The Protocol

It's called the "BCP Ganirelix Gonadotrophins Protocol".  And I still really don't know what it means...

• 15 days of BCP - done
• 5 days of nothing  - done
• 300IU of Gonal-F started today for 4 days
• 10 units of Novarel Microdose (HCG) started today for the next four days
• Doxycycline (antibiotic) started today for 14 days

Friday morning I go in for more labs/ultrasound and will get further instructions from there.  I've got far more drugs in my kitchen than I know what to do with.

Starting Point

Wouldn't you know I started bleeding this morning... AF I guess.  She's early (only CD22) but I expect the starting of BCP and stopping it 15 days later messes with my cycle.  Dr. T wasn't phased that AF was arriving so I guess all is okay.  

I had 6 follicles on each ovary less than 8mm.  I think 12 follies is a good starting point (before BCP I only had 7 total).

The First of the IVF Shots

After a bad day in the office today I got home around 6:30 and realized I didn't know how to take my HCG.  It's not a prefilled syringe like every other self-injection I've done to date.  I didn't know which type of syringe to use (because I have two different types of empty syringes and an extra set of big-ass needles).  How do I get the medicine into the syringe?  Was it supposed to be a muscle or fat injection?

When I googled how to inject the Novarel there was nothing on the microdose I was taking... all instructions were related to mixing a concentrated vial with saline (or something).  I panicked.  

I called my neighbor for guidance (an ER doctor) but couldn't get her on the phone. Finally I called the pharmacy that sent me the drugs and at that point I was choking back tears explaining my dilemma... immediately I was put on with a pharmacist who had me laughing and relaxed within 30 seconds.  The microdose is already mixed, use the small insulin syringe, draw my dose, insert in fleshy abdomen.  It's as simple as that. Crisis averted.  

Telling the Boss

As for telling work about being out...  we've got all kinds of resource issues that have just hit the fan and so I'm taking on yet even more - when I'm already well over capacity.  I was IMing with my boss about the resource chaos late today and went ahead and slipped in "probably not the best time to bring this up... but I have to have outpatient surgery in early December - it will cost me 2 - 3 days".  She said "we'll deal"... and that was that.  

Day 4 - Cycle 5... Injectables

I've not been sulking all week, it's been busy... I couldn't make time for blogging.  

Today is Day 4 of my 5th cycle.  I decided not to wait until next month to move to injectables (when my good insurance kicks in), rather I'll be changing things up this cycle.

The plan:

• Femara (pills) Day 3 - 7
• Gonal-F (injection) Day 8, 9, 10, 11
• Bloodwork/ultrasound Day 12
• Ovadrel Trigger - probably Day 12 or 13
• 2 IUI's (new bank & donor)

I have to travel for work this week - which means I have to travel with the Gonal-F pen.  I remember Paige went through this over the summer and had no problem at airport security.  I'm counting on that also - but do have a doctors note, just in case.   

I'm not excited about self-injecting 5 times this cycle...  but we must do what we must do!

On another note... my favorite nurse, S, was explaining the medication to me and said something about not having to pay for the Gonal-F...  I told her that in fact, I paid $200 for the Gonal F (plus all of the other drugs and the Progesterone suppositories - my total was $608).  She said she'd call the pharmacy... when my prescriptions arrived the next day - my credit card was only charged $348.  S saved me $260!!  I don't know what she did... but I'm sending her a thank you note!!

I'm praying the new protocol works... but I'm also coming to grips that moving to IVF may be a reality.