Puppy Crisis Averted

at least for now. I still want one - really really want one - but I have myself talked out of it for the time being.

Just a quick update style post:

• I get my LAST Lupron injection today! WOO-FREAKIN-HOO!!!! And thank the Lord, because our new insurance wasn't going to cover it the same way (if at all). The amazing staff at Dr. N's office happened upon a sample from a drug rep, and its MINE ALL MINE! 4 weeks from today, I will be OFF THE MED! (I think... I suppose I'll have to wait & see how it all works its way out of my system.) November will usher in some good ol' fashion TTC in our house (possibly accompanied by either BBT charting or OPKs, but nothing more involved than that).
• Grumps has had bunches of side work come in, so we're doing remarkably well financially. Not high on the hog by any stretch of the imagination - but things are flowing in a way that has allowed us to leave our savings in tact, and to even continue making some progress on the BIG UGLY DEBT.
• Dad is still in rehab. He asked Sis1 yesterday to take him to his apartment, and then got mad when she wouldn't. She & I discussed the possibility of taking him there for a while this weekend, but the more I think about it, the less comfortable I am with it. There are a whole lot of unknowns in a situation like that, and they all scare the holy bejeebus outta me.

And, to close with my Perfect Moment of last week:

Grumps had a former co-worker stop by Sunday morning (to pick up the car repair FROM HELL). Because of this, we were delayed for our normal Sunday breakfast date with friends, so I brewed a pot of coffee. I poured Grumps a travel mug full & took it out for him (like I do quite often), but this morning, his eyes LIT UP, and he said "Thank You SO MUCH Honey! I love you!".

Made me all warm & fuzzy!

Google-icious

ok, I've FINALLY gotten enough weird google searches to do a post on them. How these people find ME from these search terms, I have NO idea!

"Are dooce and beth still friends?"

• Best I can figure, this one got to me because I also read Dooce. Must have tripped in my google reader feed over there on the sidebar. But to answer your question, umm... no?

"meijer juice idle"

• I have no idea what you were even attempting to find with this one. Worse, I can't figure out how it got you to me. My sincere apologies.

"i was born on tuesday - does that mean that i am wednesday's child?"

• Niobe had this same search term in her stats. Her post on the strangeness of it got some pretty interesting comments, if you care to take a look.

"eighteen weeks pregnant ivf blog"

• I have absolutely no idea why Google sent you to me. I'm not now, nor have ever been 18 weeks pregnant. And I'm also not now, nor have ever been, undergoing ivf treatment. Clearly a waste of your time... shameful google!

many, MANY search terms related to lupron, so let me lump them all together here:

• "ivf lupron depot and nursing", I'm sorry, but I can only speak to 1 of those 3 search terms. Perhaps you should keep looking.
• "lupron depot blog", yeah, I suppose I can fall into this category. If you have any specific questions, please, ask them!
• "real people who have had the lupron depot 11.25 only one shot", sorry, but I'm only on the 3.75 dose. Keep searching!
• "lupron and panic attacks" and "lupron and panic disorder", yes, and yes. I will say that after the first couple of weeks (or maybe even once I started the estrogen add back?) the panic subsided considerably. Clearly, you're having some trouble with it, so I suggest you talk to your doctor. I'm sorry that you're having a tough time.
• "does lupron depot make you infertile?", yes, but only while you're taking it.
• "lupron depot hip pain", I'm sorry that your injection site is bothering you. I haven't experienced any problems like this, but I would recommend icing the site for a while to see if that helps. If you're still having pain the day after the injection, then I think you should talk to your doc.

Some recipes seem to pop up in the searches on a regular basis, so let me just link to them for you here:

• Jiffy Corn Souffle
• Linda's Taco Salad
• DaMamma's Pineapple Cake

And the "WTF Award" goes to: "eliminate pit stains"

• bathe
• and buy deodorant

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

Michigan rain storms, followed by the cool relief of a cold front, ushered in with a lovely springtime breeze. Doesn't get much better than that!

Unless, of course, the lovely weather is coupled with the approval from Dr. N to begin estrogen add-back therapy! (Hip-Hip-HooRAY! for Estrogen!!!!)

The hot flashes aren't completely gone yet, but definitely reduced. I never did a daily count, but I'd estimate I was up to more than 20 a day, and at least a third of them had me breaking out in an honest-to-goodness sweat. Since starting the Estrogen yesterday, I am pretty sure I've had less than a dozen power surges. And of those, only 2 or 3 have left me having to wipe my brow.

Estrogen, you're my HERO!

Holy Pit-Stains Batman

I know, not all delicate & feminine. Have we met?

The only Lupron side effect I'm left with at this point is the hot flashes. I'm glad the rest has gone, but MY GAWD, I believe these freakin' things have gotten worse!

I'm actually breaking out in a sweat, at least a dozen times a day. And sweating isn't exactly my favorite passtime... unless it's achieved during, shall we say - adult - activities.

4 more days and I can start my estrogen... just 4 more days!

Lupron: 3 Weeks In

Today marks 3 weeks since my first shot. I have to go for #2 next Monday. I thought this would be a handy-dandy little time to take a peek at my experience... again.

- I am still having hot flashes. I'd say I average less than 10 in a "day" (24 hour period), but they are definitely more frequent during the night. In fact, the worst is when I'm laying in bed, waiting to fall asleep. Most nights, I'll have 3 or 4 within a half hour. They generally only last a minute or 2, and are certainly tolerable. Just not delightful.

- The headaches are still there, but nothing horrible. It's almost like this constant, dull, achiness, rather than a "pounding" or "splitting" headache. Again, tolerable, but not delightful.

- The mood swings are also still there, but definitely seem to be levelling off. I feel more peaceful, less "wound too tight". Perhaps it's the summer, or the weekends away, or maybe just that I've somehow adjusted. But I'd be thrilled to not have to deal with those ridiculous panic attacks again.

- I seem to have a bit more energy these days. I'm falling asleep easier at night (after the hot flash routine), and getting up easier in the mornings. Sleep is gooooooooooooooooooood.

- The spotting has stopped again. Since starting this cycle, I've had 4 days of AF (short, but seemingly full flow), then 5 days without, then 1 day of spotting, 3 days of heavy spotting or light flow, then 4 more days of spotting, and the last 5 with nothing. 23 days into the cycle, and I've bled (in some form) for 12 of them. I think that's enough, no?

- I have completely lost my sex drive, which, sadly, I'm ok with. I'm so freakin dry that a simple TP use hurts - like sandpaper. And that's more graphic than anyone probably wanted or needed to know.

As a possibly related aside, The GrumpyOne & I are trying some magnetic therapy that was recommended by our chiropractor. He has a necklace and I have a bracelet, both made by TRION:Z. I can't honestly tell you if the magnets are really helping, or if it's all just the power of suggestion, but we have both commented on feeling better - in an overall, general way - since we got them. They can't hurt, right?

Lurpon Side Effects Inventory

• hot flashes? check
• headaches? check
• "changes in mood"? definite check
• vag dryness - not yet
• decreased libido? check

Other interesting observations:

• my anxiety is THRU THE FREAKIN ROOF!
• I have some pretty nasty mid-cycle spotting.... almost a period, but not quite
• I am tired, ALL the TIME
• my sleep patterns are off. I'm having trouble getting to sleep at night, but I CANNOT get out of bed in the mornings. I've been late to work every day this week.

Of the above "interesting observations", none are listed as official "common side effects". BUT, I have seen lots of commentary similar on the web, via message boards, blogs, etc.

And just think, only 22 more weeks..... *bangs head against wall*

Home!

We made it safely home last night around 9pm. We opted NOT to take the cat this time, as Grumps thought he may be doing some work on the camper while we were up north, and all of the in & out while watching that a cat didn't escape.... well, just not worth it. We plan on going up again in a couple of weeks, and are considering bringing him then.

Nothing to report on the IF/TTC/Lupron fun, other than condom sex SUCKS. Nuff said!

Yawn!

I am so TIRED this week! Anyone know if that's a Lupron side effect? I haven't seen it listed as an official s/e, but a girl can try... right?

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Grumps & I are headed out of town this weekend! We're taking the camper on it's first real camping trip (I define a trip based on leaving the house, going somewhere, and returning to the house) to our friends' farm about 140 miles north of here! We're also taking the cat on his first camping trip. His first trip anywhere, actually. (And let me say that I'm not nearly as enthusiastic about that idea, but we're going to give it a shot.)

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We leave tomorrow morning, and plan to be home early evening on Monday. Unfortunately, this means that I'll miss the start of NaComLeavMo but I will catch up within the first day or 2 that we're home.

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This week has been a whirlwind of camper repairs, truck repairs (Grumpy's got this thing about having fully functioning brakes while towing an extra 6,000 lbs behind the truck. Go figure!), cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc etc etc. All of the general insanity that takes place before a vacation. Fortunately, I'm down to cooking (I'm taking this and this for dinner one night (yum!) and THE BEST BROWNIES EVER as our dish to pass at the bbq our friends are hosting), packing the camper (but at least the laundry and grocery shopping are done), and getting the puppy ready and delivered to her doggy-sitting Auntie.

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Nothing new to report with the Lupron (other than being tired). Haven't had any pain, no more hot flashes... all seems to be going well. Knock on wood.

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Please think SAFE TRIP thoughts for us this weekend. I'm a lil nervous, so I'm hoping things go smoothly!

And the first shot...

was no big deal. Nurse was great, barely felt the needle, and - to borrow Nancy's terminology, my hips/ass must be "like butter", because it went in really smoothly. I'm a little sore now, and the hot flashes have already begun. The only other noticeable s/e is that I feel like I have medicine head... general fogginess. Not sure if that effect is intensified because I am so close to surgery or not (and let's face it, it's a possibility - I was under for 3.5 hours... I'm sure it takes a bit longer than 31 days to get all of that anesthesia out of my system!).

I go back in for shot #2 (which will be in my left hip, since this one went into the right hip) on June 16 (and every 4 weeks thereafter, for either 4 or 6 shots, total), and I should get the Rx for the estrogen add back therapy. Next appointment with the doc is on July 8. I need to remember to talk to him about how to determine whether it's 4 or 6 months of Lupron treatment, how long once I'm off the med before we can start ttc again, and whether we're going to go "au naturale" for a while, or if we can jump right into Clomid (I think I might prefer that, just to be safe).


And to answer Nancy's question from my last post, I'm on a full birth control strength of Lupron (I think it's 3.75 mg every 4 weeks). I know that's a larger dose then given for IVF protocol, so I'm guessing that's why it's given IM vs SQ.


Holy crap, look at all that med talk, and abbreviation crap! I'm starting to feel like a real IFer now, instead of some groupie just tagging along for the ride. That really shouldn't excite me as much as it does...

Yay for 30 Days!

My first post-surgery cycle was a NORMAL length - 30 days! Sooooo freaking fantabulasticly exciting! (Sad, I know... but I gotta take it where I can get it!)

Have a call in to the Dr to get in for my first Lupron injection. Has to be today or tomorrow. Have the shot with me, and let me just say that freakin' IM needle scares the bejeezus outta me!

Will def update with details on the injection, and any s/e that I have. I want to have a record of that stuff.