Turtle-like

Well, things are moving slowly. I had lots of little follies on the left, and some on the right, but none over 7mm. Small. Not sure what happened to the lead follie from Saturday, but we didn't see it today. They upped my stims for the next 2 days, and I have another check on Friday morning.

I'm not surprised, because I feel fine still, the ovaries have not even begun to ache. And I realized this was the earliest I've been monitored, today is stim day 4. I think in past cycles I was first monitored on stim day 6. So, again, not surprised that they are still small.

But, on the other hand, I'm surprised that, without any suppression like Loopyron, I am still moving slowly. I thought I'd be moving too fast, not slowly. Hmmm...

But I guess it is good that they appear to be all the same size, no one follie is leading by a lot. That is the goal here, lots of evenly developed, good quality eggs. So I'll take it, see the positive and move forward.

And thanks for all the well-wishes, everyone. It really buoys me up, makes me smile, and keeps me going. Thank you all for all the growing vibes, keep 'em coming!

I'm far away and good

I arrived today in the far away city, and it is lovely weather. Sunny and in the 50s, which feels like bikini weather compared to home. I didn't even need a coat! Very good stuff. My flight was smooth, arrived early, and security didn't make too much of a fuss over the gazillions of vials, syringes and alcohol wipes I had in my carry on. More good stuff. I'm in the same hotel as last time I was here in September, actually in the room right next door to the one I had been in. It is like a mirror opposite of that one. Bizzarro room, if you will. But somehow nicer. Which again is pretty good.

After I arrived, I went to the drug store, because I didn't have toothpaste at home to bring (without leaving Mr. P high and dry). I got some other sundries, and the total came to $7.77. The checkout lady said, "Oooh, that's good luck!" More good coming my way.

Tomorrow is my first monitoring appointment. I'm hoping the good streak continues. I'm feeling good physically, the ovary ache hasn't started yet. I'm also keeping my zen, not obsessing too much and rolling with it. Granted if tomorrow it all falls apart, I will fully freak out, but for now, I'm feeling really....good.

The All-Clear

Monitoring appointment went smoothly yesterday. Lots of antral follies on my likes-to-hide left ovary, and less on the right. There already seemed to be a lead follie on the right, so it will likely get sacrificed to the grows-too-big gods.

I thought the EPP was supposed to stop a lead follie from developing, but I guess my right ovary did not get that memo. I mean, she's only try to do her predestined job, she doesn't know I'm about to whack her with stims. Poor girl.

Just did my first menop.ur shot, its like riding a bike, these shots. Right back on the wagon for me.

Call off the hunt!

Ok, maybe my freak out yesterday was a bit premature. You guessed it - AF arrived this afternoon. I always think that woman is gonna mess with me, and more times than not, she is punctual and accommodating. I'm sorry, Auntie. I did not mean to talk smack about you...again.

Whew!

So I think the monitoring appointment is on for tomorrow, and barring any ginormous cysts, I am good to go. Stims would start Sunday. I would fly out Tuesday. ER sometime the week of the 18th. Fast, right?

Yet another AF watch

I guess this is the first AF Watch 2010, so that makes it new, right?

Right? Yeah, maybe not so much. I hate waiting for that damn woman.

So allegedly, I'm supposed to get my visitor today. I don't feel at all like she is coming. I usually spot a few days ahead of time, and no spotting yet. I feel totally normal, well as normal as I get on 2 Estr.ace pills a day. Will taking Estr.ace delay things??

This could seriously mess up my whole calendar, the monitoring appointment I'm supposed to go to locally on Saturday, my travel plans. Argh.

So I ask you, Internetz: Anyone been on this estrogen priming protocol, and got AF on time, late, at all? I would love to hear any or all experiences.

UPDATED to add: Hey, wait a minute! It is only CD 26 for me. What are they thinking that I'll get AF today? Yeah, I did have a positive OPK on CD12, but still. That means ovulation on CD13-14. I'm a 28-29 day kind of girl. Sigh, did the nurse mess this up?

Cetr.otide is Poop.

Yeah, I'm not a fan. I get a huge welt at the injection site and it sort of burns/itches for like an hour after. It all fades away a few hours later, but still. Not fun.

And it is one of those powder-you-have-to-mix-yourself sort of med, and it seems like it takes forever to dissolve. And of course you can't shake it to speed it up, oh no, then you get air bubbles.

And it has to be refrigerated, which is just a small hassle, but given everything else, it has become a very heavy straw, and my back is bending.

Me no likey.

The Last Hurrah

What a weekend! A weekend that began on Thursday, for New Year's Eve. The party I hosted was a success, fun time had by all. 14 friends, lots of meatballs, and even more champers. I got to bed about 2:45am.

New Year's Day my brother and SIL hosted an open house, which was nice. I'll admit, I was feeling a tad fragile, so just lots of water for me. They made a Turducken, which was actually quite good. It seemed like mostly Tur, not much Duck, and seriously - no hen. But it was tasty and entertaining all at the same time!

Then to add insult to my self-inflicted injury, we had a girls' night on Saturday. Drinks, fancy dinner and more drinks. Lots of laughs. Again, I was in bed by about 2:30am. Yikes.

It was my last hurrah, as Sunday began the first of my medications for the new cycle. I began the Estr.ace pills Sunday. Not sure if I'm noticing any side effects yet, 3 pills in, but I slept great last night. But maybe that was multiple 2:30am nights too. I have to go do my first injection of the cycle here in a few minutes. Cetr.otide - another new med for me. Wish me luck.

I finalized all travel plans for the far away clinic - I can't believe I'm there next week. This protocol is fast! I'm so used to being on loopyron or BCPs for sort of the "cycle build-up" phase, and this protocol has none of that. Pills and shots right away, stims within a week of beginning the whole thing. Fast! I keep thinking I have another week, this doesn't start yet - but here it is!