Lovenox injections are in full swing for our FET cycle. Don't be fooled by the name. There is nothing lovely about these injections. As I mentioned earlier, I'm taking liquid fire ants....I mean LOVENOX this time around to counteract the thrombophilia (blood clotting issues) that I was so lucky to inherit. Hormones increase blood clotting even further, and Lord knows I'm all hopped up on those. I'm taking estradiol 3 times per day now to help my endometrial lining grow nice and cushy and become a perfect place for an embryo to snuggle in.
While my RE is not convinced taking Lovenox will make or break the implantation process during an IVF cycle (he only recommended I take it once a pregnancy is confirmed), my instincts tell me that it could benefit me. Plenty of other RE's and RI's out there take a more aggressive approach than my doctor.
For patients like myself with APA (Anti-Phospholipid Antibody) Syndrome, there are basically two schools of thought; Some doctors believe Lovenox is only necessary once pregnancy is achieved to prevent miscarriage. Others believe that thrombophilias and APA's contribute to miscarriage, infertility, and IVF failure all through the same mechanism; In short, the blood is not flowing freely enough to nourish the areas which need it most during all stages from conception through time of delivery.
The theory for Rx'ing Lovenox during IVF cycles for women with multiple clotting factors is that increasing blood flow to the uterus is just as good for implantation as it is in preventing miscarriage. If I'm supposed to take this stuff IMMEDIATELY upon a positive pregnancy test to prevent miscarriage, why wouldn't I also take it to help an embryo implant? Seems like common sense to me, and it can't hurt, so I began the injections on CD6 this cycle. My RE is in fact aware of this and has given me clearance despite his own feelings of ambiguity.
The only thing that's unfortunate about taking these "lovely" Lovenox shots is that the medicine itself burns worse than any other shots I've done...including Menopur. There really are no words to describe my contempt right now. However, I have written you all a lovely haiku to convey my feelings towards this wonder drug...
Not So Lovely Lovenox
Ice cold skin turns red.
Alcohol readies bullseye.
Deep breath in and hold.
Stabbing, Holding, Breathe!
Wincing, Tremble, Plunging Slow...
HOLY SHIT IT BURNS!
Nothing prepares me.
Liquid fire ants in my pants!
Make it go away!
No pills for this crap?
NOT so lovely Lovenox.
Bring baby or else!
You get the gist. I set a goal last week to master giving these horrible shots to myself, because WHEN I do become pregnant, I'll need to take them every day for 9 months throughout pregnancy.
So far, I have gotten half way there. Hubby stabs me and I plunge the liquid fire into my belly. Today I tried doing the whole shibang myself, but it was soooo pitiful. I stuck myself half-way a few times, just enough to draw blood in 3 separate places, before realizing my love handles are made of rubber and jabbing the needle all the way in is not nearly as easy as I thought. I don't know if it's from the icing, but my fat is all hard and rubbery and it's like it repels the needle from going in. Blech!!! Gives me the heebie geebies just replaying it in my mind! Hubby says, "Just don't look." hahaha! Yeah right.
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After multiple self-administer attempts, I was seriously about to have an anxiety attack. I couldn't breathe, got extremely lightheaded and ultimately began to cry. I can only compare my fear of needles to the fear most people have of public speaking or jumping from high places. I have zero issue with either of those things.
Needles, on the other hand, are a totally different story. After about 10 minutes of me pacing and repeating, "Ok I'm going to do it now. 1-2-3....Ugh! I can't do it! I can't do it!!!" I finally gave up. I took a breather, re-iced a whole new area and started all over again with our old routine...hubby stabbing and me plunging. I seriously don't know if I'll ever be able to do these shots 100% on my own. I am getting anxiety just blogging about it.
All I know is that I really hope the Lovenox lives up to it's name. There are no guarantees, but I feel much better knowing I'm taking something this round to deal with the clotting issues vs. doing nothing at all. I keep reminding myself how grateful I am that an anti-coagulant medication even exists and that my insurance covered it. Plus, there are no food restrictions whatsoever, as there are with other blood thinners. I can deal with any amount of pain in this world if it brings us our take home baby. We've got this.
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While my RE is not convinced taking Lovenox will make or break the implantation process during an IVF cycle (he only recommended I take it once a pregnancy is confirmed), my instincts tell me that it could benefit me. Plenty of other RE's and RI's out there take a more aggressive approach than my doctor.
For patients like myself with APA (Anti-Phospholipid Antibody) Syndrome, there are basically two schools of thought; Some doctors believe Lovenox is only necessary once pregnancy is achieved to prevent miscarriage. Others believe that thrombophilias and APA's contribute to miscarriage, infertility, and IVF failure all through the same mechanism; In short, the blood is not flowing freely enough to nourish the areas which need it most during all stages from conception through time of delivery.
The theory for Rx'ing Lovenox during IVF cycles for women with multiple clotting factors is that increasing blood flow to the uterus is just as good for implantation as it is in preventing miscarriage. If I'm supposed to take this stuff IMMEDIATELY upon a positive pregnancy test to prevent miscarriage, why wouldn't I also take it to help an embryo implant? Seems like common sense to me, and it can't hurt, so I began the injections on CD6 this cycle. My RE is in fact aware of this and has given me clearance despite his own feelings of ambiguity.
The only thing that's unfortunate about taking these "lovely" Lovenox shots is that the medicine itself burns worse than any other shots I've done...including Menopur. There really are no words to describe my contempt right now. However, I have written you all a lovely haiku to convey my feelings towards this wonder drug...
Not So Lovely Lovenox
Ice cold skin turns red.
Alcohol readies bullseye.
Deep breath in and hold.
Stabbing, Holding, Breathe!
Wincing, Tremble, Plunging Slow...
HOLY SHIT IT BURNS!
Nothing prepares me.
Liquid fire ants in my pants!
Make it go away!
No pills for this crap?
NOT so lovely Lovenox.
Bring baby or else!
You get the gist. I set a goal last week to master giving these horrible shots to myself, because WHEN I do become pregnant, I'll need to take them every day for 9 months throughout pregnancy.
So far, I have gotten half way there. Hubby stabs me and I plunge the liquid fire into my belly. Today I tried doing the whole shibang myself, but it was soooo pitiful. I stuck myself half-way a few times, just enough to draw blood in 3 separate places, before realizing my love handles are made of rubber and jabbing the needle all the way in is not nearly as easy as I thought. I don't know if it's from the icing, but my fat is all hard and rubbery and it's like it repels the needle from going in. Blech!!! Gives me the heebie geebies just replaying it in my mind! Hubby says, "Just don't look." hahaha! Yeah right.
 |
| Skydiving from 10,000 feet in the air in Kauai, HI...no problem! Not even a slight bit scary. |
All I know is that I really hope the Lovenox lives up to it's name. There are no guarantees, but I feel much better knowing I'm taking something this round to deal with the clotting issues vs. doing nothing at all. I keep reminding myself how grateful I am that an anti-coagulant medication even exists and that my insurance covered it. Plus, there are no food restrictions whatsoever, as there are with other blood thinners. I can deal with any amount of pain in this world if it brings us our take home baby. We've got this.
