On Your Mark... (UPDATED)

Thursday was CD1, so I called the RE to check on my calendar and confirm my protocol for the IVF Do-Over. Turns out, when the IVF team had their planning meeting for the next round, they decided to change my plan a little.

No BCP. No Lupron. No suppression at all.

They decided that since there was sufficient possibility that the BCP contributed to my complete and utter lack of response last time and since my cycles are so quaintly regular, that they would not risk repeating the previous failure. This means that on my September CD1, I will have completed my three month course of DHEA (to boost ovarian response and egg quality) and will go straight to stims unsuppressed.

This should be interesting.

UPDATE: I suppose I should have mentioned, they are going to stick with my original IVF protocol (minus the BCP suppression), adding Ganirelix near the end to suppress the LH surge and keep the follicles from popping off on their own.

Batter Up

Or something like that... I don't do sports, so I can't be 100% certain. I'm anticipating CD1 any day now (started spotting today, just ahead of schedule) which means a call to the RE to set the IVF calendar and recheck the med supply for the adjusted protocol.

Work continues to be batshit crazy, in spite of this being the down season and our busy season begins... well, this week I suppose. So much for a summer break. I think I took two whole days off all summer. Next opportunity for time off will be Thanksgiving. If you don't count the days I plan to take off for retrieval and transfer... because those should be such a refreshing break from the work week, ya know.

Hold me.

Until lift-off, I'm just taking my DHEA and drinking my wheat grass. Thrilling stuff here people, thrilling stuff.

No More Needle Naps

It just occurred to me that I never updated you on my first visit to the new acupuncturist. I know you were all holding your breath waiting for that information, so you can relax now - I'll put you out of your misery. First a quick recap.

Short Story: I've been seeing the same acupuncturist for about 10 years for various ailments here and there. She occasionally tried to get me to take herbs, but I'm not going there. Just can't do it. She got pushy, so I fired her. Long Story.

Things that are different:

• New acu is a man, old acu was a woman. Wasn't sure how that would play out, but it turned out fine.
• New acu is in my town, not the next town over. The shorter commute is certainly nice!
• New acu is a fertility specialist, recommended by my clinic. He doesn't criticize my clinic - imagine that.
• He is not recommending herbs for my protocol. I asked upfront.
• He is very hands-on, makes constant adjustments. He schedules one patient at a time and never leaves the room. 
• He doesn't take insurance. I'll have to submit claims myself, but at this point, whatever.

No more needle naps for me.

Losses

Two cousins.
One uncle.
One grandfather.

All lost to my family in the last twelve months. Two long-anticipated, and yet still mourned. Two tragic and untimely, grieved in shock and disbelief. And the unspoken question on my mind (is it on anyone else's?): What next?

Living IRL

I know. I've been a little low profile in bloglandia and the Twitterverse. I'm not going to apologize though. I've been making a concerted effort to get out of my own head and engage with the world around me. Major excitement (can you sense the sarcasm there?) that has kept me busy IRL for the last few days include:

• Yardwork. Prof and I got out there together for a while just before the sun went down Friday. That was about the only time it got cool enough to be functional outdoors. Normally I do the yardwork by myself, but he joined me by special request and it was kinda nice!
• Salon time for Slackie. I got waxed and then had a lovely spa pedicure, foot massage and all. I even broke out of my mold and tried a new color - and I love it. You should all be very proud!
• Business gathering with the Professor. I usually skip out on business socializing with Prof's colleagues, but I put on my big girl pants and went to the party with him. I even talked to nearly every person in attendance. Trust me, that is a big deal for ME.
• Met BFF(B) for coffee. Girl chat, catching up, a little cooperative bitching and moaning and I think we both felt better.
• Housecleaning. Above and beyond the usual weekend laundry and dishes. We are planning to have dinner out with friends and there is a chance they will drop by our house afterwards. So a little extra TLC in the public spaces.
• I am heading to Seattle this week for a conference. I will have a small amount of free time to myself, so I'm meeting up with BFF(3) and I'm so excited about that! I wonder if she's up for the aquarium?
• The day after I get back home, I have my first appointment with the new fertility acupuncturist. I'm really looking forward to it, though I'm also a little nervous. I hope he's lower pressure than my previous practitioner with the herb situation.

I will be even more out of touch for a little while, but I promise we'll catch up when I get back. Pinky-swear!