IVF - Day 11

Since I started my injectable medications 10 days ago, I have been closely monitored by my doctor. Every two days, I go in for an ultrasound and blood work. When I went in  for an appointment on Memorial day, my doctor called with the results and said my estrogen levels had not gone up enough. He even wanted to make sure I was taking the medication correctly and since I had been, this was concerning. I have been following other IVF journeys through blogs (check out my favorite, Amateur Nester) and instagram and have learned it is not uncommon to have a cycle cancelled due to factors beyond our control like low (or high) estrogen levels. If that happened, we would be out almost $4,000 on medications.

So after my appointment on Wednesday, I was eagerly anticipating the results of my blood work, and hoping my levels went up. My doctor is always the one to call, and I appreciate the personal touch and extra time it must take to do that. He called me around 11 am and told me that my levels had gone up, and everything was fine. I was relieved and elated.

I had another appointment this morning at 6:40 am. I'm a school counselor and need to be in my office every day by 7:15 am, so I'm thankful that they offer such early appointments. But getting up even earlier than usual every other day is killing me! And I was so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow, but that isn't going to happen. I'm getting closer to being given the trigger shot and retrieval surgery, so now I need to be monitored daily. 

I was slightly disappointed to learn with the ultrasound  this morning that only 10 of my 15 eggs are the right size. Up until this point, he has been telling me i have 15. I do still have 15, but only 10 are growing big enough. He asked that I continue the same dose of my medications: 225 of follistim and 225 of Menopur which means that I had to place another order with the MDR pharmacy and have it sent overnight by FedEx. Cost? $402.00. A drop in the bucket compared to the whopping $20,000 total cost...but still enough to feel the pinch when we are trying to double up on our car payments in anticipation of summer and have Mom's 63rd birthday in Vegas at the end of June.

It is now looking like I will have my egg retrieval on Wednesday. Expect another update before then!