We’ve made it to stim day 11. Man, I’m exhausted. The kind of tired you feel in your face not just your body. I feel I’ve adjusted well to the injections though my body has started to bruise and be sore. It’s tolerable but I don’t think anyone can say it’s enjoyable. Five follicles out of the ten that were originally seen are growing. From todays ultrasound the follicles aren’t as big as we would like them to be, meaning they are not growing 2mm a day like anticipated. With this information we’re looking at a retrieval for early to mid next week. Follistim dosage in the evening has been increased due to my labs and ultrasound.

Considering we need to do this two more cycles to potentially harvest enough eggs I inquired if there is anything I should be doing differently to have my body respond better to the medication. The answer was no, you’re body is giving us all that it has. Well right now it feels like my body isn’t doing its job, even working “overtime” with high doses of FSH its pitter-pattering behind.

I am definitely looking forward to the mini break aka my period to just give my body a break before cycle two. I definitely give kudos to the IVF community members that work like myself. Although there are frequent appointments I jump right into work following those appointments still giving that best version of myself that day. I already have a pretty taxing job and adding in appointments and day to day life, it’s extra tiring. I keep telling B I need a sweatshirt that says IVF with meme from Holes, “I’m tired of this grandpa! Well that’s too damn bad.”

I will continue to be grateful for the support I have in my friends, family and colleagues. It really does take a village. Oh and of course, B, having to embrace the hormonal/ anxious mood swings, when the world seems to be falling apart for me. ❤

-A