All the MEDS....

So my medications arrived today from California, and let me tell you just how overwhelming it was unboxing all of this. Thank goodness I don't start them all at once. It is kind of a gradual increase of meds as we get closer to the transfer date. So what are all the medications I will be taking to prepare for the FET (frozen embryo transfer)?

I will run down what my cycle looks like.

Prenatal Vitamins and Vitamin D

I have been taking these since we signed our legal contracts and will continue throughout the pregnancy. They are just over the counter, whatever brands were on sale. My Vitamin D levels were pretty low when I got my initial blood work so they recommended starting a supplement until advised otherwise. I found some prenatal gummy vitamins at Kroger that taste pretty good. With my daughter I remember puking up my vitamins on a regular, so these are a great alternative.

FAAB/ Folgard

This one is a multivitamin containing folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. This was a prescription and it came today. They advised me to start it as soon as I got it. So I took one, and within about 30 minutes felt sick to my stomach. I will be playing with what time of day is best to take it and have the least side effects. Any suggestions are welcome throw them in the box on the contact page!

Lupron ( Leuprolide acetate)

This is an injection given subcutaneously with an insulin needle. It is a synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. It temporarily shuts down the ovaries to prevent premature ovulation, giving the fertility specialist complete control over my cycle. This one I'm a little nervous about, it's a daily injection given between 6pm-8pm for about 3 weeks or so.

"But you're a nurse!"

Yes, I'm a nurse, that means I am good at giving shots to others...not myself. And although I have a fairly high pain tolerance, it's more of a mental thing anticipating the poke. I can have someone else do it all day long with out a flinch, but unfortunately my boyfriend will be on an island running our business more days than not, and I only work 2 days a week to recruit my co workers, so do the math....that's a lot of days I'm gonna have to suck it up and figure it out. Maybe I can convince my 9 year old to give it a try, as scary as that sounds I think that would be less nerve wrecking than doing it myself. I'm being a baby, I know. Start these Monday next week....I will keep you posted how it goes.

Estrace (estradiol)

This is an oral supplementation of estrogen. It is one of the major hormones of pregnancy, estrogen helps to maintain the endometrial lining of the uterus. This medication will help to thicken the lining of my uterus preparing it for embryo transfer and hopefully pregnancy. I will take this starting a few weeks after my Lupron shots and a follow up ultrasound and blood work. This is taken 2-3 times a day and changes based on lab results. I'm pretty sure the side effects for this one is gonna suck.

GET THE PUKE BUCKET READY!

Progesterone

Somehow I got lucky and they have opted to use the vaginal suppositories daily vs IM injections to my booty daily. And since I will be starting this a week before transfer and continuing it on through the first trimester of pregnancy, I could not be more thankful. This is a hormone that is used to stimulate the uterus to prepare the endometrium, thickening the lining for the embryo to "snuggle" into. It also prevents the uterus from contracting in order to reject an embryo. If implantation is successful the body continues to use progesterone to create the blood vessels that will feed the growing fetus. Once the placenta has developed (usually around weeks 9-11) it too secretes the hormone. Progesterone is essential in order to successfully conceive after an embryo transfer. This will be inserted vaginally as a suppository 3x everyday. This method is effective because it allows the progesterone to be absorbed directly into the uterus. I was shocked to see it in a regular pill bottle, as a powder, in a capsule. Thankfully I don't start this til later in May because I have some questions about this one.

Delestrogen (estradiol valerate injection)

Delestrogen is an injectable form of estrogen that is oil based and must be injected intramuscularly. As of right now it is only on my cycle calendar twice prior to transfer, BUT, there are an awful lot of IM needles and syringes in this box for it to ONLY be twice. The side effect list for this one-------------pray for me ya'll.

Doxycycline

This is an antibiotic used to treat and prevent infections. Because they will be inserting a catheter up through my cervix into my uterus I will be taking this prophylactically the night before transfer, and the day of/ after.

That's it- these are the medications Santa Monica Fertility Clinic have chosen for my cycle. It was very overwhelming at first but laying it all out and putting it on a calendar makes it very manageable. Dreading the side effects, praying they are short lived. I'm hearing FET cycle meds feel very much like the first trimester of pregnancy, tired and nauseous.

We are one step closer to getting pregnant...so bring it on.