Tags
acupuncture, fertility, FET, Infertility, IVF, lining, Thyroid
I had an appointment at the clinic on Mon to see how my lining was shaping up after 10 days on the oestrogen. Given I’d had a 2 week on off period (usually only happens to me after a miscarriage) I knew that my lining would be thin. I was right, it was just over 3mm. The Dr wasn’t surprised either as given the bleeding there wouldn’t have been time for it to build. So I now have to increase my oestrogen tablets adding another vaginal one, I’m also on Viagra (!) to increase blood flow, plus aspirin and I had to buy this oestrogen liquid to inject in my bum (its like the progesterone in oil) – I was not amused by this as it’s £300 a vial (f**k me) but luckily one vial lasts for ages. I’m also not keen on medication in oil that needs to be injected into muscles- my experience of the progesterone was very unpleasant and it took months to get rid of the hard lump in my right buttock.
My current medication:
- 3 x progynova oestrogen tablets orally and 3 x vaginally a day
- 2 x oestrogen patches changed every other day
- 0.4ml of oestrogen in oil injected into my bum twice a week
- 50mg thyroxine each day
- 40mg of clexane injected (to help blood flow)
- 2 x Viagra
My supplements (to help lining / blood flow):
- 800mg of vitamin E each day
- 1 x aspirin
I also booked some acupuncture but unfortunately had to cancel it as due to storm Doris it took my 2 hours to get home from work the night I had the appointment. I’ve also been drinking raspberry leaf tea (I hate it – I think because I associate it with IVF) and drinking beetroot shots. I’ve got more acupuncture booked in next week. I ate a steak last night and am trying to eat nourishing foods. I’m also wearing socks in bed and sleeping with a hot water bottle on my stomach. I have no idea if these extras really help.
I was rescanned on Fri when my lining was 5mm. I’ve always had thinnish lining but it does seem to be taking a long time to thicken this cycle. The only good thing is that it’s triple striped so in good condition. Plus I’ve got pregnant on more than one cycle with thin lining.
Oh and the Viagra – I think I’m immune to it!! Initially I thought it might be making my lady parts a bit more sensitive but now I’m not really sure. I certainly haven’t felt the urge to have loads of sex – and I don’t feel sexy shoving 3 progynova up my vagina every day – sometimes a slightly blue tinged residue comes out.
I’ve got another scan on Wed so we’ll see. If it hasn’t thickened quite a bit there is a chance my cycle will be cancelled again.
Last week I also had my thyroid levels tested. I should get the results early next week. I really hope the thyroxine has worked.
In other news I’ve injured myself running (long and slightly hilarious story that involved me attempting to race 2 boys during a park run and pulling a muscle – at my age I should know better!) so I’ve had to cut down, instead I’ve been focussing on reformer pilates and yoga – probably a good idea as intense exercise such as running (especially the could possibly divert blood flow from my uterus.
I’ve also been baking a lot – cakes for my husband’s birthday and then my mum’s. My mum has had a bad back for a long time and we weren’t sure if she’d be up to going out so my sister and I made an afternoon tea and took it to her. My sis even made me some gluten free scones (she didn’t inflict these on others as to be honest it’s pretty hard to make scones as good when they’re gluten free) and made mini Victoria sponges gluten free. I made the coffee and walnut cake (also gluten free) and the blueberry polenta cake (gluten free) – see pics. Not sure I should be eating so much sugar at the moment though.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about friendships and how they’re affected by IVF – and seen quite a few posts from other bloggers about the same issue lately. A good friend is due to have her baby in a few weeks and I’ve been avoiding her and lately I’m really missing her (we both had fertility issues and her journey has been so very difficult). We were pregnant at the same time and my due date would’ve been just before hers which is the main reason I’ve been avoiding her. It’s weird as I haven’t dwelt as much on my other due dates, partly as I knew one of the pregnancies couldn’t have had a positive outcome as the chromosomal issue of the baby was incompatible with life outside the womb and the other 2 were also very probably chromosomal. This time we had a supposedly normal embryo and I know it was a girl as it was on my notes after I had it retested after the miscarriage – it just makes it harder when there is no reason and you know more about the baby. Anyway I want to get in touch with her before too much more time goes by, she totally understands but that almost makes it worse – I’ve cut out one person in my life who actually understands what I’m going through. Our friendship will change once her baby is born but I know she’ll still be there for me if I need her, just like 2 of my other friends who also went through tough infertility journeys before having their babies.