And So It Begins...

I'm writing this for my own personal sanity, to share with my closest compadres (the ones who had to stick it out with me the first time -- for your cheer leading that I'm eternally grateful for -- I could have never done it the first time without your support) and for future reference.

Today I visited my fertility doctor to begin a new cycle. Meaning, I've already seen my fertility doctor recently and I've taken care of the preliminary steps I (it's individualized) have to go through in order to begin fertility treatment.

Preliminary steps:

1. Take medicine to induce period. Check.


2. Get blood work on second or third day to verify crazy whacked out hormone levels that require aforementioned fertility treatment. Check.


3. Run through the financial check to make sure you're willing and able to fund treatment. Check.


4. Start taking prenatal vitamins. Check.


5. After initial blood test, integrate and sustain Metformin (to regulate high insulin levels).Check.

In today's visit, we discussed my pre-Metformin blood work results -- which were, as expected, crappy. My doctor gave me an awesome backhanded compliment, "Your insulin levels are remarkable." Hooray for me. Other negative: My blood sugar is pre-borderline diabetic.

There were some surprising positives though: My testosterone levels were normal (say what?), my cholesterol is really low (good cholesterol needs to be higher -- as always) and my triglycerides were low.

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PRESCRIPTIONS

1. Follistim AQ -- Ovary ripener. Makes one ovulate.


2. Follistim AQ Pen -- Less threatening way to say, "needle."


3. Endometrin -- Progesterone suppositories (for post insemination). As you may remember from round #1, this was formerly known as "cocoa butter." My thighs are sad that they will not be as well moisturized this time. I'm, however, not sad. Disgusting.


4. Prometrium -- Makes one shed their uterine lining. AKA Get period.


5. Pregnancy tests -- I was supposed to take one of these today before I started taking Prometrium, but GD Rebecca distracted me on the phone. I'm not really worried about it.


6. Ovidrel -- Shot that forces your ovarian follicles to release eggs. Given 24 - 48 hours prior to insemination.

COST OF TODAY'S PRESCRIPTIONS: $1500. I just about fainted when they gave me today's price tag. In the past, my prescriptions have cost about $250 per cycle.

When I got home from the doctor, I called the insurance and (thank GOD) it was a mistake (not the pharmacy's fault -- the insurance company's fault). Now I'm jumping through hoops to get our money back. The lady at the pharmacy is being so incredibly helpful. I'm writing a letter of commendation to Walgreens.

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DOCTOR'S ORDERS

1. Take Prometrium to get period.


2. On third day of period, get baseline scan.


3. I'll detail the additional items after I finish #1 and #2.

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TARGET INSEMINATION DATE: 9/29/08 (exactly two years and one day after we conceived V!)

TARGET PREGNANCY TEST DATE: 10/14/08