Yesterday DH and I went to a fertility class to learn all about these wonderful medications and how to administer shots. It was quite a hoot, really. First the nurse went over the different types of medications we might be asked to take and what side effects we needed to notify them about. She thought we should notify them if we stopped breathing...you think?

After we learned about our meds, we were given needles and sodium chloride and were taught how to properly load a syringe. We practiced on oranges. DH took this job very seriously. He took notes and paid close attention. Good thing, because he will have to administer the shots if I have to take any in the future!

Turns out it was a good thing I took the class. I found out I was taking some of my medication inappropriately, shall we say. I started taking Prometrium two days ago, and on the bottle it says to take the pills orally. Well, they apparently say that on the prescriptions because the pharmacies kept calling them for verification of the real instructions - they want me to insert these pills vaginally so they'll get absorbed closer to the uterus! What????? How was I supposed to know this? Fortunately I had only taken 4 orally, and by manufacturer's instructions they are meant to be taken orally, so it's not a big deal. However, the doctor could have mentioned this when he wrote the prescription!

I also found out from the nurse that ibuprofen interferes with implantation. This is bad news since I have been on a 1200 mg dose for 2 weeks until Monday this week due to a running injury. Fortunately I stopped taking it before my IUI because I heard it can cause a miscarriage. Now I'm worried that the damage may have already been done. Why does this have to be so complicated!

I also learned I'm glad I'm not morbidly obese. They have a special needle for the morbidly obese patients, which is used for intramuscular injections. It was huge, thick and long. I might decide not to have kids rather than suffer through that needle. The regular one was small and you could see dealing with it. The 25 gauge was like what they would give someone in the Victorian era.

I went in yesterday for my first IUI, and it wasn't bad at all. Not until later, at least. As you may recall from my previous post, I was sent home with instructions to take ovulation tests Monday night and Tuesday morning, and if it turned positive Monday night they would inseminate Tuesday. Well, I got a positive Monday night, and Tuesday morning it was still a positive but not as dark of a surge line.

While I was on my way to the job interview, DH made the appropriate phone calls and arranged to give his specimen. A few hours later, I arrived at the fertility clinic to receive his "donation." The doctor was really pleased with the amount they were able to get from his specimen. They want at least 5 million, and were able to get 16 million healthy mobile sperm from him, and crammed my uterus full of 16 million sperm!

Needless to say, my uterus was not happy with this procedure. The catheter wasn't so bad, not nearly as bad as the hysterosalpingogram. I think it might have been a smaller gauge. However, I couldn't get off the table for at least 5 minutes because of uterine cramping. Finally it subsided a bit and I was able to leave. However, that wasn't the last of it. As the evening wore on, my uterus went crazy. I could actually feel it spasming through my abdomen. I couldn't sleep because it hurt, and took some Tylenol to relieve the pain, which it did, eventually. This morning I feel like I was run over by a truck. Apparently my uterus hates poking and prodding. Of course, I was feeling a bit panicked this morning due to all the cramping, and I thought it must be abnormal. I went to the trusty web for information, and found that my experience was pretty common. So, I guess I'm now on the 2 week wait (2ww) and won't know for sure whether or not the eggs met their guy until then. Tomorrow I start taking progesterone to ensure that my "friend" doesn't come early, and take a pg test on the 20th. Anyway, with two good sized follicles ready to burst on Monday, I feel my chances are pretty good that this will take. I could deal with twins, if it comes to that. Hopefully none of them will split into identicals like so many members of my family have experienced, because triplets or quads would be pushing it.

Got some great news today. I went to the doctor for an ultrasound to see how the little follicles are developing. Turns out TWO are ready to burst when I ovulate in a day or so. They were both at 19mm, which apparently is exactly what they are supposed to be. In addition, the lining of my uterus was the right thickness, which can be a challenge on Clomid. In some cases it thins the lining so implantation doesn't occur.

I also agreed to participate in a study to see if there was any relationship between infertility and Celiac disease. I had never heard of Celiac disease, apparently it is some sort of allergy to wheat products. Since it is a genetic disease, the next time they draw my blood they will take some for genetic testing to see if I have it. I figured what the heck, I'll participate since it won't cost me anything except a loss of privacy. Obviously I'm not too worried about that or I wouldn't be blogging for the world to see!

Back to me now ... I did see the follicles on the ultrasound, and they were good looking follicles if I do say so myself. I got a slight positive on the ovulation test today, so if tonight I get a full positive, we're doing IUI tomorrow, and if tomorrow morning I get a full positive, then we'll do an IUI on Wednesday. If neither happens, dh has to give me a shot of HCG to induce ovulation and we will IUI on Thursday. It is a good thing I don't have a job right now so I can work around my schedule!

As far as how I feel, the hot flashes have subsided, but I do still feel a little jumpy. Less so today than yesterday, less so yesterday than the day before. I have had a little cramping in my ovaries, kind of like a pinch. Apparently only the left one is playing ball here, but I swear I feel cramps on both sides.

I'm wishing I would have had them print out my follicles on ultrasound for posterity just in case this is the cycle that works. Wish me luck on the IUI!

I started Clomid this month, CD 3-7. I'm now up to CD 9, and go in for an ultrasound to check my progress Monday. If all is well, we're doing IUI on or about Wednesday. Yes, you read correctly, I won that battle. Believe me, it was not easy but I think it is the right decision.

So far Clomid's side effects have been pretty mild in my case. I have been getting horrible hot flashes, especially in my sleep. I have been waking up in the middle of the night several times because I was so hot I couldn't sleep and was dripping in sweat. Then an hour later, after I had thrown off the pjs and tossed aside the covers, I would wake up freezing and bundle up again. Repeat. All night. Other than the minor inconvenience of hot flashes, my moods have been pretty steady. I have felt a little speedy, kind of like an overdose of caffeine. Jumpy if you will. That went away after I took the last pill.

I'm also supposed to do an injection of Ovidrel if the ultrasound goes ok. I really hate shots, don't know if I mentioned that. I hope Joel is not too squeamish. In between the injection and the IUI, I have a job interview. That should go well. I'll be moody, flushed, and on the verge of tears. Hopefully I can control my emotions and not burst into tears if they ask me about my failures.

I'll let you know how the ultrasound went next week!