6 days of stims

I had my u/s this morning. I have not gotten my E2 level yet but I will edit my post and add it when I get it (this afternoon). This morning my u/s showed I only have 9 follicles. I'm not happy that I only have 9 but I'm happy that they are growing more steady this time. They were all under 15mm. Most were only 12-13mm. :)

I'm really hoping I get a few more with in the next few days but I don't know. I'm also hoping my dr keeps me on the 225 (I see no reason he should lower it). I am baffled that I have only 9 and I'm on 225. I had 8 follicles with my 150. I'm just hoping these 9 are great quality. I'm hoping to have at least 70% fertilization. If that's the case and I end up with 10. that will give me 7 fertilized eggs. I really want to do a 5dt this time and I need 6 fertilized and to make it to day 3 in order to do that. If my fertilization stays at about 50% then I need a dozen eggs retrieved in order to get 6 to fertilize.

I'm analyzing this WAY to much. LOL I need to get back to work. I'm extremely exhausted today. I'm physically and emotionally drained. I have been VERY good about not having emotional out bursts this time too! I'm crabby but I'm trying very hard to stay calm.

I can't wait to go home. Tonight is date night and I think we will get something to take home to eat and curl up on the couch with a movie or two. Sometimes we hang out with my SIL & her husband but I think tonight will be Jon and I. :)

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Edit. I just noticed that after 6 days of stims in IVF #1 my follicles were about the same size. I had a few that were over 16mm but most were under 15mm. So I guess I'm stiming at about the same rate? Who knows...feels like I'm stiming more steady this time. I'm guessing I'll trigger on Monday or Tuesday.
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Update #2
My nurse called and said on top of the 9 follies I have between 12 and 15mm (most of them are 12-13mm) I also have "lots" under 12mm too!! I have a chance at getting more. :)
My E2 is 829.20! My next u/s is on Sunday.
OH and my lining was 10mm

update

My E2 came back at 417. I'm shocked. My follicles are so tiny I'm suprised my E2 is so high. Luckly my Re is having me to 2 more nights on the 225 then go in on Friday morning for an u/s. I will probably have to start my ganerellix on Friday but who knows.

I posted on FF in my IVF buddy groups about my E2 levels. I'm curious what they say. I'm shocked it's so high with my follicles so small.

Slow and steady wins the race

OK so this time I am responding WAY differently to the drugs then I normally do. The only different thing I did was take 3 months off to go on herbs. Apparently the herbs have helped....either that or it's a coincidence. Here is what today's u/s showed:

After 4 days of gonal f 225iu

Left: 4 follicles under 9 (maybe more smaller then that)
Right: 3 under 9 and 1 at 11.5
Lining was triple stripe and 7.8!!! (BTW triple stripe is GREAT!!) --acupuncture is working!!!

Ok so here are some stats from some of my prior cycles (IUI and IVF)

cycle #22 150 iu gonal f

11/27 351.7 E2

11/28 first u/s:-After 3 days of gonal F 150iu
Right side: 15.57, 13.50, 13.75 & 13.35
Left side: 8.75, 9.12, 9.04.

12/1
right side: two 18's, two 17's, one 13
left side: three 12's (tech said 11's)

12/2-Triggered
right side: two 22's, one 20, one 19
left: three 12's (I thought they were 14mm)

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Cycle #23 month 19
To many left over follicles to count.
OHSS. Taking cycle off. ON BCP.
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Cycle #24 150 iu gonal F & double IUI
1/15 CD 7 -after 4 days of goanl f 150
15mm, 13mm and three 11mm follies.
lots under 10mm.

1/17
E2 1,793 LH 4.0
Left side:
20mm, 17mm three 14mm's (5 total)
Right side:
five 14mm and one 12mm

1/18
Left:
23mm, 19mm, 19mm, four at 16mm

right side:
15.84, 17.57, 16.82, 15.12, 16.66, 17.51, 11.75
Trigger 9:00pm
Ovulation either CD 11 or CD 12.

1/26 progesterone level 75.5!!!!!!
2/2 negative blood test. Progesterone zero
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cycle #25 month 21
On a break due to 3 left over follies/cysts.
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cycle #26, Month 22
150IU gonal F & double IUI
3/8 CD 6
Left 4 follies all 10 or 11mm
Right-1 at 11mm
E2-453-got some nice strong follies growing

3/9 CD 7-after 4 days of gonal f 150iu
Left-14mm, 12mm, 12mm, 11mm
Right-11mm, 11mm.

3/10 CD 8
Left-17.8, 16.6, 15.8, 15.4, 14.6
Right-14.8, 14.7
E2-1,031
Continue with 150IU
Started the Cetrotide today.

3/12 CD 10
Left: 20mm, 21mm, three 19mm, 15mm
Right: 18mm and 19mm
Trigger at 8:30 am
3/13 IUI 9:00 am 25 hours post trigger
3/14 IUI 9:00 am 49 hours post trigger
3/20 7 DPO progesterone 56!

3/26 AF found me late last night.
on to IVF.
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First IVF cycle
CD2 5/12 150IU gonal F
CD6 u/s & blood work after 4 days of gonal f 150iu
E2 512.7
follies = two 10mm, one 11mm and one 14mm.
CD 6 & 7 112.5IU gonal F & Cetrotide

5/18 CD 8 (6 days of stims)

E2 =568.0

Left: 15.54, 12.73k 13.32, 14.23
Right: 13.15, 16.64, 11.76, 10.32

5/20
Lining 8.96
E2 727
Left: 18.31, 14.70, 14.02, 17.39

Right: 22.08, 17.97, 15.84, 16.05

7 retrieved 1 crappy 6 good, 6 ICSI'd
3 fertilized
2 made it to day 3. 1 8cell grade 3 (H.I.P), 1 5 cell grade 2.
BFN

IVF#2

6/25 10 units of lupron
7/3-5 units of Lupron
7/5 225IU Gonal F
7/9-E2 162.7 continue w/ 225IU Gonal F

7/12- (6 days of FSH)
E=over 600
follies
R-zero :(
L-17.7, 16.54, 13.5, 11.23. :(

7/13 (7 days of stims)
L-two 20's one 16mm.
one 10mm and a few 8's on the right
Lining 14.4!
Trigger 9 pm
7/15=3 eggs retrieved
7/16=1 egg fertilized
Embryo stopped growing. Transfer Canceled.

If you look at the bolded text you will notice that with just about all of my cycles my follies were over 10mm and more towards 14mm. I'm shocked and amazed at how my body is presponding. I'm wondering if my doctor will actually have to increase my dosage. I have to admit I'm still a little nervous but happy that my body is stimming slower. I can't wait to see what the nurse has to say when she calls me with my instructions this afternoon!

Sad day

I just found out today that one of my friends on FF had a m/c. She is in my IVF buddy group we have all grown very close over the short period of time we have been a buddy group. I'm torn in side for her. I'm so sad. She has been TTC for over 5 years and this was her first time she ever got pregnant. She has decided to not post on FF any more (and I completely understand) but it won't be the same with out her.

Anyhow, I'm so sad. I really wish I could take her pain away. I would gladly give up my IVF cycle if it meant she could keep her baby. It just doesn't seem to be fair that she has to go through this after all she has been through. I can't even begin to relate to what she is feeling.

Plans for the week

I've decided that I needed to make a game plan for the next few weeks. Here is a copy of the post I made in my IVF buddy group on FF. Thought I'd post it here. I'm feeling a bit better then I did earlier today. I think what I need to do is have goals each day. Nothing long term. Like tomorrow my goal is to go to work then come home and finish my winter cleaning. I'm putting away summer stuff and taking out Winter stuff. My goal is to have the house clean by Wednesday. Because by then my E2 will be high (which means more mood swings), I'll probably be bloated and I want to be able to rest until my IVF is over.

My first u/s will tell me how many I'm more likely to get. I'm nervous that the higher dosage will just make my follie's grow faster but I know that won't happen. I'm really hoping for a 5dt. Regardless of how many follicles I have I just want a 5dt!! My RE wants 6 fertilized eggs in order to go for a 5d and I think that most of them have to make it to day 3 in order to push for a 5dt. I have my heart set on it even though I know I shouldn't. I just really want to see my embryo's get to that point. In a perfect world I'd like to see one or both hatching at transfer too. That way I at least know that they can make it through the shell. I know...I'm asking a lot aren't I? I say I want these things but I won't get my heart totally set on it because I don't want to be let down if it doesn't happen. I also know that a 5dt isn't necessarily better then a 3d either but I personally would just like to see my embryo's make it that far. Not to mention it's less of a wait.

Well I talked to DH about what we can do the next few weeks to make this cycle easier. I asked him to help out around the house and it was willing to do so but admitted that he'd have his face in a book most of the month because he has major projects coming up. SO I decided to bust my rump the next few days and tidy up the house. I'm going to do some cleaning. Put summer stuff away and get winter stuff out.

My anniversary is 11/7 so I also made sure he is going to do something nice for me. 11/7 is the day I have my first u/s so I hope that is good luck and not bad!!! I'm hoping for at least 10 follicles.

8 more days

Well AF finally came on Friday so I started my Gonal F injections on Saturday evening. I'm excited to begin but nervous too. I have mixed feelings. Approximately 7 - 8 more days of stims then I'll trigger for retrieval. My first ultrasound and blood work is on Wednesday. I guarentee my E2 is going to be over 500 and I'll have some follicles between 11 and maybe even up to 14mm. I'm hoping I stim at least 9 days this time (10 would be ideal) but I doubt it. I'll probably go 8 days if I'm lucky. I'm so nervous that the higher Gonal F dosage will just make my follies grow faster vs getting more. I'm sure that won't be the case but none the less I'm nervous.

I've been really crabby lately and I don't know how to snap out of it. I hate what my IF has done to me.

No AF yet

Well AF isn't here yet. :( That means I won't be able to start stims till Saturday and that is assuming AF shows up tonight or tomorrow. If she is not here by noon tomorrow I will call my Dr. and see what he wants me to do.

I have not felt well all day today. I'm hot and I've got the shakes (hard to explain) I also keep having weird pinching in my uterine area. I'm assuming AF is playing tricks on me because I've been on the pill for 3 weeks so there is no chance of pregnancy. Unless I was pregnant from last cycle but I doubt that since my progesterone was SOOOOO low and my follie was WAY to big and probably crap!!!

*sigh* I'm so frustrated. I hope she shows up tonight.