Here goes hoping

Here goes hoping, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

This morning Geoffrey drove me to the Ob/Gyn's office for another ultrasound and blood draw (ick!). I've been given the go-ahead to start a round of Clomid, which will last five days, followed by another ultrasound, and if all goes well, a shot (ick) to stimulate egg release and hopefully, ultimately, conception.

All of this while I begin an intensive eight-week spring class from May - June, Monday through Wednesday, with New Student Orientation beginning in June. And did I mention that I have an all-day conference in East Lansing tomorrow before rushing back to Detroit for class? I have clearly lost my mind. Perhaps it's hanging out with my truant eggs.

Well, at least I'll be too busy to be bogged down by the potential side effects of Clomid, which thankfully are not experienced by the majority of women who take the drug, but they don't sound like fun. Essentially, it sounds like a really baaaaaaaaad bout of PMS:
*Stomach upset
*bloating
*abdominal/pelvic fullness
*flushing ("hot flashes")
*breast tenderness
*headache
*dizziness
Source: Web MD

Wheeee! About.com has an excellent write up by Rachel Gurevich, who notes that many of the women she spoke to also experience mood swings:

Mood swings are another side effect of Clomid that in clinical studies didn’t appear as often as I’d imagine (less than 1% of women). But that’s difficult to believe, given how many women have told me the mood swings were the worst side effect of taking Clomid. Mood swings may mean feeling more emotionally sensitive, tearful, or even depressed or anxious, though infertility itself can bring on these feelings without drugs. It helps to be forgiving and gentle with yourself, and to practice good self-care, during treatment cycles.

So, we're in for a bumpy ride, possibly, but if this might be a relatively painless (ick, and double ick, as noted above) way for us to start a family, it's not a bad start. Here's hoping!