Thread: ~Shannan~

Just a quick update today. I have a splitting headache from the Ganirelix, and I could freaking sell EWCM. Any takers?

Still on the same dose:

Follistim: 225
Menopur: 75

Ugh...I have a raging cold. I'm responding really well to the antagonist protocol, though. This morning, my RE saw 9 follicles on the right and 16 on the left. He called me an "overachiever." No wonder I'm uncomfortable - 25 follicles is a lot! Hopefully that will translate to at least 10 eggs...we'll see how many fertilize. We're still doing ICSI and assisted hatching. The AH scares me a little because of the late split last time, but the chances of that happening to anyone are so slim, I have to believe it won't happen to us twice.

The numbers for today:

E2: 1422

Ganirelix: 250
Follistim: 225
Menopur: 75

I'm getting there!

My follicles are growing - most are in the 14 mm range, with a few at 17 or 18. I saw the PA this morning, and her best guess was trigger on Monday or Tuesday. Just a few more days. I'm very uncomfortable, but I suppose that's because my ovaries are filled with what amounts to follicles the size of shooter marbles - about 25 of them. I don't feel like I did when I was hyperstimmed, just uncomfortable. All of the doctors and nurses keep telling me how well I'm responding, so that's very encouraging.

I was just telling Mike that usually I fee like if it doesn't work, I have another cycle in me. This time is different. I am feeling good about this cycle, but I'm also hoping for some embryos to freeze, just in case. I don't feel like I can go through another fresh cycle. It just takes so much out of me. I do have two embies frozen, but they're separate, so not enough to do an FET.

Here are today's numbers:

E2: 1780

Ganirelix: 250
Follistim: 225
Menopur: 75

I cannot believe the amount of Follistim I've gone through in this cycle. Crazy.

Almost there...

This morning they counted at least 30 follicles. Some are over 18 mm and some are still small, so I'm not counting on that many eggs. They're getting bigger, but the PA says one more day of stims. Hopefully I'll trigger tomorrow night and retrieval will be Wednesday. I'm really tired, and I'm ready to cry at any moment, but that's par for the course this far into an IVF cycle.

We spent some time with my SIL, BIL, and their 7-month old this morning. Lily is so great with the baby. She would be such a wonderful big sis. *sigh*

Here are today's numbers.

Estradiol: 2849

Ganirelix: 250
Follistim: 150
Menopur: 75

WHEW! I am triggering tonight!!!!!!!!!

My E2 is 3571 today. Ack! I am triggering tonight at 10PM. I'm first! Yay! In previous cycles I have had to trigger at midnight or later. Apparently there are several retrievals on Wednesday, but I am #1.

I have to go in tomorrow for bloodwork, ul/s, history, and physical. Then I have acupuncture. Tomorrow is also the glorious "no meds" day - on my birthday, no less!

On Wednesday, we are in early and we should be out of there by noon. My transfer will be either Saturday or Monday. I'm ready!!

My E2 was 5017 this morning, and my ovaries are so full they're touching. They didn't bother counting follicles this morning, just estimated somewhere around 30 still. I am so ready for them to be OUT!

I must say I'm looking forward to my little drug-induced nap in the morning.

20 eggs! We got 20 eggs! He said there were 21 but one was damaged. I hope we get a great fert. report!!

Dr. K showed me the treatment plan this morning in pre-op and he's being aggressive. We're either transferring 4 embryos or 3 blasts. WOW!

Fert. report: 19 of the eggs were mature, and 9 fertilized. That's not a super-duper fert. rate, but with ICSI it's pretty common that some die. I'm just hoping that these 9 hold on. At least we have those to work with, right?

Some good news this morning...

My nurse just called to let me know how the embies are doing. We still have 8 embryos dividing normally. She said that at this point they should be 2-4 cells and we have:
3 at 2-cell
1 at 3-cells
3 at 4-cells
1 at 5-cells

Right now, we're scheduled for a 9:00 transfer tomorrow morning, but they may change their minds and let them go to blast if they're still doing well in the morning.

Cross everything!!

I'm finally back among the human. I was pretty sick for the last few days- hyperstimmed for sure. I stayed on the couch constantly from Thursday night until Monday morning, only getting up to pee and have my transfer on Saturday morning. I'm finally feeling better. I weighed myself yesterday and I lost 4 pounds of water weight between Thursday and Monday. I'm still bloated, but nowhere near what I was.

We transferred four embryos on Saturday morning. Three were "good" and one was "fair" quality. The other four were left in culture and I hope to get an update on them sometime today.