HOLY FOLLIES!

Wow...well my day started with quite the surprise! I went to the RE this morning for my first ultrasound and blood work after starting stims. They check the progress of the follicles and estrogen levels throughout the cycle to make sure that things are growing and to try to prevent overstimulation (OHSS.) OHSS is bad enws and NOT something you want to have happen.

Anyway, back to my appt this morning. I had my u/s first and then they did the blood draw. Nurse Jo told me not to be surprised or worried if they weren't very big yet. I said ok, and then told her I've been feeling pretty uncomfortable and full lately. She relayed that message to Dr. H and when he came in he asked about it. I told him after the 2nd stim shot I was starting to feel stuff, so I figure it has to be working, and he agreed that it probably was working. So I get into the lovely stirrups and in goes the wand. He measured my endometrial lining first which was at a 9 (yea!) then he moved the wand to my left ovary. He started measuring the follicles and rattling off the measurements to Jo who recorded it on my chart. I tried to keep count but it was all going so quickly that I gave up, and I was in a little bit of shock at how many he was finding! Finally after what seemed like forever he moved the wand to my right ovary and started the process all over again. By the time he was finished I had OVER 40 FOLLICLES! That number is huge! he said we were going to wait to see what my E2 (estrogen) looks like and then decide on the medicine dose.

After the u/s I went back to the waiting room to wait for my blood draw. One of the lab techs, Brian, did my draw today. I LOVE when he does it. He is the best person I've ever had draw blood. I could barely feel the needle stick! He's drawn it once or twice before and always does a super job. Anyway, after Brian drew my blood, I met with Merry Kay my coordinator. She told me that unless they called and told me differently, to do my injections tonight at the same dose. They are focusing on making the almost mature follicles reach maturity, and the little ones are not important any longer. I have so many that they don't need to worry about the tiny ones! I have to go back tomorrow for another u/s and more blood work to continue to check the E2 levels. Hopefully they're not out of control! OHSS is not something I want to deal with on top of everything else!