Cycle Day 9: One More Day

I went to the doctor this morning, and she said that it looks like I will probably be on meds for one more day and then trigger tomorrow night for Monday AM retrieval.  Missing Monday is tough as we have some big meetings that day...

I have to go into the doctor again tomorrow for another look to confirm whether I should trigger.

We took a look at my ovaries, and on the right side, it looks like there are about six follicles, one of which is ready to pop.  On the left ovary, we have some less encouraging news-- looks like only three or four of them are growing to the appropriate size (whereas we'd counted six two days ago).  This means that while we saw about five or six big ones a couple of days ago, only three or four have continued to get bigger.  This is bad news because only the bigger ones have a chance of producing mature eggs, and so this means that it looks like I will retrieve fewer mature follicles eggs than before.  There are others, but they're small, and at this late stage, I doubt they will catch up.

I was disappointed to receive this news because now it looks like at most they'd retrieve nine or ten large eggs (whereas it was looking like 12 a few days ago), and probably not all of them will be mature...  Just seems like the numbers are dwindling.  I wonder if dermoid cyst on my left ovary is causing problems?  Am I sleeping on my left side too much or not enough?  My left abdomen did feel unusually tender after my shots last night.   Swollen, almost...

Anyway, what can I do?  It is what it is.  Awaiting the call from the nurse this afternoon telling me how much medication to take.  Have made last minute acupuncture appointment for this evening.  Even if it doesn't help the little ones grow, maybe it will help alleviate the stress I'm feeling.

Morale is low today.

Cycle Day 6: Halfway Through?

It's still not easy giving myself shots, but I'm getting used to it.  I admit that the Menopur is still unpleasant, and I think that what makes it worse is the ritual of mixing it all up-- it builds anticipation, but not in a good way.  I have a constellation of red dots around my belly button where I've stuck myself with needles.

In terms of side effects, I'm starting to see my belly swell a little bit.  I'm not sure if it's what I'm eating or if it's the medication.  My shoes felt a little bit tight today, so I think it must be due in part to the hormones, rather than simple weight gain.

I've had good energy and spirits despite the stims until yesterday.  Around 6pm, I hit a wall and was so very tired.  Getting up this morning was tough too.  Once I get going, I'm alright, but I do get tired earlier in the day.  I think it's the cumulative effect of the hormones building inside of me now that I've been stimming for four of five days.  I've decided to make myself leave the office by 6pm every day this week, and lots of modified reclined bound angle pose.

Tomorrow morning I go in for yet another ultrasound and more bloodwork.  We'll see how those follicles are doing and whether I need to begin the Ganirelix, which will be a new shot I take alongside the Menopur.  The Gonal-F and Menopur I've been taking are supposed to stimulate the ovaries and help grow multiple follicles; the Ganirelix is supposed to suppress the hormones that would make me ovulate, allowing the follicles to grow to maturity (until I release it with the Ovidrel).  When I start the Ganirelix, I'm supposed to increase my Menopur dose-- I hope that it doesn't mean it hurts more...