Showing posts with label Lupron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lupron. Show all posts

Sunday, October 17, 2010

My last days of "Normalcy"


I am closing in on the beginning of my fertility meds...I am looking at this week as my last week as a "normal" person (which could be debatable by some lol). I have to admit that the Hubby and I went out to eat Saturday and I enjoyed a frozen margarita because I knew it might be last for a loooong while! I have lost 11 pounds and I am still hoping to lose 10 more before I leave in 21 days. This week will be quite busy- Monday is the Fall Party at the kids' school and I have, of course, volunteered to decorate, read stories and clean up so my entire day will be packed. Tuesday I plan to get ready for a garage sale we are having at my sisters house Thursday and Friday, Wednesday I am working at the church and Thursday and Friday I am working the garage sale. So this week of having normal hormone levels will fly by, which is good thing since the Hubby will be gone again this week (thankfully his last week to work out of town).

I plan to enjoy my time with the kiddos as much as I can...I am already dreading leaving them for 11 days but I know they will be fine with their dad and having a baby is what we ALL want so we are all okay with it! I have forewarned them about the medications (see the picture- my son's reaction to the large amounts of meds is priceless) and they have promised to help me all they can and be on their best behavior throughout this process. I have such amazing kids they really are THE BEST just like My Hubby! I love love love them!

Friday I start Lupron, which is the hormone they give to women who are going into menopause. I also start a steroid called dexamethasone. I think my diet and exercise will help curve the negative side effects of both of these medications. I am a little apprehensive because my Hubby will be out of town working Friday so I will be giving myself my FIRST Lupron injection in the tummy! I am trying to get my mind right all week so I don't chicken out and have to ask for help! This is our journey and I really do not want to impose on family or friends especially while packing a syringe! SO please be praying for me Friday morning as I give myself this shot...I plan to put on my big girl panties and JUST DO IT!!!!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Needles, Injections, Hormones, Stimulation, Viagra, Vaginal Suppositories? Yikes!

Just giving a little personal humor and delight to my never ending list of my IVF Meds! I mean who can say they have taken Viagra vaginally? I will be sure to check that off my bucket list...be jealous my friends as I embark on the hormonally roller coaster ride of hormone and stimulation meds! I will go ahead and warn all my friends and family that I cannot be held accountable for anything I say or do in this time period! If someone tries to commit me or arrest me I will be sure to give them the link to blog so they will understand...I am just overstimulated and super hormoned up!

Dexamethasone 0.75 mg Tablet or Prednisone 10 mg

A lovely STEROID tablet (Gotta love Steroids). This little pill is going to help fight off inflammation or my body's need to fight off the embryo thinking it is a foreign invader of my body!

  • Potential side effects are insomnia, increase in appetite and bloating. (these 3 together sound a little scary!)

Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate)

This is wonderful drug suppresses my "Pituitary Hormones" What are these you might ask? Stuff like the adrenal and thyroid. Even though my Ovaries are connected to the pituitary hormones my Ovaries will NOT be suppressed...Whew! Relief! This is another lovely stomach shot- yay me! We get to use "insulin syringes"

  • The most common side effect is hot flashes, this will be relieved by the start of your hormone medication (i.e., E2V or Gonal-F or Follistim (Hot Flashes sound like I'm going to get a preview into menopause- good practice I shall never forget!)

E2V = Estradiol Valerate = Delestrogen

Basically a shot in the "buttocks" that gets my Stimulators primed and ready for Stimulation. Women who have had a hysterectomy take this for hormone supplements. I am going to venture to say that this medication is ONE of the meds that will probably make me feel like hormonal crazy mess! When I Googled It the med is described a Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Folic Acid 1mg tablet

This is one medication that I actually knew the functionality and have taken before as all pregnant women or trying to conceive women should! It prevents Spina Bifida.

SDF (Viagra) Suppositories (Let's Get the Party Started)

  • Given to increase blood flow to endometrial lining
  • Take vaginally 4 times daily (Really?!?!)
  • No side effects, except possible vaginal irritation from so many suppositories. (No side effects? Irritation in the HooHaw is a big side effect in my opinion).

Terbutaline 5 mg Tablets

  • Given to relax the uterine muscle which will allow more blood flow through the uterine vessels
  • Starts with SDF suppositories. (I had to look this up- this is a suppository that goes in your HooHaw- I was hoping I was done with this part at the Viagra- guess not!)
  • One tablet three times a day
  • You will experience the side effects of nervousness, shakiness and a racing heart! If your heart rate is over 120 beats per minute, please skip a dose
  • Your body will adjust to the Terbutaline in 2-5 days and you will no longer experience the side effects
I don't think I need to anything to this med- it pretty much says it all in the outline above! Sounds like this one is going to be LOTS of FUN!

Gonal F / Follistim

From what I have read this is the BIG DADDY in the stimulation meds. This is the medication that kicks your follices into overdrive and helps your woman business produce LOTS of EGGS! Yay for Eggs- we love Eggs!

Luveris

So what is exactly is a "pure Lutenizing Hormone"? Well I Googled It (imagine that). Here's what I got: A hormone used to support Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) therapy.

It is always taken with Gonal F. So basically it is a booster for stimulation! Got it!
Don't forget the Important Warning: Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you experience severe pain or bloating in the stomach or pelvic area, severe upset stomach, vomiting and / or weight gain.

Progesterone in oil

This syringe and gauge process is enough to make my head spin! Use the 1 1/2 " this or that and 3ccs of this or that...I am confused- are you?

Injections sites

Intramuscular injection sites- this looks painful...all I'm saying!

Subcutaneous Injection Site (use upper thigh or lower abdomen)- never had a shot in the abs before this should be interesting since mine are obviously covered by layers of stretched marked skin! This should be fun!

So my fellow readers- what do you think of all this, as I like to call craziness, JICK JACK? It's amazing what medications can do to our body and how doctor can manipulate my entire reproductive system to make a baby! I feel like a science experiment! But a good one!