Baseline Fun:

This time around, I told myself that I wasn't going to stress about any of this.  Of course plans still need to be made and medication still needs to get figured out but I'm just not going to put any worry into it. At all.  A couple hiccups have happened, but everything has worked itself out. (yeah, that not so nice little email I sent to a pharmacy just so happened to get answered and fulfilled within 10 mins of threatening to order from another company sure helped too. ha!) All meds have been ordered and all received except for one-which should be here tomorrow.  I expect to get AF within 2 days and then I'll hopefully have my IVF calendar to better predict timing/meds etc.

So, I received the Lupron today.  I've been on Lupron, oh, I dunno, 6 or more times.  But this time, it's different.  It's compounded and Tricare said NO for covering it.  My instructions according to the multidose bottle is that I'll be doing 40 units a day.  That's double what I've been on before.  Lupron side effects have never bothered me. I do wonder how it will be this time. (Although, my nurse assured me that even doubling the dose, it's still such a tiny amount, I shouldn't see a difference..uh huh, we'll see)

CD4 Baseline AM: I had my blood drawn (for the usual baseline tests, estrogen, progesterone etc.) and my good vein didn't want to cooperate.  She had to dig around for awhile to get the blood to flow.  I'm sure I'm bruised.  U/S showed 13 follicles.  Not great honestly-and I already have a dominate one at 11mm (I had 30 AFC for my IVF with Skittle if that tells you anything).  I'm waiting now for a call from Birmingham to tell me what's happening next.  DH dropped another little nugget on me yesterday that he has more TDY/training in Dec, exactly when the retrieval is. SIGH.  The reason we pushed this a cycle a month later was his TDY training.  I get it.  He can't help it, but it's still annoying.  Having to freeze his sperm is a last resort in my mind.  We already have so many issues to overcome even with the help of IVF that freezing his sperm is not ideal (as well as logistically difficult) .

Baseline PM: The nurse called with more details.  My E2 is 56 and FSH is 7.5.  All fine.  I requested Lovenox and Prednisone again so she'll be ordering those for me.  And you guessed it, the retrieval is right when DH will be gone.  So yep, he'll be going to Birmingham right before he leaves for his TDY to get his part done.  My mom is coming out to help with the actual surgery since I'll need someone to drive me home.

I had thought for a hot minute that I was doing a "mini flare" protocol as that's what the pharmacist  had said when she saw my meds.  Nope, I really am doing the AL2, which is double the shots.  The doses are split but overall still more stim meds than the last cycle (but also more suppression).  I'll be doing 4 injections per day up to the retrieval.

I'm so thankful that I have this blog!  I was able to go back through each IVF protocol and saw what meds I did and when.  For reference, I'm going to be listing what I'm taking so if someone else is doing IVF and they are curious, it might be helpful. 

My protocol: AL2

Birth Control: 7 days
MicroDose Lurpon: 20 units AM and PM (injection)
Follistim 225 IU mixed with 75 IU Menopur in the AM (injection)
Follistim 300 IU in the PM (injection)
Dexamethasone steriod: PM (pill)

That's not including the supplements I'm on nor anything for the transfer.  That fun will come later. 

I just had my pre-cycle phone call/visit and have a suppression check/blood work on Monday. 

Thanks for following along!