ohohbaby

and so it begins...

This morning I had a blood test to check that I had ovulated this month.  I called at 2.15, when they told me they would have the results, and I had (ovulated), so I got to start my IVF drugs tonight.

I start with Synarel, which is in the form of a nasal spray.  It's taken twice a day, exactly 12 hours apart, AT THE SAME TIME everyday.  So, I decided that 7.30 would be optimal.  I usually don't leave to take Ollie for a walk until just after 7.30am and I'm home at 7.30pm.  If I'm going out, it's not normally til a bit later and I can always take it with me.

What Synarel does is it helps in decreasing the amount of oestrogen the ovaries produce.  Which makes it easier for the Doctor to "take over" and control when to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. 

The only side effect I can really find that women have complained about, is a headache for the first couple of months.  I can (probably) deal with that.

I go back to the clinic on the 15th and will then add injectibles to my list...

This week I started working part time at Lululemon in Sydney.  I really like the company and the way it's run and the friends I made when I worked at the store in CT, are some of the peeps I really miss.  It's lovely though, I get emails from them regularly and feel as though I'm still a part of their team.
Please COME AND VISIT ME.

Nicky is happy...

The Universe heard me...the full moon helped and I got my period.
Now I wait twenty one days to have my first ultra sound and blood test to make sure I ovulated and I can begin the drug taking...

Nicky thinks

Gordon Ramsey should be banned from Australian television and sent back to the UK.  He's a rude and disgusting human being...

I want it, I don't want it...

Either I'm waiting FOR my period, or I'm hoping I DON'T get it.  I haven't had it since before the polyp surgery, but the Dr told me this would happen...it throws your cycle.  Now, however, I have no idea when my period is even due.  Well, it should be in the next week (or two)...hoping the full moon will help.

I chose a new donor.  The pool is WAY smaller than when I was living in the US.  Australia has laws that are in favor of the child being able to locate the birth father when he/she turns 18.  Hence the reason there are only about two donors on the registry in Australia.  The donors in the States are at University.  They use the money to buy a car, or just live on it and, unless they elect to, can go off and live their lives and never have to think there will be a knock at the door or a phone call eighteen years later.

The clinic I'm going to is Fertility East, they're they only ones here who have a contract with one of the sperm banks in the USA and are allowed to bring the vials into Australia, which is HUGE.  Everyone at the Fertility East offices are lovely and I have a really good feeling about having IVF through them...unlike the shonky Dr in Greenwich, who didn't see, or didn't bother telling me about the cervical polyp that would have hindered any pregnancies.  

The costs associated are not cheap, but anyone who has got to this point is aware of this.  Thank goodness for Medicare and private health insurance in Australia.  Medicare picks up a large chunk of the expense and HCF (which is what I have), will cover a bit more...whereas in the US, NONE, I repeat NONE of the out of pocket is covered if you are over the age of forty, which is commonly the time most women really need fertility treatment.  Go figure.

The largest expense, so far, that is not covered is the donor sperm, so if you have a partner, or someone local willing to be your baby daddy, it's not an issue.  I do not, so the clinic recommended buying 2 vials, which cost $2600 and change to bring in.  Half of which was the vials and the other $1300 was administration expenses.

C'mon period, so I can move forward and start this already....

Nicky is looking forward to tomorrow

This is how my brain thinks right now...FaceBook style.

My first appointment is with the Fertility Clinic for IVF orientation and choosing my baby daddy, but I did the latter a couple of weeks ago. 

Next it's across the street the see the Dr for a follow up on my surgery and he'll tell me I can start when I get my period, which was due last week, but I think my cycle was messed up because of the polyp removal.

Then, the one I'm really looking forward to...laser hair removal.  I've been waiting years, years, I tell ya, to not have to wax any longer.  I had it done for the first time five weeks ago and not much has grown back.  I'm stoked.  The only thing that could make this better, would be to be pregnant and hairless...and have a car (shopping around this week), a job (still not sure what I want to do when I grow up) and a big girl house (my stuff arrives at the end of June).

I'm home...

A bit fragile from the anesthetic, but I'm fine.  They took me in for surgery at 8.30am and I was home before noon!!!

I'll post more tomorrow...need to sleep, but wanted to let you all know I'm ok.

N x

Another Spanner

Last week, the Dr found a polyp in my cervix.  I was there signing the forms for IVF, he was telling me how all my test results had come back fine, the ones that were supposed to be positive, were and the ones that were supposed to be negative were also.  He was happy with everything and said he just wanted to do an ultrasound, so that he'd done everything by the book.

Well, the second he looked, he saw it...A POLYP.  I'm not a fan of the word, to me it's like "moist", which is a word I never use and don't even like to hear!!!  The Doctor told me it's probably been there for a while and it must be removed before I start IVF as it could hinder my getting pregnant.

Ummm, how long HAS it been there? 
Why didn't the fertility Dr in the US tell me about it...EVER, not once?  How did he not see it?
Is THIS the reason IUI didn't work?
GRRRRRRR

My nice doctor now, told me the surgery is quick and he will do it as soon as possible.  The fact he only operates every second Friday, meant that tomorrow is the day.  It's an "in in the morning, out by noonish, surgery" So, I will be up rather early to walk Ollie and be at the hospital at 6.45am. 

I'll check back tomorrow afternoon...

MD 2009

First off....Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms/Mums.

We had a lovely morning.  The family came to my parents for brunch...excluding my Dad, who is golfing in Palm Springs in 104 degree heat and one of my brothers, who decided on Friday to go away for the weekend. 

Then I did a much needed yoga class.

Ollie is settling in and had a bonding morning with his "cousin", Harry. 
I'm sure it's not easy being put into a crate one day and ending up in a totally new environment.  While everyone speaks the language he knows, the smells must be different, there are new animals he's never seen before, the temperature and light are more intense (lack of ozone) and there's the car thing...where he keeps sitting in the driver's seat and is confused when I make him move over!!!

Tomorrow, it's off to see the nurse at the Fertility Clinic to sign the donor consent forms so I can start looking at new Baby Daddies and I need to pad out my resume so I can get a job, which will lead to a car and a place of my own to live when my belongings arrive in six weeks. 

Ollie's Home...

I got my doggie back today....sprung him from quarantine after 30 days.

Ollie's SO happy to be home and back with me and didn't let me out of his sight today at all.  Right now, I'm in bed, he's lying next to me, "holding" on to my feet and dreaming about running.  No more living in a concrete run and sleeping on a jail cot...only Frette sheets and lots of treats and cuddles for him from now on.

I will say, quarantine does a GREAT job and I never once felt anxious about the way he was treated.  It's clean and the staff are more than helpful.  If anyone is questioning whether they should bring a dog or cat into Australia from overseas, I say don't let this stop you.

I'd Rather Have My Hair Dyed

I had my HSG yesterday.  It took the Dr three attempts to fill my uterus with dye...yeah, you can scrunch your nose up, but try being the recipient!!!

The Doctor is lovely, extremely personable and puts me (and, I'm sure, all his patients) at ease.  The whole procedure took all of 5 minutes and was painful for about one of them. 

I have no blockages, which is great.  I did have cramping last night and this morning.  It wasn't unbearable, and didn't last long - a couple of minutes, that felt longer when I was in pain - and now it's over 24 hours since I had the HSG and the cramps are completely gone.

While this was very quick and going to the hairdresser is no less than a couple of hours, I still think I'd rather have my hair dyed than my uterus...