Addiction

We had the pre-IVF meeting with our nurse last week. It all went well, and there really weren't any surprises. We went through all the do's and dont's, and what to expect with the meds. The only test I have left to take is a doppler ultrasound, to see if the pressure in the arteries leading to my uterus is too high. If it is, they will recommend accupuncture. For this test, I have to be off of caffeine for at least 3 days. And the nurse basically says that now is the time I need to cut down my caffeine, and be off altogether in the next week or so.

For those of you lucky enough to have no addictions, you will not understand this. I've done it before of course, and I can do it again. And you can't drink caffeine early on in a pregnancy anyway, so I knew this would come. But it will be hard! I will also have to give up running (all exercising actually) and alcohol when I start my stimulation meds. And while I will miss those things, especially the running, I will not have physical withdrawal like I will from caffeine.

I have definitely developed physical dependence on the stuff, even though I generally only have the equivalent of 1.5 cups of coffee per day. I wake up needing coffee. I crave diet coke in the afternoon. A commercial for good coffee or a cold diet coke will sort of drive me crazy. It's a good thing I have no interest in cocaine or anything REALLY addictive, cause I could probably never kick the stuff.

With the last IVF cycle, the thing I never stopped craving was caffeine. It was the first thing I had after I found out I wasn't pregnant. Even after the physical dependence was gone (only takes about a week), I still wanted caffeine every single day. So if you see me and I'm cranky, I apologize in advance. My vices are few, but they are sacred.

What's that? My husband has just cracked open a cold can of soda. Aaahhh, the snap and hiss of that can opening! The cold bite of the first sip! You will be missed.

On the upside, maybe now would be a good time to whiten my teeth...