First Appointment

Today's appointment went really well. I have the all clear to start meds tomorrow. There were no cysts in my ovaries and my hormone levels were fine. As always, the nurse had a hard time getting my blood. I don't know why my veins have to be so difficult. I left with three Band-Aids. I've decided that it hurts worse to take off the Band-Aids than to get the blood drawn.

I had my list of questions memorized today so I could slide them in casually while she was doing my monitoring. By asking my unofficial questions, I found out that there is a big packet of information that I never got. Since I skipped some initial steps that weren't needed because I had already had 2 IUI cycles, they didn't realize I hadn't had an appointment were I would have received it. I'm anxious to read it tonight.

The nurse reminded me to take one step at a time. Until my next appointment on Wednesday, all I have to do is take one shot a day. The shot is a hormone called Gonal-F. It makes my follicles grow larger in size and number. Each follicle houses an egg until it gets released during ovulation. During a normal cycle, only one follicles will produce a mature egg. So, in order to get lots of eggs out of one cycle, they have to give the follicles a little boost. They should be around a 12mm by next Wednesday. They are mature when they reach 16-18mm.

I don't know how many days it will take, but the nurse said I will start feeling really bloated and uncomfortable because of all the extra action in there. Its the same medicine I took before with the IUI's, just a lot more of it. At least when I feel yucky, I will know that it means the meds are working.