Follicle check #1

Before I get to the good and bad from my follicle check this morning, I first have to brag up M. again. I seriously feel I need to - like I owe him for putting up with me right now. LOL. Since we have started seeing an RE, M. has not missed one appointment. He has been at every single u/s, blooddraw, consult, follow-up, and procedure. I have never stepped foot into my old or new RE's offices alone. He picks me up outside my work office, sits with me through everything while making me laugh through it all, and drops me off again right outside my office when we are done. He takes alot of the stress off of me and I am so so appreciative that he wants to be so involved. Today he missed a meeting so he could go to the RE with me and then drove me to downtown L.A. after work so I could see my therapist at her main office (not where I usually see her). He waited outside the building for an hour (with some homeless beggars) and then drove us home in traffic. When I apologized for making the appointment at this location, he asked if it helped and told me that was all that mattered when I told him "yes." Love you to bits, M.


In follicle news:

After 4 days of stimming with 375IU gonal-f and 75IU Menopur, here is the good and bad from the appointment:


Bad: I'll do this first to get it over with (that, and it's really not very bad).

• Follicles are on the smaller side around 6-8mm and Dr. K likes to see them at 8-10mm by now. My ovaries have been labeled "smaller then normal" though so I like to think I am right on target. LOL.
• The Lupron has suppressed me a little more than he likes.
• He predicts I will be stimming for an even longer period this time around (IVF#1 was 11 days of stims) Read: more meds, more injections, longer time to feel like a stuck hog.
• Dr. K. raised my Menopur from 75IU to 150IU which means we will run out by Thursday. I have to figure out how I can stay home a day this week to receive more meds via FedEx. Mandatory meeting on Thursday and RE appointment on Friday. Creativity will be in full force.

Good:

• Dr. K. said there were around 10 follicles, but he didn't count them all because they were small yet.
• He only gets concerned when people stim too quickly. Slower has never been a problem. My little "engine that could" ovaries were happy to hear this.
• Lupron injections are now a thing of the past. I was only doing 2.5IU since starting stims, but he is dropping this completely. Hopefully this means no more bruising and no more night sweats!! Yee Haw!!! My belly thanks all of you who shared your helpful injection hints.
• Estradiol was 190. I think he likes this to be over 100 at this point - memory lapse from IVF#1.
• ETA: Lining was 8.3mm.

All in all I think we are doing fine. Next check is on Friday and I'm hoping to see some growth worthy of measuring.

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A special shout out to my favorite infertile whore still standing strong in a bloom of hope for the beautiful artwork she made for me to put on my blog to remind me to keep going strong, despite the bruises! The yellow is the colour of the endometriosis ribbon, the 2 lines are obviously something that ALL OF US want, and the tagline WE WILL BEAT THE ODDS. SOMEHOW. SOMEDAY..means with or without a baby, we'll find our resolutions...:) I am touched and so very grateful. Thank you, my friend.