A good day

Today's been a good day. 

I woke at 8am and Ric put in my pessary for me. How have I got to 36 years of age and never had to do this!?! 

I lay in bed while it settled and just read my book! 

Decided to head to the gym to see the girls who'd be having a brew after Balance. I felt bad lying to them all about my "bad knee" but I'm sure they'd understand! 

It was a bizzare feeling being in my gym leggings and Nike top! Two weeks without attending classes just feels strange! 

Anyway, after a quick catch up, I came home for a brew and Lucy arrived at 2pm  to go for a walk. We went down the quarry - and got lost, but found our way out eventually. 

We headed back to mine and continued to chat more. It was great to have her visit as it completely took my mind off tomorrow - and she gave me a lovely hug and wished me luck for tomorrow! 

We ate tea and watched XFactor and made sure we read all the instructions for tomorrow! I feel less nervous now ... and slightly excited. 

Just realised at 11pm that I can't eat or drink anything until after the procedure!!! Oh heck! I'll be ravenous once it's over with. At least it's the first one of the morning.

We've both set our alarms as I need to get up and shower before we leave (and remember NO PRODUCTS after the shower!!! 

Ric has also just sent me this picture: 

Final injections

Friday morning - we visited Shrewsbury for (hopefully) our final scan.
We arrived as normal, went for bloods which took ages as they were being really slow. We then got scanned by a scanner this time who told us nothing while she was doing the scan. Last time, we had Claire who talked us through the scan which put us more at ease!
We then had to wait again for what seemed like a lifetime. Then Claire called us in......and advised that the scan was fine, drugs have done their job .... and we're all set to go for egg collection on Monday morning !!!
She went through what we need to do with the drugs to take etc, and what we need to do in preparation for the collection on Monday. Lots to take in !!!
As we left the unit, I filled up with emotion. Each day has felt like a hurdle that we are so lucky to get over. Now, we've jumped another hurdle and we're on to the big hurdle of collection.
I won't lie - I'm scared stiff. The sedation, the procedure, the prep ( pessaries ) !!! But it's all part of the process.

So, I went back to work after the scan. I felt bad staying off another day as I was feeling better than the day before. My Manager did mention how tired I looked though - and at that point, the tiredness hit me. I cleared up a few things - as I knew I wouldn't be in on Monday .... but my colleagues are not aware of this as I have kept my treatment between myself and my manager.

I popped to the Supermarket to stock up on goodies for the weekend - and post collection, and headed home for a relaxing night with Ric .... and the final menopur injections. It feels like the end of an era. Less than two weeks ago, I lay in the bath, crying my eye out as I was scared to inject for the first time....and here I am thinking how much I am going to miss it.
Ric got to work with his mixing role ..... I have not mixed a single injection. He has taken over the role and made sure each needle was ready with no air bubbles etc.

So, that's that. 

We then moved on to the morning injection .... and at 7am on a Saturday morning, we didn't bother with pictures. It was mixed by Ric and I injected in to my tummy....and we went back to bed. Not that I could sleep much. I tossed and turned and lay in bed reading my Kindle. 

Considering I've taken time off from exercise and classes, I still don't seem to have had lots of time on my hands. But I did enjoy being able to just lie back and read this morning. 

We then got up and had some breakfast then got ready to head to Erddig National Trust. We've become members for this year and we're making the most of our membership. So we decided to pop to the Apple Festival to see what was on - and purely to enjoy a stroll around the estate and the gardens. It was lovely just to spend quality time together.

I also should add that last night Friday 2nd October, we had tickets to see Lifehouse  in Manchester. There was no way we could have gone to the gig as I had to do my injections, so I offered them to my friend Michelle ( who happened to be with me the night that I met Richard ).
'Our song' is Everything by Lifehouse .... and it seems more appropriate than ever right now. This journey has been one hell of an emotional rollercoaster - and I just could not and would not have been able to do it without Ric by my side <3 xx

Saturday night is now upon us, and we've had to turn down a night out with the running gang - but our friends have been great and understanding why we can't join them. 

So, instead it was pizza and lemonade watching TV after taking the final injection. This one was Pregnyl. I was advised that it must be taken at 20:00 as it has to be timed to fit in with the egg collection which will take place at 8:00am on Monday morning. 

The drug has been in the fridge for weeks - so I expected it to hurt when it went in, but it was no different to the other injections. Was an emotional moment once I finished. After each injection, we've hugged each other and gave each other a kiss. Tonight, we did the same but it did get a bit emotional. 

Time to move on to the joys of pessaries and see what Monday holds now !!! 

Sick day

So, I woke up about 3am with stomach cramps and an upset tummy. Then I was wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep for ages.
I managed to nod off and woke at 6.45am for my morning injection - feeling totally crap.

I made the decision to stay off work. Five years without a day off sick. But I figured my body has been through a lot these last couple of weeks .... and it's telling me to take it easy. So, after my injection I headed straight back upstairs to bed - and I stayed there until 10:30am. Just what I needed.

I've spent the rest of the day on the sofa watching movies and googling IVF. I know I shouldn't but I just can't help it.

We went for a further scan yesterday and my follicles were measured. They're progressing nicely but need to be 18mm for collection. Hopefully, by Friday they'll be ready for us to arrange collection next week. If not, we'll have to go back for another scan on Monday and arrange for Weds. It's all getting really real now and I am starting to panic about the retrieval and the transfer. I don't know which I find more scary. The retrieval will be under sedation but will be painful afterwards from what I'm told. And the collection is not under sedation, but I need a full bladder .... and going for a smear is always a trauma so I'm dreading the preparation for the transfer. But it's all part of the journey we're on. And I'm not alone. Ric will be with me like he has been for all my appointments so far.

Then we just have the dreaded two week wait.

But for now, I'm taking each day as it comes.

Today's picture is a quote that I've just heard on The Fault In Our Stars:

First hurdle

So we went to Shrewsbury today for the first scan since I started to inject the drugs. 

It was only at the weekend that it dawned on me that they may not be working - and the treatment may have to stop! 

But thankfully, the scan showed that everything was fine. The drugs are doing their job nicely. Phew. 

Then tonight, I got home and made some  scones. This being at home lark is great - especially as I was headache free this evening. We had a cuppa and a home made scone, warm out of the oven - delicious :) 

Just as I was about to go for a soak, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Helen Platt standing there with abunch of flowers, a card and two of my favourite cupcakes from Tesco for me and Ric. It was something so simple but it really made my day. I'm glad that I've confided in several close friends who can be there for support. It means the world. 

Increased injections

So, we're on to day six ... and I now have a morning injection as well as evening ones for the next nine days. 

We decided on 7am as it's feasible to do it before heading out to work. So the alarm was set for a 6:45 wake up call !!! 

Headed down in a sleep state, and Ric took charge of the mixing :) 

I followed the instructions and put the needle in my tummy! It was not as scary as I thought it was gonna be. 

We headed back upstairs in the hope of going back to sleep! Managed a half hour sleep and got up and made breakfast. 

Had to visit Mum's grave with some flowers for her birthday and we went for a walk around Alyn Waters Country Park. I've felt tired all week - but I'm also missing my exercise regime so gettingout in the fresh air for a stroll was great. Quality time with Ric was great too. 

Then home for a lazy afternoon of watching TV and a visit from my friend Helen to check up on how I was doinv. 

Apart from the headaches and an upset tummy, the treatment has been okay so far. Just need to get past the checkup scan tomorrow. Hope that the drugs are doing their job!!! 

And we're off

So, we're on the IVF rollercoaster. 

We attended Shrewsbury on Tuesday morning for a baseline scan (which they were pleased with) and then we had a chat with the nurse about preparing the injections! That's when it all became real. We headed off to call for a blood test on the way out. 

No call from the clinic - so all okay to proceed with injections. 

We decided on 9pm as our injecting time. I had a stonking headache and Ric was watching the Birmingham v Villa game! So I headed off upstairsto have a bath - and cried! The nerves were real now and I was so scared! Ric came up and gave me a hug and we headed downstairs to prepare. 

Ric was great and took charge. He'd already laid out the ampoules and needles etc. He sat down and started mixing the syringes! Oh yeah - because of the dosage, I need to take two injections !!! 

I took a deep breath and plunged the needle in to my leg! I didn't feel a thing! It hurt more putting the fluid in. One down, one to go!

Once both injections were in, I hugged Ric, had a cry and then we made a brew and enjoyed a cupcake ( I had to have some reward for injecting )! 

The following day hasn't been too bad really. I slept fine and felt a biz woozy in the morning - and had upset tummy. But by the afternoon I had a raging headache! I even went for a walk in the pouring rain, just to try and clear my head. I came back, had a lovely chat with my Sister-In-Law and then showered before tea ... and injection number two. 

And so, the time has come

After a long hard slog of trying to conceive combined with trying to lose several stone in weight, we are now 48 hours away from starting our treatment. 

The drugs were delivered weeks ago, our appointment is set for Tuesday morning for the baseline scan and I will be taking my first injection in around 48 hours! 

To say that I'm scared is an understatement. So many emotions, so many fears .... I won't go through them all - but I've certainly experienced them. 

I've finished my gym classes for the time being to allow my body to rest. Only those closest to me know what is about to commence.

We both have work on Monday then we have both taken the whole day off on Tuesday. I have a blood test first thing followed by a baseline scan then an appointment with the nurses to talk us through the injections - then it's up to us !!!!