A Few Steps Closer

Believe it or not, I start IVF in TEN DAYS! It's absolutely mind-boggling to me! People have been constantly asking me how I feel... I think my reaction is kind of glazed-eyes, confused sort of stare, before I realize "Oh, you're supposed to be EXCITED or SCARED or something". I don't know if I'm repressing it, avoiding it, or if it just hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm not really anything right now. I'm sure things will change when I'm faced with day one of the injections.

Speaking of injections, I finally got my list of medications. I don't actually know how much I'm taking, but I know what they are. I haven't mentioned this on the blog yet, but my clinic recommended that I apply for the EMD Serreno Compassionate Care Program. We had never heard anything about it before, but I thought, "why the heck not?". The application process was fairly simple and within about six hours we had been granted 75% off of the medications produced by EMD Serreno which include Gonal-F, Cetrotide, and Ovidrel. Yeah, I know! It was pretty much the most exciting news of the year. We have zero insurance coverage for infertility treatments or medications, so despite the fact that we are going to a lower cost clinic, this is a big help!

I think we're going to order with Freedom Fertility Pharmacy. I priced my medications there yesterday and these were my costs:

Cetrotide (6 syringes): $141.75
Menopur (10 vials): $719.90
Gonal-F (3 vials of 450iu): $333
hCG (1 vial): $89.50

Grand Total: $1280.55

I almost cried! It's kind of ridiculous, to be so excited about spending $1000+ on medication, but I know how bad it could have been: A LOT WORSE!

The appointment on Friday in Jacksonville was fine. It was kind of hectic as it was their office Christmas party that afternoon and I was the last patient, but we got all of the major things accomplished. I also went to an acupuncture consultation. I like the acupuncturist, but unfortunately, she is closed for two weeks at Christmas and won't reopen until January 6th. She recommended that I look for another clinic as she felt it was important to get started earlier. I really respected that, and she didn't charge me for the consult, so all around it was a successful visit. I have a call into one of her recommendations (which ironically was the other acupuncturist I had been considering), so I'm just waiting to hear back.

All that's left is to order medications, book the hotel room, get tires changed on the 4Runner, and pack! Oh and go to work, eat food, remember to take my birth control pill... Speaking of eating food, The Prohibition of All Things Yummy, is still going strong. I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but I'm still eating fruit, so I guess there are still some carbs and some yummy things in my life. Essentially fruit helps me to eat not so yummy things like lettuce, so it's kind of necessary. But for the most part, I'm doing well(ish). I will admit to a few cheats such as a Chick-fil-A Asian Salad (without wontons, but WITH fried chicken) and a sip of a Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate. In both situations I thought I had died and gone to heaven, so as far as the "changing taste buds" or "switching to a less sweet state of mind" I'd say I'm failing. If you placed an entire pan of brownies in front of me and guaranteed me it would not affect any future babies, I'd eat the whole pan and then wash it down with a massive Diet Coke. But as I haven't actually done either of those things, we will call this adventure successful thus far! I am confident that I'm not failing too terribly because I weighed this morning and I've lost four pounds since last Sunday! Winning!!! We won't mention that Sam has already lost six pounds and he's been CHEATING at work... men! What can you do?

That's about it though! I'll be back soon I'm sure! The impending IVF lends itself to lots of blogging, I'm sure. Almost in the single digits!