Been dying to use that blog title for the longest time 🙂
And thus ends my ERA cycle. I am battered and bruised and so happy that it’s over. 7 weeks total. Here’s the breakdown if you’re interested.
December 25th: Period Starts. Pregnancy test negative duh.
December 27th: Start birth control pills for 3 weeks.
January 4th: Follow-up appointment with RE.
January 10th: Start daily Lupron sub-Q injections.
January 16th: Stop birth control. This is the longest month in human history.
January 19th: Baseline appointment. All systems go!
January 21st: First day of my period. 100 more days of January left.
January 23rd: Start daily 1mg estrogen pills and 1mg aspirin. Increase to 2mg estrogen at some point, then 4, then 6.
February 3rd: Stop Lupron injections.
February 5th: Start nightly Progesterone in Oil intra-muscular injections 1cc.
February 10th: Cycle ends with Endometrial Biopsy. Stop daily estrogen and aspirin.
February 14th: Stop Progesterone injections. Joy!
The biopsy was a nightmare as always and to make matters worse the nurse practitioner said that she had to do 2 biopsies. That was news to me and I actually cried when she left the room for a few seconds. One biopsy was for the ERA lab and the other was to test if my lining had any infections. Same as the first biopsy I had done. They have me scheduled for another HSG in March and I’m going to make them give me harder drugs. My friend B has so kindly offered to take me to the appointment so I hope they can do it on a day that fits her schedule. I don’t think it’s necessary for me to go through that much pain. I’m a woos and I’m proud!
And now we just wait for a period and we can start prepping to bring little Lucky home! I believe it’s suggested that you do another ERA if the result doesn’t come back as receptive but my RE doesn’t seem to think it’s necessary but gave me the choice. I am really averse to doing another one but let’s see if my RE changes his mind depending on what the results are.
So for now we are awaiting our next FET cycle. Big yay!! My app says 5 days til my period starts. Come on body, let’s get this party started!
BTW my ass hurts so much from the PIO shots. I can’t imagine doing them for 12 weeks or more. Besides ice and massaging do you guys have any tips on PIO shots? And itchy!! the injection sites are itchy as hell. I don’t think I’m allergic to the oil though. No serious skin reaction. Just itchy. Fun times.
Tales of a 30 Year Old Nothing 
I did PIO injections for three transfers and the only thing I found that helped was a heating pad whenever I was sitting. And that really only helped a little. I was mostly mind over matter for much of the shots, especially on my successful pregnancy. For my first transfer, which didn’t work, crying really only got me through the last few shots (my first beta was 9, so they wanted me to keep doing them for another two times until a second beta could rule out a chemical). I hope your results come back soon and are favorable to doing an FET soon!
Gosh that’s awful that they make you keep doing the shots with a low beta. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I would cry too and I think I will cry. xx
I got a script from my RE for Lidocaine numbing gel…total lifesaver!!!! Get it!
I’m on it!! Thank you xx
Yay for getting to use your clever post title and for being done with injections (well, for now anyway)! Definitely sounds like the longest cycle in eternity. And your biopsy sounded completely horrendous. I’m a huge wuss too about pain; I like to say that I have a “low pain threshold” so it doesn’t sound so whiny haha. But biopsies are always crap no matter what; I love how doctors think they can just chip away at our lady parts and that Tylenol will somehow remotely even touch the pain. Maybe you can request sedatives next time around?
I don’t have any PIO tips for you other than I used to ice my PIO injection site for like 20 minutes before the shot,then immediately followed the shot with 20 minutes of a heating pad on medium. It didn’t stop the bruising, but helped with soreness and itching.
Best wishes!
I am 100% requesting sedatives for my cavity eval next month. I’m starting to get anxiety over these things and I don’t want it to consume me. More drugs! Thanks for the advice. I’m going to try everything :).
Love the title!!!! Glad it’s over and dine with and wishing you good luck for the next steps.
Thank you very much RJ. xx
Yay for progress! I did the PIO for 12 weeks with C, and I just iced for a few minutes to numb the area beforehand. I never had any pain or itching, just rare bleeding if I hit something coming out. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice Amy!! Gosh 12 weeks is nuts but whatever it takes right? I’m now 2 days without PIO and my bum still hurts. Sigh.
Yay for no more ERA! I agree that it was pretty hellish. Just awful- I swore I’d make them put me under if I ever have to do it again. Kudos to you! Best of luck!
Yes! I’m done with unnecessary pain. No need to be a hero. Thank you hun!
Yes! I’m glad you are done with your ERA cycle….now onto the good stuff. You sound like you’re in a much better place than at the end of 2016 and I really hope 2017 delivers for you (no pun intended).
Oh thank you for saying that. I do feel like 2017 is better than last year. But it’s only February. I’m so excited for you to test tomorrow. Excited and nervous so I can just imagine how you’re feeling. Good luck!!
I’m assuming you’re warming the oil before you inject? I stuff the vital in my bra for 10-20 minutes before hand to thin the oil. Seems to help! Good luck!
I have not been warming the oil up 🙂 but I most certainly will after this. Thank you so much!!
Oh my goodness, it’s a game changer!!
How did today’s PIO shot go??
Lol…just remembered that you’re not currently taking them!! Oh goodness this stuff has killed my brain, I swear!
Step away from the ice. Use heat. I found with the pio what worked best for me was warm the oil, inject directly into bum (don’t ice before ) apply heat and massage after. I basically had no lumps. You need to keep that oil warm so that it spreads. Cooling it makes it thick and cause lumps
Massage hard
I’ll definitely heat up the oil. I think that’s the trick. I iced my bum once and it wasn’t good and hub massages hectically afterwards lol. Thanks for the advice!
no worries. I popped it under my saggy maggy boobs 🙂 Works a charm
Glad that’s all behind you now, it doesn’t sound fun at all! So nice of your friend to offer to go with you to the appointment. Maybe you can get a sedative in that case. Hoping aunt flow comes soon so you can start moving forward with everything!
Thanks dear! I will demand a sedative lol
YES January was the longest month EVER.
I’ll echo the others who suggested heating the oil, it helps. Also deep massage for a minute after the injection to prevent lumps. I also kept a log to track which side was being injected to avoid injecting the same place twice in a row – that helped a lot too. Avoid injecting in thigh at all costs if possible.
It takes a while to get over the PIO pain. Sometimes it took a month or longer for the discomfort to go away fully (to the point that I was sure permanent damage was done) but it went away eventually. Exercise and stretching helps with the symptoms.
the realist line ever: “BTW, my ass hurts from the PIO shots.”
They are the ABSOLUTE WORST!!! lol
Best of luck to you ❤
Thanks dear!
Best wishes to you! I found PIO went better for me when I got up and moved afterward, either walking or running. I think it helps disperse the oil and prevent bruising…? Maybe?
Hmm I should try that. Thank you!