Bump in the road...

Yesterday, I received a letter in the mail asking me to arrange a smear test as I'm nearly 25.  This morning, I emailed my IVF clinic in Sheffield to check if I was okay to have this done whilst on my FET meds or if I should wait till after the cycle (and after pregnancy if the cycle works).

Half an hour later I received an email saying that they will not do a transfer with an outstanding smear test so I'd need to get it done (and have the results) before transfer. With how my cycle is going transfer could be as early as 9th Feb, which is 2 weeks away.

Needless to say I panicked. I rang my GP Surgery who couldn't get me in until 7th Feb - no way my results would be ready in time. 

Fortunately, working in a gynaecology department has its benefits and I spoke to one of the nicer consultants, who took me straight down to clinic and did it there and then. It's a little odd having it done by someone you work with BUT I've had that many people fiddling around up there during this process, I really didn't care!

Quite a few of our consultants only really speak to their own secretaries and don't acknowledge us "lesser beings" but this consultant, let's call him Mr T, has always taken time to stop and have a chat with everyone who works for him so it was great to know someone so approachable.

My results will be with me in just over a week so I can rest easy - fingers crossed they're all clear!

Bleeders!

Nothing much to tell at the moment. I'm almost 2 weeks into the buserelin injections and I have a scan on Saturday to check my lining.

Just thought I'd do a small post because I'm annoyed at myself. I've "messed up" 3 injections in the last 7 days.

Last Thursday I hit a blood vessel on the right side. It didn't hurt at the time but it bled quite a bit and 2 minutes later it was hurting and already bruised. 6 days later that bruise is still going strong thanks to my poor healing.

Then on the Friday I got the angle wrong and injected too close to the surface of the skin. I normally have a large itchy patch around the injection site, for a few hours. As I'd gone too close to the surface I broke out in large, itchy, painful hives for a few hours instead.

The last few had been fine and then tonight I hit another blood vessel on the right. It was only 10 minutes ago and I can see the bruising coming out already. Apparently my right side is just full of blood vessels.

I know it's unavoidable as I can't see the blood vessels but last time I hit only one in the whole 5 weeks. This time I've hit 2, in close proximity, in 6 days. Just hope the medication isn't leaking out with the blood - I try and get pressure on it ASAP to avoid this but it's hard with sharps in your hand.

Does anyone else have any injection fails you'd like to share?

FET Attempt 2!

Yesterday, we had our appointment with the nurse to review our first FET and get started on the meds for FET number 2.  Fortunately, I was at exactly the right point in my pack of birth control pills to start the injections last night - if our appointment had been 2 days later I would have most likely had to wait another 4 weeks.

By the end of the last cycle, I was doing pretty much all of my own injections.  ALS did them in the beginning but as I got more confident I found it easier to just get on with it and do it myself.  I did the injection at half 8 last night without even thinking about it - I think he was a little offended that I didn't ask for his help, bless him!

We are looking to transfer around the 15th Feb (if the cycle takes exactly as long as last time) but it could be as early as 9th Feb or a little later if my lining is slow.  I'll be getting on to the pomegranate juice as soon as I start the oestrogen this time in the hope that my lining is ready at the first look, rather than the second.  As before, I'm taking my folic acid and Vitamin D.  The medication protocol itself has not been changed from the last cycle, as there didn't appear to be anything wrong.  I guess we were just unlucky - there's always a chance it won't work but here's hoping that this cycle is the one!