Monday, December 28, 2015

I need my estrogen!

I had my appointment for labs and ultrasound as planned on Monday, Dec. 21. My bloodwork came back super quick but my ultrasound report did not. Apparently the holiday week posed a problem for my clinic in sending that report to the fertility clinic. This might have been tolerable if that report didn't determine the next step in meds, and keep me on the Lupron and it's side effects longer than planned! After 3 long hot flashy, migraine filled days (my side effects increased after the birth control pills were stopped, leaving hormone-less!), my fertility clinic decided to let me lower my Lupron dose and add in some estrogen - without seeing the report. The clinic made the decision based on lab results and the fact that my period started as expected. Although I wish they had received the report, I was grateful and relieved to have been able to begin my the Estrace. I think I became like an addict looking for drugs: "Anybody got any estrogen???? Please, I NEED THE ESTROGEN!"


Ok, maybe it wasn't that bad -- maybe only in my head. The husband says that I was ok without hormones. He's a nice guy though, and he has to live with me.

I did speak with my OB today actually - during my annual exam - and she was very apologetic about their mistake and assured it would not happen with the next ultrasound on January 5. I'll be sure to get a copy of the report myself before I leave the office that day, just to be safe.

I'll continue on the Lupron and the Estrace until we check the uterine lining at the next ultrasound. In the meantime, you all can enjoy some family photos from our Christmas (because pictures always make blogs more interesting!)


Monday, December 14, 2015

Meds are here

My meds arrived last weekend and we began Lupron (an ovary suppressing injection) on Wednesday, December 9. My apologies for not posting about such exciting news sooner, BUT I have a really good excuse for being too busy. Due to the Christmas season being  a really, really good reason for all things baking, I spent last week prepping dough for my family's annual holiday cookie baking day. This was the result...



Each year, we bake our little hearts out. Then we package them up, and pass them out to our neighbors, friends, teachers, etc. It's a sweet tradition that we look forward to every year -- and I think our recipients do as well! 

So that, friends, is what has kept me away from the blog this week. And since I was so busy mixing, rolling, and baking, I did not take a picture of the meds when they arrived. It's the same protocol as the previous surrogacies, but if you need a recap, you can go here.

I have been on the Lupron for 6 days now. The small little stick on the belly doesn't bother me one bit. But the side effects the first couple of days were pretty awful - mostly headaches, hot flashes, and nausea. Those seem to be subsiding as we move along. I will continue the Lupron at my current dose until an ultrasound on December 21. If that shows that the Lupron is doing it's job (turning off my ovaries so no follicles are producing eggs), then my dose will be lessened and we'll move onto the next medication to start preparing the uterine lining for transfer. 

In the meantime, I'll continue baking, drinking hot chocolate, attending classroom winter parties, wrapping presents, and looking at Christmas lights with the family! 

(My Crew at the Opry Hotel, Nashville)