1st Beta is 515...shots continue!!!

I'm managing the shots much better with a new moist heating pad, so the news that I have to continue my shots was great to hear. I'm officially pregnant!! The next test is Monday, I'm super excited. I've already been to the library and picked up three or four pregnancy books. I'm half way through: "Our bodies, Ourselves - Pregnancy & Birth". I pretty much got up to the birth part and decided to read that part later when I am much further along.

I am wondering what the next steps are. I know that I stay with the fertility people for two months, but when do I find who I see after that and when do I see them? I'm not sure if I want an OB or a midwife - Can I have both? I like some modern technology, but I want to have as natural a childbirth as I can have. I'm also pretty sure I want a doula, at a birthing center or even a home birth. Lots of information is swirling around in my head. I even bought an app on the iPhone to track the pregnancy. Our baby is the size of a sesame seed. :) My husband gets a kick out of that. He had a dream that I gave birth to a hamburger, so he says we are on our way to our baby hamburger. I'm not sure how to figure out how far along I am. According to one way (the 40 week method) it says I'm 5 weeks and one day and my due date is March 5, 2010. It's based off my last period, but is that accurate with IVF? I find it strange that they count the first couple weeks when I am not pregnant & not ovulating (my donor was though). I would have guessed I was a little more than two weeks along since that's how long it has been since transfer. I'm currently: 15 days past my 3-day transfer.

I'm thinking about continuing with the acupuncture throughout the pregnancy. It's nice going and relaxing if nothing else is happening. I'm also thinking about starting a weekly yoga program for pregnant women. I feel like it might be too soon, but a new session is starting in a couple of weeks. I definately need to get into some exercise program, I've done nothing for a few weeks now. I want to be as healthy as I can be. I really can't believe all this is happening to us and on our first try!

My first ER visit as an adult...

So the pain of eating and drinking became way too much today. I decided it was time to go to the hospital to try and find a remedy.  I had called my regular Doctor, but they had suggested that I go to the hospital to get quicker results. A few seconds after I swallow food or liquid, I get severe pain, I'd say 9 out of 10 on the pain scale. Today I actually refused to eat or drink anything. :(

We got to the hospital around 2:30 or so.  After a lot of redundant stuff - questions, blood pressure tests, etc, and 5 hours later, I finally get a prescription to help heal what we all think I have, which is probably an ulcer or inflammation of my esophagus caused by the Doxycycline  I only took for four days.  I stopped taking the meds Monday night and it's Friday night and I have the same constant pain. I'll probably have the pain for another week until it heals. I've been given a proton inhibitor (i think) to help it heal. I have to make a follow up appointment in a week, and if it's still bad, I believe they well scope my throat. I just hope I can manage to find the energy to eat and/or drink until then.

We talked to our fertility doctor today who prescribed this terrible antibiotic for us, and he says this kind of reaction is rare. I doubt that, since all my research on the net showed many many people with the same problems. I was also told that an allergic reaction to the Lupron was also extremely rare. How is it that I'm the special case? I'm afraid that all of this bad stuff is going to hinder me in some way. I really hope it doesn't. I'd hate for them to pull me from the shared risk program, because I become too much of a risk.

Tomorrow it will be a week on the Lupron, and we have an appointment for blood work and an ultrasound. We are getting closer—only 19-24 days left until our transfer!  Anyone know how close it gets to when they can narrow down the dates a little better?

I also had my first acupuncture appointment today. It went well. I really liked the lady I saw. I felt comfortable with her. The session lasted 2 hours and she now pretty much knows my whole life story. I find that strange, but if it helps, then I'm all for it. She's recommending two sessions a week until we get to transfer time. I hope it helps with some other ailments like my lower back pain, calm me, and work it's fertility magic on me. I do find it all strange, but am willing to try anything for this to work! I didn't feel any different during or after the session, nor do I now, but today was an unusual day, spending 5 hours at the hospital and all. I'm going to lay in bed now and do some deep breathing. I am hopeful.