the worse. Today it is in full fledged mode. Please notify the doctor and let me know if there is anything I should or should not take for it. -->Take lozenges, any Tylenol line, robitusson but no DM, sudifed
4.) Last week I wrote you regarding an approximate drop-dead date for when the surrogate's cycle could start (and thus you would have to have a contract in hand.) Haven't heard back from you on this - please let me know. The lawyer has submitted the rough draft to us. --> earliest Friday. You have 2 1.2 weeks before her injections start. If she hasn't by Friday, call Mikesha on Friday.
4.) Dr. Carpenter approved my taking supplements for the last few months. I need to know if and when I need to stop taking these. In particular the DHEA (75mg per day) as it is a hormone and I don't want it to interfere with the other hormones I am now taking. -->yes --continue taking all
5.) My 2 previous cycles I had cysts prior to the start of cycle. The first IVF cycle, we had to aspirate the cyst as it was interfering with my hormone levels (and consequently would have ruined the cycle.) I need to know if we need to do an ultrasound or blood tests to make sure this isn't occurring again. Dr. Carpenter is aware of my previous history with this. -->will come in on day 2 or 3 for ultrasound and bloodwork. Check it then.
6.) My blood tests are complete. The FDA ones should be faxed to you directly from Quest. The remaining ones were done at Emory. Please let me know if I need to sign a release for you to get them. I believe you already have it on file, but since it is a new doctor, I am not positive. -->need to fill out a record release for emory to send over to ACRM. She will email. Email back to her or fax.
7.) The ACRM email system appears to remove emails after a certain period. This is very confusing and I worry that I might miss some documentation. It is also difficult for me to log on to the ACRM email system when I am in the office. If possible, I would prefer to use regular email rather than your website email system. Please copy my husband on return correspondence as well (his email is included in the CC line.) -->yes - that's fine.
Thank you and I hope you had a great holiday.
Nevertheless, I began my pre-cycle meds as described in my RE schedule. Namely I started the Vivelle-dot 0.1mg patch (estrogen), which I take every other day. Tonight I will add on to the patch and start a 3 day course of Ganirelix 250 mcg injections. Double wee!!!
I tried to think of a time in my life when I gave myself a shot and came up empty. Even with my couple year course of allergy shots as a kid. Even with my 2 previous IVF cycles in India. Ugh - I guess I should have checked for extra practice needles in my box, although now that I think about it, who the hell wants to take extra shots, practice or not.
Next step is "Await period Day Of Cycle 1 = First day of continuous menstrual flow (spotting is NOT day 1)". Great. Many times my periods are only spotting (due to my previous cryoablation surgery.) How should I determine that? So in typical "omg" last minute panic and realization that I have new questions, I sent the below email to my nurse. Hopefully they will get me some answers today.
UPDATE: rather than write a separate post on my nurse's answers, which were prompt, I'll just type them in red by each one. Nurse ended up calling me directly when I was at work, so my responses are just a quick summary.
P.S. Clearly I don't know how to count...But at least I caught it before she did.
---------------------------------------
1.) Started the vivelle-dot today. Do these have to be changed out the same time (every other day) or can I change it out with my nightly shot (I put it on in the afternoon)? -->yes - that's fine
2.) It looks like I am suppose to start the Ganirelix tomorrow, but I am not positive because the date is wrong on your documentation (I think we may have previously discussed this on the phone, but I'm not positive now.) Please verify and send an updated copy. Also, please let me know if there is anything special I need to do/know regarding the shots. For some reason I thought we were going to have training on it, but we never did.-->tonight. around the same time.
3.) I have been battling a very minor cold the last 2 weeks, but yesterday it took a turn for the worse. Today it is in full fledged mode. Please notify the doctor and let me know if there is anything I should or should not take for it. -->Take lozenges, any Tylenol line, robitusson but no DM, sudifed
4.) Last week I wrote you regarding an approximate drop-dead date for when the surrogate's cycle could start (and thus you would have to have a contract in hand.) Haven't heard back from you on this - please let me know. The lawyer has submitted the rough draft to us. --> earliest Friday. You have 2 1.2 weeks before her injections start. If she hasn't by Friday, call Mikesha on Friday.
4.) Dr. Carpenter approved my taking supplements for the last few months. I need to know if and when I need to stop taking these. In particular the DHEA (75mg per day) as it is a hormone and I don't want it to interfere with the other hormones I am now taking. -->yes --continue taking all
5.) My 2 previous cycles I had cysts prior to the start of cycle. The first IVF cycle, we had to aspirate the cyst as it was interfering with my hormone levels (and consequently would have ruined the cycle.) I need to know if we need to do an ultrasound or blood tests to make sure this isn't occurring again. Dr. Carpenter is aware of my previous history with this. -->will come in on day 2 or 3 for ultrasound and bloodwork. Check it then.
6.) My blood tests are complete. The FDA ones should be faxed to you directly from Quest. The remaining ones were done at Emory. Please let me know if I need to sign a release for you to get them. I believe you already have it on file, but since it is a new doctor, I am not positive. -->need to fill out a record release for emory to send over to ACRM. She will email. Email back to her or fax.
7.) The ACRM email system appears to remove emails after a certain period. This is very confusing and I worry that I might miss some documentation. It is also difficult for me to log on to the ACRM email system when I am in the office. If possible, I would prefer to use regular email rather than your website email system. Please copy my husband on return correspondence as well (his email is included in the CC line.) -->yes - that's fine.
Thank you and I hope you had a great holiday.
Sorry about your cold, but so excited for you as you start your next cycle! It's always scary when starting the meds and being afraid you have the dates and how to's wrong. Good luck!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeppers. Everything ok now - YAY!
DeleteHere from ICLW. Sorry you're feeling sick. The only thing worse than being sick is dealing with injections, meds & IF while sick. Yuck! Feel better!
ReplyDeleteHello from ICLW -hope you're on the mend soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIsn't it so exciting to be starting meds? I mean, I know they aren't fun to take but it means that you are getting closer and closer to your baby :)
ReplyDeletelol. True - it's all about perspective isn't it?
DeleteThinking of you a lot! Fingers are so crossed for this cycle :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're sick! I hope the shots go okay!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteHope you get better soon! Congratulations on the new cycle! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!!
DeleteHello from ICLW. If your shots are belly shots they shouldn't be too bad. Maybe you can get your husband to give them to you. My hubby gave me my one and only shot and it was way better than if I had to do it myself (don't know if I could have done that). Good luck with your cycle! -Erin loveismultiplied.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYou are right, they really aren't bad at all. Was able to give them to myself without any issue. I'll probably have my hubby give the trigger one or if I feel I'm favoring one side too much.
Delete