So Far, So Good

I haven't written much about this FET cycle. Mostly that's just because of how busy life has been (see last post). But also maybe because I don't want to jinx anything? Today is Day 10 of the protocol they have me using, although it's a little confusing since technically I started one of the drugs (Lupron) on September 8, which was before Day 1 (which was September 17).

Basically, I started the Lupron while I was still on the pill for a few days. Then I was supposed to be just on the Lupron and then have baseline monitoring (bloodwork and ultrasound). On my original schedule, the baseline monitoring would have been Day 0 (September 16). However, I had been having some pretty heavy spotting while on the pill, which then got worse once the pill was phased out and I was continuing on just the Lupron. I was kind of worried the spotting would be an issue since it was almost full flow (but in a weird way - it would sort of ebb and flow each day, always tapering off to nothing overnight). Ultimately, they had me come in early for the baseline monitoring on Day -2 (September 14) just to make sure there wasn't anything strange going on. The u/s tech assured me that it was just my body having a semi-period and it wouldn't interfere with the actual cycle. So that was a relief.

On 9/17 I was cleared to officially start cycling for an FET date of 10/6. I'm currently still on Lupron (a lower dose than at first) as well as baby aspirin and oral estrace (I'm allergic to adhesives so no patch for me). As of today I'm up to 3 doses of estrace per day. My last dose of Lupron will be middle of next week, and then things get pretty complicated with the addition of 4 more drugs. Yikes! I had a monitoring appointment this past Wednesday and the tech said everything looked "perfect". My lining is thickening nicely and all my bloodwork came back fine. I have one more monitoring appointment this upcoming Wednesday and then I assume I'll get more details about the actual transfer day.

Some random thoughts/observations about doing an FET cycle so far:

• In some ways, it seems just as (if not more?) complicated as a fresh cycle. It's definitely longer (21+ days as opposed to 10-14 for a fresh) so maybe that's why...
• There are STILL lots of needles! For some reason I just assumed there would be fewer needles but apparently I was wrong. It still involves nightly stomach stabbing and pretty soon I get to start the PIO butt shots as well. Woohoo!
• The side effects aren't as bad... This could be just that I'm less attuned to them this time around? Maybe having been through pregnancy and postpartum hormone fluctuations it just isn't as noticeable? Maybe I was just hyper aware last time with my fresh cycle because I'd never been on any of those drugs before so I was analyzing every last symptom to the nth degree? Maybe the fact that I haven't just been through 6 months of Clomid cycles beforehand helps? Who knows. 
• I looked up a due date calculator specifically for FET cycles and based on the transfer date of 10/6, it told me I'm "currently 1 week pregnant". Ha! 

So there you have it. So far it's going well... I think?

September

Every year, September is our busy month. Like, REALLY busy. For starters, there's P's birthday on the first, which often coincides with Labor Day weekend. The weekend after Labor Day is the local fair and demolition derby, which we always attend with my in-laws. Somewhere in there (the 12th) is my MIL's birthday as well. The third weekend in September is our little town's annual weekend fall festival, which is basically a mini fair. And last but not least, our anniversary is the 27th and my FIL's birthday is the 28th.

This year we also had 2 weddings to attend the first part of the month. A friend of mine from college got married over Labor Day weekend, which involved me flying to Virginia. Then this past weekend my office-mate got married in Iowa; we were at least able to drive to this one, but had to rush home Sunday in order to get to the fair in time for the derby.

And as if that weren't enough already, this year September also includes 1) N starting preschool, 2) me starting my final class for my Master's degree, and 3) our first FET cycle. That's pretty much the definition of insanity. Oh, AND we're still trying to finish the bathroom remodel that began in June but has stretched on for nearly 3 months now. Have I mentioned that it's basically impossible to potty train when the only toilet in the house is in the basement?

As I was reading through my treatment schedule for the FET, I came across the following instructions:

"Avoiding stress can only improve your cycle. The treatment you will be under is stressful enough. Do not start any big projects at this time­ at work or at home. Now is the time to be kind to yourselves."

Oops. Well... there's not much I can do about the timing of all of this (other than if we decided to just postpone the FET all together) so instead I'll be doing whatever I can to minimize/manage the stress as it comes. Transfer day is exactly 3 weeks from today, so between now and then my hope is to 1) eat as much of a whole foods diet as I can while 2) still allowing myself the occasional frozen custard treat, 3) schedule a weekly acupuncture session, 4) schedule a weekly massage, 5) go for at least one 20 minute walk per day, 6) do the yoga and pilates workouts from my exercise DVDs 3-4 times per week, and 7) get back on a sleep schedule.

I don't know how realistic all of that is, and even just typing it out I already feel like it's too much. But I do think it's helpful to have pre-identified ways to manage the stress. And I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't do ALL of the above. At the same time, I'm going to have to actually set aside time each day do accomplish any of it. Many of these are things I should be doing anyway, it's just that for the next few weeks, I need to make them a priority so I can be in good shape (mentally, physically, emotionally) for this FET.


On that note, time to put away the electronic devices so I can start winding down for bed...