Sunday, July 30, 2006

This Ship Is Approaching Land

Not sure where that analogy came from, but in short, things are actually working in this IVF cycle. Hopefully the island in sight is populated by fertile people and healthy infants and not the land of the childfree. But like anything else, I won't know where I am until I get there.

After two weeks of taking both ovulation suppression drug Lupron and follicle stimulation drug Gonal-F, and four different blood and ultrasounds over the past week, my ovaries have actually grown four follicles on each side that are considered the right size. The left one has follicles ranging from 14 to 20.5 mm, while the right has four ranging from 13-17 mm. The target number is "more than 18."

This means that tonight (yikes! In an hour, actually), I'm officially taking my trigger shot, which will tell the follicles it's time to give up some eggs. The Lupron and Gonal-F are over for this cycle.

It's odd to know that my body has actually done what it is supposed to. Oh sure, it took some pricey drugs, several early-morning visits to be ultrasounded downstairs, and months of doctor's visits. But like the diabetes, with a little outside pharmaceutical help and needles, things appear to be working correctly inside.

This means that on Tuesday at 7 am (and yes, I think I'm first because of my diabetes), I'm headed to the fertility clinic for the egg retrieval. They tell me that the follicles can continue to grow between tonight's trigger shot and Tuesday's retrieval, so I'm hoping things look good once I'm knocked out (because let me be clear; IVF is surgery and I'm getting anesthesia) and someone's scoping around inside to see how many eggs there will be. And please, please, let's pray things go well on Tuesday and there's something to retrieve and I handle the procedure beautifully.

Mr. Lyrehca and I have been doing assorted rounds of "Woo, Woo, Go Lupron" or "Woo, Woo, Go Gonie" for good luck. At this point, we're trying to be as positive as possible.

I know it's still way too early to know how anything might transpire. But I'm actually trying to feel cautiously hopeful.

And for whatever reason, my blood sugars have been just dandy.

Oh, Tuesday actually corresponds with yet another eye doc's appointment, but I'll be rescheduling. Retinopathy, schmetinopathy. This week's R condition is all about egg Retrieval and possible Reproduction.

10 comments:

Andrea said...

I am pulling for you with all my might! You'll be in my thoughts- please continue to keep us posted :)

Best of luck!

If not a mother... said...

sending all my thoughts this week!

Meg said...

Lyrecha - Hope the trigger went well and everything is moving alomg for retrieval. x

caren said...

all right, woo woo, go body go! I'll be thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way!!

Caren

BigP's Heather said...

Hope tomorrow goes smoothly - keep us updated!!

Anonymous said...

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Kerri. said...

I'm checking in with a loud and extremely hopeful "woo woo!"

Good luck. We're thinking of you.

Minnesota Nice said...

You go girl! Full speed ahead.
(My sugars have been "just dandy" too - must be some weird planetary configuration)

Penny Ratzlaff said...

Thinking of you. I hope everything went well this morning!!!

Major Bedhead said...

Oh, please don't make us wait until Sunday for an update! [ Roger Rabbit]P-p-p-p-p-puuuuhhhhhlease???? [ / Roger Rabbit]

Good luck and lots of woo-woos from the other end of the state, too.