It's like Christmas!

Who knew receiving a box of medication could be so exciting?!

I came home Thursday evening to a very large box...

 And inside the box was another box!  As well as all sorts of fun medications and medical supplies (and by fun, I mean not so much)!  The smaller box contained a cooler with a couple of medications that require refrigeration.  Here's a better view of all the meds:

As well as the medical supplies:

Yep, those are syringes.  And lots of them.  Just call me a human pin cushion!!  Oh wait, people already call me that...  Hey, fun fact:  People who have lots of tattoos and piercings don't necessarily enjoy bloodwork and/or vaccines.  It's apparently a pretty big misconception.  In fact, they (ie: me) may actually strongly dislike them.

But I digress...

So all of these medications do something different.  Join me in discovering what each of them do!

Menopur and Follistim - Equal parts of each are injected together subcutaneously (just below the skin).  Follistim is to stimulate the follicle growth in the ovaries, while Menopur is used to trick my ovaries into producing multiple eggs in one cycle.  Side effects may include a higher chance of multiple birth; breast tenderness and swelling (just what I need, bigger boobs...); rash at the injection site; mood swings, fatigue and depression (because I don't already have enough of those things in my life); Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome, including enlarged ovaries, stomach pain and bloating.

Cetrotide - Injected subcutaneously to help prevent premature ovulation .  Side effects may include tenderness, rash or swelling at the injection site (I'm going to be a tender, swollen, rashy mess apparently); headaches; nausea (preparing me for morning sickness...)

Leuprolide - Also injected subcutaneously, used to prevent the normal mid-cycle hormone surge (in laymen's terms - ovulation) so that premature ovulation doesn't occur.  Side effects may include hot flashes (I already get these...goody...); headache; mood swings; vaginal dryness; decreased breast size (wait, wasn't I getting bigger boobs before? Now they're being taken away?!); painful intercourse (probably has something to do with that vaginal dryness... Sorry, L. - looks like you're outta luck this month...)

Estrace (Estradiol) - Basically estrogen.  Used to enhance the uterine lining and make the ovaries more responsive to this whole process.  It's in pill form (yay!), but is a vaginal suppository (uhhh....).  As for side effects, breast tenderness; mild nausea; bloating; vaginal itching or discharge (oh joy...)

Endometrin (tablets) and Progesterone in Oil (injected) - Used to support the endometrial lining.  No different side effects than some of the others: breast tenderness; menstrual-like cramping; nausea; mood swings and depression.

Doxycycline - An antibiotic.  Pretty self-explanatory.

Sounds like enough meds??

L. was sitting with me as I was unboxing everything, and by the time I got to the end of it, he was suddenly very quiet (anyone who knows him knows that this is not like him...at all...).  Whenever he is quiet, something is up.  He finally admitted to me that actually seeing all of it made it very "real" - the sudden realization that this is actually happening.  And he's right.  It's a lot to take in; it's scary, and exciting, and sometimes almost surreal.  But if I have to go through this with anyone, it's definitely with him  (I think I'd have some explaining to do otherwise...).  

Since receiving the medication last Thursday, I've spent the last week waiting for my period to rear her ugly head (I could feel it coming).  Aunt Flo showed up today, and so begins our first IVF cycle!  I have an appointment tomorrow morning at CNY for the routine baseline bloodwork and ultrasound, as well as learning even more about my medication and what we need to do when.  As I text (texted?) to Lloyd this morning - "Hang on tightly, we're in for a hell of a ride!"

Happy reading!