The Interview

19th October

Wow! I was so nervous this morning - we both were. We just didn't know what to expect, but we went along with a whole lot of questions ready to ask. We didn't think to write them down, so we forgot them of course, once we got into the interview. Our nurse coordinator is Jancy. She's lovely. She went through everything that we would be doing, and what the whole cycle would involve. I had no idea it would be so quick! From start to finish it's only 6 weeks! So I'm starting this month, since I've just had my period. Sally told us all about the side effects and how I can expect to feel. Michael said he was going to get the spare room ready for when I have those mood swings, but Sally said not everyone is affected that way. I'm sure I will be though. I already get PMS as it is. But at least now I know what to expect. And Sally said that she and the other nurses are always available if I get worried or if I just need a chat. I loved the way they all kept saying how young I am: "Oh, only 33! That's wonderful. You've got a great chance." I guess I've just started feeling old because I've been wanting a baby for so long now. I can hardly remember a thing we were told today - there is just so much information! I'm glad the nurses will go through it all again for us when we start. In the mean time, I'm going to read everything I can get my hands on. I want to understand everything that's going on. Michael is really excited. By the end of the interview he was almost jumping out of his chair. The eternal optimist. He is convinced that we'll get pregnant first go. I'm not letting myself get excited yet. We've been trying for such a long time. I can't believe that it could possibly be over in a couple of months. Two weeks and two days until I start… (Well, maybe I'm just a little bit excited)

Shweta & Aneesh went in to Delhi-IVF together early this morning to get started. I've already been taking modus tablets for 5 days - they help to prevent cysts from forming in my ovaries when I start the Bnsserlin. This morning I had a blood sample taken, to get base levels on my hormones, and Sally showed us how to give the Lucrin injections that will make sure my own cycle doesn't override the stimulated cycle I'm on. I don't want to give them to myself, so Michael's going to do it. It's not too bad - just once a day, and the needle's only tiny. That's something I'm thankful for - I HATE needles! Anyway, I've had my first injection, Michael thinks he can handle it, and I'm feeling brave, so let's see how we go…

From today, it's two injections a day. First the Lucrin, which switches off my body's control over ovulation, and secondly the Gonal-F, which is a kind of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). That's the one that will make my ovaries produce more than one mature egg. Apparently it used to have to go right into the muscle (ouch!) but these days it only has to go under the skin. I'm starting to get little bruises all over me - I look like leopard print! Michael is really good with the injections though. It's just that sometimes I move or he hasn't put the needle on properly or something and we have a drama. Nothing major - I get a bruise or we have to start again, but we have a giggle about it. He feels guilty for having to inflict pain on me every day without having to go through anything himself. Although, he thinks that the whole scene, with him stabbing me in the bottom with a needle first thing in the morning is quite hysterical. I can appreciate the funny side, but you won't catch me laughing when he's doing it. The Gonal-F gives me a little rash that lasts for about 20 minutes. I was expecting that to happen with the Lucrin, because the nurses told me that some people have a reaction to it, but I got it for the Gonal-F instead. Oh well, everyone's different I guess. 14th November Love this Gonal-F! (except for the injection bit). It suppresses my appetite, so instead of gaining weight as I was warned I might, I'm losing it instead. No sign of the mood swings yet, but I suppose I shouldn't speak too soon. Now that I'm on the Gonal-F, I have to have a blood test every few days to check my hormone levels to make sure I'm not over-stimulating or under-responding. I go in at 7:15am and I'm finished well before work. Luckily there's a monitoring centre in Chats wood, just a few blocks from work, so it saves me from having to go into the city every day. Sometimes I go in there anyway, just because the girls are so nice and I feel like I'm the only one they're looking after. They're great. I always feel like a bit of an idiot, ringing up to ask them my stupid questions, but they never make me feel like I'm a pain. They're just full of patience. We're onto ultrasounds next. Not long now until my egg pick-up…