Rookie lab tech

May 29th, 2012- off to the lab for my second blood draw. This time, the lab tech struggles to find a good vein. I curse myself for not getting up early enough and pounding water. Finally he finds one and I look over to see it is pretty much on the top of my arm. Yuck. I'm not one to like having my blood drawn and don't typically watch but it felt so strange to have him stick me on the top of my arm. I call into the PIL and find out that my estradiol is 138 which is great and am given instructions to start the third injectible medicine, Menopur (1 vial) tonight in addition to the leuprolide and follistim shots. That's two in my stomach and one in my thigh. Doesn't this just sound like a blast?! We all assume the position, Deb at the helm, preparing the three shots and me resting on the bed with Addie holding my hand. I've gotten used to the sting of the leuprolide and follistim but the menopur REALLY stings. Youch.  Trying to figure out where to place the shots on my stomach is also a bit of a challenge. Going clockwise, we try to disperse them so we avoid hitting a tender spot from the previous day. Thankfully, I have lovely little blueberry size bruises serving as little markers. Two more days of the leuprolide, follistim, and menopur and then back to the lab for another blood draw on May 31st, 2012.
It's amazing what women will put themselves through. I also know that we are just scratching the surface with these meds and should probably start doing all kinds of sweet things for Deb to pay it forward for the emotional wreck I'll likely be as this process continues. If you can picture how emotional we women can be around that lovely time period each month and then amplify that by 100, you can get a picture of the effect of fertility meds on women's emotions. How this plays out on my body, well as I type this, I can feel the tap of the keys in my ovaries as they have begun to swell. Talking to other women about their experience with IVF, I am frequently told that they were extremely aware of their ovaries. Hopefully they will swell with plump and juicy follicles that hold the possibility of new life and a successful end to this journey.