On May 10th, 2023, I began my baseline ultrasound to see if we would be able to move forward with our first frozen embryo transfer. A day I wasn’t sure was going to come any time soon. The obstacles we went through in the last two years made it all feel like this day would never come.
Three weeks before my baseline appointment, I was put on birth control as protocol. This was only my 2nd time being on birth control; the first time was during my first IVF cycle. My body responded entirely differently to this round of birth control. Emotionally I wasn’t okay. I felt extremely uncomfortable in my own body. I had a lot of suicidal ideations but never with a written plan. I cried daily and questioned myself and my life. I told myself to keep pushing, it’s only a few more days. Never will I recommend anyone to be put on birth control. I can see how early it can turn into a psychosis episode.
We were given the green light to start estradiol oral tablets during our first baseline appointment. My uterine lining was around 6 mm, and my ovaries were quiet (a good thing).
On May 18th, I had my 2nd ultrasound,
and my uterine lining was getting thicker, but after receiving blood work results later that day, they informed me that my estradiol would need to be increased from 2mg 3 times a day to 5 times a day.
My final ultrasound appointment on May 25th
was completed by my IVF doctor, as the first two ultrasounds were completed by his new PA (which I was relieved to see because the Doctor doesn’t have much of a bedside manner). Everything continued to look well, and my uterine lining thickened to around 8.3 mm. I was given the green light to start Progesterone 2 days later, and they confirmed our TRANSFER for June 1st!
The entire time, I was waiting for the ball to drop. I was waiting for something to go wrong. I couldn’t believe that things were going so smoothly; for the last two years, my life has been a mess, and I’ve been picking up the pieces ever since, but it reminded me of our first IVF cycle and how perfectly everything went at that time.
I think I did a lot of dissociation during the month and remained optimistic. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, as my IVF cycle was pushed back several times prior o this moment. I guess this really was the time, and everything would work because of all the hard work I put into my life in the last year. Multiple doctor’s appointments, therapy, accupuncture, remaining pyshical and working on my mental health.
It was finally the day to start our Progesterone in oil injections. During our last cycle the progesterone I did used was vaginally. I thought my body responded great until two days later, my bum was so hard, and I felt like I had a golf ball growing in my cheek. They have been making me feel extremely uncomfortable! They’re itchy and so sore!
